Page:The travels of Macarius, Patriarch of Antioch - Volume I.djvu/49

Rh anciently, in the Greek language, Κοντοσϰάλη. All the Christians, with their clergy, were waiting for us; and advancing to meet our Lord the Patriarch, they conducted him, with torches and thuribles, and every token of honour and veneration, into the above-mentioned church, where a most solemn mass was performed.

They are accustomed, in all these countries, at the time of the prayer Ἄξιον ἐστίν, to bring to the Patriarch pieces of (الشواطف) biscuit, which he takes one by one in his hand, and, making a cross with each piece over the cup and over the paten, in the name of its offerer, he says, "Magnified be the name of the Holy Trinity!" This is what they call Παναγία, which has great value among them; and they carry it with them in their travels, to serve them in place of the communion of the holy mysteries, when any danger presents itself of drowning, or other kind of death.

After the Patriarch had distributed among them the Ἀντίδωρα (or Remunerations,) they all dropped pieces of money into the plate. Then they took us to their houses, and gave a banquet to the Patriarch; and we slept two nights under their roof. We went to visit the rest of their churches; the second of which is dedicated to Our Lady, and is all white. The third is named Saint Kyriaki: upon its door is painted the Creation of the Heaven and the Earth, that is, Πᾶσα πνοὴ (Every breath). The fourth is named after Saint Nicholas. In all of them are new Πολυέλεα, and Σύμϐολα (تمبلونات). The fifth is also dedicated to Our Lady, and is contiguous to the church of the Armenians, who have two churches in Kum Kapi.

On Tuesday the second of Teshrin Essani, which was the festival of Korban Bairam, we went all in a body to the space before the gate of the Seraglio, and saw his Highness the Sultan Mahomet, (whom God preserve!) with his attendants and troops, at his going into Saint Sophia, and coming out. Afterwards we went in to see Saint Sophia, and all its apartments and recesses. We ascended to the second story; then to the third; and viewed its pillars, which are of yellow, green, grey, and variegated stone, and of marble of various beautiful and resplendent colours; also its marble tablets, reaching from pillar to pillar, with marks of crosses still to be traced upon them: as they are likewise upon its beautiful pavement, and all its stones and marbles; upon the Ἁγίασμα or holy fountain within it, and upon its tables of transparent marble. Its chapels and recesses are admirably constructed; nor is it possible for the most eloquent man adequately to praise the beauty of its white marble, the lofty suspension of its cupolas, the well-painted figure of Our Lord the Messiah giving his blessing at