Page:The travels of Macarius, Patriarch of Antioch - Volume I.djvu/59

Rh lofty and magnificent, built with stone, and adorned with cupolas. It contains pictures of Our Lord the Messiah, of Our Lady, of St. Nicholas, and of St. John the Baptist; all ancient and magnificently large, and supposed to be of the time of the Emperor Constantine. An immense congregation assisted at the mass, which was followed by a consecration of Deacons. We had the blessing to kiss the right-hand of the Emperor Constantine. It is a bone, as yellow as gold.

There is nothing I long for in the churches of Constantinople, and the surrounding country, but the singing of the little boys, and their chaunting Ἅγιος ὁ Θεὸς at the Epistles, and Alleluia at the Gospel, and Κύριε ἐλέησον during the whole of the Prone; and the beauty of their sweet modulation.

The name of this Mahall Assamatah, in Greek, was anciently Πασομάτια. In Turkish it is called Mahalleh Caraman; for when the Sultan Mahomet became master of the city, he sent for inhabitants from Caramania, and, settling them here, gave them the church, and the place their name. In this Pasomatia it was that happened the procession of angels, at the time the heresies appeared, saying: "Blessed is he that is on our side!" and the young man was rapt up into the air, and came down, repeating, "Blessed be he who dieth not!" according as he had heard the angels praising God.

After the mass and banquet, we went to visit the remaining Churches of Samatah. The second is dedicated to St. Nicholas, and is very handsome. The third is the Church of Our Lady: the fourth, of St. George: this last, is ancient, and has cupolas of stone, and an antique pavement. Within it is a picture of St. George, painted, in mosaic, upon the wall, and gilt; very ancient, and of surprising art; and an Ἁγίασμα: the latter is sure to be found in every church in Constantinople. We took a blessing from the body of St. Anastasia, who rescues from enchantment. Of all the churches in Constantinople, including also the Patriarchal Church, there is not one so ancient as the times of the Christian Emperors, save this in the Mahalleh Caraman.

 

Monday, the twenty-third of Teshrin the second, we rose to leave them at break of day; and, going out with them, came to Yedi Kulleh, or the Seven Towers. In all the walls of Constantinople and its forts, there is not a handsomer nor stronger building than these Towers, and the walls that inclose