Page:The travels of Macarius, Patriarch of Antioch - Volume I.djvu/60

32 them, which are triple, one within the other. Then we went out by the Top Capi, or Canon-gate, to the Burial-ground of the Christians, where is an Ἁγίασμα, or Holy Well, called, in the Συναξάρια (Martyrology), Ζωοτοϰοπηγὴ, that is, the Fountain of Life, appropriated to the Mother of God, whose festival is kept on the Friday of the Διαϰινήσιμον. It is now called the Holy Fountain of the Balikli, or of the Church of Fishes. We went down the steps to it, and drank of its blessed water, which cures diseases. Here the Christians keep the Monday of the Resurrection, with eating and drinking, and every kind of mirth. Then we passed through the Gate of Adrianople, and came to our lodgings in the Fanar. For myself, I went to see the Fountain of Velashirnas, which is now neglected and almost forgotten, situated in the district of Palati, opposite to Khass Keui, and higher up than the Fanar. I entered into an inclosed building inhabited by a tribe of Gipsies; which was the church, but few signs of which are apparent; and found the Well within, issuing from a cave, which was anciently in the treasury of the Tabernacle. Coming out thence, I visited the magnificent large Church of St. Demetrius, situated in the aforesaid district; and, afterwards, the Church of Our Lady. We took a blessing from her image, which was pierced with a spear; and the blood flows from it.

On the eve of Sunday, the second of the Fast of the Nativity, we attended the Ἀγρυπνία (Vigils), and the mass next morning, in the Church of the Patriarch of Constantinople: for our Patriarch wished to take leave of him, to proceed on his travels. After mass, the Constantinopolitan took him up to his palace; and they bade adieu to each other with tears; and each prayed over the head of the other: and the Constantinopolitan gave to our Patriarch large and handsome letters to the Sovereigns and his own subordinates.