Page:The travels of Macarius, Patriarch of Antioch - Volume I.djvu/63

Rh and invited him by address, in a Συστατιϰὸν from him, and for the most part from the heads of the Clergy—for they loved our Lord the Patriarch with great affection, and had little observance for their own Patriarchs, or for each other—that they, the two Patriarchs, might perform the mass together. For they said: "Fortunately for us, the Antiochian has been delayed, till he perform mass amongst us on the Feast of the Nativity, and we receive on that day the sacred mysteries from his hands."

 

Lord the Patriarch therefore departed in a boat, in company of the priests who had been sent to him; and we arrived at the Constantinopolitan's on the Friday morning.

We alighted in the apartments of Cyrillus the Alexandrian, afterwards Patriarch of Constantinople; which are of singular beauty, and were built by him for his own use, and adorned with a variety of marble, and (قيشاني) coloured tiles, and crystal. They are, at the highest part of the buildings, comprised in the Patriarchal palace. The Patriarch is not in the habit of assisting at the Hours during the night of the Παραμονὴ: they defer them till break of day; and, at the first dawn of twilight, the two Patriarchs went down together to the church in their Μανδύαs, and with their crosiers in their hands. Immediately the choristers began to chaunt the Hours and the Prophecies &c. After the Patriarchs had distributed the Ἀντίδωρα, they left the church: and having given their benediction to the assistants, while the bearer of the silver-candlestick cried out the Πολυχρόνιον, or Long Life, to each, they ascended to the Divan, the Janissaries going before them with their staves; and sat upon two thrones, in their robes, surrounded by the Metropolitans, Priests, and Archons. Upon the table were placed two crystal cups of wine and spirits, and twelve dishes of Indian ware, heaped with meats, according to the number of the Apostles. The first that drank was the Constantinopolitan, whilst the singer chaunted for him the Πολυχρόνιον. Then he said a prayer for the Metropolitans and the rest of the assistants, and wished them a health to each in his place. Afterwards the Antiochian did in like manner; and the heads of the Clergy, &c. Then the two Patriarchs distributed biscuit among the assembly; and we ascended to the banquet, in a room above the Divan, which has many windows looking over the sea, and commanding a