this day is maintained so faithfully that a Turk cannot strike or abuse a Christian without severe Correction Here the Men wear Hats and Cloaths almost after the Spanish Mode carry the Crucifix in procession through the Streets and exercise their Religion with all freedom This Island produces the most excellent Mastick in the World and I think there is no place where it is so good and so great abundance and herein they pay their Tribute to the G. Signor In this place both the Greek and Roman Religions are professed the chief Families of the latter sort are two and those of considerable esteem viz. the Monew alias Giustiniani and Borghesi these latter are noble but the first have been Princes who having in the year 1345 been sent thither from Liguria or parts of Genoua as Governours became afterwards Supreme Lords of that Island which they ruled with absolute Authority until the Turk approaching as near to them as Magnasia and having possessed himself of that Capital City they judged their small City uncapable to resist and therefore like the remoter parts of Ragusi they addressed themselves with all humility and subjection to demand Peace In honour of John Justiniani the last Prince of that Island I find a large Elogium wrote by an Abbot of that name in Italian who with several Sciotical Expressions celebrates the fame of the quondam petty Prince of that Island which in our times hath not gain'd the reputation of many wise men whence comes that Proverb comon amongst the Greeks 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is That a wise man is as rare amongst them as a green Horse Howsoever this place hath stoutly engaged amongst the other Cities and Islands in the contention of Homer's Birth and this Giustiniani though derived originally from a Genoese Family was yet born at Scio and was a person of more than ordinary Parts and Abilities if we believe that Author who writes in Favour of Scio and most excellently of Giustiniani whom he praises in this manner John Giustiniani a noble Genoese was that sacred Anchor on whose strength and force the whole East laid the stress of her Fortune at that time when that horrible Tempest of Arms raised by the ambition and treachery of impious Mahomet conspired to its Shipwrack he was that shield who whilst he had life covered the head and heart of this Empire from a shower of Asian Arrows which rained from a Cloud of most cruel war At the first rumour of whose most terrible preparations by which Mahomet threatned to throw down the Eastern Diadem from the Christian Head and thereon plant the Turkish Tulbant this Gustiniani prepared himself to sacrifice his life in defence of the Grand Metropolis to which end he departed from Scio with a Squadron of Vessels his ancient Dominion and Inheritance and as if the Reins of fortune had remained in his hands he conducted his own Fleet securely amidst 300 Sail of the Mahometans which pillaged the Propontis and brought them safe to Constantine Paleologus to whom he offered himself an Adventurer for glory The hopes of Paleologus being revived with this succour and finding none to whom he might commit the defence of the Royal City but to Giustiniani he entirely recommended all unto his faith courage and conduct And this Author afterwards proceeds That the Turks being astonished at so many repulses at length discovered that this manly defence proceeded not from the valour of effeminate Greeks but that Giustiniani was the Achilles of those Walls and the living Palladium of that City but in the heat of this storm as this Author saith our Giustiniani was slain which turned the fortune of the day and with the fall of this eminent person fell the Courage of the Defendants and this Imperial City into the hands of a new Tyrant And so much one of this Country a natural born Sciote writes in honour of his ancient Prince and Compatriot In this manner those many Isles in the Arche-Pelago are divided between the Greek and the Latine Churches though more follow the Rites of the Greek than of the other and as we have said lying open and unguarded are subject to the rapine and violence of the strongest having no power over the fruits of their labours if found out and seized by some unconscionable Pyrate by which it appears how happy those Isles are which are governed by good Laws and defended by their own force under the auspicious conduct of a valiant and watchful Prince It hath been the project of several ingenious and active persons of Quality who were Enemies to the Turk to unite all those Isles in a Confederacy or League together obliging themselves to be assistant each to other in the repulse of any Robbers or Forreign Enemies which might undertake any thing to the prejudice of their publick and common wellfare And this as I am informed was principally designed by the Marquess Fleuri a Savoyard who crused and traversed over all the Greek Islands in a Ship of 60 piece of Ordnance and armed with 500 men in which progress he made singular Observations of the nature situation Harbours commodities natural strength and people of every Island Of the latter of which having made an exact enquiry it was brought to my hands by a person who had a familiar acquaintance with this Marquess which I judging to be a Curiosity worthy observation I have inserted here for better understanding the present state and condition of these Isles The Number of the Inhabâ—â—ants of the several Islands in the Arche-Pelago which pay Tribute or Harach to the Turks hath souls in all San Torino 8000 Policandro 1500 Nio 1000 Sichino 2000 Nanfi 1000 Estoupalia 1500 Nixoro 1500 Pattino or Patmos 6000 Andro 15000 Zia 4000 Termia 3000 Serfou 2000 Sifanto 3000 Argentiera 1500 Milo 7000 Especii 1000 Idra 1000 Egena 2000 Scopolo 5000 Sciladroi 600 SanGeorgio Deschiro 3000 Psara 800  71400 hath souls Naxia 7000 Nicaria 1000 Xamos 10000 Parisi 10000 Antiparisi 800 Micono 2000 Sira 3000 Aijo Strati 2000 Samatrachi 800 Schiaro 1500 Simo 2000 Zaora 3000 Tasso 3000 Cazo 5000 Scarpanto 4000 Scarpantoni 2000 Nissero 3000 Piscopi 4000 Morgo 4000 Lero 3500 Lindo 2000  73600 All which Islands make together 145000 Men Women and Children which though I do not account for so exact a computation as if the people had been polled head by head yet it is such an estimate as hath been made on the places respectively by the people themselves In many of these Islands the G. Signor did formerly put in a Kadi or an Aga to be their Rulers who administred Justice to them in the best manner he could but in regard these Turks were oftentimes surprised and carried away by the Corsaires few or none would accept of the Employment in which case the people of the Islands respectively make choice of three or four of the richest and wisest Sages amongst them to be their 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as they
by not painting Pictures to the life or not using engraven Images or by not drawing them farther than to the Waste with an ill-favoured sort of flat painting as if they would thereby excuse the inconvenience which may be objected Yet certainly the use of them is so scandalous amongst Turks who have scarce any thing good in their Religion but that they profess one God and are Enemies to Idolatry that though Pictures and Images may be allowed indifferently in other Churches yet being no essential part of Gods Worship they ought wholly to be rejected and wiped out in Turkey and all the Eastern parts of the World CHAP. XVIII Of Prayers to Saints and Adoration of Angels THE Greek Church in their Prayers to Saints in Heaven and Angels which enjoy the Beatifical Vision of God Almighty differ little or nothing in Doctrine from the Roman which we shall best understand by that which they call The Orthodox Confession of the Anatolian Church in which we have these words We crave the intercession of Saints with God that they should pray for us and we invoke them not as Gods but as his friends who serve him and praise him and adore him and we crave their assistance not as if they were able to assist us by their own Power but that they should procure for us the Grace of God by means of their administrations They say farther But some will say that they do not know nor understand our Prayers To whom we answer that they of themselves do not know nor hear our Prayers but only by Revelation and the Divine Grace which God hath richly bestowed on them they both understand and hear us In like manner we invoke Angels that they would mediate for us by their Ministry with God wherefore they offer to the Majesty of God the Prayers Alms and good works of men And farther they say That as God commanded the Friends of Job that they should bring their Sacrifices and offer them for themselves and that Job should pray for them for that him God would accept so we bringing our Sacrifices of Prayer to the Footstool of the Throne of Grace have them there tendered to the Majesty of God by the Saints and Angels his accepted and beloved Ministers Who sees not here that the Greeks have learned the distinction of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 out of the Roman Schools of whose Doctrine as we have said before they have extracted the Principles by their studies and Conversation in Italy which is the sole Gymnasion and Library of their knowledge and learning for in most points of Controversie where the Patriarchal Autority is not concerned they exactly concur with the sense of the Roman Schools But yet I do not find that their Prayers to Saints and Angels are so frequently enjoyned as they are in the Roman Offices and Rosaries but scattered here and there in their Breviaries of which for satisfaction of the Reader I have made some Collections Forms of Prayers to Saintsused in the Greek Church Holy Martyrs who have stoutly fought and are Crowned pray to the Lord to have mercy on our souls Holy Apostles beseech the merciful God to grant remission of sins to our souls These following are short Prayers appointed to be learned by Children and are commonly the Morning and Evening Devotions of private persons All holy Lady ' Mother of God pray for us Sinners All Celestial Powers of Angels and Arch-Angels pray for us Sinners Holy John Prophet and Fore-runner and Baptist of our Lord Jesus Christ pray for us Sinners Holy Orthodox Apostles Prophets and Martyrs and all Saints pray for us Sinners O sacred Ministers of God our Fathers Shepheards and Teachers of the World pray for us Sinners O invincible indissolvable and Divine Power of the Reverend and life-giving Cross forsake us not Sinners These particulars shall serve for instances that in the Greek Church Prayers are made to Saints in the same manner as in the Roman CHAP. XIX Of the Greek Islands in the AEgean Sea now called the Arche-Pelago and the devision there of Religion between the Greek and Latin Churches AMongst the many Isles in the Arche-pelago since the Conquest of Candia by the Turks none remains subjected to Christian Government but only Tino which belongs to the Venetians Tenedos Myteline Scio Negropont and some others are thought worthy of the Fortresses and defence of the Ottoman Sword The others lye open and ungarded and are the possession and prize of every Pyrate and Rover but yet according to the last Peace concluded between Venice and the G. Signor they are all annexed to the Dominions of the Turk to whom they pay a yearly Harach or Poll-money which is four Dollars per head whereas in the time of the War they paid the same both to the Venetians and the Turk The Turk looking on the Inhabitants of those Isles like out-lying Deer lodged without pale or defence and rather such who afford harbour and succour to Pyrates and Enemies than strength or Riches to the Borders of his Empire hath of late entered into consultation for dispeopling those Islands and transporting the Inhabitants into more secure Enclosures where they may render greater benefit and improvement to their Grand Landlord than they do at present but as yet no resolution hath been taken therein The Greeks are greatly divided in their Religion and consequently alienated each from other in their humour and inclinations some acknowledging the Patriarchal See at Constantinople some at Rome It is not to be doubted but that the Romanists possessing most of Wit and Money are always too hard for the Ignorance and Poverty of the Greeks by which and the convenient shortness of the Latin Mass they draw many of the Greeks from attendance on their own tedious Services to better ordered and more easie Devotions though as yet they cannot perswade them to renounce their obedience to their Church and Patriarch Moreover whilest the Venetians exercised an Authority over many of these Islands which was before they were constrained to render them to the Turk the Church of Rome enjoyed an opportunity of fixing a deep Foundation for that Religion and thereby so far encroached into the possessions of the Greeks that their Religion remained under great discouragements their Rites being suppressed in all the Isles of that Sea for want of protection and redress of their aggrievances until the Greek Bishop or Metropolite of Scio called Ignatius Neochori in the year 1664 being a person of an active Spirit and reported by his Adversaries to be of a proud and haughty disposition inclined to Covetousness and versed in crafty and subtle Arts endeavoured to buckle with the Power and Jurisdiction of the Latines To effect which he at first cunningly suggested to the Turks the danger of that people by reason of their nearness and affinity with the Venetians and constant correspondence with the Enemies
the Greek Church therein notwithstanding the Oppression and Contempt put upon it by the Turk and the Allurements and Pleasures of this World is a Confirmation no less convincing than the Miracles and Power which attended its first beginnings For indeed it is admirable to see and consider with what Constancy Resolution and Simplicity ignorant and poor men keep their Faith and that the proffer of Worldly Preferments and the priviledge which they enjoy by becoming Turks the Mode and Fashion of that Country which they inhabit should not decoy or debauch such silly Souls who can offer little more of Argument in defence of their perswasion than the Doctrine of their Forefathers and the common profession of those who in many places especially in the Morea and all Romagnia use the same Customs and speak the same Language of Greek with them Nor can I attribute this Constancy to the meer force of Education for Turks intermingle with them inhabit in the same Street and sometimes under the same Roof their Children play and are bred up together and have almost the same Manners and Customs with them and have little different besides their Religion and something of Briskness and Spirit in the Children of Turks which seems naturally to usurp an Authority over their Greek Play-Fellows So that if Education were the sole motive and principle Turcism might sooner take root than Christianity having the opportunity equal and in the easiness of things naturally to be believed and other specious and fair offers the advantage before the mysterious Doctrine of our Faith and the exact severity of our lives which is neither revealed nor performed by the meer motion of flesh and blood But certainly much is to be attributed herein to the Grace of God and the Promises of the Gospel and if any Art or Polity can be said to have place over the affection of the People none seems more efficacious than the strict observation of the Fasts and Feasts of their Church by which the people are taught as in a visible Catechism the History of Christianity more I dare say than by their ill-composed Sermons or repetition of the Scripture in the Vulgar Tongue for being severely imposed and observed with much solemnity they affect the Vulgar with an awe of something divine and extraordinary in them The fear also and apprehension of some Authority in the Church as the power of the Keys Excommunications and other Ecclesiastical Censures work a reverence in the people towards their Clergy which is indeed the main Pillar and Basis which supports a Church For as Tacitus speaks of the Jewish Nation when under the Roman Power That Honâ—â— Sacerdotii firmamentum Potentiae eorum the Honour which they gave to their Priesthood was the foundation of their Regimen for that which commands the conscience reduces the body will and affections to obedience so more particularly in Ecclesiastical Polity it is the Fence and Hedge of the Sheepfold This being broken down the Sheep stray and Satan enters with his seed of Heresie and Schism for what can hinder men from running into Prodigies of Fansie and wild Opinions where every man is his own Pastor and his own Bishop This apprehension of Power which attends the Keys is available in a double capacity for besides the energy it hath in Spiritual Matters it supplies amongst the Greeks the defect of a Temporal Authority in regard that they though Subjects of the Turk do yet oftentimes in Controversies about matters of Right follow the advice of the Apostle by referring the determination of their Cause to the arbitrement of spiritual men and chief of their Saints who are their Bishop or Patriarch and other Chiefs of their Clergy rather than to stand to the Judicature of Infidels But this the Church presumes not to bind on mens Consciences left it should seem to usurp that Right which others hold by the Sword and contradict that saying of our Saviour My Kingdom is not of this world Howsoever such as are religious and devout amongst them esteem it a Crime highly scandalous and savouring of a bad intention to have recourse rather to a Mahometan Divan than a Christian Sentence as if those who can judge of the inward Conscience were not yet sufficient to Umpire in a Temporal Cause Secondly This Reverence to the Church produces a firm belief and strict adherence to the Articles of it and to all the Ceremonies and matters the most minute and indifferent not suffering the least change or alteration in them which in this conjuncture and state of things seems very convenient if not necessary in the Greek Church For though they are sensible as many of their Priests have confessed to me of the inconvenient length of their Liturgies concerning which we shall speak in another Chapter and of many superstitious Customs and Ceremonies derived to them from the times of Gentilism which are now ingrafted into and as it were grown up with their Religion and many other Rites of which the wiser men are ashamed and wish they were amended yet they fear to correct and alter them Nay as they have assured me the very alteration of the Old to the New Stile would be highly hazardous lest the People observing their Guides to vary in the least point from their ancient and as they imagine their Canonical Profession should begin to suspect the truth of all and from a doubt dispute themselves into an indifference and thence into an entire desertion of the Faith Though the Christian Religion profess'd in the Ottoman Dominions lies under a Cloud and a sad discouragement yet thanks be to God there is a free and publick exercise thereof allowed in most parts and something of respect given to the Clergy even by the Mahometans themselves who esteem honour due to all persons of what Profession soever who are set apart and consecrated to Gods service For it is evident that the Turks entertain something of a good opinion of the sanctity of the Christian Religion and a belief that God hears their Prayers because that in the time of common Pestilence or Calamity both the Greek and Armenian Patriarchs are enjoined by the Turks to assemble their People and pray against it This permission of the Christian Religion indulged by the Turks is both agreeable to Mahomet's Doctrine and the Priviledges granted by the Sultans who in their Conquests of the Grecian Empire judged that a toleration of Religion would much facilitate the entire subjection of that People The greatest burden that is laid upon them by the Turk is their Haratch or Poll-money for which every man who is arrived to 20 years of age pays Four Lyon Dollars per Annum and Youths between 15 to 20 pay half so much but Women are exempt from this burden Also Greeks who have Lands and Houses are taxed pro rato for extraordinary Expences for entertaining a Pasha or some great Person whose charges they are obliged to defray in his
passage through their Country and this Tax is as well common to Turks as Greeks But this is a matter inconsiderable in respect of that Custom of Decimation which was a taking away of the Tythe or every Tenth of Male-children from the Greeks according to the number of them in the respective Parishes out of which proceeded the best and stoutest of the Turkish Janisaries but this Custom is now wholy out of use not having been practised for many years either because the Turks are willing to lay an easie Yoke on the Greeks or because so many of them turn Mahometans and of other parts and Nations such numbers flock daily to the Profession of Turcism that there is no need of this unnatural addition to increase the Power and Kingdoms of the Turk But with what freedom soever Christianity is licensed amongst the Turks in Europe it lies under a Cloud and a greater abhorrency in Asia unless in the Maritime Towns and Places where Traffick and Commerce have taught them Civility For Mahometanisme having had its first Original in Asia is most precisely observed in those Eastern parts where Christian Priests are forced to live with caution and officiate in obscurity and privacy fearing the superstitious temper of the Asian Zealots who are of a Pharisaical humour high esteemers of their own sanctity in comparison of which they account the European Turks loose and negligent Professors defiled by the use of Wine and unhallowed by their conversation with the Christians to whom they commonly bear so horrible a detestation that some of them judge it unlawful to be in their company or receive presents from them or to give them the salutation of peace and esteem their Cloaths if touched by Christians to be polluted Garments profaning their prayers It is generally observed that Pharisaical Professors in all Religions are the worst people in the world and the greatest disturbers of Humane Conversation and the peace and quiet of a Commonwealth I knew once at Smyrna a Reverend Preacher amongst the Turks or as you may call him a Doctor or Schoolmaster who had many Pupils under him whom he instructed in the Mahometan Law who was so great a lover of his own Sect that he hated the rest of Mankind his Sermons were always stuffed with Invectives against Christians charging Smyrna with unpardonable sins for indulging priviledges unto them and for admitting them into their Country on consideration of that lucre and benefit which their Trade brings in which discourse he oftentimes suffered himself to be so extravagantly transported with intemperance of language that at length the Officers of the City were forced to put him in mind of the common scandal he gave to the interest and subsistence of the Inhabitants that those discourses reflected on the Grand Signor and his Government and were Declamations against the clemency of their Emperour towards his Subjects and opposed those Capitulations and Articles which the wisdom of their Government had concluded with Christian Princes which were matters of that concernment as were neither safe for him to handle nor for them to hear with which Admonition though this Pharisee grew more moderate in his language yet his pride and insolence was not in the least abated for when he mounted his Mule accompanied with his Followers on foot of the same rank and head and accidentally met with Franks riding abroad on Horses such they call all the Western Christians they would force them to alight and with great reverence attend until the sanctity of so holy a man were past For their Books as they report say and teach them not to suffer Christians to sit on their Horses whilst men of their profession pass by them But our people little concerning themselves with what is written in their Books and less supporting an insolence and affront from them there often hapned rencounters and scuffles between both parties which had proceeded to higher quarrels had not the Magistrates seasonably suppressed the insolence of that people which was afterwards confirmed by Commands from the Grand Signor But not only hath the Greek Church the Turk for an Enemy and an Oppressor but also the Latines who not being able by their Missionaries to gain them to their party and perswade them to renounce the Jurisdiction of their Patriarchs and own the Authority and Supremacy of the Roman Bishop do never omit those occasions which may bring them under the lash of the Turk and engage them in a constant and continual expence hoping that the people being oppressed and tyred and in no condition of having relief under the protection of their own Governours may at length be induced to embrace a Foreign Head who hath riches and power to defend them Moreover besides these wiles the Roman Priests frequent all places where the Greeks inhabit endeavouring to draw them unto their side both by Preaching and Writings of which one being written in the Vulgar Greek by Francis Richard a Jesuite and printed at Paris called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 was dispersed in all parts where that Language was current of which the Patriarch and Presbyters of that Church taking special notice and being very jealous and sensible of the ill effects it might produce in the minds of the Ignorant caused about 18 Years past that Book to be burnt prohibiting the use and reading thereof unto all people of their Church under penalty of the most severe Excommunication But so far indeed have the Latines the advantage over the Greeks as Riches hath over Poverty or Learning over Ignorance And whereas now the ancient Structures and Colleges of Athens are become ruinous and only a fit habitation for its own Owle and all Greece poor and illiterate such Spirits and Wits amongst them who aspire unto Sciences and Knowledge are forced to seek it in Italy where sucking from the same Fountain and eating Bread made with the same Leaven of the Latines it is natural that they should conform to the same Principles and Doctrine So that it will not be strange if in Exposition of those points wherein the Church of God for some Ages hath been silent and but now controverted in these latter days the Greek Priests should with little variety follow the sense of the Latine which they take up at adventure not being of themselves capable either to prove or try the meaning of the Scriptures or examine the ancient Tenents of their own Church And thus much shall suffice to have spoken of the Greek Church in general CHAP. II. Of the seven Churches of Asia to which St. John wrote Viz. Smyrna Ephesus Laodicea Philadelphia Sardis Pergamus and Thyatira wherein also is treated of Hierapolis BEING to treat of the Present State of the Greek Church the condition in which the seven Churches of Asia now stand of which Christ himself and the Holy Spirit was pleased to take so much notice Rev. I. must not only come pertinent to our discourse but in
out sooner or later The fourth begins the first of August and continues until the 15th being a Preparatory to the Grand Festival which they keep in honour to the Assumption of our Lady who they say was bodily transported into Heaven which Fast is so strictly observed that even Oyl is forbidden to Kaloires and few others especially of Women there be but who observe this prohibition unless on the 6th of August which being a Festival in memory of our Saviours Transfiguration they have a permission to eat Oyl and Fish but on other days they return again to their slender Diet. Besides which Grand Fasts there are some other Fasts as the 28th of August in commemoration of the decollation or beheading of St. John Baptist. Likewise there is another Fast beginning the first of September which continues until the fourteenth being the Feast of the exaltation of the Holy Cross in which time of fourteen days the History of the Passion is preached and represented But this last is only observed by Kaloirs and such as are entered into Vows and a Monastical life whose profession is Mortification and their business Religion In all which times they do not only abstain from Flesh or Lacticinia such as Butter Cheese and the like but also from Fish which have Scales or Finnes or Blood only Shell-Fish as Lobsters Crabs Oysters c. are lawful though it is probable that in them there may be more of heat and nourishment excepting only in that Lent which begins on the 15th of November it is lawful for them to eat all sorts of Fish as also other ordinary and Weekly Fasts of Wednesday and Friday oblige them only to an abstinence from Flesh and what comes from thence but all sorts of Fish are freely indulged And though Wednesdays and Frydays are for the most part Fasts through the whole year yet we must except from hence Wednesday and Friday of the eleventh Week before Easter which they call Arzeiburst the reason whereof as Christophorus Angelo reports was from the dog of certain Hereticks so called whom they used to send with Letters At lengh the Dog dying his Heretical Masters used to fast that 11th Week before Easter for sorrow in opposition to whom and to have no conformity with them the Orthodox appointed that Wednesday and Fryday of that Week should be exempted from any Obligation of abstinence On Whitson-Monday they abstain from Flesh and Fast by reason that the people meeting that morning in the Church ask of God the Communication of his Holy Spirit as he gave unto his Holy Apostles in commemoration of which they eat Flesh on Wednesday and Friday of that Week The 25th of March being the Feast of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin though it happen in Lent yet they have a priviledge to eat all sorts of Fish as they have to eat Flesh from Christmas to Epiphany Wednesdays and Frydays not being exempted and the first Week after Pentecost In like manner they are permitted to eat Flesh all the first Week of three before the great Lent which they call 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Sunday of which answers to our septuagesima The next Week following which is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 they are commanded abstinence from Flesh Wednesdays and Frydays but the Week immediately before Lent is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which signifies fresh Cheese it being a time when they may eat all sorts of Milk and what is made thereof likewise Eggs and Fish of all kinds being perhaps a time to prepare their Stomacks to a leaner and morerigorous Dyet This Lent begins on Monday as ours doth on Wednesday These Fasts are strictly observed and undergone by them with no less patience and sobriety than superstition supposing it a sin not less hainous willingly to break this Fast or transgress the rules of this Abstinence and with that the Institution and Rites of the Church than to commit Adultery or invade the possessions of his Neighbour Education and Custom hath brought them to that Opinion of Fasting that they believe Christianity can hardly be professed and subsist without it It is very pleasant to be observed what Cyrillus the Patriarch of Constantinople reports of the Armenian Patriarch of Jerusalem who being desirous to prove the sanctity of his Church and Religion to be greater than that of the Greeks or any others brings it for an Argument that they did not only abstain from flesh and fish in Lent but even also from Beans and Pease which the Greeks allowed of consulting the inclination of their Appetite more than true Religion On these grounds they can by no means be induced to believe the English and others of the reformed Churches to be Orthodox Christians because they neither use Fasting nor reverence the sign of the Cross two matters of great scandal amongst them though in point of observation of the Feasts according to the old style with them and by their opposition to the Church of Rome they are on the other side more unsatisfied and doubtful what to judge The severity of their Lents is more easily supported by the expected enjoyment of the following Festival at which time they run into such excesses of mirth and riot agreeable to the light and vain humour of that people that they seem to be revenged of their late sobriety and to make compensation to the Devil for their late temperance and mortification towards God and this extravagancy of Mirth and loose Debauchery they practise with so much liberty that their Priests reprove them not for it but rather maintain Drunkenness not to be a Sin on a Festival being a hearty memorial of the Holiness of the Saint or a Testimony of joy in commemoration of the works of mans Redemption but this is spoken rather as a corruption of manners than as a Tenent or Profession of that Church In the observation of these Fasts they are so rigid and superstitiously strict that they hold no case of necessity may or can claim a Dispensation and that the Patriarch hath not power and authority sufficient to give a License to eat flesh where the Church hath commanded Abstinence For suppose a person sick to death who with Broth made of Flesh or with an Egg may be recovered to life they say it were better he should dye than eat and sin Howsoever perhaps the Ghostly Father will be so far concern'd in the others health as to advise the sick Penitent in such cases to eat flesh and afterwards confessing the sin he promises to grant Absolution and this I have known to have sometimes been practised which perhaps amongst the ignorant Priests may be esteemed an excellent and an ingenious accommodation between humane Necessities and the Institutions of the Church But such of the wiser sort who have studied in Italy and there been seasoned with the Doctrine of the Latines believe their own Church endued with as much authority in Ecclesiasticks as the Roman and that the difficulty of granting
or the Turks themselves yet treating here of the Oriental Churches it may be some elucidation of the premises to give the Reader an instance whereby he may understand how constant the minds of men living in the East are to their Traditions and to keep up their fancy to any ancient superstition which particular is undoubtedly true being transmitted to me by a worthy and ingenious person residing at Aleppo It is well known how much the Telesmatical Doctrine which was anciently the wisdom or rather folly of the Learned prevailed in the Eastern Quarters of the World in imitation of which on the 15th of April 1671 there was brought into Aleppo a little Copper-Vessel of Water out of a strong imagination that it was endued with a Telesmatical Vertue to draw thereunto a sort of Birds which feed on Locusts commonly called by the Arabs Smirmar I have seen them every Summer about the parts of Constantinople and Smyrna they are about the bigness of a Starling and very like it in the Bill and Legs but of various Colours on the Head Breast Back and Wings This Bird as they report hath so shrill a note that the very sound of it will strike down a thousand Locusts at a time and are such Acridophagi that when they come in great numbers are sufficient to devour and destroy those vast swarms of Locusts which in some years consume all the green Corn Grass Herbs and Plants in the Country and turn the hopes and expectation of a plentiful Spring into a barren Autumn and a Winters Famine so that to be freed of this Plague to which the parts about Aleppo are greatly subject no more happy or easie remedy could be found than something endued with a power attracting such beneficial and useful Guests to perform which nothing was esteemed more effectual than a certain Water fetched as they say from a Pool in Samarcand or rather from a holy Well of the Arabs called Zimzam the which Water was not to be carried under any Arch unless the immediate Arch of Heaven This being the Opinion of the Inhabitants of Aleppo the Water was sent for and brought into the City with great pomp and solemnity The procession was made at the Southern Damascus Gate every Religion and Sect attending in their Habits with the most formal Devotion imaginable according to their different Rites and Ceremonies every Nation bearing before them the respective Badges of their profession viz. The Law the Gospel and the Alchoran with Songs in their mouths according to their several Religions The Mahometans surpassed all the others in the Gallantry of their Streamers their Prophets Banners being near about a hundred in number were carried by sheghs who bellowed most hideously till they foamed at the mouth out-doing themselves with the violent agitation of their Spirits being of the Order of Kadri whose lives and Institutions we have declared in the Ottoman State A Dispute happened before they entered the City between the Christians and Jews for precedence which they challenged on the score of Antiquity but after a little striking and a greater Avania afterwards it was determined that the Christians were the better men and payed most for the exercise of their Religion The concourse of all sorts of people was exceeding great and the Pageantry seven hours in acting for the Water was drawn up over the Gate and over all covered passages and finally over the Castle Walls where in a Mosch it was lodged with all reverence and devotion This kind or species of Birds which resort to this Country are according to the Opinion of all Sects drawn thither by the vertue of this Water which though they have nothing of effectual vertue in them yet this fancy is so strongly rooted not only in the Vulgar people but also with those of greater quality that it seems to be a durable remain of the Sabean Superstition In this manner Reader I have finished this short discourse of the Greek Church what is to be amended or added hereunto is a work of time and worthy the pains and consideration of curious and ingenious Travellers into those Parts FINIS THE PRESENT STATE OF THE Armenian CHURCH CONTAINING The Tenents Form and Manner of Divine Worship in that CHURCH 1678. By PAUL RICAUT Esquire LONDON Printed for John Starkey at the Mitre near Temple-Bar 1679. READER THIS Discourse touching the Armenian Church may for divers Reasons probably delight thee First because few have wrote thereof and I think none so distinctly as I have done Secondly because it is a Christian Church far remote from us and therefore their Customs and Doctrines may be the more acceptable to the curious Thirdly because their Learning and Tenents are confined within a Language peculiar to that Nation and known to few of the Western Christians Add likewise to this difficulty an Universal Ignorance in the Armenian Clergie who are neither very willing to learn themselves nor very apt to instruct others So that what I have here briefly delivered is the effect of a difficult Enquiry and the small fruit of much Labour in whatsoever therefore I come short of an exact account of the Armenian Doctrine and Practice be pleased Courteous Reader to pardon and compassionate the ignorance and inability of my Teachers and the difficulty of my Task for it seems unreasonable to exact more learning from the Scholar than what he hath been able to copy from his Master Farewel THE PRESENT STATE OF THE ARMENIAN CHURCH CHAP. I. Of the Armenian Church in general THE Armenian Nation being much dispersed in many Countries of the Turks through the encouragement of Trade and Traffick to which they are much addicted I have had the opportunity of conversation and acquaintance with many of them by which means and that curiosity and desire of knowledge which always guides me I have penetrated as far as my leisure and abilities would permit me into the Humours Customs and especially into the Religion of this People It will not be to our purpose to deduce their lineage from its original or recount the various successes of their Princes in past times or their martial actions and fortunes against the Romans It is sufficient as to their Secular and Temporal Estates to describe them as men naturally of healthy strong and robustious Bodies their Countenances commonly grave their Features well proportioned but of a melancholy and Saturnine air On the contrary their Women are commonly ill-shaped long-nosed and not one of a thousand so much as tolerably handsom The men are in their humours covetous and fordid to a high degree heady and obstinate hardly to be perswaded to any thing of Reason being in most things of a dull and stupid apprehension unless in Merchandise and matters of gain and in that they cannot or will not understand other than what is agreeable to their advantage I have never read or heard of any amongst them famous for Poetry or Romantick Fancies or that they were of late years
which is not either appointed for Fast or noted for a Festival CHAP. VII Of their Monasteries and Rules observed therein BEsides the Monastery of Etchmeasin of which we have already treated they have several others in divers places of Armenia Persia and Dominions of the Turks But those of greatest note are these That of S. John Baptist called by them Surp Carabet on the Borders of Persia Varatch or the Holy Cross scituated near Van where they report that Rupsameh fixed the real Cross of Christ Asfasasin or the Blessed Virgin is another Monastery near Darbiquier Surp Bogas or S. Paul at Angora Their Orders or Rules observed are three viz. Surp Savorich or that of S. Gregory Surp Parsiach or that of S. Basil and Surp Dominicos or that of S. Dominick The first wear Vests of black with Hoods of the same but when they officiate in their Mass they are cloathed in white with Crowns on their heads The second are habited like Greek Kaloires of that Order And the third are cloathed in black with no other difference from the first than in the cut and shape of their Hoods This latter of S. Dominicos they seem to have taken from the Roman Priests who have gained footing and admission amongst them for otherwise that Western Name and Modern Order could never have found place so far East-ward nor society with those other two more ancient Religions unless by imitation or in conformity to Rome They observe almost the same Rules and Orders in their manner of Worship and Service They eat no flesh nor drink Wine yet on Saturdays and Sondays out of Lent they have liberty to eat Eggs Milk Butter and Fish They have used themselves so much to fasting from their Infancy that it is very curious to observe what Custom is able to effect in our Bodies and with how small a proportion Nature can be contented in which strict manner of living some have so far endeavoured to exceed that they have daily diminished of their slender Diet and supposing still that Nature might be content with a meaner proportion have so extenuated and macerated their Bodies that at length they have miserably perished with Famine They arise from their Beds at Midnight and continue in Prayer and Fasting until three a Clock in the Afternoon during which time they are obliged to read over the whole Psalter of David There are Women likewise in this Country who put themselves into Nunneries and live with the same severity and strictness as do the men They have also some Hermites whom they call Gickniahore who live upon the tops of Rocks confined thereunto almost as severely as Simeon Stylites was to his Pillar Nor is this Country so remote and obscure nor the Language so much unknown but that the Roman Clergy hath gained a considerable footing amongst them whereby they have established no less than ten Monasteries in that Country all of the Order of S. Dominick of which I have seen and discoursed with some of the Friers and particularly I had once opportunity to discourse with the Arch-Bishop who was of the same Order and constituted by the Pope over this Church as he was going to Rome to receive his Consecration and to obtain a Stipend of 200 Crowns a year for his maintenance he told me that he had ten Monasteries under him all of the Order of S. Dominick that his place of Residence was at Nachavan three days journey from Tavris which was the place where Noah's Ark rested after the flood These of the Roman as well as of the Armenian Church are so wretchedly ignorant that they are not capable to render a satisfactory answer to a curious Stranger in any thing relating to their own Customs and Manners but commonly make a reply to his Queries by begging for if you ask them Questions they will demand Alms of you The first time that the Roman Religion crept into this Country was about 350 years past by means of one Ovan de Kurnah who having a wandring head and a genius towards Learning somewhat more curious than the generallity travelled into Poland and thence into France and Italy where having comprehended something of the Western Knowledge and Doctrine returned into his own Country where he preached and instructed them in the material points of their Religion which seemed unto them to be all new matters and high notions and had not entred into the consideration and brains of the wisest amongst them so that the Doctrines and Tenents of Kurnah began to pass currant amongst them to the great admiration and applause of this travelling Doctor But at length touching on the Popes Supremacy to the prejudice of the Patriarchal Authority and Jurisdiction the whole mass of his Doctrine became leavened and he forbidden farther to preach or the people to hear him Howsoever a considerable number adhered to his Doctrine and to this day rather gain than lose ground in Armenia of whom there is a Church licensed at Rome and the form of their Mass priviledged and squared according to that of the Latines but excessive long and tedious and much differing from that of the Armenian as I have seen them revised and compared together In the year 1678 when I was passing through Rome and Italy in my way from Smyrna into England it was confidently reported in the Dominions of the Pope that the Chief Patriarch of the Armenian Church together with many of his Metropolites were on their journey towards Rome with intention to submit themselves to that Church but having remained in those parts for some Months after that report began and neither seeing nor hearing of their nearer approach I may confidently conclude that this Patriarch is still as far off in his agreement with the Church of Rome as he is at a distance by the situation of his Country As to the Service-Book which belongs to the true and that which is properly called the Armenian Church it was compiled as they report in part by S. James and the rest by S. Chrysostom and S. Basil whose forms of Prayer and Service are wholly in use amongst the Eastern Christians for I have not heard of any Liturgy of Surp Savorich or S. Gregory in this Church which to me is very strange There not being much Literature amongst these people we cannot expect to find great Libraries wrote in their Language or many Books wherein the retired Monks may exercise their Studies That Book which is of most note amongst them and agreeable to the design of Religious men is the Book of one Gregorio of the Monastery of Stat which treats of the lives of holy men and serves in the place of Homilies read on Festival Days the study of which is the chief employment of the Armenian Monks CHAP. VIII Of the two Sacraments Baptism and the Lords Supper and Panis Benedictus IT would be very difficult to be resolved by Armenian Doctors whether they hold seven or two Sacraments in their Church for that word