The history of the church from our Lords incarnation, to the twelth year of the Emperour Maricius Tiberius, or the Year of Christ 594 / as it was written in Greek, by Eusebius Pamphilius ..., Socrates Scholasticus, and Evagrius Scholasticus ... ; made English from that edition of these historians, which Valesius published at Paris in the years 1659, 1668, and 1673 ; also, The life of Constantine in four books, written by Eusibius Pamphilus, with Constantine's Oration to the convention of the saints, and Eusebius's Speech in praise of Constantine, spoken at his tricennalia ; Valesius's annotations on these authors, are done into English, and set at their proper places in the margin, as likewise a translation of his account of their lives and writings ; with two index's, the one, of the principal matters that occur in the text, the other, of those contained in the notes.

CHAP. XIV. Concerning the Star which appears frequently in the Piazza about the Pillar of Saint Symeon, which this Writer and others have seen: and concerning the same Saint's Head.

BUt come on, I will insert another thing also into this History, which I my self saw. I had a great desire to see the Church of this holy person. It is about three hundred fur∣longs distant from * 1.1 Theopolis, scituate on the very top of an hill. Those who live there a∣bouts call it a 1.2 The Mandra; the most Holy [Sy∣meones,] I suppose, left this name to the place of his Ascetick exercises. The rising of the hill extends to the length of twenty furlongs. The fabrick of the Temple represents the form of a Cross, beautified with Portico's of four sides. b 1.3 Opposite to those Portico's are placed Pil∣lars, curiously framed of polish't stone, where∣on the Roof is gracefully raised to an heighth. c 1.4 In the midst, there is an open Court, wrought with a great deal of art: in which [Court] stands the Pillar forty cubits long, wherein that incarnate Angel upon earth led a celestiall life. In the Roof of the said Portico's, there are d 1.5 Clatri, (some term them windows;) e 1.6 verging both towards the forementioned open Court, and also towards the Portico's. At the left side therefore of the Pillar, I my self f 1.7 together with the whole mul∣titude there gathered together, (the Country∣men being dauncing about the Pillar,) have seen in the window a Star of a vast magnitude, run∣ning all over the window and glistering, not once, nor twice, nor thrice, but often: which [Star] vani∣shed frequently, and appeared again on a sudden.

But this happens only on those days, observed in memory of that most holy person [Sy∣meon.] There are those who say, (nor are we to disbelieve the miracle, both because of their credibility who affirm it, and by reason of other things which we our selves have beheld:) that they have seen even g 1.8 his very person flying up and down this way and that way, with his long beard, and his head covered with a * 1.9 Tiara, as 'twas wont to be. The men who come to this place, have free liberty to enter in, and go round the Pillar many times together with their beasts that carry burdens. But a most exquisite care is taken, (for what reason I cannot say,) that no woman should go into the Church. Therefore, they stand without [the Church,] at the Porch, and behold the Miracle. For, h 1.10 one of the [Church] Gates is placed exactly opposite to the glistering Star.

Notes

• * 1.1

  That is, Antioch.
• a 1.2

  Instead of [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, The Mandr••a,] in the Tel∣lerian M. S. and Nice∣phorus, it is 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, The Man∣dra. For so Evagrius himself terms it twice, in the foregoing chapter. But what Eva∣grius adds, to wit, that Saint Symeones gave that name to that place wherein he had exercised himself in the studies of a more austere Philo∣sophy, is to be further inquired into. Evagrius's words are these: 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. Christophorson and S^r Henry Savil mend it thus, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉; wherein they are greatly mistaken. They perceived not that Evagrius is wont sometimes to transpose words. This place therefore in Evagrius is thus to be construed: 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, The most holy [Sy∣meones,] I suppose, le••t, &c. So Nicephorus understood this place in Evagrius. For thus he words it: 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, &c. The Inhabitants call the place of his Ascetick exercises The Mandra, as has been said; the Holy [Symeon] having given it that name. Yet, any one may conjecture, that that name was given to that place after Sy∣meon's death, when many Monks flock't thither, and had built a Mo∣nasterie there. For Mandra signifies a Monasterie, being a Metaphor taken from Hovells wherein Sheep or Goats are foddered; which are called Mandrae. Hence the Abbots of Monasteries are termed Archi∣mandritae, as may be seen in the Chalcedon Councill, and in the Novells of the Emperours. Theodorus Lector speaks concerning this Mona∣sterie of Symeon's, in book 1. Collectan; where he says, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, &c. The Admirable Daniel, who came out of Symeon's Man∣dra, went up upon the Pillar at Anaplum. Symeon Metaphrastes does likewise mention this Monasterie, in his Life of Daniel the Stylite, chap. 7. at which place Metaphrastes shews that this Monasterie was built whilest Symeon was living. Concerning which, neither Theo∣doret, nor Evagrius, speak one word. But, I will not hide this, viz. that in the Tellerian M. S. the reading at this place is 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. Vales.
• b 1.3

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. Christophorson renders this place thus: Porticibus vero columnae adjunctae sunt, To the Portico's are ad∣joyned Pillars. Nor is Musculus's Version much different; who translates it thus: Insunt autem porticibus columnae, There are in the portico's pillars. But the Greek term 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 seems to import something more. Evagrius makes use of the same word in book 4. chap. 31. where he describes the Church of Saint Sophia. The place there is thus worded: 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. Which passage I have rendred after this manner: In dextro autem ac sinistro latere, ex adverso fornicum posita sunt colum∣nae, On the right hand and on the le••t, oppos•••••• to the Arches are placed Pillars. Doubtless, this word 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 does either signifie that which I have said [to wit, to place over against, or, opposite,] or else juxta ponere, to place near. Langus; Nicephorus's Translatour, renders these words of Evagrius which we have placed at the beginning of this note, after this manner: Juxta porticus has ex saxo polito columnae de∣centissim•• constructae sunt, near these portico's there are pillars of polish'•• stone most gracefully built. Vales.
• c 1.4

  Christo∣phorson un∣derstood this place much a∣miss. For thus he has rendred it: versus me∣dium Tem∣plum, atri∣um est sub dio, towards the middle of the Church, there is an open Court. Evagrius does not say so; but, that in the midst of these Portico's there was a Cour•• or Area. For Courts were usually encompassed with four Portico's, as I have remarked at Eusebius's books concerning the life of Constan∣tine. Christophorson was deceived by what Evagrius has said a little before, to wit, that the Church was surrounded with Portico's of four sides. Therefore he thought, that the Church was in the midst be∣tween the four Portico's. Wherein he is much mistaken. For the Atrium [or Court] was in the midst of those four Portico's. And that was the first thing which those who went in met with, after they had passed the Porch, or Entry. After the Atrium was the Church, contiguous to one of the Portico's. That this was the figure of this Church, the following words do sufficiently declare. For Evagrius says, that wo∣men were forbidden to go into that Church: notwithstanding, that they saw the miracle of that Star, from the gate which was in the Porch. The Atrium therefore occurred immediately after the Porch, nor was the Church in the midst. Otherwise, the walls of the Church it self would have hindred them from seeing the Star. Vales.
• d 1.5

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. Langus and Christophorson have translated it Cancellos, Lattises; which I can by no means approve of. For 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 signifie Cancelli. I would therefore rather render it Clatri. In the Old Glosses, Clatri are thus described: 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Squares, [that is, cross-bars, or, lattised-bar••,] or bars that are in windows. But in the other Glosses, Clatrare is expounded 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, claudere, to shut. The originall therefore of the Greek and Latine word is the same. Vales.
• e 1.6

  I am of the same opinion with Christophorson and S^r Henry Savil, who instead of 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, answering, mended it thus, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, verging, or, declining. Notwithstanding, Nicephorus defends the common reading, to wit, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 answering. Moreover, Nicephorus adds some words, which are not at this day extant in our Evagrius. The passage is thus worded in Nicephorus: 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. Which place in Nicephorus Langus renders thus:—Porticibus ipsis & subdiali quae dicta est aulae respondentes, locumque volentibus dantes, ut ex ipso templo extra, & rursùm ab exte∣riori templi parte in templum prospicere possint▪ which [clatri] are answerable both to the Portico's themselves and also to the said open-Court▪ and afford a place to those that are desirous of looking out, from within the Church, and again, of looking into the Church, from its out∣ward part. Whence Nicephorus had this, I know not; unless it were from Symeon Metaphrastes, who had written the Life of Symeones the Stylite. Nicephorus does indeed attest, that he himself had read Me∣taphrastes's Life of Symeones. And 'tis not likely, that Nicephorus should have added this of his own head. Now, for what reason these words were added, I have as to me it seemeth apprehended. To wit, Metaphrastes (or, if you will, Nicephorus himself,) thought, that the women, who were in no wise suffered to go into that sa∣cred Edifice, beheld that Star, here mentioned, from these win∣dows. But, he is much mistaken, as we shall declare by and by. Vales.
• f 1.7

  Musculus renders this passage thus: Cum universo collecto illic agrestium circa columnam saltantium populo, Together with the whole multitude [or, people] of the Country-men there gathered together dauncing round the Pillar. Whom Christophorson has followed; ha∣ving expunged the Comma, which is placed after the word [together.] But this rendition is not to be born with. For the Country-men were not the only persons then in the Church of Saint Symeon, when this Star was seen by Evagrius. But many Citizens were there also at that time, of which number Evagrius was one. Besides▪ the people which Evagrius says were there gathered together at that time, were in the Portico at the le••t hand of the Pillar. But, the Rusticks were in the Atrium, [or, Open Court,] dauncing about the Pillar. Vales.
• g 1.8

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. In Nicephorus the reading is 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉: which I think to be rightest. In the Tel∣lerian M. S. I found it written 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, the accent be∣ing chan∣ged. Vales.
• * 1.9

  A round ornament, worn by Princes and Priests on their heads; it was heretofore the dress of the Persian women.
• h 1.10

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. Instead of the word [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Gates,] Ni∣cephorus made it [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Windows,] which was ill done, as I have remarked above, at note (e.) For, the women could not see through the window, in regard they [the women] were in the Porch, but the windows were placed in the very top of the Portico's, into which the women were forbid to come. Johannes Langus therefore, having followed our Evagrius, has upon a good account corrected Nicephorus. For, thus he renders it: Mulieres quoque, sed extra templum ad postes stantes, miraculum hoc spectant. Janua enim una ex adverso stellae ful∣gentis locata est. Women also, but they stand without the Church at the gate, do behold this Miracle. For one of the gates is placed over against the shining Star. Vales.