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and there were so-and-so, and all the beauties and graces that belonged to each. And this was the case with the temples throughout the entire city, but the monasteries, which the account has already mentioned, stand as a cause of grief for those who see them, not only because they have become deserted of monks who were wickedly driven out and relocated to other cities, but also because they have been deprived of their universal splendor; for their marbles were razed to the ground, and all the other material, which from the beginning had been put together for their completion and beauty, was given over for plunder to those who wished it, and now they are seen by all as an unseemly sight and move the souls of all to tears. Many, therefore, would have chosen the city instead of the one that bore them, and it would already have been full of the pious, full of monks, and overflowing with gladness and delight befitting the Christian populace, if such a dreadful decree had not been issued against it and its affairs had not proceeded in this way. But now, not only did those who had long desired to reach it feel regret for their eagerness, but we too regret our coming to the city, having clearly been disappointed in our hope; for all things have been turned upside down, as the saying goes, and the city, like a ship in the sea beset by evils, is tossed about, being disturbed, so to speak, by winds falling upon it from every side, filling it with much seasickness and dizziness, and not allowing it to find clear fair weather, nor to spread the sail of peace and calm and reach a harbor of good things, to stand upon anchors of safety and remain unshaken. But this would be a matter for God and for His clear steering, to calm the cresting waves of the approaching evils, to guide it to calm, to grant salvation, to let it back water for the future and "to sail a second voyage," as they say, with all things changed for the better and for what will benefit the city, through the mediation of our own Trophy-bearer and Martyr, who, so to speak, has again taken hold of the rudders of the fatherland and has used his own power against so great a sea of misfortunes. And may this come to pass not long from now, with God looking upon us with a merciful eye and showing his accustomed love for mankind, for the things by which we provoke him.]

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These things have followed up to this point, although we have judged it necessary to willingly omit some of them on account of the occasion and our weakness in speaking. And since we could not put off your request and incur a charge of disobedience, as we might have, we have given ourselves to the present narrative; for even at the beginning we promised this, to demonstrate nothing more than our ability. Therefore, if we appear to have accomplished something worthy of both your desire and the subject, this would be your doing and that of your prayers on our behalf. But if, on the other hand, we should seem unfortunate in all respects, which is entirely necessary to happen, whatever reward might be given back to us in return, it would be just for you to share in it, having urged us, who are unlearned, to so great a work because you thought we were something, when we are nothing, and insisting this everywhere. But I earnestly ask that your prayers be given to me in return as a reward, most honored father; for, being conscious of my many faults, I need the help of your prayers for their cleansing.

16

ἐκεῖ δὲ ὁ δεῖνα καὶ ὅσα προσῆν ἑκάστῳ καὶ κάλλη καὶ χάριτες. Καὶ τοῦτο μὲν οἱ κατὰ πᾶσαν τὴν πόλιν νεῴ, μοναὶ δ', ἃς πρότερον φθάσας ὁ λόγος ἐδήλωσεν, ἀφορμὴ τοῖς ὁρῶσιν ἵστανται πένθους, μὴ ὅτι γε μοναχῶν ἔρημοι καταστᾶσαι κακῶς ἐξελαθέντων καὶ πρὸς ἑτέρας πόλεις μετοικησάντων, ἀλλὰ καὶ προσαφῃρημέναι τὴν διὰ πάντων λαμπρότητα· αἵ τε γὰρ μάρμαροι τούτων ἐξηδαφίσθησαν, ἥ τ' ἄλλη ἅπασα ὕλη, ἡ πρὸς ἀπαρτισμὸν αὐτῶν ἀρχῆθεν συντεθειμένη καὶ κάλλος, εἰς διαρπαγὴν τοῖς βουλομένοις ἀνεῖτο καὶ νῦν ἄκοσμόν τι θέαμα πᾶσιν ὁρῶνται καὶ τὰς ἁπάντων ψυχὰς κινοῦσι πρὸς δάκρυα. Πολλοὶ μὲν οὖν εἵλοντ' ἂν ἀντὶ τῆς ἐνεγκαμένης τὴν πόλιν καὶ πλήρης μὲν ἂν ἦν εὐσεβῶν ἤδη, πλήρης δὲ μοναχῶν, γέμουσα δὲ θυμηδείας καὶ τέρψεως τῷ χριστωνύμῳ πρεπούσης πληρώματι, εἰ μὴ τοιαύτη κατ' αὐτῆς ἀπόφασις ἀπευκταία ἐξήνεκτο καὶ τὰ κατ' αὐτὴν οὕτω προὐχώρησε. Νυνὶ δὲ μὴ ὅτι γε πόθον, οἳ ταύτην ἐκ μακροῦ καταλαβεῖν εἶχον, μετάμελον ἔσχον τῆς προθυμίας, ἀλλὰ καὶ ἡμῖν τῆς εἰς τὴν πόλιν ἐλεύσεως μεταμέλει, τῆς ἐλπίδος σαφῶς διημαρτηκόσι· πάντα γὰρ ἄνω καὶ κάτω γεγόνασι, τὸ τοῦ λόγου, καὶ ἡ πόλις ὥσπερ τις ναῦς ἐν πελάγει περισχεθεῖσα κακῶν περιφέρεται, δίκην ἀνέμων τῶν καθ' ἑκάστην εἰπεῖν συμπιπτόντων ταραττόντων αὐτὴν καὶ ναυτίας πολλῆς καὶ ἰλίγγου πληρούντων καὶ καθαρᾶς εὐδίας ἐπιτυχεῖν οὔκουν ἐώντων, οὐδὲ τὸ τῆς εἰρήνης καὶ νηνεμίας ἱστίον πετάσασαν πρὸς λιμένα καλῶν ἐφθακέναι στῆναί τε ἐπ' ἀγκυρῶν ἀσφαλείας καὶ μένειν ἀσάλευτον. Θεοῦ δὲ ἄρα τοῦτ' ἂν εἴη καὶ τῆς ἐκείνου σαφῶς ποδαλιουχίας, καταπραῧναι μὲν τὰ τῶν ἐπερχομένων κορυφούμενα κύματα, ἰθῦναι δὲ πρὸς γαλήνην καὶ σωτηρίαν χαρίσασθαι καὶ δοῦναι πρύμναν κρούσασθαι τοῦ λοιποῦ καὶ «πλεῦσαι δεύτερον, ὅ φασι, πλοῦν», μεταβεβλημένων ἁπάντων ἐπὶ τὸ βέλτιον καὶ ὃ συνοίσει τῇ πόλει, μεσιτεύσαντος τοῦ τοῦ ἡμεδαποῦ Τροπαιούχου καὶ Μάρτυρος καὶ τῶν τῆς πατρίδος οἰάκων αὖθις εἰπεῖν ἐπιλαβομένου καὶ πρὸς τὴν τοσαύτην τῶν συμφορῶν θάλασσαν τῇ ἑαυτοῦ χρησαμένου δυνάμει. Γένοιτο δὲ μὴ οὐκ εἰς μακράν, ἱλέῳ τοῦ Θεοῦ ἐπιβλέψαντος ὄμματι καὶ φιλανθρωπευσαμένου συνήθως, ἐφ' οἷς αὐτὸν παροργίζομεν.]

22 Ταῦτα ἐς δεῦρο παρηκολούθηκεν, εἰ καί τινα τούτων ἡμεῖς ἑκόντες διὰ τὸν καιρὸν καὶ τὴν ἡμετέραν περὶ τὸ λέγειν ἀσθένειαν παραλιπεῖν δέον κεκρίκαμεν. Κἀπειδήπερ οὐκ εἴχομεν τὴν σὴν ἀξίωσιν διακρούσασθαι καὶ ἀνηκοΐας γραφὴν ἀπενέγκασθαι, καθὼς ἡμῖν ἐξῆν, ἑαυτοὺς τῇ παρούσῃ δεδώκαμεν διηγήσει· τοῦτο γὰρ κἂν ταῖς ἀρχαῖς ὑπισχνούμεθα, μηδὲν πλέον τῆς ἡμετέρας δυνάμεως ἐπιδείξασθαι. Ὅθεν, εἰ μὲν ἄξιόν τι τῆς τε σῆς ἐπιθυμίας καὶ τῆς ὑποθέσεως φανῶμεν ἐργάσασθαι, σὸν ἂν εἴη τοῦτο καὶ τῶν σῶν ὑπὲρ ἡμῶν προσευχῶν. Εἰ δ' αὖθις ἀτυχεῖς κατὰ πάντα δόξαιμεν, ὃ πᾶσα παθεῖν ἀνάγκη, ὁποία τις ἂν ἀμοιβὴ καὶ πάλιν ἡμῖν ἀντιδοθείη, δίκαιον ἂν εἴη καὶ σὲ ταύτης μετεσχηκέναι, ἡμᾶς ἀμαθεῖς ὄντας, παρακαλέσαντα πρὸς ἔργον τοσοῦτον διὰ τὸ ἡμᾶς εἶναί τι νομίσαι, μηδὲν ὄντας καὶ τοῦτο πανταχοῦ διατεινομένους. Ἐγὼ δ' εἰς ἀμοιβὴν τὰς σὰς λιτὰς ἀντιδοθῆναί μοι θερμῶς ἐξαιτοῦμαι, τιμιώτατε πάτερ· πολλὰ γὰρ ἐμαυτῷ συνεγνωκὼς πταίσματα, τῆς ἀπὸ τῶν σῶν λιτῶν δέομαι βοηθείας εἰς τὴν τούτων ἀπόνιψιν.