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Therefore our God Jesus, who does not forsake those who hope in Him, deigned in this matter also to grant fulfilment to my desire. 3. Setting out then from Jerusalem, making the journey with holy men, that is, a presbyter and deacons from Jerusalem and some brothers, that is, monks, we came to that place of the Jordan where the children of Israel had crossed over, when holy Joshua, the son of Nun, had led them across the Jordan, as it is written in the book of Joshua son of Nun. For that place too was shown to us, as it were a little higher, where the children of Reuben and Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh had built an altar, on that part of the bank which is toward Jericho. 4.
Crossing the river then, we came to the city which is called Livias, which lies in that plain where the children of Israel had then pitched their camp. For even the foundations of the camp of the children of Israel and of their dwellings, where they had stayed, are visible in that place to this day. For that plain itself is boundless, lying beneath the mountains of Arabia above the Jordan. For this is the place of which it is written: 'And the children of Israel mourned for Moses in the plains of Moab by the Jordan over against Jericho for forty days.' 5. This is also the place where, after the departure of Moses, immediately Joshua, the son of Nun, was filled with the spirit of knowledge: for Moses had laid his hands upon him, as it is written. 6.
For this is the very place where Moses wrote the book of Deuteronomy. This is also the place where Moses spoke into the ears of the whole assembly of Israel the words of the song to its very end, which is written in the book of Deuteronomy. This is the very place where holy Moses, the man of God, blessed the children of Israel one by one in order before his death. 7. So when we had come into that same plain, we made our way to the very place, and prayer was made there, and a certain portion of Deuteronomy was also read in that place, as well as the song itself, and also the blessings which he had pronounced over the children of Israel. And again, after the reading, prayer was made, and giving thanks to God we set out from there.
For this was always our custom, that wherever we wished to approach the places we longed for, prayer would first be made there, then the relevant passage would be read from the codex, a psalm pertaining to the matter would also be said, and again prayer would be made there. This custom, at God's bidding, we always kept, wherever we were able to reach the places we longed for. 8. And so, in order that the work we had begun might be completed, we began to hasten, that we might reach Mount Nebo. As we were going, the presbyter of that very place, that is, of Livias, whom we had brought along with us from the station at our own request, because he knew those places better, gave us advice; this presbyter then said to us:
'If you wish to see the water which flows from the rock, that is, which Moses gave to the thirsty children of Israel, you can see it, if only you are willing to put yourselves to the labor of turning aside from the road perhaps for six miles.' 9. When he had said this, we, being quite eager, longed to go, and immediately, turning aside from the road, we followed the presbyter who was leading us. In that place there is a small church beneath the mountain—not Nebo, but another inner one: yet it too is not far from Nebo. Many monks dwell there, truly holy, whom here they call ascetics. XI. 1. These holy monks, then, deigned to receive us very kindly, for they even allowed us to enter to greet them.
And when we had entered to them, after prayer had been made with them, they deigned to give us blessed gifts, as they have the custom of giving to those whom they kindly receive. 2. There, then, between the church and the monastic cells, in the midst there flows from a rock a great spring of water, beautiful and very clear, of excellent taste. Then we asked even those holy monks who dwelt there what this water was, so good and of such taste. Then they said: 'This is the water which holy Moses gave to the children of Israel in this wilderness.' 3. So prayer was made there according to custom, and the passage itself was read from the books of Moses, and a single psalm was also said;
and thus together with those holy clergy and monks who had come with us, we went on to the mountain. Many also of those holy monks themselves who dwelt there beside that water, who were nonetheless able to put themselves to the labor, deigned to ascend Mount Nebo with us. 4. So then, setting out from that same place, we came to the foot of Mount Nebo, which was very high, yet in such a way that the greatest part of it could be climbed seated on donkeys; but a small stretch was steeper, which had to be ascended on foot with effort, as indeed was done. XII. 1. So we came to the summit of that mountain, where there is now a church, not large, on the very summit of Mount Nebo.
Within that church, in the place where the pulpit is, I saw a spot somewhat slightly raised, having only as much space as memorial tombs usually have. 2. Then I asked those holy men what this might be; and they answered: 'Here holy Moses was laid by angels, since, as it is written, no man knows his burial, for it is certain that he was buried by angels. For his tomb, where he was laid, is not shown to this day; for just as it was shown to us by our elders who dwelt here, where it was pointed out, so we also point it out to you: and these elders themselves nonetheless said that it had been handed down to them thus by their own elders.' 3.
And so prayer was soon made, and all the things which we were accustomed to do in each of the holy places in order, were done here too: and thus we began to go out of the church. Then those who were the local guides, that is, presbyters or holy monks, said to us: 'If you wish to see the places which are written of in the books of Moses, go out before the door of the church and from this very summit, on the side, however, where they are visible from here, look and behold, and we will tell you each of these places which are visible.' 4. Then we, quite glad, immediately went out. For from the door of that church we saw the place where the Jordan enters the Dead Sea, which place, just as we were standing, lay visible below us.
We saw too, opposite, not only Livias, which was on this side of the Jordan, but also Jericho, which is across the Jordan; so high stood the lofty place where we were standing, that is, before the door of the church. 5. The greatest part of Palestine too, which is the land of promise, was visible from there, as well as all the land of the Jordan, as far as could be discerned with the eyes. And on the left side we saw all the lands of the Sodomites, as well as Zoar, which Zoar alone of those five still stands to this day. 6. For there is also a memorial there; but of the rest of those cities nothing else appears except the overthrow of ruins, just as they were turned to ashes.
The place too, where the pillar of Lot's wife stood, was shown to us, which place is also read of in the Scriptures. 7. But believe me, venerable ladies, that the pillar itself is no longer visible, only the place is pointed out: but the pillar itself is said to have been covered over by the Dead Sea. Certainly, when we saw the place, we saw no pillar, and therefore I cannot deceive you concerning this matter. For the bishop of that very place, that is, of Zoar, told us that it had now been several years since that pillar had been visible. For the very place where that pillar stood is perhaps six miles from Zoar, which place the water now wholly covers. 8.
Likewise from the right side of the church, but outside, we approached, and from there, opposite, two cities were shown to us, that is, Heshbon, which belonged to king Sihon, king of the Amorites, which is now called Exebon, and the other belonging to Og, king of Bashan, which is now called Sasdra. Likewise from the same place there was shown to us, opposite, Peor, which was a city of the kingdom of Edom. 9. Now all these cities which we saw were set on mountains; but a little below, lower down, a flatter region appeared to us. Then it was told us that in those very days, when holy Moses and the children of Israel had fought against those cities, they had had their camp pitched there: for the marks of the camps were visible there too. 10.
Indeed, on that side of the mountain which I called the left, which was above the Dead Sea, there was shown to us a mountain very sheer, which was formerly called 'the lookout of the field.' This is the mountain on which Balak, son of Beor, set Balaam the soothsayer to curse the children of Israel, and God would not permit it so, as it is written. 11. And so, having seen all the things we longed for, returning in the name of God through Jericho and the whole road by which we had come, we went back to Jerusalem. XIII. 1. Likewise, after some time, I wished also to go to the region of Ausitis to see the memorial of holy Job, for the sake of prayer.
For I saw many holy monks coming from there to Jerusalem to visit the holy places for the sake of prayer, who, recounting each thing about those very places, made all the greater my desire to take upon myself the labor of going even as far as those places—if indeed it can be called labor, where a person sees his desire fulfilled. 2. So I set out from Jerusalem with holy men who deigned to provide me an escort on my journey, they too for the sake of prayer. Now my journey was from Jerusalem as far as Carneas, going through eight stages—Carneas, however, is now called the city of Job, which was formerly called Dennaba in the land of Ausitis, on the borders of Idumaea and Arabia—:
on which journey, as I went, I saw above the bank of the river Jordan a valley quite beautiful and pleasant, abounding in vines and trees, since there were there many waters, and very excellent ones. 3. For in that valley there was a large village, which is now called Sedima. In that village, then, which is set in the middle of the plain, in the midst of the place there is a little hill not very large, but made like tombs usually are—but large ones: there on the top is a church, and below, around that little hill, large ancient foundations are visible, but now in that village a considerable crowd dwells. 4. But when I saw the place so pleasing, I inquired what that place so delightful might be. Then it was told me:
'This is the city of king Melchizedek, which was formerly called Salem, whence now, by corruption of speech, that village is called Sedima. For on that little hill, which is set in the midst of the village, on its summit there is a church—the structure which you see—which church is now called in Greek 'the place of Melchizedek.' For this is the place where Melchizedek offered to God pure sacrifices, that is, bread and wine, as it is written that he did.' XIV. 1. So as soon as I heard this, we dismounted from the animals, and behold, the holy presbyter of that very place and the clergy deigned to come to meet us; and receiving us at once, they led us up to the church.
When we had come there, immediately, according to custom, first prayer was made, then the passage itself was read from the book of holy Moses, a single psalm fitting that place was also said, and again, prayer having been made, we went down. 2. So when we had gone down, that holy presbyter—already aged and well instructed in the Scriptures, that is, the one who presided over that very place, having risen from a monk, a presbyter to whom many bishops too, as we afterwards learned, bore great testimony concerning his life, for they said this of him, that he was worthy to preside in this place where holy Melchizedek first offered pure sacrifices to God when holy Abraham came—said to us:
when we had gone down, as I said above, from the church, that holy presbyter himself said to us: 'Behold, those foundations around this little hill, which you see—these are from the palace of king Melchizedek. For from there, even now, if anyone suddenly wishes to build a house near it and touches the foundations from there, sometimes he finds there even small fragments of silver and bronze. 3. For behold, this road which you see passing between the river Jordan and this village—this is the road by which holy Abraham returned from the slaughter of Chedorlaomer, king of the nations, returning to Sodom, on which holy Melchizedek, king of Salem, met him.' XV. 1.
Then, because I retained in mind that it is written that holy John baptized in Aenon near Salim, I inquired of him how far that place was. Then that holy presbyter said: 'Behold, it is here within two hundred paces. For if you wish, behold, I will at once lead you there on foot. For this water, so great and so pure, which you see in this village, comes from that very spring.' 2. Then I began to give thanks to him and to beg that he would lead us to the place, as indeed was done. So at once we began to go with him on foot, all through a most pleasant valley, until we came as far as an orchard, very pleasant, where he showed us in the midst a spring of water quite excellent and pure, which at once let out a whole river.
Now that spring had before it, as it were, a pool, where it appeared that holy John the Baptist had performed baptism. 3. Then that holy presbyter said to us: 'To this day this garden is called in Greek nothing other than kepos tou hagiou Ioannou, that is, what you in Latin call the garden of holy John.' For many holy brother monks too, coming from various places, betake themselves to wash in that place. 4. So again, at that very spring, just as in each of the places, prayer was made and that very passage was read; a fitting psalm was also said, and each of the things which it was our custom to do, wherever we came to the holy places, so there too we did. 5.
那泉前面彷彿有一個池子，看得出來聖施洗約翰曾在那裡施洗。3. 那位聖潔的長老便對我們說：『直到今日，這園子用希臘話稱呼，無非就是 kepos tou hagiou Ioannou，就是你們拉丁話所說的「聖約翰之園」。』因為也有許多聖潔的修士弟兄，從各處前來，到那地方去洗浴。4. 於是又在那泉旁，正如在各處一樣，作了禱告，也誦讀了那段經文；又唸了一篇相稱的詩篇，凡我們慣常在每處聖地所行的，在那裡我們也照樣行了。5.
The holy presbyter also told us this, that to this present day always at every Passover, whoever were to be baptized in that very village, that is, in the church which is called 'the place of Melchizedek,' all would be baptized in that very spring, and so they would return early to the candles with the clergy and monks, saying psalms or antiphons, and thus all who had been baptized would be led early from the spring to the church of holy Melchizedek. 6. So we, receiving from the presbyter blessed gifts, that is, from the orchard of holy John the Baptist, and likewise from the holy monks who had monasteries there in that orchard, and ever giving thanks to God, set out on our journey, whither we were going. XVI. 1.
And so, going for some while through the valley of the Jordan along the bank of that very river, because our road there lay along it for some while, suddenly we saw the city of the holy prophet Elijah, that is, Tishbe, whence that Elijah had his name 'the Tishbite.' There too, to this day, is the cave in which that holy man sat, and there is the memorial of holy Getha, whose name we read in the books of Judges. 2. And so, there too, giving thanks to God according to custom, we went on our journey. Likewise, going on that journey, we saw a most pleasant valley coming toward us from the left, which valley was vast, sending a boundless torrent into the Jordan. And there, in that very valley, we saw the monastery of a certain brother now, that is, of a monk. 3.
Then I, being rather curious, began to inquire what this valley was, where a holy monk had now made himself a monastery; for I did not think this to be without cause. Then the holy men who were making the journey with us, that is, the local guides, said to us: 'This is the valley Cherith, where holy Elijah the Tishbite sat in the times of king Ahab, when there was a famine, and at God's command a raven brought him food, and he drank water from that torrent. For this torrent, which you see running from that very valley into the Jordan—this is Cherith.' 4. And so, no less giving thanks to God, who deigned to show us, undeserving, each of the things we longed for, we thus began to go on our journey, as we did each day.
And so, making our journey each day, suddenly from the left side, whence opposite we could see the regions of Phoenicia, there appeared to us a mountain, vast and infinitely high, which stretched out in length... * * * [One leaf is missing.] 5. That holy monk, a man of ascetic life, found it necessary, after so many years during which he had sat in the wilderness, to bestir himself and go down to the city of Carneas, to advise the bishop and clergy of that time, according to what had been revealed to him, that they should dig in that place which had been shown to him—as indeed was done. 6. Digging in that place which had been shown, they found a cave, which they followed perhaps for a hundred paces, whereupon, as they were digging, a stone suddenly appeared to them:
and when they had thoroughly examined that stone, they found inscribed on its lid 'Job.' For this Job there was then made in that place this church which you see, in such a way, however, that the stone with the body should not be moved to another place, but should be set there where the body had been found, and so that the body should lie beneath the altar. But that church, which some tribune or other was building, thus stands unfinished to this day. 7. And so, the next day in the morning, we asked the bishop to make the offering, as indeed he deigned to do, and the bishop, blessing us, we set out. Having communicated there too, and ever giving thanks to God, we returned to Jerusalem, making our journey through the individual stations through which we had gone [three years].
XVII. 1. Likewise in the name of God, after some time had passed, when three full years had now elapsed since I had come to Jerusalem, having seen also all the holy places to which I had directed myself for the sake of prayer, and since my mind was now set on returning to my homeland: I wished, at God's bidding, to go also to Mesopotamia of Syria, to visit the holy monks who were said to be there in great numbers and of such excellent life that it could scarcely be told;
and likewise for the sake of prayer to the martyr-shrine of holy Thomas the apostle, where his body lies whole, that is, at Edessa, whom our God Jesus testified that He would send there after He had ascended into heaven, through the letter which He sent to king Abgar through Ananias the courier, which letter is kept with great reverence at the city of Edessa, where that very martyr-shrine is. 2. For I wish your affection to believe me that there is no Christian who, having come as far as the holy places, that is, to Jerusalem, does not betake himself thither for the sake of prayer; and this place is at the twenty-fifth station from Jerusalem. 3.
And since Mesopotamia is nearer from Antioch, it was, at God's bidding, quite convenient for me that, just as I was returning to Constantinople—since my road lay through Antioch—I should from there go to Mesopotamia, as indeed was done at God's bidding. XVIII. 1. So then, in the name of Christ our God, I set out from Antioch to Mesopotamia, having my journey through several stations or cities of the province of Coele-Syria, which belongs to Antioch, and from there, having entered the borders of the province of Augustofratensis, I came to the city of Hierapolis, which is the metropolis of that very province, that is, of Augustofratensis.
And since this city is very beautiful and wealthy and abounding in all things, it was necessary for me to make a halt there, since the borders of Mesopotamia were now not far from there. 2. So then, setting out from Hierapolis, at the fifteenth mile, in the name of God, I came to the river Euphrates, of which it is quite well written that the Euphrates is a great and vast river, and it is, as it were, terrible; for it runs down with such force as the river Rhône has, except that the Euphrates is still greater. 3. So then, since it was necessary to cross it by boats, and by no boats save the larger ones, thus I tarried there perhaps more than half a day;
and from there, in the name of God, having crossed the river Euphrates, I entered the borders of Mesopotamia of Syria. XIX. 1. And so, again making my journey through several stations, I came to a city whose name we read set down in the Scriptures, that is, Batanis, which city exists to this day. For it even has a church with a truly holy bishop, both a monk and a confessor, and several martyr-shrines. That city too abounds with a multitude of people; for soldiery too is stationed there with its tribune. 2. Setting out again from there, we came, in the name of Christ our God, to Edessa. When we had arrived there, we immediately went on to the church and to the martyr-shrine of holy Thomas.
And so, according to custom, prayers having been made, and the rest of the things which it was customary to do in the holy places, we also read there several things of that holy Thomas himself. 3. The church there, however, is vast and very beautiful and of new design, such as is truly worthy to be the house of God; and since there were many things which I longed to see there, it was necessary for me to make a three-day halt there. 4. And so I saw in that same city very many martyr-shrines, as well as holy monks, some dwelling among the martyr-shrines, others farther from the city having their monasteries in more secluded places. 5. And since the holy bishop of that city, a man truly religious and both a monk and a confessor, receiving me gladly, said to me:
'Since I see, daughter, that for the sake of religion you have imposed upon yourself so great a labor as to come from the farthest lands to these places, therefore, if you are willing, whatever places there are here pleasing for Christians to see, we will show you.' Then, giving thanks to God first, I thus begged him earnestly to deign to do what he said. 6. So then he led me first to the palace of king Abgar, and there he showed me a great portrait of him, very lifelike, as they said, of marble, of such luster as if it were of pearl; and on the face of this Abgar it appeared, opposite, that this man had truly been quite wise and honorable. Then the holy bishop said to me:
'Behold king Abgar, who, before he saw the Lord, believed in Him that He was truly the Son of God.' For there was also beside it a portrait similarly made of such marble, which he said was of his son Magnus, likewise having something of grace in its countenance. 7. Likewise we went on into the inner part of the palace; and there were springs full of fish, such as I have never yet seen, that is, of such size and either so very clear or of such good taste. For that city now has absolutely no other water than that which comes out of the palace, which is like a great silver river. 8. And then the holy bishop told me thus of that water, saying:
'At a certain time, after king Abgar had written to the Lord and the Lord had written back to Abgar through Ananias the courier, as it is written in that very letter: when, then, some time had passed, the Persians came up and encircled this city. 9. But immediately Abgar, carrying the Lord's letter to the gate with all his army, prayed publicly. And afterward he said: 'Lord Jesus, You had promised us that none of the enemy should enter this city, and behold, now the Persians are attacking us.' When the king had said this, holding the letter itself open in his uplifted hands, suddenly such great darkness fell—outside the city, however, before the eyes of the Persians, when they were now drawing near to the city, so that they were within the third mile of the city—:
but so soon were they thrown into confusion by the darkness that they could scarcely pitch their camp and encircle the whole city at the third mile. 10. But the Persians were so confounded that they could never afterward see by which side they might enter the city, but they guarded the city, enclosed in a ring of enemies, yet at the third mile—which they nonetheless guarded for several months. 11. But afterward, when they saw that they could by no means enter the city, they wished to kill by thirst those who were in the city. For that little hill which you see, daughter, above this city, at that time supplied water to this city.
Then the Persians, seeing this, diverted that very water from the city and made it run down opposite the place where they themselves had their camp pitched. 12. So on that very day and in that very hour in which the Persians had diverted the water, immediately these springs which you see in this place, at God's command, burst forth all at once: from that day these springs remain here to this day by the grace of God. But that water which the Persians had diverted was so dried up in that hour that those who were besieging the city did not have even for one day what they might drink, as indeed appears to this day; for afterward no moisture of any kind whatever has ever appeared there to this day. 13. And so, at the bidding of God, who had promised this would come to pass, they were obliged to return at once to their own land, that is, to Persia.
For afterward too, as often as enemies wished to come and assault this city, this letter was brought forth and read at the gate, and immediately, at the nod of God, all the enemies were driven off.' 14. The holy bishop also told this: that where these springs burst forth, there had before been a field within the city, lying beneath the palace of Abgar. Which palace of Abgar was set, as it were, in a higher place, as it now appears, as you see. For such was the custom in that time, that palaces, whenever they were built, were always made in higher places. 15.
But afterward, when these springs had burst forth in that place, then Abgar himself made for his son Magnus—that is, the one whose portrait you see set beside his father—this palace in that place, in such a way, however, that these springs should be enclosed within the palace. 16. So afterward, when the holy bishop had told all these things, he said to me: 'Let us now go to the gate through which Ananias the courier entered with that letter of which I had spoken.' So when we had come to that very gate, the bishop, standing, made prayer and read to us there those very letters, and again, blessing us, prayer was made anew. 17. The holy man himself also told us this, saying: