ChapJII. c/Monfieur Tavernier. 13 



wherein there are now as rich Ornaments as in any Church of Chriftendom. The 

 Choir of the Church was hung round with a Venetian Tiffue of Gold. The 

 Pavement alfo of the Choir and the Body of the Church , together with the Steps 

 to the Altar, were fpread with rich Tapeftry. For they all put off their Shooes 

 before they go into the Church ; nor do the Armenians kneel as in Europe, but ftand 

 aH the while upright. When they hear Mais, they fit after the Mode of the 

 Country, but when the LefTons are reading they ftand up. All the Service-time 

 their Heads are cover'd , unlefs at, the Elevation of the Hoft, for then they take off 

 their Bonnets , and kifs the Earth three times. There was upon the Altar a Crofs, 

 with fix Candlefticks of Gold -, and upon the Steps to the Altar four Candlefticks 

 of Silver five Foot high. After they had fung feveral Hymns, the Patriarch feated 

 himfelf in a Chair cover'd with Silk Tapeftry, four Archbifhops fitting with their 

 Backs ,to a Pillar at his right hand. The Service was iblemnly perform'd by an 

 Archbiihop , with two Biihops on each fide of him. After the Archbiftiop had 

 made certain Prayers , he took the Book wherein he had read the Gofpel and 

 gave it the Patriarch, the Archbifhops , Biihops, and all the People to Kris. Or 

 the one fide of the Cover of that Book there are two Relicks enchas'd , which are 

 cover'd with Cryftal , which was the fide of the Book that was given to be Kifs'd. 

 The Ceremony being ended , many went to Kifs the Patriarch's Hand , and £q 

 retir'd. 



Ten Leagues from Erivan , toward the North , appears a great Lake , wherein 

 there is an Iland , upon which is built a very fair Govent. The Monks that live there, 

 live fo auftere a Life, that they never eat Fi(h or Flefh above four times a Year : 

 neither do they fpeak one to another , but upon thole four Days. The reft of the 

 Year they feed only upon Herbs , which they gather out of the Garden : for fay 

 they, it is not Fafting , to eat either Butter or Oyl. The Bread which they eat is 

 brought from the neighbouring Villages : and the Hand is replenifh'd with all forts 

 of excellent Fruits. 



On the one fide of the Lake nearer to Erivan is a large Plain , wherein there are 

 fix Monafteries. One of which is entirely hewn out of the Rock, with the Pillars 

 that fuftain it , being feated in a very hard Rock. The Armenians call that Church 

 Kickart in their Language , and the Turks in theirs Guicurghieche , that is , See and 

 away. In this Church, according to the Traditions of the Armenians, is kept the 

 Lance wherewith the Side of Chrift was piere'd •, the Figure whereof 1 caus'd to be 

 drawn upon the Place. The Armenians have this Lance in great Veneration, faying, 

 that it was brought thither by St. Matthew. 



Five Leagues from Erivan, towards the South-Eaft begins the Mountain Ararat} 

 which will be always famous for being the refting-placc of Noah's Ark. Half a 

 League from that Mountain , where the Plain begins to grow level , ftands a 

 Church upon a little Hillock , clofe by which are feveral Pits like Wells. They 

 report that it was into one of thefe Wells that Cerda , an Armenian King , caus'd 

 St. Gregory to be thrown , becauic he would not Worihip his falfe Gods. Between 

 this Church and Erivan arc to be feen the Ruines of the Ancient Artaxate , the 

 Seat of the Kings of Armenia , which demonftrate that it has been a great City : 

 befides , there appear the Ruines of a fair Palace. 



Erivan lyes in 64 Degrees, 20 Minutes of Longitude •, 41 Degrees, 15 Mi- 

 nutes of Latitude \ in a moft plentiful Country of all things neceffary for Humane 

 Life , but efpecially abounding in good Wine. It is one of the beft Provinces of 

 all Perfia, and yields the King a very large Revenue, as well by reafon of the 

 goodnefs of the Soil , as for being the great Thoroughfare of the Caravans. The 

 yearly Revenue of the Governour only , otherwife call'd the Kan of Erivan, 

 amounts to above 20000 Tomans , which make 840000 Livres. This City lying 

 upon the Frontiers of both Empires , has been taken and retaken by the Turks and 

 Perfans, feveral times. By which means the old City being ruin'd , they have built 

 a new one , 800 Paces on this fide , upon a Rock , at the foot whereof, upon the 

 WefWide runs a rapid Stream : it is call'd by the Name of Sangui-Cija. and in many 

 places it is deep and full of Rocks. You crofs it, over a fair Bridge of three Arches, 

 in which are built little Chambers, where the Kan retires in the heat of the day. It 

 is full of Fifh , efpecially Trouts, which neverthelefs are dear enough. This Rivet 

 comes from a Lake called Gigaguni , about 25 Leagues from Erivan, toward the 



tfortfv 



