ChapJII. of Monfieur Ta vernier. 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 

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

 Country, but when the Leffons 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 kits the Earth three times. There was upon the Altar a Crofs, 

 with fix Candlefticks of Gold^ and upon the Steps to the Altar four Candleftkks 

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

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

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

 Archbifhop , with two Bithops on each fide of him. After the Archbifhop had 

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

 gave it the Patriarch , the Archbifhops , Bifhops , and all the People to Kifs. Ou 

 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 fo 

 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 s 

 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 thofe 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 Falling , to eat either Butter or Oyl. The Bread which they eat is 

 brought from the neighbouring Villages : and the Iland 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 Gnieurghieche , 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 I caus'd to be 

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

 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-place 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 , becaufe he would not Worfhip his falfe Gods. Between 

 this Church and Erivan are 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 mod 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 Tw^f and 

 Terfians, 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 

 Weft-fide runs a rapid Stream : it is call'd by the Name of Sangui-Ci)a. and in many 

 places it is deep and full of Flocks. 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 River 

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



North* 



