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MOUNT ATHOS. 213 



We proceeded on foot towards the convent of Dionysio, one of the 

 first class, and containing about two hundred monks. Here we found 

 M. Frangopolo, formerly chief interpreter to the Prussian Legation at 

 Constantinople. As we had taken letters to him, he received us 

 with the utmost attention. He had retired to this spot from the 

 scenes of active life ; had assumedthe habit of a caloyer, and scrupu- 

 lously conformed in almost every point to the rules of monastic 

 discipline. He accompanied us to the library of the convent, con- 

 taining, principally, writings of the fathers, and some copies of the 

 New Testament, one of which was in uncial characters. We saw 

 part of the Iliad with a commentary, but not very ancient ; some 

 selections from Demosthenes, Libanius, and Dionysius the Areopa- 

 gite, a tragedy of Gregory Nazianzenus, and the Aphorisms of 

 Hippocrates. 



We proceeded in the boat of the monastery to the adjoining con- 

 vent of St. Gregorio. It is of the fourth class, and is calculated to 

 contain about a hundred caloyers, one of whom we found well 

 versed in ancient Greek. As this convent was burnt down a few 

 years ago, the library had no manuscripts to detain us. We there 

 became acquainted with Father Joachim, who had been mentioned 

 to us as having a beard that rivalled the famous one of Methodius. 

 We found it of a surprising length, reaching about an inch below his 

 knees. In the venerable caloyer himself we discovered great simpli- 

 city of character. He had travelled over almost all European Turkey, 

 and the shores of the Black Sea, begging alms for his convent. On 

 different visits to the Fanal at Constantinople, he has paid his homage 

 to twenty-four Patriarchs, namely, fourteen Grand Patriarchs of the 

 Greek church ; four of Alexandria ; and six of Jerusalem. Such is 

 the rapid succession to those envied dignities ! 



We were conveyed in the boat of the monastery to the foot of the 

 mountain on which Simopetra is placed, and after an hour's climbing 

 up a rock, nearly perpendicular, we reached this singular edifice. 

 The view from its external gallery is one of the most awful and terrific 



