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CHURCH CEREMONY. 
As we approached his church, long rows of bishops, priests, deacons, 
and chaunters, were prepared for the procession to pass through; and 
then they set themselves in motion, with their flags, crucifixes, large 
candles, and all their superb dresses, singing d gorge-deploye^ parts of 
their service which we could not understand. The church was then 
opened, and we all entered en masse. The Ambassador and Patriarch, 
women and children, Armenians and Englishmen, Turks and Persians, 
all jostling one another; whilst the bells commenced a dreadful din, 
and the priests and chaunters continued their chorus as before. A 
short service was sung; when the Patriarch with a golden cross in his 
hand, waved it at the Ambassador and his party, and gave us his 
benediction. 
Then with great ceremony they exhibited before us some of the most 
precious relicks belonging to the church. The first and principal one 
was said to be the head of the very spear with which the Roman soldier 
pierced the side of our Saviour. As soon as it was brought forth and laid 
on the altar, all the Armenians made a profound inclination of the head. 
Its shape was thus, about a foot in length. This relick, which is looked 
upon now as the first in their possession, and which is said, besides 
