Protosebastos Smelgar was again temporarily in the City. Being aware of the visitors from many nations, he issued an invitation.

QUOTE:

To the visitors in the City:

Some of you are visiting our City for the first time.
Some of you have fought in our Turney
And some of you are still able to claim the final prize.

All are welcome here.

I would have you join me for a time, but not in the Great Palace (which holds no joy for me since the death of my wife), but rather in the Church of the Holy Wisdom of God. I include an illustration: you will know it by its dome!



I have the Honour to Remain, Your Most Humble and Obedient Servant
Smelgar, Protosebastos of the Romans

From the arena, directly to the Church.

The young and inexperienced Theodossios made his way through the solid mass of people gathered in front of the Haghia. Pilgrims, noblemen, merchants or peasants were crowding on the vast terrace in front, pouring in like an amorphous moving river. Two Patriarchs will hold the Liturgy! And the Protosebastos himself will attend! people were whispering along the long queue to the vast doors. Great events the City was holding, with so many guests from far lands attending the chivalrous event. Only the scarce news, coming from time to time from the East, were placing a shadow on the mood of the people. Have you heard, dear, what the barbarians of the sands have recently done? a cheeky flower-girl whispered to another. I heard from a soldier I indulged last night she chuckled that they burnt much of the Holy City and then they retreated. Pillagers and looters, not soldiers, damn 'em. she finished, as moving along with the line.

The young knight moved as well towards the great hallway, attentive to every gossip and to every face. There was a new world for him, full of color and sounds, vivid and exciting in its agitation. So different from the quietness and serenity of the mountains he grew up. There, the sounds of the forest and the blow of the wind were filling much of one day's passing. If it not were the unfortunate bankruptcy of his family, Theodossios would still see himself hunting in the cold mornings for the wolfs and boars on his family's domain. But here, on the great City, a different hunting would wait, if he was to restore what was left of his family's name and fortune. With a strong heart and a keen mind, maybe he'd manage to venture even in the deepest alcoves of power of the Empire. The young man laughed at his own foolishness. Oi laddie, you were not even a close match to one of the proven knights in the turney, what do you hope to accomplish more?! he mocked himself, as entering the great hall of the Haghia.

The breath taking and mind blowing immensity of the basilica turned his attention from any hope for greatness. The divine mosaic and the gentleness of the arches embracing the image of the Lord, with the strong sound of the angels-like choir muted his thoughts.

Eis to onoma tou Patros kai tou Huiou kai tou Hagiou Pneumatos... In nomine Patris, et Filii, et Spiritus Sancti.

The Liturgy had began.

Today it was the Liturgy of St. John Chrysostum. Clad in a simple Chlamys (albeit one of fine make), Smelgar stood in the middle of the congregation. All was in readiness.

Although she was in a big hurry to ressurrect her army at home, she took her time to visit the magnificent Hagia Sophia.

So much splendor, so big. The monastery of St. Matthews at home was just a shadow of this church...dome.

The Liturgy was beginning and already...the air was heavy from incense, the best that she had ever smelled. This was definitely the most magnificent event of her life so far. She was certain that they would be victorious against the Muslims. They did not have this cultural level. She had seen the temple dome in Jerusalem. This was just...so much more grand.

She started embedding herself into the Liturgy and listened with great commitment. Almost all the participants of the tournament were here including their squires and servants.

While listening she studied the glas mosaics of the windows the icons and the gold leaf around that was covering lierally everything. The wealth of this city was giganteous. She wished that peasants from Khazar could see this. It would wash away their doubts about the new christian faith.

She was determined to build something similiar in Azgir when...yes..when peace would return and she could focus on such plans...

She's the Queen of the Khazars, behold! people murmured as she passed by. I heard that her people came to the true faith by efforts of the Serbian clergy! No way! Are you sure?! I swear, a monk told me few days ago. And now they are defending the Holy Lands, together with the imperial forces! God be praised then! But shush, the Emperor is preparing to speak!

Moving away from the petty merchants he got stuck between, Theodossios pushed himself towards the center of the basilica, where the nobles and the guests crowded around their sovereigns. Smiling to the left and right, but merciless in using his elbows and shoulders, slowly he made his way to the first rows. With amazement and reverence looking upon the serene figures presiding, he crossed himself with the sign of cross, in waiting for an opportunity. Any kind of.

May He Who rose from the dead, Christ our true God, through the prayers of His most pure Mother; of the holy, glorious, and all laudable apostles; of our father among the saints, John Chrysostom, Archbishop of Constantinople; of Saints Luchilianos, Hyphatios , Paulos, Dionisios and Claudios and Saint Paula the Virgin, whom we commemorate today; of the holy and righteous Ancestors of God, Joachim and Anna; and of all the saints: have mercy on us and save us, for He is good and loves mankind.

But it was not the Emperor who first spoke, but instead the Protodeacon of Hagia Sophia. An old man now, he had been raised to to the rank by the Ecumenical Patriarch Sergios II.

The protodeacon said a short prayer: "Bow your heads to the Lord!"

The people responded: "To you, O Lord."

And with that, the Emperor strode to the pulpit.

"Holy!" shouted the people.

"My Friends, both Romans and Countrymen and also Friends from abroad, I shall not talk long today, for matters are afoot and we must get to the work."

"This great Church of Holy Wisdom of the Lord in which we stand is in fact the third on this site, built, as you would know, by my illustrious predecessor Justinian the Great some 500 years ago. Of the first Hagia Sophia, built (it is said) by Constantine himself, nothing remains. But as to the second---built by Theodosius II--- if you look closely in the grounds you will be able to find a side-stone, the last surviving portion of that work. And on that side-stone is depicted the Lamb of God and originally twelve such Lambs: the Twelve Apostles."



"As we stand here today, that which the Lord wrought through his Apostles lies in peril. The peril comes from the Infidel, but it led by that cunning Apostate, Alar I the Anagramattic, he whom we once called our Brother.

As we stand here today, already there is War in the East: our Orthodox Brothers of the Orders of the Temple and of St. Matthew together with our Allies the Hospitallers already contest Jerusalem with the Enemy, and we have recently heard that they have retaken that city. Praise be to God!

And, as we stand here today, once again the Roman Army makes ready for War. It is the fourth time we have fought the fiend Alar, and perhaps in the past we have been too gentle!"

"But, be that as it may, it is a worldly matter, and temporal, and in the heavenly destiny of our spiritual beings, it matters hardly a jot. Nevertheless I am called to the burden of worldly authority, and I shall exercise that authority to the best of my ability, to my last breath; and to the Glory of God until the Last Days!

But more important by far than the Worldly and Temporal is the Heavenly and Spiritual. And so we are pleased that here today we have their Beatitudes of Alexandria and Antioch as our Guides. I had hoped also to host His Beatitude of Jerusalem as well---three Patriarchs gathered together---but I understand he has been led to take a direct role in the current defence of the East. I myself will join him in that forthwith, and my Lady the Khagani of Khazars---who is here with us today---has vouchsafed she will march at my side; praise be to God!

But enough from me! His Beatitude Macarias of Antioch is the junior Patriarch here present, and so I call on him to preach the first sermon."

Macarias now rose to speak

"My Lord Protosebastos
My Brother Patriarch, Nikanor of Alexandria
My Lady Dorenn de Almhuin, Khagani of Khazars and Victrix in the Joust
My Lord Masterpera, Kiraly of the Hungarians and Victor in the Duel and Melee
My Lord Avitohol, Tsar of the Bulgarians
Friends, both Roman and Visitors to the City"

"My Lord the Protosebastos has begun with a history lesson, and I shall do likewise"

"We stand here today in the Cathedral of St. Photios the Great, that learned doctor who so fully elucidated the Orthodox doctrine. He was not perfect, for only the Lord is perfect, yet any of us would do well if we were blessed with even half his intelligence and application."

"And we stand here today in the Cathedral of St. John Chrysostum, one of the Three Hierarchs and a man who when forced to choose between man (even the Empress Aelia Eudoxia) and God, choose wisely and without hesitation. He was not perfect, for only the Lord is perfect, yet any of us would do well if we were blessed with even half his faith and zeal."

"And we stand here today in the Cathedral of the St. Andrew the Apostle, that Fisher of Men, called so by the Lord himself. He was not perfect, for only the Lord is perfect, yet any of us would do well if we were blessed with even half his calling."

"And as we stand here in this Cathedral, what do we lack? Do we not know it? What does the Silk Factor in the market talk of? What does the Merchant, returning to the Golden Horn in his ship talk of? Do we not know it well? What had the City in those times that we now lack? I think you all know that of which I speak!"

"And does the Holy Ghost move still amongst us? I think he does!"

And the people shouted: "Yea Lord, he does in Truth!"

"And is there one here whom he has called? I hope there is!"

And the people shouted: "Yea Lord, let it be So!"

"And has not the Lord always delivered us a guide, when the Church is in need? My faith says yes!

And the people shouted "Yea Lord, we are in Need"

"Let us now therefore pray, with Hope and Faith and Charity in our Hearts, but also in Silence, and await what the Lord shall Choose in his Wisdom to Provide!"

Macarias stepped down from the pulpit.

After Macarias, I, too, have made an announcement to the gathered folk in the beautiful Temple of God’s Wisdom.

I’ve stood in front of the Orea pili with great Patriarch Cross in my hand.

I’ve announced:

"In the name of Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, Amen.

Blessings upon you, brothers and sisters, this Holy Divine Liturgy to all of you and your homes.

Your Imperial Majesty, in Christ brother Macarias, and you Holy Fathers of Constantinople Churches and Monasteries, I wish to thank you for the warm welcome you made for me, lessest among you. It is my honor to be today with you here and to elect together for the new Patriarch of Constantinople. I hope that the Holy Spirit will help us choose a worthy heir of the Holy Apostle Andrew, Saint John Chrysostom, Saint Photios the Great and other Episcops, Archepiscops and the Patriarchs of Constantinople."

I paused for a moment to catch some air, only to continue:



"That God never forgets his children, he proves us with the resurrected Serbian Church. After many years without its first hierarch, the Lord has sent us Saint Matthew to reformed our Church, and I, as his heir now sit on the ancient throne of Alexandrian Patriarchs. New monasteries are being built everywhere. On Holy Mount Athos, all through Serbia and Africa, as in the Russian steppes, Archimandrite Nicifor is raising a monastery of Pantokrator. Orthodoxy today flourishes all around the realm and fights against various heresies that attacked our Church many times, that represents the body of Christ. Let us remember the Saint Nicholas Myra (?) that striked Aryan to preserve his true faith.

Lord gives us strength to be like Your Sacred and bring us into the settlement of Heaven, because Yours is the Power and Glory in the name of Father, Son and the Holy Spirit, Amen."

I’ve returned to my seat next to my brother Macarias.

Periménete ! Wait!

The voice was old and hoarse, but it sounded clear in the vastness of the dome, before any following speaker to come was able to take the floor. An old man, barely helping himself with a wooden stick, looking at least as old as the man himself, made his way to the centre of the assembly, as puzzled people were moving aside to let him pass.

Your beatitudes, and most holy and reverend fathers, hear me, I beg of you! the stick knocking on the marble floor sounded like the semanterion calling Vesper. The lights of the thousand candles lit the face of an old white bearded man, bent by the weight of many winters in the service of the Almighty. His robe was worn and poor, but the golden necklace hanging to his chest showed the appreciation of the bishop of the land he must have come.

I am Nectarion, the abbot of the St. Matthew's Monastery, far North beyond the great Danube, holy fathers the man straightened, and the voice gained in power, as the holy image of the Pantocrator benevolently presiding over him gave strength and courage. I come to you humbled for help and comfort. I lost my son, my most beloved pupil, and there is no one to help.

As angry voices came to a choir and whispers became groaning for such impudence and silliness, Nectarion's tone raised in slight defiance: Yes, a petty and insignificant matter, fathers! he turned to the audience. For if high matters of the Church can be addressed in the holy assembly here, why can't the small matters be as well?! I am but a humble abbot from the far corner of the Empire, but the loss of a innocent but brilliant servant of God, is it, I wonder, of a lesser importance?! Does a stray sheep worth the attention of the worthy men serving the Lord, Who Himself said: Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me? And, again, was He not Who said to the Saint Apostle Peter: Take care of my sheep?! the voice halted for a second, as age took over determination. Slowly, almost like a whisper, Nectarion added, with tears showing in the tired eyes: I've traveled far, and hope not to return to my abbey alive, and looked everywhere, and found no relief. All I want before coming to meet His Splendor, if He'll have me, is to bring back the young Theodossios to the path Christ has laid ahead for him. Make him see the emptiness of the mundane glory gained by power and armed hand. If no one here is willing, under the eyes of the Imperial power and the All-Seeing Eyes of the Almighty, then I better... his voice broke to a sigh, and he would have collapsed in exhaustion and despair, if not for helping hands to give him support.

A man in fine dress stood, together with two enormous Varangian guards, and the people were quiet.

It was the Eparch of the City, he who ruled the City in the Emperor's absence (the Emperor having departed for war), who then spoke:

"Sir, this City is at the very Centre of Civilisation, and were you to come to my offices in daylight hours, your petition would certainly be attended to, promptly and with efficiency. Nevertheless, the petition is now made in this unusual mode, so let it be put."

"Is this Theodossios now with us in this the House of God? if so, let him come forth! if not, let a search of the City be commenced! And give the Abbot---a Bishop as well if I'm not mistaken---a place to sit!"

The people were silent now, attentive, wondering what could possibly happen next; this was better than the Hippodrome!