, 1877-09-23

iliul gardens. On the left there is q river
meant, suppose, to be the St;1-with many
boat-loads Of wrctehed creatures: while OH thu
otlcr side Of the river is hell, glowing with iurd
1ames, and crowded with strange monsters
Dragons, serpehts, devils, and lost men and
women, suffering the pangs OF the damncd,-a
nuge hgure o3 Satan Ieerlng and gloating over
hls Victims-the whole forming .hastly pct
ure. The second church is smaller, and is dedi
Gated to st. Mary. There arc no frcscoes on the
walls, which are whitewashel and only relieved
ny two canyases, representing the Church Of the
lioiy Sepu'chre ut Jerusalem. The screen, how
ever, is very ricll.-the painting much finer than
In the other church, and done on copper The
subjects OIL the different panels as the Annun,
citation, Jesus the Light Of the World, Mary and
Adam and Eve from Paradise, and the Murder
of Abel By Cain. The 7eadlng-desk is admirably
carved, With a picture OF St. Andrew at the
back, while the chair Of the Abbot, who often
Worshlps here, is carved like laee-work.
Having admired the churches, lhe ArcbfInap-
drite conducted us to his ccl, where. of all
things in the world in such peaceful place, !
observed revolver. lie offered US sugar on 8
plate, and then drink of water. In no respcct,
except thar it had richer private altar, is the
other monks. II is about ten feet by eight, con-
talns bed, readinc-desk, chair, and q cup
board. The cells are arranged iu twos,-an
outer room, with large fireplace, haviug cell
entering from each side: Doors in these outer
rooms enable the monks to pass from one to
the other without going out into the open gal
ler1es or courtcyards III the cold winter. All the
rooms are scrupulously clean, neat, aud <.ool
Mnlie We MUNICH our sugar and sip our water,
the !Archtmandrlte informs us that the mon
DESTROYED By the Turks. Forty years ago it was
restored in its present shape. II accommodates
forty monks, who enter here for life, aud about
5oo neophytes. During the feast OF the patron
saint, On the 9Th of August old style
l9th Of August, new stylc) as many as
5000 pilgrims come to the monastery to per
lorin religious exercises and pcnances. These
are all accommodated in the monastery for
two Or three days Tree Of expense. Attached to
tile monastery arr four far1ns aud mill, whose
revenues SUPPORT tie MONKS and their guests.
besidcs the least time, any one applying at the
monastery is furnished With food and todg-
nleut, and after being spiritually counscled Is
sent on his way. The lnolks employed their
tune varlously when not engaged Ut their deyo-
tIotis They attend church at midnight and
at IN the afternoon, but un:holdays they fire.
quently spcnd Wtole days in lasting aud prayer.
During their leisure they card wool, spin yarn,
knit hose, cowls. mittens, fczes, and doth,
which they sell ior tie good uf the institution.
Some Of their goods are highly finished, and
they have done this much service to Bulgaria,
that when the Turks everywhere discouraged
they conserved them in their
quiet retreats. Some monks attend the gar
deus, the fruit OF which furms great parr OF
their staple lood. They never cat hesn meat OF
and on Saturday and Sunday they have cheese
and eggs The remainder Of the week their
food consists 0: olives, plums, pears, apples, or
Sa1nuts, bread and milk. and because vi their
peculiarltles in 1oud they arc named tne Order
oi Niklsor. Their dress I have already de-
scri5ed.
While conyersing with our ancient and hos
pitaole friend 4 bell rang, aud VIC were informed
hat it was breakfast time, and invited to eat.
Conducted to guv$toha.nber overlooking the
vas soon set Dtforc us. The chamber was
arge, spacious, airy room, the floor covered with
Mating, and low, cushioned divans running
LII around the walls. Tic ceiling was uf beau
full5carved cedar wood, richly picked out
with ;.iluing and blue paint. Tie breakfast,
served on q low table, At which We sat cross
eggcd, IA 1urQEe, consisted Of two kinds Of
old soup,-one 1nnde With lisi,, and the other
purely vegetable, garlic and cucumbvrs being
lie chief fconstituents,--oi olives, plGms, ortaa.
EIuc WAS also Offered, with water. We were
saired upon By qualnt ole monk, with rei
ash to his brown robe, huge eogsle-eyed spec
aclcs, aud closc-1ttiag red skull cap.-a
p1endld subject tor my artist cL1npal!Gn. Hay-
III. expressed desire to see the common eat
ng-r0om OF the monks We were at once con-
!, lor in many respects IT. is the most unique
oom in The monastery. Long, low,
nd cool, it oYcriooks III the
ne side the soutl, quadrangle. ]
nd On the other tie pass toward Tirnova. Mar
ic tables arc ranged arpunu it, with i place at ]
ac eross-,aLle for the Abbo;, who directs the |
.rviug OF everything BY couple Of bells nunz !
h the table. Near the Abbols seat is the read |
,g-lcsk, wnere by turns the monks take their
lace aud read the ErangeIs during meals. The
aulted ceiling contains 1aFge 1Fesco Of Christ
xpountsing the Scriptures. At the head Of the
,om, or east end, is 4 c3p:tall ly-ezccuted paint
" of the Last SUPPER. and beneath panels |
1utalniug trescoes ol tnc Auuuucia,ion, the
liracle ot the feeding Of the 5000 on he loayes
nd fishes, aul OF the Good Samaritan, while ]
the west end is a vigorous representation of
braham entertaining angels uuawarcs, and
,und tie room are portraits Of former beads
the establishment painted OH 4 bluc ground.
he cfcot Of the wi,ule is exceedingly ricu and |
uaint, yet appropriate Alter spending four !
leasant hours i'll the fine old piacr, and in the
onlpany oi the good. kindly, hosp1tabe monks, J
e lett our small donation toward the feeding
tic poor AMI hungry, and cantercd back to !
irl.ova- as much impressed with The peaceful,
mple lives Of the quaint bulgarian monks MS |
it'll the wonurously beautiful scenery amid
hich tier dwell,