*54 T R A V E L S in G R E E C E .
T he pretiovs reliques of the thrice-bleffed Luke were the
important treafure, which once ennobled this-church. Among
the cures effected by them and recorded by his biographer, one
is of a Dsemoniac. In a diftich in the Menology, ft is affirmed,
he had filled Hellas with miracles, »id continued them-, though
dead. In the fervice of the day, to omit other eulogiums, he
is addreffed as repelling evil affections ; as healing lepers arid all
difeafes ; as giving> fight to the blind j reftoring the ufe o f
limbs j and difpenfing an univerfal panaceum. The abbot
fhowed us a fmall farcophagus or coffin, with a wooden lid, and
a cover before,, jt, in a chapel or recefs. This was the cafket,
but he could not inform us what portion of the faint ;it had
contained, or by whom or whither removed. He related, that
the marble pannel, ©a each fide formerly exfuded an ointment d£
prodigious virtue i a tale received- by fame of our company with
much reverence and eroding. The. entire body, it is probable,
was. deemed early too rich a jewel to he pofieffed by one fpot;
for in a catalogue of the reliques, .which belonged to the great
church, ©£ the monaftery of St. Laura at mount Athos, is mentioned
a part o f St. Luke Stiriotes. He produced likewife
fonae ©id pictures of the Panagia or Virgin Mary painted, art
wood,, with* a fine portrait of St. Luke the evaatgehift, which
had been- procured from Mufoovy.
Beneath the chuceh is an extenfive vaults im which mafs
is celebrated on certain fefMvalss. There is the' ccemetery efi the
monks. The body is inclofed in an: horizontal niche©mi a bier,
which is taken out when wanted. The hones, are wafised: with
wine, and thrown on. a heap.. In the area are two fiat tombs
raiiedi above the floor., The-marble; flab on the top o f one ©f
them is plain', except, a. G-reekcrofs engraved on: the: right fide.
In the- other a plate- o£ brafs:or metal has. been' fixed, with an
! infeription. They were ere<£ted,. as the abbot informed- US', over
the founder Romanus and the emprefs his wife.
T he
T he fp ot„cultivated by Luke was pofleffed in 1676 by »
hermit, whom Wheler vifited, The way from the monaftery
Was down the bill to the' fouth^ acrbfs a fmall river in a plea>
fant plain, planted with Vines and olive-trees j and then up a
fteep rock, cat wide enough for two carts to pafs, the afeerit
eafy. On the top were ruins of a town and caftle j and beneath,
a mêtochi or farm near a port, in which the caloyers or mónks
fifh, and veflels load with corn. He turned to the left over a
craggy ridge and arrived at the hermitage, fituated on the fouth-
eafl fide o f a rock, and diftaat a mile and a half from the
tnonaftery. The garden was large, with a cell and a pretty
oratory at the upper end. Below was a fountain of good water j
and beyond it, a river, which defcended in a cafeade from the
high cliffs of mount Zagara or Hdicon, and paffed by, murmuring
among the Vaft rocks and ftones in its chatief. The
hoary head of the hermit, who was clothed m a tóng brown
garment, refemblcd the fkowy fiimmits. He carved fcriptural
lo r ila on'crtdEes with admirable art, and was effeCmed a faint.
t!"An humble companion miniftered to him, as Luke to Stylires.
Two .caloyers or monks, Whd lived^in.a hüt bén'èalh, produced
bread and olives, white honeycomb, and excellent wine, for
the refrefhment of our traveller who' was for charmed with
the harmony of birds, and the natural beauties of the place, and
fo foothed with the idea of enjoying perfeÖ peaee and innocence,
that^. as he relates, he was near refolving to bid adieu to a vain
‘world, and, like another Cofmas» to fix his abode therev
C H A P.