Sergey Zagraevsky
Architect
of His Majesty
(the letters of Abbe Gottlieb-Johann von Rosenau, describing
his travel to
by the decree of Emperor Friedrich Barbarossa in 1157–1161
A.D.)
Published in
Russian: Ñåðãåé Çàãðàåâñêèé. Àðõèòåêòîð åãî âåëè÷åñòâà
(ïèñüìà àááàòà Ãîòëèáà-Èîãàííà ôîí Ðîçåíàó, îïèñûâàþùèå åãî ïóòåøåñòâèå íà Ðóñü
ïî óêàçó èìïåðàòîðà Ôðèäðèõà Áàðáàðîññû â 1157–1161 ãîäàõ îò Ðîæäåñòâà
Õðèñòîâà). Ì., 2014. ISBN 978-5-94282-710-6
Annotation to the set of
historical novels "Mysteries of
The historical novels of Professor, Dr. Sergey Zagraevsky are written on
the basis of real chronicle, architectural and archaeological data, and are
dedicated for a wide range of readers interested in history and architecture of
Ancient Rus and Medieval Europe.
The plot of all novels of the set "Mysteries of Vienna
library" are the documents, allegedly found the by author in this library
and translated into Russian. Genres of the novels are different – from a
detective to a romantic poem. All the novels of this set have a common
storyline – unsuccessful attempts of Catholic Church to establish its power in
Annotation to the novel
The letters of Abbe Gottlieb-Johann
von Rosenau, one of the most prominent architects of Holy Roman Empire, are
found in Vienna library. In 1157, The architect by the
decree of the Emperor was sent to
The historical novel by Professor, Dr.
Sergey Zagraevsky is written on the basis of real chronicle, architectural and
archaeological data. According to the message of the greatest Russian historian
of the XVIII century V N. Tatishchev, in the middle of the XII century in
Russia worked the architect sent by Emperor Frederick Barbarossa, and that
architect by order of Prince Andrey Bogolyubsky built Assumption Cathedral
(1158-1160) and Golden Gate in Vladimir. Newest researches dated Churches of Intercession
on the Nerl and of Nativity of the Virgin in Bogolyubovo by 1158, so these
temples also may be attributed to the work of the Imperial architect. Echoes of
Russian Chronicles told us the nickname of this architect – "German Kufir".
The novel is dedicated for a wide
range of readers interested in ancient history and architecture. The book
provides the historical reconstruction of everyday life, mores, architecture
and roads of Ancient Russia.
Attention!
The following text
was translated from the Russian original by the computer program
and has not
yet been edited.
So it can be used
only for general introduction.
From filing of the
The name of the unit storage:
letters architect Abbe Gottlieb-Johann von Rosenau, addressed to Conrad von The
Steinbach, Archbishop of Worms, describing the journey of an architect in
Document type: compilation of 15
letters applications.
Storage: XII-34, acts of the XII
century.
The document number for the
library's inventory: XII-34-5836/V.
The source and date of receipt of
the document to the library: the diocesan archive of the city of worms,
September 19, 1517.
Dating document:
1157-1161 years.
The volume of the document: 486
sheets of parchment of different the size and quality.
The preservation of the document:
satisfactory. Minor breaks and abrasions were caused in 1157-1161 years –
probably during delivery of messages to the recipient.
Application:
1. Archive biographical information,
compiled in 1519, on 3 sheets.
2. Drawings the Abbe Gottlieb-Johann
von Rosenau, 8 sheets. (Apparently, original drawings belong to different
letters, but just set to which it is already impossible – approx. transl.)
LETTER FIRST
(room on
the inventory of the
His Eminence lordship Conrad,
Archbishop of Worms, in the world count von Steinbach from Gottlieb-Johann, in
the world of Baron von Rosenau, the grace of the rector Abbey of the Holy
Apostle Paul in worms.
It was written in the city of worms
in the twelfth day of April of 1157 ad.
Greetings, his Eminence and his
Conrad, my kind Archpastor, the countryman and brother in Christ!
The Lord teaches us humility with
which I greeted the blessed decree of Frederick, Emperor of The Holy Roman
Empire and king of
I'm surprised Archbishop Conrad, why
are you being now, together with his Majesty in the glorious city of
Regensburg, could not dissuade the Emperor from his intention to send to the
Russian is me, your countryman. Since his Majesty so loved the barbarians? Why
not pleased the Emperor Frederick to send to
I can not not surprised
and what me in addition to the construction of temples, required to maintain
among the barbarians missionary work, befitting the more experienced preachers.
Laurels the great architect Vitruvius always been me more streamy than the
laurels the great missionary Ulvila, and my knowledge in the construction
business are much more extensive than the knowledge of the Scriptures. Besides,
as far as I you know, the Byzantine Church dominates in Russia is not the first
century, and I'm afraid that the missionary work there maybe only such, among
the hardenedPalestinian Mohammedans, that is, either by applying to the true
Catholic the faith of their princes, or, God forbid, with fire and sword.
But not for me to discuss decisions
of the ecclesiastical and secular authorities, much less so deeply respected by
me of the Emperor, and no less respected Archbishop Conrad. I remember that
many bound your protection, so take your cross and agree with honor carry it to
distant and dangerous journey.
The distance and the danger the way
ahead is confirmed by the fact that the decree of the Emperor attached
indulgence our Holy fathers, by which sold all my grave and numerous sins.
Worthless I prevaricate to you, dear my countryman and priest, so I will say
frankly: I wish I still lived in
The Imperial edict was I handed
However, I had to hear a few phrases
in Russian, and this language seemed barbaric, but such the impression of any
language usually dissipates as soon as you know it better. For example, when I
worked in the
And here the Imperial Ambassador
Arnulf of
However, in our time, and his
Holiness the Pope, and our Christians the Emperor more and more
closer to itself the
Now let my benefactor and brother in
Christ Conrad, to draw your attention to some vain earthly things, without
which our imperfect world is impossible the service of God – not by the sacred
Liturgy, nor much less by the construction of temples.
I'm surprised that no money for the
journey, his Majesty did not give me, putting me in the complete dependence of
the knight He from Caesarea, Russian ambassadors and future the bounty of
If
I asked Arnulf, can I get one of the
servants, but he said that on the boat not so much, and we both can do it
people. Indeed, with him are two, dark and silent servants, but I don't know to
what extent can to use their help in everyday earthly needs. For help of four
servants Russian ambassadors I certainly don't expect.
I'm sorry, my brother in Christ, the
old grumbler Gottlieb. I'm afraid that will be difficult for me coming way.
When I went to
Slightly comforts me only that his
Majesty in his decree ordered me to report everything seen in
I hope my brother in Christ, you don't take the trouble on my messages to report
the Emperor on topics that interested him. First of all, as I understand it
from the decree of his Majesty, he needs descriptions of the fortifications of
Russian cities. Not sure if it was my honor to meet this August interest for
are experienced Church Builder, but in the castle are only those knowledge
which are necessary for General knowledge of construction Sciences and arts.
Perhaps, our wise Lord Emperor, the Church Builder and the Builderfortresses
are one and the same, because it has to do with the construction. I have not
once faced with such a deplorable fallacy: by this logic, and carpenter a
carpenter is the same, because they are relevant to the processing of wood.
However, in all the will of God and his earthly anointed Friedrich.
For myself I left in Worms Harald
from
I took a drawing
accessories, a large scroll of parchment the best and joiner tool for
making models of churches. A lot of work, and future buildings should the best
way to represent the customer. (In the original Latin – "prescriptive
building"; here and hereinafter will be used the modern word
"customer" and "order" – approx. transl.). I don't want to
go far
I took and finished the drawing,
which in my case is always there. This Basilica is similar to one of the ones
that I ten years ago had to be built in the glorious city of
So, I commit myself The Lord and
encouraged by the Pope's remission of my many sins, tomorrow morning embark on a long journey.
The grace of God Yes be with you and all our brothers in Christ, may your days
will be full of joy and success, bless you Almighty God countless years. Amen.
Sincerely yours, forever loving you
and with your whole soul devoted friend servant of Christ and a countryman of
yours Gottlieb-Johann.
LETTER SECOND
(room on
the inventory of the
His Eminence lordship Conrad,
Archbishop of Worms, in the world count von Steinbach from Gottlieb-Johann, in
the world of Baron von Rosenau, the grace of the rector Abbey of the Holy
Apostle Paul in worms.
Written in the middle
East sea (
Greetings, his Eminence and his
Conrad, my kind countryman and brother in Christ!
On infinite mercy Of the Lord, as we
sail on the Eastern sea, God gives us the beautiful
weather all the time blows the wind. I had to travel on the ship, but such an
easy and pleasant sailing I don't recall the glory of the Lord Be to our God
forever and ever. Food for our mortal bodies, servants Arnulf and Russian
ambassadors perfectly cooked, and the bed is even more convenient than worms in
my cell. The captain of our ship (in the original Latin – "home on
Board"; hereinafter, for simplicity will use the word "captain"
– approx. transl.) – sweetest and humble Mecklenburger Heinz.
Unfortunately, this narrative on the
pleasantness of my journey ends, for, as the Scripture has said, in much wisdom
is much grief, and he that increaseth knowledge, increaseth sorrow. For
traveling through the efforts of the knight Arnulf and Russian ambassadors my
knowledge about
Not know,
did you have to meet at the court of his Imperial Majesty with the He of
Caesarea, so just in case you describe this Templar. Age he
a little older than me: he was born soon after the conquest of Christ our
warriors of the
However, my Christian love this Templar from the knowledge of its merits it is not
intensified, because he leads not like a good monk. From his mouth sometimes
come skvernoslovit expression, remembers it, and the enemy of the human race,
and even in an indecent sense – the names of our Lord and his blessed Mother,
the immaculate virgin Mary. His face is crossed by two
deep scar, increasing it above me almost on the head
and much broader in the shoulders. You, my brother in Christ, you know, that
I'm not fat: too often on a job I haveto climb the scaffolding. But compared
with the knight He I look low fat.
Keep this knight himself with me as
if I am a cumbersome outfit that you want to safely drop off to
And Russian ambassadors, on the
contrary, every day I like more and more. Surprisingly nice and friendly people, and the friendliness of the blessed of the Lord. I
already wrote that they well speak Latin. Two of them are near the nobles of
Miroslav me a lot talks about
Russia, a lot about this country and I know from conversations that lead
Arnulf, Ratibor and Procopius – of course, only in those cases when they
switching to Latin, because most often they talk among themselves in Russian.
And here what should I tell about the state where I will our beloved Emperor
sent in his old age, he will save and have mercy on me Lord. If you would know
all that I'll tell you now, I think, would find a way to convince his Majesty
to send not me and not even Joachim von Liebig, andsome of the initiator or of
the French from those who are gallivanting around our great Empire with
far-flung teams and begging the barons of the orders for construction at least
the village churches.
In
Strictly speaking, this war began
even earlier, a hundred years ago, when he died Grand Prince Yaroslav, which
the the Russians called Wise. In those days,
But when Yaroslav died, he left
several sons. According to the customs of the most enlightened monarchies, they
all had to be in
Yaroslav, dividing the country among
children, caused that
Fortunately, in our
In today's day all the Russian
princes, which is alive and well not one dozen, are the origins from the
legendary Norman Rurik, have in the management of large and small areas, call
each other brothers, at every opportunity give each other oaths of eternal
fidelity and Christian love, kiss the Holy Cross, which they obligingly bring
bishops, and the next day again go into battle, brother against brother. In so
bloody wars involved the surrounding peoples, the Normans, the Hungarians, the
Bohemians, poles, steppe nomads – which invites one or another Prince. And
thesepeople come to
The result is regrettable: the
country is divided and ruined. The Lord does not favor fratricide and
perjurers, even if their vows were sealed, the priest
is not the true Catholic faith, and the
The Grandson Of Yaroslav The Wise,
Grand Prince of Kiev Vladimir Monomakh, so named because of the relationship of
the mother with the Byzantine Emperor, briefly subjugated the Russian
principalities, and even then not completely and not everyone. And soon after
his death, war broke out with redoubled force. Everywhere turbulent everywhere
shed Christian blood after Russian faith all Christians, let the Byzantine
style. Everywhere the infinite mercy of God have
replaced God's righteous anger. Indeed, according to the Scriptures, "if a
Kingdom is divided against itself cannot stand that
Kingdom".
And in this troubled country sent
his Majesty is not the last of its architects. However, we are all in the hand
of God, and I consider this Imperial the decree not only as a punishment for my
grave sins. You can argue that my sins will be forgiven the Holy father, but apparently these things absolution a few
belatedly, for it was given after the decree of his Imperial Majesty Friedrich.
But forgive my senile grumbling, my
dear brother in Christ, and let more to tell you about Prince Georgy
Vladimirovich, known in Russia Dolgoruky, to which I am sent to build temples.
As I understand from the stories of my companions, I will be very interesting
to see this Prince, although, frankly, I'm happy would've lived the rest of
their earthly days without meetings not only with the Russian princes, but with
This Prince is the the younger son
of Vladimir Monomakh. George is now more than sixty years, he eleven sons, and
youngest born only three years ago: such fertility, especially in such a ripe
old age, a rarity even for Russian. From his father, Dolgoruky baby got Suzdal
in the North-Eastern edge of
While in
Ratibor told that Dolgoruky got his nickname
just because of the fact that his hands EPE would be dragged to
Generally
speaking, my conversations with Miroslav much warmer and sincere than with
other ambassadors.
In
Miroslav saw temples built by me,
and highly commended my work. Frankly, I'm flattered, although a Christian
becoming modesty. I guess in the end, it is to him I owe the Imperial decree
about my direction in
I write to you, my dear brother in
Christ and fellow countryman, this letter, protolysis in the bow tip the
rickety ship in the middle of the sea, so we hope that you will forgive me the
uneven handwriting, unworthy of a highly experienced architect. With whom I can
pass on letter – don't know yet, but when I write, the soul comes some relief.
The grace of God Yes be with you and all our brothers in Christ, God bless you
countless years. Amen.
Forever loving you and devoted
friend servant of Christ and a countryman of yours Gottlieb-Johann.
LETTER THIRD
(room on
the inventory of the
His Eminence lordship Conrad,
Archbishop of Worms, in the world count von Steinbach from Gottlieb-Johann, in
the world of Baron von Rosenau, the grace of the rector Abbey of the Holy
Apostle Paul in worms.
Written in the middle of
Glory to Jesus Christ evermore, his
Eminence and his Conrad, my kind Archpastor!
Previous letter I have not sent, but
it is my brotherly duty to write another, and describe their first impressions
about
The first Russian settlement we saw
on the river
In almost every such the settlement
has a small Church, which, as a rule, devoted to Nicholas, the Bishop of Myra,
and looks like a high hut with a cross on top and a pair of cracked and
blackened icons inside. If you have not heard the word "hut", then
specify that in Russia the so-called simple one-story wooden houses with gabled
roofs.
There is in these settlements and
small, surrounded by a palisade military posts for protection against robbers,
which, they say, there are many. Fortunately, the neighborhood armed to the
teeth With Arnulf and Russian ambassadors stories about the atrocities of the
outlaws do not sound so heartbreaking, besides enemies of the state of law and
the Christian calm enough in our God-saved
From Walnut island starts the
The fact that in
the cities this country great importance of the meeting of eminent citizens,
called the unpronounceable word "Veche". Rights Veche much, sometimes they
can even to banish the Prince and invite the other. In
So, Ratibor on Nut
island said that
ruled in Novgorod Prince Mstislav, son of George Dolgorukiy, was two weeks ago
expelled, and in his place invited Sviatoslav, the son of the hostile Dolgoruky
Rostislav Mstislavich, Prince of Smolensk. Russian princely names a large
variety do not differ, so let me draw your attention that Rostislav is the
younger brother of the Izyaslav, whom George many years fighting for
After hearing about the change of
power in
He took off his gorgeous white
Templar cloak with red cross and put it in the chest.
I also had to put in the trunk of his Abbey vestments. We bought the auction
simple road clothes, hired a merchant river boat with eight the rowers and
steering, put down all our Luggage and continued on
his way. In this rook no such comfortable cabins, both on the marine ship, and
your brother in Christ abideth on a simple wooden bench, suffering the
inconvenience with decent Christian humility. Food has also become much
simpler: if in the East sea onthe ship was a
considerable stock of different food and we were served gourmet meals we were
drinking wonderful Bavarian beer, now our destiny is water, crackers, porridge
and pickles. However, blagorodniy fast pleasing to the Lord, and I don't have
the right to complain.
During overload Luggage we were
approached by a richly dressed man in a high hat, accompanied by two soldiers,
about to ask something, He and Procopius something to him quietly and said gave
some money. He nodded and departed with the warriors. Procopius then explained
to me that it was a Royal official whose job collection trading fees and that
there is a custom of crossing the Russian border: the first presentation of the
goods and accompanying certificates, the presentation. In the first case, the
duty paid in great and princely Treasury, inthe second is much smaller and is paid
to the officer performing the inspection. And if in the times of Yaroslav the
Wise and Vladimir Monomakh officials often feared to take unjust recompense,
now, when the rulers changed almost every year, no one is afraid of nothing. Of
course, if we were able to show the Embassy letters, that nothing would be
paid, but in the end everything worked out small money Russian official with
Walnut island, set to protect the border of the state
and to replenish the Treasury.
That's the first sins, brother my in
Christ that I made after indulgences, graciously given to me his Holiness Pope:
replaced Abbey vestments on the clothes of a simple Wayfarer, and tacitly
contributed to the unjust giving of bribes. And let these sins are forgivable,
because it is done internally, but repent of them before thee, Christians
Archbishop of Worms. Brother Severin, who was also forced to change monastic
clothes, on a simple dress traveler, I let go of this sin. Suggested I confess
to me and the Templar he, but he just contemptuouslysmiled and refused.
Apparently, the knights of Christ and of the
So, harsh and
unfriendly, met Rus Imperial architect going to praise it the construction of
the great temples.
But the weather is good, thank the Lord, accompanies
us today. Now we sail on
Procopius Cosmetic said the next
town on the way to Novgorod – Ladoga (today Old Ladoga – approx. transl.) on
the Volkhov river, and there we certainly meet German merchants, for at this
time of year, the ancient trade route "from the Varangians to the
Greeks" (Latin the original – "from the Normans to the Greeks,"
but here we will continue to use better known version of the name. Approx. transl.) via
About the local fortress I while
what to write to you for transmission to his Majesty nothing: the stockade,
which surrounded by a military post on Nut island, can be called a
fortification only when great imagination, and the excessive imagination of a
good Christian is not proper, because it can be a delusion of the enemy of
mankind.
The grace of God Yes be with you, may your days be full of joy and prosperity.
Amen.
Sincerely yours, forever loving you
countryman your Gottlieb-Johann.
LETTER FOURTH
(room on
the inventory of the
His most Reverend lordship Conrad,
Archbishop of Worms, in the world count von Steinbach from Gottlieb-Johann, in
the world of Baron von Rosenau, the grace of the rector Abbey of the Holy Apostle
Paul in worms.
It was written in the city of
Greetings, his Eminence and his
Conrad!
I want to tell you about lot, but
first of all briefly describe the city of
In Ladoga there is a small stone
fortress – as I told Miroslav, the only one in
All the houses and
churches in Ladoga wood. Almost all of them hide behind high fences and the street is is almost
not visible. All buildings in the strongest way bloated due to the fact that
most huts don't have chimneys and fired, as they say here, "black":
the smoke from the hearth escapes through small Windows under the roof. Below
the castle by the river is a great bargain.
The further way up Volkhov for ships
impassable because of the rapids, but I already wrote to you that even on
Orekhovy island we boarded a river boat.
Sailed we from
Ladoga, in alone.
Merchant ships are usually go caravans – for protection from robbers. I was
asked to join one of these caravans, but He and Russian ambassadors refused:
they did not want to communicate with merchants that do not accidentally
revealed who we really are.
And that's our boat was last before
the threshold of
I haven't gotten anything to
understand when received from Arnulf strongest push in the back and fell to the
bottom ship. Time: from now rooks soared cloud of arrows and hit us. Arnulf
fell on me and covered his body, protecting from arrows. The same his servants
made with brother Mr. Severin.
Thank The Lord, the robbers shot
wide of the target, and the distance was too great. Was wounded only one of the
servants Ratibor: the arrow pierced his shoulder. But the distance quickly
decreased for our rowers and steering immediately threw the paddle and lay face
down on the bottom. Even the threat of Arnulf and Ratibor could not get them to
sit behind paddle. If we hired people in collusion with the
wicked? Not know and hardly someday the Lord to make wise of me to know
these things. Besides the most intense boating would not
help: predatory rook were easier, and oars they had more.
The idea of the villains at once
became clear even to me, ignorant in military Affairs: two rooks began to go
around us with two parties, intending to mate with our boat and capture it.
Third the boat, where it was most of all archers, kept at a distance, showering
us with arrows.
I confess, I showed cowardice and
shouted that you need to give up and try to pay off. But my scream no one paid
attention. Servants Arnulf opened a large chest and took out crossbows, one of
the servants Ratibor was an Archer, and also got weapons. Arnulf and Russian
ambassadors drew their swords.
And then, my brother in Christ, I
realized that all the legends that we go about the martial art Templar, is not
exaggerated. Crossbowmen immediately started shooting, and after a couple of
minutes in the next two rooks arrows ceased to fly
their archers were killed. Any arrow from a crossbow not flew over the goal.
Russian same Archer fired at the far ship, got it or not – I have not seen, but
the shooting stopped and there. Perhaps the robbers from the ship just I was
afraid to get in their because the other two boats
came very close and began to throw the hooks so as to mate with our boat.
And when the court grappled, I
understand what the Templar in combat with swords. While Russian ambassadors
fought robbers of the first boats, He alone – Yes, my dear, my countryman,
alone! – jumped to the second. And in each of the castles
villains ten and even more.
Probably on his deathbed I will
remember these robbers, overgrown with huge beards, whistling and screaming
something inarticulate. I will remember and swords and axes, maces, and more
for some unknown to me the weapons in their hands. But first of all I will
remember how long sword Arnulf became a shining circle, striking villains as
deadly tornado. Praise the Lord, in long and narrow
boat all the outlaws could simultaneously attack the knight. Some of them were
in chain mail, but He was cut their coats of mail, like a linen shirt. No
villain could notto get valiant Templar with their weapons. All were killed or
mortally injured in minutes. Those who tried to move our rook back Arnulf was
killed from a crossbow servants.
Then He jumped in the other boat to
come to the aid of Russian ambassadors. Soon it was all over. One of the
robbers jumped into the water and tried to swim away, but he was immediately
overtaken by the arrow with a crossbow. Two survivors disheveled bearded fell
to his knees in the middle of his ship, shaking and begging for mercy. The
robbers in the third boat, having seen what happened to their ungodly
companions, took to flight and soon disappeared behind a bend of the river.
Did you, Archbishop Conrad, to see
the consequences of mortal fight with swords? If no, thank God. To me that's
happened between Ladoga and
We had to decide what to do with the
two villains, who surrendered at our mercy. I am deeply shaken all seen,
proposed to stop the bloodshed and deliver this people
However, subsequently Miroslav
explained to me that hanging is a great mercy to these robbers, because if they
fell into the hands of the
Came a tie our ship offered to cut off
all the dead and alive villains of the head and to bring in
Well-versed not only in the art of
cutting stone, but in medicine brother Severin cleaned and bandaged minor
wounds Russian servants caused by arrows and swords. None of the noble nobles,
thank the Lord, was not injured. The rowers had washed the blood from our ship,
servants began to wash the bloody clothes, and we drove off.
And when we arrived at
Learning about the repose George,
even the hitherto unflappable Arnulf of Caesarea's face changed, and had a
really good reason: we were under the guise of German merchants in the middle
of a large Russian city, not at all wise Lord is, what
to do next.
However, we almost immediately well
by the grace of God managed to find shelter in a big house – this house here
called ' chambers, local merchant Radko of Hotelovych, countryman Miroslav. We
moved back to the load, a little rest from the road and gathered in the main
room on the Board.
I again called for returning to his
native blessed Empire, because our Embassy was sent it
is to the late Grand Duke Georgy Vladimirovich. But this time my the proposal was not supported because, apparently, the
knight Arnulf received from his Imperial Majesty Friedrich some unknown to me
additional the instructions and powers.
The Council decided, that He is with
me, Severin, Miroslav and two servants Templar remains in Novgorod Radko,
Procopius sent to Kiev, and Ratibor – Suzdal the land where reign the son of
George Andrew. As told by Ratibor, who knows Andrew almost from the cradle,
this Prince two years ago against the will of the father went to Zales from
Vyshgorod – given to him in the reign of the city not far from
Procopius and Ratibor needs had to
do the same thing: to understand the situation and to obtain for us new
Prince's invitation. As I understand it, the princes had be of interest not
only build temples, but even some important mission, about which knew only
Arnulf, Ratibor and Procopius.
Term on the Council has determined
three months: if by the first day of September we with the He will not get a
new invitation, then go back in order to get home before the autumn storms on
The Ladoga lake and the East sea. By the way, the first day of September of
this year – 6666 beginning of the year "from creation" according to
the accepted Byzantine here calendar, and this sinister symbols with two
overlapping on each other "numbers of the beast" is very concerned
about the Russians. Praise be to Almighty God, in our calendar, not less
ominous 666, the year of the birth of Christ were in the distant the past.
The next day Ratibor and Procopius
hired light, fast ships and departed. Radko Jotanovic received the payment for
our stay ahead for three months and I seem to have been very happy.
So, my kind Conrad, I have three
months to get acquainted with
The grace of God Yes be with you and
his Majesty, may your days be full of joy and prosperity, may the Almighty Lord
countless years you and all our mother of God, to the German people. Amen.
Sincerely yours,
forever loving you and devoted friend servant of Christ and a countryman of
yours Gottlieb-Johann.
LETTER FIFTH
(room on
the inventory of the
His Eminence lordship Conrad,
Archbishop of Worms, in the world count von Steinbach from Gottlieb-Johann, in
the world of Baron von Rosenau, the grace of the rector Abbey of the Holy
Apostle Paul in worms.
It was written in the city of
Greetings, his Eminence and his
Conrad, my kind Archpastor, the countryman and brother in Christ!
As promised, I will describe to you
Novgorod by the will of God vast and
rich, lives in it, as I thought, at least fifty thousand man, all the piers
crowded with ships filled with goods, and such huge bargain, I have not seen
even in his native Germany.
Worn local people,
in my humble opinion, not worse than in our Empire. I know nothing about modern clothes
for most of my life wearing monastic garb, but there is no doubt that all the
stories about Russian barbarians, dressed in the raw animal skins, – the same,
God forgive me, nonsense, and stories about people with dog's heads.
Just as we have, in
As for the noble bar, the merchants
of
In
Bridge on the largest
In the midst of the city through
Volkhov spanned a long low bridge, which is called Great.
Large ships via
Over the citadel dominates the
city's Cathedral, built about a hundred years ago in the Byzantine forms. Have
this Cathedral has five chapters (in translation, for simplicity, will be used
modern architectural terms – approx. transl.). Head here, as in
Dedicated to this
On the other side of the Volkhov,
the former court of Yaroslav the Wise, stands built forty years ago the
five-domed stone Church dedicated to St. Nicholas of Myra. Out city, above and
below the river, there are two separate monastery, St.
George and St. Anthony, with its fortifications and a large stone cathedrals.
There another fortress with a stone Church, called it very difficult for our
German pronunciation – Mound is courtyard present of the princes of
In addition to stone, the city there are a lot of wooden churches: the Church, and
sometimes several, is on almost every street. Sometimes these are the same high
hut with a cross on top, what I had seen, but more often very fussy works of
art of carpentry, up to the largest temples, towering shape, surmounted by an
octagonal tent. And where many churches, there are many priests, whose name is
not here the Greek way – the priests, and the Latin – priests, similar to our
Holy father. On the streets priests and monks canto meet more often than in our
Imperial cities: so I had to see only in
In short, as I expected, the
And the influence of the Byzantine
the Church here is felt not only in the number of temples and priests, but in
the deep piety of the Russian people. I want to tell you, my dear brother in
Christ, what happened here with me a very unpleasant incident in which this
devotion of a sudden appeared.
I was coming back alone home in the
evening, it was not very late, and the sun still shone brightly, for the summer
days here is long. But passers-by was already a
little. And suddenly, from a low wicket at the the rickety fence was bad
dressed man and something said to me. I replied in German, I don't understand.
Then he grabbed my elbow and dragged me into the gate, I confusion not even
resisted. On the other side of the fence I saw dilapidated, non-residential
house beside her stood two, the appearance of which I vividly reminded of
bandits on the Volkhov.
Can you describe on parchment my
sense of helplessness in the face of a gang of thugs? Have still, however, did
not have any weapons, but I'm still so scared that he could
hardly stand on his feet. They approached me with some words, I once
again I do not understand, and then they searched my clothes and found a purse
with small change, I take him for a walk: money Abbey taken on a trip, I
prudent to leave in one of the chests under the vigilant protection of the
valiant knight Arnulf and his servants for heard a lot about the local thieves.
Taking this little thing, the
robbers gestures commanded me to undress: apparently, my clothes for them is also presented value. I obeyed and stayed in their
underwear. I was told to shoot him leaving instead a kind of dirty rag, so I
could cover those places bequeathed to us to cover even our forefather Adam.
I stayed only gold pectoral cross
worn me more than half a century ago at the baptism in the Cathedral of our
native Steinbach. This cross is very expensive even for our Imperial standards,
not to mention
Then me, thank The Lord, let go, and
I returned to the tower Radko shivering from the experience of fear and the
evening chill.
Knight Arnulf irritably explained to
me that the reason for this accident is me, for the need was not to stop when I
was approached by the man, and just walk by, not paying attention to him. And
when he grabbed me by the elbow, I had start to call
for help and to defend to the best of his considerable physical strength. And
indeed, I remembered that the villain was much medusae me.
It seems valiant Arnulf just pissed
off that those robbers didn't even have any weapons, that is, it was a regular
tramp. It turns out that with me happened here is called "undress to the
cross," and if I stripped the soldiers in heavy weapons, maybe he would not
be so insulting. For the future knight
I could not tell about the amazing
devotion of those rogues, but the Templar hissed through clenched teeth, what
piety is expressed in a reverent attitude to the shrines, there was the simple
superstition: who shot with me, the cross would take away all my sins. I did
not argue, although still of the opinion that piety is piety, regardless of
what caused it.
At the end of the conversation He
looked at me with unhappy eyes, smiled and said like this I look like a circus
clown. I'm offended said that we can't all be coaches lions, and went to his
room to change.
Now let my brother in Christ, to
fulfill the will of our Christians by the Emperor and to describe the
strengthening of
I did not expect that the
strengthening of the second largest city of
In the town fortress are two doors –
one from the river, others on the contrary. Over the gate built low, only
slightly above the walls, wooden tower. No more towers are very useful for
strengthening of defense, the fortress has not.
And even so weak - building is
surrounded by not more than one tenth of the
Suburban strongholds quite small,
their territory does not exceed two acres (less than one hectare – approx.
transl.), and strengthened even weaker: the height of the shaft is three cubits
(
In the
However, a certain the reason to use
churches as the primary towers are still there, and in our own Germany there
are many such examples: I built myself a fortress Church in the See of Abbey,
may God grant there the Abbot to Vivaldo background Stablo und Corvey recovery
from his serious illness. In any case, if the enemy had been able to overcome
the main town fortifications and capture the city taking even the strongest of
the main tower is just a matter of a relatively small time. But at least a
symbolic main tower of the fortress is still needed, becausewhen you capture an
enemy city walls, the military commander must be able to be locked in some
consolidation, and while the enemy is preparing to attack to negotiate
honorable surrender. And even the weakest main tower gives noble class enough
protection during the uprising of the citizens.
In General I would put it about
strengthening of
But I hope to leave this city
earlier than turn away from him the blessed virgin, and soon to return to our
blessed
The grace of God Yes be with you and all our brothers in Christ, may your days
will be full of joy and success, bless you Almighty God countless years. Amen.
Sincerely yours, forever loving you
and with your whole soul devoted friend servant of Christ and a countryman of
yours Gottlieb-Johann.
LETTER SIXTH
(room on
the inventory of the
His Eminence
Conrad, Archbishop of
It was written in the city of
Greetings, his Conrad, my Archpastor
and brother in Christ!
Long had I chance to write to you,
my kind countryman. Unprecedented
misadventures was sent to me by God for my sins. If you paid attention, that this letter bad written on cheap parchment,
and in
One indeed a miserable day in late
July, in eager anticipation of leaving for our blessed home, I went with brother
Severin in Novgorod Georgiev the monastery to explore the local Cathedral. We
returned to the tower Radko of Hotelovych in the evening, but summer nights in
Novgorod short, and it was still bright as day. And now, my brother in Christ,
as we approached the house I saw that he was surrounded by soldiers, and there
are townspeople.
The Lord has umodel me to hide in
the crowd, and in the distance I saw the guards brought out of the gate related
Arnulf, Miroslav and servants. Then took out all of our chests
including with the gifts of the Christians by the Emperor Frederick.
Next was Radko and was explaining something the guards, showing it to my
companions, then around.
On infinite mercy Of God, Radko,
people of small stature, did not notice the crowd my brother and me Severina.
We only saw the knight Arnulf, towering over the crowd and guards. Blocking the
noise, he shouted with his powerful voice that Judas-Radko betrayed Novgorod
Prince Svyatoslav our Embassy that he and Miroslav arrested that for me and
Severin will now hunt the guards that we urgently need to leave the Lyudin end,
so as not to catch the eye of the ungodly Radko, and that we should try to be
employed on any ship and return to Empire.
I once told gallant knight of the
If I was a hero some French songs of
the troubadours, then I would try to sneak in the prison, and to release his
companions. But minds and given us to keep from suicidal acts, because suicide
is the gravest of earthly sins. So I just silently sent a blessing after taken
satellites left together with his brother Severin Lyudin end and went to The
great bridge, under which, as I have noticed before, spends the night a lot of
homeless people.
Money Abbey taken me in the journey, lay in one of the chests under the vigilant
protection of valiant knight He from
The rain here in the summer the warm
rains, but if you get wet, cold. Huddled under one of the shore abutments of
the Great bridge, I began to ponder what to do next.
Was it possible to execute the last
instruction Arnulf – employed on a ship, sailing on our homeland? I decided
that no, there were two reasons. First, the Prince guard, because she had a job
to find us, probably checked all sailing in the Empire ships. Secondly, we are
brother Severin sailors? It is unlikely that any captain will take the ship two
stout, had a breathing problem and ignorant of Maritime Affairs of the elderly,
one of whom also the silent.
Don't forget, my dear countryman
Conrad that I did not know the Russian language, and have not managed to learn
in a short time stay in
And what could I do in a foreign
country, without money, without language, wanted the Prince's guards? Only one:
find some compatriot and beg for help.
In the morning I went German
farmstead. The foreman of a monastery, old merchant named Friedrich-Hansel,
didn't even invite me to enter the tower. It turns out that the night before
came to him the Prince's guard and told to report only I show up, and since the
deterioration of relations Sergeant with the Prince of Novgorod could affect
the privileges of German merchants, I in any case could not to obtain asylum in
the courtyard.
I asked him how then he understands
the Christian duty to those in trouble compatriot, also by the grace of God
Abbot and Baron. He replied that for him I am not the Abbot not the Baron, for
in
Then I asked for myself and brother
Severin refuge in a Catholic Church in the German compound. But in this
Friedrich-Hansel refused under the pretext that the Abbot of the temple
supposedly out of town and the officers shall not have the right to decide for
Holy Church, whom to grant asylum, and who does not.
God is the judge of this Frederick
Hansel, because in a sense, it too can be understood. I took his leave and
returned under the Great bridge to the brother of
Severin.
The next day I went a bargain.
Almost two days I went there, peering at the others, listening to their
language, approaching people who look like foreigners, and conjuring with them.
Brother Severin was waiting for me under the bridge over the Volkhov, for I
knew that the guard will look for two Germans and didn't want to attract
attention. By the end of the second day, when I was already weak from fatigue
and malnutrition, I was lucky: the person to whom I came up as if to ask
directions at Nerevsky end, answered me in German. He was the local
moneylender, his name is Christopher, God bless him himself, and all his loved
ones.
I did not disclose To Christopher
sad truth about our Embassy, because he could fear that will be plunged in the
princely feuds. Forgive me Lord for the forced sin lies, but I had him as a
carpenter, Ludwig, located in
Christopher asked if we wizard.
Brother Severin – Carver primarily in stone, but with tree it works perfectly,
so I without any exaggeration said the lender, in my life met a more skilled
Carver than my cousin Helmut. Your own experience in carpentry, I repent,
exaggerated, because owned it only to the level necessary for each respect
itself architect. It is regrettable that some of today's young architects
neglect of craft skills and do not comprehend nor Divadelni or kamenshikova
art.
The man explained how to find his
house in the Slovenian end, and in the evening my brother Severin,
observing caution, different roads came to him. Severin demonstrated their art,
Viteza for Christopher from the rough-of oak boards with a simple axe exquisite
crucifixion of our Lord Jesus Christ. Christopher was delighted and fed us
dinner and let me tell you, my dear Conrad, what after this hunger simple
porridge seemed tastier than any delicacies.
I asked him to lend us money on the
way home, but now, God forgive me, a greedy moneylender said that without
pledge it to anyone in debt does not: probably, even if he knew that I the
Abbot of the Abbey, it still wouldn't give. But he suggested us to go to his
friend Hans of Belbacha who lives in
Other way the Lord still we have not
been provided, and I agreed. The road to
My dear brother in Christ, I want
before thee to repent for the arrogance that I, belonging to the privileged
class, has been to the common people. Don't know was
it the remission of sin in I received papal indulgence, but even if not, I just
now ever and ever recovered. A simple worker in severity and
ingratitude not comparable with anyone, except cart-horses. No rest
except a few hours of heavy sleep on the bare ground or boards with his own hat,
put it under his head instead of a pillow, tastelesssoup for lunch, a piece of
stale bread for Breakfast and dinner – that's life local paddler, and not slave
Guernica, a free peasant or a city dweller.
I am not a summer person, I had
while learning the construction business working as an apprentice and
construction sites and in stone quarries, but it was just training, and I knew
that tonight God will give me tasty and plenty to eat and relax in the warm
bed. And most importantly – I knew that no one would dare to urge me, like
cattle, and especially to raise a hand to me. Here, despite my age, raised more than once. And the Sotko Sytinich, captain and
owner of a boat carrying fur goods from the distant Northern town of Beloozero
(now Belozersk – approx. transl.), and his assistant, quartermaster Daniel, and
even some of my fellow sufferers, which I have afflicted his bodily weakness,
inability to row, to wield on shallow water pole and drag the boat on the
portages.
However, I'm not alone suffered from
beatings. Here the parent hitting the child on the most trivial occasions, and
slaves, which are called slaves differ from free people just because the first
beat of the whip, the second – with his fists. Operating in
My hands were shot down in blood,
face broken from the beatings and clumsy movements of a huge paddle, I lost
thirty pounds (
But as they say in our native Upper
Franconia, every thing has two sides: the Russian language in this desperate
assimilated as if by itself, and by the end of two weeks I could tolerably well
to talk, although my vocabulary consisted God forgive me, mainly out of the
rough and obscene expressions, peculiar to to the common people. Now, I already
speak Russian almost freely, only a reprimand gives me as a foreigner. Writing,
however, this language has not yet learned to: never not
had a chance to even sign up.
Approached in the evening to
Zapskovye burned almost completely.
The spectacle of burning city, my kind Conrad shocked me not less than the
bloody consequences of the battle with the robbers on the river Volkhov.
Roaring flames, rising almost to the heavens, fever, burning even floating in
the boat in the middle of the river, the sparks, the terrible crackling of
burning logs, people frantically bustling among so monstrous manifestations of
divine wrath, bent over the charred corpses of those who tried to the last to
save his property and died in the fire – all this sunk in memory until the end
of my days.
Despite the callousness and the
cruelty of the local customs, to the rescue of the victims hurry many boats
from all over the city. Cotco with Danilo also turned to the burning Zapskovye
not without hesitation and without fear that the sparks will light up a
valuable cargo. Almost overnight we took away the burning logs, poured the
flame was transported across the river
Early in the morning, goodbye with
his companions, brother Severin, tired and covered
with ashes, came in Divadelni workshop of our compatriot Hans of Belbacha.
Owner the Studio welcomed us with open arms and did not even bother to read a
letter in birch bark, which we have provided the
And to this day we work in the
workshop of Hans of Belbacha. I work on the construction of a wooden Church on
the site burned down. Us carpenters, this construction site three, there are
two utility workers. Everyone except me, the Russian, and I haven senior – not
because their more skilled in carpentry, but because compatriot Hans. I must
say that the owner not only never raises his hand to the workmen, but manages
to maintain in his workshop quite a good relationship, and fights here occur
mainly on major religious holidays, whenmany Russians have a rest from work and
get drunk.
In General, my brother in Christ, compared to galley servitude Cotco of Sytinich the
work of Hans quite tolerable, and for her at least something to pay. It was
something. How else can you call fee, which is only enough for cereal, apples
and bread? Brother Severin earns more than me – he cuts the figure of
completion of the roof and window frames, and the skill is already known all
over the
Thank God that I found the strength
to write you this letter with trembling with fatigue callused hands. I'm sorry
not only for poor handwriting and poor parchment: even the cheapest that I
found on the marketplace, Severin had to save more weeks. And to send you a
message with departing in lübeck English merchants had to save up for
another week. And so in the sweat of your brow earn your bread all the local
ordinary people, so miserably paid for their work! If I'm wrong got tired of
carpentry, it inevitably would have thought about justice world order.
His Eminence my Archbishop Conrad, I
accept befallen me in my old age suffering and the hardships with due Christian
humility, patience, and forgiveness – because a carpenter worked and Holy
righteous Joseph the betrothed. But I hope to be more useful in the
construction of the Imperial cathedrals than
The grace of God may with you all
your life. Amen.
A poor countryman
of yours Gottlieb-Johann.
LETTER SEVENTH
(room on
the inventory of the
His Eminence lordship
Conrad, Archbishop of Worms, in the world count von Steinbach, from the
Gottlieb-Johann, in the world of Baron von Rosenau, by the grace of God Abbot
of the Abbey of St. the Apostle Paul in worms.
It was written in the city of
Glory to Jesus Christ and now and
ever and unto the ages of ages, his Eminence and his Conrad, my kind Archpastor
and brother in Christ!
In the twenty-fifth day Sep I, like
everyday, was a carpenter in Zapskovye. The next day was the feast of
And then I saw the top hurrying to
our construction site of Hans of Belbacha at the head of a crowd of people in
the rich clothes and high hat: at Russian customs, the higher the cap, the
imenity Lord. Some of them had swords – apparently the nobles that for
I almost fell off the roof: my joy
was so great that I felt no hands, no feet, no eyes shrouded in mist, even
dropped his axe. When I was helped down, I don't broke
down and cried on the chest of Ratibor. Truly blessed are those who mourn, for
they shall be comforted.
When I came to myself, Ratibor
introduced me to Antsiferovo Luka, a handsome merchant years
seventy-year-old, who is Governor of Pskov:
Luke invited me, Ratibor and Severin
to stay with him and said that tonight gives a dinner party dinner for the most
famous residents of the city and would be honored to see us on this dinner. Of
course, we gratefully accepted the invitation. I wanted to say that first I
must go to Hans for things, but remembered that my local belongings – a bunch
of unsightly rags, and a small purse with a negligible savings I always wore
with him, for they feared to leave him in the house for artisans: stealing from
your neighbors is a rare, but still I didn't want to enterneighbors in
temptation. And we immediately went to the mayor, saying goodbye to Hans and
expressing each other's gratitude: he told me – for the good work, I he for
shelter. I at that moment was so happy, I would
Express sincere gratitude even the Sotko Sytinich with Danilo, if they are
nearby.
Hans made me a reproach, I'm not
revealed to him who I really was, so he could provide me a decent the
conditions of life. I expressed regret, but actually, frankly speaking, and now
I regret that I didn't trust this slippery and cunning man.
I have not forgotten, my brother in
Christ, to say goodbye, and with their comrades in carpenter work, promising to
render them the feasible help. And this promise I have kept: in the evening,
asked Ratibor how much money we can donate them, he told her the amount equal
to earnings are still carpenters around the year, and the money was immediately
sent one of the servants.
Approaching gorgeous the tower bows
Antsiferova, I was somewhat ashamed of their unsightly and entrepinoy clothes,
but Ratibor immediately took off his gorgeous red coat and threw me on the
shoulders. I even, God forgive me, amused, that this nobleman treated me like a
person, just recovering from a serious disease or bone-tired. I'm in that day
even tired really not had worked less than half of the day. And in General
carpenter work went on good for my health if I suffered from heartburn,
shortness of breath, frequentcolds and insomnia, then in the
Placing us Ratibor in the chambers,
it is worthy any Baron of the
Before leaving, Luke gave his
servants the necessary orders, and after half an hour in our bedchambers were covered with the splendid table. After more than modest
power Hans of Belbacha me it was very difficult to observe moderation in food,
so as not to harm bodily health.
Then I, Ratibor and Severin was
taken to the bath. Baths are many and private, and General.
In the last usually washed together men and women, which often occurs in our
Empire, and I believe it is a symptom of damaging morals. But Luke Antsiferova
everything was decorous and moral. The local bath is usually represent
a large hut, which consists of the baths and cool of the dressing room. They
are heated with "black": the smoke from the open hearth goes through
the holes above the door, or simply through the open door, soinside everything
is black with soot, and bathe only after some time after termination of the furnace.
Myself and the local method of washing in a bath is very different from our hot
tubs, and from that adopted in the Palestinian "hammams" warm wet
steam. Here the air is much hotter and the hearth are large hot stones,
abundantly watered, from what's going on very strong couples in Russia usually
say "take a steam". And in the Russian baths taken whip each other
with brooms of thin rods, and in the winter is to pop upsteamed into the cold
and jump in the snow, so that the body has been strengthened thanks SIM nice
test.
After a bath my brother Severin was
waiting for the Barber, who saved us from the huge beards, trimmed hair and
even cut the heads of the monastic tonsure. And then me and Severin with a nod
filed new clothes. I confess, not surprised, seeing a rich boyar dress, but
what I saw exceeded all my expectations. Governor was able, apparently, to the
local bargaining to get it for Severina Catholic monastic garb, but for me –
Abbey! I was just shocked. I still in The Empire had heard about the wide
Russian hospitality, but stillRuss was talking to me only more ugly side. Here
such a gift of good will of the Lord was prepared for my birthday, Hosanna and
threefold Hallelujah to our Lord Jesus Christ and his Holy Apostle John The
theologian.
And that's what's in it for me time
told Ratibor, Yes it will last days of this brave and honest nobleman.
Procopius Cosmetic,
went to
Prince Andrew took Ratibor
Borisovich very well. Hearing that Novgorod secretly home to the Imperial
Embassy to his late father, comprised of senior knight of the Temple and the
most prominent architect of his Majesty, he immediately issued Ratibor
necessary ambassadorial credentials and security credentials, and he hastily
went to Novgorod.
Arrived there in
Ratibor mid-August, two weeks before we agreed on the term. Appearing to Radko The jotanovic and not seeing our Embassy, he, of course, was
to ask that happened. Insidious Judas-Radko explained that He and Miroslav were
arrested by order of Prince Sviatoslav Rostislavich, and he allegedly did does
not know, and the next day for a long time leaves in its merchant business in
Ratibor, with all
the credentials and security credentials, and visited Prince Svyatoslav, and
many of the boyars, first of all supporters of Andrei Georgievich. And what a tragic story it is
learned and told me.
Shortly before the arrival Ratibor
in the yard of Svyatoslav with a large gathering of people was held princely
court. Arnulf, Miroslav and servants Arnulf was accused of intent to cause harm
The laws of Prince Yaroslav The wise, on which
But the evidence against Miroslava
Arnulf and still needed more convincing, yet they were noble nobles, Arnulf to
the same foreigner. And then, as noble nobles are not taken to torture, the
Prince was offered the choice of either the torture of servants Arnulf, or
God's judgment in any of three ways – with the sword, fire, or water.
He could not allow torture your
faithful servants and chose God's judgment. Sword, that is, in the form of
judicial match, for to take in the hand a red-hot iron, or to immerse it in
boiling water meant deliberately resign ourselves to the loss: because the Lord
thy God, though shall not to prevent conviction of the innocent, but took care
so to arrange our mortal body, that hot iron and boiling water on hand will
inevitably remain burns.
Svyatoslav again gave accused the
right choice: to fight or alternately all set for one fighter, what weapon to
use, the horse will fight or Hiking. Of course, for all into battle went brave
and skillful warrior Arnulf of Caesarea. He chose for lack of a good and proven
horse Hiking encounter. He it was granted its own arms
– helmet, armor, shield and long sword, which he skillfully mastered, what we
could observe in the defense from the robbers on the Volkhov.
The Prince put up against Arnulf,
one of the warriors of his regular troops, which is here called "a
team". This warrior was the most noble origin,
otherwise would not have the right to fight the knight: as I explained to
Ratibor, in these fights estates rules will be strictly followed. The combatant
was thin, below Arnulf growth, and armed much easier with a helmet light armor
without mantle, small a round shield and a thin, curved sword. It seemed that
the advantage was on the side of the Templar.
But when we started the fight and He
used his favorite technique called "Mel" – mad the rotation of the
sword – it turned out that to get at the soldier, he can not. The or deftly
dodged the blows, or easily diverted their shield, and he managed to duck under
the sword and shield of the enemy and do fast attacks, seeking to cut through
heavy armor, and punching them in rivets. Minutes ten He was already staggering
from fatigue, and from many lungs, but abundantly krovotochivostyu wounds. Then
he belatedly decided to abandon"mills" and to wield his sword just as
his opponent is the sword, but the sword was too heavy and long.
The end came soon: wounded and
exhausted,
Lost trial the fight meant a death
sentence for Miroslav Chudinovich and servants Arnulf, and this sentence was
immediately executed. Nobles executed here as well as we do, and Miroslav was
beheaded on the scaffold. The Templars, under the hooting
On this Ratibor Borisovich completed
his sad story about the tragic fate of Arnulf and Miroslav and switched to a
much lighter story about how he managed to find me.
He reasonably judged that I, not
knowing the Russian language, go for help to the compatriots, and began to
visit the homes of all in Novgorod Germans and to describe our signs. Then The
Lord it contrived that the Germans in
By the way, my brother in Christ, in
my last letter I, being upset and being infinitely tired, carpenter work, did
not have time in detail to tell you about
Through
We can assume that according to this
way will float more and more ships, and the city of
The Mirozhsky monastery is near a
fortress to defend the city from the West: less than a mile (about1.5
kilometers – approx. transl.) from Chrome on the other side of the great river.
As told to Luke Antitropic, there is also a distant fortress – town of
Here, perhaps, and all that I would
like to tell you about the fortifications of
In the evening of the twenty-fifth
day of September Luca Antitropic, as promised, gave a dinner for the most
famous citizens. In total there were about twenty guests. Ratibor Borisovich
put on the left hand from the owner, me on the right, that
is the most honorable place. I was first on the Russian feast and, frankly,
expected to see barbaric feast in the spirit of tales about Valhalla – after
all,
At the dinner was attended by the
Abbot of the Mirozhsky monastery of Abraham. Here monastic abbots called the
Greek way – the abbots, and this elderly Abbot, get to know me and learning
about my birthday party, invited me the next day to attend worship in his
monastery. Invitation to the Liturgy I was pleasantly surprised, because in our
God-saved Empire priest of another faith hardly be admitted to mass. Anyway, I
am in the Abbey was not allowed
And Luca Antitropic, after hearing
about my name day, said that the next evening will give in my honor a great the
feast, although, in my humble opinion, the dinner could be called feast.
We spent the night at a mayor in a
cozy soft bed, and I'm so unaccustomed to such conveniences he fell asleep with
difficulty. The next morning we Ratibor and Severin went to The Mirozhsky
monastery. The Governor with his entire extended family decided not to go in
the Cathedral, and to join us. Join us and many nobles, too families. Crossing
so many people on the other side of the great river took a lot time, but in the
end, on Matins in honor of the modest feast of the repose of St. John the
Evangelist in the monastery Cathedral was such a crowd thatas I said, it's
rarely even on the Great Resurrection of Christ.
On the way to the Mirozhsky the
monastery I thought about this: at home, I, as ordained in the prelates, shall
be in the temple with his head covered, but there is still the Byzantine
Church, and headdresses may only be local the priests. And I, fearing to offend
the hospitable old Abbot of Abraham and to offend the feelings of Russian,
coming to the temple, and took his pileolus here called a yarmulke, and hidden
for the belt. In the end, all went well and Abraham, at my request, read the
funeral prayer is not only forfollowers of the Byzantine faith Miroslav
Chudinovich, but good Catholics and He of Caesarea and his servants.
The Mirozhsky monastery local
standards, quite wealthy, owned large lands and mills in the floodplain river
Mirage, the forges on the banks of the great river, many other craft crafts.
Here is the chronicle, a library, and workshops copyists and icon painters. The
In the evening I was at the feast,
Antitropic which Luke gave in my honor. Feast differed from the previous only
the fact that guests were not twenty, but fifty or more,
and I was sitting not the right hand of the master, and the head of the table.
In the great hall of the Palace Luke Antsiferova was not breathe in the truest
sense: through small Windows fresh autumn air came in very sparingly. However,
it was all fun and happily. Among the guests were Hans of Belbacha, but he did
not even dare to speak with me, so much higher than his I ended up in the local
hierarchy.
So I spent my birthday. The next day
I woke up, I confess, with a slightly heavy head after yesterday's feast. But
the servants immediately brought me cucumber pickle – very effective Russian
anti hangover, and I was able to immediately start writing you. Once it's
finished, the servant of Ratibor Borisovich quickly go to the Empire, in order
to deliver this letter. It is unlikely that he will catch up with the English
merchants, with whom I sent the previous letter, even more so is unlikely to
overtake our monastery mail but at least reduce the painful time of your
confidence in the fact that I stillthen do rough carpentry work.
Soon, my brother in Christ, we
Racibórz travel to Suzdal region to Prince Andrew Georgievich. I must
say that I expressed a desire after everything that happened back home in
worms, but remained in a very soft and is urgent the form explained to me that
an invitation from Prince Andrew to build temples is very honorable, and to
refuse it is impossible, besides, the money was issued Prince on my journey
from Novgorod to Vladimir, and not worms. You you know, my dear, my countryman
Conrad, I had no other choice but consent to the continuation of the journey.
It is a pity that we soon I'll see
you, but apparently so pleasing to the Lord. The grace of God be with thee, and all our brothers in Christ, may your days
be full of joy and prosperity. Amen.
Forever loving you
and all the soul of a devotee servant of Christ and a countryman of yours
Gottlieb-Johann.
LETTER EIGHTH
(room on
the inventory of the
His Eminence lordship Conrad,
Archbishop of Worms, in the world count von Steinbach from Gottlieb-Johann, in
the world of Baron von Rosenau, the grace of the rector Abbey of the Holy
Apostle Paul in worms.
It was written in the city Pereslavl
Zalessky (now Pereslavl-Zalessky – approx. transl.) in the third day of
December 1157 from BC
Greetings, his Eminence and his
Conrad!
My dear brother in Christ if I know
what waits for me the road from Pskov Suzdal, I probably would have flatly
refused to go and remained in Pskov architect though mayor Luke Antsiferova,
even though Hans of Belbacha. The fact that a long delay in transit, caused by
you-know-sad events, happened in
I must say that the wise especially
when Luke warned us with Ratibor that if we sail from Pskov in the beginning of
October, on the way to Vladimir meet autumn impassability of roads, when the
die is almost impassable. And then probably make and freeze – so here is the
time, when swimming in the rivers becomes impossible due to the advent of the
ice, but the ice is not so strong to be able to change a sledge and go on a
winter road. Freezing happens early in the beginning of November, it happens
late – in early December, and to predict its exact time is impossible,
thoughthe huge number of local people's will and predictors of the weather. So
in November and early December, no one on the Russian rivers don't
go, and the mayor wisely advised us to wait in
Ratibor said to Luka that we're in a
hurry: Prince Andrey wants to have time to build temples for 6666 year, in
order to reassure the people. I already wrote to you, my kind countryman, that began in September 6666 year according to
the Byzantine calendar many here believe almost the end of the world. So I have
winter have to do all the drawings and the calculations that spring temples
were built. This valiant nobleman calculated, that would be sufficient to reach
the town of Pereyaslavl Zalessky, which closer than Vladimir (see Sheet 1 and
Sheet 2 "paintings and drawings" – approx. transl.) and there is
already yezzennya year-round overland route, and if God will not very early
winter, we will have time to Pereslavl earlier freeze-up. Despite the fact that
I already speak fluent Russian, I had three times to ask the Lord the name of
Pereslavl, before I could pronounce.
Expressing hope
that God Ratibor insisted on an immediate departure. It seemed to me that I see in the
eyes brave nobleman not trust in God, and the same unfortunate presumption,
already destroy noble knight He from Caesarea, but to argue did not become,
because understand that these things are useless.
Mayor Luke Antitropic did everything
to help us. He provided us with easy and fast military boat with steersman and
ten paddlers urban warriors in full armor. As he
explained, at this time of year we will not be able to join any the merchant
caravan and we have to swim alone, and in the military the boat we will be able
to fend off any robbers, at least – to escape from persecution. In addition,
some of the portages could be deserted, and this rook easy enough to, if
necessary, to drag her out ourselves.
Luke didn't even want to take with
Ratibor money for the hiring of the boat with the soldiers, thinking himself obliged to provide safe passage of ambassadors of
his Majesty: as I understand it, the Governor feeds deep respect to our
Emperor, and Andrei Georgievich. And when, after much persuasion Luke agreed, then asked to pay money not to him but to the city Treasury,
which contains a small Pskovskoe regular army, dealing mainly with the
protection of peace in the city. As they say here, such a
decent and honest mayors in
And in the first days of October we
have sailed. The weather was beautiful, the trees were covered with Golden
leaves, and there were no signs of God's punishment that is soon upon us.
Russian soldiers were the boat very skillfully: after traveling with the Sotko
Sytinich I something understand. The ship had a combat
form, every paddler hung his the shield on the Norman
Drakkar and sakkarah repeatedly seen in our Northern ports. And in General this
boat was essentially the same
When we came out of the river Shelon
into the
Struggling with this trouble so just as we have: locked in their homes, offering prayers
unto the Lord for salvation. Then, when the danger has passed – all infected
died, and the plague itself faded, surviving out on the streets and remove the
corpses.
Frankly speaking, I always bothered,
how dare the infection to produce abundant food in the temples of God, where
people gather in hope to find her a shelter, and why the Lord allows her to
turn temples into mass graves. I think his Eminence Archbishop Conrad, what a
divine world that requires hiding from the plague, not less great and
incomprehensible, than the miracle of the divine
Liturgy, requiring to come together, thereby putting themselves at risk to get
infected. But I like you knows, theology is not strong, and therefore only
modestly Express the support of the priests,who take
the liberty in the days of the plague to lock the Church, at the risk of
incurring on himself the Bishop's anger. Worldly authorities are obliged to
prevent the spread contagion to other cities, and in Russia with its small
population and huge distances it easy: even if the plague will sail on the ship
to a nearby town the path is so long that it has time to hit all the floating
and stop.
But we are infinite by the grace of
the Lord the plague has passed, for we are still with the Volkhov saw a lot
lying on the streets rotting bodies of the poor of Novgorod, did not approach,
launched our boat and sailed back, barely raking against though somewhat
subdued but still strong winds. Looking at plagued
And we lost a lot time, once again
came to the Ilmen lake. The adverse wind by the will
of God almost stopped, but sharply colder, and the rains began. Over the rook
hung the four-poster, but he was quickly soaked and kept dripping. All wore
warm coats and wrapped in cloaks, but the cold still chilled him to the bone:
such is his property inside damp conditions.
From the lake we moved up the river
Field. The rains still did not stop, and when we after two days continuous the
way decided to stop for rest and overnight stay, then soon realized that a good
half of the night we try to light a fire, and God knows whether it will manage
to us to sleep in the pouring rain especially since we can't, and the rook at
least there's a four poster bed. And we swam on.
As we have explained our fun,
cheerful and experienced helmsman named Klim, there are three main route from
(See. Sheet 1
"Paintings and drawings" – approx. transl.).
All these many the names of rivers
and lakes, especially since the order I, of course, remember not immediately,
but after passing unlikely to forget on his deathbed.
As the time for us it was very
expensive, our boat was easy, the baggage we were not burdened, the portages
could move a vehicle without assistance, we chose the shortest way and turned
from the Floors not to Seberia and
On the river appeared and began
multiply the rapids, I counted about a dozen and lost count. Fortunately, due
to rains the water in the river rose, and some of the rapids we managed to pass
without pulling the boat on shore, and spending it on a thick rope. But most still had to drag out the ship to land. Our
glorious rowers lacked the strength to pull him through thick mud, and helped
them all – and the steering Klim, and the servants Ratibor, Ratibor himself,
and brother of Severin, and myself. So I Severin had to remember Cotco of
Sytinich. Just noticed, my dearArchbishop Conrad that the ship As we pulled in the summer, dry and warm weather, and there
is not only soaked to the bone from the endless rain, but was covered with
sticky mud from head to toe, for all the time slipping and falling. Thank
Almighty Lord, at least the mosquitoes are not
haunted: in the summer there is existence of God punishment.
When we got up on Valday became
easier again began marshy plain with copses. In
We crossed the
It was deserted and dies. in Libu: it is, as explained by the climate, and the summer
was not very busy and was considered godforsaken place, for it was among the
marshes. And if the autumn rains in overcoming the rapids were our allies in
the deserted swampy portage they became our worst enemies. The water in the
marshes rose and flooded all neighborhood, but not so much that it depth enough
to pass the vehicle, even flat-bottomed. And we carried the ship on his
shoulders, falling knee-deep in swamp muck.
One of the rowers pulling the rook
on my part, had the temerity to stumble and fall.
Walking beside him it tried to restrain the increased weight, but it slipped
his hands and the ship fell on us. Had to bounce everyone
except me: as punishment for their many sins I looked the other way and not
noticed that happening.
Probably, if it it was summer, I
would be crushed. But then the dirt, praise the Holy The
virgin-intercessor, was a rescue, rook just lay her on top of me, and I was
pressed, but not crushed. The main thing for me was not to drown in muddy icy
slush, while my companions lifted the ship in order to get me. I thought these
things took ages, although really unlikely more than a few minutes.
But even a few minutes held without
movement in cold water, there are many hours in the rain, when if get wet, then
gradually, and the body manages to heat up the moisture seeping through
clothes. When diving, the water instantly freezes up bones, and my health,
already subjected to many tests, this is not survived. I changed my clothes,
but new clothes are quite dry in this weather was not. Salvation for me would
be an instant warming around the campfire, and it would be better and in the
bath, but this was not possible. We again lifted the boat on their shoulders
and dragged on.
It is not surprising that the
evening, when we floated on the lake, transitional from, I began to have a
fever. Rain to time briefly stopped, we stopped, went ashore, built a fire, I'm
a little warmed up, brother Severin rubbed my body, Ratibor drink strong Braga,
and I felt better, but not much. A few days until we were going down rivers
Shlina and CNA, have dragged the ship in Tvertsa on the Highest die (now this
place is the town of Vyshny Volochek – approx. pens) and then went on Tvertse,
I don't remember: almost lay unconscious at the bottom of the boat, wrapped in
cloaks and sheepskins. Brother Severin was all the time beside me, giving me to
drink and occasionally opening his blood.
On the Tvertsa river, we arrived in
the small town of
I had already came
to himself a little, and Ratibor decided that it would be useful to hook me in
the local bath. Went there and the rest of my companions, only one of the
soldiers left to guard the boat, and the servants had gone to auction to
replenish our depleted food stocks.
I'm sorry, my dear countryman
Conrad, I can't tell about the fortifications of the New Bargain, for no
fortifications, except for the palisade around the settlement on the hill above
the great bargaining, which gave the name to this town, I'm on my way to the
bath did not notice. However, I was still so weak that I was led by the hand,
and therefore carefully consider the neighborhood could not.
That happened to me in this bath, my
dear, my countryman Conrad, I could now you can't write but, God willing, I
ever get home, will come to you confession and tell all, so why procrastinate,
if I can confess to these things letter? In short, after Severin and Ratibor
whipped me with a broom, I lay supine on the shelf, slowly coming to his
senses. And then I noticed that Ratibor about something talking with Klim, who
has repeatedly joked on the fact that a good idea the Abbe Gottlieb to break
the vow of chastity. And here Ratibor put on Severinanearby shelves and began
to whip his broom in the Russian baths taken full equality, and each other can
alternately soar, for example, a boyar and a peasant. Klim brought me one of
these women.
And so it happened that his monastic
vow I broke in my old age in a previously unknown to me town New
bidding, in a dirty and sooty the shared bath, with a prostitute named
Lubomira. However, then the power steering, I was told that the names of these
women are usually fictional.
I, faithful to the precepts of the
Lord Jesus Christ, always tried not to look at the opposite sex with lust and
know nothing about female beauty, but this blonde woman looked young and
pretty. To look more closely at it and talk to her I did not, because she
disappeared immediately after known action.
Pray thee, the most Reverend
Archbishop, concerning the remission of your sin to me, because it can to be
considered involuntary: I was too weak to resist.
However, after this unfortunate event,
despite emotional turmoil, my health significantly improved, and between the
New Auction and Tver, the first on our way out of town Suzdal, I was able to
not only lie, but to sit, looking around. However, to look was not much: the
endless plains with a small woodland gave way to rolling hills covered with
thick woods, and over steep slopes the Tvertsa river along the wall were trees
with fallen autumn leaves. Rains ceased, but the frost was not yet, even if it
seems warmer, and sometimes shone the low sun.
Ratibor was beautiful mood and not
tired to repeat that the main difficulty behind that now rapids and portages
will not be to the Pereyaslavl, that winter seems to
delayed, and God will give us to safely swim. The only thing bothered this
glorious nobleman, is an old wound on his leg had been shot ten years ago
during the battle of George Dolgoruky, Izyaslav Mstislavich of
Tver smaller and Pskov, and even a
New Bargain, but the consistency here is much better condition, but still are
the same wood and earth. The town stands on the a high
hill above the river don, near the mouth of the Tvertsa river, and on the
opposite side, that, as I explained racibórz, from the standpoint of
modern military science more reliable: if the enemy comes the Tvertsa river, he
can't suddenly attack the city. And on the spit of the
At this time of year no one swam, so
the arrival of our boats was so significant event on the
Ratibor has schertel dagger the
entire the bench in the boat, drawing me diagrams and river routes. The great
river
But we second Nerl was not needed,
because from Pereyaslavl Ratibor was going to go in the
Sailing down the
Briefly approached we only at the
mouth of the Nerl river, in Ksnyatin, a town even smaller than Tver (city
Ksnyatin is flooded with the construction of the Uglich reservoir, near the
village Sknyatino – approx. transl.). There we were expected the same meeting
in Tver. The Governor, a venerable old man, much older than even Ratibor
Borisovich, bowed, invited to stay with him until the establishment of a winter
road, and was surprised to hear that we going to move on. Ratibor asked about
the overland route from Ksnyatin in
The sky already fell
small snowflakes, and it was getting colder. And to go to Pereyaslavl was still
a few days, and no more cities on the way were not.
And yet Ratibor decided to moving. We do not even have to eat the magistrates
and sailed, bid farewell to the astonished looks Kretinsky warriors. As I have
already to understand
The high hills surrounding The Volga
river in Tver and Ksnyatin, when moving up on the Nerl gradually again changed
"raised bogs", not with groves, and large forests. The snow
intensified, and soon were falling from the sky already not snowflakes, and the
flakes. Snow on the ground first melted, then stopped, and everything became
white. But the ice on the river until appeared, and rowers frantically leaned
on the oars.
This competition the weather ended
in one or two days from Kleschina lake. The snow had
stopped, and night hit hard frost. Nerl stood up and move on it was impossible.
We had no choice but to load up our modest belongings and go on foot along the
river, hiding the ship in quiet river backwaters: Klim and soldiers gathered in
the spring for him to return.
The snow was not very much – ankle, and he almost never bothered to go. Prevented
raskisshaya marshy soil, under the snow did not have time to freeze. Interfered with thick forest, near water sometimes even impassable.
Prevented and small streams that were not visible under the snow: we often they
failed, and his feet were wet at all. The frost was strong, though and not so
much that birds froze on the fly, as they say about Russian frosts have us
Empire. Nights we built a roaring fire and warmed themselves
around it.
A day in the depths of the forest
all time flashed some gray shadows. Klim, who I honestly after bath offended,
but then Christian was forgiven, explained to me that it's the wolves, but fear
them not worth it, for we are many and we are well armed, moreover, in the
beginning winter raptors are fed and peaceful in the woods for them, and so a
lot of game – elk, deer, wild boars, hares. In the spring wolves are much more
dangerous and spiteful, and if it was in February or March, they could gather
in a huge flock and attack, not ignoring the losses from our defense – are
military terms used our steering.
Nights around our a fire in the
forest seemed to be lit the lamps: it's fire reflected
in the eyes of wolves, gathered at a distance and staring at us. When predators
began to get closer, some of the warriors took a bow and shot an arrow into
these lights. If he hit the target, the groaning, howling and shrieking: I
still fiend made devour the dead and wounded fellows. Burning eyes for some
time disappeared.
So, praise the Holy The
virgin-intercessor, the wolves did not touch us, the extra day of the journey
already did not matter, we walked quietly and slowly, gradually adapt himself
to local forests and even began here and there to straighten the path in river
bends. I fully recovered and felt good, although brother Severin just in case
anyway supporting me by the elbow and not allowed to carry any Luggage. But
worse became Ratibor Borisovich. From humidity, swamp slime and long walk it
and the wound got infected, it started leaking profusely pus, the leg was
swollen andblackened. He was limping more and more, then
couldn't go himself, and two warriors were his arms. Look in forest herbs was
already useless: all disappeared under the snow. Ratibor has a severe fever.
The warriors made a stretcher two large boughs and cloak, put on them the
valiant nobleman and alternately carried.
In delirium Ratibor all the time
remembered some kind of Cup, which is transported to George Dolgoruky, and now
lost, and we need to find her and give it to Prince Andrew. What kind of bowl
were discussed – I don't understand don't understand now, when I write you this
letter. Maybe some the Cup was in the Imperial gifts, seized the Prince of
Novgorod? But why it is so important? Or was it just a figment of the inflamed
imagination of the unfortunate boyar?
On the fourth day of the trip how
much is still on the boat would be faster! – we went
to the beach Kleschina lake. It is already the will of the Lord was almost
completely covered with ice: the water is stagnant, the place open, snow swept
away by the wind. And we decided to take a chance and go on the ice: no time to
have the evening we could come to Pereyaslavl. On the ice behind us poked a few
wolves, but just put arrows forced them to get out back into the woods, and
they could be satisfied only with warm corpses of the dead were brothers.
Klim went ahead, checking the ice
with a long pole, then a chain was his soldiers, and then they traces – all the
rest. Ice crackled, but held, and all was well until two servants had not
forgotten caution, not away from our procession in the direction the middle of
the lake and did not fail. As I explained later, in the middle Kleschina from
the lake bottom hit the keys and do not allow the ice to settle.
To get sufferers not could, for thin
ice around the edges of the hole breaks off. For the same reason we could do
nothing to help them. Klim tried to crawl up and stretch out the pole, but he I
nearly failed and was forced to shrink back. We could only watch as these accidents was drowning, helplessly listening to their pleas
for help and death cries. All I could do for them is to send them last blessing
and to pray to the Lord for the salvation of their souls.
And finally, we reached Pereyaslavl
Zaleski, the desired goal of our journey.
This city has a very interesting
story. Not far away, on a high mountain at Kleschina lake, the historic town of
I drew attention to the Church of the
Savior is not in the middle of the city, and around shaft: apparently, in the
middle Prince was going to build big Cathedral, this Church how to leave the
house. By the way, aren't I going to charge George the construction of this
failed Council?
The Deputy Abbot
Of Pereyaslavl – the old boyar Chordata Stavic, colleague and Dolgoruky, and
Ratibor Borisovich. Seeing the condition of the unfortunate Ratibor, Gordita called healers
from all of the city, but they were unable to help: it
was too late even to amputate the leg, black climbed to his groin, and the next
day the Lord died.
Despite the fatigue, I up to the end
did not depart from the bedside of Racibórz, and death in his delirium
he turned to me and began again to say something about the Cup that will
certainly it is necessary to find because it is the Holy Grail. More I can't
hear anything, and what was that again did not understand. I know that in the
Celtic and Norman the legends of the Grail – one of the instruments of the
passion of Christ, the chalice from which the Lord our ate
at the last supper and in which Joseph of Arimathea collected the blood of his
wounds after the crucifixion. But if my memory serves me, our Church is this
very Cup likea Holy relic was never found, it is a legend, recently favorite
our minnesingers, who take the liberty to claim that those who drink from this
bowl gets some unimaginable benefits down to earthly immortality. Such as the legend of the true Church equates to witchcraft.
Why is this Grail recalled on his
deathbed Russian boyar? Maybe he during his stay in Empire heard on this very
topic for a song of our minstrels, and she in his memory?
Anyway, brave Ratibor Borisovich
gave soul to the Lord, and he read the burial service. At
such an occasion as the death of the illustrious nobleman, whom many here know
and respected, stood the Church of the Transfiguration of the Savior: in
A memorial service has come many of
the inhabitants of Pereslavl and the Church was crowded. Stood
twilight: narrow the window, which in the case of using the temple as the main
fortress tower needs to serve as loopholes, missed very few rays of the low
winter sun. And as from the breath of many people in cold stagnant air
hung thick vapor, could not see almost nothing except the lights of candles and
lamps. In
Since we are talking about the
Church of the Transfiguration of the Saviour, then I must tell you about this
first seen my creation Savva of Nazirovich, architect George Dolgorukiy.
Construction when Dolgoruky did not finish as it was not arranged floors, not
enough metal to cover the domes and vaults. And the only SIM in the summer on
the floor put a tiled tile, but the dome and vaults remained covered with
wooden planks. Paintings inside yet.
The temple is small: its dimensions
in the plan, in my estimation, thirty by twenty cubits (20 x15 meters – approx.
transl.), that is much less of Sophia of Novgorod. It is built in the same Byzantine
forms has one head, inside the four pillars. But such towering Church buildings
with huge and heavy head I have not had to see either in Novgorod, neither in
Byzantium, nor much less we have in the Holy Roman Empire: our the Basilica was
always kind of sprawled on the ground, and is directed into the sky only towers
and the Church in Pereyaslavl itself is a tower.
And from others he had seen I
Pereyaslavl Russian churches is material: it is constructed not from the bricks
and not mixed media, but entirely from outside of natural stone, referred to
herein as "white": this stone has a very light tint, even lighter
than our glorious cities of Regensburg and Straubing. Exactly the same stone
processing machinery we used in the Empire, and no wonder the late Savva
Nazirovich, as told to me by the late well Miroslav, studied building Sciences
and arts, not just anywhere, but in the Imperial city of Speyer(other version
of the Russian spelling of the city "Speyer" – approx. transl.).
Took place in the evening Wake of
Ratibor Borisovich. Hordata only invited old colleagues George Dolgorukiy.
There were only ten or twelve people, all – noble the nobles from the merchant
class there was no one here: generally not taken to jail merchants at the same
table with the nobles, as in
Praise the Almighty Lord, my life
seems to be becoming more and more befitting my
My Abbey vestments in okay, I'm
clean shaven, tonsure on the head shaved, while walking save me from the cold a
warm fur-lined boots fur-lined pants under the cassock, coat over the cassock,
high boyar cap with Abbey skullcap under it warm gloves and great coat, fur
lined – gift Gorbaty. Brother Severin is also no need at all, although
according to the local strict rules insubordination and dressed more modestly,
and enjoys less comfort. But for this glorious monk-the silent creature
comforts have less importance than for me.
My dear brother in Christ, this
letter was long, for I have now I got some free time and I decided to use it in
order that you may more learned about my local adventures. The cold bites, the
other day enjoy winter on the rivers, and our glorious
Leaving soon and
we brother Severin Vladimir. The Governor himself is glad of the opportunity to appear on the eyes
Prince Andrey Georgievich and would accompany us with a squad of soldiers.
Local river ways already make me shudder at the mere mention, but we we will go
over on dry ground, and the road, if it is pleasing to the Lord, going to be
easy only four or five days on the sled. Besides, in the middle way we will
have the opportunity to rest in the city Georgieva (now Yuriev-Polsky. Cm.
Sheet 2 of the "Drawings and drawings" – approx. transl.).
Now Hordata Stavic preparing for
Prince. I, on the other hand, also decided to prepare for a meeting with
Andrew. As you remember, I was with him the finished drawing, but he lost in
He may abide with you the grace of
God, my kind Archpastor, may your days be full of joy and success, bless thee,
Lord God Almighty countless years. Amen.
Sincerely yours, forever loving you
and with your whole soul devoted friend servant of Christ and a countryman of
yours Gottlieb-Johann.
LETTER NINTH
(room on
the inventory of the
His Eminence lordship Conrad,
Archbishop of Worms, in the world count von Steinbach from Gottlieb-Johann, in
the world of Baron von Rosenau, the grace of the rector Abbey of the Holy
Apostle Paul in worms.
It was written in the city of
Glory to Jesus Christ evermore, the
most Reverend and illustrious Archbishop Konrad!
First of all, my dear my brother, I
want to congratulate you with a Bright Christmas, although these things the
letter you will get a lot later. But know that in this joyous the holiday,
which I will of our Christians by the Emperor Frederick had to meet in a
foreign land, my soul is with you my Archbishop.
Three days ago, I was adopted Duke
Andrei Georgievich, about this I you tell in detail. But first I want to
describe the path from Pereyaslavl to
Brother Severin went in a large and
comfortable sleigh pulled by three horses. Pereyaslavl the Governor Chordata
Stevic sat down to us in the sleigh, then rode on a
beautiful Bay horse at the head of a detachment of half a dozen riders
surrounded us as honorary guard.
The Governor was a great lover
pobryzgat and grumbling it was mainly down to the fact, when George Dolgoruki
wanted to do from Pereyaslavl capital, to the came to live a lot of decent
people, and now the city is empty, everyone left in Vladimir, even trade
withered, only in the summer more or less, when using Pereyaslavl traveling
merchants from Novgorod. But now more and more settles another route from
And it turns out that such big city
Pereyaslavl, forced to live mainly on fishing Kleschina the lake, and then
Pereyaslavl fishermen all the time disputes with the fishermen of Kleschina,
and the Governor had to postpone important the Affairs of state and to consider
litigation due to improperly abandoned networks. I really don't understand what
important work can happen in Pereyaslavl, but said nothing.
Comforted Gordito only that Prince
Andrew is ruled by autocratic and does not provide the city with her younger
brothers and children, and that the town would certainly somebody, and the
Viceroy sent would live out their lives in the tribal ancestral lands near
Soon the road came out of the forest
and pulled on a slightly hilly plain among the vast fields rare copses. Finally
the path began to appear and villages, some even wooden churches. And in
General, despite the snow, it was evident that the fields are cultivated and
well maintained. Call this area of the Opole, and tends it is not to
Pereyaslavl and Suzdal, Vladimir and the city, who founded the George Dolgoruky
and named Georgiev – whether in their honor, or in honor of the city with the
same name in the South of Russia, near Kiev.
By the way, I was it is interesting
to learn from Gorbaty of Stavica that before in these woods lived a pagan
tribes Vyatichi, and agriculture and cattle breeding practiced pagan tribes
difficult for the German language the name "Meria". There were two
ancient large city – Suzdal and
A half-century ago, this the earth
from the South came the Russian invaders, headed by the Grand Prince of Kiev
Vladimir the Baptist, so named because of what he brought to Russia Byzantine
Christianity. During the reign of Vladimir, and his descendants Yaroslav the
Wise, Vladimir Monomakh, and of George Dolgorukiy – Suzdal the land of the
Vyatichi and measured mixed with the Russian, the primitive pagan beliefs gave
place to Christianity, among the cities in the first place went to Vladimir,
grow fast based Dolgoruky monument, Tver and Moscow.
Russian princes, laying
in Zalesie new cities, often gave them the southern Russian names. Chordata
have listed many of them, and I in addition to already known to me Pereyaslavl
remember Zvenigorod, Przemysl, Gorodets, Starodub and Mikulin. And Vladimir is
as unclear as with Georgiev: it was founded whether Vladimir The Baptist, or
Vladimir Monomakh, that is perhaps his naming in honor of one of these princes,
but maybe in honor of the big city of Vladimir, the capital one of the areas of
southern Russia – Volhynia. Southern Russian names and got athe local river. I remember I've seen the Trubezh and Lybed
Rpen.
In one of the new cities Georgiev –
we arrived two days later. Trade routes with him are not, but around stretches
corny
Time to inspect George the fortress
I had, but overall it is similar to Pereyaslavl: stands on a plain near a small
river Koloksha, slightly amplifying strengthening the same as in Pereyaslavl
them enhances the Trubezh river. Shaft height up to five elbows (about3 meter –
approx. transl.) and the usual for Russia wooden walls surrounded a large area
of about eighty acres (
We spent the night in a former the
Latko and Chordata told Prince
Georgy Vladimirovich built their numerous fortresses, subjecting them to a
single system: the distance between them should not exceed two days in order to
have time to intercept the enemy, in whatever way he went. This system includes
Vladimir Georgiev, Pereyaslavl, Tver,
And here we are finally profit in
Two city gates with wooden gate
towers lead into the city from the West and the East. Deaf the fortress towers
in
Over the market is dominated by
another mountain, and on it is a fortified yard, previously owned by George
Dolgoruky, and now – Andrey Georgievich.
In addition,
levels of trade, tillage and conventional for Zalesie fisheries and beekeeping,
referred to herein as "apiculture",
Wooden churches in
In the city we could not enter
steel, and went along the wall to the Prince's court. This yard is separately
stasey and by Russian standards, a strong fortress, which creates for Prince
the perfect protection during the uprising of the urban population: at
Dolgoruky uprisings not sometimes, but less than a hundred years ago in
The yard turned out something like
the citadel, outside the citadel, the same as Gorodishche to
The soldiers at the gate saw Gordito
and Latko, bowed and let us into the yard randomly built-up chambers, in the
aggregate components of the princely Palace. Meet we went to the official in a
richly decorated coat, apparently, the
The next morning I was awakened
I was surprised by such a the imminent appointment, because it was the eve of
Christmas, and I thought that the Prince already postponed the cares of the
world at least for a few days. I was served great Breakfast, clean Barber
shaved me and cut tonsure, I put Abbey vestments and
went to the gym. There I was met by a brother of Severin and two servants with
the layout and sketches that we had time to prepare even in Pereyaslavl.
Gorbaty and Latko was not – apparently, Prince took
them separately.
The
Room, where he took me Andrew G.,
was neither richer nor more comfortable quarters I have ever seen governors of
Pereyaslavl and Georgieva, and the Pskov mayor Luke Antsiferova the rooms were
furnished with much more luxurious. The Prince, who was sitting on a long bench
Desk, looking through some notes on the parchment in the dim light, solar rays
streaming through a small window with colored glass like our the stained glass
Windows. Sat next to him, judging by the vestments, one of the senior Church hierarchy.
When I went to
Here, everything was a little
differently. Worldly greeting was clear, for, as I have managed to understand
my family the title of Baron on bones, and often even more than our the
The Prince's
Let me, my kind countryman Conrad,
to describe to you Andrei Georgievich. He's younger than me for five years,
taller, strong build, slim, in all its movements and strength Shine through the dexterity of a seasoned warrior about his
military exploits told and Ratibor, and Chordata, Latko. Clothes Andrew is no
different from the boyars, and Latko, for example, getting dressed much more
magnificently. I know that it was called Prince without "Majesties and
Highnesses", just "Prince" or "God-loving Prince", and
followed this custom.
Andrey kindly asked me to sit on a
bench near the table where he sat and Theodore. I expected adopted our
etiquette question about the health of his Majesty, but Prince immediately
asked me what I knows about the fate of the Imperial Embassy. I replied, only
what Ratibor Borisovich probably already sent the report from
I have to remember them and what is
in front of the death of Ratibor was talking about some Cup that we must find
and give to the Prince. Hearing this, Andrei Georgievich nodded, turned to her
and asked received a reply from Sviatoslav Rostislavich to the requirement of
the issuance of the Imperial gifts. The Bishop replied that he was not
received, and is hardly Prince Svyatoslav will be given gifts. Andrew has
expressed in that spirit that "the worse for him",
and more to this topic did not come back. I remained in perplexity: so, Ratibor
was not delusional, some bowl in gifts was, and this somehow worries the Prince
Andrew, Bishop.But to ask the question, of course, I didn't dare, especially as
the Prince went to construction.
I said that I have the proposal
ready for the God-loving Prince. Andrey called
I asked where and what about a size
to build temples. Andrew G. replied that first of all you need to build at
least a small Church on the future of the princely court in the mouth of the
river Nerl, five miles (approx10 miles – approx. transl.) to the East of
Vladimir. (We are talking about the future of the Church of the Nativity The virgin in the hierarchy, see Sheet 5 "paintings and
drawings" – approx. transl.). Theodore noticed that at the same distance
from
Then the Prince asked I think about
the fortifications of
We're talking about the timing
works. I said I need a month to create models of both temples – and mouth of
the Nerl and
Andrei first did not understand than
the detailed drawing is essentially different from the layout, and I had to
explain the layout gives only a General impression of the future building, and
when it is approved the customer requires based on it to draw the building in
detail, showing the exact dimensions and sometimes even masonry porjadovki.
When the drawing is approved, the architect feels safer, for it is only
responsible for its execution not possible depends on the whims and moods of
the customer. If the customer suddenly want something significantly change, we
must be prepared andapproved a new detailed drawing. In addition, with the
drawing easier to work with in the construction, because artisans can
immediately see what they have to do, and not it is necessary to explain to
them every detail and to follow their every move.
Theodore said that he had heard
about a similar system, but in
I replied to the Bishop that the
Church in our villages too often built without detailed drawings and layouts
limited to verbal descriptions. But since the Prince not invited village, and
the Imperial architect, the level of work should be on the proper height.
Inadvertently saying this, I thought, do not mind if the Prince and the Bishop
for the comparison of
Andrew expressed a desire to see the
layouts at the end of January, and detailed drawings in March, because the time
is short: it will be necessary to lay both of the temple no later than the
beginning of April and in time for the year 6666 to completely build a Church
on the future of the princely court at the mouth of the Nerl and start the
construction of the great Cathedral.
I said that the calculations models
and drawings will do in time, but the implementation given by the Duke of
construction time will depend on the availability of materials and workmen,
preferably experienced.
Then Andrew G. called gray merchant,
which I saw in the waiting room. It turned out to be the assistant the late
architect Savva of Nazirovich – Yakov Osipovich. With him the Prince spoke
completely different than with me. When Jacob entered the room and bowed at the
waist, Andrew even told him to sit down and asked how much a white stone. The
said that the reserves were spent during the great construction the sixtieth
year, when it was built five stone churches of Prince George Of Putin, as you
probably already understand Jacob had in mind 6660 yearthe Byzantine calendar,
1152 Christ. But production since then though reduced, but continued, and in
this year, one such temple as built Savva, should be enough. But the stone
needs to move because of the boats and the sled was not granted, it is under
Andrei commanded to increase
production and said that will give money for the hiring of sledges of the
peasants and merchants, and in the summer will provide boats. Then he asked
James if it is possible to find the builders working for Prince Georgy
Vladimirovich.
Merchant again deeply bowed and said
to collect skilled workmen will not be so easy, because they were in charge of
the late Miroslav Chudinovich, and only he knew who what are the orders worked
great after the construction Dolgoruky. But everything is possible to find out,
look for old and new workers to cities and villages, and if to offer good
money, the builders will. To this the Prince said favor and money, and the
earth that is mad, no one will. Already Martha artisans are to be found, at
least for the temple at the mouth of the Nerl.
At the end of an audience with
Andrew commanded Theodore – it is commanded, despite his Episcopal dignity! –
to carry out General bossing above the temple construction and to prepare a
princely decree the allocation of the Abbe Gottlieb home in Vladimir, the
workshop needed tools, driver, and other servants, and the appointment of a
salary of the captain. Don't know what that is, but probably a lot, because the
captain is high public post of "head of thousands".
Theodore and the Prince invited me
to the Christmas service at the Cathedral of the Transfiguration of our
Saviour, I gratefully he accepted the invitation, and we with Jacob bowed. I
was not surprised that Andrew on my bow said, Jacob didn't pay any attention.
In the evening I went to the temple
Of the Savior on the divine Liturgy, which was held by
the Bishop Theodore. I have wrote you that winter
holidays in
I know not, my brother in Christ,
how you would react to this and it does not consider whether my participation
in this Liturgy departure from the true Catholic faith. I hope not, because the
Byzantine the Church also has Apostolic succession,
and numerous friendly contacts between our Holy popes and
Overall I had the feeling that the
warm welcome you have given me, first of all, because the Prince Andrew and
Bishop Theodore wish for the establishment of friendly and allied relations and
with the
Strengthened me in this idea that is
already the next morning, just waking up after the Christmas service, I was
invited to the tower Theodore. The Bishop received me very cordially, at the
meeting blessed, hugged and kissed three times. Just over Christmas post and
Theodore gave me great skoromniy lunch. He said to me high Latin, and it turned
out that he owns this language is not worse than we you. He asked when I was
going to write you a letter. I said that immediately, and then he asked me to
draw your attention to important a state affair.
Case this is, my brother in Christ
that the embassies of our Christians by the Emperor Frederick, as you know, no
longer exists, for I know only the construction of temples and the case of high
diplomacy to do not know, and are not entitled to. Prince Andrew is already on
days is going to send his Ambassador Plenipotentiary to the Empire,
he also expressed the desire to accept the new Imperial Embassy.
No doubt his Majesty is rightly
angry because of the death of Arnulf of Caesarea and his servants. But I wish
Christians by the Emperor Frederick realized that death valiant Templar took
place only due to an unfortunate confluence of circumstances, and not change
his decision to establish close friendships and allied relations with the
Russian princes – informed to George Dolgorukiy, now, with his son Andrew. I
deeply mourn the untimely death of the knights Templar, constantly pray for the
repose of their souls, but I believe that we have the right to presentclaims
about their death primarily to an insidious traitor Radko The jotanovic: I
wrote in one of my previous letters that after his the infamous denunciation of
the grounds for prosecution existed. Besides judicial the fight was conducted
fairly, the men were put on an equal footing, and the brave knight He from
"Glad she's dead or
nothing", but still, in my humble opinion, the source of the troubles and
the root of all evil was the arrogance of the deceased knight Arnulf, who was
at receipt of the news about the change of power in Novgorod to stay on the
Neva and will not to move, while the Russian ambassadors talk to the new Prince
of Novgorod and not ensure a safe passage. He's on his own initiative and under
their own responsibility insisted that we were posing as merchants. It was not
only unworthy of the noble gentry, but also deadly.
So ask him Imperial Majesty
graciously to accept of the Ambassador, which sends the Prince Andrei
Georgievich. The same Ambassador will give you, my kind countryman Conrad, this
letter.
Bless you Almighty The Lord countless years. Amen.
Sincerely yours, forever loving you
and with your whole soul devoted to you Gottlieb-Johann.
LETTER TENTH
(room on
the inventory of the
His Eminence lordship Conrad,
Archbishop of Worms, in the world count von Steinbach from Gottlieb-Johann, in
the world of Baron von Rosenau, the grace of the rector Abbey of the Holy
Apostle Paul in worms.
It was written in the city of
Greetings, his Eminence and his
Conrad!
Finally, my kind countryman, I'm
doing the same thing, which, forgive me Lord for indiscretion, a truly skilled:
hrazdanian. I excellent conditions for life and work, a workshop dedicated a
large mansion near Vladimir Bishop's court, and in the same chamber on the
second floor – my chambers. Provided all necessary servants, even more than I
had in worms, and in General I'm all right, thank the Almighty Lord, the Holy To The Virgin Mary.
I even think that architects,
building God's temple, in
His Abbey yarmulke I not removed
when entering any temple, and it meets the counter the
local priests. However, I am always ready to take it off and hide for a belt,
but yet I was not asked even once. I think this is unanimous tolerance caused
by some unknown to me by the order of Theodora, for I am not believe that the
Vladimir was not a single priest, dissatisfied finding in the temple Catholic
Prelate, even in the headdress.
My yarmulke is connected funny nickname, I received among the local people. The fact that she similar to skufia worn by the monks of the
In the beginning I will share with
thee some of his impressions from conversations with Theodore, who is able to
have the value to missionary work of our
Brief background is. Izyaslav
Mstislavich, the main enemy of George Dolgorukiy, when he was its Grand Prince
of
After the death of George
Metropolitan Constantine was forced to retire due to begin in
Then Andrew G. called in his
Principality the Church and the Zemsky Sobor elected Bishop Theodore, boyar
son, a longtime friend and colleague of Andrew. But the decision of the Council
invalid without the blessing of the parent Church hierarchy, and how I
understand from Theodore that there were serious difficulties, because of which
he is that is not a Bishop and only a Bishop candidate. However, this does not
prevent him to wear the Bishop's clothing, to appoint priests, and to be called
Lord.
As in
I think that Andrew and Theodore
also understand the dubiousness of their claims, and here lies the main the
opportunity for our missionary: I have not forgotten that his Majesty in his
the decree has commanded me to care about this godly practice. I communicate a
lot with Theodore, and I was under the impression that if the Patriarch will
not deliver it either in metropolitans, nor even a Bishop, he would turn to our
Generally speaking, interviews with
Theodore bring me real pleasure. This handsome man about my age, and because he
is a priest recently, most often behaves just like a noble, kind and educated layman.
I'll tell you, as your brother in Christ, fellow countryman and Confessor: this
behavior I like more than that, God forgive me, sanctimonious deanery some of
our "saints".
By the end of January, I, like promised to the Prince, prepared sketches and models
– and the big Cathedral for
In the mouth of the Nerl, where I
first went on the sled even before 1158, you'll be rare beauty and Prime location.
Overall the local landscape repeats
In the report Andrew, the presence
of Theodore and Supreme commander Vyshata Nikiforovich, I not only presented
sketches and models of the temples, but suggested that in the mouth The Nerl is
more suitable for a large city than for a small castle. The thing that the
imposition of the princely court to the East, in the direction troubled
neighbors the Volga Bulgars, created for the Prince a threat to be captured in
case a sudden enemy attack. The big city can resist much longer. And it is
impossible to build a yard so that it does not overgrown Posad, but inthe mouth
of the Nerl river to the North of the future fortress there is a large plain,
where can fit Posad any size. There is a place across the ravine to the West,
in the direction of
The white haired the Governor Wisata
supported me, because he is very concerned about the safety of the Prince. And
in the end it was decided to build a castle much larger than anticipated first.
I asked the question, until in
Russia will strengthen so archaic – tree-earth, and offered to make the walls
of the future city of white stone on the Nerl, for if to move the Prince, the city
inadvertently become the capital of the Principality. And, in my humble
understanding, the
My suggestion interested in all, but
it was unclear whether there is enough for all these venture construction
materials. I asked Andrei Georgievich go to the tile that can be produce from
the surrounding clay, but the Prince refused, moreover, under very remarkable
excuse: he didn't want to make a gift the Patriarch of Constantinople! It
turned out, Prince had known that for a temple
construction of plinths used in
Andrew G. asked me to check the
operation of quarries and supplies stone, in order to plan construction for the
current year and over the next several years.
I submitted layouts the temples was
Prince approved. The only comment was related to the number of heads on the
future of the Vladimir Cathedral. I offered to make one, in order to emphasize
towering buildings, this purely Russian construction receiving me very like.
But Andrew remembered that at St. Sophia Cathedral, the main
I asked a question, very important
to the final appearance of the temples: is it an accident that I don't seen at
one of the churches of George Dolgorukiy stone statues of people, animals and
monsters, only arches and ornament?
Theodore asked me if I'm dogmatic
side decoration of temples statues. I honestly admitted that unknown, and this
decoration has always been for me something of yourself
evident. Then he described in detail. It turns out that these things are
directly related Church dogma, and not any of the many Apostolic
resolutions, of which, I confess, I have knowledge of only a small part, and
the Second A sacred commandment – "do Not make yourself any graven
image..."
About iconoclasm, took place in
Byzantium four or five centuries ago and stopped Seventh Ecumenical Council, of
course, I heard, but it turns out that in ikonopochitateljami the resolution of
this Cathedral did not say anything about statues: probably about them in the
heat of debate just forgot. And it turned out that the General anathema all
previous iconoclastic councils, based on the Second The
Holy commandment, for the statues have not been repealed. This has created
dogmatic uncertainty that gives any Church the opportunity at its discretion
andto allow and to prohibit the decoration of churches with statues of people,
animals and monsters. In Catholicism such ornaments, indeed, are something yourself
granted, but the
I said that against such decorations
voices are heard and we have: for example, fifteen years ago, I was invited to
the French Abbey of Clairvaux adviser on the construction of vaults the main
Cathedral, and the late Abbot Bernard in conversation with me was surprised why
funny statues before the eyes of the brethren engaged in reading, and that can
mean unimaginable stone freaks with multiple heads and tails. This venerable
Abbot, God rest his soul with the Holy saints, worried to explore the colourful
world of stone images of many brothersmore interesting than thinking about the
commandments of God. But nevertheless, in
Andrew G. said that this liking to
him and was like his father, who in 1152 from Christmas – imagine, the Prince
gave the date it was on our calendar, not Byzantine! – the
Church is not allowed to decorate the temples statues. But when he was Grand
Prince of Kiev Georgy got to Metropolitan Constantine's blessing on it. So the
new Church buildings can and should decorate that way, and the only request is
that future stone sculptures glorified the power not only of the Christian
faith, butand princely power. Of course, I agreed, and upon this the audience
ended.
And in the last days January, I went
to
We went to
I asked Jacob, surely it was not
possible to produce a white stone is closer to
Mind you, my dear brother in Christ,
the extent to which
And I asked Jacob Osipovich the
question of why George Dolgoruky built all the five temples in 6660 for one
year, and more nothing like this is built either before or after. The merchant
told why it happened.
George long was going to build in
our Imperial technique of stone, commanded to scout out the quarry sent to study
at Empire Savva Nazirovich and several masters. But the mid-fifties (the
merchant in his story uses the Byzantine calendar; Christ is the end 1140-x –
approx. transl.) sparked the civil war for Kiev Izyaslav Mstislavich, and
Dolgoruky long left Suzdal. He came back, lost the war and expelled from
And finally, we he arrived in
In
I also learned from Jaroslava, South
and West of Moscow starts with dense forests, through which all Suzdal and was
called
The next morning I went to the
quarry is located a little above and a little below the city on the
Perhaps, my dear countryman Conrad
does not make sense to describe in this letter the local ways extraction and
cutting of stone, for they are the same ones that are used in our Empire. Let
me just say that since no other quarries in Suzdal the ground there, it
produces a white stone and on the treatment for the cladding of walls and
boring decorations and a filling thickness of the walls, and mortar. The
extraction is carried out from the high banks of the
Layers of stone are horizontally,
and underground mining is almost a full notch. For ceiling support is usually
left column of nevermannia stone: wood the lining is rarely used because stone
is much stronger than wood. Missed fragments of stone carefully placed there,
leaving narrow passages. Height faces and passes depending on the thickness of
the seam ranges from two to four elbows (1,5–3 meters
– approx. transl.). Saw in
The quarry at zalissia belong to the
Prince, the contractors are engaged only in the transportation of the extracted
stone. The chief quarries, an official of middle age, it seems, with the rank
of Sotk, on behalf of Yang Lukic, a native and resident of Moscow, has kindly guided
me through all the faces. For quarries, where it's always dark, the light of
day does not matter, so I only took two days and nights to trace the direction
of the layers and to understand the local deposits of the gorgeous white stone
is inexhaustible, and they will last many such fortresses, which I conceived in
the mouth of the Nerl. I only hadto increase the number of
miners and sledges for the transportation of stone. Mid March, at the
latest – from mid-April on the local rivers will start the ice and flooding and
transport of stone inevitably will have a month to stop, and then to use the
sledges and boats.
I gave to Jacob, Eustathius and
Yanyu, all necessary orders, and my assistants remained in
My lungs sleigh managed driver
Pronom, raced on the ice of the Yauza. No guard was not with us, because this
busy trade route has been cleared of bandits still in Georgia Dolgoruky on it
all the time go for military units, merchants and carters stone. We overtook a
whole caravan of sleighs with the stone, waved his hands, and the charioteers
raced on. Winter was little snow, the road on the ice was rolled, bright the sun was shining, chalk drifting snow.
Sun, sleevea eyes and drifting snow,
quickly sametova traces, God's will became the cause of unhappiness. With us for
our sins, something happened that happens here with travelers and summer
winter: moving up on the Yauza, we in the place of the confluence of some small
the river turned not in the mainstream and in the tributary. If the turn was
installed any sign, as is done on river road the blessed Empire, or at least
were visible the traces of the thumb on ice this wouldn't have happened.
Wrong turn usually just means some
loss of time, until you see that the river too greatly diminished do not
realize that made a wrong turn, and unfold. I already have one once faced with
this when we are with the deceased Ratibor Borisovich floated up on the river Field, and nothing terrible happened. But unknown to me the
influx Yauza occurred.
Pron quickly, within a quarter of an
hour, I realized that was the wrong direction, and began to turn the horses.
And here the forest, which was nearby, popped a few wolves.
Praise Of The
Blessed The virgin-intercessor, the raptors came at us at once: apparently,
decided to first look at which side to attack. Horses wildly began to snore and
bore. Again praise to the blessed virgin, we had already managed to turn
around, otherwise rushed to the source of the river, ran into a wall and
obscure forest was lost and I now would not write you this letter. But we
rushed in the direction of the Yauza. Wolves rushed us, they were a little less
than a dozen, they fled silently, that looked even
more ominous. From weapons if we had only the axe Pron.
Again, my brother in Christ, I have
to praise the virgin and the art of my driver. He then customized, then slightly held back one or the other the knight letting
them get mad and turn our sledges on the corners. Wolves, exhausted winter
starvation, ran slower than our well-fed and frisky horses, and a little lagged
behind. When I struck Yauza, I thought the terrible passed, for predatory
pursuers almost out of sight, to well I heard back from the
But the ways of
the Lord indeed inscrutable. Hungry fiends were braver and smarter than you to assume, and act as a cunning beaters. It turns out that for a while while
their cousins drove us on the inflow, a few wolves took a shortcut through the
forest and ran into the Yauza river in front of us.
And before us were half a dozen predators immediately nakinuvshihsya horses.
And Yauza, not only as a punishment for our many grievous sins, were deserted:
recently we met a sled with stone that Lee had to pass this place, or even not
reached.
The horses, tormented by wolves,
reared and lost in postroman, the sled ran over them and overturned. We Pronom
fell in the snow, but both immediately jumped. Pron grabbed an axe and rushed
on the evil predators, although I shouted to him that it is useless and should
be saved on the nearest tree. The driver did not listen and it cost him his
life. He has failed to get the axe on any wolf, and they, for a moment leaving
wildly beating bloody horses, surrounded Pron. The two raptors jumped on his
back into snow, and it was over. Me for this time with God's help managedrun to
the edge of the forest: fortunately, I explored the quarry is
not in the cloth, and comfortable travel clothes. I followed only one
wolf, but I threw him my cloak, and he hesitated.
Despite the age, I was able to
quickly climb up to a large birch tree, for steeplejack skills included in the
set of skills needed for an architect, plus I refresh the memory of this skill,
plotnica in
Those fiends
who don't got seats at the fateful feast, came to my birch and began to bounce,
in order to grab me. But I thank Almighty God, managed to climb high enough. My
previous feelings and experiences I am unable to describe you, dear my
countryman Conrad, because they are too strong for dry and soulless parchment.
Despite the cold, sweat poured from
me a hail. But I was without a cloak, sat on a tree almost without movement,
and quickly began to freeze, especially since the cap lost even when the
turning of the sled. The wolves, realizing that I did not immediately get
settled ring under the tree and froze in anticipation that I will freeze and
fall right in teeth. And their expectation was reasonable: the frost was
strong, and in front of me soon it became dark.
I realized that we are in the face
of certain death, and remains for me a choice: die or cold, or wolf teeth.
Thrice praise to the blessed virgin, I figured as soon as you lose
consciousness, the fall from the birch, and again before death comes to from
the terrible pain and will have time to realize that torn by wolves. To avoid
now agony I removed the belt and tied himself to the
tree in order, freezing, quietly to fall into oblivion and leave this world
without pain, a deep lethargy. I then turned my thoughts and feelings to the
Lord God, and don't remember more.
I woke up with the sun, with
thoughts are not about the salvation of souls, and, God forgive me,
Novotorzhskaya the harlot Lubomil. I was lying on the sled bobbing rhythmically
beneath me and above me was piled sheepskin and warm cloaks. With an arm around
me, was snoring, two of the big men in their shirts, I was without any clothes.
At first I did not understand that going on, but then I remembered that so –
human warmth – warm the frozen travelers and our blessed
I immediately was able to thank
their saviors: my cash purse, which was lying in the tilted sleigh, not lost,
these are good and honest workers found it returned to me safe and sound, and I
immediately gave it to them with all its contents.
Especially I made friends with one
of the peasants, otographic me with his body. His name is Mikita, he came from
Brambly, a large village not far from Pereyaslavl, he is younger than me years
on fifteen, friendly and smiling people, and these properties among the local
ordinary people are very rare. He told me a lot about his his beloved wife and
three children, the eldest of whom is twelve years old, he already has bride, and a wedding soon: so early marriages are accepted
here in the common people. Mikita was literate and his father was the village
priest and to the extenttheir abilities trained his son – and during the trip
explained to me the value Russian letters, for I, having mastered Russian
spoken language in Pskov, since haven't had neither the time nor the ability to
master the written language.
At the end of the journey I suggested
Mikita work on the construction of temples, but for some reason he refused
although he could earn much more there, even more so knowing the letter and
having among his friends of the Imperial architect. By the way, Mikita told me
that the local people calls me Skovira, a Kafir
because of my headgear.
Of course, immediately arrival at
In the end, I started over detailed
drawings of the temples only a few days ago. Work quickly, brother Severin helps me as you can, and even among the local
builders were a very intelligent young man named ULEB Hotovec. He's from a merchant
bar, but hopes to become an architect and to toady to the nobility, neat and
diligent, and most importantly – has good drawing tool. But still I very much
because I'm more than calculations and drawings, needs to supervise what my
assistants are hired builders and are selectedwhite stone, which has already
brought a lot to
The letter sent with this princely
messenger, traveling to
This messenger will try time to
reach the earlier debacle, and in
May your days will be full of joy
and success, bless thee, Lord God Almighty. Amen.
Forever loving you and devoted
friend servant of Christ and a countryman of yours Gottlieb-Johann.
LETTER ELEVENTH
(room on
the inventory of the
His Eminence lordship Conrad,
Archbishop of Worms, in the world count von Steinbach from Gottlieb-Johann, in
the world of Baron von Rosenau, the grace of the rector Abbey of the Holy
Apostle Paul in worms.
It was written in the city The hierarchy (now the village Bogolyubovo – approx.
transl.) in the twenty-third day Nov 1158 ad
Glory To
Jesus Christ! Greetings, his Eminence and his Conrad, my kind Bishop and
countryman!
Maybe you haven't heard the name of
the
That's why I'm not writing so long,
my brother in Christ: there was a lot of work. And with the completion
construction of two churches she is far from over. I have been building Vladimir
Cathedral, preparing calculations and drawings of the white-stone towers and
fortifications of Bogolyubovo, as well as new fortifications in
(See. Sheet 3, Sheet 4, Sheet 5,
Sheet 7, Sheet 8 "paintings and drawings" – approx. transl.).
Right now, my job is quietly. I just
used the word "now" – this summer, she was very restless, and in the
future I will tell you about it.
In addition to the workshop in
Theodore delves into all the
subtleties of my work. At least once a month we report on the progress of cases
Prince Andrey Georgievich, sometimes even in the presence of all the main
dignitaries Principality. In the latter case, our report takes place in a large
throne room. The Prince in his usual clothes sitting on a
rather modest throne, and his brothers, sons and nobles, too, in regular
clothes, – along the walls on benches. Sometimes it is curious to
observe the manners on this Board, where there is a strange mixture of Norman
military brotherhood, Imperial knight of the spirit and Eastern adulation.In
other words, apparently no servility, no one before the Prince falls prostrate,
nobles report to him, proudly erect and with his hand on the hilt of the sword.
But while from their lips, often flowing stream such flowery praise of wisdom
and the courage of Andrei, that even the Arab court
poets would envy. And the Prince with all his external modesty all this
graciously listens.
The same stream of flattery flows princely feasts where I am invited quite often. Coming
in first time to feast soon after last year's Christmas, I'm loyal to the
covenants of the Lord Jesus Christ, humbly sat down at the end of the table.
But the Prince, seeing this, asked me to move to seventh place on his right
hand. I then explained Theodore, it is a great honour
even for a Baron of the
I must say that much princely feasts
do not get drunk, and everything goes almost as decorous as in
And it turned out that the same
modesty Andrew G. owes its name to the city of
But in early spring this year, even
with the thaw, the Prince came to see his future capital. With him was Vysata Nikiforovich, and some of brothers and sons, and
many neighbors nobles, Theodore riding a horse as well as any warrior. All were
splattered with mud from head to toe, because the river has not yet passed the
break-up, and they rode along the shore, on a muddy road in which the horses
sank sometimes in the stirrups.
I had already ripe idea to put in
the Nerl not one Church but two: one in the future princely the castle and the
second (we are talking about the Church of the Intercession on the Nerl, see
Sheet 6 of the "Drawings and drawings" – approx. transl.) – in the
trade down the Klyazma river, merchants and ordinary people: I didn't want to
follow the example of Pereyaslavl and Georgieva, where in times Dolgoruky same
temples had served as a house Church Prince, and the parish Church of the city.
Andrew and this idea liked it, but
he asked the question whether there is enough in this year of white stone on
both temple, because it is impossible to forget and about the construction of a
large Cathedral in
Prince Andrew with this agreed,
surveyed his surroundings from a high cliff and offered not to put the second
the temple directly below the castle, and to bring it to the arrow of the Nerl
and Klyazma, that he served with a solemn design of this place. This idea
seemed to me very reasonable.
Wisata expressed concern, what
difficulties may arise due to the floods: when was this conversation, meadows
in the floodplain of the Klyazma river was under
water. Andrew G. said for the sake of the temple, you can fill an artificial
hill and make
I showed the Prince and contours
fortifications of the future capital, I've already started to lay out on the
ground, and place under white stone mansion on the edge of the cliff, with
stunning views widely spilled the Klyazma. (See. Sheet 4 and Sheet 5
"paintings and drawings" – approx. transl.).
Looking at all this, Prince
graciously smiled and said that the Abbot Gottlieb spent such work, that this
city in honor of his call. All respectfully laughed, and Theodore remembered
that the Prince is so yesterday and declared: "We're going to
Gottlieb". Andrew smiled again and noticed that my name is very beautiful
translated from German – "love of God" or "love of God",
and if the so-called city, you get something like "track".
I didn't expect from the Prince
knowledge in our native language and did not know what to say,
and all around again respectfully laughed – apparently thought it a joke. The
conversation ended, and all went to have dinner. I also thought that it was all
a joke, but imagine my surprise, my dear countryman Conrad, when the following
letter received I come from a Royal Treasury, has
already been written: "the construction of the city Bogolyubov".
In effect bequeathed Our Lord of
humility I admit that my name for the future capital come in the head of the
Prince by chance, and primarily because of the beautiful translation into
Russian language. But did not teach us whether St. Augustine of Hippo, that God
leaves nothing to chance happen? Therefore, I will say so, dear brother in
Christ: I for my work a lot various honors were rendered and emperors, and
kings, and Dukes, and electors, and archbishops, but to my name, even by
accident and not in the solemn atmosphere, was called the city, much less the
future capital – this has not happened.Can there be the best earthly reward for
the architect? I do not know and not want to think about it, because you can
fall into one of the seven deadly sins ambition, and even the root of all evil
– pride.
(Probably Gottlieb invented or
embellished very flattering for him the story of the origin of the city
hierarchy that he wrote in letter No. 9, that Prince Andrew was ticulously
"God-loving", and this could affect the choice of the name of the
city with much more a probability of approx. transl.)
At the end of March the Prince
approved detailed drawings of the two churches in the hierarchy and the city's
Cathedral in
On the eighth day of April laid
Vladimirsky Cathedral. The ceremony was attended by the Prince with all
nobility. Theodore, together with many priests Vladimir bypassed construction
the site with the icons and crosses, then put one big stone in the middle, and
four corners of the future Cathedral: these places were pre-marked with pegs.
Then he loudly commanded to begin construction. Artisans, the crowd standing on
the edge of the platform, bowed low. I, as usual, was among sosluzhil Theodore
priests of the second degree.
A little later was solemnly laid
both Church and fortress in the hierarchy. Their construction to that time it
went: we began to dig moats, almost completely filled the hill to the Church on
the Strelka of the rivers, both churches made a Foundation. But the ceremony of
laying was held the same way, and Theodore, trying not
to get bogged down in construction dirt and do not fall into the excavations,
walked in procession all the future fortress the construction sites of
churches, and then just as bombastic commanded to begin construction.
All three temples Andrew Theodore
decided to dedicate to the virgin Mary, which is
usually called The mother of God. I expected
(We don't know,
accidentally if Gottlieb did not specify the consecration of the Vladimir
Cathedral of the Dormition of the virgin,
I must say, my brother in Christ, I
had no idea what I can do so quickly and without much difficulties to establish
the construction work here. The Late Savva Nazirovich, architect George
Dolgorukiy, not in vain studied in our God-saved Empire: artisans on all the
main construction professions have been prepared, and Yakov Osipovich just had
to find them and invite to work.
Showed up unexpectedly the lack of
masons: they were sufficient for the construction of all five temples
Dolgoruky, but since then some have left to work in other principalities, and
some have turned to binge drunks: the last Russian, unfortunately, happens
quite often, and they call it "sleep". But I overcame these difficulties
using the most experienced craftsmen not for masonry walls and cutting stone,
and for the training of novice builders. A month later the disciples under the
supervision of the masters not only worked perfectly with the stone, but also
taughtother: the rapid assimilation helped the carpentry skills that the local
people, as they say, in the blood. Due to the same carpentry skills no
difficulties with the installation of scaffolding and formwork for the vaults
arose. And for such difficult and important part of the construction works, as
putting "sails" – curved transitions from poles to reels – I watched
myself. Jacob I told that exactly the same was received and Savva Nazirovich.
But still I will remember this year
is not as happy and extremely restless. The thing Tom, Archbishop Conrad, soon
after the ceremonial of laying Bogoliubov churches revealed: white stone on
both temples is not enough for this year it will be possible to build only one.
I was shocked, because in the
winter, as you remember, traveled to Moscow, praised the work of the quarries
and examine accumulated stocks there, because so confident and told the Prince
that stone should enough for two churches. Is my experience of the architect I
could so cruelly cheat?
First of all I invited Yakov
Osipovich and asked why stone is not enough, and how
could to happen. My assistant showed the records and explained that the old
stocks from quarries removed, and now carried only what is produced. He called
and contractor transport Eustathius of Mironovicha, he confirmed his words and
said dear master Gotlib, apparently, made a mistake with the estimate of the
number of produced and stocked stone. Yakov Osipovich with exaggerated regret
that looked at me and remarked, "and good
marksman may miss". This Russian proverbrepeats the meaning of our
Franconian – "the eye sometimes leads even the best shooters".
Then Jacob said, in his opinion,
nothing terrible happened, and the second temple will be to finish in the next
year, for the production of white stone is constantly increasing, the stone
will be mined and brought back, just not now, but later.
To say it was nothing. I confess to
you, my dear, my countryman, that I experienced many unpleasant hours thinking
how I will tell the Prince that's in that year The hierarchy stone will only
last for one temple. But I also thought that such rude – almost two times – to
make a mistake, I could not.
And in the end I resolved: went to
Supreme commander, Visite Nikiforovich and told me that the number produced and
stocked in white stone, which is shown in the report, I it seems understated
and, in my opinion, a lot of stone disappears somewhere on the way.
Wisata asked me a reasonable
question: assume that the stone on the road to steal, but why? To whom it may
need? You can't eat it, baking them will not istopes, and even sell, for white
stone construction in Suzdal is only a Prince, and other principalities white
stone no use anywhere except in the far South-Western suburbs Russia – Galich,
where missing your stone. And the reports all agree: white stone mined from the
quarries is transported in Bogolyubov brought that same else?
But as it turned out hurt the
dignity of the Imperial architect, I stood at his stubbornness, not worthy of
francona and Schwab: no offense be it said to his Majesty, but he, himself
being a Schwab, can not know that the Swabian stubbornness came from us in the
proverb.
Then Wisata invited Proclus, one of
his aides explained to him all my suspicions, and commanded take the boat to
pretend he is a wealthy farmer and came to work, employed by the carrier the
gang to Eustathius Mironovich, included in the trust or to Eustathius himself,
or to any foreman, and try something to find out. Proclus was well and the
peasant, although, as I later learned, is the son of a noble boyar. So I hope
for the success of his mission was.
It took a month and a half. Due to
the lack of stone I was forced to stop the construction of the Church on the
arrow The Nerl and the Klyazma and to throw all forces on the temple in the
heart of the hierarchy. The building was growing, The Lord kept us from
accidents on the construction site, but the soul I was quiet for a minute,
especially when I looked down from the edge Bogoliubov cliff at an abandoned
man-made hill on the river arrow. Came the Prince, asked why is not moving the
second construction, I frankly told, Andrey frowned, said I'd talk to Vietoi,
and left.
A month later, to me came to the
Palace official and was invited to attend the princely court in the case about
the theft of the stone. It turns out, the old Gottlieb did not let the
experience and eye, the stone really was kidnapped. But I soon realized
something, who and why these things needed.
The court was held on the main
Around the dais stood nobles, behind
them a crowd of people. I did not push ahead and left in the middle of the
crowd. Wisata Nikiforovich with a bow came to the throne and a stentorian voice
reported charges. And here's what I learned.
It turns out that many carriers,
taking the stone from the quarry, does not deliver it in the Bogoliubov and
agreement with Eustace dovozili to the middle of the road and unloaded in the
deep woods around one of the tributaries of the Klyazma river.
Took place that's the kind of insidious trick: beginning in the fall, these
reserves had to come to the capital under the guise of only mined stone, that
is, the prey was slowly reduced, giving the lion's share of money, food, wood
and other earthly goods allocated by Prince on quarry.
When I'm twenty years ago built in
Palestine, faced with such extortion, but there it is was much more modest: a
bit of overstatement is the difference between brought to the construction site
and used for construction stone, and this difference thieving contractors
blamed on large than on indeed, the waste during treatment. Here nothing was
even attributed to waste: the quantity and mined, and transported white stone
was underestimated by almost twice, that's all. In General, the magnitude of
the theft of stone in Suzdal lookedimpressive: if you translate it into
dimensions Imperial temples, it turns out that stole the chapel of Charlemagne
in
Proclus, analsis to Eustathius under
the guise of a farmer with a boat, was able to gain his trust, and through some
time had unloaded stone at a secret warehouse near a tributary of the Klyazma.
Of course, soon this warehouse was cordoned off by soldiers Visati
Nikiforovich. It only remained to catch the sailing back carriers, among whom were and Mikita. So that is why he did not want to work
on my construction: the unjust way he earned much more, for Eustace generously
rewarded its associates.
Nobody had torture: opening the
secret warehouse. it became clear and all of the
defendants pleaded guilty, except Yakov Osipovich and Yan lukić. And if
Jacob, really, tried everything, only reports and could not know the dark deeds
Eustathius of Mironovich and his henchmen, Yan could not manage, for had charge
of the quarries. And yet Yang Lukich stepped forward and became to say proudly
that his noble nobleman, cheated that it is not knew what goes on in the
extraction and export of stone, and that all reportswas Eustace. To this
Proclus said that he saw Eustace and Yang share of hryvnia. Yang began to cry
that's a lie, and let him judge. The judgment of God.
Andrey listened to all this with a
pale face, distorted as if in pain. Hearing that Yang requires God's judgment,
he sprang from his throne and shouting: "Here's God's judgment!" drew
his sword and tore down the brazen thief head. Forgive me Lord, but mentally I
endorsed this the act of a Prince, despite the dislike
of the executions and blasphemous his words. Endorsed and all that stood in the
square, even the caps off of joy started throwing up.
The Prince, from head to toe
spattered with blood, returned to the throne and announced its verdict rest the
accused, who was lying face down and crying for mercy. Workers who take the
stone to the secret warehouse were sentenced to flogging and confiscation of
their boats and sled. Jacob Andrew from punishment was released, but was
obliged to pay the freight of stone from a secret warehouse in
Transportation of stone took on
Wisata Nikiforovich, calling to the soldiers and peasants, serving princely
duties, and in July at the spit of the Nerl and Klyazma work started. She
walked quickly, for it began before daybreak and ended after sunset, stopping
only for the night, and summer nights are short. Yakov Osipovich, from the date
of the court nor never ulybnulsya not vzgljadami me in
the eye, has gained more than forty additional workers. For the construction of
this Church Prince Andrey Georgievich ordered to pick up the best varieties of
stone: strictly speaking, white stoneoff-white, it is sometimes yellowish, and
pink, and for this Church to select white.
At first I wanted to surround a
white stone temple with a colonnade, and even laid the foundations for her, but
because construction delays have refused to colonnades, and from paving of the
hill white stone vimothy, extending it the following year. (Colonnade never was
built instead, later erected closed porch.
While working over the churches I
was engaged in the fortifications: my knowledge in this area was more than
sufficient for the construction of a simple Russian
fortresses.
In the hierarchy shafts length a
little over half a mile (1-1.
In Vladimir, the fortress will be
wooden with the usual for Russia walls filled land of log cabins with combat
move upstairs, but its size is much more: incremental length shafts to the old
town was more than two miles (
Came to me the idea that if it is
not possible to do in
Prince Andrew, carefully after
listening to me and Vysata said that then it would be best to build a stone the
gates and from the West and from the East. Of course, there are difficulties
with such a large a number of stone, but if enough of at one of the gates,
then, God willing, gradually get and for one more: Prince is clearly encouraged
by the fact that after the exposure scams the number of boulder has doubled.
One of the gates will have to call Gold – on the model of Constantinople and
Vysata said then Bogolyubov facing
the Eastern stone gate let called Silver, and inventing names for the other
gate – wooden is not worth spending time, the name will gradually show
themselves. Andrew approved of these words and decided extend the main street
of the old town fortress on the West and the East, so she walked through the
whole city from the Golden to the Silver gate. I was reminded of that the
Posada was built randomly, and for punching the main street will have to carry
quite a lot of homes. Andrew smiled and said that if need be, though hethe
whole Posada demolished. The audience was over.
Sketch of a large stone gate I
sketched quickly, for he saw the Golden gate in Jerusalem, and in
Constantinople, and the ULEB Hotovec visited Kiev and described me as look the
Golden gate there. I decided that the
Prince Andrew fully approved my
sketches of Golden and Silver gates and made them layouts. Soon I will prepare
detailed drawings, and with God's help through the year or two you can will begin construction. I hope, without me, for
Imperial decree ordered me to stay in
But the joy is interesting, fruitful
and diverse work appeared in early September damaged the wiles of the enemy of
the human race. Here's how it happened.
Night in a dream I heard a noise
under the Windows of his St. Vladimir's workshop. Put the robe and wanted to go
out to see what was the matter, but could not open the
door: she tied with a thick rope. My servants tried to look out the window, but
the shutters were closed and secured from the outside with long poles. Then we
started screaming and banging on the doors and Windows, outside came the city
guards and released us.
It turns out that someone was going
to burn down my house, and locked the Windows and doors so that no one could
pop up out. And saved me and my servant from a painful death in the fire what
is wise and experienced Wisata Nikiforovich after the princely court thought
that someone of me unmasked thieves may want to get back at me, and put my home
of the secret guards, who grabbed the arsonist. God bless the honest old
soldier Vysata.
And soon I was again invited to the
court, not the Prince, and Supreme magistrates, because criminals are not had
noble origin. Imagine my shock, dear brother my in Christ when I became aware
that one of them is my assistant Jacob Osipovich, the other a farmer Mikita
from Brambly.
When I saw this people on the court
with a sprained on the rack hands down shame the heads, I don't believe my
eyes. But all turned out terrible truth: Jacob along with Eustathios
Mironovicha and Yan Lukic participated in the unjust earnings on concealment of
white stone, and when lost earnings now, you were furious and decided to get
back at me. Besides, if I burn, then nobody would Jacob once again begin to
steal – if not stone, then something else: for example, gold, copper, lead,
encaustic floor tiles, construction tools...But you never know what you can
steal on the construction in the absence of supervision? It turns out that
Yakov many years, thus deceiving the Prince George Dolgoruky, and the architect
Savva Nazirovich whether about anything did not guess, whether he he
participated in the theft.
And Jacob hired Mikita for in order
to burn me in my house. How could Mikita, who called himself my friend to go to
such a terrible crime – don't understand and probably never I
do not understand. The human race really sunk so low? Is it humanly
possible to such an extent to trample the image of God? And because the villain
did not stop before the inevitable death with me innocent servants, nor before
that in dry and warm weather, when he was going to burn down my house from a
fire could light up the whole city!
And when Mikita was captured he
revealed under torture for Jacob. That, in turn, also under torture confessed
everything, including the multi-year deception of the Suzdal princes to the
previous court, as you remember, he managed to escape punishment. Therefore,
neither he neither Mikita were not lying ask Vysata
Nikiforovich about mitigating them fate: they understood that it was useless.
And the sentence was terrible: for trying to burn the noble Baron Gottlieb, his
servants and workshop with valuable tools, for the risk of a large urban fire
and years of theft – to put both on the count.
Completely frustrated, I went home,
thinking about human greed and remembering the words of Solomon the parable:
"these Are the ways of everyone who is hungering good
of others; it takes away the life of taken possession of them." The next
day I was appointed chief assistant to the ULEB Kotovich, began to explain to
him the intricacies of building Sciences and arts, and a little distracted from
serious thoughts. Then I thought I'll never see any Jacob, neither Mikita:
executions were usually held at
A few days after court this morning
I heard a strong noise of the crowd near my house in
Don't know, my brother in Christ,
did you hear about the impalement adopted in the East and almost unknown to us.
In
I'm sorry, my dear brother, if I
offended your benevolence SIM with a terrible story. But imagine imagine the
nightmare of forced observation of how the shaking from the horror of Jacob and
Mikita, dressed only in his shirt, the priest let go of sins, gave to kiss the
cross and betrayed into the hands of the executioners. Those did the trick
indeed masterful: after half an hour Besplatnie accidents already ascended
above the crowd, strung on the stakes, like butterflies on needles in the
collection of our steinbergkogel archivist Martera.
The crowd began to disperse, and I
finally got the opportunity to return to the house. Going out again in a couple
hours, I saw something even more horrible than hitherto: the two accidents
already woke up, Jacob was mad with inhuman suffering was babbling the
absurdity, and Mikita weak hoarse voice spoke with his wife and children. Yes,
my dear Conrad, small children this villain was allowed to the place execution.
When I came out, they all looked at me, and their views I won't forget to the
hour of death. It seemed to me that I should have burned along with everyone in
town,forgive me Lord for these thoughts.
I immediately went to Wisata
Nikiforovich, explained that this is a terrible sight keeps me calm work on the
Prince's orders, and asked if it was impossible to choose for the execution of
another place. He was surprised and said commanded to commit a penalty under my
window just to be helpful: to enable watch flour criminals attempt on my life.
I was shocked by this wild logic –
although I must say that the manners in our Imperial cities there are even more
barbaric, and were asked to stop the suffering of the unfortunate. The Supreme
Governor shrugged his shoulders, called his assistant and gave the order. When
I got home, the stakes were gone. I asked one of his servants, caused if
criminals "blow of mercy", or even living carried painful to die in
another place. He replied that he has caused, but I felt that these things it
was said only to me not to be upset.
That kind of cruelty reigns in this
world, despite the fact that it's been eleven centuries since then, as Jesus
Christ commanded us to love each other and their godparents suffering atoned
for our sins!
After this truly apocalyptic
nightmare for a long time I stayed in bed: in the eyes darkened, sick the
heart, the blood pulsed loudly in my temples, it was
hard to breathe nights I delirious, and, as I then told the servants, in his
delirium called some Lubomil: I, of course, understand what kind of Lubomil was
discussed. To get up I could not even twenty on the sixth of September, the day
of
In the end, despite all delay, both
of the
In the vaults for them relief I
applied a light porous stone. However, arches coupled with reel still turned
out very heavy, and that the walls of temples not sold under such a burden, I
wanted to strengthen the iron wall and the air connections. But Vladimir
blacksmiths are unable to forge such a long straight strip metal, and had to
settle for wooden ties – like all I've seen Russian churches. But was forged thick iron crutches, which connection was sealed.
In the decoration of churches with
arches, columns and pilasters I applied some known to me, allowing to emphasize the harmony and elegance of the silhouettes of
buildings. And yet these the churches are decorated with images of king David,
female masks, lions, pigeons, griffins with lambs, many animals and monsters.
Portals are made in the form several ledges, going in depth on a leafy capitals
and a thin thread. Brother Severin and his disciples have done their job
masterfully: so skillful Tesco decorations I've rarely seen even in our The Holy
Roman Empire.
Work according to these churches
there's still a lot to cover the vaults with lead, dome – gilded copper, to
make copper or tile floors instead of the temporary wooden vygostky, paint
Church frescoes to place icons and Church utensils. But Theodore, after
examining the building, said that blesses their sanctification, and all the
rest will be to finish next year.
At the consecration of churches now,
as for the tab, was present Andrey with his younger brothers, sons and boyars.
Theodore and the priests walked around the temples in procession, sprinkled
with Holy water inside and out, read the prayers. I'm not recovered from his
illness and did not have the strength to go along with Theodore around the
temples, just standing among the nobles. The trees still have a little bit of
Golden foliage, the air was dry and cool, the sun shone brightly. But it was
felt that not only my mood but also the mood of Prince Andrew and Theodore was
notfestive. By that time I already know what it is.
Business, my dear countryman, was
that the Byzantine Patriarch refused to bless the appointment Theodore Bishop
and sent to this place in Suzdal Greek Leon. Latest Andrew immediately on
arrival sent to live away from
Andrei Georgievich more it remains
to hope that the Patriarch will bless the creation of his separate Principality
from Kiev Metropolitanate and put Theodore Metropolitan. But I already wrote
that and this hope is illusory, even in respect of the establishment of the
Archdiocese, and Theodore, ordained a priest recently, unknown and not monks,
and even no hope.
That though as-that to strengthen
his position, Theodore began with
Because of the emergence of Leon I
began to feel hostile attitude on the part of many Vladimir the priests, for
the Byzantines, as I understand it, is the enemy the rapprochement of the
Christian churches in dioceses, have not yet concluded Union between our his
Holiness Pope and Patriarch of Constantinople. So I am not in the local
churches in a hat and not zaslujivayut none of the priests, in addition to
Theodore.
But the past keeps with me all
polite and nice, and I finally dared to ask him the question of which side of
the Lord Ratibor Borisovich before death claimed to be Grail. What is
confidentially told me Theodore, you can be known, but just in case I feel
compelled to recount.
Among the Imperial the gifts, which
were transported to Russia knight of the Temple He really was a Saint The Grail
is the Cup from which our Lord ate at the last supper and in which were
collected the blood from his wounds. By agreement of his Imperial Majesty and
the late Prince George Dolgoruky, and this Shrine was intended for solemn
gaining in
For Andrew, like his late father
George, such a finding would be very useful for the consolidation of princely
power. Because Andrew and worried so much that this Cup was seized
But the hope this bowl Andrew and
Theodore don't lose: they ordered me the construction on the main square
Bogolyubov big canopy, similar to our altar kevorim. Under the canopy should
stand vodosvyatnaya stone bowl, which will symbolize the Grail after its solemn
finding. The Shrine itself is, of course, will be not on the square, and in one
of the new temples.
Next year, God will, my hands will
reach the construction of this kivoriy.
Dear my countryman Conrad, I must
inform you that Prince Theodore is very worried, why
This letter will give you princely messenger,
loaded in a way specifically for this, which can be considered another sign of
the desire of Andrei Georgievich to establish friendly relations with our
God-saved Empire.
The grace of God Yes be with you and all our brothers in Christ. Amen.
Sincerely yours, soul devoted friend
servant of Christ Gottlieb-Johann.
LETTER TWELFTH
(room on
the inventory of the
His Eminence lordship Conrad,
Archbishop of Worms, in the world count von Steinbach from Gottlieb-Johann,
count von Rosenau, by the grace of God a member of the Reichstag and the Abbot
of the Imperial Abbey Niedermunster in Regensburg.
It was written in the city The hierarchy in the second day of September, 1159 ad
Glory to Jesus Christ forever and
ever! Greetings, his Eminence and his Conrad, my dear my Archpastor, countryman
and brother in Christ!
First of all I want Express
Christians, victorious, forever glorious Emperor Friedrich your humble loyalty
gratitude for the decree to award I dignity of count
of the
Deeply moved I
the appointment of the Abbot of the Imperial Abbey Niedermunster in the
glorious city of
I received, my dear his Eminence,
Archbishop, and your supportive letter. Especially nice I was to read in it the
following sentence: "his Majesty made a deep the impression of naming the new
chief of the city of
I do not doubt for a minute that
such a high appreciation of his Majesty of my humble service became possible
primarily thanks to your patronage, I bring you my my dear bishops, all the
gratitude that was expressed and, God will give, not just to speak for
Christians, the Emperor Frederick. And forgive me my dear Conrad, senile grumbling
and grumbling about the fact that you're not was able to dissuade the Emperor
from sending me to
Pleased with me and my kind
Archpastor that you greet, and I believe pleasing to
God missionary work my joint mass with the clergy of the
Thanks to your letter now I
understand why for so long I had to wait for the arrival of a new Embassy: our
Christians the Emperor is in Italy with the aim of conquering the rebellious
cities, I wish him success in this case, useful for the unity of our Holy Roman
Empire.
I'm flattered and the fact that
return to me will be given the Imperial order for the construction of a new the
city's Cathedral in
The Lord was pleased to welcome the
Imperial Embassy, who brought such good news reached Bogolyubov accompanied by
good weather and a fair wind, without misadventures and hardships except the
inevitable fatigue from a long journey. Think you know the part of the Embassy,
but just in case tell about it.
First of all call the papal legate,
Rudolf, Bishop of Callantsoog, in the world of Baron von Atzingen. I had to
meet him at the Imperial court, and only you, I guess I know him well. So I
will not dwell on the description of this worthy Minister of our Holy Church,
and go straight to the person who, it seemed to me, has much more Imperial
orders to the Prince Andrew, rather than Bishop Rudolph. This Henry, Earl of
Bethlehem, one of the highest masters of the order of Christ and of the temple
of Solomon, and judging by the fact that his countflax is the birth place of
our Lord Jesus, he is a high not only the Templars, but in the Kingdom of
Jerusalem. At age this Templar is a little older than me and Bishop Rudolph,
he's thin, the gray-haired man, kept straight, its nimble and quick movements
give a skilled warrior not only in the past but in the present. And when he is,
congratulating the award the title of count, looked at me with colorless eyes,
I confess, even became not on itself.
The Bishop Koblinsky and Earl of
With a noble
gentlemen came
at least a dozen servants and bodyguards, not including the charge of Prince
honorary escort. In General, it is impossible not to note that the level of the
Embassy of his Majesty to Prince Andrey Georgievich is much higher than to
Prince George Dolgoruky.
He settled all the ambassadors in
newly built guest mansion of the Prince in Bogolyubovo. Bishop Rudolph a lot of
talking with Theodore and is with him the Liturgy, and count Heinrich Bethlehem
receives frequent meetings of Prince Andrew. I hardly see now the Imperial
ambassadors, for the common topics of conversation we have a few, and I'm busy
the construction is in full swing work on the Vladimir Cathedral, Bogolyubovo
built a fortress and a Palace, about which I told you the previous letter.(This letter in Vienna the library is not: it is either not
reached to the recipient, or not preserved. But the General idea of the
Bogoliubov the Palace, is a fortified complex of
buildings, such as German "Burg" Sheet 5 "paintings and
drawings", which, apparently, Gottlieb sent with some other letter –
approx. transl.). God willing, next year will begin construction of a Gold and
Silver gate in
But one conversation with the count
The Bethlehem I remember: he wanted to know what I know about the Cup that
carried to
I asked a question about this the
Cup of Bishop Rudolph, count of Bethlehem because I don't dare to ask questions
even though I don't understand why so timid before SIM Templar, though what are
a count of the Holy Roman Empire, but he only had to count Jerusalem Kingdom.
His grace kindly and confidentially
told me that his Imperial Majesty and the Prince Andrew, do not lose hope to
find the Holy Grail. To do this, after the expulsion in
And if the Holy Grail with God's
help is found, the solemn Liturgy on the occasion of gaining shrines will
jointly serve the two bishops Rudolf and Theodore. Then they the arc will take
the sacred Cup for all Russian principalities, directly or indirectly induce
the people to adopt the true Catholic faith.
Then I asked him Eminence, why the
Templar order is accompanied by The Holy Grail for
I did not understand why the Holy
Grail was officially impossible to find in the
It became clear to me why late
knight He did not turn back, after learning about the change of the Prince in
Novgorod, and then on the death of George Dolgoruky that he would have time to
organize a solemn the indwelling of the Holy Grail in Russia in the year 6666.
I told him about it grace was about to ask another question: why in the
Imperial the Embassy to George there was no Bishop, and the Embassy to Andrew
is. But Rudolph background Matzingen prefaced this question with a story about
the importance of
The explanation was exhaustive, and
I just had to thank his Eminence and to tell him that I also contributed to
future acquisition The Holy Grail: the arrival time of the Embassy has already
completed a canopy-kivoriy over Holy-water bowl to the West of the entrance to
the
Bishop Rudolf von Matzingen this
kivoriy, I can say without undue modesty, very pleased. It remains only to find
the Shrine, the symbol of which will be the bowl under the kivoriy. I I
sincerely wish the success of this charitable venture and I would be happy if
the gain in
Moreover, recent adversity and
danger – as we would like to believe that they were really the last! – by the will of God fell to me recently, soon after sending
to you, my dear my brother in Christ, the previous letter (which is in the
In early July, Andrei G. told me
that he was going to build in
The Prince asked me if I make the
layout and drawings of the new Cathedral, not riding up to
Then Andrew and Theodore asked me to
make a trip to
We sailed from Bogolyubov early July
morning. The weather was beautiful and our boat was moving fast up the river
Nerl – not that which flows into the
Forgive me, Lord, but I was
interested once again to see the fruits of poor the imagination of the
architect Savva of Nazirovich, which he filled not only Suzdal: I recently
learned that in the distant Galicia according to his drawings were built the
Church of the Transfiguration of the Saviour. Besides, looking at his temples,
I recalled the ill-fated contractor Jacob. So I didn't have any desire to go on
the Bank and carefully read the Kideksha, only a notice for the attention of
his Imperial Majesty, that the length of the shaft here for over half a mile
(about1 kilometer – approx. transl.), the town stands on the cliffs above the
Nerl and flowing into it by the river Heater is by local standards a major
fortress.
We were in a hurry, because in a
couple of hours upside Kamenka is one of the largest and oldest local cities –
Suzdal, and I wanted to spend the night in it.
Suzdal is among fertile plains of
The ancient fortress Suzdal,
fortified by the length of a little less than a mile (about1.4 km – approx.
transl.) takes a steep bend of the Kamenka river. The
shaft is quite small height – no more than three cubits (
I spent the night in the mansion
have Suzdal Governor, the next day toured the city, in the evening, the
Governor invited me to the feast and after the feast the next morning our boat
sailed away. We came back on the Nerl at
Never in my life I don't had to meet
and with so many mosquitoes. The air was literally filled, and even web was of
little help. In short, I finally realized that God's punishment is prepared in
But in General the way to
Then after the portage we went to
the river with Sarah and her went down to the
Past the Town we sailed early in the
morning. I was not there to approach, but three young warriors at the pier
asked to stay, asked who I was, and carefully looked through my security
credentials. However, they viewed them upside down – apparently, was
illiterate.
I for the first time stay in Suzdal
faced with the fact that I was traveling on Prince behalf,
did not bow, did not offer to stop to rest and did not want happy journey.
Then, however, I didn't think much of this coldness no values can be from now
young people just was in a bad mood.
On the
Once
The local fortress situated on the
plain, one of the few dry places around the lake. Built it seemed to me, in
even more ancient times than Suzdal, and is in an even worse state. Somewhere
in the bloated shafts do not walls, some charred logs.
The main thing I realized – the new
Cathedral will be close from the trees, hence, it is necessary to do high. Then
I had the idea to build it with the six pillars inside, and with four, but with
a head larger in diameter than average head construction of the Vladimir
Cathedral. In other words, I decided to increase the average the dome,
increasing the sense of grandeur when you are inside, and to emphasize the main
advantage of Russian churches – and towering.
After the ascension of the Lord
prayers for the gift of success in the construction of the future Cathedral, I
was going to go to princely Governor Putyata Aronovich. I was surprised that a
few met Rostovtsev me, I asked, where is the Palace of the Governor, did not
know this. However, now I think they just didn't want to answer the questions
Catholic Abbot.
And only the fourth or the fifth of
the questioned showed this tower. But Putyata was gone. I gave he bowed and
headed for the
When I got to our rook, I saw that
Frol scolding rower, who was supposed to guard the ship, but left his post due
to the fact that the local foreman was talking with him and offered a drink of
home brew. Rower was justified by the fact that the foreman ordered to protect
our boat to his soldiers, and none of the items are not lost.
I suggested helmsman to continue the education of the oarsman on the way, and
we sailed, going long until sunset to approach the Town for Sarah to stay the
night either there or somewhere further.
Our boat slowly I moved on
To the mouth of the river Sary
remained, probably, about a mile (
All that we discussed, frantically
trying to bail the water out, but it came too fast. More a few minutes – and
the ship disappeared from the surface, leaving only a small whirlpool.
We in the boat were fifteen people.
Four went down immediately, because do not know how to swim. The rest didn't
even try to help them: to the shore was far away and hope to swim was
insignificant at all.
Thanks be to the Almighty Lord, I am
a good swimmer from the time when a child swimming in our verhnebakansky lakes.
Working in the glorious Palestinian city of tyre, I often went down to the sea
and used to swim so far that they saw the shore just fine strip. However, then
I was a quarter of a century younger.
With the surface of the water hard
to determine the distance, but I figured that swimming need not forward to the
distant The town of Sarah, especially not back to even more distant Rostov, and
right to the low and swampy banks, on which grew a few crooked birches. Birch
it was possible to distinguish, then, this beach was the closest. Besides, the
Lord contrived me that if you sail directly to the mouth of Sarah, it will be
to resist the swimmers. And if you go to the birch trees that
was just across current.
I shouted his satellites, of which
during this time under water have gone two more. Steering Frol and three
rowers, large and strong men, didn't listen to me and swam directly to the mouth
of Sarah. More I haven't seen them: perhaps they are unable to overcome the
flow of the river. The other moved behind me. Praise the Holy virgin is the intercessor, the water in the lake on a hot July day was
warm.
We floated for a long time. One then
my other companion went under the water and saw him no more. I was saved the
ability to relax in the water, turned over on his back. More than one of the
victims the collapse did not know how, I advised them to try, but the first
time not got no one. And when I finally got out on a
low and marshy shore, there was no one. I was left alone.
I fell down and thanked The Lord for
salvation, prayed for the souls of the drowned and tried to gain forces. But
long lie I was not allowed mosquitoes: in the water I got rid of prevented sail
clothes and remained only in underwear, and on the shores these are the evil
creatures in abundance pounced on my vulnerable body. And I stood up, reeling
from exhaustion, broke off a large branch and waving it from the bloodsuckers,
wandered in side of Town on Sara.
The ground was so swampy, I
sometimes fell above the knees, and sometimes, in order not to get bogged down,
I had to get out to the lake and go around the dangerous places to swim. Last I
had to do in order to get a little freshen up, protect yourself from mosquitoes
and chill bitten body. Besides, it was very difficult to go barefoot: feet hurt
something lying in the mud branches of trees, swamp sedge.
The sun was setting when I finally
came to the Town. What I was, my brother in Christ, I think
no need to explain. But salvation seemed near, and the wrong gait,
suffering from hunger, fatigue and mosquito bites, I went into the city.
Don't know what I provoked The Lord,
and for which of my many sins, he sent me to meet those three soldiers, who in
the morning met me on the dock: apparently, that day they were sentries. I
rushed to him with pleas for help but shocked he stopped on hearing something
like: "wow, good Orthodox sunk, and the Antichrist came out!". Immediately they grabbed me and dragged me to the
river. One of them asked the other where to get a stone and a rope to hang
around my neck.
I realized that these soldiers know
about what has happened to our boat. If they met us in the morning sent a messenger
to
The Governor did not for a long time
to wait. Waddle coming from a large hut and idly
scratching his enormous belly, he looked at me and asked who I was and how it
turned out. I was told that I By the grace of God Abbot of Baron
Gottlieb-Johann von Rosenau, architect of its Imperial Majesty, working for
Grand Duke Andrei Georgievich, and that I the command of the Prince of Rostov
examined for future construction of the Cathedral, and then the attackers sank
my ship in the middle of the lake Nero, all my companions drowned, and only I
was able to swim. The Governor had heard all this she and maliciouslyasked what
I can confirm your words, except for the German accent. All the letters are
drowned with the boat, so I could only offer to take me in
The Governor asked malicious
soldiers who drove there this morning, the princely architect. Those looked at
each other with sly smiles said passed, but I did not like they see me for the
first time. The eldest of them approached the Governor and something whispered
in his ear. He laughed and said that if a German does not lie and really came
out when all were drowned, is a witch, and Bishop of Leon warned against
sorcerers, which in those places very much, and recently, in Midsummer, they
once again staged their demonic games. And if a German is lying,so he's a spy, because an honest man will not lie, and the
Bishop of Leon warned against the Germans, preparing for a crusade to
Perhaps at another time this logic
is worthy of our most ornate of the sophists, could be me amuse. I admit, my
dear Conrad, that you will smile when you read it. I
was no laughing matter for the Governor said today the hour is late and it is
time to sleep, and tomorrow will be the judgment of God that will show the
sorcerer is this German or scout. In the first case, it will be burned, and the
second hanged.
The Governor went white-haired
merchant, – as I understand it, the mayor of the Town for Sarah, and asked
whether dissatisfied with the Governor Putyata Aronovich, and even Prince
Andrey Georgievich, for it really seems to be princely master who came to
Rostov with the world and good intention to build God's temple. But the Governor
is recalled the words, it is said in the sermon by the Bishop of Leon, in
Russia the churches should build only Orthodox masters, and infidel who dare
his wicked hands touch to Russian shrines, is a blasphemer, that is, can
belikened to the sorcerer. And to the question of the Governor, is ready to be
Governor to refer to the words of the Lord in front of Leon with angry eyes the
Governor or Prince, the unjust Sophist smiled and said that God's judgment will
be conducted fairly and all dissatisfaction can be expressed only to the Lord
Governor which Suzdal is the Lord of Leon.
Then the Governor commanded to put
me in the "cold house", which was done. I think my brother in Christ, that this hut was called "cold" by some
local custom or just because it was not furnaces and in winter must have been
cold. But when I was placed there, it was hot and stuffy. The Windows in the
house was not only short door. In the uncertain light of the torch in the hand
of a warrior I noticed that on the floor lay a bunch of disgusting dirty straw.
Then I slammed the door and I was left in complete darkness. Any food I
brought. Even water was not.
Despite the heat and the heat, I
beat the chills of horror, hunger, fatigue and aching mosquito bites. But the
brain was working feverishly, for the sense of self-preservation in man is
stronger and pain, and cold, and hunger, and despair. I confess, though I've
tried to set up thoughts on a soul-searching way, but was thinking primarily
about how to save his mortal body, for it is well known in the sad example of
the knight Arnulf from Caesarea, what is the court which the local government
blasphemous call of God. But how would this court or was conducted at anythe
outcome was waiting for me more or less painful penalty. However, I was still
one way: to require a court fight and to die in battle, for to fight on swords
I could not even in his youth, rather than upset my late father, valiant Baron
Karl von Rosenau.
I was reminded of Arabian tales
"Thousand and one nights", which in
Once again mole Gentlemen on
mudrenee, I put my hand on his crucifix. I visited terrible idea, who gets this
cross after my execution, and I thought, because it is made of pure gold and
expensive, his executioners cut on a few pieces and divided, as it once divided
the robe of our Savior. And then I figured out how to get at least a small hope
for salvation.
To touch finding the door, I began
to knock at it. After some time, the outside came a
disgruntled voice the guard of the warrior, asking what I want. I said through
the door that me Golden crucifix, and I'm willing to exchange it for his shirt,
so as not freezing tonight and tomorrow to appear before the court in the
slightest a decent form.
Came through the door the retreating
footsteps, and all was quiet for a long time. I began to worry that my plan
failed, but the bolt moved, the door opened and inside the hut entered the
young warrior. However, his military affiliation was given only a battle axe,
because he was dressed like an ordinary peasant. In one hand he held a hatchet
in the other torch, over his shoulder was slung a shirt. He stuck his torch in
the ground floor, handed me the shirt and told me to remove the cross.
But my plan was is not to be
executed without the cross, but in the shirt. My plan was to begin with SIM
guard to bargain and even to put him to sleep caution, forgive me God forced
sin to use the Holy Cross as a means of trade. I told him, and this shirt is no
good that it would be a shame to stand trial and that he brought another. The
laughed and spoke about the "greed of the German infidels, even at the
edge the grave was not thinking about the soul and about things". Squatted
down, put the axe nextwith him and unfolded the shirt and began to show me how
she is supposedly good and not ashamed to appear not only before the Governor,
and before the Lord.
I need only this was. I grabbed the
axe so quickly that the guard didn't even have time to get out the squatting
position. Menacingly waved his arms in order to show that I own them
skillfully, and after plotnichnye in
It was a late night, The town was deserted. From a side street came a warrior,
but only welcome waved his hand, seeing in the light of the moon my silhouette
with a battle axe: apparently took over one of his. I went to the pier, she was
empty. Selecting a small boat, I sailed. Oars after traveling from
Where was I to go? I don't doubt
that after half an hour I'll be missed, and I will chase all the warriors of
the Town for Sarah, and possibly
And I brought the boat into the
The whole day I walked around the
shore of the lake, constantly risking to be absorbed by swamp muck. Reaching
the source of the great river, I called our carpenter art and made several tree
trunks the raft, which was cut so precise grooves in the longitudinal and transverse
logs that they are tightly connected even dry, and when soaked in water, and
all stood perfectly still. The edges of the raft, I stuck a lot of branches, in
order to disguise it even from inattentive eyes. And at night I gently,
producing no noise, floated down the river Kotorosl,the
days they spent ashore, carefully hiding their raft in the Bush. A few once
through the foliage I saw military boats several times – a merchant, but
decided not to risk and not to give yourself even merchants.
Than I all this time ate – God
knows. Picked berries, chewed grass, burdock, cones, even with deepest disgust
tried eating bugs. Probably more experienced the traveler, having the axe,
built to some snares for birds and small animals, but I don't know how. Thank
the merciful Lord, though mosquitoes are not me very annoyed because of the
endless swamps, a much-loved with these bloodsuckers, was replaced by dense
forests where mosquitoes less. And the clothes I had enough to protect from
insects.
One time I a day of rest on the edge
of the forest because of the trees seemed to bear. Thanks be
to the virgin, I this time not slept and immediately noticed him. I heard back
from the
A week after the salvation of
"the cold house", in a torn and dirty peasant clothes skinny,
overgrown beard, I came to
Approaching the mansion of the
Governor, I thought if I tried in a very ugly clothes to go inside and to say
that I am by the grace of God Imperial architect, the Baron and Abbot, me could
be considered crazy and kick him out. So I sat down nearby
and patiently waited out of doors has not left himself the Governor of Acovic
Kurian, and then already called to him. Glory to the virgin-intercessor,
he recognized me.
Some days I rested in the
It was founded a century and a half
ago by Prince Yaroslav the Wise. The arrow Kotorosl and the Volga river usual
for Russia, the wooden-earthen fortress called log city, length fortifications –
about half a mile (
Stone buildings in In Yaroslavl
there, and among numerous wooden churches stands the
Back to Bogolyubov I went in a large
boat, courtesy of Kurganom Akovica in my disposal. To me by order of the Governor
went to two dozen
Kurian, young and hot boyar son, was
advised to go to
When I mercy Of the Lord have
arrived safely in the Bogolyubov and told all about Prince Andrew G., he became
angry and said that he would send in Rostov Vysata Nikiforovich, so he brought
the order there, and that the construction of the Rostov Cathedral is postponed
up to the time of Suzdal will be removed Leon, sermons which harm of princely
power. However, I am in a few weeks, still a sketch the great temple in
And soon after my
return came to the Imperial Embassy led by the Bishop Koblinski and Earl of
And here, in zalissia grant me the
dignity of a count made such a strong impression that almost all the boyars
started to call me "sir". I first thought I'll never get used to it
is very honorable for
Very touched me
and such a seemingly small thing: during my trip to
Will tell you on this very topic
another curious story: the day after the arrival of the Embassy, Prince Andrew
gave the feast, all the ambassadors, of course, was
invited, the question arose: how plant description the ambassadors for the
Prince's table? And where now to put me considering my count
advantage? The Prince took a truly Solomonic decision: granted all
foreigners places of honor very close to himself and offered to sit in the
order in which we ourselves deem necessary. I offered to take first among us
Bishop Rudolf, for he is higher in ecclesiastical rank. Rudolph kindlysaid that
since this feast is not the Church and the worldly, I have to sit above,
because it is a count, he is only a Baron. Same conversation with the Bishop
happened with count Henry of Bethlehem, and in the end we got the the heavenly
and earthly hierarchy: the first I – by the grace of God, count of the Holy
Roman Empire, then Henry of Bethlehem – count of the Kingdom of Jerusalem, then
it grace, then, two young knights of the Temple. However, as my
the late father Karl von Rosenau, God forbid, that life was not more
serious difficulty than the accommodation of the guests at the feast.
I must tell you, to the Confessor,
and that on nights I am often comes the form of a
blonde Lyubomila – the same delights of a whore. I have made every effort to
ensure in order not to be caught in the insidious network between us women, and
Testament of our Lord cast these delusions of the enemy of mankind constant
prayers and fasting. But I pray you, my kind Archpastor, about me this
involuntary remission of sin flows into the temptation.
This letter will give you princely messenger, he will bring to the Empire reports prepared by
the Bishop Rudolf von Tottington and Earl Henry of
Once again I Express deepest
gratitude to his Imperial Majesty, and you, his Eminence Archbishop Conrad, for
the high honor awards count The Holy Roman Empire,
member of the Reichstag and the Abbot of the Imperial Abbey. The grace of God be forever with you and all our brothers in Christ. Amen.
Sincerely yours, a servant of Christ
Gottlieb-Johann.
LETTER THIRTEENTH
(room on
the inventory of the
His Eminence lordship Conrad,
Archbishop of Worms, in the world count von Steinbach from Gottlieb-Johann,
count von Rosenau, by the grace of God a member of the Reichstag and the Abbot
of the Imperial Abbey Niedermunster in Regensburg.
It was written in the city of
Greetings, his Eminence and his
Conrad, my kind Archpastor, the countryman and brother in Christ!
That ended my the
work in
But I wrote to you in previous
letter (which, apparently, also has not been preserved – approx. transl.), that
Prince Andrey promised to let me go home immediately after the consecration of
the Vladimir Cathedral. And his promise to the Prince kept.
In June this year was completed the
construction of the Cathedral in
Despite the fact that the Cathedral
has not within the four pillars and six, it was almost cubic, but if looking
West or East, it even stretched up. Sizes compared to Bogoliubov temples, I
increased very considerably:
At the closing of a large dome of
the Cathedral I'm following the example of the legendary architects of ancient times
were under it, so in the case of collapse to die with his creation. However, I
was confident in their calculations, besides the temples usually fall, God
forbid, either much earlier, at the beginning of the erection of arches or much
later several years or even decades, when they begin their destructive impact
sent by the Lord of rain, frost, snow, fire and lightning.(It happened
assumption Cathedral in 1185, after the big town fire, he came to the state of
emergency, was to strengthen built the high galleries new small chapters and in
this form has reached our days – approx. transl.). But such acts usually
command respect from ignorant people. I confess to you, my spiritual father,
and the sin of ambition, but still I was pleased when you look at the closure
of a large dome, gathered almost all the
Aspiration of the temple up, which
is a hallmark of local Church buildings, I reached through not only the total
bachleorette, but the combination of high average the head and four small. The
total height of the temple – forty-seven elbows (almost33 meters – approx.
transl.), and ULEB noticed that in
Brother Severin with students was
decorated with the St. Vladimir Cathedral, various statues no worse than the
Church in Hierarchy. The vaults were covered with lead, and the dome is copper,
as in the Bogoliubov temples. All five domes in the near future should be gold
plated, temple decorate with frescoes, icons and rich Church utensils, the
vaults will set of gilded pinwheels, and goblets: the decoration of cups as
symbols of St Grail suggested Theodore.
For still works Andrew G. invited
artists from
Blessed
It seemed to me that the Prince
Andrew wants to make
The celebration was very lush,
feasts lasted for several days, the people handed the Prince of Braga stocks.
Andrew according to the precepts of the Lord, donated
to the temple a tenth part of the income from the princely stud and
On one of the days
celebrations the Prince asked me what reward I would get. I said they are
humble Abbot of executing the Imperial decree, and no reward I don't need but a
warm Christian words. I asked to reward their helpers first of all ULEB of
Kotovich. Then Andrew has granted me the cloak from his shoulder. here is the award is considered very honorable, but by
itself red the Prince's cloak was much more modest that I once gave Pereyaslavl
Governor Chordata Stavic. And ULEB were granted to the nobles
andreceived the right to carry a sword: I couldn't help smiling when he came to
my Studio and to celebrate, began to practice fencing. Also nobility, he
received money and land for construction of houses in Bogolyubovo. Other builders also was granted the money and the land.
A few days after
the celebrations end I came to the Prince to say goodbye and to obtain security
credentials for turning back to our blessed
On my farewell an audience with the
Prince attended Theodore, Wisata Nikiforovich and Anba Yassin, who is called
the Prince's steward and is some sort of official to special assignments.
Prince Andrew hugged me and kissed three times, told me a lot of warm words,
and then made a request: on the way home to drive through Kiev, in order to
help the steward Abalu and Earl of Bethlehem to find the merchant Radko Of
hotelovych.
I dared to ask Andrew G. the
question of why there is a need to look for in Kiev Judas Radko, which I have,
frankly, forgot to think, and what I can do. Prince Andrew has kindly told me
that with the change of power in Novgorod was captured Treasury Sviatoslav
Rostislavich, and it was all confiscated by the Imperial the gifts, including
the magnificent oplechiy that Suzdal Prince asked me to give special thanks to
his Majesty. (These opecia Andrew Bogolyubsky currently stored in the Louvre –
approx. transl.). But the essential gift – the Holy Grail –
were not found. It turned out that the Cup was given Radko as a reward
for the accusation. And then this Judas, fearing punishment for their the
mischief, went to Kiev, and, as found recently travelled to Novgorod
housekeeper Anba Yasin and count of Bethlehem with his assistants, has still
not returned. In his house, the steward and the Earl bowl. Apparently, Radko
Jotanovic took her him to
Theodore noticed that that the Cup
of sorrow to the Lord went to the Judas of our time, seen the deep symbolism,
and this in itself creates a need to find the Holy Grail, come what may. And
Wisata Nikiforovich explained that I the only one left of the Imperial Embassy
to Georgy Vladimirovich, I only will be able to identify Radko. So I need to just go to
Anba bowed the Prince and asked not
to bother the count Gottlieb: they count
I asked how much time can be search
Judas Radko, not always the same I look closely passers-by in
Andrey expressed confidence that I
would be interested to see
Me hurry on home, did not want to
lose two weeks in
Indeed everything that God neither
makes for the best: if I went home not from
Severina I spent on vessel Empire
through
Replacing yourself in Suzdal the
land of Severin are prepared, and now there are many young artists, capable
grind of white stone statues of people and animals, and the intricate ornament.
Prepared a replacement, and I instead of me is ULEB Hotovec. I explained to him
the various intricacies of building Sciences and arts, and is
now calm for the success of his future work.
I sailed on the following the day
after brother Severin, not only in Novgorod and in Kiev, with Anba Yassin, Earl
of Bethlehem and two young knights of the Temple. Andrew provided a large
military boat with steering and sixteen warriors-oarsmen, still with us went to
the seven servants. At the
The road to
In
Down the The Moscow river, we crossed deaf vyatichskoe forest and arrived in
Kolomna, a small the fortress at the confluence of
Climbing up along the
Vyazma has led us to The Dnieper,
one of the largest rivers of God's world, in the upper reaches dominated by
Two weeks after departure from the
Bogolyubov we reached
And finally, we arrived in
Russian princes were strengthened
Kiev a few centuries, and now the lines of the shafts can be traced to the city
of Vladimir The Baptist with the so-called Desyatinnaya Church dedicated to the
virgin Mary, and the city of Yaroslav the Wise with the largest in Russia stone
temple – the Holy Sophia. City fortifications, as usual, the wood-land, height
of trees on the plain reaches seven cubits (
At the bottom of Dnipro is the
so-called Hem, reinforced only by a palisade, even without the shaft. If the upper town mainly lives of the noble class and rich
merchants, at the hem settled poor artisans and merchants. There there
are a large Kyiv trade and monastery of merchants from different countries, and
our glorious Empire. There is a small wooden Catholic the Church where I go to
pray, meeting a warm welcome from his the Abbot Ferdinand of
The total area of
However, the people of
Special mention St. Sophia
Cathedral, built by Yaroslav the Wise. This temple is different in that topped
with not one, not five, but twenty five domes located ledges, starting with
twelve domes without drums on the premises of the second tiers of galleries.
Above them are eight domes in low light drums, and more above – four chapters
on high drums around the large middle dome with a diameter of more than ten
cubits (
We stayed in the neighborhood from
Saint Sophia Cathedral, Suzdal in the yard – a large yard with several chambers
provided for a modest fee, travellers from Suzdal of the earth. If this
farmstead will want to stay a merchant, for example, from
Relations with the satellites from I
had a good, although they behave with me some distance that no wonder I have no
friendship with any of them, soon we part and who knows would see each other
again, although, of course, all in God's hands. In the morning we go: I want to
explore the city with the indispensable entry to the auction, where I most hope
meet Radko of Hotelovych, they're somewhere else. Usually have lunch together
in the great hall of our Palace.
By the way, I'm not talked about the
Prince's close Anbal Yassin, although I saw it many times still from the first
days of work at the Prince of Suzdal. This middle-aged man,
with Eastern facial features. He himself is not as gentle, and how to
curry favor with nobles, there are a few kowtowed to the carriers of generic
titles, but one feels that if he will have the opportunity to show his
authority, he will show the most brutal way. In the presence of the Earl of
Bethlehem, not owning the Russian language, he speaks excellent Latin,
previously heard by me in Russiaonly from Bishop Theodore. Somehow, Ambala also
very interested in if I had seen their eyes the Cup that He was carrying. One
time he asked me this question alone, and once in the presence of the count of
For ten days already I are in
My kind Archpastor Conrad, I finish
this letter, because tomorrow at our blessed Empire here sail German merchants
and I'll get it. Their path, like mine, will run through
From
Hope to see you soon with thee, my
dear Archbishop. The grace of God be with thee, and all our brothers in Christ,
may your days be full of joy and success, bless you Almighty God countless
years. Amen.
Sincerely yours, forever loving you
and with your whole soul devoted friend servant of Christ and a countryman of
yours Gottlieb-Johann.
LETTER FOURTEENTH
(room on
the inventory of the
His Eminence
Conrad, Archbishop of
It was written in the city of
Greetings, his Eminence Archbishop
Konrad!
I will tell you that happened and
you think, please, you can do something to fix it. You my dear, my countryman,
always famous for a clear mind and vision, so I yet do not lose hope.
A few days after departure you the
previous letter I was walking down the stairs of our towers, and all of a
sudden heard behind the wall loud voices speaking in Arabic. I interested, who would in
Mentally figuring the plan the
building, I realized that the staircase passes by the room count of
Curiosity is a sin, but not death,
so I stopped and began to listen. The Templars were talking about some
destination your order, and I have a feeling that it was Anblu knows all this.
Then one of the young knights said with displeasure that it is not necessary
had to go to Kiev and to lose so much time, would be immediately bought in
Novgorod and all. For this Anba said that
What was discussed, what and where I
had to buy, then I, unfortunately, do not understand, otherwise all could have
been not so tragically.
The next day we like usually, in the
morning dispersed. I walked around the city, but for the bargain to look did
not become, for to go on the Hem was far away, and no hope to meet Radko, I'm
not fed. So I went back to Suzdal the compound much earlier than usual.
Entering the large room where we had
lunch everyday, I saw the two young knights going to put in the trunk of a big
vase that I have seen on the marketplace in the shop goldsmith Swarna: I've
been to
Passing by in his the room I without
any second thought said: "On the marketplace from Swarna bought? Beautiful vase". Told, passed and forgotten, because I
decided that it's just a rich gift someone in Suzdal or in our Empire. At lunch
the talk was about something insignificant about a vase I don't remember my
companions about it it is also not start.
After lunch I like usually, I have
decided to walk a bit. Went to the stairs and heard from the room count
Heinrich of Bethlehem, excited conversation. Talked, just like last time, in
Arabic, and because of lowered voices.
One of the young knights
ANBAU seem do not want to kill me,
and he offered to tell me that the vase from Swarna was just supposed to be a
gift to someone in the Empire – but at least himself to his Majesty. Then I
happily will go to Constantinople, and they on the way back to Suzdal will buy
another vase somewhere in
The Templars in one voice answered
the steward, that the architect is too smart to fully
believe in the veracity of this story, and all your doubts immediately will
share with the Archbishop of Worms. So the risk is too great.
Then Anba suggested to continue the search for Ratko: suddenly still be able to
get a real Cup?
In response there was friendly
laughter. One of the young Templar said Radko manage to find time for held in
Kiev, the days found out that this Judas had left town to an unknown direction,
and, moreover, there is no certainty that the Cup he took with myself and not
sold or given to anyone. And then the count of Bethlehem soft and insinuating
voice explained Ambalu that knight of the Temple is not proper, such naive,
because there is no significant difference between vase, purchased in Kiev the
master Swarna, and vase, which was delivered late brother Arnulf: last
waspurchased on the marketplace of Jerusalem, the master of Gates. So all even
better, for Swarna vase has a more elegant finish.
As you can see, my dear countryman,
Anba was a Templar: don't know how it combines these things with Byzantine
religion. But such monstrous cynicism it seems not was ready. He paused, then
asked, is it possible in this case to buy another one vase from master Gates in
Jerusalem and re-send it to Russia as Imperial gift: like as the Grail
disappeared and then miraculously again appeared in the Holy Land. Then it will
be possible to spare the architect, after all he is so many beautiful temples
built.
One of the young knights said that
inventing such a complex mystical stories can lead to undesirable consequences,
as with the head of John the Baptist, at the same time located in
Earl Of Bethlehem replied that the
architect's drowning in the river – it is very troublesome, because the history
his salvation in Rostov shows that he is a great swimmer, so you'll have where
to look for a large stone, in order to bind him on the neck, and then to drag
it on the streets of this stone to the Dnieper. So the best "snake
bite", which this night and will have to make for the greater glory of the
Lord. And because of this dagger – with a forked blade and a groove for flow of
the poison into the wound – with him not, come and ordinary thin dagger, laced
with poison. It'll be just like the snake crawled to the room, and bit, it
happens.
One of the young Templar asked
whether found in General in
Me the story about the Prince Oleg was
not interested, and I went outside, shivering from the shock and horror. I it
became clear all the way up to why the Earl of Bethlehem and Anba many times
asked if I had seen with my own eyes the Cup that carried the deceased knight
Arnulf. I guess if I saw her, then snakebite would have suffered me yet before.
And so the reason for my death sentence was only by chance break a word about
the fact that the vase purchased from Swarna. Correct to say we have in
And what was I to do? Return to
Suzdal farmstead meant to be given into the hands of evildoers. All my money,
except for the little things that I took with him on walks, he stayed in the
mansion. Security credentials, of course, too. For travel to
Who could protect me will Almighty
Lord? The saving thought came soon: Rostislav Mstislavich. Grand Prince of
The day is drawing to in the
evening, when I came to the Prince's Palace and asked to report that great
Prince Rostislav wish for urgent and secret business to see Gottlieb-Johann von
Rosenau, by the grace of God Abbot of the Imperial count of the Holy Roman
Empire. In a few minutes I went to the
I think my brother in Christ, what
in this letter makes no sense to describe, looks like the Grand Duke, as a his
chambers and as he greeted me. Let me just say that after as I introduced
myself to him and without reserve told the whole story from the ill-fated vases
he invited his approximate Giurato of Simkovich, which, as I understand it,
when Prince is someone like the Chancellor, and asked again. I said.
Gyrata asked my opinion about knows
about the fake Prince Andrew. I replied that it was unlikely: Anba on my
farewell audience asked the Prince not to send me to
Rostislav Mstislavich advised me not
to rely on the sincerity of the princes, especially his "kind
brother" Andrew. But Gyrate said that first, anyway you to try to act on
the basis that Mr. G. knows that the knights Templar was cheating on him, and
just to show him proof of deception. But if Prince of Suzdal, God forbid, and
he participated in the fraud, then it can only be stopped with the word all
over
The Grand Duke of this agreed. To
bargain to the master Swarna was immediately sent messenger – to buy a similar
vase. Gyrata, Simkovic had this vase needs to go to Bogolyubov to Andrew, to
tell the Prince all show a vase and wait until back insidious Templars and
brought the same than myself completely will expose. If Andrey really not in
cahoots with Simi scammers, he will understand and will not be trying to make
gains fake bowls. If in collusion, Rostislav'll make about this infamous
history will become known to all.
Gyrate noticed that if the Templars
would guess that the Grand Prince Rostislav Mstislavich led preparing a hoax,
then throw the Cup, purchased from Swarna and buy some another in
After much thought it was decided
that the only way not to scare the villains: they have to know that I died
because of some accident, make sure my death, and then quietly go to Andrew
with a vase from Swarna.
When taking such the decision,
Rostislav and Gyrate looked at me, I still feel like broke: I have decided that
now they will cause some master of dark deeds told me to kill, and to present
the Templars my dead body. And, indeed, was caused by a Vruyr, bearded Maypole
of a very sinister-looking, clad as a wealthy farmer. He was commanded "to
make to the city mortuary lay the corpse of the Abbe Gottlieb, fallen victim to
street robbers," but with one for me, a significant difference: "the
corpse of Gottlieb" had to be me, andsome recently deceased tramp like me.
I was born dress someone from the
Grand servants, I dressed down to underclothes, and Vruyr, carrying all my
clothes, Abbey, took me through the dark deserted the streets.
Urban dead represents a large hut at
the hem. Two local workers, apparently not the first time it was to obey such
orders, because they heard about the need to find some late drifter and turn it
into the Abbe Gottlieb, did not surprised and began to light a torch to take
away the stinking corpses, in disorder piled on the floor.
I will not, my brother in Christ,
you describe that sight: not until now. Let me just say that the body
age-appropriate and addition in the mortuary was not found. I have again all
inside tremble: I understand that if the appropriate bodies are not there, then
better suited myself. Hung a heavy pause, interrupted
by the words of one of workers that he had seen in the almshouse at the Church
of the virgin pirogoscha similar the old man, and he was kind of dying, and a
hospital has its own mortuary, and he could stay there. Vruyr left with this
employee, went out somewhere and the second worker,she
took the torch and closing the door on the latch: apparently, he was told to
follow me to run, but he chose me just lock up. I was left alone in the
horrible stench and the dark, offering prayers unto the Lord for salvation.
Salvation came hours two in the form
of Vruyr and workers dragged the body of a man, who had with I have nothing in
common except height and build. But I soon realized that more nothing was required.
This unfortunate the deceased was
dressed in my Abbey vestments, clean shaved, hair cut and nails, washed hands
and feet and gave them a sleek look with a mixture of white and blush,
vystrigli tonsure and slipped lividity on the body: he died recently, but the
street was the heat.
Vruyr came up to me and imperiously
held out his hand, demanding my crucifix. I had no forces nor the desire to
resist, but I still tried to argue that nothing terrible in the absence of my
cross on the dead man will allegedly attacked the robbers were able to take it
off. But Vruyr reminded me that I was in charge of from the time
Then Vruyr with terrible force
struck the deceased a blow with an axe on the head, roskrow it almost in half
so the face was unrecognizable. Blood in the body has long been folded, but
workers brought two fluttering chickens, cut off their heads and thickly
sprinkled their body blood. The hair of the deceased was more gray than mine,
but thanks to the blood is became unnoticed. The eyes
differed in color, but they were closed and put on them the copper coins.
The deed was done, and I took him by
the hand into the
Rostislav Mstislavich told me not to
climb, and sent servants set down at my bedside and with the kind smile said
that, in his opinion, was to contribute to my to a
speedy recovery.
The day after I came to the Grand
Duke of Suzdal in the early morning on the farmstead was a city official and
announced that on the eve on the street was hacked to death the unknown robbers
in the garb of a Catholic Abbot, and because now in Kiev has no other abbots
who also arrived from Suzdal land, he asked Ambassador in morgue to come and
identify the body.
As expected, Gleb Amnesic came in
morgue not one, but together with the Templars. In the twilight, the stench and
surrounded by other corpses they were not too carefully consider they brought
the mutilated body. Anba Yassin came over, loosened his collar Abbey vestments
and showed everyone my crucifix that my malicious companions saw many times
when together we soared in the bath. Even if they had any doubts, after that
they vanished completely.
The Templars were offered to either
take the "body brutally Umarsultanov the Abbe Gottlieb" Suzdal
Principality, or to bury themselves in
Having finished his story, Rostislav
returned my crucifix and asked, do I understand that
the order of the
Rostislav Mstislavich not said in
vain that his story will speed up my recovery: I really it became easier and
now I feel so well that even a little walk around the yard.
That's all I wanted to tell you, my
dear brother in Christ. I understand that jeopardized, and perhaps even tore
the acquisition in
This letter will send it to you
monastic post German merchants, sailing from here to
The grace of God may with you. Amen.
Sincerely yours Gottlieb-Johann.
LETTER FIFTEENTH
(room on
the inventory of the
Conrad, Archbishop
of Worms, from the Gottlieb-Johann von Rosenau.
It was written in the city of
Greetings, my dear, my countryman
Conrad!
Bring you a deep and sincere thanks
for your letter, and especially for two sentences in it: "Confidential
audience, this his Imperial Highness count Henry Bethlehem, lasted more than
two hours" and "His Majesty, in spite of my intercession, very angry at
you for the failure of the charitable mission of finding in Russia the Holy
Grail". I understand what these things mean.
What can I do if I come in the
Empire, objected to the charges of the knights of Christ and of the
So forgive me my dear countryman,
but I will not follow your advice to put yourself in the hands Lord, to rely on
judicial immunity set for members The Reichstag and the Imperial abbots, and
return to the Empire. What is forensic immunity is not already in the position
of a member of the Reichstag before August anger? Both of us knows
many cases when I flew much more the high and seemingly untouchable head. And
whether or not to say that there are many ways to get back at me and without
Imperialthe court? Remember though "snake bite" which was discussed
by the Templars on Suzdal metochion in
I guess I could
would lure in the Empire, promises and promises, and that you didn't do
and was open with me, I will take your last service to a fellow countryman.
Save God be with you.
After receiving your
I could not accept the offer of Grand Duke of Kiev Rostislav
mstislavovitch to take Russian citizenship and Orthodoxy. Rite my adherence to
the Orthodox faith took place in the summer SIM, and was attended by Prince
Rostislav. The difference in the Orthodox and Catholic articles of Faith
consists only in adding the procession of the Holy spirit not only from God the
Father, but and from God the Son, so no significant difference I far from
theological subtleties, did not notice. My patron saints were John the
Evangelist, and mythe name in
You wrote that in the case of my
shift to
Once I remembered goldsmith and
vases, it will tell you what ended ugly the story of the acquisition in
Gyrata, Simkovich came to Andrey
Georgievich, brought him Swarna bought from the vase and told me. Soon came the
Templars, and brought the same vase. Prince of Suzdal was scary angry, or, as
suggested by a girl who told me that Rostislav Mstislavich, under the threat of
publicity, the nefarious machinations with vases pretended that angry. Ambala
Yassin was imposed opal, and Bishop von Atzingen, Earl of Bethlehem and other
knights of the
Apparently clever Gyrate through
this history was able to present Andrew G. some requirements, because Suzdal
Prince soon abandoned the claims on the throne of
Attempts to create in Zales separate
Metropolitanate is also discontinued, more – Andrew promised to give Theodore
impostor in the court of the Metropolitan of Kiev (and was given, although much
later, in the late 1160-ies – approx. transl.). About any joint the worship of
the Orthodox and Catholics in Suzdal now, even speech can not be, moreover
Catholics have the right to stand on the Orthodox liturgies only among the
catechumens.
In
When the founding of Rostov of the
Cathedral were discovered the relics of Bishop Leontius, who was killed by
rebellious heathens in the last century, and a large celebration regarding
chargeability of this worthy servant of the Orthodox Church canonized. On this
occasion, to
You will not be surprised that I so
knowledgeable about what happened at the celebrations in the distant
Now, imagine Prince Andrew as if
nothing happened and invites me to continue working on
But I still forgive me Lord, fear of
retaliation by the if not the Andrey, his jangles Ambala, so I asked Gleb
Amnerica to convey the Prince's thanks for the invitation, expressed the confidence
that my student ULEB Hotovec handle without me, and stayed in Kiev. The stone
Church building now to unfortunately, there is no, but
I have a lot of orders and on the wood Church towers: almost every
You've always been indifferent to my
fate, dear countryman, so finally I want to tell you that after his release
from monastic vows, I finally decided try to find Lubomil, but throw a stone at
her he who is without sin. Thanks to the intercession of the Holy virgin, the
nice weather and security certificates from Kievan and
Recently Glafira lives in my
More I'm not write,
my dear Conrad, so as not to put you in an awkward position correspondence with
the "apostate". I after the adoption of Orthodoxy should to say
goodbye with you forever: we hardly see you in the afterlife, for Orthodox
believe that you will get to heaven only they, and Catholics only they. Sorry
that we don't know how to actually set the Lord our posthumous existence. Maybe
in heaven will be only those who life honestly and he done his job? Don't know
because I never was strong in theology,just built
temples. Honestly and, I hope, well.
Goodbye, my dear countryman. I will
never forget you. Amen.
Yours
Gottlieb-Johann, Orthodoxy John Karlovich.
ARCHIVE CURRICULUM VITAE,
applied to be stored in the
letters Gottlieb-Johann von Rosenau
(room on
the inventory of the
Compiled by Tamara from Neuhausen,
Keeper of the library in the Imperial city of
The Abbe Gottlieb-Johann, world
birthright Baron von Rosenau, was born the eighteenth day of September, 1106 ad
in the family estate Rosenau, under Steinbach Verhnebakansky. Baptized in the twenty-sixth day of September of the same year.
He took monastic vows in
Studied with blessed Abbot Sugeriya
in
In 1134-1138 years from BC made a
pilgrimage to the
In
Built many
churches, including in
In 1157 from BC was sent by Emperor
Frederick I Barbarossa in
In 1159 B. C. the Imperial decree
was elevated to the dignity of count of the Holy Roman Empire and appointed
Abbot of the Imperial Abbey Niedermunster in
In
In
Anathema to the
apostate in the ages of ages. Amen.
The END
PICTURES
AND DRAWINGS
Gottlieb-Johann
von Rosenau,
attached to his letter, stored in
(room on the inventory of the
Sheet
1. Touring the Novgorod land.
(the arrows Gottlieb outlined the direction of flow of the
rivers - approx. recently.
Sheet
3. The plan of the city of Vladimir.
Sheet
4. The plan of the city hierarchy.
Sheet
5. Bogolyubov. View of princely castle and the
tabernacle over the bowl.
Sheet
6. Bogolyubov. The Church at
the river (of the Intercession on the Nerl - approx. pens.).
Sheet
7. Vladimir. The virgin Mary Cathedral (Uspensky
- approx. pens.).
Sheet
8. Vladimir. The Golden gate.
A list of historical figures
mentioned in the book
Aurelius Augustine
of Hippo (354-430) Bishop, philosopher, preacher, Christian theologian and
politician. Holy Catholic and Orthodox churches.
Abraham (mind. 1158) is the Builder
and first Abbot of the Pskov Mirozh monastery.
Al-Farabi, full
name Abu Nasr Muhammad Ibn Muhammad Ibn Tarkhan Ibn Uzlah al-Farabi al-Turki
(872-950 or 951) – philosopher, mathematician, and music theorist, scientist. One of the major
representatives of the medieval Eastern philosophy.
Anba Yassin (d.
1174) – housekeeper of Andrey Bogolyubsky. Known as one of the leaders
conspiracy that led to the murder of the Prince in 1174. Executed
shortly after the assassination Andrew.
Andrey
(Yuryevich), nicknamed Bogolyubsky (C. 1111-1174), the son of Yuri Dolgoruky. Prince of
Vyshgorod (1149 and 1155), Prince of Dorogobuzh (1150-1151), Prince of
ArtaxerxesI – Persian king, rules in
465-424 BC, but the Greeks called it Dolgoruky.
Benedict of Nursia (C. 480-547) is
the author of the "Charter of St. Benedict". Considered
the founder of Western monasticism. Holy Catholic and
Orthodox churches.
Bernard of Clairvaux (1091-1153),
Abbot of the Abbey of Clairvaux, mystical theologian direction, spiritual
writer, prominent public and religious figure.
Vivald von Stablo und Corvey
(1098-1158) is the Abbot of the Abbey of the Holy see
of Mary.
Vitruvius, full
name Marcus Vitruvius Pollio (first century BC) – Roman the architect and
engineer.
Vladimir II Monomakh (1053-1125), in
baptism Basil, the great Prince Kiev (1113-1125). The son of
Prince Vsevolod Yaroslavich, the grandson of Yaroslav the Wise. Nicknamed the Monomah on the generic name of the family of his
mother, who was allegedly the daughter of the Byzantine Emperor Constantine IX
Monomakh.
Vladimir
Sviatoslavich, also St. Vladimir, Vladimir the Great,
Vsevolod Yaroslavich (1030-1093),
the baptism of Andrew, Grand Prince of
Vyacheslav
Vladimirovich (approx. 1083-1154) – son of Vladimir Monomakh the older brother
of Yuri Dolgoruky.
Rules in
George (Iurii) Vladimirovich,
nicknamed Dolgoruky (1090-e – 1157) – the sixth son Vladimir Monomakh. With
1113 years (according to another version, year 1096) the rest of your life
rules Suzdal Principality. Beginning in 1132, he fought for
Gyrata, Simkovic – he is the great
Prince Rostislav Mstislavich.
Ibn Sina, full name Abu Ali Hussein
Ibn Abdallah Ibn Sina, or Avicenna (980-1037) – scientist, philosopher,
physician and politician.
Imru-ul-Qays, also
Imru-al-Qays, Imru-al-Qays Ibn Hujr Ibn al-Harith al-Kindi (VI century) – a
prominent poet of pre-Islamic era.
Izyaslav
Mstislavich, in baptism Panteleimon (approx. 1097-1154) – the eldest of the
grandsons of Vladimir Monomakh, Grand Prince of
Kliment Smolyatich (mind. after
1164) – Metropolitan of Kiev in 1147-1155 years, protege Grand Prince Izyaslav
mstislavovitch, after whose death has been displaced by Yuri Dolgoruky.
Conrad III
(1093-1152) – king of
Conrad von Steinbach – Archbishop of
Worms in 1150-1171.
Constantine IX
Monomakh, according to another account, X or XI (C. 1000-1055) – Byzantine
Emperor (1042-1055). Gave his daughter or another close relative to a
Russian Prince Vsevolod Yaroslavich.
Pile (heap) Stepan
– Suzdal boyar, in the first quarter of the XII century who owned the area
around
Lothar II (C.
1075–1137) – Holy Roman Emperor with 1133 of the year, king of
Louis VII,
called the Young (1120-1180) – the French king (1137-1180).
Maximilian I
(1459–1519) – the Holy Roman Emperor from 1508, king of
Manuel I Komnenos
(1118-1180), Byzantine Emperor (1143).
Melisenda (approx.
1101-1161) – Queen of Jerusalem from 1131 to 1153 on the. Wife and coregent Polka king of
Mstislav Vladimirovich (1076-1132),
in baptism Theodore, later nicknamed Great. The son of Vladimir Monomakh, the older brother of Yuri Dolgoruky,
the father of Izyaslav Mstislavovitch. Grand Prince of
Mstislav G. or Y.
(d. after 1166) – son of Yuri Dolgoruky. Prince Novgorod (1156-1157). The exiled
Novgorodians shortly before the death of Dolgoruky (according to another
version, right after his death), his place was invited Sviatoslav Rostislavich.
Mstislav Rostislavich, nicknamed
Besomim (mind. 1178) – grandson of Yuri Dolgoruky, nephew of Andrei
Bogolyubsky. Prince Of
Mutanabbi, full
name – Abu-t-Tayyib Ahmad Ibn al-Husayn al-Mutanabbi (915–965) – outstanding
Arab poet.
Nestor– the Bishop
of Rostov 1147 (according to another version, with 1149). Origin Greek.
According to one version, a protege of Clement Smolyatich.
A displaced Metropolitan Constantine in 1156.
Nicholas of Myra (CA. 270–about 345)
was a Bishop of Myra, in Catholicism and Orthodoxy revered as a Saint, a
miracle worker.
Rostislav I of
Rurik(d. approx. 879) – the founder of the
princely dynasty of Rurik.
Sviatoslav Rostislavich, the baptism
of John (d. 1170) was the son of Rostislav Mstislavich, Prince of Novgorod
(1157-1160, 1161-1168). Expelled from
The Sotko Sytinich Novgorod merchant, probably became the prototype of the epic of
Sadko. Known in connection with the construction in 1167 the
The suger, or Sugar (C. 1081-1151)
Abbot of the Abbey of Saint-Denis, a prominent state and Church leader, is
considered the Creator of the Gothic style of medieval architecture.
Ulita Kuchkova – the daughter of a
nobleman pile, the wife of Andrei Bogolyubsky.
Ulfila, also
Wulfila (C. 311-383) – a missionary Bishop ready.
Theodore (Fedorets) – candidate of
Andrey Bogolyubsky in
Frederick I of Hohenstaufen,
nicknamed Barbarossa (1122-1190) – Emperor The Holy Roman Empire from 1155, the
king of
Fulk (1092-1143 or
1144) – king of
Yaroslav, called the Wise (C.
978-1054), in baptism George, – the great Prince of Kiev (1016-1018,
1019-1054).
S. V. Zagraevsky
(C) 2014