(2.) “wide, large, and thick as a mill-stone.”—The “golden discs” may have been simply of golden glass or mosion, with which the interior of the dome of St. Sophia was covered, as we are informed by Theophanes and Cedrenus, whose description refers to the present dome constructed soon after 559, the thirty-second year of the reign of Justinian.—ED. (3.) “I myself was at that same time with the king in Turkey.” After the battle of Nicopolis, Bajazet renewed the siege of Constantinople, the city being succoured by a force of 1200 men sent by Charles VI. of France, and bodies of troops from Genoa, Venice, Rhodes, and Lesbos. Marshal Boucicault withstood the siege with his little army, and on quitting the capital in 1399, the command devolved upon Chateaumorant, the emperor Manuel being absent in France, whither he had gone to ask for assistance. It was fortunate for the Greeks that Bajazet was obliged to muster the whole of his forces to enable him to encounter Timour’s legions.—BRUUN. CHAPTER LIX. (1.) “Christus is risen.”—The ordinances of the Greek Church have undergone but little change since Schiltberger wrote. Warm water, τὸ ζέον (ὕδωρ being understood), is always mixed with wine. Leavened bread for the celebration of the Eucharist, is now ordinarily made and sold by bakers. It is called προσφορὰ, “prossura” in the text, and is administered to the people in turn by the priest, who stands at the altar. It is also administered to young children after baptism. Wednesday and Friday continue to be the ordinary fast days. Women are required to stand apart from the men, so that all churches are built with a γυναικέτης, or place for women; but this rule is not enforced. The so-called “coleba”, more correctly κολάβα, are still given to the priests at the μνημόσυνον, or service for the dead. This custom is very strictly observed. Fasts are kept at all the periods indicated, except on the day of the Assumption, when there is no fast. The fast for the Apostles commences on the fifty-ninth day after Easter Day. Χριστὸς ἀνέστη—Christ is risen—is sung daily from Easter Day to the Day of the Assumption.—ED. CHAPTER LX.