Chapter 1: The City of Constantinople #

¹ Arculf, who has been mentioned frequently, stayed for some days on the island of Crete on his return from Alexandria before sailing to Constantinople, where he spent several months. This city is undoubtedly the capital of the Roman Empire. It is surrounded by the sea on all sides except the north, where the water extends from the Great Sea for forty miles. From the walls of Constantinople, it stretches a further sixty miles to the mouths of the River Danube. This imperial city is enclosed by a substantial circuit of walls, measuring twelve miles in length. It stands as a promontory by the sea, similar to Alexandria or Carthage, with walls built along the coastline, further reinforced by numerous towers in the manner of Tyre. Within these walls, the city contains many houses, a great number of which are remarkably large. These houses are made of stone and are constructed in the style of the residences in Rome.

Chapter 2: The Foundation of that City #

¹ According to tradition, which the citizens have received from their ancestors, the foundation of the city is linked to this account: Emperor Constantine gathered an immense number of people and amassed vast supplies from all directions, to the extent that other cities were nearly emptied. He then began constructing a city to bear his name on the Asian side, in Cilicia, across the sea that separates Asia from Europe in that region. However, one night, while the countless laborers were sleeping in their tents across the vast expanse of the camp, all the tools used by the different craftsmen mysteriously disappeared without anyone knowing how.

² At dawn, many of the workers, troubled and disheartened, came before Emperor Constantine himself and complained about the sudden and inexplicable loss of their tools. The emperor then asked them, “Have you heard of anything else being taken from the camp?” They replied, “Nothing, only the work tools.” The emperor then commanded, “Go quickly to the seacoasts of the surrounding districts on both sides of the strait and search them thoroughly. If you happen to find your tools anywhere in the land, do not bring them back here, but watch over them there. Let some of you return to me with accurate information about where the tools have been found.”

³ On hearing this, the workers followed the King’s orders and went to carry out his command, searching the boundaries of the territories along both sides of the sea. And behold, on the European side, across the water, they found the tools gathered in a heap in one place between two seas. Upon making this discovery, some of them were sent back to the King, and when they arrived, they reported that the tools had been found in that location. Upon hearing this, the King immediately ordered the trumpeters to go through the camp, blowing their trumpets and giving the command for the army to move, saying, “Let us leave this place and build a city on the spot that has been divinely revealed to us.” At the same time, he prepared ships and crossed over with his entire force to the place where the tools had been found, knowing that the location revealed in this way was the one chosen by God for the purpose. There, he immediately founded a city, which was named Constantinople—a name formed from his own name combined with the Greek word for “city,” preserving the founder’s name in the first part of the compound.

⁴ Let this account of the location and founding of that royal city suffice.

Chapter 3: The Church where the Cross of the Lord is preserved #

¹ But we must not remain silent about that most renowned round church in the city, built of stone and of remarkable size. According to the account of the saintly Arculf, who visited it for a considerable time, it rises from its foundations with three enclosing walls, constructed in a triple form to a great height, and is crowned with a simple yet magnificently round vault of great beauty. This vault is supported by large arches, with spacious areas between each of the mentioned walls, making it well-suited and convenient either for dwelling or for prayer.

² Within the northern part of the church’s interior, there is a very large and beautifully crafted ambry, where a wooden chest is kept, enclosed in a similar wooden covering. Inside this chest is secured the wooden Cross of Salvation, upon which our Saviour was crucified for the redemption of humanity. As the saintly Arculf recounts, this remarkable chest, containing so precious a treasure, is elevated upon a golden altar for three consecutive days each year. This altar, also within the same round church, measures two cubits in length and one in width. Only on three successive days each year is the Lord’s Cross raised and placed upon the altar—on the day of the Lord’s Supper, when the Emperor and his armies enter the church, approach the altar, and, after the sacred chest has been opened, venerate the Cross of Salvation with a kiss.

³ First, the Emperor of the world bows his head and kisses the Cross, followed by others in order of rank or age, each kissing it with reverence. On the following day, which is the sixth day of the week before Easter, the Queen, the noblewomen, and all the women of the people approach in the same order and kiss it with deep respect. On the third day, the Paschal Sabbath, the bishop and all the clergy, following after him in order, approach with fear, trembling, and great reverence to kiss the Cross of Victory, which is placed in its chest. When these sacred and joyful kissings of the Holy Cross are completed, the venerable chest is closed, and with its precious treasure, it is carried back to its ambry.

⁴ But this should also be carefully noted: the Cross does not consist of two but three short pieces of wood—the crossbeam and the longer beam, which is cut and divided into two equal parts. When the chest is opened, a wonderful fragrance arises from these three sacred beams, as if all kinds of flowers had been gathered within it—an aroma so rich and sweet that it fills the open space before the inner walls of the church, gladdening all who enter at that moment. From the knots of these threefold beams, a sweet-smelling liquid distills, like pressed oil, spreading its fragrance so that all who gather in the church, regardless of their race, can perceive its extraordinary sweetness. This liquid is so potent that even a single drop applied to the sick brings about an easy recovery, no matter the ailment or disease afflicting them. But on this matter, let this be sufficient.

Chapter 4: St. George the Confessor #

¹ Arculf, the holy man who provided us with these details about the Lord’s Cross, which he saw with his own eyes and kissed, also recounted the story of a Confessor named George. He learned this account in the city of Constantinople from some well-informed citizens who were accustomed to telling it in this way:

² In a house in the city of Diospolis, there stands a marble column of George the Confessor. During a time of persecution, he was bound to this column and scourged, and his likeness was impressed upon it. However, he was later freed from his chains and lived for many years after the scourging. One day, a hard-hearted and unbelieving man, mounted on horseback, entered the house and, upon seeing the marble column, asked those present, “Whose likeness is this, engraved on the marble?” They answered, “This is the likeness of George the Confessor, who was bound to this column and scourged.”

³ Upon hearing this, that coarse and ruthless man, filled with rage against the lifeless image and driven by the devil, struck the likeness of the sainted Confessor with his lance. In a marvelous manner, the lance pierced the stone column as if it were merely a ball of snow. The iron tip penetrated the exterior of the marble and became lodged inside, unable to be removed by any means. However, the shaft of the lance, upon striking the likeness of the saint, broke apart on the outside.

⁴ At that very moment, the horse beneath that wretched man collapsed and died on the pavement of the house. The man himself also fell to the ground, and as he reached out his hands to steady himself against the marble column, his fingers sank into it as if it were soft as flour or clay. They became stuck fast, imprinted into the stone.

⁵ Seeing this, the miserable man, unable to withdraw the ten fingers of his hands from the marble likeness of the saint, cried out in repentance, invoking the name of the Eternal God and His Confessor. With tears, he prayed to be freed from his bondage. The merciful God, who does not desire the death of a sinner but rather that he should turn and live, accepted his sorrowful repentance. Not only did He release him from the visible bond of the marble, but in His mercy, He also freed him from the invisible chains of sin, granting him salvation through faith.

⁶ It is therefore clearly shown how highly George is honored by God, whom he confessed even amid torture. His breast, which by nature is impenetrable, was made penetrable through repentance, just as repentance also made his adversary’s otherwise impenetrable lance able to pierce. Likewise, the weak fingers of that man, which by nature could not penetrate, were made powerfully piercing. At first, they were so embedded in the marble that even he, hardened as he was, could not withdraw them. But at that very moment, when he was struck with fear and softened into repentance, he was able to pull them free by God’s mercy. Remarkably, to this day, the marks of his ten fingers remain embedded in the marble column down to the roots. The sainted Arculf also placed his own ten fingers into the same spots, and they sank in just as deeply. Furthermore, the blood of that man’s horse, whose haunch was broken in two as it fell dead on the pavement, cannot be washed away or removed by any means. To this day, the horse’s blood remains indelibly on the floor of the house.

⁷ The sainted Arculf recounted another story—one beyond doubt—about the same George the Confessor, which he had learned from trustworthy eyewitnesses in the aforementioned city of Constantinople. These witnesses were accustomed to telling accounts related to the sainted Confessor.

⁸ A layman, arriving in the city of Diospolis on horseback at a time when many thousands were gathering from all directions for a military expedition, came to the house where the previously mentioned marble column stood, bearing the imprint of the sainted Confessor George on its front. Entering the house, he addressed the image as if he were speaking directly to George himself, saying: “To you, George the Confessor, I entrust myself and my horse, that by the power of your prayers, we may be preserved from all dangers of war, illness, and water, and that we may safely return to this city after the expedition. And if a merciful God grants us a successful return, according to the offering of my poverty, I will dedicate this horse, which I love dearly, to you and will offer it in your presence as a gift before your image.”

⁹ The man quickly finished speaking and left the house. He joined his companions, merged into the vast army, and embarked on the campaign. Amid the countless dangers of war, among thousands of unfortunate souls who were scattered and perished, he—by God’s favor and through the intercession of George, the Christ-worshipper—returned safely to Diospolis. He rode in on the same beloved horse, having escaped all grave misfortunes by his act of trust.

¹⁰ Overjoyed, he entered the house where the image of the saintly Confessor was kept. Bringing gold equal in value to his horse, he addressed Saint George as if he were physically present: “Saintly Confessor, I give thanks to the Eternal God, who has brought me back safely through your steadfast faith and prayers. In gratitude, I offer you twenty solidi of gold—the price of the horse I first entrusted to you, which you have faithfully preserved to this very day.”

¹¹ With these words, he placed the specified amount of gold at the feet of the saint’s image. Though he cherished his horse more than the gold, he honored his vow. Then, after kneeling in reverence, he left the house and mounted his horse, ready to ride away—but the animal would not move. Seeing this, the man dismounted and returned to the house, bringing another ten solidi. He said, “Saintly Confessor, you have been a kind and faithful guardian to my horse through the perils of war, but I see you drive a hard bargain when it comes to selling him!” With that, he placed the ten solidi on top of the twenty and continued, “Here is more, that you may be satisfied and release my horse for the journey.” He then left, mounted his horse again, and urged it forward—but the animal remained rooted to the spot, refusing to move even an inch. What more could he do? He mounted and dismounted four times, each time returning to the house with another ten solidi, only to find his horse as immovable as before. Frustrated, he ran back and forth, but no amount of coaxing, pleading, or urging could make the horse budge—until, at last, a full sixty solidi had been offered.

¹² At last, he repeated the speech he had given earlier about the gentle kindness of the holy Confessor and the protection he had provided during the expedition. He also spoke again about the difficulty of the sale and even the greed involved, as had been mentioned. After returning to the house four times, he finally addressed Saint George directly, saying: “Holy Confessor, now I understand your will clearly. The full weight of gold—sixty solidi—which you desire, I offer to you as a gift. I also give you my horse, as I had previously promised to dedicate to you for the expedition. Now I surrender it to you, though it is still bound by unseen restraints, which I trust will soon be loosed because of the honor you have before God.”

¹³ When he finished speaking, he left the house and found that at that very moment, the horse had been released. He immediately brought it inside and presented it to the holy Confessor in the presence of the image, then departed joyfully, praising Christ. From this, it is clearly understood that whatever is consecrated to the Lord—whether human or animal—cannot be redeemed or exchanged, just as it is written in the book of Leviticus: “But no devoted thing that a man devotes to the Lord, of anything that he has, whether man or beast, or of his inherited field, shall be sold or redeemed; every devoted thing is most holy to the Lord. No one devoted, who is to be devoted for destruction from mankind, shall be ransomed; he shall surely be put to death.”

Chapter 5: The Picture of St. Mary #

¹ Arculf, who has been frequently mentioned, provided us with a detailed account that he obtained from well-informed witnesses in the city of Constantinople regarding a depiction of the Holy Mother of the Lord.

² In that great city, a small wooden tablet bearing an image of the Blessed Virgin Mary once hung on the wall of a house. A certain stubborn and hard-hearted man, upon seeing it, asked whose likeness it was. When someone informed him that it was the image of Saint Mary, ever-virgin, this unbelieving Jew—driven by the devil’s influence—became enraged. In his fury, he tore the image from the wall and ran to a nearby latrine. There, in an act of contempt for Christ, who was born of Mary, he cast the holy image of His mother down into the filth below. Having done all he could to defile and dishonor it, he then departed.

³ What he did afterward, how he lived, or what kind of end he met is unknown. But after that wretched man left, another fortunate and devout Christian from among the common people arrived. Seeing what had happened, he searched for the image of Saint Mary, found it among the filth, and rescued it. He washed it clean with the purest water and brought it home, where he honored it with great reverence.

⁴ Amazingly, the wood of that image of the Blessed Mary continuously exudes a true, boiling oil. As Arculf himself testified, he saw this miracle with his own eyes. This wondrous oil affirms the honor of Mary, the mother of Jesus, of whom the Father declares, “With my holy oil, I have anointed Him”. The same Psalmist speaks to the Son of God, saying, “God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness beyond your companions”.

⁵ The account we have written concerning the founding and location of Constantinople, as well as about the round church where the wood of salvation is preserved, was carefully learned from the words of the holy priest Arculf. He remained in that city—by far the greatest in the Roman Empire—from Easter until the feast of the Lord’s Nativity. Afterward, he set sail for Rome.

Chapter 6: Mount Vulcan #

¹ There is an island in the Great Sea to the east, twelve miles from Sicily, where Mount Vulcan is located. This mountain roars so loudly, like thunder, throughout the day and night that even the land of Sicily, despite the distance, is believed to tremble from its powerful rumbling. Its sound seems to intensify on the sixth day of the week and the Sabbath. By night, it is always seen burning, while by day, it constantly emits smoke.

² Arculf himself described this mountain to me as I was writing. He saw it with his own eyes, burning at night and smoking during the day. He also heard its thunderous roar with his own ears while staying in Sicily for several days.

Chapter 7: Epilogue #

¹ I urge all who read these brief books to pray for God’s mercy on behalf of the holy priest Arculf, who eagerly shared with us his firsthand account of the sacred places he visited. Though my words may be inadequate, I have done my best to record his experiences, despite being overwhelmed daily by the heavy and nearly unbearable burdens of my ecclesiastical duties. Therefore, I ask every reader of this account not to forget to pray to Christ, the eternal Judge, for me, a wretched sinner, who has written these words.