DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.4996#0103
84
THE REFECTORY.
monks must have eaten, with ranges of seats, quaintly carved;
while silver crucifixes hang at intervals from the pointed roof.
The superior, advancing to the head of the table, seated me beside
him; the rest took their places below, and the picture of conventual
life was to me complete. Before each were placed a loaf of bread,
and a pewter spoon and plate ; some dishes of the same material
contained olives and vegetables; and opposite to myself and the
superior was some Arab cheese. A side orifice communicating with
the kitchen was now opened, and a large dish was handed in filled
with hot vegetables, mixed with some unctuous addition, the whole
more nourishing, I doubt not, than, to a strange palate, at least,
agreeable. Before this was passed round, one of the brethren rose,
and striking on a bell, pronounced a grace, which was again repeated
during the repast. In the meantime a young monk had taken his
place beneath a small pulpit, and continued to read a homily while
we were eating. A certain proportion of raki was also handed
round to each of us in a saucer, like a pewter-bowl, with some red
Greek wine for myself. This formed the whole repast, which, how-
ever, seemed to be eaten with relish : when over, all rose and assem-
bled round the before-mentioned altar, and while incense filled the
room, a small piece of bread was broken and distributed to each,
and a wine-cup was handed round, of which all present, including
myself, partook. To me the whole of this scene was exceedingly
affecting ; it linked the present to the long bygone past—the feel-
ings of to-day, to those of the early Christian times ;—and when,
across intervening seas and mountains, my thoughts flew with elec-
tric speed to one dear to me by every tie, who at that hour was minis-
tering the bread of life in my native land, surrounded by groups and
usages vividly remembered, my heart swelled, my eyes well-nigh
filled, and I was compelled to rouse myself, or appear unmanned.
At the conclusion of this interesting service we all proceeded from
the refectory to an adjacent piazza, where coffee was handed round the
young monk still continuing his homily, though the conversation was
now unrestrained. I had expressed a wish to see the charnel-house
appropriated to the reception of the bodies of archbishops and others,
THE REFECTORY.
monks must have eaten, with ranges of seats, quaintly carved;
while silver crucifixes hang at intervals from the pointed roof.
The superior, advancing to the head of the table, seated me beside
him; the rest took their places below, and the picture of conventual
life was to me complete. Before each were placed a loaf of bread,
and a pewter spoon and plate ; some dishes of the same material
contained olives and vegetables; and opposite to myself and the
superior was some Arab cheese. A side orifice communicating with
the kitchen was now opened, and a large dish was handed in filled
with hot vegetables, mixed with some unctuous addition, the whole
more nourishing, I doubt not, than, to a strange palate, at least,
agreeable. Before this was passed round, one of the brethren rose,
and striking on a bell, pronounced a grace, which was again repeated
during the repast. In the meantime a young monk had taken his
place beneath a small pulpit, and continued to read a homily while
we were eating. A certain proportion of raki was also handed
round to each of us in a saucer, like a pewter-bowl, with some red
Greek wine for myself. This formed the whole repast, which, how-
ever, seemed to be eaten with relish : when over, all rose and assem-
bled round the before-mentioned altar, and while incense filled the
room, a small piece of bread was broken and distributed to each,
and a wine-cup was handed round, of which all present, including
myself, partook. To me the whole of this scene was exceedingly
affecting ; it linked the present to the long bygone past—the feel-
ings of to-day, to those of the early Christian times ;—and when,
across intervening seas and mountains, my thoughts flew with elec-
tric speed to one dear to me by every tie, who at that hour was minis-
tering the bread of life in my native land, surrounded by groups and
usages vividly remembered, my heart swelled, my eyes well-nigh
filled, and I was compelled to rouse myself, or appear unmanned.
At the conclusion of this interesting service we all proceeded from
the refectory to an adjacent piazza, where coffee was handed round the
young monk still continuing his homily, though the conversation was
now unrestrained. I had expressed a wish to see the charnel-house
appropriated to the reception of the bodies of archbishops and others,