DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.55699#0139
THE CHURCH OF ST. MARK.
109
fully examined by the learned Montfaucon, who was of
opinion that it was written upon papyrus, and that the
language was the Latin, and not the Greek. The great
antiquity of the manuscript, and its very imperfect pre-
servation, rendered it extremely difficult to decipher any
of the characters. Montfaucon, intimately acquainted as
he was with MSS., tells us that he had never seen any
MS. that seemed to be of greater antiquity than this.
It was obtained by the Venetians from Friuli, and was
conducted to the church of St. Mark amid the applause
of the people and the ringing of bells.
Among the other relics which composed the cele-
brated treasure of this church, and which were regarded as
of inestimable value by the Venetians, were a small quan-
tity of the supposed blood of our Saviour; a cross of gold,
adorned with precious stones, in the midst of which was
fixed a piece of wood, said to have been part of the tree
on which he suffered; one of the nails with which he
was pierced; four of the thorns which composed his
crown; a part of the column to which he was bound; a
fragment of the skull of St, John the Baptist; besides a
great variety of no less veritable remains. There were
also deposited here a sapphire, weighing ten ounces, to-
gether with other precious stones of similar value, and a
great number of candellabri and golden vases ; and here
was preserved the ducal crown, used only on the most
solemn public festivals, and which astonished the spec-
tators by the pearls and diamonds of inconceivable beauty
with which it was covered.
While on this subject, we ought not to omit mention
of the celebrated painting of a miracle of St. Mark by
109
fully examined by the learned Montfaucon, who was of
opinion that it was written upon papyrus, and that the
language was the Latin, and not the Greek. The great
antiquity of the manuscript, and its very imperfect pre-
servation, rendered it extremely difficult to decipher any
of the characters. Montfaucon, intimately acquainted as
he was with MSS., tells us that he had never seen any
MS. that seemed to be of greater antiquity than this.
It was obtained by the Venetians from Friuli, and was
conducted to the church of St. Mark amid the applause
of the people and the ringing of bells.
Among the other relics which composed the cele-
brated treasure of this church, and which were regarded as
of inestimable value by the Venetians, were a small quan-
tity of the supposed blood of our Saviour; a cross of gold,
adorned with precious stones, in the midst of which was
fixed a piece of wood, said to have been part of the tree
on which he suffered; one of the nails with which he
was pierced; four of the thorns which composed his
crown; a part of the column to which he was bound; a
fragment of the skull of St, John the Baptist; besides a
great variety of no less veritable remains. There were
also deposited here a sapphire, weighing ten ounces, to-
gether with other precious stones of similar value, and a
great number of candellabri and golden vases ; and here
was preserved the ducal crown, used only on the most
solemn public festivals, and which astonished the spec-
tators by the pearls and diamonds of inconceivable beauty
with which it was covered.
While on this subject, we ought not to omit mention
of the celebrated painting of a miracle of St. Mark by