e I had said before one of his deacons, that
were it not for fear of the patriarch, I would tear all the pictures to
pieces and burn them. I gave him answer to every particular by itself,
and when he found that he could produce against me no accusation, he
increased in wrath. I then said, if this is your pleasure, I will say no
more. I told him that I had said, that pictures were not Gods; that such
was my opinion always; and that I wished to tell all the common people
so, that they might understand it. But to this he would not consent. He
then began to accuse me of saying of the eucharist, "Let them smell the
scent of it, and know that it is but bread and wine still." I told him
that if he would give me leave to speak, or if he wished to hear my
views, I would speak; "but how is it that you bring against me
accusations, and do not suffer me to make my defence?" Here again he was
not willing that I should speak, but the patriarch said to me,
"_Speak_." I then observed, that St. Ephraim says, "Come, eat the fire
of the bread, and drink the spirit of the wine;" and began to say from
this, that our eating the body of Christ was not natural, but spiritual.
Then again he fell into a rage against me. I said to him, "It is
written, _be ye angry and sin not_. I told you before, that I would keep
silence and not speak without your consent, and whatever you wish, tell
me that I may act or refrain accordingly." At this the patriarch smiled.
But the bishop fell into a passion still more violent, against the
patriarch as well as myself, and rose and went away. I also left the
room. In the evening, when were collected together the patriarch and
bishop and all the monks, with priest Nicholas, whom they were about to
ordain bishop on the morrow, the patriarch began to ask me questions
respecting my faith. When I saw that their object was neither to benefit
me, nor receive benefit, I gave them answers calculated to continue the
conversation in a trifling strain, saying, "My faith is the faith of
Peter, and the faith of Peter is my faith. I believe all that God has
given by inspiration to the one only holy catholic church." He asked me,
What is the church? I answered, "The church is the whole company of
those who believe in the Messiah and his law, on all the face of the
earth." But where is the place of the church? "The place of the church
is the whole world, it is made up of every nation and people." "What,"
said he "the _English_ among