Monahinja Jefimija

HOPES DIDST THOU GO FORTH AGAINST THE SERPENT*, THE ENEMY OF GOD’S CHURCH, FOR THY HEART COULD NOT SUFFER TO BEHOLD THE HOSTS OF ISMAIL RULING IN CHRISTIAN LANDS; DIDST THOU FAIL IN THIS, (THOU WAST RESOLVED) TO ABANDON THE CRUMBLING HEIGHTS OF EARTHLY POWER AND, EMPURPLING THYSELF IN THINE OWN BLOOD, UNITE THYSELF UNTO THE HOSTS OF THE HEAVENLY KING. AND THUS WERE THY TWO DESIRES FULFILLED, FOR THOU DIDST SLAY THE SERPENT AND DIDST RECEIVE FROM GOD THE MARTYR’S CROWN. FORGET NOT NOW, THEREFORE, THY BELOVED CHILDREN, WHOM BY THY DEATH THOU HAST LEFT DESOLATE, WHILE THOU ART GONE HENCE TO THE EVERLASTING JOYS OF HEAVEN; MANY TROUBLES AND SUFFERINGS ARE FALLEN UPON THY BELOVED CHILDREN, AND THEIR LIVES ARE SPENT IN SORROW, FOR THE SONS OF ISMAIL RULE OVER THEM AND THY HELP IS SORELY NEEDED BY US ALL. THEREFORE WE BESEECH THEE, PRAY TO THE RULER OF MANKIND FOR THY BELOVED CHILDREN AND FOR ALL (THOSE) WHO SERVE

• THE TURKISH SULTAN MURAT