Monahinja Jefimija

THE THEODORES, TAKE WITH THEE MERCURIUS AND PROCOPIUS; FORGET NOT THE FORTY MARTYRS OF SEBASTE, IN THE PLACE OF WHOSE MARTYRDOM* THINE OWN BELOVED SONS, PRINCE STEPHAN AND PRINCE VUK, DO NOW CONTEND; PRAY THAT THEY MAY BE GIVEN HELP FROM GOD, COME THOU TOO TO OUR AID, WHEREVER THOU BEEST. LOOK UPON MY HUMBLE OFFERINGS AND MAGNIFY THEM WITH THY REGARD, FOR I OFFER THEE NOT PRAISE WORTHY OF THEE, BUT ONLY IN ACCORDANCE WITH MY HUMBLE POWERS AND THEREFORE I HOPE FOR BUT LITTLE REWARD. BUT AS THOU, OH DEAR MY LORD AND HOLY MARTYR, WERT EVER GENEROUS OF TEMPORAL AND PASSING THINGS, HOW MUCH MORE SO WILT THOU BE OF THOSE GREAT AND EVERLASTING THINGS WHICH THOU HAST RECEIVED FROM GOD, FOR THOU DIDST ABUNDANTLY PROVIDE FOR MY BODILY NEEDS WHEN I WAS A STRANGER IN A FOREIGN LAND. AND NOW I PRAY THEE BOTH THAT THOU WILT PRESERVE ME AND THAT THOU WILT AS-

* A PLACE IN ASIA MINOR WHERE LAZAR’S TWO SONS WERE THEN SERVING AS VASSALS IN THE ARMY OF SULTAN BAJAZET.