[13] But during this time he heard about the relics which had been brought to light, and abandoning human skill, he gave the case over to them, seeking to recover his health through faith in them, and in a moment of direst necessity he won the reward of the true belief.
[14] οἱ μὲν γὰρ ἱερεῖς τὸν δίσκον ἐπὶ τὸ τοῦ βασιλέως ἐτίθεντο γόνυ, ἀφανίζεται δὲ τὸ πάθος εὐθύς, σώμασι δεδουλωμένοις θεῷ βιασθέν. ὅπερ ἀμφίλεκτον ὁ θεὸς οὐ ξυγχωρῶν εἶναι, σημεῖον τῶν πραττομένων ἐνδέδεικται μέγα.
[14] For as soon as the priests laid the reliquary on the Emperor’s knee, the ailment disappeared entirely, driven out by the bodies of men who had been dedicated to the service of God. And God did not permit this to be a matter of dispute, for he shewed a great sign of what was being done.
[15] ἔλαιον γὰρ ἐξαπιναίως ἐπιρρεῦσαν μὲν ἐκ τούτων δὴ τῶν ἁγίων λειψάνων, ὑπερβλύσαν δὲ τὸ κιβώτιον, τώ τε πόδε καὶ τὴν ἐσθῆτα τοῦ βασιλέως κατέκλυσεν ὅλην ἁλουργὸν οὖσαν.
[15] For oil suddenly flowed out from these holy relics, and flooding the chest poured out over the Emperor’s feet and his whole garment, which was purple.
[16] διὸ δὴ ὁ χιτὼν οὕτω καταβεβρεγμένος διασώζεται ἐν τοῖς βασιλείοις, μαρτύριον μὲν τῶν τηνικάδε γεγενημένων, σωτήριον δὲ τοῖς ἐς τὸ ἔπειτα πάθεσι περιπεσουμένοις τισὶν ἀνηκέστοις.
[16] So this tunic, thus saturated, is preserved in the Palace, partly as testimony to what occurred at that time, and also a source of healing for those who in future are assailed by any incurable disease.
[8]
[8] [1] Οὕτω μὲν οὖν ὑπογέγραπται Ἰουστινιανῷ βασιλεῖ τὸ Κέρας ὁ κόλπος. καὶ πορθμοῖν δὲ τοῖν ἄλλοιν δυοῖν, ὧνπερ ἐπεμνήσθην ἀρτίως, οἰκοδομίαις τὰς ἠϊόνας ἐς μέγα τι κάλλος ἐξείργασται ]τρόπῳ τοιῷδε.
[1] Thus was the bay called the Horn given distinction by the Emperor Justinian. And by erecting buildings he elaborated into a thing of great beauty the shores of the other two straits which I have just mentioned, in the following manner.
[2] ἱερὰ δύο τῷ ἀρχαγγέλῳ Μιχαὴλ ἀνειμένα καταντικρὺ ἀλλήλοιν ἑστῶτα τοῦ πορθμοῦ ἑκατέρωθι ξυνέβαινεν εἶναι, θάτερον μὲν ἐν χώρῳ καλουμένῳ Ἀνάπλῳ ἐν ἀριστερᾷ εἰσπλέοντι τὸν Εὔξεινον Πόντον, τὸ δὲ δὴ ἕτερον ἐν τῇ ἀντιπέρας ἀκτῇ·
[2] There happened to be two sanctuaries dedicated to the Archangel Michael, standing opposite one another on either side of the strait, the one at the place called Anaplus, on the left bank as one sails toward the Euxine Sea, the other on the opposite shore.
[3] Προόχθους μὲν ἐκάλουν οἱ παλαιοὶ ἄνθρωποι τὴν ἀκτήν, ὅτι δὴ προβέβληται, οἶμαι, κατὰ πολὺ τῆς ταύτῃ ἠϊόνος, νῦν δὲ Βρόχοι ἐπικαλεῖται, διαφθειρούσης τὰ ὀνόματα τῆς τῶν ἐπιχωρίων ἀγνοίας τῷ μήκει τοῦ χρόνου.
[3] The men of ancient times called this point Proöchthi, because, I suppose, it projects far out from the shore-line there, but now it is called Brochi, for with the passage of time names are corrupted through the ignorance of local residents.
[4] ταῦτα δὲ τὰ δύο τεμένη οἱ μὲν αὐτῶν ἱερεῖς κατερρακωμένα ὑπὸ τοῦ χρόνου θεώμενοι καὶ περίφοβοι γεγενημένοι ὡς μὴ αὐτίκα δὴ μάλα σφίσιν ἐμπέσοιεν, βασιλέως ἐδέοντο ἀνοικοδομήσασθαι ἄμφω ἐφ᾽ οὗπερ σχήματος τὸ παλαιὸν ἦν.
[4] And the priests of these two shrines, seeing them utterly dilapidated by time and having become fearful that they would fall in upon them at any moment, petitioned the Emperor to restore both of them to their ancient form.
[5] οὐ γὰρ οἷόν τε ἦν ἐπὶ τούτου βασιλεύοντος ἐκκλησίαν τινὰ ἢ γίνεσθαι πρῶτον, ἢ καταπεπονηκυῖαν ἐπανορθοῦσθαι, ὅτι μὴ ἐκ χρημάτων βασιλικῶν, οὐκ ἐν Βυζαντίῳ μόνον, ἀλλὰ καὶ πανταχόθι τῆς Ῥωμαίων ἀρχῆς.
[5] For it was not possible, during the reign of this Emperor, for any church either to be built for the first time or to be restored when it had fallen into disrepair except with imperial funds, not alone in Byzantium, but in every part of the Roman Empire.
[6] βασιλεὺς δὲ αὐτίκα τῆς προφάσεως τυχὼν τῆσδε καθεῖλε μὲν ἑκάτερον ἐς τὸ ἔδαφος, ὡς μή τι αὐτοῖς τῆς προτέρας ἀκοσμίας ἀπολειφθῆναι. ἀνῳκοδομήσατο δὲ τὸν μὲν ἐπὶ τοῦ Ἀνάπλου τρόπῳ τοιῷδε.
[6] So the Emperor no sooner had found this pretext than he at once tore them both down to the foundations, so that none of their previous untidiness was left. He rebuilt the one at Anaplus in the following way.
[7] πετρῶν ἐμβολῇ τὴν ἐκείνῃ ἀκτὴν εἴσω περιελίξας ἐς σκέπας λιμένος, τὴν τῆς θαλάττης ἠϊόνα ἐς μεταμόρφωσιν ἀγορᾶς ἤνεγκεν.
[7] By a stone quay he made the shore-line there curve inward to form a sheltered harbour and he transformed the sea-beach into a market.
[8] ἡσύχιος γὰρ ὑπεράγαν ἐνταῦθα ἡ θάλασσα οὖσα τῇ γῇ ἐπικοινοῦται συναλλαγάς.
[8] For the sea at that point is very calm, and makes possible trading with the land.
[9] ταῖς τε ἀκάτοις οἱ τῶν ἐμπόρων θαλάσσιοι παρὰ τὴν ἐμβολὴν τῶν ]πετρῶν ὁρμισάμενοι συμβάλλονται τοῖς ἐγγείοις ἀπὸ τῶν καταστρωμάτων τὰ ἐμπολήματα.
[9] And the sea-traders tie up their skiffs along the stone quay and from their decks exchange their merchandise for the products of the land.
[10] αὐλὴ μετὰ τὴν παραλίαν ἀγορὰν τοῦ νεὼ πρόκειται. καὶ μαρμάροις μὲν ὡραίοις τε καὶ χιόσιν ἡ αὐλὴ τὸ χρῶμα ὅμοιοί.
[10] Behind this shore-market extends the court (aulê) in front of the church. In colour this court resembles beautiful marbles and snow.
[11] οἱ δὲ τοὺς περιπάτους τῇδε ποιούμενοι εὐπρεπείᾳ μὲν ἥδονται λίθων, γεγήθασι δὲ θαλάσσης ὄψει, ἐναβρύνονται δὲ κοιναῖς ταῖς αὔραις ἔκ τε τοῦ ῥοθίου ἐπεγειρομέναις καὶ λόφων ἐπανεστηκότων τῇ γῇ.
[11] Those who promenade here delight in the beauty of the stones, while they rejoice in the view of the sea and revel alike in the breezes wafted from the water and in those that descend from the hills which tower over the land.
[12] στοὰ τὸν νεὼν περιβάλλει ἐγκύκλιος ἐς τὰ πρὸς ἕω διαλιποῦσα μόνον. ἐπὶ μέσης τὸ ἱερὸν χρώμασι μυρίοις πεποίκιλται λίθων.
[12] A circular (enkyklios) stoa surrounds the church and is lacking only on the side towards the east. In the centre stands the church, adorned with stones of an infinite variety of colours.
[13] ὄροφος ἐν θόλῳ μετάρσιος ὑπερῃώρηται. τί ἄν τις διαριθμησάμενος ἐπαξίως τοῦ ἔργου φράσοι τὰς ᾐωρημένας στοάς, τἃς ὑπεσταλμένας οἰκοδομίας, τὸ τῶν μαρμάρων ἐπίχαρι, οἷς δὴ οἵ τε τοῖχοι καὶ τὰ ἐδάφη παντάπασι περιβέβληνται;
[13] The roof soars aloft in the form of a dome (tholos). How could any man do justice to the work in describing the lofty stoas, the secluded buildings within the enclosure, the charm of the marbles with which both walls and pavements are everywhere arranged?
[14] πρὸς ἐπὶ τούτοις δὲ καὶ χρυσοῦ πλῆθος ἐξαίσιον πανταχόσε τοῦ ἱεροῦ καθάπερ αὐτῷ πεφυκὸς περικέχυται.
[14] In addition to these an extraordinary amount of gold has been applied to every part of the shrine and looks just as if it had grown upon it.
[15] τοσαῦτα εἰπόντι καὶ τὸ Ἰωάννου τοῦ Βαπτιστοῦ τέμενός μοι δεδήλωται, ὅπερ αὐτῷ βασιλεὺς Ἰουστινιανὸς ἔναγχος ἐν τῷ Ἑβδόμῳ καλουμένῳ ἀνέθηκεν.
[15] This same description can be applied equally well to the shrine of John the Baptist, which the Emperor Justinian recently dedicated to him at Hebdomum, as it is called.
[16] ἐμφερέστατα γὰρ ἄμφω ἀλλήλοιν τὰ τεμένη τυγχάνει ὄντα, πλήν γε δὴ ὅτι οὐκ ἐπιθαλάσσιον τὸ τοῦ Βαπτιστοῦ ξυμβαίνει εἶναι.
[16] For these two shrines happen to resemble each other closely, except that the shrine of the Baptist chances not to be on the sea.
[17] Ὁ μὲν οὖν ἐν τῷ Ἀνάπλῳ καλουμένῳ τοῦ ἀρχαγγέλου ναὸς τῇδε πεπόνηται.
[17] Now the Church of the Archangel in the place called Anaplus was built in this way.
[18] κατὰ δὲ τὴν ἀντιπέρας ἀκτὴν ὀλίγῳ τῆς θαλάσσης διέχει τις χῶρος, ὁμαλὸς μὲν φύσιν, συνθέσει δὲ λίθων ὑψοῦ ἀνέχων.
[18] And on the opposite bank is a site somewhat removed from the sea, naturally level and raised to a height by courses of stone.
[19] ἐνταῦθα τὸ τοῦ ἀρχαγγέλου δεδημιούργηται ]τέμενος, εὐπρεπείᾳ μὲν ἐξαίσιον, μεγέθει δὲ πρῶτον, πολυτελείᾳ δὲ ἀνακεῖσθαι μὲν τῷ Μιχαὴλ πρέπον, ἀναθεῖναι δὲ Ἰουστινιανῷ βασιλεῖ.
[19] There has been built the other shrine of the Archangel, a work of extraordinary beauty and unrivalled in size, and because of its magnificence worthy both of Michael, to whom it is dedicated, and of the Emperor Justinian, who dedicated it.
[20] τούτου δὲ δὴ οὐ πολλῷ ἄποθεν τοῦ νεὼ τέμενος ἅγιον τῇ θεοτόκῳ ἀνενεώσατο τρόπῳ τῷ αὐτῷ καταπεπονηκὸς πολλῷ πρότερον, οὗ δὴ τὸ σεμνὸν μακρὸν ἂν εἴη καὶ διερευνήσασθαι καὶ λόγῳ σημῆναι· ἐκδέχεται δὲ ἡ πάλαι τῆς ἱστορίας προσδοκωμένη μοῖρα.
[20] Not far from this place he restored in the same way a holy shrine of the Virgin which had fallen into disrepair a long time before, and it would be a long task to study this building and describe in words its majesty. But here follows the long-awaited portion of my narrative.
[9] [9] [1] Ἐπὶ ταύτης δὴ τῆς ἀκτῆς ἀξιοθέατα ἐκ παλαιοῦ βασίλεια ἐτύγχανεν ὄντα. ταῦτα βασιλεὺς Ἰουστινιανὸς ἀνατέθεικε τῷ θεῷ ἅπαντα, τὸν ἐνθένδε τῆς εὐσεβείας καρπὸν τῆς παραυτίκα παραψυχῆς ἀλλαξάμενος τρόπῳ τοιῷδε.
[1] On this shore there chanced to have been from ancient times a remarkable palace. This the Emperor Justinian has dedicated wholly to God, exchanging immediate enjoyment for the reward of piety thereby obtained, in the following manner.
[2] ὅμιλος ἦν ἐπὶ Βυζαντίου γυναίων ἐν μαστροπείῳ λελαγνευμένων οὐχ ἑκούσιον, ἀλλὰ βιαίαν τινὰ μισητίαν.
[2] There was a throng of women in Byzantium who had carried on in brothels a business of lechery, not of their own free will, but under force of lust.
[3] τῆς γὰρ πενίας τῷ ὑπερβάλλοντι ὑπὸ πορνοβοσκῷ τρεφομέναις ἀεὶ καὶ καθ᾽ ἑκάστην ἀκολασταίνειν ἐπάναγκες ἦν, ἀνδράσι τε ἀγνῶσι καὶ παραπεπτωκόσιν ἐξαπιναίως ἐσποδιοῦντο συνδυαζόμεναι.
[3] For it was maintained by brothel-keepers, and inmates of such houses were obliged at any and all times to practise lewdness, and pairing off at a moment’s notice with strange men as they chanced to come along, they submitted to their embraces.
[4] πορνοβοσκῶν γὰρ ἐνταῦθα ἦν ἐκ παλαιοῦ ἑταιρία πολλή, ἐπ᾽ ἐργαστηρίου τὸ τῆς ἀκολασίας διαχειριζόντων ἐμπόλημα, ἔν τε τῷ δημοσίῳ τῆς ἀγορᾶς ὥραν ἀποδιδομένων τὴν ἀλλοτρίαν καὶ δουλαγωγούντων τὸ σῶφρον.
[4] For there had been a numerous body of procurers in the city from ancient times, conducting their traffic in licentiousness in brothels and selling others’ youth in the public market-place and forcing virtuous persons into slavery.
[5] βασιλεὺς δὲ Ἰουστινιανὸς καὶ βασιλὶς Θεοδώρα (τὴν γὰρ εὐσέβειαν ἀλλήλοις ἐπικοινούμενοι ἅπαντα ἔπρασσον) ἐπενόουν τάδε.
[5] But the Emperor Justinian and the Empress Theodora, who always shared a common piety in all that they did, devised the following plan.
[6] τὴν μὲν πολιτείαν τοῦ τῶν μαστροπείων ἄγους ἐκάθηραν, ἐξελάσαντες τὸ τῶν πορνοβοσκῶν ὄνομα, τῶν δὲ γυναικῶν ]τὰς πενίᾳ ταλαιπωρουμένας πολλῇ ἀκολασίας τῆς δουλοπρεποῦς ἠλευθέρωσαν, βίοτον μὲν σφίσιν αὐτόνομον, ἐλευθέραν δὲ τὴν σωφροσύνην πεπορισμένοι. ταῦτα μὲν οὖν διῳκήσαντο τῇδε.
[6] They cleansed the state of the pollution of the brothels, banishing the very name of brothel-keepers, and they set free from a licentiousness fit only for slaves the women who were struggling with extreme poverty, providing them with independent maintenance, and setting virtue free. This they accomplished as follows.
[7] παρὰ ταύτην δὴ τοῦ πορθμοῦ τὴν ἀκτὴν ἥ ἐστιν ἐν δεξιᾷ εἰσπλέοντι τὸν Εὔξεινον καλούμενον Πόντον, βασιλεία πρότερον ὄντα μοναστήριον μεγαλοπρεπὲς κατεστήσαντο καταγώγιον ταῖς μεταμελουμέναις γυναιξὶν ἐπὶ τῷ προτέρῳ βίῳ ἐσόμενον·
[7] Near that shore of the strait which is on the right as one sails toward the Sea called Euxine, they made what had formerly been a palace into an imposing convent designed to serve as a refuge for women who repented of their past lives,
[8] ἐφ᾽ ᾧ τῇ ἐνταῦθα περί τε τὸν θεὸν καὶ τὴν εὐσέβειαν ἀσχολίᾳ γενησομένῃ περικαθῆραι τὰς ἁμαρτάδας δύναται εἶεν τῆς ἐν μαστροπείῳ διαίτης.
[8] so that there through the occupation which their minds would have with the
worship of God and with religion they might be able to cleanse away the sins of their lives in the brothel.
[9] διὸ δὴ καὶ Μετάνοιαν τοῦτο δὴ τῶν γυναικῶν τὸ διαιτητήριον ὁμωνύμως τῷ ἔργῳ ἐπονομάζουσι.
[9] Therefore they call this domicile of such women “Repentance,” in keeping with its purpose.
[10] καὶ πολλαῖς μὲν χρημάτων προσόδοις οἱ βασιλεῖς οὗτοι τὸ μοναστήριον δεδώρηνται τοῦτο, πολλὰ δὲ οἰκίᾳ κάλλει τε καὶ πολυτελείᾳ διαφερόντως ἐξαίσια, ταῖς γυναιξὶ παραψυχὴν ἐσόμενα, ᾠκοδομήσαντο, ὡς μηδενὶ ἀναγκασθεῖσαι πρὸς τὰ τῆς σωφροσύνης ἐπιτηδεύματα τρόπῳ ὁτῳοῦν ἀποκνήσουσι. ταῦτα μὲν οὖν τῇδε πη ἔχει.
[10] And these Sovereigns have endowed this convent with an ample income of money, and have added many buildings most remarkable for their beauty and costliness, to serve as a consolation for the women, so that they should never be compelled to depart from the practice of virtue in any manner whatsoever. So much, then, for this.
[11] Ἐς δὲ τὸν Εὔξεινον Πόντον ἐνθένδε ἰόντι ἄκρα τις ἀπορρὼξ παρὰ τὴν τοῦ πορθμοῦ προβέβληται ἠϊόνα, ἐφ᾽ ἧς μαρτύριον Παντελεήμονος ἁγίου εἱστήκει, ἀρχήν τε ἀπημελημένως πεποιημένον καὶ χρόνῳ μακρῷ πεπονηκὸς ἄγαν· ὅπερ ἐνθένδε περιελὼν Ἰουστινιανὸς βασιλεύς, τοῦτόν τε μεγαλοπρεπῶς τὰ μάλιστα οἰκοδομησάμενος ]τὸν ἐκείνῃ τανῦν ὄντα νεών, τῷ τε μάρτυρι διεσώσατο τὴν τιμὴν καὶ τῷ πορθμῷ κάλλος ἐντέθεικεν, ἑκατέρωθι τὰ ἱερὰ ταῦτα πηξάμενος.
Delphi Complete Works of Procopius Page 584