image of tlie motlier of God, it is most proper that we should relate the origin of it, to those who do not know it, to the praise of the said mother of God. Of the origin of the said image, and some of its miracles. There lived at Damascus, the capital city of Syria, a eartain venerable matron, who took the habit of a nun and made it her business to serve God most devoutly ; and, that she might be more at liberty to perform her religious duties, and to avoid the noise of the city, she retired to a place called Sardenai, six miles from the above-named city, and there building for herself a house and oratory in honour of the holy mother of God, she performed the duties of hospitality to pilgrims and the poor. Now it happened that a certain monk, from the city of Constantinople, came to Jerusalem for the sake of devotion and of seeing the holy places, and he was charitably received as a guest by the aforesaid nun ; the latter, on learning that he was going to the holy city, humbly and earnestly besought him to bring with him on his return from Jerusalem some image, that is some painted picture, for her to put in her oratory, which would show her, when she prayed, the likeness of the mother of God, and he faithfully promised that he would bring her one. After he had reached Jerusalem, he fulfilled his devotional duties, and when they were finished be prepared to return, forgetting his promise to the nun; and after be had got out of the city on his way back, a voice came from heaven saying to him, " Why dost thou return thus empty-handed ? Where is the image thou didst promise to take to the nun?" Being thus reminded of the thing, the monk returned into the city, and going to a place where images were sold he bought one which pleased him, and carried it with him on his return. Gn his reaching a place culled Gith, a tierce lion, which lay concealed in a dcu there devouring human beings, came to meet the monk on his way and began to lick his feet, and thus under the protection of the divine grace he escaped unhurt. Afterwards he fell into the snares of robbers, and when they were about to lay violent hands on him, they were so frightened by the voice of some angel which rebuked them, that they could not speak or move at all. Then the monk, looking at the image which he held, knew that some divine virtue lay con