‘This happened under the Metropolitan Kyr Theodosius.’

At the close of the eighteenth century Ardges was constituted a bishopric, and at the beginning of the present, Bishop Joseph was at great pains to renew and restore several portions of the cathedral.  The inscription commemorating this event is brief:—­

’To the glory of the Holy Trinity, to the glory and praise of the Holy Virgin Mary the Mother of God, this church was restored where it was injured by the rain.  Where, however, the colour was only obliterated, it was repainted; at the instigation of Joseph the first Bishop of Ardges, in whose time also other work was done, under the Metropolitan Dositheos and Prince Constantine Ypsilanti.  The superintendent of the work was Meletin (of the Monastery).  In the year 1804, 25th October.’

Besides having suffered at the hands of barbarians of various nations, this beautiful fabric has from time to time been injured by earthquakes; but it has survived all these calamities, and has been frequently repaired, restored, and beautified since the beginning of this century.  The property and incomes of monasteries have been largely applied to secular purposes, and amongst those whose resources have been much curtailed is that of Ardges.  It is to be hoped, however, that, either through State support or private benevolence, this beautiful monument of mediaeval art and valuable historical record may not again be allowed to fall into decay, but may long remain what it is at present, undoubtedly the gem of Roumania.[47]

[Footnote 41:  An excellent monograph, beautifully illustrated, of this cathedral was published by Ludwig Reissenberger (Braumueller, Vienna, 1860), to which we refer the reader for further details concerning it.  Our two woodcuts showing the tracery are copied from that work, but the autotype plate is from a photograph by Duschek.]

[Footnote 42:  Reissenberger calls it ‘Grobkalk.’  Similar stone is found in the neighbourhood.]

[Footnote 43:  There are several versions of the legend.  In some the prince is called Negru Voda, in others Negoije Voda, and in others again Radu Negru.  The poem has been translated by Hon. H. Stanley, Roumanian Anthology, p. 215 (Hertford:  Stephen Austin), an expensive and beautifully illuminated drawing-room book, containing some Roumanian poems in the vernacular, and others translated into English.]

[Footnote 44:  The date on the tablet is 7209.  This is Anno Mundi, according to the chronology of at least a section of the Byzantine Church, Christ having been born, after that reckoning, 5509 years after the creation of the world. (See Brown’s Vulgar Errors and Smith’s Dictionary of the Bible.) Engel says Neagu reigned from 1511 to 1520.  Vaillant says he died in 1518.]

[Footnote 45:  7035 (A.M.) is the date on the tablet.]

[Footnote 46:  Vineyard?]