The Life and Deeds of the Ever-Remembered Despot Stefan

.вi. This one (Despot Stefan) dwelt toward the western lands, near the Hellespont; his name became known throughout all Egypt and Ethiopia, and from there even to more distant regions; to put it briefly - those who heard of him desired to join him, even as servants, if they could succeed in reaching him. They say that Darius¹⁵ said of Alexander (of Macedon) that God had granted him to sit upon the throne of Cyrus;¹⁶ and in (him), as in an extraordinary gift from heaven, not only the faithful /Christians/ but also the unbelievers gloried. It was seen, moreover, that he had both the glory of (the prophet) Daniel and the bold voice of the three youths. For he passed through both fire and water, waging war together with the eastern emperors, of which more will be said later. In his (firm) promises and valor they gloried as the Assyrians in the man (of) desires,¹⁷ (as) Pharaoh in Moses, and in him who is called thunder (and) who (like) a fiery arrow threatened the eastern (peoples), until the Lord brought it to pass. I have acquainted myself with the lives of many mighty rulers who in olden times ruled the inhabited world, and I found that some had one virtue or another, and some none.

.гi. This one (the Despot) gathered from the divine writings /books/ what is pleasing to God, (and) in almsgiving and faith he was like no other. Not even from of old was there such a ruler among rulers, (one who was so) exceptional. He lived together with the eastern and western (rulers); he took up all good customs, such as: dress that is both useful and adorning, arms, (the manner of) riding, sitting at table according to seniority, order at the divine service; he kept order at the (Gospel) readings and prayers (as well as at) the hunt (or at) council, (at) going out or coming in - always honor was rendered to rank, so that one could say with the queen of Sheba: "Happy are they that dwell in thy house,"¹⁸ O new Solomon. Titus¹⁹ said: "Today we have not reigned, for we have given a gift to no one." But this one (Despot Stefan) generously filled (his days) with (good) deeds, and he who received never rejoiced (in the gift) as much as he who gave - for he was filled with immense joy whenever he opened wide (his) right hand. But it is now time to begin to speak of this - whence (Despot Stefan) sprang forth, how he lived, and what (manner of) land it was that nurtured him. For even if the chosen dwellings in which the Lord with the Father made His abode²⁰ multiplied in many barbarian lands, (they nevertheless) did not shine so brightly in the human sense as to surpass the ancient Hellenes in valor, in eloquence and in the rest, in which (the Hellenes) particularly excelled, and prophesied before the prophets; they labored to discover human, (earthly) things, then ethereal /spiritual/ ones, (and then) also (the) most exalted. Therefore God also permitted these