Most respected Mr. Edwin John Davis—
+1 received with pleasure on the same day your letter to me of the 26
(8) instant, by which you inquire of my unworthiness respecting the con-
duct while on the holy Mount Athos of Mr. Constantine Simonides, re-
questing me at the same time to communicate to you truthfully all that 1
know respecting him, as having myself passed eighteen years on the said ho-
ly mountain. But although this is not a little difficult for me. both because I *
am much occupied here in the affairs of our holy Church, and also because
much time has now elapsed, and I am therefore unable to state with ac
curacy the dates of the circumstances known to me respecting Mr. Con-
stantine Simonides, nevertheless, 1 say, I proceed by this my present letter
to acquaint you with all that I know and am still able to call to memory
respecting him.
During my residence in Odessa in the house of the sister of the late
General Alexander Sturtza, the Countess K. Etling, she returned from Con
stantinople about the year 1841 or 1842, whither she had gone some time
before, bringing with her the person of whom wc speak, Constantine
Simonides, whom she had taken under her care from Constantinople at the
request of the Reverend Archimandrite Procopius Duedrinos, and after-
wards, with the consent of her said late brother, Alexander Sturtza, in-
troduced him to the Greek school in that place, as having then a slight
knowledge of the rudiments'of our ancient Greek language, and there he
took lessons for some few months. It was there that I first became ac-
quainted with Mr. Simonides, who assured me many times that he had lived
in the sacred Russian monastery on the holy Mount Athos, and that the
Reverend Deacon Benedict of that place was his uncle; also that this
Benedict had sent him to study, and that on the conclusion of his studies he
should return immediately to the holy mountain in order to become a
monk, and afterwards a preacher, with other like things. But having attend
ed, as 1 said before, for some few months only the lessons at Odessa, he was
expelled from the school in consequence of his disorderly conduct, and for
the same reason the Countess Etling and her brother, A. Sturtza, withdrew
from him their patronage, and subsequently Mr. Simonides departed to
Moscow.
About the year 1843, I, having renounced the vanity of this present
would, proceeded to the holy Mount Athos, and there entered the sacred
Russian convent; and making particular inquiries there respecting Mr.
Simonides. I was informed that he had indeed lived there, but had been
dismissed in consequence of his disorderly and scandalous conduct, and
that he had no relationship with the Reverend Benedict, excepting only
that he was a fellow - countryman.
After the lapse of seven or eight years, Mr. Simonides gave out, both
by word and by the press, that during the time he resided in the Russian
convent he had discovered, with the said Reverend Benedict, within the an·
cient monastery of the Russians, caverns containing many ancient parch-
ment manuscripts, of which he had himself taken a quantity, including
some of remarkable antiquity. These things being reported on the holy
mountain, those who knew Mr. Simonides gave no hearing nor attention to
such absurdities, but one of the principal persons of the holy mountain, the
Superior of the sacred and greatest Laura distinguished for learning and
virtue, by name Hadgi Cionysius, induced by curiosity, wrote officially to
our Hegoumenos of the sacred Russian convent, Gerasimus (who still wor-
thily presides over it), asking him if there was any truth in Mr. Simonides’
asserions respecting Caverns and ancient books. &c. He. however, answered
him officially by a monasterial note that these things were entirely without
existence and without foundation.
After two or three years, however, Mr. Simonides came, a second time,
dressed in the European fashion, and I, reminding him of the words which
he had spoken to me at Odessa—namely, that after he had finished his
studies he intended to become a monk on the holy mountain, and ultimate-
ly a preacher—found him far from intending to carry out his professions,
and engrossed by quite contrary ideas. As, however, our Hegoumenos
would not allow him access to the library of our monastery, he went away
to other monasteries on the holy mountain, that he might examine their
libraries, but as in some of the said monasteries he mutilated many
manuscript books, wickedly tearing out of them entire sheets, the entrance
to many libraries of the said monasteries was forbidden him, and thus he
departed from the holy mountain with disgrace.
After some time, however (I know not how long), he went to Constan-
tinople, and presenting himself before the sacred Synod there, he asserted
that he knew a cavqpi in which were buried the autograph Canons of the
Holy Apostles, and this he said he knew from other ancient manuscripts
discovered by him on the holy Mount Athos, relating shamelessly both the
how and the when he had discovered them. There happened to be present,
however, in the sacred Synod, his Blessed James, now Patriarch of Alexan
dria, then Metropolitan of Serres, who proved that Simonides was
shamelessly telling falsehoods, since he, the then Bishop, was well ac-
quainted with the holy mountain having often been there on ecclesiastical
business. In consequence of this, being expelled and driven out from the
sacred Synod of Constantinople, he departed into Europe; and, as it is
reported on the holy mountain, ahving traversed many parts of Europe, he
passed over at last to England, where, as I think, he remains to this day.
Further, I am well aware that this Simonides did bring to light two books, which also I have read: the one is the history of his native place, the
island of Syme; the other, the explanation of the art of painting, of Dionysius the monk: but when he published them I do not exactly remember, nor do I know whence he obtained them; and this is all I know or remember respecting Mr. Constantine Simonides.
120
Lastly, I have informed by the Venerable Priest Constantius, of this
place, who is also a compatriot of Mr. Simonides, that when the latter came
here five or six years ago. he neither visited the holy Mount Sinai, nor Up-
per Egypt.
These things I state for your information; and I avail myself of the pre-
sent opportunity to express to you my high consideration. Your friend,
with respect and esteem,
+Amphilochius (Bishop) of Pelusium
Alexandria, Egypt, the 5th Oct., 1863.
