The Tale of the Novgorodian White Klobuk #

The Epistle of Dmitry the Greek Interpreter to Archbishop Gennady of Novgorod

To the most venerable and great, holy, cathedral, and apostolic church of Sophia, the Wisdom of God, to the most reverend lord, Archbishop of Great Novgorod and Pskov, Vladyka Gennady, thy servant in holy reverence, Mitya Malyi, offers due obeisance.

By thy most holy blessing and through thy prayers, I have reached the great city of Rome in full health. And by thy most holy command, I have labored diligently in the Roman annalistic books to find the account of the White Klobuk, though it is greatly concealed there for fear of disgrace. And now I shall relate to thee how I came upon this tale.

First, I sought to ingratiate myself with the keeper of the books of the Roman Church, by the name of Jacob, and bestowed upon him many gifts. That bookkeeper, seeing my kindness, welcomed me with great hospitality, offering me many meals and drinks. I would often visit him, dining in his house. And once, when I came to him for supper as was my custom, he received me gladly, took me by the hand, and led me into his house. There I supped with him, praising to him our Greek faith and speaking of the land of Rus’, its faith, its well-being, and the wonderworkers who have shone forth in the Russian land with many prophecies and miracles. Then I also told him a most wondrous tale of that White Klobuk, which thou, O hierarch of Great Novgorod, dost wear upon thy head. When the bookkeeper heard all this from me, he sighed bitterly and said:

“From the most ancient and reliable men among us, there once was a tale of this very same thing—that the White Klobuk of which thou speakest was made in this great city of Rome by Emperor Constantine and, as a sign of honor, given to Pope Sylvester to wear upon his head. But for the many sins committed in Rome, this Klobuk was sent away to Constantinople, to the Patriarch. And the Patriarch, in turn, sent it to the land of Rus’, to Great Novgorod.”

I asked him: “Is this recorded anywhere?” He answered: “There exists a new account, but no ancient one.” And I, in detail but cautiously, began to question him so that he might tell me the full truth of what is known about the White Klobuk. And the bookkeeper, having long supped with me and seeing how greatly I valued what I sought, revealed to me this tale.

“Many among us,” he began, “have heard different accounts of this in the city, but some say one thing and others another. No one knew the full truth, for out of envy toward the Orthodox, the former rulers of the city destroyed all writings about it. However, many years later, after the Turks seized the imperial city, certain pious men from Tsargrad took many Greek books, wishing to preserve the Greek faith from the impious Turks, and set sail for Rome. Our Catholics, being vain men and exceedingly diligent in philosophical study, had long wished to acquaint themselves with the writings of the Eastern teachers. But previously, the Greek emperors did not permit them to do so, on account of their apostasy from Orthodoxy. Now, however, seizing the opportunity, they translated the books brought from Greece into their Latin tongue, while the Greek books themselves they burned in fire. And concerning the White Klobuk, about which thou inquirest, its account was likewise copied from Greek books into Latin ones, for previously, out of shame, no mention of the White Klobuk had been in the Latin books. Even now, they hide it greatly.”

Hearing all this from the bookkeeper, I burned with even greater desire to read it and, with fervent supplication, fell to my knees before him, pleading that he give me the records. Only through great entreaties did I barely convince him, and in secret, I copied everything in its entirety, as well as the Eight-Part Book and the Circle of the Peacemaker. And all this I have sent to thee with the Moscow merchant Thomas of Saryovo.

Mayest thou, O lord, abide in salvation and good health in Christ, and remember us in thy holy prayers as before.

From the Roman History: A Brief Account #

Concerning the Wondrous Imperial Decrees Regarding the Hierarchical Order, From a Portion of the Life of the Pious Emperor Constantine of Rome, Concerning the Creation of the Hierarchical White Klobuk, And Also How and Whence the Archbishops of Great Novgorod First Received It and Bore It Upon Their Heads, Unlike the Other Hierarchs— A Reliable Account of All These Matters is Contained Herein

Upon the death of the impious emperor Maxentius, the persecutions against Christians ceased, and complete peace was established. The people dwelling near Rome, though steeped in unbelief, nevertheless rejoiced and celebrated this great event in their city. With praise, they accepted the great and glorious Constantine as their sovereign, calling him their savior and benefactor. And Constantine, being inclined toward what was good, took up the scepter of the Roman Empire, and by his command, everything was set in order, both in secular and ecclesiastical governance. To those who held the Christian faith, he decreed that they should live without persecution, and the Christians, seeing this benefaction, rejoiced all the more and, celebrating the victory, continually glorified the almighty God and ceaselessly magnified Emperor Constantine.

The blessed Silvester, bishop of the Christians, at that time preserved and strengthened the Orthodox faith of our Lord Jesus Christ in Rome. With a small number of followers, he endured oppression and secretly instructed his disciples in faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, not daring to preach openly for fear of persecution by the Jews and pagans, for Emperor Constantine himself was still devoted to pagan worship and bowed before idols.

In the third year of his reign, the blessed Silvester, the Pope of Rome, baptized one of the emperor’s close advisors, named Izumfer, and successfully guided him to faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. At that time in Rome, there was a certain Zambriya, a Jew and a sorcerer, beloved by many. Later, the blessed Silvester performed a great miracle concerning him, which we shall recount elsewhere. This Zambriya could not endure the presence of the Christian faith and gathered together pagans and Jews, leading them to the emperor. They came before Constantine and said:

“O mighty lord and emperor! The bishop of this city, Silvester, reviles us and reproaches us with vile speech, while successfully preaching about some crucified man and blaspheming our glorious and great gods, declaring them unworthy of worship. He has also deceived your nobleman Izumfer with his words, turning him to faith in the crucified one, bringing us great confusion and sorrow. Moreover, he speaks the same words to Your Majesty, seeking to beguile you as he has beguiled Izumfer. We cannot bear to hear of this evildoer, and we beseech you, great emperor, to grant us permission to destroy him.”

Upon hearing this, the emperor was greatly angered against the bishop because of Izumfer and wished to seize him, imprison him, and scatter the Christians. Silvester, learning of the emperor’s wrath, feared for his life, fled, and hid on a certain mountain, praying that God might preserve him for the good of His people. There he remained in hiding for a long time.

Yet the Lord, the Creator of all things, does not compel mankind toward salvation by force, but by will, and as He always guides through divine acts of understanding, so too did He wish to glorify His servant. Thus, in the seventh year of his reign, Emperor Constantine fell into elephantiasis, his body covered in sores and ulcers, so that he lay near death. Many sorcerers and magicians came to him, not only from among the Romans but even from Persia, yet none could heal him. Then the wicked men among them devised a dreadful plan and nearly persuaded the emperor to carry it out, saying:

“A bath must be prepared in the Roman Capitol, filled with the fresh blood of newborn male infants, and in this warm blood, you must bathe; then you shall be healed, and their bodies shall be offered as a sacrifice to the gods.”

The emperor commanded that this be done quickly, and from all the regions of Rome, three thousand male infants were gathered. On the appointed day, the emperor, together with the sorcerers, went to the Capitol to bathe in the infants’ blood. But just as the priests were ready to slaughter the children, loud wailing and ceaseless cries arose. Hearing this, the emperor was struck with terror and stood motionless, seeing before him a great multitude of women with uncovered heads, weeping, wailing, and groaning with loud voices. The emperor asked those with him who these women were and why they were weeping. They replied that these were the mothers of the infants who were about to be slain. Moved with compassion, the emperor sighed deeply, wept bitterly, and said:

“It is better for me to die than for these children to be killed for my sake.”

Having said this, he returned to his palace, not only ordering the infants to be returned to their mothers but also bestowing them gifts before sending them away. The mothers were thus reunited with their children in great joy.

That night, as silence fell upon the city, the holy apostles Peter and Paul appeared to the emperor in a dream and spoke to him:

“Since you did not wish to commit this sin and refused to shed innocent blood, we have been sent by Christ, our God, to show you the path to salvation, by which you shall be healed. Hearken now to our command and fulfill what we tell you. The bishop of this city, Silvester, who has fled your wrath, hides among the rocky crags of Mount Sarepta. Summon him with honor and bid him come before you. He shall reveal to you the font of salvation, in which, once you are washed, you shall be cleansed of all your sores and restored to health. And not only shall you be healed, but you shall also attain eternal life, for you have spared the lives of these innocent children. When you receive this grace from the holy bishop, honor him with a worthy gift, and by your decree, let all Orthodox churches in the world be renewed with sacred beauty, that the name of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ may be glorified within them, and that divine services may adorn them in His honor.”

Following this vision, Emperor Constantine sought out the bishop, and once Silvester was found, he was brought before the emperor with great honor. As soon as the bishop entered the palace, the emperor rose, kissed him first, and said:

“Receiving you in health, we rejoice, O reverend father!”

Silvester replied:

“Peace shall be given to you from heaven, and victory.”

Then the emperor recounted his vision:

“Two men appeared to me in a dream, calling themselves Peter and Paul, and they foretold your coming. Now that you are here, do for me whatever is in your power according to the blessing of God, and cleanse me from this disease. But first, I ask you, holy bishop, who are these gods named Peter and Paul? If you have their images, show them to me, that I may see them and know for certain that they were truly sent by God.”

Silvester answered:

“They are not gods, but apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ, and as such, they are worthy of all honor.”

Then the bishop commanded his deacon to bring images of the holy apostles. When the emperor beheld their likenesses, he immediately recognized them, confessed this before his princes and nobles, and said:

“Truly, I saw these men in my vision, and they said to me, ‘Send for Bishop Silvester, and he will show you the font of salvation!’”

And he fell at the feet of the bishop. The blessed bishop Silvester lifted him up, instructed him according to the divine Scriptures, commanded him to fast for seven days wearing only a single garment, and to give alms. Then he blessed him, declared him a catechumen, and departed.

On the Sunday when all was prepared for the divine service, Silvester said to the emperor:

“This water, O Sovereign, which you see before you, has received divine power through the invocation of the Holy and Life-giving Trinity. It will cleanse any body externally from all impurity, but even more so, the soul shall be purified from all sin and defilement and shall shine brighter than the sun. Therefore, enter this sacred and holy font, and you shall be cleansed of all the sins you have committed.”

Having said this and much else, and having blessed the consecrated water, the bishop anointed the emperor with holy oil. And as soon as Constantine entered the sanctified water—oh, what a great mystery of God was then revealed! At the moment of his baptism in the name of the Holy Trinity, a sudden radiance of boundless light shone from the heavens, and a voice rang out, resounding like ringing bronze. And the noble and great Emperor Constantine emerged from the water completely healed, as the sores upon his body fell away like scales, and he became entirely cleansed.

Then he said to Silvester:

“O most glorious father! I shall recount to you the great benefaction of God: when you placed me in the depths of the font, I saw with my own eyes a hand from heaven touch me. And by it, I arose cleansed, immediately feeling myself freed from all my leprosy.”

The blessed Silvester, upon hearing this, clothed him in white garments and anointed him seven times with myrrh, saying:

“God of faith seals you with His sign in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.”

And all the assembled people responded:

“Amen!”

The hierarch then declared:

“Peace be with you.”

Thus, by the grace of God, Emperor Constantine recovered, and at his holy baptism, he was given the name Flavian. Filled with immense joy, he gave great glory to Christ God and to the holy bishop Silvester. He did not regard Silvester as a mere man but honored him as though he were divine, calling him his father and proclaiming him Pope. And all the people under Roman rule rejoiced—not only because of the emperor’s healing but also because of their children, whom they had once gathered for slaughter to restore the emperor’s health. All of them were returned alive to their mothers, and great joy spread throughout the entire Roman dominion.

After his healing, Emperor Constantine, in obedience to the command of the holy apostles and the instruction of the blessed Pope Silvester, first ordered the gathering of the relics of the holy martyrs who had suffered under impious emperors for their faith in Christ. He commanded that they be buried with due reverence. He restored all those who had been exiled, freed those imprisoned in dungeons and chains, and decreed that confiscated properties be returned. He also ordered the churches of God to be renewed with all manner of sacred vessels, while pagan temples were to be demolished and burned with fire, and their treasures given to the holy churches. And soon, deeds followed these words, and everything was arranged as befits a Christian emperor.

To Pope Silvester, Emperor Constantine presented many gifts for the service of the Church, and from his royal treasury, he provided for the Pope’s needs, establishing an honorable rank appropriate to his office among the imperial officials. He even wished to place his own imperial crown upon the Pope’s head. But Silvester said:

“O great sovereign, it is not fitting for us to bear your imperial crown upon our heads. Even though I have been granted the rank of bishop, I remain a humble monk according to my vow. Therefore, let us pray to Almighty God, that in the life to come, we may receive from Him the eternal blessings.”

The emperor, though full of gratitude, was grieved by these words regarding the crown. But the Pope reassured him:

“Do not be offended, O Sovereign! It is your calling to wear the golden crown and to partake of all the splendor of this world. But our calling is to pray to God for your empire, and in place of royal adornment, to bear upon our bodies the marks of humility and sorrow. And we must offer prayers for the whole world—not only for those who already believe in our Lord Jesus Christ but also for those who do not believe, that they too may receive baptism in Christ Jesus, just as the blessed Apostle Paul has said.”

Hearing this, the emperor was moved to tears and, with great desire, invited the holy bishop to dine with him.

When the Pope arrived at the imperial palace, the emperor himself came forth to greet and embrace him. He showed the same great honor to all the ranks of the Church, to the clergy, and to the monks. During the banquet, that pious sovereign personally served the most holy Pope and all the others, honoring him in every way. In great joy, he gazed ceaselessly upon his face, contemplating deeply what sort of headdress he might create for him to wear upon his head instead of the imperial crown. But he could not yet conceive it.

He also provided the holy monks with an abundant feast, offering them every kind of imperial delicacy and attending to their needs in every way for the glory of the Church. When that glorious banquet had ended, the most holy Pope wished to return to his own dwelling. The pious emperor, a devotee of righteousness, ordered a chariot drawn by horses, fitting for his majesty and royal rank, to be brought forth. With boundless reverence, he embraced the holy Pope, seated him in the place of honor, and bowing before him, sent him forth in peace. Then he entered his chamber to rest.

That night, as he slept upon his royal couch, the holy apostles Peter and Paul appeared to him in a vision, shining with unending radiance, and said:

“O Sovereign, rejoice in your healing and in the fact that you have received holy baptism from Bishop Silvester, believing in our Lord Jesus Christ, who was crucified by the Jews and rose on the third day. Rejoice also in all that the holy bishop has taught you. Yet, though you offered the crown of your empire to the bishop, he did not accept it nor did he desire to wear it upon his head, for he is a monk, and he even refused the golden adornment for his body. But if you wish to honor him above all others, make for him a headdress to be worn upon his head, one of purest white in color, and fashioned in the manner of the priests or monks.”

And they showed him the headdress they held in their hands—a white covering, befitting the head of a hierarch. The emperor then said to them:

“My lords, I shall fulfill all that you have commanded me. But tell me, who are you? For as soon as you entered, my heart rejoiced, and a sweet light shone upon me.”

They answered:

“We are the two apostles, Peter and Paul. We visited you before, when you still believed in a false god. But now you have come to know the true God, and likewise, God has come to know you. Therefore, we have again been sent by Christ, the Savior, to reveal to you the true meaning of piety and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. Because you have heeded our command, you have been granted eternal life through the hand of the most holy bishop.”

Then the emperor said:

“Now, my lords, I truly see and recognize your holy faces. I understand that had you not appeared before me then, I would have succumbed to the sorceries of the pagans. And if the Lord had not helped me, my soul would soon have been cast into hell, for already my evil enemies and apostates, the servants of demons, had nearly destroyed me upon the earth.”

And the apostles said:

“From now on, do all that the bishop commands you, and you shall be saved and shall become a son of light and an inhabitant of the heavenly city.”

Having spoken these words, they disappeared.

The emperor, awakening from sleep, immediately went to the Pope in joy and recounted to him all that the apostles had said. The Pope glorified God, for His work had not gone unnoticed by the Almighty. Then the emperor returned to his palace.

Moved by a deep desire and enlightened by the Holy Spirit, Emperor Constantine, in great joy, commanded the swift gathering of the finest tailors, skilled in the embroidery of all manner of garments. He ordered them to craft a white klobuk to replace the imperial crown upon the head of the holy Pope, in accordance with the command of the apostles and after the pattern shown to him by those holy apostles. With his own hand, he sketched out the image of what he had seen in their hands.

Thus, with God’s help, within a few days, the master craftsmen completed the klobuk according to the emperor’s command. They adorned it wondrously and brought it before the emperor. At that moment, a great fragrance emanated from it. The emperor, upon seeing it, was astonished both at its beauty and at its perfection.

On a solemn feast day of the Lord, before the early morning hours, Pope Silvester set out for the matins service. Suddenly, a heavenly light shone upon him, and a voice rang out, saying:

“Bishop, take heed—Emperor Constantine has prepared for you a white garment to wear upon your head. Yet when you receive it, place it within the church of God where you serve, until the master of the house arrives, for whom this lamp is intended.”

And immediately after these words, the light ascended to the heavens, and the sky parted to receive it. Pope Silvester stood still in awe of the vision, while the light illuminated his heart and those who walked with him. They all saw the radiance and heard the voice of God. But as soon as the light departed, night returned, and they were all struck with fear.

Silvester marveled at the vision and pondered the meaning of these words. Entering the church, he stood in solemn contemplation throughout the entire matins service, saying to himself:

“Who will enlighten me as to the meaning of this glorious vision? What is to come?”

At the appointed hour of the day, when the solemn service was performed, and after the Pope had arrived at the church, the pious Emperor Constantine arrayed himself in royal robes, placed the imperial crown upon his head, and proceeded with a great retinue of his courtiers.

Bringing the sacred klobuk into the church, he solemnly placed it upon the holy Pope’s head with his own hands, saying:

“Thus it is fitting for you, O most holy father and teacher, to shine like the sun among men!”

The Pope then blessed the emperor with the sign of the cross. The emperor kissed the Pope’s hand and the klobuk, bowing before him with great reverence. Silvester, wearing the klobuk, stepped down from his place and, moving a little to the side, bowed deeply before the emperor before returning to his seat.

At that moment, in the church, there was one of the emperor’s noblemen named Simeon, who stood before the emperor holding a golden tray adorned with pearls and precious stones. Upon this tray, the emperor would customarily place his imperial crown.

The Pope then requested the tray from the emperor, removed the klobuk from his head, and placed it upon the tray. Together with all the clergy present, he venerated it with reverence and set it in a place of honor within the church, according to the command revealed to him in the divine radiance.

From then on, he would wear the klobuk upon his head only on the Lord’s feast days, treating it with great veneration and then returning it to the same place. He instructed that this custom be upheld even after his passing.

In the thirteenth year of his reign, the pious Emperor Constantine made a momentous decision and declared:

“There, where the priestly authority and the head of Christian piety have been established by the Heavenly King, it is not fitting for an earthly ruler to hold power.”

Thus, he decreed by law that authority over Rome be transferred entirely to the Pope. After receiving the Pope’s blessing, he entrusted the great city of Rome to his care. He himself departed for Byzantium, where he built a great and glorious city, naming it Constantinople after himself, and there he dwelled.

After the repose of the most holy Pope Silvester, all Orthodox Popes and bishops continued to venerate the sacred white klobuk, as the blessed Silvester had commanded. Thus, many years passed.

But the adversary of God and mankind, the enemy and deceiver—the devil—stirred up a great war against the holy Church. He incited a certain emperor named Charles and Pope Formosus, deceiving them into leading the Christian people astray with their false teachings. He compelled them to renounce the true Orthodox faith of Christ and to break the pious unity of the Holy Apostolic Church.

By demonic schemes, those impious teachers rejected the Orthodox Christian faith, the teachings of the apostles, and the traditions of the holy fathers. They fell into the heresy of Apollinaris, accepted the unleavened bread service as correct, and proclaimed the true commandments of Christ, the holy apostles, and the fathers as false. They defiled the holy Apostolic Church with false doctrines and corrupted services.

They refused to acknowledge the sanctity of the White Klobuk and ceased to honor it, though it had been venerated from the beginning. Instead, they took it and placed it upon the same golden tray in a remote chapel, walling it up and inscribing upon the covering in the Latin tongue:

“Here lies the White Klobuk of Pope Silvester.”

And thus, it remained there for many years, preserved by God.

Time passed, and another Pope of the Latin rite arose, who had no love for the Christian faith, nor for the teachings of the apostles and the holy fathers. Swollen with pride, he utterly abolished the veneration of holy icons.

One day, he entered the altar and saw the inscription upon the covering of the walled chamber concerning the White Klobuk. Reading it, he desired to see the klobuk and ordered the hidden chamber to be opened.

When it was uncovered, a wondrous and indescribable fragrance filled the air. The Pope took the tray with the klobuk and marveled at its perfection. But, stirred by the devil, he despised it, placing it back within the chapel and sealing it up tightly once more.

Yet from that moment, for many days and nights, that Pope was tormented by dreams in which he heard a voice speaking to him in the words of the Gospel:

“A city set upon a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do men light a lamp and place it under a basket, but upon a lampstand, that it may shine upon all.”

The Pope, bewildered by this voice, shared it with his councilors and scholars. They realized that the vision referred to the White Klobuk. Then, incited by the devil, they resolved to burn it in the center of Rome.

But God did not permit them to carry out this deed. Struck with fear, they abandoned the idea and instead decided to send the klobuk to a distant land across the sea, where those who shared their false faith resided, that there it might be desecrated and destroyed, serving as a warning to all other Christians.

They wrapped the holy klobuk in filthy rags, keeping the golden tray for themselves. Then, selecting a band of rough and impious men, they gave them written instructions on what was to be done and sent them forth on ships with merchants traveling to Rome for trade.

While they were sailing, one of the messengers, named Indrik—a crude man and a pagan at heart—became drunk and began to blaspheme. He even wished to sit upon the sacred klobuk. But at that moment, a great darkness fell upon him, and an unseen divine power hurled him away from the spot. He was flung against the ship’s deck, then lifted again and thrown against the ship’s sides. His limbs became paralyzed, his face twisted backward, his eyes rolled wildly, and he cried out incessantly:

“Oh, have mercy on me!”

Thus, in great torment, he perished, crying:

“Oh, have mercy on me!”

His companions, witnessing this horror, were seized with terror. Fearing the wrath of God and the peril of a storm at sea, they immediately cast his body into the waves, where he drowned.

Among those envoys, there was also one named Yeremey, who secretly held to the Christian faith and gave many alms to the poor, and he secretly venerated this holy klobuk. When he saw his companion perish so terribly, he was overcome with fear. And after they had sailed for another five days, in the middle of the night, when the others were asleep, a voice rang out, saying: “Yeremey, be steadfast in the Lord God, and venerate the holy relic with honor, and keep that which you carry, and you shall be saved in the storm.”

Hearing the voice, Yeremey awoke from his sleep, and fear took hold of him, and he wondered what such words could mean. But suddenly darkness fell upon them, and great thunderclaps resounded, and many lightning bolts flashed in the heavens, setting the ship ablaze, melting its pitch, and consuming everything within it—people and cargo alike—burning and sinking all. The ship itself broke apart, and all aboard perished. Only Yeremey was saved, clinging to a single plank, and grasping the cloth with the klobuk, he held it tightly, crying out unceasingly with a loud voice:

“O pious Emperor Constantine and his holy teacher, Pope Sylvester! For the sake of this sacred klobuk, which was created by you, deliver me this hour from the calamity that has befallen me!”

And immediately there was calm, and light shone forth, and in the radiance of the light appeared two men, from whom even the air shimmered; they walked upon the sea as if on dry land. One of them was clad in warrior’s armor, with an imperial crown upon his head, while the other wore hierarchal vestments. They took a rope from the wrecked ship and tied it to the end of the plank, pulling Yeremey toward the shore, which was already visible from the sea. Then, taking the klobuk from the cloth, they kissed it with great reverence, placed it back in the same cloth, and returned it to Yeremey, saying:

“Take this, Yeremey, and carefully guard that which you carry, and tell all what has transpired, for God has saved you solely for its sake.”

And they vanished. Yeremey took the cloth with the klobuk, and carrying it with him, arrived in Rome after three days, where he recounted everything that had happened to the Pope.

Upon hearing this, the Pope was seized with great terror and began to tear at and bite his own beard. Then he commanded that the klobuk be placed back in its former place, upon the same golden dish, and set within the church. After that, he no longer dared to harm the klobuk, but he rendered it no honors either, for he was darkened by the devil’s deceit and had finally fallen into heresy along with the other apostates. He constantly pondered what evil he might do to the klobuk.

Yet God, who loves mankind, turns all things to good and thus preserved His holy relic for universal veneration. One night, as the Pope lay sleeping upon his bed, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a terrifying form, holding a flaming sword in his hands. The angel spoke with a voice like thunder, and at that voice, the Pope’s chambers trembled. And the angel said:

“O wicked and accursed teacher! Is it not enough for you to defile the Holy Church of Christ, to destroy the souls of many Christians with your abominable teachings, and to turn away from God’s righteous path, choosing instead the way of Satan? And now you wish to utterly defy God with your wicked malice, plotting to send the holy white klobuk to unclean places, seeking to desecrate and destroy it. But the Lord of all creation has preserved it by His watchful care. You, vile one, must now, with great honor and haste, send this holy klobuk to Constantinople to the Patriarch, who will be shown what is to be done with it. If you do not obey, I shall burn down your house, bring upon you a dreadful death, and cast you into eternal fire before your time.”

Having spoken these words, the angel disappeared.

The Pope leapt from his sleep, trembling in great fear, and did not dare to disobey the angel’s command. At dawn, he gathered his followers and told them of the angel’s terrifying appearance. When he entered the church to take the holy klobuk, he immediately beheld a wondrous sight: before he could touch it, the golden dish, along with the klobuk, rose above the height of a man and then returned to its place. With great trepidation, the Pope took it with both hands, placed it in a suitable vessel, sealed it with his own seals, and appointed honorable men, entrusting them with a letter of instruction, and sent them to Constantinople to deliver it to the Patriarch.

At that time, the Patriarch of Constantinople was Philotheus, renowned for his asceticism and every virtue. To him, in a vision by night, appeared a radiant youth, who said:

“Holy teacher, long ago, the Roman Emperor Constantine, after the appearance of the Holy Apostles and being instructed by God, had the white klobuk made to be worn upon the head, to the praise of the Holy and Apostolic Church and to the glory of the blessed Pope Sylvester. But now, the wicked Pope of Rome sought to destroy this holy klobuk, desecrating it. By the sign of my fearful appearance, that evil Pope now sends this klobuk to you. And when the envoys arrive with it, receive it with honor, and, appending a blessing decree, send this holy klobuk to the Russian land, to Great Novgorod, that Archbishop Basil may wear it upon his head to the glory of the Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church of Holy Wisdom, the Wisdom of God, and to the praise of the Orthodox. For only there does the true Christian faith now stand firm. As for that shameless Pope, the Lord shall soon bring upon him swift retribution.”

And having said this, he disappeared.

The Patriarch awoke from his sleep, filled with both awe and joy, and spent the entire night wakeful, contemplating this vision. Then he ordered the bells to be rung early for Matins, and at dawn, he gathered all his close advisors and told them of the vision. All gave praise to God, understanding that the Holy Angel had appeared to the Patriarch, yet they could not immediately decide what should be done concerning what had been revealed.

And so, as they sat in their council, marveling with joyous wonder, the patriarch’s attendants entered and informed him that envoys from the Roman pope had arrived. The patriarch ordered them to be brought before him. The envoys entered, bowed, and presented him with letters from the pope. The patriarch, having read the contents, was astonished, and giving praise to God, he informed the reigning emperor John, called Cantacuzene, and together with the entire holy council, they received the divine treasure with great reverence. Taking the chest with honor and breaking the seals, he removed the holy white klobuk, kissing it with love. And as he gazed upon it, he marveled at its beauty and at the wondrous fragrance emanating from it.

Now at that time, the patriarch was afflicted with an ailment of the eyes and head; but as soon as he placed the holy klobuk upon his head and pressed it to his eyes, his head and eyes were immediately healed. He rejoiced with great joy and gave glory to Christ God, as well as to the ever-memorable Emperor Constantine, who had created such a wondrous thing, and he likewise extolled the blessed Pope Sylvester. He placed the holy klobuk upon the golden dish that the pope had sent with it and set it in a place of honor in the great cathedral, until he could consult with the emperor on how to proceed.

Meanwhile, after sending the holy klobuk away from Rome, the malevolent pope, incited by the heretics, burned with rage against the Christian faith and fell into a frenzy, now greatly regretting that he had let the klobuk go. He wrote a deceitful and cunning letter to the patriarch, demanding that the klobuk be returned to him along with the golden dish. But the patriarch, reading the letter and discerning the pope’s wicked deception and guile, sent back excerpts from the Holy Scriptures, denouncing him as both cruel and godless, an apostate from the Christian faith, a forerunner of the Antichrist. He cursed him in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Holy Apostles, and the Holy Fathers. These writings reached the pope.

When the pope read them and learned that the patriarch held the white klobuk in great honor and intended to send it to the Russian land, to Great Novgorod, he howled in anguish, his face contorted, and he fell into an illness. So great was the pope’s hatred of the Russian land for its Orthodox faith that he could not even bear to hear of it. His flesh wasted away, and two sores appeared on his chest, one on each side, from which more sores spread across his entire body, from head to foot. A terrible stench emanated from him, and worms began to breed in his flesh, and his back became hunched. Many physicians came, but none could heal him. With bulging eyes, he cried out ceaselessly in a loud voice, babbling nonsense, howling like a wolf, and clutching at the filth issuing from his body, shoving it into his mouth and consuming it. He did this for many days, suffering cruelly, and all around him were filled with terror.

One of those present at his bedside, taking a towel to wipe his mouth, was seized by the pope like a rabid dog; he bit into the towel, forcing it down his throat. At once, his body swelled, and he burst apart—for he had been corpulent and foul. Thus, the wretched man ended his life. When the Romans heard of the disgraceful death of that wicked pope, they refused to attend his burial; instead, they spat upon him and cursed him. The city rulers, considering his shameful death, buried him in secret, and his name was erased from the chronicles, replaced with another: some called him Gervasius, others Eugenius, but his true name was never known.

Meanwhile, Patriarch Philotheus, seeing the radiant beauty of the holy klobuk, began to consider whether he should keep it in Constantinople to wear upon his own head. He began frequently visiting the emperor and intended to write to all the patriarchs and metropolitans to summon them to a council.

But it so happened that on a Sunday, after Matins, the patriarch entered his chamber, and as he sat down to rest as was his custom, he fell into a half-sleep and saw in a vision two unknown men entering through the doors—indeed, men of dazzling light. One was like a warrior, armed and wearing an imperial crown upon his head; the other was clad in patriarchal vestments, adorned with noble gray hairs. And the second man spoke to the patriarch, saying:

“Philotheus, abandon the thought of wearing the white klobuk upon your own head. Had our Lord Jesus Christ willed it to be so, it would have happened long ago, at the very founding of this city. But long ago, when the light of the Lord descended from the heavens and God’s voice spoke to me, I was given understanding of the coming Latin heresy and the future apostasy from the faith in Rome. And for this reason, I did not wish to wear the holy klobuk upon my head, nor did I command those who came after me to do so.

And in this reigning city of Constantine, in due time, the Muslims shall come to power because of the multitude of human sins, and they shall defile and destroy all holy things, as was foretold even at the city’s founding. For ancient Rome fell away from the Christian faith through pride and arrogance, and in the new Rome—Constantinople—the Christian faith shall perish under the oppression of the Muslims. And only in the third Rome, that is, in the Russian land, shall the grace of the Holy Spirit shine forth.

Know, then, Philotheus, that all Christian kingdoms shall come to an end and shall be gathered into a single Russian kingdom for the benefit of all Orthodoxy. For in ancient times, by the command of the earthly emperor Constantine, the imperial crown was given to the Russian tsar from this reigning city. Now, by the will of the heavenly King, Christ, this white klobuk is to be given to the archbishop of Great Novgorod. And how much greater is this than a crown, for it is both an archangelic and an imperial spiritual diadem.

Therefore, do not delay—send this holy klobuk to the Russian land, to Great Novgorod, at the first appearance of the holy angel; and believe my words. Let the Orthodox be enlightened and strengthened in their faith, and let the Muslims, the progeny of the impure, not rule over them nor defile the klobuk, as the Latin pope sought to do. Just as grace, glory, and honor were taken away from Rome, so too shall the grace of the Holy Spirit be removed from this reigning city in the days of Muslim captivity, and all its holy things shall be given by God to the great Russian land. The Russian tsar shall be exalted by the Lord above all nations, and many foreign rulers shall submit to his power. In due time, the patriarchal office shall also be transferred from this reigning city to the Russian land.

That land shall be called Russia, illumined by the divine light, for God has willed to glorify the Russian land with such a blessing, to fill it with the majesty of Orthodoxy, and to make it the most honored and exalted above all that came before.”

And having spoken thus, they turned to leave. But the patriarch, overwhelmed with great fear, fell at their feet and asked:

“Who are you, my lords, whose appearance has so greatly terrified me, whose words have struck awe into my heart and sent trembling into my bones?”

And the one in patriarchal vestments said:

“I am Pope Sylvester. I have come by the command of God to reveal to you the great mystery of what shall come to pass in due time.”

And pointing to the other who stood beside him, he said:

“And this is the pious Emperor Constantine of Rome, whom I rebirthed in the sacred font and led to faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. He was the first Christian emperor and my spiritual son in Christ, who fashioned for me this white klobuk in place of the imperial crown.”

And having said this, they blessed the patriarch and disappeared.

The patriarch awoke from his sleep, and a great fear fell upon him as he recalled the words spoken to him by those who had appeared—the words about the white klobuk, the coming conquest of Constantinople by the godless Muslims. And he wept for a long time. When the time for the divine liturgy arrived, he went into the church, fell before the image of the Most Pure Mother of God, and wept bitterly. Then, rising up, he fearfully took the holy white klobuk, kissed it with love, placed it upon his head, pressed it to his eyes and his heart, and felt an ever-growing love for it within his soul, all while weeping unceasingly. The attendants who stood nearby saw him weeping inconsolably, but none dared to ask him anything. When the patriarch at last calmed himself somewhat, he told them in detail of the appearance of the blessed Pope Sylvester and Emperor Constantine and of their words.

Upon hearing this from the patriarch, all who were present wept with compassion and said, “Let the will of the Lord be done.” The patriarch, lamenting the coming calamities upon Constantinople, did not dare to disobey God’s command and said, “Wherever the Lord wills, there shall He establish His holy relic.” And following the counsel of the pious Emperor John, he took the white klobuk and the golden dish and reverently placed them in the already well-known reliquary. He sealed it with his own seals and, having recorded everything in accordance with the command of the holy angel and the blessed Pope Sylvester, he decreed that the white klobuk should be worn upon the head of Archbishop Basil and by all archbishops of Great Novgorod who would follow him.

Moreover, for the sake of episcopal honor, he sent many other revered and wondrous gifts from the treasury of his church, foremost among them vestments embroidered with crosses, to the glory of the Holy and Apostolic Church. But these he placed in a separate reliquary. All of these he entrusted to a bishop named Eumenius, and with both joy and sorrow, he bade them farewell.

At that time in Great Novgorod, the archbishop was Basil, renowned for his asceticism and every virtue. And so, one night, as he was praying to God, he sat to rest, and as he drifted into light sleep, he saw clearly an angel of the Lord, gentle in appearance and radiant of face, who stood before him wearing a white klobuk much like those worn by monks. Raising his hand, the angel pointed to his head and said in a quiet voice:

“Basil, this white klobuk that you see upon my head is from Rome. In ancient times, the Christian Emperor Constantine had it made to be worn upon the head in honor of the Roman Pope Sylvester. But the Almighty Lord did not allow it to remain in those lands, because of the fall of the unclean Latins into heresy.

Therefore, at dawn, go out from the city to greet the envoys of the patriarch and the reliquary carried by the bishop. In it, upon a golden dish, is the white klobuk, just like the one you see—receive it with reverence. This white klobuk is a sign of the bright Resurrection of Christ, which took place on the third day after His Crucifixion. And from this day forward, wear the klobuk upon your head, and let all archbishops after you likewise wear it upon theirs. I have shown it to you beforehand so that you may believe and never doubt.”

And with these words, he disappeared.

Archbishop Basil awoke from his sleep, filled with both fear and joy at the vision. Early in the morning, he sent several of his close attendants to the crossroads to see if all was as he had dreamed. The envoys had barely left the city when they saw an unfamiliar bishop approaching them. Bowing, they quickly returned to the city and reported everything to the archbishop.

Then Archbishop Basil sent heralds throughout the city to summon both the clergy and the entire multitude of people, and he ordered all the bells to be rung. He himself, along with his clergy, donned his hierarchal vestments. And just as he had stepped away from the Church of Holy Wisdom, the aforementioned bishop sent by the patriarch arrived, carrying the reliquary, sealed with the patriarch’s seals and filled with his honored gifts. Approaching the archbishop, the envoy bowed reverently and handed him the letters from the patriarch. Then they exchanged blessings and embraced one another in Christ.

Archbishop Basil, receiving with reverence both the patriarch’s letters and the reliquary with his own hands, also took up the second reliquary containing the honorary gifts. Together they proceeded into the Church of Holy Wisdom, the Wisdom of God, and placed the reliquary in the most honored place within the church. Then Basil commanded that the letters from the patriarch be read aloud for all to hear.

And all the Orthodox who were gathered in the church, upon hearing the letters, gave praise to God and rejoiced with great joy. Then Archbishop Basil unsealed the reliquary and lifted its lid—and immediately an inexpressible fragrance poured forth from it, and a wondrous light shone throughout the church. And Archbishop Basil, along with all who were present, marveled at the sight. Even the patriarch’s envoy, Eumenius, who had never before witnessed such divine grace, was filled with astonishment. Together, they glorified God and raised their prayers in thanksgiving.

Then the archbishop took the white klobuk from the reliquary and saw that it was exactly as he had seen upon the angel’s head. He kissed it with love and placed it upon his own head. And at that very moment, from the icon of the Lord above, a loud voice resounded throughout the church: “Holy things for the holy!” And after a brief silence, the same voice was heard three times: “Many years, O ruler!”

Upon hearing these words, the archbishop, along with all who were present, was filled with fear and joy, and they cried out, “Lord, have mercy!”

Then Archbishop Basil commanded all in the church to be silent and recounted to them the words of the angel concerning the holy klobuk, as well as everything else the holy angel had told him in his vision. And giving thanks to God, he left the church wearing the klobuk, preceded by deacons in solemn vestments bearing candles and singing, so that all who saw it beheld something both reverent and glorious.

The people, pressing upon one another, leapt to catch a glimpse over the heads of the crowd, marveling at the hierarch’s headdress.

And so, by the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and by the blessing of the most holy Patriarch Philotheus of Constantinople, the white klobuk was established upon the heads of the holy archbishops of Great Novgorod.

Archbishop Basil, filled with joy, for seven days provided a great feast for the priests, deacons, and all the church servants of all Great Novgorod, bestowing upon them many dishes. Likewise, he generously fed the poor, the monks, and those in prison, even ordering the release of all captives. The honorable and holy gifts from the patriarch, by his patriarchal blessing, he placed within the cathedral for church service. And the golden dish upon which the holy white klobuk had rested, he also dedicated for worship in the Church of Holy Wisdom.

The patriarch’s envoys were greatly honored, and the archbishop bestowed many gifts upon them. He did not forget to write a detailed letter of gratitude and sent it to both the emperor and the patriarch, bidding the envoys farewell with great honor.

And for a long time thereafter, people from many cities and kingdoms came to Great Novgorod, looking upon the archbishop in his white klobuk as upon a wondrous miracle. They were astonished, and they spread the tale throughout all lands and kingdoms.

Thus is recorded the tale of the holy white klobuk up to this point.

The Inscription of Archbishop Gennady #

Having studied this account in every detail, Archbishop Gennady rejoiced greatly, saying:

“I have been deemed worthy, during my archbishopric, in my time as hierarch of Great Novgorod, to receive this knowledge of the holy white klobuk—where it was made and how it came to Great Novgorod. And I have gathered all else concerning this white klobuk little by little from the books in the Novgorod Church of Holy Wisdom. And having collected all these colorful accounts, like various flowers in a pure field, uniting them into a single description and fully clarifying the matter, I have entrusted it to the cathedral church for the instruction of the Orthodox faithful.

Dmitry the interpreter spent two long years in Rome and Florence in his unavoidable search, and when he returned from there, I, the humble Archbishop Gennady, rewarded him with an estate, as well as providing him with clothing and food.”

The Ordinance of Archbishop Gennady #

From that time forward, the most pious Archbishop Gennady established the following order in the cathedral church:

When preparing to serve the Divine Liturgy, upon entering the church, he would remove the klobuk from his head and place it upon his shoulder. Entering the altar, after venerating the holy icons, he would take his place in the church and vest in his hierarchical garments. The priest serving with him would bring forth a gilded silver dish, and the archbishop, removing the klobuk from his shoulder, would place it upon the dish. The priest would then step aside slightly, reverently bow to the archbishop, and place the dish with the klobuk in a place of honor in the altar, near the holy table, where it remained until the conclusion of the church service.

And after the completion of the sacred service, the proto-priest or the head of the abbots who had served with the archbishop in full vestments would take the dish upon which lay the holy klobuk and present it to the archbishop. The archbishop, receiving the dish with the holy klobuk, would place the klobuk upon his head and depart. Likewise, in his private cell, he would reverently place the holy klobuk upon a dish.

On the glorious and great feasts of our Lord Jesus Christ and of the Most Pure Mother of God, and especially on the radiant day of Pascha, when it was customary to ride upon a foal or a donkey to the Church of the Holy Jerusalem (a custom established by the God-loving Archbishop Basil), Archbishop Gennady would host a banquet in the great hall of the house of Holy Wisdom, the Wisdom of God. He would provide a feast for the princes and boyars, offering generous hospitality to the noble Orthodox people of the great city, as well as to all the clergy, whom he honored with a splendid array of dishes.

At the conclusion of this solemn and festive banquet, after distributing prosphora in honor of the Mother of God, the most holy Gennady would command silence among all those present, and the most skilled reader would be ordered to read aloud the tale of the holy white klobuk. All would listen intently to the account and, marveling at God’s miracles, would glorify the holy white klobuk.

After the reading, the priests, cantors, deacons, and subdeacons would sing Many Years to the sovereign ruler, the great prince, and thereafter to the archbishop. Then the most holy Gennady would bless each one, and they would venerate his klobuk with a kiss. He would personally distribute the chalice of the Most Pure Mother of God to all the Orthodox, omitting no one. Then he would withdraw to his residence, preceded by subdeacons in ceremonial vestments and carrying candles, celebrating the feast with great honor. Archbishop Gennady would then reward them generously.

And thus concludes this account.

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