The onions of this country are quick in taste, pleasantly pungent, and yet they do not have any offensive smell. Even though I was not fond of onions before, I found these to be very agreeable and comforting to my stomach. They are used at almost every light meal and are eaten in large amounts together with bread. The people consider them both healthy and nourishing.
While traveling, I asked a gentleman from our own country, who had journeyed through many dominions and lands, whether he had ever found onions as good as those of this region. He replied that the onions of Egypt were even better. This was the first time I clearly understood the meaning of the words in Scripture, and I no longer wondered why the Israelites longed so deeply for the onions of that land. Their desire suddenly seemed natural and understandable Ephesus Sightseeing.
A Curious Local Fruit
The people also grow a fruit which they call zan (or by a similar name). It lies somewhere between a melon and a cucumber in shape and taste. From this fruit they prepare a very pleasant dish. First, they remove the middle part and the seeds. Then they fill it with the meat of sausages. After that, they peel it and boil it carefully. The result is a dish that is both filling and enjoyable, and it is often served at meals in local households.
Foreign Representatives at the Sultan’s Court
Among the representatives of foreign nations who attended the Grand Signior were the resident of the Emperor of Germany, the ambassador of Ragusa, and another from neighboring frontier lands. There were also ambassadors concerned mainly with trade, who lived around Constantinople and were not required to stay closely at the Sultan’s court at all times.
Because Constantinople was very crowded and filled with people, the Emperor’s resident requested permission from the Sultan to live in a nearby town instead. The Sultan allowed him to choose any town or house that pleased him. This generous permission led him to select the city of Tornovo.
The City of Tornovo
Tornovo is a large and pleasant city located about ten miles west of Larissa and close to the hills. Most of its inhabitants are Christians. There are only three mosques, but as many as eighteen Greek churches. This shows how strong and well-established the Christian presence is in this area.
Among the churches, the most important ones I observed were the Cathedral Church of Saint John, the Church of Saints Cosmas and Damian, the Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin, and the Church of Saint Elias. The Church of Saint Elias also has an adjoining monastery, which is beautifully placed on the side of a hill. Other notable churches include those of the Twelve Apostles, Saint Nicholas (which also has a convent), and Saint Anthony the Hermit Abundance of Fruits and Crops.
The bishop of this city is under the authority of the Archbishop of Larissa, showing the organized structure of the Greek Church in this region.
The Strength of the Greek Christian Faith
I could not help but notice how much these eastern parts of Europe are filled with Christians of the Greek Church, far beyond what I had expected. They are found in many large countries, including Greece and its neighboring regions. This wide presence clearly shows that the Greek Christian faith remained strong and deeply rooted throughout these lands, despite political changes and foreign rule.
