Translated from Polnoe Sobranie Russkikh Letopisei (Complete Collection of Russian Chronicles) (St. Petersburg: 1897), vol. XI, pp. 95-101 by Basil Dmytryshyn. Words in brackets by the translator. First published in Basil Dmytryshyn, Medieval Russia. A Source Book, 2 vols (Fort Worth: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1967).
[Mongol conquest of Rus forced many principalities into the political and economic "orbit" of the Great Mongol Empire. Only Novgorod, Pskov, and several lesser principalities in western regions of the former Kievan realm escaped the new orientation. Culturally, however, all principalities continued to maintain their association with Constantinople. The prime link of this association was the Orthodox Church, which periodically sent its metropolitans first to Kiev, then to Vladimir, and, from the reign of Ivan Kalita on, to Moscow. Since Vladimir and Moscow were close to the Don, that river served as the main avenue of travel in the long and hazardous journey to and from Constantinople.]
That spring [1389] Metropolitan Pimin journeyed to Constantinople for the third time to see the Patriarch. He was accompanied by Michael, the Bishop of Smolensk, Sergei, the Archimandrite of the Church of Our Savior, monks, servants, an archpriest, and archdeacon, and other priests and deacons. The journey originated in Moscow on April 13, which was Tuesday of the Holy Week. Grand Prince Dmitrii Ivanovich [Donskoi] was angry with the Metropolitan because the latter left [Moscow] without his knowledge. There was some sort of disagreement between them.
And so commenced the journey. Metropolitan Pimin suggested to Michael, the Bishop of Smolensk, and to Sergei, the Archimandrite of the Church of Our Savior, and to everyone [who accompanied him to Constantinople] that they describe the journey—how we travelled, what happened and where, and who would or who would not return. And so, I, [Ignarii] decided to describe [our journey].
As noted above, we departed from Moscow [on April 15] and we reached Kolomna on Holy Saturday [April 17]. On Easter [Sunday] we departed for Riazan along the Oka River and reached the city of Perevitsk. When we approached the city of Pereiaslavl [-Riazanskii] we were met there by the sons of Grand Prince Oleg Ivanovich of Riazan. And when they had departed and we had travelled a bit further, Grand Prince Oleg Ivanovich himself, his children, and his boyars, met us with great joy. When we approached the city of Pereiaslavl [-Riazanskii] a solemn procession carrying crosses met us. The Metropolitan went straight to the Cathedral to celebrate the Te Deum and then we feasted at [the court of] the Grand Prince, where we were treated with great respect. He [the Grand Prince] and his bishop, Jeremiah the Greek, honored us constantly. When we resumed our journey, Grand Prince Oleg Ivanovich of Riazan, his children, and his boyars, accompanied us for a while with great honor and respect. Then when we parted we kissed each other. He [Grand Prince Oleg] returned to his capital and we continued on our journey. The Prince of Riazan sent Stanislav, one of his boyars, with sufficient military retinue to accompany us to the Don River on account of the great danger from [highway] robbers. We also were accompanied by many bishops: Feodor of Rostov, Efrosin of Suzdal, Jeremiah the Greek, the Bishop of Zvenigorod, the archimandrites, the igumens, and monks.
We left Pereiaslavl-Riazanskii on Sunday [April 25, 1389]. They gave us three small river boats that were carried overland on wheel carts. We reached the Don River on Thursday [April 29] and put the boats onto the water. Next day we reached the Mikhailov Chiur [the boundary of Riazan Principality], where once had stood a town. Here we comforted one another, kissed each other, and with great emotion and feeling we parted with the bishops, the archimandrites, the igumens, the priests, the monks, and the boyars of Prince Oleg Ivanovich of Riazan. We all kissed the Holy Bible and they returned to their homes.
We resumed our journey on Sunday [May 2]. ... The journey was mournful and dismal. Everywhere prevailed a desert-type [environment]. We did not see anything—neither cities nor villages. Yet, in the years gone by beautiful and well-populated towns had been located there. Now everything was deserted. No people could be seen anywhere—just one empty space. There were many animals, however, such as goats, elks, wolves, foxes, martens, bears, [and] beavers [and such] birds as eagles, swans, cranes, and others. But emptiness reigned everywhere.
On the second day of our journey on the [Don] River we passed two of its tributaries, the Mecha and the Sosna, while on the third day we sailed by the Ostraia Luka. On the fourth day, we passed the Krivoi Bor and on the sixth day we reached the mouth of the Voronezh River. The next day, which was a Sunday [May 9], Prince lurii of Elets, his boyars, and many of his people, met us. Prince Oleg Ivanovich of Riazan had informed him through a messenger of our coming. He fulfilled the request by welcoming us and by creating for us great joy and happiness.
From here we sailed to Tikhaia Sosna, where we saw the white stone pillars. They stand there in a row mysteriously and beautifully. The small pillars on the Sosna River were white and very bright. We then passed the Chervlenyi lar, the Betiuk, and the Porokh Rivers. On the fifth Sunday [since our departure from Moscow] we passed the Medveditsa and the Belyi lar Rivers.
On Monday [May 17] we sailed between very beautiful stone hills and on Tuesday we passed the city of Terkli. Now it is not a city but a small town. Then we passed the Perevoz, where for the first time we saw the Tatars. There was a great multitude of them—like foxes and dogs.
On Wednesday [May 19] we sailed by the Velikaia Luka and the ulus [a nomad village] belonging to the reigning khan. Here for the first time we became frightened because we entered into the Tatar domains. There was a multitude of Tatars on both banks of the Don River—like dogs. On Thursday [May 20] we passed by the ulus belonging to Bek-Bulatov [Bulat Bei]. There we saw such great herds of Tatar livestock that it is very difficult to comprehend: sheep, goats, oxen, camels, and horses. Then, on Friday [May 21] we passed the Chervlenye Hills and on the sixth Sunday [since the departure from Moscow] we sailed past the ulus of Ak-Bushinov, where we saw a great many Tatars and their countless livestock. The Tatars did not bother us; they only asked us where we were going, and when we answered to their satisfaction they caused us no harm. They gave us milk and we sailed on in peace and solitude.
On Monday [May 24] we passed the Buzan River, and in the evening, in our attempt to reach the sea, we arrived at the city of Azov. On Sunday [May 30], just below the city of Azov we boarded a ship at the mouth of the Don River. At that time Italians lived in and controlled the city of Azov. We sailed out to the Sea [of Azov]. It was about midnight. The ship was [then] anchored. Someone in town spread rumors about us among the Italians. The Italians sailed in boats, caught up with us, and swiftly boarded our ship. There was a noisy stamping on the deck of our ship. I did not know what it was. I went to the deck and I saw there a great commotion. The bishop then said to me: "Brother Ignatii, how can you stand there without showing any grief?" I replied: "What is this all about, my reverend Lord?" And he told me. "These are the Italians who came here from the city of Azov. They arrested our Lord Metropolitan Pimin, put him in chains, and they did the same to Archpriest Ivan, Archdeacons Grigorii and Ghermann, and Secretary Michael. All these [people] contracted some debts with them and we will have to suffer with them even though we are innocent." We then asked an elder of these Italians what they were going to do with us. And he replied:
"Do not fear; what belongs to you, you can take with you." Subsequently Metropolitan Pimin satisfied their [the Italians'] demands, and when they had received sufficient payment in money they released everybody without any harm. There we spent one day, and on the following day we put to sea.
At first the wind was very favorable and we sailed happily and were quite jubilant. Then, on the third day of our journey a strong head wind began to blow and because the ship rocked very heavily we all became sea sick. [The storm was so severe that] even the ship's crew could not stand up. The wind blew some of the men down [on the deck] and some walked as if they were drunk. Then we crossed the mouth of the Sea of Azov [the Straits of Kerch] and sailed into the great sea [the Black Sea]. On the sixth day, which was Saturday, we sailed past the Bay of Kaffa [present-day Theodosia], and Surozh [Sudak]. We sailed peacefully for the next four days: Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. On Thursday a strong head wind began to blow again and forced us to sail to our left in the direction of the city of Sinope. [Actually] we anchored in a bay near Sinope. Some people in Sinope saw our distress; they came to meet us, brought us food and wine and treated us very well. We stayed there for two days. Then a favorable sailing wind began to blow again; we put to the sea but sailed close to the shore. Along the way we saw high mountains, half of which were covered by clouds. From here we sailed a short distance toward the city of Amastris and ate meat for the last time before the fast of St. John the Baptist (June 14]. On Tuesday we sailed past [the town of] Pandoraclia and on the following day we again encountered a strong head wind that forced us to anchor in Pandoraclia. There we stayed for nine days. . . .
We resumed our journey to Constantinople on St. John the Baptist's Day [June 24]. On the following day, Friday, we sailed past the city of Diopolis; on Saturday we ate our dinner at the mouth of the Sakhara [Sangarius] River; on Sunday we passed the fortresses of Daphnusium and Karfa. Then we came to the city of Astrava, where we stopped and where we learned that the Turkish Tsar Murad [I, (1359-1389)] had gone to war against Lazar, the Tsar of Serbia. . . .
Fearing an [anti-Christian] insurrection [in the aftermath of the battle of Kosovo], Metropolitan Pimin allowed the Monk Michael to proceed to Constantinople. Michael, the Bishop of Smolensk, gave me, Ignatii, permission; while the Archimandrite Sergei Azakov permitted one of his monks to go along. We left the city of Astrava on Sunday (June 27]. Next day we sailed past Phila and Riva and reached the Straits of Bosphorus. We then passed the Lighthouse and with a very favorable wind we reached Constantinople on the eve of St. Peter's Day {June 29]. Our joy was boundless. At Vespers the Rus people who live there [in Constantinople] visited us and both they as we were very happy. . . .
Then, the Most Reverend Metropolitan Pimin became ill and on September ii [1389] died in [the city of] Chalcedon. They brought his remains to Constantinople and laid them to [eternal] rest in the Church of St. John the Baptist, located along the shores of the sea in the section [of Constantinople] called Galata. At that time the Metropolitan of Kiev, Kiprian, was in Constantinople to resolve [with the Patriarch] who should head the Rus See. When he was still alive Metropolitan Pimin had visited Patriarch Antony [1388-1390] for the same purpose. God helped to resolve the problem. As noted above, Metropolitan Pimin died and Patriarch Antony consecrated Kiprian as Metropolitan of Kiev and of all Rus and sent him [to his new post] with great honors.
He left Constantinople on October i [1389]. He was accompanied by Michael, the Bishop of Smolensk, lona, the Bishop of Volyn, two Greek Metropolitans, and Feodor, the Archimandrite of Simonov and the Confessor of the Grand Prince [Dmitrii Donskoi]. Shortly after they departed, news came to the effect that "the Rus party sank at sea and only one ship carrying the Metropolitan was saved; the ship carrying the bishops disappeared without any trace." Some [people] said that they all drowned; others thought that they were killed by pirates; still others thought that the heavy storm tossed them to Amastris; and some thought that they were in Daphnusium. Then, a few days later a message came from Kiprian, the Metropolitan of all Rus. In it he spoke of great suffering from sea travel, of a tortuous trip, of thunder and noise, of lightning and of great sea waves that brought their souls perilously close to death. The great winds and the storm had separated their ships and they did not know of each other's whereabouts. [Kiprian's message concluded] "Thanks to God's grace the storm subsided, the sea became very calm, and slowly we all gathered in Belgorod [Akkerman] safe and sound."
