their rite." They ask about his faith, and he quotes to them the creed as used by the Nestorians in the 13th century. It is, roughly, the Nicene Creed; but it has Nestorian clauses. Ṣaumâ says that one of the Trinity "clothed himself in a perfect man"; that our Lord has two natures, two hypostases, one person. Even now the Cardinals do not seem to suspect what he is. But they continue the discussion, and Ṣaumâ incidentally denies the Filioque. The horrors of theological controversy are about to begin, when he says: "I did not come here to argue with you, but to venerate the Lord Pope." As there was at the moment no Lord Pope to venerate, Ṣaumâ goes on to France, and arrives at Paris, where he sees King Philip IV (1285–1314). Then he comes to "Kasonio" (Gascogne), and there finds the King of "Alangitar" (Angleterre), none other than our Edward I (1272–1307). With him, too, the traveller discourses. Edward says he means to fit out a crusade, and boasts (at that time he could) that in all Western Europe, though there be many kingdoms and governments, there is but one religion. This is the furthest point Ṣaumâ reached. To travel from Pekin to Gascony in the 13th century is indeed an astounding feat. On his way back he stops again at Rome, finds Nicholas IV elected (1288–1292), and pays homage to him with exceeding reverence. Nicholas is "the Lord Pope, Katholikos, Partiarch of the Roman lands and of all Western people."[1] He asks and obtains leave to celebrate his liturgy in Rome. The people say: "The language is different, but the rite is the same." Clearly they were no great scholars in liturgy. On Palm Sunday Ṣaumâ attends the Pope's Mass and receives Holy Communion from him. This is probably the only time in history that a Nestorian has done so. He sees and describes all the Holy Week services in Rome. The Pope gives him relics "because you have come from so far." He had apparently received money from everyone, after the manner of Nestorians who come to Europe. At last he arrives home again, and tells all his adventures to Argon Khan, "who was glad and exulted with joy."[2]
