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same mosaic. In the rite of baptism, it is said of God [handwritten: ἐνιαυτοῦ] [handwritten: τὸν κύκλον τοῦ] [handwritten: Τέτραδιν καιρῶν] [handwritten: σεσεφάνωσας] [handwritten: 100] [handwritten: 96] This cycle of the four seasons was often taken as a symbol [handwritten: 102] of eternal life, an integral part of the baptismal rite. [handwritten: 101] There are three rivers in which these fish are swimming and [handwritten: 103] the aquatic birds either swimming or wading. It is tempting to add a fourth on the side next to the chancel and to consider them as the four rivers mentioned in the Armenian rite of the celebration of the Epiphany and implied [handwritten: 104] in the phrase [handwritten: τέτρά φυτον πηγὴν πηγάδας ἐν αὐτῷ] [handwritten: 105] of the Barberini Euchologion. Whether there were three or four rivers, there was in this church a built-in font and even though as such it is a later addition, it probably re-[handwritten: 106] presents some change rather than a totally new introduction.
In the light of all this evidence, we can not be far wrong in assuming that our building is connected with the ceremony of the Epiphany. The only element not accounted for is water. At the north end of room [handwritten: 4?] (49), [handwritten: 4?] there is a flagged area, flanked on the west side by a cistern and on the east by a door into area 50. Steps lead up to this cistern on the west side, cistern no. 6. The ceremony of the blessing of the waters could take place [handwritten: 107] in locis occurrentibus". The Syriac "super aquas convenienter rite of Epiphany lists as possible places, fountain, spring,
65 figures hard to readstruck struck outadded written in above” jug ditto, and what it repeatsword reading not certain