[On the miracles at the time of the Despot’s death]
When he was taken down from his horse, there was suddenly such a terrible thunderclap in the city, the likes of which we had never heard before; from that moment, darkness fell over the entire region so that it seemed as if it were night briefly illuminated at sunset. And this was at noon…
…And indeed, one could lament with Jeremiah the prophet the desolation of the New Zion, as he did then. For truly, where did all the light and beauty that was inside and outside suddenly go? Where are the carts of those who play, where are the church gatherings? Where are the communal festivities and prayer processions in the surrounding areas? Suddenly everything became an abomination of desolation, everything transformed, everything became as if it never existed, everything was filled with bitterness; the mounds crumbled and burned, and the people were once expelled, and another time resettled; often there occurred some new and unpleasant things to those who rule and it was seen what was truly foretold in dreams before: from the west like an old eagle, with soggy feathers, here from tower to tower it flew over and took control.
And another sign occurred. When deep night had fallen, and we were not asleep, truly a sound from Christ came from the west, from beyond the river (Sava), like the moaning of a trumpet, and it gradually grew louder until it seemed to be at the Sava (at the middle of the Sava), then before the tower, and then throughout the entire city, from door to door. And this did not pass quickly, but (lasted) two or three hours so that it seemed as if the namesake (Stefan) was coming when (the sound) would not come from the West, or (as if) it was some army, so we went out to see what was happening and we lit a fire.
And this scene also occurred: from the great city church, the holy icons were raised into the air, and, behold, as if in the order that will be during the Second Coming (the Last Judgment): The Empress, therefore, and the Lady and John the Baptist on both sides of the Savior’s face; and the icons of the twelve apostles – six as it should be on each side – which we thought was for the glory and protection of the city. But it was at the moment of death, alas!
It happened before the demise of the namesake (Stefan) on the 17th day of that month; he released air from the sky like sparks onto the city which also ignited, and then they extinguished. And before this – a swirling whirlwind removed the church roofs in the city and threw them to the ground and destroyed many houses and the house of the despot’s sister.
