Then we returned to Misr [i.e. Egypt] on the night of the 21st of Tuba, the night on which our Lady,
the Virgin Mary, went to her rest.
And that night there came great wrath from God, for
there was a great earthquake in the land, and many houses were
ruined in all the cities, and none was saved from them, not a single
soul, and likewise on the sea many ships were sunk on that
night. This happened all over the East, from the city of Gaza
to the furthest extremity of Persia. And they counted the cities
that were wrecked that night, and they were six hundred cities
and villages, with a vast destruction of men and beasts. But the
land of Egypt was uninjured, except only Damietta. And at Misr
there was only great fear, without any death or ruin of houses; for
though the beams in the doorways and walls were moved out of
their places, they went back again to their places after two hours.We were
assured by one whose word we trust that none of the churches of the Orthodox nor of their dwellings was
destroyed throughout the east.
