In a few moments the four friars in question entered. They were dressed in coarse black sackcloth habits, with the cowls drawn down over their heads. All that was to be seen of them was their eyes and shaggy beards. With deep obeisances, but without a word, they approached the two reverend gentlemen. The Father rose politely and greeted them respectfully in Latin: "Benedicite nomen Domini." They only kept on bowing and were silent.
"Nomen dei sit benedictum!" repeated Gregory, fancying that his guests did not hear what he said, and as they did not reply to that, he asked with great astonishment:
"Non exandistis nomen gloriosissimi Domini, fratres amantissimi?"
At this the foremost of them said: "We do not understand that language, worthy brother."
"Then what sort of monks are ye? To what confession do ye belong? Are ye Greeks?"
"We are not Greeks."
"Then are you Armenians?"
"We are not Armenians."
"Arians, then?"
"Neither are we Arians."