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THIS FILE CONTAINS:
APOCRYPHAL ACTS OF THE APOSTLES (2 of 2)
Acts of Andrew and Matthias
Acts of Peter and Andrew
Acts and Martyrdom of St. Matthew the Apostle
Acts of the Holy Apostle Thomas
Consummation of Thomas the Apostle
Martyrdom of the Holy and Glorious Apostle Bartholomew
Acts of the Holy Apostle Thaddaeus
Acts of the Holy Apostle and Evangelist John the Theologian
ACTS OF ANDREW AND MATTHIAS(1) IN THE CITY OF THE MAN-EATERS
About that time all the apostles had come together to the same place,
and shared among themselves the countries, casting lots, in order that each
might go away into the part that had fallen to him. By lot, then, it fell
to Matthias to set out to the country of the man-eaters. And the men of
that city used neither to eat bread nor drink wine; but they ate the flesh
of men, and drank their blood. Every man, therefore, who came into their
city they laid hold of, and digging they thrust out his eyes, and gave him
a drug to drink, prepared by sorcery and magic; and from drinking the drug
his heart was altered and his mind deranged.
Matthias then having come into the gate of their city, the men of that
city laid hold of him, and thrust out his eyes; and after putting them out
they made him drink the drug of their magical deception, and led him away
to the prison, and put beside him grass to eat, and he ate it not. For when
he had partaken of their drug, his heart was not altered, nor his mind
deranged; but he kept praying to God, weeping, and saying: Lord Jesus
Christ, for whose sake we have forsaken all things and have followed Thee,
knowing that Thou art the helper of all who hope in Thee, attend then and
behold what they have done to Matthias Thy servant, how they have made me
nigh to the brutes; for Thou art He who knowest all things. If, therefore,
Thou hast ordained that the wicked men in this city should eat me up, I
will not by any means flee from Thy dispensation. Afford to me then, O
Lord, the light of mine eyes, that at least I may behold what the wicked
men in this city have in hand for me; do not forsake me, O my Lord Jesus
Christ, and do not give me up to this bitter death.
While Matthias was thus praying in the prison, a light shone, and there
came forth out of the light a voice saying: Beloved Matthias, receive thy
sight. And immediately he received his sight. And again there came forth a
voice saying: Be of good courage, our Matthias, and be not dismayed; for I
shall not by any means forsake thee, for I shall deliver thee from all
danger; and not only thee, but also all thy brethren who are with thee: for
I am with thee everywhere and at all times. But remain here twenty-seven
days for the edification(2) of many souls; and after that I shall send
forth Andrew to thee, and he shall lead thee forth out of this prison; and
not thee only, but also all who hear. Having said this, the Saviour said
again to Matthias, Peace be to thee, our Matthias, and went into heaven.
Then Matthias having beheld Him, said to the Lord: Let thy grace abide with
me, O my Lord Jesus.
Then Matthias therefore(3) sat down in the prison, and sang. And it
came to pass that, when the executioners came into the prison to bring
forth the men to eat them, Matthias also shut his eyes, that they might not
behold that he saw. And the executioners having come to him, read the
ticket in his hand, and said among themselves: Yet three days, and we shall
bring out this one also from the prison, and slay him. Because in the case
of every man whom they laid hold of, they noted that day on which they laid
hold of him, and tied a ticket to his right hand, that they might know the
completion of the thirty days.
And it came to pass when the twenty-seven days were fulfilled since
Matthias was seized, the Lord appeared in the country where Andrew was
teaching, and said to him: Rise up, and set out with thy disciples to the
country of the man-eaters, and bring forth Matthias out of that place; for
yet three days, and the men of the city will bring him forth and slay him
for their food. And Andrew answered and said: My Lord, I shall not be able
to accomplish the journey thither before the limited period of the three
days; but send Thine angel quickly, that he may bring him out thence: for
thou knowest, Lord, that I also am flesh, and shall not be able to go there
quickly. And He says to Andrew: Obey Him who made thee, and Him who is able
to say in a word, and that city shall be removed thence, and all that dwell
in it. For I command the horns of the winds,(1) and they drive it thence.
But rise up early, and go down to the sea with thy disciples, and thou
shalt find a boat upon the shore, and thou shalt go aboard with thy
disciples. And having said this, the Saviour again said: Peace to thee,
Andrew, along with those with thee! And He went into the heavens.
And Andrew having risen up early, proceeded to the sea along with his
disciples; and having come down to the shore, he saw a little boat, and in
the boat three men sitting. For the Lord by His own power had prepared a
boat, and He it was in human shape a pilot in the boat; and He brought two
angels whom He made to appear like men, and they were in the boat
sitting.(2) Andrew, therefore, having beheld the boat, and the three who
were in it, rejoiced with exceeding great joy; and having gone to them, he
said: Where are you going, brethren, with this little boat? And the Lord
answered and said to him: We are going to the country of the man-eaters.
And Andrew having beheld Jesus, did not recognise Him; for Jesus was hiding
His Godhead, and He appeared to Andrew like a pilot. And Jesus having heard
Andrew saying, I too am going to the country of the man-eaters, says to
him: Every man avoids that city, and how are you going there? And Andrew
answered and said: We have some small business to do there, and we must get
through with it; but it thou canst, do us this kindness to convey us to the
country of the man-eaters, to which also you intend to go. Jesus answered
and said to them: Come on board.
And Andrew said: I wish to make some explanation to thee, young man,
before we come on board thy boat. And Jesus said: Say what thou wilt. And
Andrew said to Him: We have no passage-money to give thee; we have not even
bread for our nourishment. And Jesus answered and said to him: How, then,
are you going away without giving us the passage-money, and without having
bread for your nourishment? And Andrew said to Jesus, Listen, brother; do
not think that it is through masterfulness that we do not give thee our
passage-money, but we are disciples of our Lord Jesus Christ, the good God.
For He chose for Himself us twelve, and gave us such a commandment, saying,
When you go to preach, do not carry money in the journey, nor bread, nor
bag, nor shoes, nor staff, nor two coats.(3) If, therefore, thou wilt do us
the kindness, brother, tell us at once; if not, let us know, and we shall
go and seek another boat for ourselves. And Jesus answered and said to
Andrew: If this is the commandment which you received, and you keep it,
come on board my boat with all joy. For I really wish you, the disciples of
Him who is called Jesus, to come on board my boat, rather than those who
give me of their silver and gold; for I am altogether worthy that the
apostle of the Lord should come on board my boat. And Andrew answered and
said: Permit me, brother, may the Lord grant thee. glory and honour. And
Andrew went on board the boat with his disciples.
And having gone on board, he sat down by the boat's sail. And Jesus
answered and said to one of the angels: Rise and go down to the hold of the
boat, and bring up three loaves, that the men may eat, lest perchance they
be hungry, from having come to us off a long journey. And he rose and went
down to the hold of the boat, and brought up three loaves, as the Lord
commanded him; and he gave them the loaves. Then Jesus said to Andrew: Rise
up, brother, with thy friends; partake of food, that you may be strong to
bear the tossing of the sea. And Andrew answered and said to his disciples:
My children, we have found great kindness from this man. Stand up, then,
and partake of the nourishment of bread, that you may be strong to bear the
tossing of the sea. And his disciples were not able to answer him a word,
for they were in distress because of the sea. Then Jesus forced Andrew to
partake himself also of the nourishment of bread along with his disciples.
And Andrew answered and said to Jesus, not knowing that it was Jesus:
Brother, may the Lord give thee heavenly bread out of His kingdom. Allow me
then brother; for thou seest the children, that they are distressed because
of the sea. And Jesus answered and said to Andrew: Assuredly the brethren
are without experience of the sea; but inquire of them whether they want to
go to land, and thyself to remain, until thou shalt finish thy business,
and again come back to them. Then Andrew said to his disciples: My
children, do you wish to go to the land, and me to remain here until I
shall finish my business for which I have been sent? And they answered and
said to Andrew: If we go away from thee, may we become strangers to the
good things which the Lord hath provided for us. Now, therefore, we are
with thee, wherever thou mayst go.
Jesus answered and said to Andrew: If thou art truly a disciple of Him
who is called Jesus, tell thy disciples the miracles which thy Teacher
diet, that their soul may rejoice, and that they may forget the fear of the
sea; for, behold, we are going to take the boat off from the land, And
immediately Jesus said to one of the angels: Let go the boat; and he let go
the boat from the land. And Jesus came and sat down beside the rudder, and
steered the boat. Then Andrew exhorted and comforted his disciples, saying:
My children, who have given up your life to the Lord, fear not; for the
Lord will not at all forsake you for ever. For at that time when I was
alone with our Lord, we went on board the boat with Him, and He lay down to
sleep in the boat, trying us; for He was not(1) fast asleep. And a great
wind having arisen, and the sea being stormy, so that the waves were
uplifted, and came under the sail of the boat, and when we were in great
fear, the Lord stood up and rebuked the winds, and there was a calm in the
sea; for all things feared Him, as being made by Him.(2) Now, therefore, my
children, fear not. For the Lord Jesus will not at all forsake us. And
having said this, the holy Andrew prayed in his heart that his disciples
might be led to sleep. And as Andrew was praying, his disciples fell
asleep.
And Andrew, turning round to the Lord, not knowing that it was the
Lord, said to Him: Tell me, O man, and show me the skill of thy steering;
for I have never seen any man so steering in the sea as I now see thee. For
sixteen years have I sailed the sea, and behold this is the seventeenth,
and I have not seen such skill; for truly the boat is just as if on land.
Show me then, young man, thy skill. Then Jesus answered and said to Andrew:
We also have often sailed the sea, and been in danger; but since thou art a
disciple of Him called Jesus, the sea has recognised thee that thou art
righteous, and has become calm, and has not lifted its waves against the
boat. Then Andrew cried out with a loud voice, saying: I thank Thee, my
Lord Jesus Christ, that I have met a man who glorifies Thy name.
And Jesus answered and said: O Andrew, tell me, thou disciple of Him
called Jesus, wherefore the unbelieving Jews did not believe in Him, saying
that He was not God, but man. Show me, O disciple of Him called Jesus; for
I have heard that He showed His Godhead to His disciples. And Andrew
answered and said: Truly, brother, He showed us that He was God. Do not
think, then, that He is man. For He made the heaven, and the earth, and the
sea, and all that is in them. And Jesus answered and said: How then did the
Jews not believe Him? Perhaps He did not do miracles before them? Andrew
said: Hast thou not heard of the miracles which He did before them? He made
the blind see, the lame walk, the deaf hear; He cleansed lepers, He changed
water into wine; and having taken five loaves and two fishes, He made a
crowd recline on the grass, and having blessed, He gave them to eat; and
those that ate were five thousand men,(3) and they were filled: and they
took up what was over to them twelve baskets of fragments.(4) And after all
these things they did not believe Him.
And Jesus answered and said to Andrew: Perhaps He did these miracles
before the people, and not before the chief priests, and because of this
they did not believe Him.
And Andrew answered and said: Nay, brother, He did them also before the
chief priests, not only openly, but also in secret, and they did not
believe Him. Jesus answered and said: What are the miracles which He did in
secret? Disclose them to me. And Andrew answered and said: O man, who hast
the spirit of inquisitiveness, why dost thou put me to the test? And Jesus
answered and said: I do not put thee to the test by saying this, O disciple
of Him called Jesus; but my soul rejoices and exults, and not only mine,
but also every soul that hears the wonders of Jesus.
And Andrew answered and said: O child, the Lord shall fill thy soul
with all joy and all good, as thou hast persuaded me now to relate to thee
the miracles which our Lord did in secret.
It came to pass as we, the twelve disciples. were going with our Lord
into a temple of the Gentiles, that He might make known to us the ignorance
of the devil, that the chief priests, having beheld us following Jesus,
said to us, O wretches, why do you walk with him who says, I am the Son of
God? Do you mean to say that God has a son? Which of you has ever at any
time seen God associating with a woman? Is not this the son of Joseph the
carpenter, and his mother is Mary, and his brothers James and Simon?(5) And
when we heard these words, our hearts were turned into weakness. And Jesus,
having known that our hearts were giving way, took us into a desert place,
and did great miracles before us, and displayed to us all His Godhead. And
we spoke to the chief priests, saying, Come ye also, and see; for, behold,
He has persuaded us.
And the chief priests having come, went with us; and when we had gone
into the temple of the Gentiles, Jesus showed us the heaven,(6) that we
might know whether the things were true or not. And there went in along
with us thirty men of the people, and four chief priests. And Jesus, having
looked on the right hand and on the left of the temple, saw two sculptured
sphinxes, one on the right and one on the left. And Jesus having turned to
us, said, Behold the sign of the cross; for these are like the cherubim and
the seraphim which are in heaven. Then Jesus, having looked to the right,
where the sphinx was, said to it, I say unto thee, thou image of that which
is in heaven, which the hands of craftsmen have sculptured, be separated
from thy place, and come down, and answer and convict the chief priests,
and show them whether I am God or man.
And immediately at that very time the sphinx removed from its place,
and having assumed a human voice, said, O foolish sons of Israel, not only
has the blinding of their own hearts not been enough for them, but they
also wish others to be blind like themselves, saying that God is man, who
in the beginning fashioned man, and put His breath into all, who gave
motion to those things which moved not; He it is who called Abraham, who
loved his son Isaac, who brought back his beloved Jacob into his land; He
is the Judge of living and dead; He it is who prepareth great benefits for
those who obey Him, and prepareth punishment for those who believe Him not.
Heed not that I am an idol that can be handled; for I say unto you, that
the sacred places of your synagogue are more excellent.(1) For though we
are stones, the priests have given us only the name of a god; and those
priests who serve the temple purify themselves, being afraid of the demons:
for if they have had intercourse with women, they purify themselves seven
days, because of their fear; so that they do not come into the temple
because of us, because of the name which they have given us, that we are a
god. But you, if you have committed fornication, take up the law of God,
and go into the synagogue of Cool, and purify, and read, and do not
reverence the glorious words of God. Because of this, I say unto you, that
the holy things purify your synagogues, so that they also become churches
of His only begotten Son. The sphinx having said this, ceased speaking.
And we said to the chief priests, Now it is fitting that you should
believe, because even the stones have convicted you. And the Jews answered
and said, By magic these stones speak, and do not you think that it is a
god? For if you have tested what has been said by the stone, you have
ascertained its deception. For where did he find Abraham, or how did he see
him? For Abraham died many years before he was born, and how floes he know
him?
And Jesus, having again turned to the image, said to it, Because these
believe not that I have spoken with Abraham, go away into the land of the
Canaanites, and go away to the double(2) cave in the field of Mamre, where
the body of Abraham is, and cry outside of the tomb, saying, Abraham,
Abraham, whose body is in the tomb, and whose soul is in paradise, thus
speaks He who fashioned than, who made thee from the beginning his friend,
Rise up, thou and thy son Isaac, and the son of thy son Jacob, and come to
the temples of the Jebusites, that we may convict the chief priests, in
order that they may know that I am acquainted with thee, and thou with me.
And when the sphinx heard these words, immediately she walked about in the
presence of us all, and set out for the land of the Canaanites to the field
of Mature, and cried outside of the tomb, as God had commanded her. And
straightway the twelve patriarchs (3) came forth alive out of the tomb, and
answered and said to her, To which of us hast thou been sent? And the
sphinx answered and said; I have been sent to the three patriarchs for
testimony; but do ye go in, and rest until the time of the resurrection.
And having heard, they went into the tomb and fell asleep. And the three
patriarchs set out along with the sphinx to Jesus, and convicted the chief
priests. And Jesus said to them, Go away to your places; and they went
away. And He said also to the image, Go up to thy place; and straightway
she went up and stood in her place. And He did also many other miracles,
and they did not believe Him; which miracles, if I shall recount, thou wilt
not be able to bear. And Jesus answered and said to him: I can bear it; for
I prudently listen to profitable words.
And when the boat was about to come near the land, Jesus bent down His
head upon one of His angels, and was quiet. And Andrew ceased speaking; and
he also, reclining his head upon one of his disciples, fell asleep. And
Jesus said to His angels: Spread your hands under him, and carry Andrew and
his disciples, and go and put them outside of the city of the man-eaters;
and having laid them on the ground, return to me. And the angels did as
Jesus commanded them, and the angels returned to Jesus: and He went up into
the heavens with His angels.
And when it was morning, Andrew, having awakened and looked up, found
himself sitting on the ground; and having looked,(4) he saw his disciples
sleeping on the ground: and he wakened them, and said to them: Rise up, my
children, and know the great dispensation that has happened to us, and
learn that the Lord was with us in the boat, and we knew Him not; for He
transformed Himself as if He were a pilot in the boat, and humbled Himself,
and appeared to us as a man, putting us to the test. And Andrew, recovering
himself, said: Lord, I recognised Thy excellent words, but Thou didst not
manifest Thyself to me, and because of this I did not know Thee. And his
disciples answered and said to him: Father Andrew, do not think that we
knew when thou wast speaking with Him in the boat, for we were weighed down
by a most heavy sleep; and eagles came down out of the heavens, and lifted
up our souls, and took them away into the paradise in heaven, and we saw
great wonders. For we beheld our Lord Jesus sitting on a throne of glory,
and all the angels round about Him. We beheld also Abraham, and Isaac, and
Jacob, and all the saints; and David praised Him with a song upon his harp.
And we beheld there you the twelve apostles standing by in the presence of
our Lord Jesus Christ, and outside of you twelve angels round about you,
and each angel standing behind each of you, and they were like you in
appearance. And we heard the Lord saying to the angels, Listen to the
apostles in all things whatsoever they shall ask you. These are the things
which we have seen, father Andrew, until thou didst awake us; and angels,
who appeared like eagles, brought our souls into our bodies.
Then Andrew, having heard, rejoiced with great joy that his disciples
had been deemed worthy to behold these wonderful things. And Andrew looked
up into heaven, and said: Appear to me, Lord Jesus Christ; for I know that
Thou art not far from Thy servants. Pardon me, Lord, for what I have done;
for I have beheld Thee as a man in the boat, and I have conversed with Thee
as with a man. Now therefore, Lord, manifest Thyself to me in this place.
And when Andrew had said this, Jesus appeared to him in the likeness of
a most beautiful little child. And Jesus answered and said: Hail, our
Andrew! And Andrew, having beheld Him, worshipped Him, saying: Pardon me,
Lord Jesus Christ, for I saw Thee like a man on the sea, and conversed with
Thee. What is there, then, wherein I have sinned, my Lord Jesus, that Thou
didst not manifest Thyself to me on the sea? And Jesus answered and said to
Andrew: Thou hast not sinned, but I did this to thee because thou saidst, I
shall not be able to go to the city of the man-eaters in three days; and I
have showed thee that I am able to do all things, and to appear to every
one as I wish. Now therefore rise up, go into the city to Matthias, and
bring him forth out of the prison, and all the strangers that are with him.
For, behold, I show thee, Andrew, what thou must suffer before going into
this city. They will heap upon thee tortures and insults, and scatter thy
flesh in the ways and the streets, and thy blood shall flow to the ground,
but they are not able to put thee to death; but endure, just as thou sawest
me beaten, insulted, and crucified: for there are those who are destined to
believe in this city. And having said this, the Saviour went into the
heavens.
And Andrew went into the city along with his disciples, and no one
beheld him. And when he came to the prison, he saw seven warders standing
at the gate guarding, and he prayed within himself, and they fell down and
expired; and he marked the gate with the sign of the cross, and it opened
of its own accord. And having gone in with his disciples, he found Matthias
sitting and singing; and seeing him, he stood up, and they saluted each
other with a holy kiss; and he said to Matthias: Brother, how hast thou
been found here? For yet three days, and they will bring thee out to be
food for them. Where are the great mysteries which thou hast been taught,
and the wonderful things which we have believed? And Matthias said to him:
Didst thou not hear the Lord saying, I shall send you like sheep into the
midst of wolves? They straightway brought me into the prison, and I prayed
to the Lord; and He said to me, Remain here twenty-seven days, and I shall
send thee Andrew, and he will bring thee forth out of the prison. And now,
behold, it has come to pass as the Lord said.
Then Andrew, having looked, saw three men shut up eating grass naked;
and he beat his breast, and said: Consider, O Lord, what the men suffer;
how have they made them like the irrational brutes? And he says to Satan:
Woe to thee, the devil, the enemy of God, and to thine angels, because the
strangers here have done nothing to thee; and how hast thou brought upon
them the punishment? how long dost thou war against the human race? Thou
didst bring forth Adam out of paradise, and didst cause men to be mixed up
with transgression; and the Lord was enraged, and brought on the deluge so
as to sweep man away. And again hast thou made thy appearance in this city
too, in order that thou mayst make those who are here eat men,(2) that the
end of them also may be in execration anti destruction, thinking in thyself
that God will sweep away the work of His hands. Hast thou not heard that
God said, I will not bring a deluge upon the earth?(3) but if there is any
punishment prepared, it is for the sake of taking vengeance upon thee.
Then he stood up, and Andrew and Matthias prayed; and after the prayer
Andrew laid his hands upon the faces of the blind men who were in the
prison, and straightway they all received their sight. And again he laid
his hand upon their hearts, and their minds were changed into human reason.
Then Andrew answered them: Rise up, and go into the lower parts of the
city, and you shall find in the way a great fig-tree, and sit under the
fig-tree, and eat of its fruit, until I come to you; but if I delay coming
there, you will find abundance of food for yourselves: for the fruit shall
not fail from the fig-tree, but according as you eat it shall produce more
fruit, and nourish you, as the Lord has said. And they answered and said to
Andrew: Go along with us, O our master, lest perchance the wicked men of
this city again see us, and shut us up, and inflict upon us greater and
more dreadful tortures than they have inflicted upon us. And Andrew
answered and said to them: Go; for in truth I sag to you, that as you go,
not a dog shall bark with his tongue against you. And there were in all two
hundred and seventy men and forty-nine women(1) whom Andrew released from
the prison. And the men went as the blessed Andrew said to them; and he
made Matthias go along with his disciples out of the eastern gate of the
city. And Andrew commanded a cloud, and the cloud took up Matthias and the
disciples of Andrew; and the cloud set them down on the mountain where
Peter was teaching,(2) and they remained beside him.
And Andrew, having gone forth from the prison, walked about in the
city; and having seen a brazen pillar, and a statue standing upon it, he
came and sat down behind that pillar until he should see what should
happen. And it happened that the executioners went to the prison to bring
out the men for their food,(3) according to the custom; and they found the
doors of the prison opened, and the guards that guarded it lying dead upon
the ground. And straightway they went, and reported to the rulers of the
city, saying: We found the prison opened, and having gone inside we found
nobody;(4) but we found the guards lying dead upon the ground. And the
rulers having heard this, said among themselves: What, then, has happened?
You do not mean to say that some persons have gone into the prison of the
city, and have killed the warders, and taken away those that were shut up?
And they spoke to the executioners, saying: Go to the prison, and bring the
men that are dead, that we may eat them up to-day. And let us go to-morrow,
and bring together all the old men of the city, that they may cast lots
upon themselves, until the seven lots come, and we slay seven each day. And
they shall be to us for food until we may choose young men, and put them in
boats as sailors, that they may go away to the countries round about, and
attack them, and bring some men here, that they may be for food to us.
And the executioners went to the prison, and brought the seven men that
were dead; and there was an oven built in the midst of the city, and there
lay in the oven a large trough in which they killed the men, and their
blood ran down into the trough, and they drew out of the blood and drank
it. And they brought the men, and. put them into the trough. And when the
executioners were lifting their hands against them, Andrew heard a voice,
saying: Behold, Andrew, what is happening in this city. And Andrew having
beheld, prayed to the Lord, saying: Lord Jesus Christ, who didst order me
to come into this city, do not suffer those in this city to do any evil,
but let the knives go out of the hands of the wicked ones. And straightway
the knives of the wicked men fell, and their hands were turned into stone.
And the rulers, having seen what had happened, wept, saying: Woe unto us,
for here are the magicians who have gone into the prison, and brought out
the men; for, behold, they have bewitched these also. What, then, shall we
do? Let us go now, and gather together the old men of the city, seeing that
we are hungry.
And they went and gathered them together, and found two hundred and
seventeen; and they brought them to the rulers, and they made them cast
lots, and the lot came upon seven old men. And one of those taken by lot
answered and said to the officers: I pray you, I have for myself one son;
take him, and slay him instead of me, and let me go. And the officers
answered and said to him: We cannot take thy son, unless we bring him first
to our superiors. And the officers went and told the rulers. And the rulers
answered and said to the officers: If he give us his son instead of
himself, let him go. And the officers went and told the old man. And the
old man answered and said to them: I have also a daughter along with my
son; take them, and kill them, only let me go. And he gave his children to
the officers, that they might kill them. And the children wept to each
other, and prayed the officers, saying: We pray you do not kill us, as we
are of so small a size; but let us complete our size, and so kill us. For
it was a custom in that city, and they did not bury their dead, but ate
them up. And the officers did not hearken to the children, nor take pity
upon them, but carried them to the trough weeping and praying.
And it happened, as they were lending them away to kill them, that
Andrew, having beheld what happened, shed tears; and weeping, he looked up
to heaven and said: Lord Jesus Christ, as Thou didst hear me in the case of
the dead men, and didst not suffer them to be eaten up, so also now hear
me, that the executioners may not inflict death upon these children, but
that the knives may be loosened out of the hands of the executioners.(1)
And straightway the knives were loosened, and fell out of the hands of the
executioners. And when this came to pass, the executioners, having beheld
what had happened, were exceedingly afraid. And Andrew, seeing what had
happened, glorified the Lord because He had listened to him in every work.
And the rulers, having beheld what had happened, wept with a great
weeping, saying: Woe unto us! what are we to do? And, behold, the devil
appeared in the likeness of an old man, and began to say in the midst of
all: Woe unto you! because you are now dying, having no food; what can
sheep and oxen do for you? They will not at all be enough for you. But
rise up, and make a search here for one who has come to the city, a
stranger named Andrew, and kill him; for if you do not, he will not permit
you to carry on this practice longer: for it was he who let loose the men
out of the prison. Assuredly the man is in this city, and you have not
seen(2) him. Now, therefore, rise and make search for him, in order that
henceforward you may be able to collect your food.
And Andrew saw the devil, how he was talking to the multitudes; but the
devil did not see the blessed Andrew. Then Andrew answered the devil, and
said: O Belial most fiendish, who art the foe of every creature;(3) but my
Lord Jesus Christ will bring thee down to the abyss. And the devil, having
heard this, said: I hear thy voice indeed, and I know thy voice, but where
thou art standing I know not. And Andrew answered and said to the devil:
Why, then, hast thou been called Amael?(4) is it not because thou art
blind, not seeing all the saints? And the devil, having heard this, said to
the citizens: Look round now for him speaking to me, for he is the man. And
the citizens, having run in different directions, shut the gates of the
city, and searched for the blessed one, and did not see him.(5) Then the
Lord showed Himself to Andrew, and said to him; Andrew, rise up and show
thyself to them, that they may learn my power, and the powerlessness of
the devil working in them.
Then Andrew rose up, and said in presence of all: Behold, I am Andrew
whom you seek. And the multitudes ran upon him, and laid hold of him,
saying: What thou hast done to us, we also will do to thee. And they
reasoned among themselves, saying: By what death shall we kill him? And
they said to each other: If we take off his head, his death is not torture;
and if we burn him, he will not be for food to us. Then one of them, the
devil having entered into him, answered and said to the multitudes: As he
has done to us, so let us also do to him. Let us rise up, then, and fasten
a rope to his neck, and drag him through all the streets and lanes of the
city; and when he is dead, we shall share his body. And they did as he said
to them; and having fastened a rope round his neck, they dragged him
through the streets and lanes of the city, and the flesh of the blessed
Andrew stuck to the ground, and his blood flowed to the ground like water.
And when it was evening they cast him into the prison, having bound his
hands behind him; and he was in sore distress.
And in the morning again they brought him out, and having fastened a
rope round his neck, they dragged him about; and again his flesh stuck to
the ground, and his blood flowed. And the blessed one wept and prayed,
saying: Do not forsake me, my Lord Jesus Christ; for I know that Thou art
not far from Thy servants. And as he was praying, the devil walked behind,
and said to the multitudes: Strike him on the mouth, that he may not
speak.(6)
And when it was evening they took him again to the prison, having bound
his hands behind him, and left him till the morrow again. And the devil
having taken with himself seven demons(7) whom the blessed one had cast out
of the countries round about, and having gone into the prison, they stood
before him, wishing to kill him. And the demons answered and said to
Andrew: Now hast thou fallen into our hands; where is thy glory and thy
exultation, thou that raisest thyself up against us, and dishonourest us,
and tellest our doings to the people in every place and country, and hast
made our workshops and our temples to become desolate, in order that
sacrifices may not be brought to them? Because of this, then, we shall also
kill time, like thy teacher called Jesus, and John whom Herod beheaded.(8)
And they stood before Andrew, wishing to kill him; and having beheld
the seal upon his forehead which the Lord gave him, they were afraid, and
did not come near him, but fled. And the devil said to them: Why have you
fled from him, my children, and not killed him? And the demons answered and
said to the devil: We cannot kill him, but kill him if thou art able; for
we knew him before he came into the distress of his humiliation. Then one
of the demons answered and said: We cannot kill him, but come let us mock
him in the distress of his humiliation. And the demons came and stood
before him, and scoffed at him. And the blessed one hearing, wept; and
there came to him a voice saying: Andrew, why weepest thou? And it was the
voice of the devil changed. And Andrew answered and said: I am weeping
because God commanded me, saying, Be patient toward them. And the devil
said: If thou canst do anything, do it. And Andrew answered and said: Is it
for this, then, that you do these things to me? But forbid it that I should
disobey the commandment of my Lord; for if the Lord shall make for me a
charge(1) in this city, I shall chastise you as you deserve. And having
heard this, they fled.
And when it was morning they brought him out again, and having fastened
a rope about his neck, they dragged him; and again his flesh stuck to the
ground, and his blood flowed to the ground like water. And the blessed one,
as he was being dragged along, wept, saying: Lord Jesus Christ, be not
displeased with me; for Thou knowest, Lord, what the fiend has inflicted
upon me, along with his demons. These tortures are enough, my Lord; for,
behold, I am dragged about for three days. But do Thou, Lord, remember that
Thou wast three hours upon the cross, and didst cry out to the Father, My
Father, why hast Thou forsaken me?(2) Where are Thy words, Lord, which Thou
spakest to us, confirming us, when we walked about with Thee, saying to us,
Ye shall not lose one hair?(3) Consider, then, Lord, what has become of my
flesh, and the hairs of my head. Then Jesus said to Andrew: O our Andrew,
the heaven and the earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass
away.(4) Turn thyself then, Andrew, and behold thy flesh that has fallen,
and thy hair, what has become of them. And Andrew turned, and saw great
trees springing up, bearing fruit; and he glorified God.
And when it was evening they took him up again, and cast him into the
prison, having bound his hands behind him; and he was exceedingly
exhausted. And the men of the city said among themselves: Perhaps he dies
in the night, and we do not find him alive on the following day; for he was
languid, and his flesh was spent.
And the Lord appeared in the prison, and having stretched oat His hand,
said to Andrew: Give me thy hand, and rise up whole. And Andrew, having
beheld the Lord Jesus, gave Him his hand, and rose up whole. And falling
down, he worshipped Him, and said: I thank Thee, my Lord Jesus Christ, that
Thou hast speedily brought help to me. And Andrew, having looked into the
middle of the prison, saw a pillar standing, and upon the pillar there
stood an alabaster statue. And Andrew, having gone up to the statue,
unfolded his hands seven times, and said to the pillar, and the statue upon
it: Fear the sign of the cross, which the heaven and the earth dread; and
let the statue set upon the pillar bring up much water through its mouth,
until all who are in this city be punished. And say not, I am stone, and am
not worthy to praise the Lord, for the Lord fashioned us from the earth;
but you are pure, because that out of you He gave the tables of the law.(5)
When the blessed Andrew had said this, straightway the stone statue cast
out of its mouth water in abundance, as if out of a canal. And the water
stood high upon the earth; and it was exceedingly acrid, eating into the
flesh of men.
And when it was morning, the men of the city saw it, and began to flee,
saying in themselves: Woe to us! because we are now dying. And the water
killed their cattle and their children; and they began to flee out of the
city. Then Andrew prayed, saying: Lord Jesus Christ, in whom I have hoped
that this miracle should come upon this city, forsake me not, but send
Michael Thy archangel in a cloud of fire, and be a wall round the city,
that no one may be able to escape out of the fire. And straightway a cloud
of fire came down and encircled the city like a wall; and the water was as
high as the neck of those men, and it was eating them up exceedingly. And
they wept, saying: Woe to us! for all these things have come upon us
because of the stranger who is in the prison. Let us go and release him,
lest perchance we die.
And they went out, crying with a loud voice: God of the stranger, take
away from us this water. And the apostle knew that they were in great
affliction, and said to the alabaster statue: Stop the water, for they have
repented. And I say to thee, that if the citizens of this city shall
believe. I will build a church, and place thee in it, because thou hast
done me this service. And the statue ceased flowing, and no longer brought
forth water. And the men of the city, having come out to the doors of the
prison, cried out, saying. Have pity upon us, God of the stranger, and do
not according to our unbelief, and according to what we have done to this
man, but take away from us this water. And Andrew came forth out of the
prison; and the water ran this way and that from the feet of the blessed
Andrew. Then all the multitude seeing him, all cried out: Have pity upon
us.
And the old man having come who gave up his children that they should
slay them instead of him, prayed at the feet of the blessed Andrew, saying:
Have pity upon me. And the holy Andrew answered and said to the old man: I
wonder how thou sayest, Have pity upon me; for thou hadst no pity upon thy
children, but gavest them up to be slain instead of thee. Therefore I say
unto thee, At what hour this water goes away, into the abyss shalt thou go,
with the fourteen(1) executioners who slay the men every day. And he came
to the place of the trough, where they used to slay the men. And the
blessed one, having looked up to heaven, prayed before all the multitude;
and the earth was opened, and swallowed up the water, along with the old
man. He was carried down into the abyss, with the executioners. And the
men, having seen what bad happened, were exceedingly afraid, and began to
say: Woe unto us because this man is from God; and now he will kill us
because of the afflictions which we have caused him. For, behold, what he
said to the executioners and the old man has befallen them. Now, therefore,
he will command the fire, and it will burn us. And Andrew, having heard,
said to them: Fear not, children; for I shall not send these also to Hades;
but those have gone, that you may believe in our Lord Jesus Christ.
Then the holy Andrew ordered to be brought up all who had died in the
water. And they were not able to bring them; for there had died a great
multitude both of men, and women, and children, and cattle.
Then Andrew prayed, and they all came to life. And after these things
he drew a plan of a church, and he caused the church to be built. And he
baptized them, and gave them the ordinances of our Lord Jesus Christ,
saying to them: Stand by these, in order that you may know the mysteries of
our Lord Jesus Christ. And they all prayed him: We pray thee, stay with us
a few days, that we may be filled with thy fountain, because we are newly
planted.(2) And he did not comply with their request, but said to them: I
shall go first to my disciples. And the children followed after, weeping
and praying, with the men; and they cast ashes(3) upon their heads. And he
did not comply with them, but said: I shall go to my disciples, and after
that I shall come again to you. And he went his way.
And the Lord Jesus Christ came down, being like a comely little child,
and met Andrew, and said: Andrew, why hast thou come out and left them
without fruit, and hast not had compassion upon the children that followed
after thee, and the men entreating thee, Stay with us a few days? For the
cry of them and the weeping has come up to heaven. Now therefore return,
and go into the city, and remain there seven days, until I shall confirm
their souls in the faith; and then thou shalt go away into the country of
the barbarians, thou and thy disciples. And after going into this city,
thou shalt proclaim my Gospel, and bring up the men who are in the abyss.
And thou shall do what I command thee.
Then Andrew turned and went into the city, saying: I thank Thee, my
Lord Jesus Christ, who wishest to save every soul, that Thou bast not
allowed me to go forth out of this city in mine anger. And when be had come
into the city, they, seeing him, rejoiced with exceeding great joy. And he
stayed there seven days, teaching and confirming them in the Lord Jesus
Christ. And the seven days having been fulfilled, it came to pass, while
the blessed Andrew was going out, all came together to him, from the child
even to the elder, and sent him on his way, saying: There is one God, the
God of Andrew, and one Lord Jesus Christ, who alone doeth wonders; to
whom(4) be glory and strength for ever. Amen.
ACTS OF PETER AND ANDREW
FROM A BODLEIAN MS.(1)
ACTS OF THE HOLY APOSTLES PETER AND ANDREW.
IT came to pass when Andrew the apostle of Christ went forth from the
city of the man-eaters, behold a luminous cloud snatched him up, and
carried him away to the mountain where Peter and Matthew and Alexander were
sitting. And when he saw them, they saluted him with great joy. Then Peter
says to him: What has happened to thee, brother Andrew? Hast thou sown the
word of truth in the country of the man-eaters or not? Andrew says to him:
Yes, father Peter, through thy prayers; but the men of that city have done
me many mischiefs, for they dragged me through their street three days, so
that my blood stained the whole street. Peter says to him: Be a man in the
Lord, brother Andrew, and come hither, and rest from thy labour. For if the
good husbandman laboriously till the ground, it will also bear fruit, and
straightway all his toil wilt be turned into joy; but if he toil, and his
land bring forth no fruit, he has double toil.
And while he was thus speaking, the Lord Jesus Christ appeared to them
in the form of a child, and said to them: Hail, Peter, bishop of the whole
of my Church! hail, Andrew! My co-heirs, be courageous, and struggle for
mankind; for verily I say unto you, you shall endure toils in this world
for mankind. But be bold; I will give you rest in one hour of repose in the
kingdom of my Father. Arise, then, and go into the city of the barbarians,
and preach in it; and I will be with you in the wonders that shall happen
in it by your hands. And the Lord Jesus, after saluting them, went up into
the heavens in glory.
And Peter, and Andrew, and Alexander, and Rufus, and Matthias, went
into the city of the barbarians. And after they had come near the city,
Andrew answered and said to Peter: Father Peter, bare we again to undergo
toils in this city, as in the country of the man-eaters? Peter says to him:
I do not know. But, behold, there is an old man before us sowing in his
field: if we go up to him, let us say to him, Give us bread; and if he give
us bread, we may know that we are not to suffer m tins city; but if he say
to us, We have no bread, on the other hand, we shall know that suffering
again awaits us. And when they came up to the old man, Peter says to him:
Hail, farmer! And the farmer says to them: Hail you too, merchants! Peter
says to him: Have you bread to give to these children, for we have been in
want? The old man says to them: Wait a little, and look after the oxen, and
the plough, and the land, that I may go into the city, and get you loaves.
Peter says to him: If you provide hospitality for us, we shall took after
the cattle and the field. The old man says: So be it. Peter says to him:
Are the oxen your own? The old man says: No; I have them on hire. Peter
says to him: Go into the city. And the old man went into the city. And
Peter arose, and girded up his cloak and his under-garment, and says to
Andrew: It is not right for us to rest and be idle; above all, when the old
man is working for us, having left his own work. Then Peter took hold of
the plough, and sowed the wheat. And Andrew was behind the oxen, and says
to Peter: Father Peter, why dost thou bring toil upon us, especially when
we have work enough already! Then Andrew took the plough out of Peter's
hand, and sowed the wheat, saying: O seed cast into the ground in the field
of the righteous, come up, and come to the light. Let the young men of the
city therefore come forth, whom I found in the pit of destruction until to-
day; for, behold, the apostles of Christ are coming into the city,
pardoning the sins of those who believe in them, and healing every disease,
and every sickness. Pray ye for me, that He may have mercy upon me, and
that I may be delivered from this strait.
And many of the multitude believed in Christ, because of the saying of
the woman;(2) and they fell at the feet of the apostles, and adored them.
And they laid their hands upon them. And they healed those in the city that
were sick, and gave sight to the blind and, hearing to the deaf, and drove
out the demons. All the multitude glorified the Father, and the Son, and
the Holy Spirit.
And there was a certain rich man in the city, by name Onesiphorus. He,
having seen the miracles done by the apostles, says to them: If I believe
in your God, can I also do a miracle like you? Andrew says to him: If thou
wilt forsake all that belongs to thee, and thy wife and thy children, as we
also have done, then thou also shalt do miracles. When Onesiphorus heard
this, he was filled with rage, and took his scarf and threw it over
Andrew's neck, and struck him, and said to him: Thou art a sorcerer. How
dost thou force me to abandon my wife, and my children, and my goods? Then
Peter, having turned and seen him striking Andrew, says to him: Man, stop
now striking Andrew. Onesiphorus says to him: I see that thou art more
sensible than he. Do thou then tell me to leave my wife, and my children,
and my goods. What dost thou say? Peter says to him: One thing I say unto
thee: it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for
a rich man to go into the kingdom of heaven.(1) When Onesiphorus heard
this, he was even more filled with rage and anger, and took his scarf off
the neck of Andrew, and threw it upon the neck of Peter; and so he dragged
him along, saying: Verily thou art a great sorcerer, more than the other;
for a camel cannot go through the eye of a needle. But if thou wilt show me
this miracle, I will believe in thy God; and not only I, but also the whole
city. But if not, thou shalt be grievously punished in the midst of the
city. And when Peter heard this, he was exceedingly grieved, and stood and
stretched forth his hands towards heaven, and prayed, saying: O Lord our
God, listen to me at this time; for they will ensnare us from Thine own
words: for no prophet has spoken to set forth this his explanation, and no
patriarch that we might learn the interpretation of it; and now we seek for
ourselves the explanation with boldness. Do Thou then, Lord, not overlook
us: for thou art He who is praised by the cherubim.
And after he had said this, the Saviour appeared in the form of a child
of twelve years old, wearing a linen garment; and He says to them: Be
courageous, and tremble not, my chosen disciples; for I am with you always.
Let the needle and the camel be brought. And after saying this, He went up
into the heavens. And there was a certain merchant(2) in the city who had
believed in the Lord through the Apostie Philip; and when he heard of this,
he ran and searched for a needle with a big eye, to do a favour to the
apostles. When Peter learned this, he said: My son, do not search for a big
needle; for nothing is impossible with God: rather bring us a small needle.
And after the needle had been brought, and all the multitude of the city
were standing by to see, Peter looked up and saw a camel coming. And he
ordered her to be brought. Then he fixed the needle in the ground, and
cried out with a loud voice, saying: In the name of Jesus Christ, who was
crucified under Pontius Pilate, I order thee, O camel, to go through the
eye of the needle. Then the eye of the needle was opened like a gate, and
the camel went through it, and all the multitude saw it. Again Peter says
to the camel: Go again through the needle. And the camel went a second
time. When Onesiphorus saw this, he said to Peter; Truly thou art a great
sorcerer; but I do not believe unless I send and bring a camel and a
needle. And he called one of his servants, and said to him privately: Go
and bring me here a camel and a needle; find also a polluted woman, and
force her to come here: for these men are sorcerers. And Peter having
learned the mystery through the Spirit, says to Onesiphorus: Send and bring
the camel, and the woman, and the needle. And when they brought them, Peter
took the needle, and fixed it in the ground. And the woman was sitting on
the camel. Then Peter says: In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ the
crucified, I order thee, O camel, to go through this needle. And
immediately the eye of the needle was opened, and became like a gate, and
the camel went through it. Peter again says to the camel: Go through it
again, that all may see the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ, in order that
some may believe on Him. Then the camel again went through the needle. And
Onesiphorus seeing it, cried out, and said: Truly great is the God of Peter
and Andrew, and I from this time forth believe in the name of our Lord
Jesus Christ. Now then, hear my words, O Peter. I have corn lands,
vineyards, and fields; I have also twenty-seven pounds of gold, and fifty
pounds of silver; and i have very many slaves. I give my possessions to the
poor, that I also may do one miracle like you. And Peter was grieved lest
the powers should not work in him, seeing that he had not received the seal
in Christ. And while he was considering this, behold, a voice out of the
heaven saying to him: Do to him what he wishes, because I will accomplish
for him what he desires. Peter says to him: My son, come hither; do as we
do. And Onesiphorus came up, and stood before the camel and the needle, and
said: In then . . . (Here the MS. ends.)
ACTS AND MARTYRDOM OF ST. MATTHEW THE APOSTLE
ABOUT that time Matthew, the holy apostle and evangelist of Christ, was
abiding in the mountain resting, and praying in his tunic and apostolic
robes without sandals; and, behold, Jesus came to Matthew in the likeness
of the infants who sing in paradise, and said to him: Peace to thee,
Matthew! And Matthew having gazed upon Him, and not known who He was, said:
Grace to thee, and peace, O child highly favoured! And why hast thou come
hither to me, having left those who sing in paradise, and the delights
there? Because here the place is desert; and what sort of a table I shall
lay for thee, O child, I know not, because I have no bread nor oil in a
jar. Moreover, even the winds are at rest, so as not to cast down from the
trees to the ground anything for food; because, for the accomplishing of my
fast of forty days, I, partaking only of the fruits falling by the movement
of the winds, am glorifying my Jesus. Now, therefore, what shall I bring
thee, beautiful boy? There is not even water near, that I may wash thy
feet. And the child said: Why sayest thou, O Matthew? Understand and know
that good discourse is better than a calf, and words of meekness better
than every herb of the field, and a sweet saying as the perfume of love,
and cheerfulness of countenance better that feeding, and a pleasant look is
as the appearance of sweetness. Understand, Matthew, and know that I am
paradise, that I am the comforter, I am the power of the powers above, I
the strength of those that restrain themselves, I the crown of the virgins,
I the self-control of the once married, I the boast of the widowed, I the
defence of the infants, I the foundation of the Church, I the kingdom of
the bishops, I the glory of the presbyters, I the praise of the deacons. Be
a man, and be strong, Matthew, in, these words. And Matthew said: The sight
of thee hast altogether delighted me, O child; moreover also, thy words are
full of life. For assuredly thy face shines more than the lightning, and
thy words are altogether most sweet. And that indeed I saw thee in paradise
when thou didst sing with the other infants who were killed in Bethlehem, I
know right well; but how thou hast suddenly come hither, this altogether
astonishes me. But I shall ask thee one thing, O child: that impious Herod,
where is he? The child says to him: Since thou hast asked, hear his
dwelling-place. He dwells, indeed, in Hades; and there has been prepared
for him fire unquenchable, Gehenna without end, bubbling mire, worm that
sleeps not,(1) because he cut off three(2) thousand infants, wishing to
slay the child Jesus, the ancient of the ages; but of all these ages I am
father. Now therefore, O Matthew, take this rod of mine, and go down from
the mountain, and go into Myrna, the city of the man-eaters, and plant it
by the gate of the church which thou(3) and Andrew founded; and as soon as
thou hast planted it, it shall be a tree, great and lofty and with many
branches, and its branches shall extend to thirty cubits, and of each
single branch the fruit shall be different both to the sight and the
eating,(4) and from the top of the tree shall flow down much honey; and
from its root there shall come forth a great fountain, giving drink to this
country round about, and in it creatures that swim and creep; and in it the
man-eaters shall wash themselves, and eat of the fruit of the trees of the
vine and of the honey; and their bodies shall be changed, and their forms
shall be altered so as to be like those of other men; and they shall be
ashamed of the nakedness of their body, and they shall put on clothing of
the rams of the sheep, and they shall no longer eat unclean things; and
there shall be to them fire in superabundance, preparing the sacrifices for
offerings, and they shall bake their bread with fire; and they shall see
each other in the likeness of the rest of men, and they shall acknowledge
me, and glorify my Father who is in the heavens. Now therefore make haste,
Matthew, and go down hence, because the departure from thy body through
fire is at hand, and the crown of thy endurance.
And the child having said this, and given him the rod, was taken up
into the heavens. And Matthew went down from the mountain, hastening to the
city. And as he was about to enter into the city, there met him Fulvana the
wife of the king, and his son Fulvanus and his wife Erva, who were
possessed by an unclean spirit, and cried out shouting: Who has brought
thee here again, Matthew? or who has given thee the rod for our
destruction? for we see also the child Jesus, the Son of God, who is with
thee. Do not go then, O Matthew, to plant the rod for the food, and for the
transformation of the man-eaters: for I bare found what I shall do to thee.
For since thou didst drive me out of this city, and prevent me from
fulfilling my wishes among the man-eaters, behold, I will raise up against
thee the king of this city, and he will burn thee alive. And Matthew,
having laid his hands on each one of the demoniacs, put the demons to
flight, and made the people whole; and they followed him.
And thus the affair being made manifest, Plato the bishop, having heard
of the presence of the holy Apostle Matthew, met him with all the clergy;
and having fallen to the ground, they kissed his feet. And Matthew raised
them, and went with them into the church, and the child Jesus was also with
him. And Matthew, having come to the gate of the church, stood upon a
certain lofty and immoveable stone; and when the whole city ran together,
especially the brethren who had believed, began to say: Men and women who
appear in our sight, heretofore believing in the universe,(1) but now
knowing Him who has upheld and made the universe; until now worshipping the
Satyr, and mocked by ten thousand false gods, but now through Jesus Christ
acknowledging the one and only God, Lord, Judge; who have laid aside the
immeasurable greatness of evil, and put on love, which is of like nature
with affectionateness, towards men; once strangers to Christ, but now
confessing Him Lord and God; formerly without form, but now transformed
through Christ;--behold, the staff which you see in my hand, which Jesus,
in whom you have believed and will believe, gave me; perceive now what
comes to pass through me, and acknowledge the riches of the greatness which
He will this day make for you. For, behold, I shall plant this rod in this
place, and it shall be a sign to your generations, and it shall become a
tree, great and lofty and flourishing, and its fruit beautiful to the view
and good to the sight; and the fragrance of perfumes shall come forth from
it, and there shall be a vine twining round it, full of clusters; and from
the top of it honey coming down, and every flying creature shall find
covert in its branches; and a fountain of water shall come forth from the
root of it, having swimming and creeping things, giving drink to all the
country round about.
And having said this, and called upon the name of the Lord Jesus, he
fixed his rod in the ground, and straightway it sprung up to one cubit; and
the sight was strange and wonderful. For the rod having straightway shot
up, increased in size, and grew into a great tree, as Matthew had said. And
the apostle said: Go into the fountain and wash your bodies in it, and then
thus partake both of the fruits of the tree, and of the vine and the honey,
and drink of the fountain, and you shall be transformed in your likeness to
that of men; and after that, having gone into the church, you will clearly
recognise that you have believed in the living and true God. And having
done all these things, they saw themselves changed into the likeness of
Matthew; then, having thus gone into the church, they worshipped and
glorified God. And when they had been changed, they knew that they were
naked; and they ran in haste each to his own house to cover their
nakedness, because they were ashamed.
And Matthew and Plato remained in the church spending the night, and
glorifying God. And there remained also the king's wife, and his son and
his wife, and they prayed the apostle to give them the seal in Christ. And
Matthew gave orders to Plato; and he, having gone forth, baptized them in
the water of the fountain of the tree, in the name of the Father, and the
Son, and the Holy Ghost. And so thereafter, having one into the church,
they communicated in the holy mysteries of Christ; (2) and they exulted and
passed the night, they also along with the apostle, many others having also
come with them; and all in the church sang the whole night, glorifying God.
And when the dawn had fully come, the blessed Matthew, having gone
along with the bishop Plato, stood in the place in which the rod had been
planted, and he sees the rod grown into a great tree, and near it a vine
twined round it, and honey coming down from above even to its root; and
that tree was at once beautiful and flourishing, like the plants in
paradise, and a river proceeded from its root watering(3) all the land of
the city of Myrna.(4) And all ran together, and ate of the fruit of the
tree and the vine, just as any one wished.
And when what had come to pass was reported in the palace, the king
Fulvanus, having learned what had been done by Matthew about his wife, and
his son, and his daughter-in-law, rejoiced for a time at their
purification; but seeing that they were inseparable from Matthew, he was
seized with rage and anger, and endeavoured to put him to death by fire.
And on that night(1) in which the king intended to lay hands on Matthew,
Matthew saw Jesus saying to him: I am with thee always to save thee,
Matthew; be strong, and be a man.
And the blessed Matthew, having awoke, and sealed himself over all the
body, rose up at dawn, and proceeded into the church; and having bent his
knees, prayed earnestly. Then the bishop having come, and the clergy, they
stood in common in prayer, glorifying God. And after they had ended the
prayer, the bishop Plato said: Peace to thee, Matthew, apostle of Christ!
And the blessed Matthew said to him: Peace to you! And when they had sat
down, the apostle said to the bishop Plato, and to all the clergy: I wish
you, children, to know, Jesus having declared it to me, that the king of
this city is going to send soldiers against me, the devil having entered
into him, and manifestly armed him against us. But let us give ourselves up
to Jesus, and He will deliver us from every trial, and all who have
believed in Him.
And the king, plotting against the blessed Matthew how he should lay
hands on him, and seeing also that the believers were very many, was very
much at fault, and was in great difficulty.
Therefore the wicked and unclean devil who had come forth from the
king's wife, and his son, and his daughter-in-law, put to flight by
Matthew, having transformed himself into the likeness of a soldier, stood
before the king, and said to him: O king, why art thou thus put to the
worse by this stranger and sorcerer? Knowest thou not that he was a
publican, but now he has been called an apostle(2) by Jesus, who was
crucified by the Jews? For, behold, thy wife, and thy son, and thy
daughter-in-law, instructed by him, have believed in him, and along with
him sing in the church. And now, behold, Matthew is going forth, and Plato
with him, and they are going to the gate called Heavy; but make haste, and
thou wilt find them, and thou shalt do to him all that may be pleasing in
thine eyes.
The king having heard this, and being the more exasperated by the
pretended soldier, sent against the blessed Matthew four soldiers, having
threatened them, and said: Unless you bring Matthew to me, I shall burn you
alive with fire; and the punishment which he is to undergo, you shall
endure. And the soldiers, having been thus threatened by the king, go in
arms to where the Apostle Matthew and the bishop Plato are. And when they
came near them, they heard their speaking indeed, but saw no one. And
having come, they said to the king: We pray thee, O king, we went and found
no one, but only heard the voices of persons talking. And the king, being
enraged, and having blazed up like fire, gave orders to send other ten
soldiers--man-eaters--saying to them: Go stealthily to the place, and tear
them in pieces alive, and eat up Matthew, and Plato, who is with him. And
when they were about to come near the blessed Matthew, the Lord Jesus
Christ, having come in the likeness of a most beautiful boy, holding a
torch of fire, ran to meet them, burning out their eyes. And they, having
cried out and thrown their arms from them, fled, and came to the king,
being speechless.
And the demon who had before appeared to the king in the from of a
soldier, being again transformed into the form of a soldier, stood before
the king, and said to him: Thou seest, O king, this stranger has bewitched
them all. Learn, then, how thou shall take him. The king says to him: Tell
me first wherein his strength is, that I may know, and then I will draw up
against him with a great force. And the demon, compelled by an angel, says
to the king: Since thou wishest to hear accurately about him, O king, I
will tell thee all the truth. Really, unless he shall be willing to be
taken by thee of his own accord, thou labourest in vain, and thou wilt not
be able to hurt him; but if thou wishest to lay hands on him, thou wilt be
struck by him with blindness, and thou wilt be paralyzed. And if thou send
a multitude of soldiers against him, they also will be struck with
blindness, and will be paralyzed. And we shall go, even seven unclean
demons, and immediately make away with thee and thy whole camp, and destroy
all the city with lightning, except those naming that awful and holy name
of Christ; for wherever a footstep of theirs has come, thence, pursued, we
flee. And even if thou shall apply fire to him, to him the fire will be
dew; and if thou shalt shut him up in a furnace, to him the furnace will be
a church; and if thou shalt put him in chains in prison, and seal up the
floors, the doors will open to him of their own accord, and all who believe
in that name will go in, even they, and say, This prison is a church of the
living God, and a holy habitation of those that live alone.(3) Behold, O
king, I have told thee all the truth. The king therefore says to the
pretended soldier: Since I do not know Matthew, come with me, and point him
out to me from a distance, and take from me gold, as much as thou mayst
wish, or go thyself, and with thy sword kill him, and Plato his
associate.(4) The demon says to him: I cannot kill him. I dare not even
look into his face, seeing that he has destroyed all our generation through
the name of Christ, proclaimed through him.
The king says to him: And who art thou? And he says: I am the demon who
dwelt in thy wife, and in thy son, and in thy daughter-in-law; and my name
is Asmodaeus; and this Matthew drove me out of them. And now, behold, thy
wife, and thy son, and thy daughter-in-law sing along with him in the
church. And I know, O king, that thou also after this wilt believe in him.
The king says to him: Whoever thou art, spirit of many shapes, I adjure
thee by the God whom he whom thou callest Matthew proclaims, depart hence
without doing hurt to any one. And straightway the demon, no longer like a
soldier, but like smoke, became invisible; and as he fled he cried out: O
secret name, armed against us, I pray thee, Matthew, servant of the holy
God, pardon me, and I will no longer remain in this city. Keep thou thine
own; but I go away into the fire everlasting.
Then the king, affected with great fear at the answer of the demon,
remained quiet that day. And the night having come, and he not being able
to sleep because lie was hungry,(1) leaped up at dawn, and went into the
church, with only two soldiers without arms, to take Matthew by craft, that
he might kill him. And having summoned two friends of Matthew, he said to
them: Show to Matthew, says he, that I wish to be his disciple. And Matthew
hearing, and knowing the craft of the tyrant, and having been warned also
by the vision of the Lord to him, went forth out of the church, led by the
hand by Plato, and stood in the gate of the church.
And they say to the king: Behold Matthew in the gate! And he says: Who
he is, or where he is, I see not. And they said to him: Behold, he is in
sight of thee. And he says: All the while I see nobody. For he had been
blinded by the power of God. And he began to cry out: Woe to me, miserable!
what evil has come upon me, for my eyes have been blinded, and all my limbs
paralyzed? O Asmodaeus Beelzebul Satan! all that thou hast said to me has
come upon me. But I pray thee, Matthew, servant of God, forgive me as the
herald of the good God; for assuredly the Jesus proclaimed by the three
days ago through the night appeared to me altogether resplendent as with
lightning, like a beautiful young man, and said to me, Since thou art
entertaining evil counsels in the wickedness of thine heart in regard to my
servant Matthew, know I have disclosed to him that through thee will be the
release of his body. And straightway I saw him going up into heaven. If
therefore he is thy God, and if he wishes thy body to be buried in our city
for a testimony of the salvation of the generations after this, and for the
banishing(2) of the demons, I shall know the truth for myself by this, by
thee laying on hands upon me, and I shall receive my sight. And the apostle
having laid his hands upon his eyes, and saying EPHPHATHA, Jesus,(3) he
made him receive his sight instantly.
And straightway the king, laying hold of the apostle, and leading him
by the right hand, brought him by craft into the palace; and Plato was on
Matthew's left hand, going along with him, and keeping hold of him.(4) Then
Matthew says: O crafty tyrant, how long dost thou not fulfil the works of
thy father the devil? And he was enraged at what had been said; for he
perceived that he would inflict upon him a more bitter death. For he
resolved to put him to death by fire. And he commanded several executioners
to come, and to lead him away to the place by the seashore, where the
execution of malefactors was wont to take place, saying to the
executioners: I hear, says he, that the God whom he proclaims delivers from
fire those who believe in him. Having laid him, therefore, on the ground on
his back, and stretched him out, pierce his hands and feet with iron nails,
and cover him over with paper, having smeared it with dolphins' oil, and
cover him up with brimstone and asphalt and pitch, and put tow and
brushwood above. Thus apply the fire to him; and if any of the same tribe
with him rise up against you, he shall get the same punishment.
And the apostle exhorted the brethren to remain undismayed, and that
they should rejoice, and accompany him with great meekness, singing and
praising God, because they were deemed worthy to have the relics of the
apostle. Having therefore come to the place, the executioners, like most
evil wild beasts, pinned down to the ground Matthew's hands and feet with
long nails; and having done everything as they had been bid, applied the
fire. And they indeed laboured(5) closely, kindling it all round; but all
the fire was changed into dew, so that the brethren, rejoicing, cried out:
The only God is the Christians', who assists Matthew, in whom also we have
believed: the only God is the Christians', who preserves His own apostle in
the fire. And by the voice the city was shaken. And some of the
executioners, having gone forth, said to the king: We indeed, O king, by
every contrivance of vengeance, have kindled the fire; but the sorcerer by
a certain name puts it out, calling upon Christ, and invoking his cross;
and the Christians surrounding him play with the fire, and walking in it
with naked feet, laugh at us,(1) and we have fled ashamed.
Then he ordered a multitude to carry coals of fire from the furnace of
the bath in the palace, and the twelve gods of gold and silver; and place
them, says he, in a circle round the sorcerer, lest he may even somehow
bewitch the fire from the furnace of the palace. And there being many
executioners and soldiers, some carried the coals; and others, bearing the
gods, brought them. And the king accompanied them, watching lest any of the
Christians should steal one of his gods, or bewitch the fire. And when they
came near the place where the apostle was nailed down, his face was looking
towards heaven, and all his body was covered over with the paper, and much
brushwood over his body to the height of ten cubits. And baring ordered the
soldiers to set the gods in a circle round Matthew, five cubits off,
securely fastened that they might not fall, again he ordered the coal to be
thrown on, and to kindle the fire at all points.
And Matthew, having looked up to heaven, cried out, ADONAI ELOI SABAOTH
MARMARI MARMUNTH; that is, O God the Father, O Lord Jesus Christ, deliver
me, and burn down their gods which they worship; and let the fire also
pursue the king even to his palace, but not to his destruction: for perhaps
he will repent and be converted. And when he saw the fire to be monstrous
in height, the king, thinking that Matthew was burnt up, laughed aloud, and
said: Has thy magic been of any avail to thee, Matthew? Can thy Jesus now
give thee any help?
And as he said this a dreadful wonder appeared; for all the fire along
with the wood went away froth Matthew, and was poured round about their
gods, so that nothing of the gold or the silver was any more seen; and the
king fled, and said: Woe's me, that my gods are destroyed by the rebuke of
Matthew, of which the weight was a thousand talents of gold and a thousand
talents of silver. Better are the gods of stone and of earthenware, in that
they are neither melted nor stolen.(2)
And when the fire had thus utterly destroyed their gods, and burnt up
many soldiers, there came to pass again another stranger wonder. For the
fire, in the likeness of a great and dreadful dragon, chased the tyrant as
far as the palace, and ran hither and thither round the king, not letting
him go into the palace. And the king, chased by the fire, and not allowed
to go into his palace, turned back to where Matthew was, and cried out,
saying: I beseech thee, whoever thou art, O mail, whether magician or
sorcerer or god, or angel of God, whom so great a pyre has not touched,
remove from me this dreadful and fiery dragon; forget the evil I have done,
as also when thou madest me receive my sight. And Matthew, having rebuked
the fire, and the flames having been extinguished, and the dragon having
become invisible, stretching his eyes to heaven, and praying in Hebrew, and
commending his spirit to the Lord, said: Peace to you! And having glorified
the Lord, he went to his rest about the sixth hour.
Then the king, having ordered more soldiers to come, and the bed to be
brought from the palace, which had a great show of gold, he ordered the
apostle to be laid on it, and carried to the palace. And the body of the
apostle was lying as if in sleep, and his robe and his tunic unstained by
the fire; and sometimes they saw him on the bed, and sometimes following,
and sometimes going before the bed, and with his right hand put upon
Plato's head, and singing along with the multitude, so that both the king
and the soldiers, with the crowd, were struck with astonishment. And many
diseased persons and demoniacs, having only touched the bed, were made
sound; and as many as were savage in appearance, in that same hour were
changed into the likeness of other men.
And as the bed was going into the palace, we(3) all saw Matthew rising
up, as it were, from the bed, and going into heaven, led by the hand by a
beautiful boy; and twelve men in shining garments came to meet him, having
never-fading and golden crowns on their head; and we saw how that child
crowned Matthew, so as to be like them, and in a flash of lightning they
went away to heaven.
And the king stood at the gate of the palace, and ordered that no one
should come in but the soldiers carrying the bed. And having shut the
doors,(4) he ordered an iron coffin to be made, put the body of Matthew
into it, and sealed it up with lead; through the eastern gate of the palace
at midnight put it into a boat, no one knowing of it, and threw it into the
deep part of the sea.
And through the whole night the brethren remained before the gate of
the palace, spending the night, and singing; and when the dawn rose there
was a voice: O bishop Plato, carry the Gospel and the Psalter of David; go
along with the multitude of the brethren to the east of the palace, and
sing the Alleluia, and read the Gospel, and bring as an offering the holy
bread; and having pressed three clusters from the vine into a cup,
communicate with me, as the Lord Jesus showed us how to offer up when He
rose from the dead on the third day.
And the bishop having run into the church, and taken the Gospel and the
Psalter of David, and having assembled the presbyters and the multitude of
the brethren, came to the east of the palace at the hour of sunrise; and
having ordered the one who was singing to go upon a certain lofty stone, he
began to praise in singing of a song to God: Precious in the sight of God
is the death of His saints.(1) And again: I laid me down and slept; I
arose: because the Lord will sustain me.(2) And they listened to the
singing of a song of David: Shall he that is dead not rise again? Now I
shall raise him up for myself, saith the Lord. And all shouted out the
Alleluia. And the bishop read the Gospel, and all cried out: Glory to Thee,
Thou who hast been glorified in heaven and on earth. And so then they
offered the gift of the holy offering for Matthew; and having partaken for
thanksgiving(3) of the undefiled and life-giving mysteries of Christ, they
all glorified God.
And it was about the sixth hour, and Plato sees the sea opposite about
seven furlongs off; and, behold, Matthew was standing on the sea, and two
men, one on each side, in shining garments, and the beautiful boy in front
of them. And all the brethren saw these things, and they heard them saying
Amen, Alleluia. And one could see the sea fixed like a stone of crystal,
and the beautiful boy its front of them, when out of the depth of the sea a
cross came up, and at the end of the cross the coffin going up in which was
the body of Matthew; and in the hour of the piercing on the cross,(4) the
boy placed the coffin on the ground, behind the palace towards the east,
where the bishop had offered the offering for Matthew.
And the king having seen these things from the upper part of the house,
and being terror-struck, went forth from the palace, and ran and worshipped
towards the east at the coffin, and fell down before the bishop, and the
presbyters, and the deacons, in repentance and confession, saying:(5) Truly
I believe in the true God, Christ Jesus. I entreat, give me the seal in
Christ, and I will give you my palace, in testimony of Matthew, and you
shall put the coffin upon my golden bed, in the great dining-room; only,
having baptized me in it, communicate to me the Eucharist of Christ. And
the bishop having prayed, and ordered him to take off his clothes, and
having examined him for a long time, and he having confessed and wept over
what he had done, having sealed him, and anointed him with oil, put him
down into the sea, in the name of Father, and Son, and Holy Ghost. And when
he came up from the water he ordered him to put on himself splendid
garments, and so then having given praise and thanks, communicating the
holy bread and mixed cup, the bishop first gave them to the king, saying:
Let this body of Christ, and this cup, His blood shed for us, be to thee
for the remission of sins unto life. And a voice was heard from on high:
Amen, amen, amen. And when he had thus communicated in fear and joy, the
apostle appeared and said: King Fulvanus, thy name shall no longer be
Fulvanus; but thou shall be called Matthew. And thou, the son of the king,
shall no longer be called Fulvanus, but Matthew also; and thou Ziphagia,
the wife of the king, shall be called Sophia;(6) and Erva, the wife of your
son, shall be called Synesis.(7) And these names of yours shall be written
in the heavens, and there shall not fail of your loins from generation to
generation. And in that same hour Matthew appointed the king a presbyter,
and he was thirty-seven years old; and the king's son he appointed deacon,
being seventeen years old; and the king's wife he appointed a presbyteress;
and his son's wife he appointed a deaconess,(8) and she also was seventeen
years old. And then he thus blessed them, saying: The blessing and the
grace of our Lord Jesus Christ shall be with you to time everlasting.
Then the king, having awakened out of sleep, and rejoiced with all his
house at the vision of the holy Apostle Matthew, praised God.
And the king, having gone into his palace, broke all the idols to
pieces, and gave a decree to those in his kingdom, writing thus: King
Matthew, to all those under my kingdom, greeting. Christ having appeared
upon earth, and having saved the human race, the so-called gods nave been
found to be deceivers, and soul-destroyers, and plotters against the human
race. Whence, divine grace having shone abroad, and come even to us, and we
having come to the knowledge of the deception of the idols, that it is vain
anti false, it has seemed good to our divinity that there should not be
many gods, but one, and one only, the God in the heavens. And you, having
received this our decree, keep to the purport of it, and break to pieces
and destroy every idol; and if any one shall be detected from this time
forth serving idols, or concealing them, let such an one be subjected to
punishment by the sword. Farewell all, because we also are well.
And when this order was given out, all, rejoicing and exulting, broke
their idols to pieces, crying out and saying: There is one only God, He who
is in the heavens, who does good to men.
And after all these things had come to pass, Matthew the apostle of
Christ appeared to the bishop Plato, and said to him: Plato, servant of
God, and our brother, be it known unto thee, that after three years shall
be thy rest in the Lord, and exultation to ages of ages. And the king
himself, whom after my own name I have called Matthew, shall receive the
throne of thy bishopric, and after him his son. And he, having said Peace
to thee and all the saints, went to heaven.
And after three years the bishop Plato rested in the Lord. And King
Matthew succeeded him, having given up his kingdom willingly to another,
whence there was given him grace against unclean demons, and he cured every
affliction. And he advanced his son to be a presbyter, and made him second
to himself.
And Saint Matthew finished his course in the country of the man-eaters,
in the city of Myrna, on the sixteenth of the month of November, our Lord
Jesus Christ reigning, to whom be glory and strength, now and ever, and to
ages of ages. Amen.(1)
ACTS OF THE HOLY APOSTLE THOMAS
AT that time we the apostles were all in Jerusalem--Simon called Peter,
and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother;
Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas, and Matthew the tax-gatherer; James of
Alphaeus and Simon the Cananaean; and Judas of James;(1)--and we portioned
out the regions of the world, in order that each one of us might go into
the region that fell to him, and to the nation to which the Lord sent him.
By lot, then, India fell to Judas Thomas,(2) also called Didymus. And he
did not wish to go, saying that he was not able to go on account of the
weakness of the flesh; and how can I, being an Hebrew man, go among the
Indians to proclaim the truth? And while he was thus reasoning and
speaking, the Saviour appeared to him through the night, and said to him:
Fear not, Thomas; go away to India, and proclaim the word; for my grace
shall be with thee. But he did not obey, saying: Wherever Thou wishest to
send me, send me elsewhere; for to the Indians I am not going.
And as he was thus speaking and growing angry, there happened to be
there a certain merchant come from India, by name Abbanes, sent from the
king Gundaphoros, and having received an order froth him to buy a carpenter
and bring him to him. And the Lord, having seen him walking about in the
market at noon, said to him: Dost thou wish to buy a carpenter? And he said
to Him: Yes. And the Lord said to him: I have a slave a carpenter, and I
wish to sell him. And having said this, He showed him Thomas at a distance,
and agreed with him for three pounds of uncoined silver; and He wrote a
bill of sale, saying: I Jesus, the son of Joseph the carpenter, declare
that I have sold my slave, Judas by name, to thee Abbanes, a merchant of
Gundaphoros, the king of the Indians. And the purchase(3) being completed,
the Saviour taking Judas, who also is Thomas, led him to Abbanes the
merchant; and Abbanes seeing him, said to him: Is this thy master? And the
apostle answered and said: Yes, He is my Lord. And he says: I have bought
thee from him. And the apostle held his peace.
And at dawn of the following day, the apostle having prayed and
entreated the Lord, said: I go wherever Thou wishest, O Lord Jesus; Thy
will be done. And he went to Abbanes the merchant, carrying nothing at all
with him, but only his price. For the Lord had given it to him, saying: Let
thy worth also be with thee along with my grace, wherever thou mayst go.
And the apostle came up with Abbanes, who was carrying his effects into the
boat. He began therefore also to carry them along with him. And when they
had gone on board and sat down, Abbanes questioned the apostle, saying:
What kind of work dost thou know? And he said: In wood, ploughs, and yokes,
and balances,(4) and boats, and boats' oars, and masts, and blocks; in
stone, slabs,(5) and temples, and royal palaces. And Abbanes the merchant
said to him: Of such a workman, to be sure, we have need. They began,
therefore, to sail away. And they had a fair wind, and they sailed fist
until they came to Andrapolis, a royal city.
And having gone out of the boat, they went into the city. And, behold,
the voices of flute-players, and of water-organs, and trumpets, sounding
round them; and the apostle inquired, saying: What festival is this in this
city? And those who were there said to him: The gods have brought thee
also, that thou mayst be feasted in this city. For the king has an only-
begotten daughter, and he is now giving her to a husband in marriage: this
festival, then, which thou seest to-day, is the rejoicing and public
assembly for the marriage. And the king has sent forth heralds to proclaim
everywhere that all are to come to the marriage, rich and poor, bond and
free, strangers and citizens. And if any one shall refuse and not come to
the marriage, he will be answerable to the king.(6) And Abbanes having
heard, said to the apostle: Let us also go, then, that we may not offend
the king, and especially as we are strangers. And he said: Let us go. And
having turned into the inn, and rested a little, they went to the marriage.
And the apostle seeing them all reclining, reclined he also in the midst.
And they all looked at him as a stranger, and coming from a foreign land.
And Abbanes the merchant, as being a lord, reclined in another place.
And when they had dined and drunk, the apostle tasted nothing. Those,
then, about him said to him: Why hast thou come hither, neither eating nor
drinking? And he answered and said to them: For something greater than food
or even drink have I come hither, even that I might accomplish the will of
the King. For the heralds proclaim the wishes of the King, and whoever will
not hear the heralds will be liable to the judgment of the King. When,
therefore, they had dined and drunk, and crowns and perfumes had been
brought, each took perfume, and one anointed his face, another his
cheek,(1) and one one part of his body, and another another. And the
apostle anointed the crown of his head, and put a little of the ointment in
his nostrils, and dropped it also into his ears, and applied it also to his
teeth, and carefully anointed the parts round about his heart; and having
taken the crown that was brought to him wreathed of myrtle and other
flowers, he put it on his head, and took a branch of reed in his hand, and
held it.
And the flute-girl, holding the flutes in her hand, went round them
all; and when she came to the place where the apostle was, she stood over
him, playing the flute over his head a long time. And that flute-girl was
Hebrew by race.
And as the apostle looked away to the ground, a certain one of the
wine-pourers(2) stretched forth his hand and struck him. And the apostle,
having raised his eyes, and regarded him who had struck him, said: My God
will forgive thee this wrong in the world to come, but in this world He
will show His wonders, and I shall soon see that hand that struck me
dragged along by a dog. And having thus spoken, he began to sing and to
repeat this song:--
Maiden, daughter of the light, in whom there exists and abides the
majestic splendour of kings; and delightsome is the sight of her,
resplendent with brilliant beauty. Her garments are like spring flowers,
and the odour of a sweet smell is given forth from them; and on the crown
of her head the king is seated, feeding with his own ambrosia those who are
seated beside him; and truth rests upon her head, and she shows forth joy
with her feet; and becomingly does she open her mouth; thirty-and-two are
they who sing her praises, and their tongue is like a curtain of the door
which is drawn for them who go in; and her neck is made in the likeness of
the stairs which the first Creator created; and her two hands signify and
represent the choral dance of the blessed ages, proclaiming it; and her
fingers represent the gates of the city. Her chamber lighted up breathes
forth scent from balsam and every perfume, and gives forth a sweet odour of
myrrh and savoury herbs; and within are strewn myrtles and sweet-smelling
flowers of all kinds; and the bridal chambers are adorned with calamus.(3)
And her groomsmen, of whom the number is seven, whom she has chosen for
herself, surround her like a wall; and her bridesmaids are seven, who dance
before her; and twelve are they in number who minister before her and are
at her bidding, having their gaze and their sight upon the bridegroom, that
through the sight of him they may be enlightened. And they shall be with
him to everlasting in that everlasting joy, and they shall sit down in that
wedding to which the great ones are gathered together, and they shall abide
in the festivities of which the eternals are deemed worthy; and they shall
be arrayed in royal raiment, and shall put on shining robes; and in joy and
exultation both of them shall be, and they shall glorify the Father of the
universe, whose majestic light they have received, and they have been
enlightened by the sight of Him their Lord, whose ambrosial food they have
received, of which there is no failing at all; and they have drunk also of
the wine which brings to them no thirst, neither desire of the flesh; and
they have with the living spirit glorified and praised the father of truth
and the mother of wisdom.
And when he had sung and finished this song, all who were there present
looked upon him and kept silence, and they also saw his form changed; and
what had been said by him they did not understand, since he was a Hebrew,
and what had been said by him had been said in Hebrew. But the flute-girl
alone heard all, for she was Hebrew by race, and standing off from him she
played the flute to the others; but at him she mostly turned her eyes and
looked, for she altogether loved him as a man of the same nation with
herself, and he was also beautiful in appearance above all who were there.
And when the flute-girl had come to the end of all her flute-playing, she
sat down opposite him, and looked and gazed upon him. But he looked at no
one at all, neither did he regard any one, but only kept his eyes on the
ground, waiting until he should depart thence. And that wine-pourer that
struck him came down to the fountain to draw water; and there happened to
be a lion there, and it came forth and killed him, and left him lying in
the place, after tearing up his limbs; and dogs immediately seized his
limbs, among which also one black dog, laying hold of his right hand in his
mouth, brought it to the place of the banquet.
And all seeing were terror-struck, inquiring which of them had been
taken off. And when it was clear that it was the hand of the wine-pourer
who had struck the apostle, the flute-girl broke her flutes in pieces, and
threw them away, and went and sat down at the feet of the apostle, saying:
This man is either God or God's apostle; for I heard him saying in Hebrew
to the wine-pourer, I shall soon see the hand that struck me dragged about
by dogs, which also you have now seen; for as he said, so also it has come
to pass. And some believed her, and some not. And the king, having heard,
came up and said to him: Rise up, and go with me, and pray for my daughter;
for she is my only child, and today I give her away. And the apostle would
not go with him; for his Lord had not at all been revealed to him there.
And the king took him away against his will to the bridal-chamber, that he
might pray for them.
And the apostle stood, and began to pray and speak thus: My Lord and my
God, who accompanies His servants on their way, guiding and directing those
who trust in Him, the refuge and the repose of the afflicted, the hope of
the mourners, and the deliverer of the captives, the physician of the souls
that are lying under disease, and Saviour of every creature, who gives life
to the world, and invigorates our souls! Thou knowest what will come to
pass, who also for our sakes makest these things perfect: Thou, Lord, who
revealest hidden mysteries, and declarest unspeakable words; Thou, Lord,
the planter of the good tree, also through the tree makest words to spring
up; Thou, Lord, who art in all, and camest through all, and existest in all
Thy works, and makest Thyself manifest through the working of them all;
Jesus Christ, the Son of compassion, and perfect Saviour; Christ, Son of
the living God, the undaunted Power which has overthrown the enemy; and the
voice heard by the rulers,(1) which shook all their powers; the ambassador
who was sent to them from on high, and who wentest down even to Hades; who
also, having opened the doors, didst bring out thence those that had been
shut in for many ages by the controller of the world, and didst show them
the way up that leads up on high: I beseech Thee, Lord Jesus Christ, I
offer Thee supplication for these young persons, that Thou mayst make what
happens and befalls them to be for their good. And having laid his hands on
them, and said, The Lord will be with you, he left them in the place, and
went away.(2)
And the king requested the groomsmen to go out of the bridal-chamber;
and all having gone forth, and the doors having been shut, the bridegroom
raised the curtain of the bridal-chamber, that he might bring the bride to
himself. And he saw the Lord Jesus talking with the bride, and having the
appearance of Judas Thomas, who shortly before had blessed them, and gone
out from them; and he says to him: Didst thou not go out before them all?
And how art thou found here? And the Lord said to him: I am not Judas, who
also is Thomas; I am his brother. And the Lord sat down on the bed, and
ordered them also to sit down on the seats;(3) and He began to say to
them:--
Keep in mind, my children, what my brother said to you, and to whom he
commended you; and this know, that if you refrain from this filthy
intercourse, you become temples holy and pure, being released from
afflictions and troubles, known and unknown, and you will not be involved
in the cares of life, and of children, whose end is destruction; but if you
get many children, for their sakes you become grasping and avaricious,
plundering orphans, coveting the property of widows, and by doing this you
subject yourselves to most grievous punishments. For many children become
unprofitable, being harassed by demons, some openly and others secretly:
for they become either lunatics, or half-withered, or lame, or deaf, or
dumb, or paralytics, or idiots; and even if they be in good health, they
will be again good-for-nothing, doing unprofitable and abominable works:
for they will be detected either in adultery, or in murder, or in theft, or
in fornication, and by all these you will be afflicted. But if you will be
persuaded, and preserve your souls pure to God, there will be born to you
living children, whom these hurtful things do not touch; and you will be
without care, spending an untroubled life, free from grief and care,
looking forward to receive that marriage incorruptible and true; and you
will be in it companions of the bridegroom, going in along with Him into
that bridal-chamber full of immortality and light.(4)
And when the young people heard this, they believed the Lord, and gave
themselves over into His keeping, and refrained from filthy lust, and
remained thus spending the night in the place. And the Lord went out from
before them, having spoken thus to them: The grace of the Lord shall be
with you. And the dawn having come on, the king arrived, and having
supplied the table, brought it in before the bridegroom and the bride; and
he found them sitting opposite each other, and he found the face of the
bride uncovered, and the bridegroom was quite cheerful. And the mother
having come to the bride, said: Wherefore dost thou sit thus, child, and
art not ashamed, but thus as if thou hadst for a long time lived with thine
own husband? And her father said: Is it because of thy great love to thy
husband that thou art uncovered?
And the bride answered and said: Truly, father, I am in great love, and
I pray to my Lord to continue to me the love which I have experienced this
night, and I shall beg for myself this husband whom I have experienced
today. For this reason, then, I am no longer covered, since the mirror(1)
of shame has been taken away from me, and I am no longer ashamed nor
abashed, since the work of shame and bashfulness has been removed far from
me; and because I am not under any violent emotion, since violent emotion
does not abide in me; and because I am in cheerfulness and joy, since the
day of joy has not been disturbed; and because I hold of no account this
husband, and these nuptials that have passed away from before mine eyes,
since I have been joined in a different marriage; and because I have had no
intercourse with a temporary husband, whose end is with lewdness and
bitterness of soul, since I have been united to a true Husband.
And when the bride is saying yet more, the bridegroom answers and says:
I thank Thee, Lord, who hast been proclaimed by the stranger and found by
us;(2) who hast put corruption far from me, and hast sown life in me; who
hast delivered me from this disease, hard to heal, and hard to cure, and
abiding for ever, and established in me sound health; who hast shown
Thyself to me, and hast revealed to me all that concerns me, in which I am;
who hast redeemed me from falling, and hast led me to something better, and
who hast released me from things temporary, and hast deemed me worthy of
things immortal and ever existing; who hast brought Thyself down even to me
and to my littleness, in order that, having placed me beside Thy greatness,
Thou mightest unite me to Thyself; who hast not withheld Thine own
compassion from me lost, but hast shown me how to search myself, and to
know what(3) I was and what(3) and how I am now, in order that I may again
become as I was; whom I indeed did not know, but Thou Thyself whom I knew
not hast sought me out and taken me to Thyself; whom I have experienced,
and am not now able to forget, whose love is fervent in me; and speak
indeed as I ought I cannot. But what I have time to say about Him is short,
and altogether little, and not in proportion to His glory; but He does not
find fault with me for not being ashamed to say to Him even what I do not
know; because it is through the love of Him that I say even this.
And the king, having heard these things from the bridegroom and the
bride, rent his garments, and said to those standing near him: Go out
quickly, and go round the whole city, and seize and bring me that man, the
sorcerer, who has come for evil into this city: for I led him with my own
hands into my house, and I told him to play for my most unfortunate
daughter; and whoever shall find him and bring him to me, whatever service
be shall ask of me, I give him. They went away, therefore, and went round
seeking him, and found him not; for he had sailed. They went, therefore,
also into the inn where he had stayed, and found there the flute-girl
weeping and in distress, because he had not taken her with him. And they
having recounted what had happened in the case of the young people, she was
altogether glad when she heard it, and dismissed her grief, and said: Now
have I found, even I, repose here. And she arose and went to them, and was
with them a long time, until they had instructed the king also. And many
also of the brethren were gathered together there, until they heard word of
the apostle, that he had gone down to the cities of India, and was teaching
there.And they went away, and joined him.
ACTS OF THE HOLY APOSTLE THOMAS,
WHEN HE CAME INTO INDIA, AND BUILT THE PALACE IN THE HEAVENS.
AND when the apostle came into the cities of India, with Abbanes the
merchant, Abbanes went away to salute Gundaphoros the king, and reported to
him about the carpenter whom he bad brought with him; and the king was
glad, and ordered him to come in to himself. And when he had come in, the
king said to him: What trade knowest thou? The apostle says to him: The
carpenter's and house builder's. The king says to him: What work in wood
knowest thou, then, and what in stone? The apostle says: In wood, ploughs,
yokes, balances, pulleys, and boats, and oars, and masts; and in stone,
monuments, temples, royal palaces. And the king said: Wilt thou build me a
palace? And he answered: Yes, I shall build it, and finish it; for because
of this I came, to build houses, and to do carpenter's work.
And the king having taken him, went forth out of the gates of the city,
and began to talk with him on the way about the building of the palace, and
about the foundations, how they should be laid, until they came to that
place in which he wished the building to be. And he said: Here I wish the
building to be. And the apostle says: Yes; for assuredly this place is
convenient for the building. For the place was well wooded, and there was
much water there. The king therefore says: Begin to build. And he said: I
cannot begin to build at this time.
And the king says: When wilt thou be able? And he says: I shall begin
in Dius and end in Xanthicus.(1) And the king wondering, said: Every
building is built in summer; but canst thou build and make a palace in
winter itself? And the apostle said: Thus it must be, and otherwise it is
impossible. And the king said: If, therefore, this be thy opinion, mark out
for me how the work is to be, since I shall come here after some time. And
the apostle, having taken a reed, measured the place, and marked it out;
and he set the doors towards the rising of the sun, to look to the light,
and the windows towards its setting, to the winds; and he made the
bakehouse to be towards the south, and the water-tank, for abundance,
towards the north. And the king seeing this, said to the apostle: Thou art
a craftsman indeed, and it is fitting that thou shouldst serve kings. And
having left many things for him, he went away.
And from time to time he also sent the money that was necessary, for
the living both of him and the other workmen. And he taking it, dispenses
it all, going about the cities and the places round, distributing and doing
kindnesses to the poor and the afflicted, and gave them rest,(2) saying:
The king knows how to obtain royal recompense, and it is necessary for the
poor to have repose for the present.
And after this, the king sent a messenger to the apostle, having
written to him as follows: Show me what thou hast done, or what I am to
send thee, or what thou needest. The apostle sends to him, saying: The
palace is built, and only the roof remains to be done. And the king, having
heard, sent him again gold and silver uncoined, and wrote to him: Let the
palace, if it be done, be roofed. And the apostle said to the Lord: I thank
Thee, Lord, as to all things, that Thou didst die for a short time, that I
might live in Thee for ever; and hast sold me, so that Thou mayst deliver
many through me. And he did not cease to teach and refresh the afflicted,
saying: These things the Lord hath dispensed to us, and He gives to each
his food; for He is the support of the orphans, and the provider of the
widows, and to all that are afflicted He is rest and repose.
And when the king came into the city, he inquired of his friends about
the palace which Judas, who also is Thomas, had built; and they said to
him: He has neither built a palace, nor done anything else of what he
promised to do; but he goes round the cities and the districts, and if he
has anything he gives all to the poor, and teaches one new God,(3) and
heals the diseased, and drives out demons, and does many other
extraordinary things; and we think that he is a magician. But his acts of
compassion, and the cures done by him as a free gift, and still more, his
single-mindedness, and gentleness, and fidelity, show that he is a just
man, or an apostle of the new God whom he preaches; for he continually
fasts and prays, and eats only bread with salt, and his drink is water, and
he carries one coat, whether in warm weather or in cold, and he takes
nothing from any one, but gives to others even what he has. The king having
heard this, stroked his face with his hands, shaking his head for a long
time.
And he sent for the merchant that had brought him, and for the apostle,
and said to him: Hast thou built me the palace? And he said: Yes, I have
built it. And the king said: When, then, are we to go and see it? And he
answered and said: Now thou canst not see it; but when thou hast departed
this life, thou shalt see it. And the king, quite enraged, ordered both the
merchant, and Judas who also is Thomas, to be put in chains, and to be cast
into prison, until he should examine, and learn to whom he had given the
king's property. And thus I shall destroy him along with the merchant. And
the apostle went to prison rejoicing, and said to the merchant: Fear
nothing at all, but only believe in the God proclaimed by me, and thou
shalt be freed from this world, and thou shall obtain life in the world to
come.
And the king considered by what death he should kill them; and when it
seemed good to him to flay them, and burn them with fire, on that very
night Gad the king's brother fell ill, and through the grief and imposition
which the king suffered he was grievously depressed; and having sent for
the king, he said to him: My brother the king, I commend to thee my house
and my children; for I, on account of the insult that has befallen thee,
have been grieved, and am dying; and if thou do not come down with
vengeance upon the head of that magician, thou wilt give my soul no rest in
Hades. And the king said to his brother: During the whole night I have
considered this, how I shall put him to death; and this has seemed good to
me--to flay him and burn him up with fire, both him and with him the
merchant that brought him.
And as they were talking together, the soul of Gad his brother
departed. And the king mourned for Gad exceedingly, for he altogether loved
him. And he ordered him to be prepared for burial in a royal and costly
robe. And as this was being done, angels received the soul of Gad the
king's brother, and took it up into heaven, showing him the places and
dwellings there, asking him: In what sort of a place dost thou wish to
dwell? And when they came near the edifice of Thomas the apostle, which he
had built for the king, Gad, seeing it, said to the angels, I entreat you,
my lords, permit me to dwell in one of the underground chambers of this
palace. And they said to him: Thou canst not dwell in this building.(1) And
he said: Wherefore? They say to him: This palace is the one which that
Christian built for thy brother. And he said: I entreat you, my lords,
permit me to go to thy brother, that I may buy this palace from him; for my
brother does not know what it is like, and he will sell it to me.
Then the angels let the soul of Gad go. And as they were putting on him
the burial robe, his soul came into him. And he said to those standing
round him: Call my brother to me, that I may beg of him one request.
Straightway, therefore, they sent the good news to their king, saying: Thy
brother has come alive again. And the king started up, and along with a
great multitude went to his brother, and went in and stood beside his bed
as if thunderstruck, not being able to speak to him. And his brother said:
I know and am persuaded, brother, that if any one asked of thee the haft of
thy kingdom, thou wouldst give it for my sake; wherefore I entreat thee to
grant me one favour, which I beg of thee to do me. And the king answered
and said: And what is it that thou askest me to do for thee? And he said:
Assure me by an oath that thou wilt grant it me. And the king swore to him:
Of what belongs to me, whatever thou shalt ask, I will give thee. And he
says to him: Sell me that palace which thou hast in the heavens. And the
king said: Whence does a palace in the heavens belong to me? And he said:
That which the Christian who is now in the prison, whom the merchant bought
froth a certain Jesus, and brought to thee, built for thee. And as he was
at a loss, he says to him again: I speak of that Hebrew slave whom thou
didst wish to punish, as having suffered some imposition from him, on
account of whom I also was grieved and died, and now have come alive again.
Then the king, having come to know, understood about the eternal
benefits that were conferred upon him and destined for him, and said: That
palace I cannot sell thee, but I pray thee to go into it, and dwell there,
and become worthy to be of its inhabitants; but if thou really wishest to
buy such a palace, behold, the man is alive, and will build thee a better
than that.(2) And having sent immediately, he brought out of the prison the
apostle, and the merchant who had been shut up along with him, saying: I
entreat thee, as a man entreating the servant of God, that thou wilt pray
for me, and entreat him whose servant thou art, to pardon me, and overlook
what I have done to thee, or even what I meant to do, and that I may be
worthy to be an inhabitant of that house for which indeed I have laboured
nothing, but which thou labouring alone hast built for me, the grace of thy
God working with thee; and that I may become a servant, I also, and slave
of this God whom thou proclaimest. And his brother, falling down before the
apostle, said: I entreat thee, and supplicate before thy God, that I may
become worthy of this ministry and service, and may be allotted to become
worthy of those things which were shown me by his angels.
And the apostle, seized with joy, said: I make full confession(3) to
Thee, Lord Jesus, that Thou hast revealed Thy truth in these men: for Thou
alone art a God of truth, and not another; and Thou art He who knowest all
things that are unknown to many: Thou art He, Lord, who in all things
showest compassion and mercy to men; for men, through the error that is in
them, have overlooked Thee, but Thou hast not overlooked them. And now,
when I am entreating and supplicating Thee, accept the king and his
brother, and unite them into Thy fold, having cleansed them by Thy
purification, and anointed them with Thy oil, from the error which
encompasseth them; and protect them also from the wolves, bringing them
into Thy meadows; and give them to drink of Thy ambrosial fountain, that is
never muddy and never faileth: for they entreat Thee, and supplicate, and
wish to become Thy ministers and servants; and on account of this they are
well pleased even to be persecuted by Thine enemies, and for Thy sake to be
hated by them, and insulted, and to die; as Thou also for our sakes didst
suffer all these things, that Thou mightst gain us to Thyself, as being
Lord, and truly a good shepherd. And do Thou grant them that they may have
confidence in Thee alone, and aid from Thee, and hope of their salvation,
which they obtain from Thee alone, and that they may be confirmed in Thy
mysteries; and they shall receive the perfect benefits of Thy graces and
gifts, and flourish in Thy service, and bear fruit to perfection in Thy
Father.
King Gundaphoros, therefore, and Gad, having been altogether set apart
by the apostle, followed him, not at all going back, they also providing
for those that begged of them, giving to all, and relieving all. And they
entreated him that they might also then receive the seal of baptism; and
they said to him: As our souls are at ease, and as we are earnest about
God, give us the seal; for we have heard thee saying that the God whom thou
proclaimest recognises through his seal his own sheep. And the apostle said
to them: And I am glad, and entreat you to receive this seal, and to
communicate with me in this thanksgiving(1) and blessing of God, and to be
made perfect in it;(2) for this Jesus Christ whom I proclaim is Lord and
God of all, and He is the Father of truth, in whom I have taught you to
believe. And he ordered to bring them oil, in order that through the oil
they might receive the seal. They brought the oil, therefore, and lighted
many lamps, for it was night.(3)
And the apostle arose, and sealed them; and the Lord was revealed to
them, through a voice saying, Peace to you, brethren! And they heard His
voice only, but His form they saw not; for they had not yet received the
ratification(4) of the seal. And the apostle, having taken oil, and poured
it over their head, and salved and anointed them, began to say: Come, holy
name of Christ, which is above every name; come, power of the Most High,
and perfect compassion; come, grace most high; come, compassionate mother;
come, thou that hast charge(6) of the male child; come, thou who revealest
secret mysteries; come, mother of the seven houses, that there may be rest
for thee in the eighth house; come, thou presbyter of the five members--
intelligence, thought, purpose, reflection, reasoning--communicate with
these young persons; come, Holy Spirit, and purify their reins and heart,
and seal them in the name of Father, and Son, and Holy Spirit. And when
they had been sealed, there appeared to them a young man holding a burning
torch, so that their lamps were even darkened by the approach(6) of its
light. And he went out, and disappeared from their sight. And the apostle
said to the Lord: Thy light, Lord, is too great for us, and we cannot bear
it; for it is too much for our sight. And when light came, and it was dawn,
having broken bread, he made them partakers of the thanksgiving(7) of
Christ. And they rejoiced and exulted; and many others also believed, and
were added, and came to the refuge of the Saviour.
And the apostle ceased not proclaiming, and saying to them: Men and
women, boys and girls, young men and maidens, vigorous and aged, both bond
and free, withhold yourselves from fornication, and covetousness, and the
service of the belly; for under these three heads all wickedness comes. For
fornication maims the mind, and darkens the eyes of the soul, and becomes a
hindrance of the due regulation of the body, changing the whole man into
feebleness, and throwing the whole body into disease. And insatiableness
puts the soul into fear and shame, existing by what pertains to the
body,(8) and forcibly seizing what belongs to another; . . . and the
service of the belly throws the soul into cares and troubles and griefs. .
. Since, therefore, you have been set free from these, you are without
care, and without grief, and without fear; and there remains to you that
which was said by the Saviour: Take no care for the morrow, for the morrow
will take care of itself.(9) Keep in mind also that saying before
mentioned: Look upon the ravens, and behold the fowls of the heaven, that
they neither sow nor reap, nor gather into barns, and God takes care of
them; bow much more you, O ye of little faith!(10) But look for His
appearing, and have your hopes in Him, and believe in His name: for He is
the Judge of living and dead, and He requites to each one according to his
deeds; and at His coming and appearance at last no one will have as a
ground of excuse, when he comes to be judged by Him, that he has not heard.
For His heralds are proclaiming in the four quarters of the world. Repent,
therefore, and believe the message,(1) and accept the yoke of gentleness
and the light burden,(2) that you may live and not die. These things lay
hold of, these things keep; come forth from the darkness, that the light
may receive yen; come to Him who is truly good, that from Him you may
receive grace, and place His sign upon your souls.
When he had thus said, some of the bystanders said to him: It is time
for this debtor to receive his debt. And he said to them: The creditor,(3)
indeed, always wishes to receive more; but let us give him what is proper.
And having blessed them, he took bread and oil, and herbs and salt, and
gave them to eat. But he continued in his fasting, for the Lord's day was
about to dawn. And on the night following, while he was asleep, the Lord
came and stood by his head, saying: Thomas, rise up early and bless them
all; and after the prayer and service go along the eastern road two miles,
and there I shall show in thee my glory. For because thou goest away, many
shall flee to me for refuge, and thou shalt reprove the nature and the
power of the enemy. And having risen up from sleep, he said to the brethren
who were with him: Children and brethren, the Lord wishes to do something
or other to-day through me; but let us pray and entreat Him that nothing
may be a hindrance to us towards Him, but as at all times let it now also
be done unto us according to His purpose and will. And having thus spoken,
he laid his hands upon them and blessed them. And having broken the bread
of the Eucharist, he gave it to them, saying: This Eucharist shall be(4) to
you for compassion, and mercy, and recompense, and not for judgment. And
they said: Amen.
ABOUT THE DRAGON AND THE YOUNG MAN.
And the apostle went forth to go where the Lord had bidden him. And
when he came near the second milestone he turned a little out of the way,
and saw the body of a beautiful youth lying; and he said: Lord, was it for
this that Thou broughtest me out to come here, that I might see this trial?
Thy will therefore be done, as Thou purposest. And he began to pray, and to
say: Lord, Judge of the living, and of those that are lying dead, and Lord
of all, and Father--Father not only of the souls that are in bodies, but
also of those that have gone out of them; for of the souls that are in
pollutions Thou art Lord and Judge--come at this time, when I call upon
Thee, and show Thy glory upon him that is lying down here. And he turned
and said to those that followed him: This affair has not happened idly; but
the enemy has wrought and effected this, that he might make an assault upon
him; and you see that he has availed himself of no other form, and has
wrought through no other living being, but through his subject.
And when the apostle had thus spoken, behold, a great dragon came forth
from his den, knocking his head, and brandishing his tail down to the
ground, and, using a loud voice, said to the apostle: I shall say before
thee for what cause I have put him to death, since thou art here in order
to reprove my works. And the apostle says: Yes, say on. And the dragon:
There is a certain woman in this place exceedingly beautiful; and as she
was once passing by, I saw her, and fell in love with her, and I followed
and watched her; and I found this young man kissing her, and he also had
intercourse with her, and did with her other shameful things. And to me
indeed it was pleasant to tell thee this, for I know that thou art the
twin-brother of Christ, and always bringest our race to nought. But, not
wishing to harass her, I did not at this time put him to death; but I
watched him passing by in the evening, and struck him, and killed him, and
especially as he had dared to do this on the Lord's day.(5) And the apostle
inquired of him, saying: Tell me, of what seed and of what race art thou?
And he said to him: I am the offspring of the race of the serpent, and
hurtful of the hurtful; I am son of him who hurt and struck the four
brothers that stood; I am son of him who sits on the throne of destruction,
and takes his own from what he has lent;(6) I am son of that apostate who
encircles the globe; I am kinsman to him who is outside of the ocean, whose
tail lies in his mouth; I am he who went into paradise through the hedge,
and spoke with Eve what my father bade me speak to her; I am he who
inflamed and fired Cain to kill his brother, and through me thorns and
prickles sprang up in the ground; I am he who cast down the angels from
above, and bound them down by the desires of women, that earth-born(7)
children might be produced froth them, and that I might work my will in
them;(8) I am he who hardened the heart of Pharaoh, that he should murder
the children of Israel, and keep them down by the hard yoke of slavery; I
am he who caused the multitude to err in the desert when they made the
calf; I am he who inflamed Herod and incited Caiaphas to the lying tales of
falsehood before Pilate, for this became me; I am he who inflamed Judas,
and bought him, that he should betray Christ; I am he who inhabits and
holds the abyss of Tartarus, and the Son of God has wronged me against my
will, and has gathered his own out of me; I am the kinsman of him who is to
come from the east, to whom also power has been given to do whatever he
will upon the earth.
And that dragon having thus spoken in the hearing of all the multitude,
the apostle raised his voice on high, and said: Cease henceforth, O thou
most unabashed, and be ashamed and altogether put to death; for the end of
thy destruction is at hand, and do not dare to say what thou hast done
through thy dependants. And I order thee, in the name of that Jesus who
even until now makes a struggle against you for the sake of His own human
beings, to suck out the poison which thou hast put into this man, and to
draw it forth, and take it out of him. And the dragon said: The time of our
end is by no means at hand, as thou hast said. Why dost thou force me to
take out what I have put into him, and to die before the time? Assuredly,
when my father shall draw forth and suck out what he has put into the
creation, then his end will come. And the apostle said to him: Show us,
therefore, now the nature of thy father. And the dragon went up, and put
his mouth upon the wound of the young man, and sucked the gall out of it.
And in a short time the skin of the young man, which was like purple, grew
white, and the dragon swelled. And when the dragon had drawn up all the
gall into himself, the young man sprang up and stood, and ran and fell at
the apostle's feet. And the dragon, being swelled up, shrieked out and
died, and his poison and gall were poured forth; and in the place where his
poison was poured forth there was made a great chasm, and that dragon was
swallowed up. And the apostle said to the king and his brother: Take
workmen, and fill up the place in which the dragon has been swallowed up,
and lay foundations, and build houses-above it, that it may be made a
dwelling-place for the strangers.
And the young man said to the apostle, with many tears: I have sinned
against the God proclaimed by thee, and against thee, but I ask pardon of
thee; for thou art a man having two forms, and wherever thou wishest there
art thou found, and thou art held in by no one, as I see. For I beheld that
man, when I stood beside thee, who also said to thee, I have many wonders
to show by means of thee, and I have great works to accomplish by means of
thee, for which thou shall obtain a reward; and thou shall make many to
live, and they shall be in repose and eternal light as the children of God:
do thou therefore bring alive--he says, speaking to thee about me--this
young man who has been cast down by the enemy, and in all time be the
overseer of him. Thou hast, then, well come hither, and again thou shall
well go away to him, he being not at all forsaken by thee. And I am without
care and reproach, for the dawn has risen upon me from the care of the
night, and I am at rest; and I have also been released from him who
exasperated me to do these things: for I have sinned against Him who taught
me the contrary, and I have destroyed him who is the kinsman of the night,
who forced me to sin by his own practices; and I have found that kinsman of
mine who is like the light. I have destroyed him who darkens and blinds
those who are subject to him, lest they should know what they are doing,
and, ashamed of their works, withdraw themselves from them, and their deeds
have an end: and I have found Him whose works are light, and whose deeds
are truth, of which whoever does them shall not repent. I have been set
free also from him in whom falsehood abides, whom darkness as a covering
goes before, and shame conducting herself impudently in idleness follows
after. And I have found also Him who shows me what is beautiful, that I
should lay hold of it, the Son of the truth, who is kinsman of concord,
who, driving away the mist, enlightens His own creation, and heals its
wounds, and overturns its enemies. But I entreat thee, O man of God, make
me again to behold and see Him, now become hidden from me, that I may also
hear His voice, the wonders of which I cannot declare: for it is not of the
nature of this bodily organ.
And the apostle said to him: If, as thou hast also said, thou hast cast
off the knowledge of those things which thou hast received, and if thou
knowest who has wrought these things in thee, and if thou shalt become a
disciple and hearer of Him of whom, through thy living love, thou now
desirest the sight, thou shalt both see Him, and shalt be with Him for
ever, and shalt rest in His rest, and shalt be in His joy. But if thou art
rather carelessly disposed towards Him, and again returnest to thy former
deeds, and lettest go that beauty and that beaming countenance which has
now been displayed to thee, and if the splendour of the light of Him whom
thou now desirest be forgotten by thee, thou shalt be deprived not only of
this life, but also of that which is to come; and thou shalt go to him whom
thou hast said thou hast destroyed, and shalt no longer behold Him whom
thou hast said thou hast found.
And when the apostle had thus spoken, he went into the city, holding
that young man by the hand, and saying to him: Those things which thou hast
beheld, my child, are a few out of the many which God has: for it is not
about these things that appear that the good news is brought to us, but
greater things than these are promised to us; but inasmuch as we are in the
body, we cannot tell and speak out what He will do for our souls. If we say
that He affords us light, it is seen by us, and we have it; and if riches,
they exist and appear in this world, and we name them, since it has been
said, With difficulty will a rich man enter into the kingdom of the
heavens.(1) And if we speak of fine clothing, which they who delight in
this life put on, it has been said, They that wear soft things are in
kings' palaces;(2) and if costly dinners, about these we have received a
commandment to keep away from them, not to be burdened by carousing and
drunkenness and the cares of life;(3) as also in the Gospel it has been
said, Take no heed for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall
drink; nor for your body, what ye shall put on: because the life is more
than food, and the body than clothing.(4) And if we speak of this rest
lasting only for a season, its judgment has also been ordained. But we
speak about the upper world, about God and angels, about ambrosial food,
about garments that last and become not old, about those things which eye
hath not seen, nor ear heard, nor hath there come into the heart of sinful
men what God has prepared for those that love Him.(5) Do thou also
therefore believe in Him, that thou mayst live; and have confidence in Him,
and thou shall never die. For He is not persuaded by gifts, that thou
shouldst offer them to Him; nor does He want sacrifices, that thou shouldst
sacrifice to Him. But look to Him, and thou shalt not look in vain, for His
comeliness and desirable beauty will make thee love Him; and neither will
He allow thee to turn thyself away from Him.
And when the apostle was thus speaking to that young man, a great
multitude joined them. And the apostle looked, and saw them lifting
themselves up that they might see him; and they went up into elevated
places. And the apostle said to them: Ye men who have come to the assembly
of Christ, and who wish to believe in Jesus, take an example from this, and
see that if you do not get high up, you cannot see me, who am small, and
cannot get a look of me, who am like yourselves. If, then, you cannot see
me, who am like yourselves, unless you raise yourselves a little from the
earth, how can you see Him who lives above, and is now found below, unless
you first raise yourselves out of your former behaviour, and unprofitable
deeds, and troublesome desires, and the riches that are left behind here,
and create things that are of the earth, and that grow old, and the
garments that are destroyed, and the beauty that ages and vanishes away,
yea, even out of the whole body in which all these have been stored past,
and which grows old, and becomes dust, returning into its own nature? for
all these things the body itself sets up.(6) But rather believe in our Lord
Jesus Christ, whom we proclaim to you, in order that your hope may be upon
Him, and that you may have life in Him to ages of ages, that He may be your
fellow-traveller in this land, and may release you from error, and may
become(7) a haven for you in this troublous sea. And there shall be for yon
also a fountain welling out in this thirsty land, and a fold full of food
in the place of the hungry, and rest for your souls, and also a physician
for your bodies.
Then the multitude of those assembled that heard, wept, and said to the
apostle: O man of God, as for the God whom thou proclaimest, we dare not
say that we are his, because our works which we have done are alien from
him, not pleasing to him; but if he has compassion upon us, and pities us,
and delivers us, overlooking our former doings; and if he set us free from
the evil things which we did when we were in error, and shall not take into
account nor keep the recollection of our former sins, we shall become his
servants, and we shall do his will to the end. And the apostle answered and
said to them: He does not reckon against you the sins which you did, being
in error; but He overlooks your transgressions which you have done in
ignorance.(3)
ABOUT THE DEMON THAT DWELT IN THE WOMAN.
And the apostle went into the city, all the multitude accompanying him;
and he thought of going to the parents of the young man whom, when killed
by the dragon, he had brought to life; for they earnestly entreated him to
come to them, and to enter info their house.
And a certain woman, exceedingly beautiful, suddenly uttered a loud
cry, saying: O apostle of the new God, who hast come into India, and
servant of that holy and only good God--for through thee he is proclaimed
the Saviour of the souls that come unto him, and through thee he heals the
bodies of those that are punished by the enemy, and thou hast become the
cause of life to all who turn to him--order me to be brought before thee,
that I may declare to thee what has happened to me, and that perhaps there
may be hope to me from thee and those who stand beside thee may have more
and more hope in the God whom thou proclaimest. For I am not a little
tormented by the adversary, who has assailed me for now a period of five
years. As a woman, I formerly sat down in peace. and peace encompassed me
on all sides and I had nothing to trouble me, for of nothing else(1) had I
a care. And it happened on one of the days as I was coming forth from the
bath, there met me one like a man troubled and disturbed; and his voice and
utterance seemed to me to be indistinct and very weak And he said, standing
over against me, Thou and I shall be in one love, and we shall have
intercourse with each other, as a man is coupled with his wife: And I
answered him, saying, To my betrothed I consented not, entreating him not
to marry me; anti to thee, wishing to have intercourse with me as it were
in adultery, how shall I give myself up? And having thus spoken, went away
from him. And to my maid I said, Hast thou seen the young man and his
shamelessness, how shamelessly and boldly he talks to me? And she said to
me, It was an old man I saw talking with thee. And when I was in my own
house, and had supped, my mind suggested to me some suspicion, and
especially because he had appeared to me in two forms. I fell asleep,
having this same thing in my thoughts. And he came that night, and made me
share in his filthy commerce. And I saw him when it was day, and fled from
him; but, according to his wont, he came at night and abused me. And now,
as thou seest me, I have been tormented by him five years, and he has not
departed from me. But I know and am persuaded that even demons, and
spirits, and avenging deities, are subject to thee, and tremble at thy
prayer. Pray, then, for me, and drive away from me the demon that torments
me, that I also may become free, and may be brought to my former nature,
and I shall receive the gift, that has been granted to my kindred.
And the apostle said: O irrepressible wickedness: O the shamelessness
of the enemy! O the sorcerer that is never at rest! O the ill-favoured one,
bring to subjection the well-favoured! O the many-formed one! He appears
just as he may wish, but his essence cannot be changed. O offspring of the
crafty and insatiable one! O bitter tree, which also his fruits are like! O
thou who art of the devil, who fights over those who do not belong to him!
O thou who art of the deceit that uses shamelessness! O thou who art of the
wickedness that creeps like a serpent, and art thyself his kindred! And
when the apostle had thus spoken the fiend stood before him, no one seeing
him but the woman and the apostle, and with a very loud voice he said in
the hearing of all: What have we to do with thee, O apostle of the Most
High? What have we to do with thee, O servant of Jesus Christ? What have we
to do with thee, O thou that sittest in council with the Holy Spirit.
Wherefore dost thou wish to destroy us, when our time has not yet come? On
what account dost thou wish to take away our power? for until the present
hour we have had hope and time left us.(3) What have we to do with thee?
Thou hast power over thine own, and we over our own. Why dost thou wish to
use tyranny against us, and especially thou who teachest others not to use
tyranny? Why dost thou want those who do not belong to thee, as if thou
wert not satisfied with thine own? Why dost thou liken thyself to the Son
of God, who has done us hurt? For thou art like him altogether, just as if
thou hadst been brought forth by him. For we thought to bring him also
under the yoke, like the rest; but he turned, and held us under his hand.
For we did not know him; but he deceived us by the form which he had put
on, and his poverty and his want; for when we saw him such, we thought him
to be a man clothed with flesh, not knowing that it was he who makes men
live. And he gave us power over our own, and, in the time in which we live,
not to let our own go, but to employ ourselves about them. But thou wishest
to get more than is necessary, or than has been given thee, and to
overpower us.
And having thus spoken, the demon wept, saying: I let thee go, my most
lovely yoke-fellow,(4) whom I found long ago and was at rest; I leave thee,
my beloved and trusty sister, in whom I was well pleased. What I shall do I
know not, or whom I shall call upon to hear me and protect me. I know what
I shall do. I shall go to some place where the fame of this man has not
been heard, and perhaps I shall call thee, my beloved, by a new name.(5)
And lifting up his voice, he said: Abide in peace, having received an
asylum with a greater than I; but I, as I have said, will go away and seek
thy like, and if I find her not I shall again return to thee: for I know
that when thou art beside this man, thou hast an asylum in him; but when he
has gone away, thou shalt be as thou wast before he made his appearance,
and him indeed wilt thou forget, and to me there will again be opportunity
and boldness; but now I am afraid of the name of him who has delivered
thee. And having thus said, the demon disappeared. And just when he had
disappeared, fire and smoke were seen there, and all there present were
struck with amazement.
And the apostle seeing this, said to them: Nothing strange or unusual
has that demon shown, but his own nature, in which also he shall be burnt
up; for the fire shall consume him, and the smoke of him shall be scattered
abroad. And he began to say: O Jesus Christ, the secret mystery which has
been revealed to us, Thou art He who disclosest to us all manner of
mysteries, who hast set me apart from all my companions, and who hast told
me three words with which I am set on fire, and I cannot tell them to
others; O Jesus, man slain, dead, buried; Jesus, God of God, and Saviour
who bringest the dead to life, and healest those who are diseased; O Jesus,
who appearest to be in want, and savest as if in want of nothing, catching
the fishes for the morning and the evening meal, and establishing all in
abundance with a little bread; Jesus, who didst rest from the toil of the
journey as a man, and walk upon the waves as God;(1) Jesus Most High, voice
arising from perfect compassion, Saviour of all, the right hand of the
light overthrowing him that is wicked in his own kind, and bringing all his
kind into one place; Thou who art only begotten, the first-born of many
brethren,(2) God of God Most High, man despised until now; Jesus Christ,
who overlookest us not when we call upon Thee; who hast been shown forth to
all in Thy human life; who for our sakes hast been judged and kept in
prison, and freest all that are in bonds; who hast been called a
deceiver,(3) and who deliverest Thine own from deception: I entreat Thee in
behalf of those standing and entreating Thee, and those that believe in
Thee; for they pray to obtain Thy gifts, being of good hope in Thine aid,
occupying Thy place of refuge in Thy majesty; they give audience, so as to
hear from us the words that have been spoken to them. Let Thy peace come
and dwell in them, that they may be purified from their former deeds, and
may put off the old man with his deeds, and put on the new now declared to
them by me.(4)
And having laid his hands on them, he blessed them, saying: The grace
of our Lord Jesus Christ be upon you for ever!(5) And they said, Amen. And
the woman begged of him, saying: Apostle of the Most High, give me the
seal, that that foe may not come back upon me again. Then he made her come
near him; and putting his hand upon her, he sealed her in the name of
Father, and Son, and Holy Ghost. And many others also were sealed along
with her. And the apostle ordered his servant(6) to set out a table; and
they set out a bench(7) which they found there. And having spread a linen
cloth upon it, he put on it the bread of the blessing. And the apostle
standing by it, said: Jesus Christ, Son of God, who hast deemed us worthy
to communicate of the Eucharist of Thy sacred body and honourable blood,
behold, we are emboldened by the thanksgiving(8) and invocation of Thy
sacred name; come now, and communicate with us. And he began to say: Come,
perfect compassion; come, communion with mankind; come, Thou that knowest
the mysteries of the chosen one; come, Thou that communicatest in all the
combats(9) of the noble combatant; come, peace that revealest the great
things of all greatness; come, Thou that disclosest secrets, and makest
manifest things not to be spoken; the sacred dove which has brought forth
twin young; come, thou secret mother; come, Thou who art manifest in Thy
deeds, and givest joy and rest to those who are united to Thee; come anti
communicate with us in this Eucharist, which we make in The name, and in
the love(10) in which we are united in calling upon Thee.(11) And having
thus said, he made the sign of the cross upon the bread, and broke it, and
began to distribute it. And first he gave it to the woman, saying: This
shall be to thee for remission of sins, and the ransom of everlasting
transgressions. And after her, he gave also to all the others who had
received the seal.
ABOUT THE YOUNG MAN WHO KILLED THE MAIDEN.
And there was a certain young man who had done a nefarious deed; and
having come to the apostle, he took the bread of the Eucharist into his
mouth, and his two hands immediately withered, so that he could no longer
bring them to his mouth. And those who were present and saw him told the
apostle what had happened. And he, having summoned him, said: Tell me, my
child, and be ashamed of nothing,(12) what thou hast done, and why thou
hast come hither; for the Eucharist of the Lord has convicted thee. For
this gracious gift coming to many is especially healing to those who
approach it through faith and love; but thee it has withered away, and what
has happened has happened not without some working cause. And the young man
who had been convicted by the Eucharist of the Lord came up, and fell at
the apostle's feet, and prayed him, saying: An evil deed has been done by
me, yet I thought to do something good. I was in love with a certain woman
living outside of the city in an inn, and she loved me. And I having heard
from thee, and believed that thou proclaimest the living God, came and
received the seal from thee along with the others; and thou saidst, Whoever
shall indulge in filthy intercourse, and especially in adultery, shall not
have life with the God whom I proclaim.(1) Since, then, I altogether loved
her, I begged of her, and persuaded her to live with me in chaste and pure
intercourse, as thou thyself teachest; but she would not. When therefore
she would not, I took a sword and killed her; for I could not see her
living in adultery with another.
The apostle, having heard this, said: O maddening intercourse, into
what shamelessness dost thou lead! O unrestrained lust, how hast thou
brought him into subjection to do this! O work of the serpent, how dost
thou rage in thine own! And the apostle ordered water to be brought him in
a dish. And when the water had been brought, he said: Come waters from the
living waters, existing from the existing, and sent to us; the fountain
sent to us from repose, the power of salvation coming froth that power that
subdues all things, and subjects them to its own will; come and dwell in
these waters, that the gracious gift of the Holy Spirit may be fully
perfected in them. And he said to the young man: Go, wash thy hands in
these waters. And when he had washed, they were restored. And the apostle
said to him: Dost thou believe in our Lord Jesus Christ, that He can do all
things? And he said: Even though I am least of all, I believe; but this I
did, thinking to do a good thing: for I implored her, as also I told thee;
but she would not be persuaded by me to keep herself chaste.
And the apostle said to him: Come, let us go to the inn where thou
didst this deed, and let us see what has happened. And the young man went
before the apostle on the road; and when they came to the inn, they found
her lying. And the apostle, seeing her, was disheartened, for she was a
beautiful maiden; and he ordered her to be brought into the middle of the
inn. And having put her on a Couch, they brought it, and set it in the
midst of the court-yard of the inn. And the apostle laid his hand on her,
and began to say: Jesus, who always appearest to us--for this Thou always
wishest, that we should seek Thee--and Thou Thyself hast given us this
power of asking and receiving;(2) and not only hast Thou given us this, but
hast also taught us how to pray;(3) who art not seen by bodily eyes, but
who art not altogether hidden from those of our soul, and who art hidden
in Thy form, but manifested to us by Thy works; and by Thy many deeds we
have recognised Thee as we go on, and Thou hast given us Thy gifts without
measure, saying, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find;
knock, and it shall be opened unto you.(4) We pray, therefore, having
suspicion of our sins;(5) and we ask of Thee not riches, nor gold, nor
silver, nor possessions, nor any of those things that come from the earth
and go into the earth again; but this we beg of Thee, and entreat that in
Thy holy name Thou raise this woman lying here by Thy power, to the glory
and faith of those standing by.
And when he had thus prayed, he sealed the young man, and said to him:
Go, and take her by the hand, and say to her, I through my hands killed
thee with the sword;(6) and again I raise thee by my hands, in the faith of
our Lord Jesus Christ. And the young man went and stood by her, saying: I
have believed in Thee, O Christ Jesus. And looking upon Judas Thomas the
apostle, he said to him: Pray for me, that my Lord, upon whom also I call,
may come to my help. And having laid his hand on her hand, he said: Come,
Lord Jesus Christ, giving this woman life, and me the earnest of Thy faith.
And immediately, as he drew her hand, she sprang up, and sat, looking at
the great multitude standing round. And she also saw the apostle standing
opposite to her; and having left the couch, she sprang up, and fell at his
feet, and took hold of his garments, saying: I pray thee, my lord, where is
that other who is with thee, who has not left me to remain in that fearful
and grievous place, but has given me up to thee, saying, Do thou take her,
that she may be made perfect, and thereafter brought into her own place?
And the apostle says to her: Tell us where thou hast been. And she
answered: Dost thou, who wast with me, to whom also I was entrusted, wish
to hear? And she began to say: A certain man received me, hateful in
appearance, all black, and his clothing exceedingly filthy; and he led me
away to a place where there were many chasms, and a great stench and most
hateful odour were given forth thence; and he made me bend down into each
chasm, and I saw in the chasm blazing fire; and wheels of fire ran there,
and souls were hung upon those wheels, and were dashed against each other.
And there was there crying and great lamentation, and there was none
released. And that man said to me, These souls are of thine own nation, and
for a certain number of days(7) they have been given over to punishment and
torture; and then others are brought in instead of them; and likewise also
these are again succeeded by others. These are they who have exchanged the
intercourse of man and wife. And again I looked down, and saw infants
heaped upon each other, and struggling and lying upon each other; and he
answered and said to me, These are their children, and for this have they
been placed here for a testimony against them.
And he brought me to another chasm, and I bent down and saw mud, and
worms spouting forth, and souls wallowing there; and a great gnashing of
teeth was heard thence from them. And that man said to me, These are the
souls of women that left their own husbands, and went and committed
adultery with others, and who have been brought to this torment. He showed
me another chasm, into which I bent down and saw souls hung up, some by the
tongue, some by the hair, some by the hands, some by the feet, head
downwards, and smoked with smoke and sulphur; about whom that man who was
with me answered me, These souls which are hung up by the tongue are
slanderers, and such as have uttered false and disgraceful words; those
that are hung up by the hair(1) are those that are shameless, and that have
gone about with uncovered heads in the world; these hung up by the hands
are those who have taken what belongs to others, and have stolen, and who
have never given anything to the poor, nor assisted the afflicted; but they
so acted, wishing to get everything, and giving no heed at all to justice
and the laws; and these hung up by the feet are those who lightly and
eagerly ran in wicked ways, and disorderly wickedness, not looking after
the sick, and not aiding those departing this life, and on account of this
each individual soul is requited for what has been done by it.
Again leading me away, he showed me a cavern, exceedingly dark,
exhaling a great stench; and many souls were peeping out thence, wishing to
get some share of the air, but their keepers would not let them peep out.
And he who was with me said, This is the prison of those souls which thou
seest; for when they shall complete their punishments for those things
which each one has done, afterwards again others succeed them--and there
are some also quite used up--and are given up to other punishments. Those,
then, who guarded the souls that were in the dark cave said to the man that
had charge of me, Give her to us, that we may take her in beside the
others, until the time comes for her to be given up to punishment. And he
answered them, I will not give her to you, for I am afraid of him who gave
her up to me; for I received no orders to leave her here, and I shall take
her up with me until I get some injunction about her. And he took me and
brought me to another place, in which were men who were bitterly tortured.
And he that is like thee took me and gave me up to thee, having thus said
to thee, Take her, since she is one of the creatures that have been led
astray. And I was taken by thee, and am now before thee. I beg, therefore,
and supplicate thee that I may not go into those places of punishment which
I saw.
And the apostle said to the multitudes standing by: You have heard,
brethren, what this woman has recounted; and these are not the only
punishments, but there are others worse than these; and if you do not turn
to this God whom I proclaim, and refrain from your former works and deeds
which you have done without knowledge, in these punishments you shall have
your end. Believe, therefore, in our Lord Jesus Christ, and He will forgive
you the sins done by you heretofore, and will purify you from all the
bodily desires that abide in the earth, and will heal you from the faults
that follow after you, and go along with you, and are found before you. And
let each of you put off the old man, and put on the new, and leave your
former course of conduct and behaviour; and let those that steal steal no
more, but let them live, labouring and working;(2) and let the adulterers
no more commit adultery, lest they give themselves up to everlasting
punishment; for adultery is with God an evil altogether grievous above
other evils. Put away also from yourselves covetousness, and lying, and
drunkenness, and slandering, and requiting evil for evil: for all these are
alien and strange to the God proclaimed by us; but rather live in faith,
and meekness, and holiness, and hope, in which God rejoices, that ye may
become His servants, having received from Him gracious gifts, which few or
none receive.
All the people therefore believed, and presented their souls obedient
to the living God and Christ Jesus, enjoying His blessed works, and His
holy service. And they brought much money for the service of the widows;
for he had them collected in the cities, and he sent to all of them by his
own servants(3) what was necessary, both clothing and food. But he did not
cease proclaiming and saying to them, and showing that this is Jesus the
Christ, concerning whom the Scriptures proclaimed that He should come, and
be crucified, and be raised from the dead after three days. And he showed
them a second time, beginning from the prohets, and explaining the things
concerning Christ, and that it was necessary for Him to come, and for all
things to be fulfilled that had been said to us beforehand concerning
Him.(1)
And the report of him ran through all the cities and countries; and all
who had persons sick or tormented by unclean spirits brought them, and they
were healed. Some also they laid on the road by which he was to pass, and
he healed them all by the power of the Lord.(2) Then said all with one
accord who had been healed by him, with one voice: Glory to Thee, Jesus,
who givest Thy healing to all alike by means of Thy servant and apostle
Thomas. And being in good health, and rejoicing, we pray Thee that we may
be of Thy flock, and be numbered among Thy sheep; receive us, therefore, O
Lord, and consider not our transgressions and former offences which we did,
being in ignorance.
And the apostle said: Glory to the only-begotten from the Father;(3)
glory to the first-born of many brethren;(4) Glory to Thee, the defender
and helper of those who come to Thy place of refuge; Thou that sleepest
not, and raisest those that are asleep; that livest and bringest to life
those that are lying in death; O God Jesus Christ, Son of the living God,
redeemer and helper, refuge and rest of all that labour in Thy work, who
affordest health to those who for Thy name's sake bear the burden of the
day, and the icy coldness of the night; we give thanks for the gracious
gifts that have been given us by Thee, and for the help from Thee bestowed
upon us, and Thy providential care that has come upon us froth Thee.
Perfect these things upon us, therefore, unto the end, that we may have
confidence in Thee; look upon us, because for Thy sake we have left our
homes, and for Thy sake have become strangers gladly and willingly; look
upon us, O Lord, because for Thy sake we have abandoned our possessions,
that we may have Thee for a possession that shall not be taken away; look
upon us, O Lord, because we have left those related to us by ties of
kindred in order that we may be united in relationship to Thee; look upon
us, O Lord, who have left our fathers and mothers, and those that nourished
us, that we may behold Thy Father, and be satisfied with His divine
nourishment: look upon us, O Lord, because for Thy sake we have left our
bodily yoke-fellows,(5) and our earthly fruit, in order that we may share
in that intercourse which is lasting and true, and bring forth true fruits,
whose nature is from above, the enjoyment of which no one can take away
from us, with which we abide, and they abide with us.
CONSUMMATION OF THOMAS THE APOSTLE(1)
AT the command of King Misdeus(2) the blessed Apostle Thomas was cast
into prison; and he said: I glorify God, and I shall preach the word to the
prisoners, so that all rejoiced at his presence. When, therefore, Juzanes
the king's son, and Tertia his mother, and Mygdonia, and Markia, had become
believers, but were not yet thought worthy of baptism, they took it
exceedingly ill that the blessed one had been shut up. And having come to
the prison, and given much money to the jailor,(3) they went in to him. And
he, seeing them, was glad, and glorified the Lord, and blessed them. And
they entreated and begged the seal in the Lord, a beautiful young man
having appeared to them in a dream, and ordered the apostle into the house
of Juzanes.
And again the beautiful young man coming to them and Thomas, bade them
do this on the coming night. And he ran before them, and gave them light on
the way, and without noise opened the doors that had been secured, until
all the mystery was completed. And having made them communicate in the
Eucharist, and having talked much with them, and confirmed them in the
faith, and commended them to the Lord, he went forth thence, leaving the
women, and again went to be shut up.(4) And they grieved and wept because
Misdeus the king was to kill him.
And Thomas went and found the jailors fighting, and saying: What wrong
have we done to that sorcerer, that, availing himself of his magic art, he
has opened the doors of the prison, and wishes to set all the prisoners
free? But let us go and let the king know about his wife and his son.(5)
And when he came they stripped him, and girded him with a girdle; and thus
they stood before the king.
And Misdeus said to him: Art thou a slave, or a freeman? And Thomas
answered and said to him: I am not(1) a slave, and thou hast no power
against me at all. And how, said Misdeus, hast thou run away and come to
this country? And Thomas said: I came here that I might save many, and that
I might by thy bands depart from this body. Misdeus says to him: Who is thy
master? and what is his name? and of what country, and of whom is he? My
Lord, says Thomas, is my Master and thine, being the Lord of heaven and
earth. And Misdeus said: What is he called? And Thomas said: Thou canst not
know His true name at this time; but I tell thee the name that has been
given Him for a season--Jesus the Christ. And Misdeus said: I have not been
in a hurry(2) to destroy thee, but have restrained myself; but thou hast
made a display of works, so that thy sorceries have been heard of in all
the country. But now this will I do,(3) that thy sorceries may also perish
with thee, that our nation may be purified from them. And Thomas said: Dost
thou call these things which will follow me sorceries? They shall never be
removed from the people here.
And while these things were saying, Misdeus was considering in what
manner he should put him to death; for he was afraid of the multitude
standing round, many, even some of the chief men, having believed in him.
And he arose, I and took Thomas outside of the city; and a few soldiers
accompanied him with their arms. And the rest of the multitude thought that
the king was wishing to learn something from him; and they stood and
observed him closely. And when they had gone forth three stadia, he
delivered him to four soldiers, and to one of the chief officers,(4) and
ordered them to take him up into the mountain and spear him; but he himself
returned to the city.
And those present ran to Thomas, eager to rescue him; but he was led
away by the soldiers who were with him. For there were two on each side
having hold of him, because of sorcery, And the chief officer held him by
the hand, and led him with honour. And at the same time the blessed apostle
said: O the hidden mysteries of Thee, O Lord! for even to the close of life
is fulfilled in us the riches of Thy grace, which does not allow us to be
without feeling as to the body. For, behold, four have laid hold of me, and
one leads me, since I belong to One, to whom I am going always invisibly.
But now I learn that my Lord also, since He was a stranger, to whom I am
going, who also is always present with me invisibly, was struck by one; but
I am struck by four.(5)
And when they came to that place where they were to spear him, Thomas
spoke thus to those spearing him: Hear me now, at least, when I am
departing from my body; and let not your eyes be darkened in understanding,
nor your ears shut up so as not to hear those things in which you have
believed the God whom I preach, after being delivered in your souls from
rashness; and behave in a manner becoming those who are free, being void of
human glory, and live the life towards God. And he said to Juzanes: Son of
an earthly king, but servant of Jesus Christ, give what is due to those who
are to fulfil the command(6) of Misdeus, in order that I may go apart from
them and pray. And Juzanes having paid the soldiers, the apostle betook
himself to prayer; and it was as follows:--
My Lord, and my God, and hope, and leader, and guide in all countries,
I follow Thee along with all that serve Thee, and do Thou guide me this day
on my way to Thee. Let no one take my sold, which Thou hast given to me.
Let not publicans and beggars look upon me, nor let serpents slander me,
and let not the children of the dragon hiss at me. Behold, I have fulfilled
Thy work, and accomplished what Thou gavest me to do. I have become a
slave, that I might receive freedom from Thee; do then give it to me, and
make me perfect. And this I say not wavering, but that they may hear who
need to hear. I glorify Thee in all, Lord and Master; for to Thee is due
glory for ever. Amen.
And when he had prayed, he said to the soldiers: Come and finish the
work of him that sent you. And the four struck him at once, and killed him.
And all the brethren wept, and wrapped him up in beautiful shawls, and many
linen cloths, and laid him in the tomb in which of old the kings used to be
buried.
And Syphor and Juzanes did not go to the city, but spent the whole day
there, and waited during the night. And Thomas appeared to them, and said:
I am not there; why do you sit watching? for I have gone up, and received
the things I hoped for; but rise up and walk, and after no long time you
shall be brought beside me. And Misdeus and Charisius(7) greatly afflicted
Tertia and Mygdonia, but did not persuade them to abandon their opinions.
And Thomas appeared, and said to them: Forget not the former things, for
the holy and sanctifying Jesus Himself will aid you. And Misdeus and
Charisius, when they could not persuade them not to be of this opinion,
granted them their own will. And all the brethren assembled together For
the blessed one had made Syphorus(1) a presbyter in the mountain, and
Juzanius(1) a deacon, when he was led away to die. And the Lord helped
them, and increased the faith by means of them.
And after a long time, it happened that one of the sons of Misdeus was
a demoniac; and the demon being stubborn, no one was able to heal him. And
Misdeus considered, and said I shall go and open the tomb, and take a bone
of the apostle's body, and touch my son with it, and I know that he will be
healed. And he went to do what he had thought of. And the blessed apostle
appeared to him, and said: Thou didst not believe in me when alive; how
wilt thou believe in me when I am dead? Fear not. Jesus Christ is kindly
disposed to thee, through His great clemency. And Misdeus, when he did not
find the bones (for one of the brethren had taken them, and carried them
into the regions of the West(2)), took some dust from where the bones had
lain, and touched his son with it, and said: I believe in Thee, Jesus, now
when he has left me who always afflicts men, that they may not look to Thy
light which giveth understand ing, O Lord, kind to men. And his son being
healed in this manner, he met with the rest of the brethren who were under
the rule of Sypho-i rus, and entreated the brethren to pray for him, that
he might obtain mercy from our Lord Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever
and ever. Amen.
MARTYRDOM OF THE HOLY AND GLORIOUS APOSTLE BARTHOLOMEW
HISTORIANS declare that India is divided into three parts; and the
first is said to end at Ethiopia, and the second at Media, and the third
completes the country; and the one portion of it ends in the dark, and the
other in the ocean. To this India, then, the holy Bartholomew the apostle
of Christ went, and took up his quarters in the temple of Astaruth, and
lived there as one of the pilgrims and the poor. In this temple, then,
there was an idol called Astaruth, which was supposed to heal the infirm,
but rather the more injured all. And the people were in entire ignorance of
the true God; and from want of knowledge, but rather from the difficulty of
going to any other, they all fled for refuge to the false god. And he
brought upon them troubles, infirmities, damage, violence, and much
affliction; and when any one sacrificed to him, the demon, retiring,
appeared to give a cure to the person in trouble; and the foolish people,
seeing this, believed in him. But the demons retired, not because they
wished to cure men, but that they might the more assail them, and rather
have them altogether in their power; and thinking that they were cured
bodily, those that sacrificed to them were the more diseased in soul.
And it came to pass, that while the holy apostle of Christ,
Bartholomew, stayed there, Astaruth gave no response, and was not able for
curing. And when the temple was full of sick persons, who sacrificed to him
daily, Astaruth could give no response; and sick persons who had come from
far countries were lying there. When, therefore, in that temple not even
one of the idols was able to give a response, and was of benefit neither to
those that sacrificed to them nor to those who were in the agonies of death
on their account, they were compelled to go to another city, where there
was a temple of idols, where their great and most eminent god was called
Becher.(1) And having there sacrificed, they demanded, asking why their god
Astaruth had not responded to them. And the demon Becher answered and said
to them: From the day and hour that the true God, who dwelleth in the
heavens, sent his apostle Bartholomew into the regions here, your god
Astaruth is held fast by chains of fire, and can no longer either speak or
breathe. They said to him: And who is this Bartholomew? He answered: He is
the friend of the Almighty God, and has just come into these parts, that he
may take away all the worship of the idols in the name of his God. And the
servants of the Greeks said to him: Tell us what he is like, that we may be
able to find him.
And the demon answered and said: He has black hair, a shaggy head, a
fair skin,(2) large eyes, beautiful nostrils, his ears hidden by the hair
of his head, with a yellow beard, a few grey hairs, of middle height, and
neither tall nor stunted, but middling, clothed with a white undercloak
bordered with purple, and upon his shoulders a very white cloak; and his
clothes have been worn twenty-six years, but neither are they dirty, nor
have they waxed old. Seven times(3) a day he bends the knee to the Lord,
and seven times(3) a night does he pray to God. His voice is like the
sonnet of a strong trumpet; there go along with him angels of God, who
allow him neither to be weary, nor to hunger, nor to thirst; his face, and
his soul, and his heart are always glad and rejoicing; he foresees
everything, he knows and speaks every tongue of every nation. And behold
now, as soon as you ask me, and I answer you about him, behold, he knows;
for the angels of the Lord tell him; and if you wish to seek him, if he is
willing he will appear to you; but if he shall not be willing, you will not
be able to find him. I entreat you, therefore, if you shall find him,
entreat him not to come here, lest his angels do to me as they have done
to my brother Astaruth.
And when the demon had said this, he held his peace. And they returned,
and set to work to look into every face of the pilgrims and poor men, and
for two days they could find him no where. And it came to pass, that one
who was a demoniac set to work to cry out: Apostle of the Lord,
Bartholomew, thy prayers are burning me up. Then said the apostle to him:
Hold thy peace, and come out of him. And that very hour, the man who had
suffered from the demon for many years was set free.
And Polymius, the king of that country, happened to be standing
opposite the apostle; and he had a daughter a demoniac, that is to say, a
lunatic. And he heard about the demoniac that had been healed, and sent
messengers to the apostle, saying: My daughter is grievously torn; I
implore thee, therefore, as thou hast delivered him(1) who suffered for
many years, so also to order my daughter to be set free. And the apostle
rose up, and went with them. And he sees the king's daughter bound with
chains, for she used to tear in pieces all her limbs; and if any one came
near her, she used to bite, and no one dared to come near her. The servants
say to him: And who is it that dares to touch her? The apostle answered
them: Loose her, and let her go. They say to him again: We have her in our
power when she is bound with all our force, and dost thou bid us loose
her? The apostle says to them: Behold, I keep her enemy bound, and are you
even now afraid of her? Go and loose her; and when she has partaken of
food, let her rest, and early to-morrow bring her to me. And they went and
did as the apostle had commanded them; and thereafter the demon was not
able to come near her.
Then the king loaded camels with gold and silver, precious stones,
pearls, and clothing, and sought to see the apostle; and having made many
efforts, and not found him, he brought everything back to his palace.
And it happened, when the night had passed, and the following day was
dawning, the sun having risen, the apostle appeared alone with the king in
his bed-chamber, and said to him: Why didst thou seek me yesterday the
whole day with gold and silver, and precious stones, pearls, and raiment?
For these gifts those persons long for who seek earthly things; but I seek
nothing earthly, nothing carnal. Wherefore I wish to teach thee that the
Son of God deigned to be born as a man out of a virgin's womb. He was
conceived in the womb of the virgin; He took to Himself her who was always
a virgin, having within herself Him who made the heaven and the earth, the
sea, and all that therein is. He, born of a virgin, like mankind, took to
Himself a beginning in time, He who has a beginning neither of times nor
days; but He Himself made every beginning, and everything created, whether
in things visible or invisible. And as this virgin did not know man, so
she, preserving her virginity, vowed a vow(2) to the Lord God. And she was
the first who did so. For, from the time that man existed from the
beginning of the world, no woman made a vow of this mode of life; but she,
as she was the first among women who loved this in her heart, said, I offer
to Thee, O Lord, my virginity. And, as I have said to thee, none of mankind
dared to speak this word; but she being called for the salvation of many,
observed this--that she might remain a virgin through the love of God,
pure and undefiled. And suddenly, when she was shut up in her chamber, the
archangel Gabriel appeared, gleaming like the sun; and when she was
terrified at the sight, the angel said to her, Fear not, Mary; for thou
hast found favour in the sight of the Lord, and thou shall conceive. And
she cast off fear, and stood up, and said, How shall this be to me, since I
know not man? The angel answered her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee,
and the power of the Most High shall overshadow thee; wherefore also that
holy thing which is born of thee shall be called Son of God.(3) Thus,
therefore, when the angel had departed from her, she escaped the temptation
of the devil, who deceived the first man when at rest. For, having tasted
of the tree of disobedience, when the woman said to him, Eat, he ate; and
thus the first man was cast out of paradise, and banished to this life.
From him have been horn the whole human race. Then the Son of God having
been born of the virgin, and having become perfect man, and having been
baptized, and after His baptism having fasted forty days, the tempter came
and said to Him: If thou art the Son of God, tell these stones to become
loaves. And He answered: Not on bread alone shall man live, but by every
word of God.(4) Thus therefore the devil, who through eating bad conquered
the first man, was conquered through the fasting of the second man; and as
he through want of self-restraint had conquered the first man, the son of
the virgin earth, so we shall conquer through the fasting of the second
Adam, the Son of the Virgin Mary.
The king says to him: And how is it that thou saidst just now that she
was the first virgin of whom was born God and man? And the apostle
answered: I give thanks to the Lord that thou hearest me gladly. The first
man, then, was called Adam; he was formed out of the earth. And the earth,
his mother out of which he was, was virgin, because it had neither been
polluted by the blood of man nor opened for the burial of any one. The
earth, then, was like the virgin, in order that he who conquered the son of
the virgin earth might be conquered by the Son of the Virgin Mary. And,
behold, he did conquer; for his wicked craft, through the eating of the
tree by which man, being deceived, came forth from paradise, kept paradise
shut. Thereafter this Son of the virgin conquered all the craft of the
devil. And his craft was such, that when he saw the Son of the virgin
fasting forty days, he knew in truth that He was the true God. The true God
and man, therefore, hath not given Himself out to be known, except to those
who are pure in heart,(1) and who serve Him by good works. The devil
himself, therefore, when he saw that after the forty days He was again
hungry, was deceived into thinking that He was not God, and said to Him,
Why hast thou been hungry? tell these stones to become loaves, and eat. And
the Lord answered him, Listen, devil; although thou mayst lord it over man,
because he has not kept the commandment of God. I have fulfilled the
righteousness of God in having fasted, and shall destroy thy power, so that
thou shalt no longer lord it over man. And when he saw himself conquered,
he again takes Jesus to an exceeding high mountain, and shows Him all the
kingdoms of the world, and says, All these will I give thee, if thou wilt
fall down and worship me. The Lord says to him, Get thee behind me, Satan;
for it is written, Thou shall worship the Lord thy God, and Him only shall
thou serve. And there was a third temptation for the Lord; for he takes Him
up to the pinnacle of the temple, and says, If thou art the Son of God,
cast thyself down. The Lord says to him, Thou shall not tempt the Lord thy
God. And the devil disappeared. And he indeed that once conquered Adam, the
son of the virgin earth, was thrice conquered by Christ, the Son of the
Virgin Mary.
And when the Lord had conquered the tyrant, He sent His apostles into
all the world, that He might redeem His people from the deception of the
devil; and one of these I am, an apostle of Christ. On this account we seek
not after gold and silver, but rather despise them, because we labour to be
rich in that place where the kingdom of Him alone endureth(2) for ever,
where neither trouble, nor grief, nor groaning, nor death, has place; where
there is eternal blessedness, and ineffable joy, and everlasting
exultation, and perpetual repose. Wherefore also the demon sitting in your
temple, who makes responses to you, is kept in chains through the angel of
the Lord who has sent me. Because if thou shall be baptized, and wishest
thyself to be enlightened, I will make thee behold Him, and learn from how
great evils thou hast been redeemed. At the same time hear also by what
means he injures all those who are lying sick in the temple. The devil
himself by his own art causes the men to be sick, and again to be healed,
in order that they may the more believe in the idols, and in order that he
may have place the more in their souls, in order that they may say to the
stock and the stone, Thou art our God.(3) But that demon who dwells in the
idol is held in subjection, conquered by me, and is able to give no
response to those who sacrifice and pray there. And if thou wishest to
prove that it is so, I order him to return into the idol, and I will make
him confess with his own mouth that he is bound, and able to give no
response.
The king says to him: To-morrow, at the first hour of the day, the
priests are ready to sacrifice in the temple, and I shall come there, and
shall be able to see this wonderful work.
And it came to pass on the following day, as they were sacrificing, the
devil began to cry out: Refrain, ye wretched ones, from sacrificing to me,
lest ye suffer worse for my sake; because I am bound in fiery chains, and
kept in subjection by an angel of the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God,
whom the Jews crucified: for, being afraid of him, they condemned him to
death. And he put to death Death himself, our king, and he bound our prince
in chains of fire; and on the third day, having conquered death and the
devil, rose in glory, and gave the sign of the cross to his apostles, and
sent them out into the four quarters of the world; and one of them is here
just now, who has bound me, and keeps me in subjection. I implore you,
therefore, supplicate him on my account, that he may set me free to go into
other habitations.
Then the apostle answered: Confess, unclean demon, who is it that has
injured all those that are lying here from heavy diseases? The demon
answered: The devil, our ruler, he who is bound, he sends us against men,
that, having first injured their bodies, we may thus also make an assault
upon their souls when they sacrifice to us. For then we have complete
power over them, when they believe in us and sacrifice to us. And when, on
account of the mischief done to them, we retire, we appear curing them, and
are worshipped by them as gods; but in truth we are demons, and the
servants of him who was crucified, the Son of the virgin, have bound us.
For from that day on which the Apostle Bartholomew came I am punished, kept
hound in chains of fire. And for this reason I speak, because he has
commanded me. At the same time, I dare not utter more when the apostle is
present, neither I nor our rulers.
The apostle says to him: Why dost thou not save all that have come to
thee? The demon says to him: When we injure their bodies, unless we first
injure their souls, we do not let their bodies go. The apostle says to him:
And how do you injure their souls? The demon answered him: When they
believe that we are gods, and sacrifice to us, God withdraws from those who
sacrifice, and we do not take away the sufferings of their bodies, but
retire into their souls.
Then the apostle says to the people: Behold, the god whom you thought
to cure you, does the more mischief to your souls and bodies. Hear even now
your Maker who dwells in the heavens, and do not believe in lifeless stones
and stocks. And if you wish that I should pray for you, and that all these
may receive health, take down this idol, and break it to pieces; and when
you have done this, I will sanctify this temple in the name of our Lord
Jesus Christ; and having baptized all of you who are in it in the baptism
of the Lord, and sanctified you, I will save all.
Then the king gave orders, and all the people brought ropes and
crowbars, and were not at all aide to take down the idol. Then the apostle
says to them: Unfasten the ropes. And when they had unfastened them, he
said to the demon dwelling in it: In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,
come out of this idol, and go into a desert place, where neither winged
creature utters a cry, nor voice of man has ever been heard. And
straightway he arose at the word of the apostle, and lifted it up from its
foundations; and in that same hour all the idols that were in that place
were broken to pieces.
Then all cried out with one voice, saying: He alone is God Almighty
whom Bartholomew the apostle proclaims. Then the holy Bartholomew, having
spread forth his hands to heaven, said: God of Abraham, God of Isaac, God
of Jacob, who for the salvation of men hast sent forth Thine only begotten
Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, in order that He might redeem by His own blood
all of us enslaved by sin, and declare us to be Thy sons, that we may know
Thee, the true God, that Thou existest always to eternity God without end:
one God, the Father, acknowledged in Son and Holy Spirit; one God, the Son,
glorified in Father and Holy Spirit; one God, the Holy Spirit, worshipped
in Father and Son; and acknowledged to be truly one,(1) the Father
unbegotten, the Son begotten, the Holy Spirit proceeding; and in Thee the
Father, and in the Holy Spirit, Thine only begotten Son our Lord Jesus
Christ is, in whose name Thou hast given us power to heal the sick, to
cure paralytics, to expel demons, and raise the dead: for He said to us,
Verily I say unto you, that whatever ye shall ask in my name ye shall
receive.(2) I entreat, then, that in His name all this multitude may be
saved, that all may know that Thou alone art God in heaven, and in the
earth, and in the sea, who seekest the salvation of men through that same
Jesus Christ our Lord, with whom Thou livest and reignest in unity of the
Holy Spirit for ever and ever.
And when all responded to the Amen, suddenly there appeared an angel of
the Lord, shining brighter than the sun, winged, and other four angels
holding up the four corners of the temple; and with his finger the one
sealed the temple and the people, and said: Thus saith the Lord who hath
sent me, As you have all been purified from all your infirmity, so also
this temple shall be purified from all uncleanness, and from the demons
dwelling in it, whom the apostle of God has ordered to go into a desert
place; for so hath God commanded me, that I may manifest Him to you. And
when ye behold Him, fear nothing; but when I make the sign of the cross, so
also do ye with your finger seal your faces, and these evil things will
flee from you. Then he showed them the demon who dwelt in the temple, like
an Ethiopian, black as soot; his face sharp like a dog's, thin-cheeked,
with hair down to his feet, eves like fire, sparks coming out of his mouth;
and out of his nostrils came forth smoke like sulphur, with wings spined
like a porcupine; and his hands were bound with fiery chains, and he was
firmly kept in. And the angel of the Lord said to him: As also the apostle
hath commanded, I let thee go; go where voice of man is not heard, and be
there until the great day of judgment. And when he let him go, he flew
away, groaning and weeping, and disappeared. And the angel of the Lord went
up into heaven in the sight of all.
Then the king, and also the queen, with their two sons, and with all
his people, and with all the multitude of the city, and every city round
about, and country, and whatever land his kingdom ruled over, were saved,
and believed, and were baptized in the name of the Father, and the Son, and
the Holy Spirit. And the king laid aside his diadem, and followed
Bartholomew the apostle of Christ.
And after these things the unbelievers of the Greeks, having come
together to Astreges(3) the king, who was the eider brother of the king who
had been baptized, say to him: O king, thy brother Polymius has become
disciple to a certain magician, who has taken down our temples, and broken
our gods to pieces. And while they were thus speaking and weeping, behold,
again there came also some others from the cities round about, both
priests(4) and people; and they set about weeping and making accusations(1)
before the king. Then King Astreges in a rage sent a thousand armed men
along with those priests, in order that, wherever they should find the
apostle, they might bring him to him bound. And when they bad done so, and
found him, and brought him, he says to him: Art thou he who has perverted
my brother from the gods? To whom the apostle answered: I have not
perverted him, but have converted him to God. The king says to him: Art
thou he who caused our gods to be broken in pieces? The apostle says to
him: I gave power to the demons who were in them, and they broke in pieces
the dumb and senseless idols, that all men might believe in God Almighty,
who dwelleth in the heavens. The king says to him: As thou hast made my
brother deny his gods, and believe in thy God, so I also will make you
reject thy God and believe in my gods. The apostle says to him: If I have
bound and kept in subjection the god which thy brother worshipped, and at
my order the idols were broken in pieces, if thou also art able to do the
same to my God, thou canst persuade me also to sacrifice to thy gods; but
if thou canst do nothing to my God, I will break all thy gods in pieces;
but do thou believe in my God.
And when he had thus spoken, the king was informed that his god
Baldad(2) and all the other idols had fallen down, and were broken in
pieces. Then the king rent the purple in which he was clothed, and
ordered the holy apostle Bartholomew to be beaten with rods; and after
having been thus scourged, to be beheaded.
And innumerable multitudes came from all the cities, to the number of
twelve thousand, who had believed in him along with the king; and they took
up the remains of the apostle with singing of praise and with all glory,
and they laid them in the royal tomb, and glorified God. And the king
Astreges having heard of this, ordered him to be thrown into the sea; and
his remains were carried into the island of Liparis.
And it came to pass on the thirtieth day after the apostle was carried
away, that the king Astreges was overpowered by a demon and miserably
strangled; and all the priests were strangled by demons, and perished on
account of their rising against(3) the apostle, and thus died by an evil
fate.
And there was great fear and trembling, and all came to the Lord, and
were baptized by the presbyters who had been ordained by the holy apostle
Bartholomew. And according to the commandment of the apostle, all the
clergy of the people made King Polymius bishop; and in the name of our Lord
Jesus Christ he received the grace of healing, and began to do signs. And
he remained in the bishopric twenty years; and having prospered in all
things, and governed the church well, and guided it in right opinions,(4)
he fell asleep in peace, and went to the Lord: to whom be glory and
strength for ever and ever. Amen.
ACTS OF THE HOLY APOSTLE THADDAEUS, ONE OF THE TWELVE(1)
LEBBAEUS, who also is Thaddaeus, was of the city of Edessa--and it is
the metropolis of Osroene, in the interior of the Armenosyrians--an Hebrew
by race, accomplished and most learned in the divine writings. He came to
Jerusalem to worship in the days of John the Baptist; and having heard his
preaching and seen his angelic life, he was baptized, and his name was
called Thaddaeus. And having seen the appearing of Christ, and His
teaching, and His wonderful works, he followed Him, and became His
disciple; and He chose him as one of the twelve, the tenth apostle
according to the Evangelists Matthew and Mark.
In those times there was a governor of the city of Edessa, Abgarus by
name. And there having gone abroad the fame of Christ, of the wonders which
He did, and of His teaching, Abgarus having heard of it, was astonished,
and desired to see Christ, and could not leave his city and government. And
about the days of the Passion and the plots of the Jews, Abgarus, being
seized by an incurable disease, sent a letter to Christ by Ananias the
courier,(2) to the following effect:--To Jesus(3) called Christ, Abgarus
the governor of the country of the Edessenes, an unworthy slave. The
multitude of the wonders done by thee has been heard of by me, that thou
healest the blind, the lame, and the paralytic, and curest all the
demoniacs; and on this account I entreat thy goodness to come even to us,
and escape from the plottings of the wicked Jews, which through envy they
set in motion against thee. My city is small, but large enough for both.
Abgarus enjoined Ananias to take accurate account of Christ, of what
appearance He was, and His stature, and His hair, and in a word everything.
And Ananias, having gone and given the letter, was carefully looking at
Christ, but was unable to fix Him in his mind. And He knew as knowing the
heart, and asked to wash Himself; and a towel(4) was given Him; and when He
had washed Himself, He wiped His face with it. And His image having been
imprinted upon the linen, He gave it to Ananias, saying: Give this, and
take back this message, to him that sent thee: Peace to thee and thy city!
For because of this I am come, to suffer for the world, and to rise again,
and to raise up the forefathers. And after I have been taken up into the
heavens I shall send thee my disciple Thaddaeus, who shall enlighten thee,
and guide thee into all the truth, both thee and thy city.
And having received Ananias, and fallen down and adored the likeness,
Abgarus was cured of his disease before Thaddaeus came.
And after the passion, and the resurrection, and the ascension,
Thaddaeus went to Abgarus; and having found him in health, he gave him an
account of the incarnation of Christ, and baptized him, with all his house.
And having instructed great multitudes, both of Hebrews and Greeks. Syrians
and Armenians, he baptized them in the name of the Father, and Son, and
Holy Spirit, having anointed them with the holy perfume; and he
communicated to them of the undefiled mysteries of the sacred body and
blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, and delivered to them to keep and observe
the law of Moses, and to give close heed to the things that had been said
by the apostles in Jerusalem. For year by year they came together to the
passover, and again he imparted to them the Holy Spirit.
And Thaddaeus along with Abgarus destroyed idol-temples and built
churches; ordained as bishop one of his disciples, and presbyters, and
deacons, and gave them the rule of the psalmody and the holy liturgy. And
having left them, he went to the city of Amis, great metropolis of the
Mesechaldeans and Syrians, that is, of Mesopotamia-Syria, beside the river
Tigris. And he having gone into the synagogue of the Jews along with his
disciples on the Sabbath-day, after the reading of the law the high priest
said to Thaddaeus and his disciples: Men, whence are you? and why are you
here?
And Thaddaeus said: No doubt you have heard of what has taken place in
Jerusalem about Jesus Christ, and we are His disciples, and witnesses of
the wonderful things which He did and taught, and how through hatred the
chief priests delivered Him to Pilate the procurator of Judaea. And Pilate,
having examined Him and found no case,(1) wished to let Him go; but they
cried out, If thou let him go, thou art not Caesar's friend, because he
proclaims himself king. And he being afraid, washed his hands in the sight
of the multitude, and said, I am innocent of the blood of this man; see ye
to it. And the chief priests answered and said, His blood be upon us and
our children. And Pilate gave him up to them. And they took Him, and spit
upon Him, with the soldiers, and made a great mock of Him, and crucified
Him, and laid Him in the tomb, and secured it well, having also set guards
upon Him. And on the third day before dawn He rose, leaving His burial-
clothes in the tomb. And He was seen first by His mother and other women,
and by Peter and John first of my fellow disciples, and thereafter to us
the twelve, who ate and drank with Him after His resurrection for many
days. And He sent us in His name to proclaim repentance and remission of
sins to all the nations, that those who were baptized, having had the
kingdom of the heavens preached to them, would rise up incorruptible at the
end of this age; and He gave us power to expel demons, and heal every
disease and every malady, and raise the dead.
And the multitudes having heard this, brought together their sick and
demoniacs. And Thaddaeus, having gone forth along with his disciples, laid
his hand upon each one of them, and healed them all by calling upon the
name of Christ. And the demoniacs were healed before Thaddaeus came near
them, the spirits going out of them. And for many days the people ran
together from different places, and beheld what was done by Thaddaeus. And
hearing his teaching, many believed, and were baptized, confessing their
sins.
Having therefore remained with them for five years, he built a church;
and having appointed as bishop one of his disciples, and presbyters, and
deacons, and prayed for them, he went away, going round the cities of
Syria, and teaching, and healing all the sick; whence he brought many
cities and countries to Christ through His teaching. Teaching, therefore,
and evangelizing along with the disciples, and healing the sick, he went to
Berytus, a city of Phoenicia by the sea;(2) and there, having taught and
enlightened many, he fell asleep on the twenty-first(3) of the month of
August. And the disciples having come together, buried him with great
honour; and many sick were healed, and they gave glory to the Father, and
the Son, and the Holy Spirit, for ever and ever. Amen.
ACTS OF THE HOLY APOSTLE AND EVANGELIST JOHN THE THEOLOGIAN
ABOUT HIS EXILE AND DEPARTURE.
WHEN Agrippa, whom, on account of his plotting against Peace, they
stoned and put to death, was king of the Jews, Vespasian Caesar, coming
with a great army, invested Jerusalem; and some prisoners of war he took
and slew, others he destroyed by famine in the siege, and most he banished,
and at length scattered up and down. And having destroyed the temple, and
put the holy vessels on board a ship, he sent them to Rome, to make for
himself a temple of peace, and adorned it with the spoils of war.
And when Vespasian was dead, his son Domitian, having got possession of
the kingdom. along with his other wrongful acts, set himself also to make a
persecution against the righteous men. For, having learned that the city
was filled with Jews, remembering the orders given by his father about
them, he purposed casting them all out of the city of the Romans. And some
of the Jews took courage, and gave Domitian a book, in which was written as
follows:--
O Domitian, Caesar and king of all the world, as many of us as are Jews
entreat thee, as suppliants we beseech of thy power not to banish us from
thy divine and benignant countenance; for we are obedient to thee, and the
customs, and laws, and practices, and policy, doing wrong in nothing, but
being of the same mind with the Romans. But there is a new and strange
nation, neither agreeing with other nations nor consenting to the religious
observances of the Jews, uncircumcised, inhuman, lawless, subverting whole
houses, proclaiming a man as God, all assembling together(1) under a
strange name, that of Christian. These men reject God, paying no heed to
the law given by Him, and proclaim to be the Son of God a man born of
ourselves, Jesus by name, whose parents and brothers and all his family
have been connected with the Hebrews; whom on account of his great
blasphemy and his wicked fooleries we gave up to the cross. And they add
another blasphemous lie to their first one: him that was nailed up and
buried, they glorify as having risen from the dead; and, more than this,
they falsely assert that he has been taken up by(2) clouds into the
heavens.
At all this the king, being affected with rage. ordered the senate to
publish a decree that they should put to death all who confessed themselves
to be Christians. Those, then, who were found in the time of his rage, and
who reaped the fruit of patience, and were crowned in the triumphant
contest against the works of the devil, received the repose of
incorruption.
And the fame of the teaching of John was spread abroad in Rome; and it
came to the ears of Domitian that there was a certain Hebrew in Ephesus,
John by name, who spread a report about the seat of empire of the Romans,
saying that it would quickly be rooted out, and that the kingdom of the
Romans would be given over to another. And Domitian, troubled by what was
said, sent a centurion with soldiers to seize John, and bring him. And
having gone to Ephesus, they asked where John lived. And having come up to
his gate, they found him standing before the door; and, thinking that he
was the porter, they inquired of him where John lived. And he answered and
said: I am he. And they, despising his common, and low, and poor
appearance, were filled with threats, and said: Tell us the truth. And when
he declared again that he was the man they sought, the neighbours moreover
bearing witness to it, they said that he was to go with them at once to the
king in Rome. And, urging them to take provisions for the journey, he
turned and took a few dates, and straightway went forth.
And the soldiers, having taken the public conveyances, travelled fast,
having seated him in the midst of them. And when they came to the first
change, it being the hour of breakfast, they entreated him to be of good
courage, and to take bread, and eat with them. And John said: I rejoice in
soul indeed, but in the meantime I do not wish to take any food. And they
started, and were carried along quickly. And when it was evening they
stopped at a certain inn; and as, besides, it was the hour of supper, the
centurion and the soldiers being most kindly disposed, entreated John to
make use of what was set before them. But he said that he was very tired,
and in want of sleep more than any food. And as he did this each day, all
the soldiers were struck with amazement, and were afraid lest John should
die, and involve them in danger. But the Holy Spirit showed him to them as
more cheerful. And on the seventh day, it being the Lord's day, he said to
them: Now it is time for me also to partake of food. And having washed his
hands and face, he prayed, and brought out the linen cloth, and took one of
the dates, and ate it in the sight of all.
And when they had ridden a long time they came to the end of their
journey, John thus fasting. And they brought him before the king, and said:
Worshipful king, we bring to thee John, a god, not a man; for, from the
hour in which we apprehended him, to the present, he has not tasted bread.
At this Domitian being amazed, stretched out his mouth on account of the
wonder, wishing to salute him with a kiss; but John bent down his head, and
kissed his breast. And Domitian said: Why hast thou done this? Didst thou
not think me worthy to kiss thee? And John said to him: It is right to
adore the hand of God first of all, and in this way to kiss the mouth of
the king; for it is written in the holy books, The heart of a king is in
the hand of God.(1)
And the king said to him: Art thou John, who said that my kingdom would
speedily be uprooted, and that another king, Jesus, was going to reign
instead of me? And John answered and said to him: Thou also shalt reign for
many years given thee by God, and after thee very many others; and when the
times of the things upon earth have been fulfilled, out of heaven shall
come a King, eternal, true, Judge of living and dead, to whom every nation
and tribe shall confess, through whom every earthly power and dominion
shall be brought to nothing, and every mouth speaking great things shall be
shut. This is the mighty Lord and King of everything that hath breath and
flesh,(2) the Word and Son of the living One, who is Jesus Christ.
At this Domitian said to him: What is the proof of these things? I am
not persuaded by words only; words are a sight of the unseen.(3) What canst
thou show in earth or heaven by the power of him who is destined to reign,
as thou sayest? For he will do it, if he is the Son of God. And immediately
John asked for a deadly poison. And the king having ordered poison to be
given to him, they brought it on the instant. John therefore, having taken
it. put it into a large cup, and filled it with water, and mixed it, and
cried out with a loud voice, and said: In Thy name, Jesus Christ, Son of
God, I drink the cup which Thou wilt sweeten; and the poison in it do Thou
mingle with Thy Holy Spirit, and make it become a draught of life and
salvation, for the healing of soul and body, for digestion and harmless
assimilation, for faith not to be repented of, for an undeniable testimony
of death as the cup of thanksgiving.(4) And when he had drunk the cup,
those standing beside Domitian expected that he was going to fall to the
ground in convulsions. And when John stood, cheerful, and talked with them
safe, Domitian was enraged against those who had given the poison, as
having spared John. But they swore by the fortune and health of the king,
and said that there could not be a stronger poison than this. And John,
understanding what they were whispering to one another, said to the king:
Do not take it ill, O king, but let a trial be made,(5) and thou shalt
learn the power of the poison. Make some condemned criminal be brought from
the prison. And when he had come, John put water into the cup, and swirled
it round, and gave it with all the dregs to the condemned criminal. And he,
having taken it and drunk, immediately fell down and died.
And when all wondered at the signs that had been done, and when
Domitian had retired and gone to his palace, John said to him: O Domitian,
king of the Romans, didst thou contrive this, that, thou being present and
bearing witness, I might to-day become a murderer? What is to be done about
the dead body which is lying? And he ordered it to be taken and thrown
away. But John, going up to the dead body, said: O God, Maker of the
heavens, Lord and Master of angels, of glories, of powers, in the name of
Jesus Christ, Thine only begotten Son, give to this man who has died for
this occasion a renewal of life, and restore him his soul, that Domitian
may learn that the Word is much more powerful than poison, and is the ruler
of life. And having taken him by the hand, he raised him up alive.
And when all were glorifying God, and wondering at the faith of John,
Domitian said to him: I have put forth a decree of the senate, that all
such persons should be summarily dealt with, without trial; but since I
find from thee that they are innocent, and that their religion is rather
beneficial, I banish thee to an island, that I may not seem myself to do
away with my own decrees. He asked then that the condemned criminal should
be let go; and when he was let go, John said: Depart, give thanks to God,
who has this day delivered thee from prison and from death.
And while they were standing, a certain home-born slave of Domitian's,
of those in the bed-chamber, was suddenly seized by the unclean demon, and
lay dead; and word was brought to the king. And the king was moved, and
entreated John to help her. And John said: It is not in man to do this; but
since thou knowest how to reign, but dost not know from whom thou hast
received it, learn who has the power over both thee and thy kingdom. And he
prayed thus: O Lord, the God of every kingdom, and master of every
creature, give to this maiden the breath of life. And having prayed, he
raised her up. And Domitian, astonished at all the wonders, sent him away
to an island, appointing for him a set time.
And straightway John sailed to Patmos, where also he was deemed worthy
to see the revelation of the end. And when Domitian was dead, Nerva
succeeded to the kingdom, and recalled all who had been banished; and
having kept the kingdom for a year, he made Trajan his successor in the
kingdom. And when he was king over the Romans, John went to Ephesus, and
regulated all the teaching of the church, holding many conferences, anti
reminding them of what the Lord had said to them, and what duty he had
assigned to each. And when he was old and changed, he ordered Polycarp to
be bishop over the church.
And what like his end was, or his departure from men, who cannot give
an account of? For on the following day, which was the Lord's day, and in
the presence of the brethren, he began to say to them: Brethren, and
fellow-servants, and co-heirs, and copartners of the kingdom of the Lord,
know the Lord what miracles He hath shown you through me, what wonders,
what cures, what signs, what gracious gifts, teachings, rulings, rests,
services, glories, graces, gifts, faiths, communions; how many things you
have seen with your eyes, that ear hath not heard. Be strong, therefore, in
Him, remembering Him in all your doings, knowing the mystery of the
dispensation that has come to men, for the sake of which the Lord has
worked. He then, through me, exhorts you: Brethren, I wish to remain
without grief, without insult, without treachery, without punishment. For
He also knows insult from you, He knows also dishonour, He knows also
treachery, He knows also punishment from those that disobey His
commandments. Let not therefore our God be grieved, the good, the
compassionate, the merciful, the holy, the pure, the undefiled, the only,
the one, the immutable, the sincere, the guileless, the slow to anger, He
that is higher and more exalted than every name that we speak or think of--
our God, Jesus Christ. Let Him rejoice along with us because we conduct
ourselves well; let Him be glad because we live in purity; let Him rest
because we behave reverently; let Him be pleased because we live in
fellowship; let Him smile because we are sober-minded; let Him be delighted
because we love. These things, brethren, I communicate to you, pressing on
to the work set before me, already perfected for me by the Lord. For what
else have I to say to you? Keep the sureties of your God; keep His
presence, that shall not be taken away from you. And if then ye sin no
more, He will forgive you what ye have done in ignorance; but if, after ye
have known Him, and He has had compassion upon you, you return to the like
courses, even your former offences will be laid to your charge, and ye
shall have no portion or compassion before His face.(1)
And when he had said this to them, he thus prayed: Jesus, who didst
wreathe this crown by Thy twining, who hast inserted these many flowers
into the everlasting flower of Thy countenance, who hast sown these words
among them, be Thou Thyself the protector and healer of Thy people. Thou
alone art benignant and not haughty, alone merciful and kind, alone a
Saviour, and just; Thou who always seest what belongs to all, and art in
all, and everywhere present, God Lord Jesus Christ; who with Thy gifts and
Thy compassion coverest those that hope in Thee; who knowest intimately
those that everywhere speak against us, and blaspheme Thy holy name, do
Thou alone, O Lord, help Thy servants with Thy watchful care. So be it,
Lord.
And having asked bread, he gave thanks thus, saying: What praise, or
what sort of offering, or what thanksgiving, shall we, breaking the bread,
invoke, but Thee only? We glorify the name by which Thou hast been called
by the Father; we glorify the name by which Thou hast been called through
the Son; we glorify the resurrection which has been manifested to us
through Thee; of Thee we glorify the seed,(2) the word, the grace, the true
pearl, the treasure, the plough, the net,(3) the majesty, the diadem, Him
called Son of man for our sakes, the truth, the rest, the knowledge, the
freedom, the place of refuge in Thee. For Thou alone art Lord, the root of
immortality, and the fountain of incorruption, and the seat of the ages;
Thou who hast been called all these for our sakes, that now we, calling
upon Thee through these, may recognise Thine illimitable majesty, presented
to us by Thy presence, that can be seen only by the pure, seen in Thine
only Son.
And having broken the bread, he gave it to us, praying for each of the
brethren, that he might be worthy of the Eucharist of the Lord. He also
therefore, having likewise tasted it, said: To me also let there be a
portion with you, and peace, O beloved. And having thus spoken, and
confirmed the brethren, he said to Eutyches, also named Verus: Behold, I
appoint thee a minister(1) of the Church of Christ, and I entrust to thee
the flock of Christ. Be mindful, therefore, of the commandments of the
Lord; and if thou shouldst fall into trails or dangers, he not afraid: for
thou shall fall under many troubles, and thou shalt be shown to be an
eminent witness(2) of the Lord. Thus, then, Verus, attend to the flock as a
servant of God, until the time appointed for thy testimony.
And when John had spoken this, and more than this, having entrusted to
him the flock of Christ, he says to him: Take some brethren, with baskets
and vessels, and follow me. And Eutyches, without considering,(3) did what
he was bid. And the blessed John having gone forth from the house, went
outside of the gates, having told the multitude to stand off from him. And
having come to the tomb of one of our brethren, he told them to dig. And
they dug. And he says: Let the trench he deeper. And as they dug, he
conversed with those who bad come out of the house with him, building them
up, and furnishing them thoroughly into the majesty of the Lord. And when
the young men had finished the trench, as he had wished, while we knew(4)
nothing, he takes off the clothes he had on, and throws them, as if they
were some bedding, into the depth of the trench; and, standing in only his
drawers,(5) stretched forth his hands, and prayed.
O God, who hast chosen us for the mission (6) of the Gentiles, whet
hast sent us out into the world, who hast declared Thyself through the
apostles; who hast never rested, but always savest from the foundation of
the world; who hast made Thyself known through all nature; who hast made
our wild and savage nature quiet and peaceable; who hast given Thyself to
it when thirsting after knowledge;(7) who hast put to death its adversary,
when it took refuge in Thee; who hast given it Thy hand, and raised it from
the things done in Hades; who hast shown it its own enemy; who hast in
purity turned its thoughts upon Thee, O Christ Jesus, Lord of things in
heaven, and law of things on earth, the course of things aerial, and
guardian of things etherial, the fear of those under the earth, and grace
of Thine own people, receive also the soul of Thy John, which has been
certainly deemed worthy by Thee, Thou who hast preserved me also till the
present hour pure to Thyself, and free from intercourse with woman; who,
when I wished in my youth to marry, didst appear to me, and say, I am in
need of thee, John; who didst strengthen for me beforehand my bodily
weakness; who, when a third time I wished to marry, didst say to me at the
third hour, in the sea, John, if thou wert not mine, I would let thee
marry; who hast opened up the sight of my mind, and hast favoured my
bodily(8) eyes; who, when I was looking about me, didst call even the
gazing upon a woman hateful; who didst deliver me from temporary show, and
preserve me for that which endureth for ever; who didst separate me from
the filthy madness of the flesh; who didst stop up(9) the secret disease of
the soul, and cut out its open actions; who didst afflict and banish him
who rebelled in me; who didst establish my love to Thee spotless and
unimpaired; who didst give me undoubting faith in Thee; who hast drawn out
for me pure thoughts towards Thee; who hast given me the due reward of my
works; who bast set it in my soul to have no other possession than Thee
alone: for what is more precious than Thou? Now, O Lord, when I have
accomplished Thy stewardship with which I was entrusted, make me worthy of
Thy repose, having wrought that which is perfect in Thee, which is
ineffable salvation. And as I go to Thee, let the fire withdraw, let
darkness be overcome, let the furnace be slackened, let Gehenna be
extinguished, let the angels follow, let the demons be afraid let the
princes be broken in pieces, let the powers of darkness fall, let the
places on the right hand stand firm, let those on the left abide not, let
the devil be muzzled, let Satan be laughed to scorn, let his madness be
tamed, let his wrath be broken, let his children be trodden under foot, and
let all his root he uprooted; and grant to me to accomplish the journey to
Thee, not insulted, not despitefully treated, and to receive what Thou hast
promised to those that live in purity, and that have loved a holy life.
And gazing towards heaven, he glorified God; and having sealed himself
altogether, he stood and said to us, Peace and grace be with you, brethren!
and sent the brethren away. And when they went on the morrow they did not
find him, but his sandals, and a fountain welling up. And after that they
remembered what had been said to Peter by the Lord about him: For what does
it concern thee if I should wish him to remain until I come?(1) And they
glorified God for the miracle that had happened. And having thus believed,
they retired praising and blessing the benignant God; because to Him is due
glory now and ever, and to ages of ages. Amen.
Taken from "The Early Church Fathers and Other Works" originally published
by Wm. B. Eerdmans Pub. Co. in English in Edinburgh, Scotland, beginning in
1867. (ANF 8, Roberts and Donaldson). The digital version is by The
Electronic Bible Society, P.O. Box 701356, Dallas, TX 75370, 214-407-WORD.
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