(NOTE: The electronic text obtained from The Electronic Bible Society was
not completely corrected. EWTN has corrected all discovered errors.)
THIS FILE CONTAINS
The Testament of Abraham
The Acts of Xanthippe and Polyxena
The Narrative of Zosimus
THE TESTAMENT OF ABRAHAM
[Translated by W.A. Craigie, M.A., B.A. (Oxon.)]
[In an attempt to render the parallel columns of the printed version, each
paragraph of the longer version of the Testament is followed by the
corresponding paragraph, paragraphs or partial paragraph of the shorter
version. --EWTN]
(L) I. Abraham lived the measure of his life, nine hundred and ninety-
five years, and having lived all the years of his life in quietness,
gentleness, and righteousness, the righteous one was exceeding hospitable;
for, pitching his tent in the cross-ways at the oak of Mamre, he received
every one, both rich and poor, kings and rulers, the maimed and the
helpless, friends and strangers, neighbours and travellers, all alike did
the devout, all-holy, righteous, and hospitable Abraham entertain. Even
upon him, however, there came the common, inexorable, bitter lot of death,
and the uncertain end of life. Therefore the Lord God, summoning his
archangel Michael, said to him: Go down, chief- captain(1) Michael, to
Abraham and speak to him concerning his death, that he may set his affairs
in order, for I have blessed him as the stars of heaven, and as the sand by
the sea-shore, and he is in abundance of long life and many possessions,
and is becoming exceeding rich. Beyond all men, moreover, he is righteous
in every goodness, hospitable and loving to the end of his life; but do
thou, archangel Michael, go to Abraham, my beloved friend, and announce to
him his death and assure him thus: Thou shalt at this time depart from this
vain world, and shalt quit the body, and go to thine own Lord among the
good.
(S) I. It came to pass, when the days of the death of Abraham drew near,
that the Lord said to Michael: Arise and go to Abraham, my servant, and say
to him, Thou shall depart from life, for lo! the days of thy temporal life
are fulfilled: so that he may set his house in order before he die.
(L) II. And the chief-captain departed from before the face of God, and
went down to Abraham to the oak of Mamre, and found the righteous Abraham
in the field close by, sitting beside yokes of oxen for ploughing, together
with the sons of Masek and other servants, to the number of twelve. And
behold the chief-captain came to him, and Abraham, seeing the chief-captain
Michael coming from afar, like to a very comely warrior, arose and met him
as was his custom, meeting and entertaining all strangers. And the chief-
captain saluted him and said: Hail, most honoured father, righteous soul
chosen of God, true son of the heavenly one. Abraham said to the chief-
captain: Hail, most honoured warrior, bright as the sun and most beautiful
above all the sons of men; thou art welcome; therefore I beseech thy
presence, tell me whence the youth of thy age has come; teach me, thy
suppliant, whence and from what army and from what journey thy beauty has
come hither. The chief-captain said: I, O righteous Abraham, come from the
great city. I have been sent by the great king to take the place of a good
friend of his, for the king has summoned him. And Abraham said, Come, my
lord, go with me as far as my field. The chief-captain said: I come; and
going into the field of the ploughing, they sat down beside the company.
And Abraham said to his servants, the sons of Masek: Go ye to the herd of
horses, and bring two horses, quiet, and gentle and tame, so that I and
this stranger may sit thereon. But the chief-captain said, Nay, my lord,
Abraham, let them not bring horses, for I abstain from ever sitting upon
any four-footed beast. Is not my king rich in much merchandise, having
power both over men and all kinds of cattle? but I abstain from ever
slitting upon any four-footed beast. Let us go, then, O righteous soul,
walking lightly until we reach thy house. And Abraham said, Amen, be it so.
(S) II. And Michael went and came to Abraham, and found him sitting
before his oxen for ploughing, and he was exceeding. old in appearance, and
had his son in his arms. Abraham, therefore, seeing the archangel Michael,
rose from the ground and saluted him, not knowing who he was, and said to
him: The Lord preserve thee. May thy journey be prosperous with thee. And
Michael answered him: Thou art kind, good father. Abraham answered and said
to him: Come, draw near to me, brother, and sit down a little while, that I
may order a beast to be brought that we may go to my house, and thou mayest
rest with me, for it is toward evening, and in the morning arise and go
whithersoever thou wilt, lest some evil beast meet thee and do thee hurt.
And Michael enquired of Abraham, saying: Tell me thy name, before I enter
thy house, lest I be burdensome to thee. Abraham answered and said, My
parents called me Abram, and the Lord named me Abraham, saying: Arise and
depart from thy house, and from thy kindred, and go into the land which I
shall show unto thee. And when I went away into the land which the Lord
showed me, he said to me: Thy name shall no more be called Abram, but thy
name shall be Abraham. Michael answered and said to him: Pardon me, my
father, experienced man of God, for I am a stranger, and I have heard of
thee that thou didst go forty furlongs and didst bring a goat and slay it,
entertaining angels in thy house, that they might rest there. Thus speaking
together, they arose and went towards the house. And Abraham called one of
his servants, and said to him: Go, bring me a beast that the stranger may
sit upon it, for he is wearied with his journey. And Michael said: Trouble
not the youth, but let us go lightly until we reach the house, for I love
thy company.
(L) III. And as they went on from the field toward his house, beside
that way there stood a cypress tree, and by the command of the Lord the
tree cried out with a human voice, saying, Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God
that calls himself to those that love him; but Abraham hid the mystery,
thinking that the chief-captain had not heard the voice of the tree. And
coming nigh to the house they sat down in the court, and Isaac seeing the
face of the angel said to Sarah his mother, My lady mother, behold, the man
sitting with my father Abraham is not a son of the race of those that dwell
on the earth. And Isaac ran, and saluted him, and fell at the feet of the
Incorporeal, and the Incorporeal blessed him and said, The Lord God will
grant thee his promise that he made to thy father Abraham and to his seed,
and will also grant thee the precious prayer of thy father and thy mother.
Abraham said to Isaac his son, My son Isaac, draw water from the well, and
bring it me in the vessel, that we may wash the feet of this stranger, for
he is tired, having come to us from off a long journey. And Isaac ran to
the well and drew water in the vessel and brought it to them, and Abraham
went up and washed the feet of the chief captain Michael, and the heart of
Abraham was moved, and he wept over the stranger. And Isaac, seeing his
father weeping, wept also, and the chief captain, seeing them weeping, also
wept with them, and the tears of the chief captain fell upon the vessel
into the water of the basin and became precious stones. And Abraham seeing
the marvel, and being astonished, took the stones secretly, and hid the
mystery, keeping it by himself in his heart.
(S) III. And arising they went on, and as they drew nigh to the city,
about three furlongs from it, they found a great tree having three hundred
branches, like to a tamarisk tree. And they heard a voice from its branches
singing, "Holy art thou, because thou hast kept the purpose for which thou
wast sent." And Abraham heard the voice, and hid the mystery in his heart,
saying within himself, What is the mystery that I have heard? As he came
into the house, Abraham said to his servants, Arise, go out to the flocks,
and bring three sheep, and slay them quickly, and make them ready that we
may eat and drink, for this day is a feast for us. And the servants brought
the sheep, and Abraham called his son Isaac, and said to him, My son Isaac,
arise and put water in the vessel that we may wash the feet of this
stranger. And he brought it as he was commanded, and Abraham said, I
perceive, and so it shall be, that in this basin I shall never again wash
the feet of any man coming to us as a guest. And Isaac hearing his father
say this wept, and said to him, My father what is this that thou sayest,
This is my last time to wash the feet of a stranger? And Abraham seeing his
son weeping, also wept exceedingly, and Michael seeing them weeping, wept
also, and the tears of Michael fell upon the vessel and became a precious
stone.
(L) IV. And Abraham said to Isaac his son: Go, my beloved son, into the
inner chamber of the house and beautify it. Spread for us there two
couches, one for me and one for this man that is guest with us this day.
Prepare for us there a seat and a candlestick and a table with abundance of
every good thing. Beautify the chamber, my son, and spread under us linen
and purple and fine linen. Burn there every precious and excellent incense,
and bring sweet-smelling plants from the garden and fill our house with
them. Kindle seven lamps full of oil, so that we may rejoice, for this man
that is our guest this day is more glorious than kings or rulers, and his
appearance surpasses all the sons of men. And Isaac prepared all things
well, and Abraham taking the archangel Michael went into the chamber, and
they both eat down upon the couches, and between them he placed a table
with abundance of every good thing. Then the chief captain arose and went
out, as if by constraint of his belly to make issue of water, and ascended
to heaven in the twinkling of an eye, and stood before the Lord, and said
to him: Lord and Master, let thy power know that I am unable to remind that
righteous man of his death, for I have not seen upon the earth a man like
him, pitiful, hospitable, righteous, truthful, devout, refraining from
every evil deed. And now know, Lord, that I cannot remind him of his death.
And the Lord said: Go down, chief-captain Michael, to my friend Abraham,
and whatever he say to thee, that do thou also, and whatever he eat, eat
thou also with him. And I will send my holy spirit upon his son Isaac, and
will put the remembrance of his death into the heart of Isaac, so that even
he in a dream may see the death of his father, and Isaac will relate the
dream, and thou shalt interpret it, and he himself will know his end. And
the chief-captain said, Lord, all the heavenly spirits are incorporeal, and
neither eat nor drink, and this man has set before me a table with
abundance of all good things earthly and corruptible. Now, Lord, what shall
I do? How shall I escape him, sitting at one table with him? The Lord said:
Go down to him, and take no thought for this, for when thou sittest down
with him, I will send upon thee a devouring spirit, and it will consume out
of thy hands and through thy mouth all that is on the table. Rejoice
together with him in everything, only thou shalt interpret well the things
of the vision, that Abraham may know the sickle of death and the uncertain
end of life, and may make disposal of all his possessions, for I have
blessed him above the sand of the sea and as the stars of heaven.
(S) IV. When Sarah, being inside in her house, heard their weeping, she
came out and said to Abraham, Lord, why is it that ye thus weep? Abraham
answered, and mid to her, It is no evil. Go into thy house, and do thy own
work, lest we be troublesome to the man. And Sarah went away, being about
to prepare the supper. And the sun came near to setting, and Michael went
out of the house, and was taken up into the heavens to worship before God,
for at sunset all the angels worship God and Michael himself is the first
of the angels. And they all worshipped him, and went each to his own place,
but Michael spoke before the Lord and said, Lord, command me to be
questioned before thy holy glory! And the Lord said to Michael, Announce
whatsoever thou wilt! And the Archangel answered and said, Lord, thou didst
send me to Abraham to say to him, Depart from thy body, and leave this
world; the Lord calls thee; and I dare not, Lord, reveal myself to him, for
he is thy friend, and a righteous man, and one that receives strangers. But
I beseech thee, Lord, command the remembrance of the death of Abraham to
enter into his own heart, and bid not me tell it him, for it is great
abruptness to say, Leave the world, and especially to leave one's own body,
for thou didst create him from the beginning to have pity on the souls of
all men. Then the Lord said to Michael, Arise and go to Abraham, and lodge
with him, and whatever thou seest him eat, eat thou also, and where-ever he
shall sleep, sleep thou there also. For I will cast the thought of the
death of Abraham into the heart of Isaac his son in a dream.
(L) V. Then the chief captain went down to the house of Abraham, and sat
down with him at the table, and Isaac served them. And when the supper was
ended, Abraham prayed after his custom, and the chief-captain prayed
together with him, and each lay down to sleep upon his couch. And Isaac
said to his father, Father, I too would fain sleep with you in this
chamber, that I also may hear your discourse, for I love to hear the
excellence of the conversation of this virtuous man. Abraham said, Nay, my
son, but go to thy own chamber and sleep on thy own couch, lest we be
troublesome to this man. Then Isaac, having received the prayer from them,
and having blessed them, went to his own chamber and lay down upon Iris
couch. But the Lord east the thought of death into the heart of Isaac as in
a dream, and about the third hour of the night Isaac awoke and rose up from
his couch, and came running to the chamber where his father was sleeping
together with the archangel. Isaac, therefore, on reaching the door cried
out, saying, My father Abraham, arise and open to me quickly, that I may
enter and hang upon thy neck, and embrace thee before they take thee away
from me. Abraham therefore arose and opened to him, and Isaac entered and
hung upon his neck, and began to weep with a loud voice. Abraham therefore
being moved at heart, also wept with a loud voice, and the chief-captain,
seeing them weeping, wept also. Sarah being in her room, heard their
weeping, and came running to them, and found them embracing and weeping.
And Sarah said with weeping, My lord Abraham, what is this that ye weep?
Tell me, my lord, has this brother that has been entertained by us this day
brought thee tidings of Lot, thy brother's son, that he is dead? is it for
this that ye grieve thus? The chief-captain answered and said to her, Nay,
my sister Sarah, it is not as thou sayest, but thy son Isaac, methinks,
beheld a dream, and came to us weeping, and we seeing him were moved in our
hearts and wept.
(S) V. Then Michael went into the house of Abraham on that evening, and
found them preparing the supper, and they ate and drank and were merry. And
Abraham said to his son Isaac, Arise, my son, and spread the man's couch
that he may sleep, and set the lamp upon the stand. And Isaac did as his
father commanded him, and Isaac said to his father, I too am coming to
sleep beside you. Abraham answered him, Nay, my son, lest we be troublesome
to this man, but go to thy own chamber and sleep. And Isaac not wishing to
disobey his father's command, went away and slept in his own chamber.
(S) VI. And it happened about the seventh hour of the night Isaac awoke,
and came to the door of his father's chamber, crying out and saying, Open,
father, that I may touch thee before they take thee away from me. Abraham
arose and opened to him, and Isaac entered and hung upon his father's neck
weeping, and kissed him with lamentations. And Abraham wept together with
his son, and Michael saw them weeping and wept likewise. And Sarah hearing
them weeping called from her bed-chamber, saying, My lord Abraham, why is
this weeping? Has the stranger told thee of thy brother's son Lot that he
is dead? or has aught else befallen us? Michael answered and said to Sarah,
Nay, Sarah, I have brought no tidings of Lot, but I knew of all your
kindness of heart, that therein ye excel all men upon earth, and the Lord
has remembered you.
(L) VI. Then Sarah, hearing the excellence of the conversation of the
chief-captain, straightway knew that it was an angel of the Lord that
spoke. Sarah therefore signified to Abraham to come out towards the door,
and said to him, My lord Abraham, knowest thou who this man is? Abraham
said, I know not. Sarah said, Thou knowest, my lord, the three men from
heaven that were entertained by us in our tent beside the oak of Mamre,
when thou didst kill the kid without blemish, and set a table before them.
After the flesh had been eaten, the kid rose again, and sucked its mother
with great joy. Knowest thou not, my lord Abraham, that by promise they
gave to us Isaac as the fruit of the womb? Of these three holy men this is
one. Abraham said, O Sarah, in this thou speakest the truth. Glory and
praise from our God and the Father. For late in the evening when I washed
his feet in the basin I said in my heart, These are the feet of one of the
three men that I washed then; and his tears that fell into the basin then
became precious stones. And shaking them out from his lap he gave them to
Sarah, saying, If thou believest me not, look now at these. And Sarah
receiving them bowed down and saluted and said, Glory be to God that
showeth us wonderful things. And now know, my lord Abraham, that there is
among us the revelation of some thing, whether it be evil or good!
(S, VI cont.) Then Sarah said to Abraham, How durst thou weep when the man
of God has come in to thee, and why have thy eyes(1) shed tears for to-day
there is great rejoicing? Abraham said to her, How knowest thou that this
is a man of God? Sarah answered and said, Because I say and declare that
this is one of the three men who were entertained by us at the oak of
Mamre, when one of the servants went and brought a kid and thou didst kill
it, and didst say to me, Arise, make ready that we may eat with these men
in our house. Abraham answered and said, Thou has perceived well, O woman,
for I too, when I washed his feet knew in my heart that these were the feet
which I had washed at the oak of Mamre, and when I began to enquire
concerning his journey, he said to me, I go to preserve Lot thy brother
from the men of Sodom, and then I knew the mystery.
(L) VII. And Abraham left Sarah, and went into the chamber, and said to
Isaac, Come hither, my beloved son, tell me the truth, what it was thou
sawest and what befell thee that thou camest so hastily to us. And Isaac
answering began to say, I saw, my lord, in this night the sun and the moon
above my head, surrounding me with its rays and giving me light. As I gazed
at this and rejoiced, I saw the heaven opened, and a man bearing light
descend from it, shining more than seven suns. And this man like the sun
came and took away the sun from my head, and went up into the heavens from
whence he came, but I was greatly grieved that he took away the sun from
me. After a little, as I was still sorrowing and sore troubled, I saw this
man come forth from heaven a second time, and he took away from me the moon
also from off my head, and I wept greatly and called upon that man of
light, and said, Do not, my lord, take away my glory from me; pity me and
hear me, and if thou takest away the sun from me, then leave the moon to
me. He said, Suffer them to be taken up to the king above, for he wishes
them there. And he took them away from me, but he left the rays upon me.
The chief-captain said, Hear, O righteous Abraham; the sun which thy son
saw is thou his father, and the moon likewise is Sarah his mother. The man
bearing light who descended from heaven, this is the one sent from God who
is to take thy righteous soul from thee. And now know, O most honored
Abraham, that at this time thou shalt leave this worldly life, and remove
to God. Abraham said to the chief captain O strangest of marvels! and now
art thou he that shall take my soul from me? The chief-captain said to him,
I am the chief-captain Michael, that stands before the lord, and I was sent
to thee to remind thee of thy death, and then I shall depart to him as I
was commanded. Abraham said, Now I know that thou art an angel of the Lord,
and wast sent to take my soul, but I will not go with thee; but do thou
whatever thou art commanded.
(S) VII. And Abraham said to Michael, Tell me, man of God, and show to
me why thou hast come hither. And Michael said. Thy son Isaac will show
thee. And Abraham said to his son, My beloved son, tell me what thou hast
seen in thy dream to-day, and wast frightened. Relate it to me. Isaac
answered his father, I saw in my dream the sun and the moon, and there was
a crown upon my head, and there came from heaven a man of great size, and
shining as the light that is called the father of light. He took the sun
from my head, and yet left the rays behind with me. And I wept and said, I
beseech thee, my lord, take not away the glory of my head, and the light of
my house, and all my glory. And the sun and the moon and the stars
lamented, saying, Take not away the glory of our power. And that shining
man answered and said to me, Weep not that I take the light of thy house,
for it is taken up from troubles into rest, from a low estate to a high
one; they lift him up from a narrow to a wide place; they raise him from
darkness to light. And I said to him, I beseech thee, Lord, take also the
rays with it. He said to me, There are twelve hours of the day, and then I
shall take all the rays. As the shining man said this, I saw the sun of my
house ascending into heaven, but that crown I saw no more, and that sun was
like thee my father. And Michael said to Abraham, Thy son Isaac has spoken
truth, for thou shalt go, and be taken up into the heavens, but thy body
shall remain on earth, until seven thousand ages are fulfilled, for then
all flesh shall arise. Now therefore, Abraham, set thy house in order, and
thy children, for thou hast heard fully what is decreed concerning thee.
(L) VIII. The chief-captain hearing these words immediately vanished,
and ascending into heaven stood before God, and told all that he had seen
in the house of Abraham; and the chief-captain said this also to his Lord,
Thus says thy friend Abraham, I will not go with thee, but do thou whatever
thou art commanded; and now, O Lord Almighty, doth thy glory and immortal
kingdom order aught? God said to the chief-captain Michael, Go to my friend
Abraham yet once again, and speak to him thus, Thus saith the Lord thy God,
he that brought thee into the land of promise, that blessed thee above the
sand of the sea and above the stars of heaven, that opened the womb of
barrenness of Sarah, and granted thee Isaac as the fruit of the womb in old
age, Verily I say unto thee that blessing I will bless thee, and
multiplying I will multiply thy seed, and I will give thee all that thou
shalt ask from me, for I am the Lord thy God, and besides me there is no
other. Tell me why thou hast rebelled against me, and why there is grief in
thee, and why thou rebelled against my archangel Michael? Knowest thou not
that all who have come from Adam and Eve have died, and that none of the
prophets has escaped death? None of those that rule as kings is immortal;
none of thy forefathers has escaped the mystery of death. They have all
died, they have all departed into Hades, they are all gathered by the
sickle of death. But upon thee I have not sent death, I have not suffered
any deadly disease to come upon thee, I have not permitted the sickle of
death to meet thee, I have not allowed the nets of Hades to enfold thee, I
have never wished thee to meet with any evil. But for good comfort I have
sent my chief-captain Michael to thee, that thou mayst know thy departure
from the world, and set thy house in order, and all that belongs to thee,
and bless Isaac thy beloved son. And now know that I have done this not
wishing to grieve thee. Wherefore then hast thou said to my chief-captain,
I will not go with thee? Wherefore hast thou spoken thus? Knowest thou not
that if I give leave to death and he comes upon thee, then I should see
whether thou wouldst come or not?
(L) IX. And the chief-captain receiving the exhortations of the Lord
went down to Abraham, and seeing him the righteous one fell upon his face
to the ground as one dead, and the chief-captain told him all that he had
heard from the Most High. Then the holy and just Abraham rising with many
tears fell at the feet of the Incorporeal, and besought him, saying, I
beseech thee, chief-captain of the hosts above, since thou hast wholly
deigned to come thyself to me a sinner and in all things thy unworthy
servant, I beseech thee even now, O chief-captain, to carry my word yet
again to the Most High, and thou shalt say to him, Thus saith Abraham thy
servant, Lord, Lord, in every work and word which I have asked of thee thou
hast heard me, and hast fulfilled all my counsel. Now, Lord, I resist not
thy power, for I too know that I am not immortal but mortal. Since
therefore to thy command all things yield, and fear and tremble at the face
of thy power, I also fear, but I ask one:request of thee, and now, Lord and
Master, hear my prayer, for while still in this body I desire to see all
the inhabited earth, and all the creations which thou didst establish by
one word, and when I see these, then if I shall depart from life I shall be
without sorrow. So the chief-captain went back again, and stood before God,
and told him all, saying, Thus saith thy friend Abraham, I desired to
behold all the earth in my lifetime before I died. And the Most High
hearing this, again commanded the chief-captain Michael, and said to him,
Take a cloud of light, and the angels that have power over the chariots,
and go down, take the righteous Abraham upon a chariot of the cherubim, and
exalt him into the air of heaven that he may behold all the earth.
(S, VII cont.) Abraham answered and said to Michael, I beseech thee, lord,
if I shall depart from my body, I have desired to be taken up in my body
that I may see the creatures that the Lord my God has created in heaven and
on earth. Michael answered and said, This is not for me to do, but I shall
go and tell the Lord of this, and if I am commanded I shall show thee all
these things.
(S) VIII. And Michael went up into heaven, and spoke before the Lord
concerning Abraham, and the Lord answered Michael, Go and take up Abraham
in the body, and show him all things, and whatsoever he shall say to thee
do to him as to my friend. So Michael went forth and took up Abraham in the
body on a cloud, and brought him to the river of Ocean.
(L) X. And the archangel Michael went down and took Abraham upon a
chariot of the cherubim, and exalted him into the air of heaven, and led
him upon the cloud together with sixty angels, and Abraham ascended upon
the chariot over all the earth. And Abraham saw the world as it was in that
day, some ploughing, others driving wains, in one place men herding flocks,
and in another watching them by night, and dancing and playing and harping,
in another place men striving and contending at law, elsewhere men weeping
and having the dead in remembrance. He saw also the newly-wedded received
with honour, and in a word he saw all things that are done in the world,
both good and bad. Abraham therefore passing over them saw men bearing
swords, wielding in their hands sharpened swords, and Abraham asked the
chief-captain, Who are these? The chief-captain said, These are thieves,
who intend to commit murder, and to steal and burn and destroy. Abraham
said, Lord, Lord, hear my voice, and command that wild beasts may come out
of the wood and devour them. And even as he spoke there came wild beasts
out of the wood and devoured them. And he saw in another place a man with a
woman committing fornication with each other, and said, Lord, Lord, command
that the earth may open and swallow them, and straightway the earth was
cleft and swallowed them. And he saw in another place men digging through a
house, and carrying away other men's possessions, and he said, Lord, Lord,
command that fire may come down from heaven and consume them. And even as
he spoke, fire came down from heaven and consumed them. And straightway
there came a voice from heaven to the chief-captain, saying thus, O chief-
captain Michael, command the chariot to stop, and turn Abraham away that he
may not see all the earth, for if he behold all that live in wickedness, he
will destroy all creation. For behold, Abraham has not sinned, and has no
pity on sinners, but I have made the world, and desire not to destroy any
one of them, but wait for the death of the sinner, till he be converted and
live. But take Abraham up to the first gate of heaven, that he may see
there the judgments and recompenses, and repent of the souls of the sinners
that he has destroyed.
(S) XII. And after Abraham had seen the place of judgment, the cloud
took him down upon the firmament below, and Abraham, looking down upon the
earth, saw a man committing adultery with a wedded woman. And Abraham
turning said to Michael, Seest thou this wickedness? but, Lord, send fire
from heaven to consume them. And straightway there came down fire and
consumed them, for the Lord had said to Michael, Whatsoever Abraham shall
ask thee to do for him, do thou. Abraham looked again, and saw other men
railing at their companions, and said, Let the earth open and swallow them,
and as he spoke the earth swallowed them alive. Again the cloud led him to
another place, and Abraham saw some going into a desert place to commit
murder, and he said to Michael, Seest thou this wickedness? but let wild
beasts come out of the desert, and tear them in pieces, and that same hour
wild beasts came out of the desert, and devoured them. Then the Lord God
spoke to Michael saying, Turn away Abraham to his own house, and let him
not go round all the creation that I have made, because he has no
compassion on sinners, but I have compassion on sinners that they may turn
and live, and repent of their sins and be saved.
(L) XI. So Michael turned the chariot and brought Abraham to the east,
to the first gate of heaven; and Abraham saw two ways, the one narrow and
contracted, the other broad and spacious, and there he saw two gates, the
one broad on the broad way, and the other narrow on the narrow way. And
outside the two gates there he saw a man sitting upon a gilded throne, and
the appearance of that man was terrible, as of the Lord.(1) And they saw
many souls driven by angels and led in through the broad gate, and other
souls, few in number, that were taken by the angels through the narrow
gate. And when the wonderful one who sat upon the golden throne saw few
entering through the narrow gate, and many entering through the broad one,
straightway that wonderful one tore the hairs of his head and the sides of
his beard, and threw himself on the ground from his throne, weeping and
lamenting. But when he saw many souls entering through the narrow gate,
then he arose from the ground and sat upon his throne in great joy,
rejoicing and exulting. And Abraham asked the chief-captain, My lord chief-
captain, who is this most marvelous man, adorned with such glory, and
sometimes he weeps and laments, and sometimes he rejoices and exults? The
incorporeal one said: This is the first-created Adam who is in such glory,
and he looks upon the world because all are born from him, and when he sees
many souls going through the narrow gate, then he arises and sits upon his
throne rejoicing and exulting in joy, because this narrow gate is that of
the just, that leads to life, and they that enter through it go into
Paradise. For this, then, the first-created Adam rejoices, because he sees
the souls being saved. But when he sees many souls entering through the
broad gate, then he pulls out the hairs of his head, and casts himself on
the ground weeping and lamenting bitterly, for the broad gate is that of
sinners, which leads to destruction and eternal punishment. And for this
the first-formed Adam falls from his throne weeping and lamenting for the
destruction of sinners, for they are many that are lost, and they are few
that are saved, for in seven thousand there is scarcely found one soul
saved, being righteous and undefiled.
(S) (VIII.) And Abraham looked and saw two gates, the one small and the
other large, and between the two gates sat a man upon a throne of great
glory, and a multitude of angels round about him, and he was weeping, and
again laughing, but his weeping exceeded his laughter seven-fold. And
Abraham said to Michael, Who is this that sits between the two gates in
great glory; sometimes he laughs, and sometimes he weeps, and his weeping
exceeds his laughter seven-fold? And Michael said to Abraham, Knowest thou
not who it is? And he said, No, lord. And Michael said to Abraham, Seest
thou these two gates, the small and the great? These are they which lead to
life and to destruction. This man that sits between them is Adam, the first
man whom the Lord created, and set him in this place to see every soul that
departs from the body, seeing that all are from him. When, therefore, thou
seest him weeping, know that he has seen many souls being led to
destruction, but when thou seest him laughing, he has seen many souls being
led into life. Seest thou how his weeping exceeds his laughter? Since he
sees the greater part of the world being led away through the broad gate to
destruction, therefore his weeping exceeds his laughter seven-fold.
(S) IX. And Abraham said, And he that cannot enter through the narrow
gate, can he not enter into life? Then Abraham wept, saying, Woe is me,
what shall I do? for I am a man broad of body, and how shall I be able to
enter by the narrow gate, by which a boy of fifteen years cannot enter?
Michael answered and said to Abraham, Fear not, father, nor grieve, for
thou shalt enter by it unhindered, and all those who are like thee.
(L) XII. While he was yet saying these things to me, behold two angels,
fiery in aspect, and pitiless in mind, and severe in look, and they drove
on thousands of souls, pitilessly lashing them with fiery thongs. The angel
laid hold of one soul, and they drove all the souls in at the broad gate to
destruction. So we also went along with the angels, and came within that
broad gate, and between the two gates stood a throne terrible of aspect, of
terrible crystal, gleaming as fire, and upon it sat a wondrous man bright
as the sun, like to the Son of God. Before him stood a table like crystal,
all of gold and fine linen, and upon the table there was lying a book, the
thickness of it six cubits, and the breadth of it ten cubits, and on the
right and left of it stood two angels holding paper and ink and pen. Before
the table sat an angel of light, holding in his hand a balance, and on his
left sat an angel all fiery, pitiless, and severe, holding in his hand a
trumpet, having within it all-consuming fire with which to try the sinners.
The wondrous man who sat upon the throne himself judged and sentenced the
souls, and the two angels on the right and on the left wrote down, the one
on the right the righteousness and the one on the left the wickedness. The
one before the table, who held the balance, weighed the souls, and the
fiery angel, who held the fire, tried the souls. And Abraham asked the
chief-captain Michael, What is this that we behold? And the chief-captain
said, These things that thou seest, holy Abraham, airs the judgment and
recompense. And behold the angel holding the soul in his hand, and he
brought it before the judge, and the judge said to one of the angels that
served him, Open me this book, and find me the sins of this soul. And
opening the book he found its sins and its righteousness equally balanced,
and he neither gave it to the tormentors, nor to those that were saved, but
set it in the midst.
(S, IX cont.) And as Abraham stood and marveled. behold an angel of the
Lord driving sixty thousand souls of sinners to destruction, And Abraham
said to Michael, Do all these go into destruction? And Michael said to him,
Yea, but lat us go and search among these souls, if there is among them
even one righteous. And when they went, they found an angel holding in his
hand one soul of a woman from among these sixty thousand, because he had
found her sins weighing equally with all her works, and they were neither
in motion nor at rest, but in a state between; but the other souls he led
away to destruction. Abraham said to Michael, Lord, is this the angel that
removes the souls from the body or not? Michael answered and said, This is
death, and he leads them into the place of judgment, that the judge may try
them.
(S) X. And Abraham said, My lord, I beseech thee to lead me to the place
of judgment so that I too may see how they are judged. Then Michael took
Abraham upon a cloud, and led him into Paradise, and when he came to the
place where the judge was, the angel came and gave that soul to the judge.
And the soul said, Lord have mercy on me. And the judge said, How shall I
have mercy upon thee, when thou hadst no mercy upon thy daughter which thou
hadst, the fruit of thy womb? Wherefore didst thou slay her? It answered,
Nay, Lord, slaughter has not been done by me, but my daughter has lied upon
me. But the judge commanded him to come that wrote down the records, and
behold cherubim carrying two books. And there was with them a man of
exceeding great stature, having on his head three crowns, and the one crown
was higher than the other two. These are called the crowns of witness. And
the man had in his hand a golden pen, and the judge said to him, Exhibit
the sin of this soul. And that man. opening one of the books of the
cherubim, sought out the sin of the woman's soul and found it. And the
judge said, O wretched soul, why sayest thou that thou hast not done
murder? Didst thou not, after the death of thy husband, go and commit
adultery with thy daughter's husband, and kill her? And he convicted her
also of her other sins, whatsoever she had done from her youth. Hearing
these things the woman cried out, saying, Woe is me, all the sins that I
did in the world I forgot, but here they were not forgotten. Then they took
her away also and gave her over to the tormentors.
(L) XIII. And Abraham said, My lord chief-captain, who is this most
wondrous judge? and who are the angels that write down? and who is the
angel like the sun, holding the balance? and who is the fiery angel holding
the fire? The chief-captain said, "Seest thou, most holy Abraham, the
terrible man sitting upon the throne? This is the son of the first created
Adam, who is called Abel, whom the wicked Cain killed, and he sits thus to
judge all creation, and examines righteous men and sinners. For God has
said, I shall not judge you, but every man born of man shall be judged.
Therefore he has given to him judgment, to judge the world until his great
and glorious coming, and then, O righteous Abraham, is the perfect judgment
and recompense, eternal and unchangeable, which no one can alter. For every
man has come from the first-created, and therefore they are first judged
here by his son, and at the second coming they shall be judged by the
twelve tribes of Israel, every breath and every creature. But the third
time they shall be judged by the Lord God of all, and then, indeed, the end
of that judgment is near, and the sentence terrible, and there is none to
deliver. And now by three tribunals the judgment of the world and the
recompense is made, and for this reason a matter is not finally confirmed
by one or two witnesses, but by three witnesses shall everything be
established. The two angels on the right hand and on the left, these are
they that write down the sins and the righteousness, the one on the right
hand writes down the righteousness, and the one on the left the sins. The
angel like the sun, holding the balance in his hand, is the archangel,
Dokiel the just weigher, and he weighs the righteousnesses and sins with
the righteousness of God. The fiery and pitiless angel, holding the fire in
his hand, is the archangel Puruel, who has power over fire, and tries the
works of men through fire, and if the fire consume the work of any man, the
angel of judgment immediately seizes him, and carries him away to the place
of sinners, a most bitter place of punishment. But if the fire approves the
work of anyone, and does not seize upon it, that man is justified, and the
angel of righteousness takes him and carries him up to be saved in the lot
of the just. And thus, most righteous Abraham, all things in all men are
tried by fire and the balance."
(S) XI. And Abraham said to Michael, Lord, who is this judge, and who is
the other, who convicts the sins? And Michael said to Abraham, Seest thou
the judge? This is Abel, who first testified, and God brought him hither to
judge, and he that bears witness here is the teacher of heaven and earth,
and the scribe of righteousness, Enoch, for the Lord sent them hither to
write down the sins and righteousnesses of each one. Abraham said, And how
can Enoch bear the weight of the souls, not having seen death? or how can
he give sentence to all the souls? Michael said, If he gives sentence
concerning the souls, it is not permitted; but Enoch himself does not give
sentence, but it is the Lord who does so, and he has no more to do than
only to write. For Enoch prayed to the Lord saying, I desire not, Lord, to
give sentence on the souls, lest I be grievous to anyone; and the Lord said
to Enoch, I shall command thee to write down the sins of the soul that
makes atonement and it shall enter into life, and if the soul make not
atonement and repent, thou shalt find its sins written down and it shall be
cast into punishment.
(L) XIV. And Abraham said to the chief-captain, My lord the chief-
captain, the soul which the angel held in his hand, why was it adjudged to
be set in the midst? The chief-captain said, Listen, righteous Abraham.
Because the judge found its sins. and its righteousnesses equal, he neither
committed it to judgment nor to be saved, until the judge of all shall
come. Abraham said to the chief-captain, And what yet is wanting for the
soul to be saved? The chief-captain said, If it obtains one righteousness
above its sins, it enters into salvation. Abraham said to the chief-
captain, Come hither, chief-captain Michael, let us make prayer for this
soul, and see whether God will hear us. The chief-captain said, Amen, be it
so; and they made prayer and entreaty for the soul, and God heard them, and
when they rose up from their prayer they did not see the soul standing
there. And Abraham said to the angel, Where is the soul that thou didst
hold in the midst? And the angel answered, It has been saved by thy
righteous prayer, and behold an angel of light has taken it and carried it
up into Paradise. Abraham said, I glorify the name of God, the Most High,
and his immeasurable mercy. And Abraham said to the chief-captain, I
beseech thee, archangel, hearken to my prayer, and let us yet call upon the
Lord, and supplicate his compassion, and entreat his mercy for the souls of
the sinners whom I formerly, in my anger, cursed and destroyed, whom the
earth devoured, and the wild beasts tore in pieces, and the fire consumed
through my words. Now I know that I have sinned before the Lord our God.
Come then, O Michael, chief-captain of the hosts above, come, let us call
upon God with tears that he may forgive me my sin, and grant them to me.
And the chief-captain heard him, and they made entreaty before the Lord,
and when they had called upon him for a long space, there came a voice from
heaven saying, Abraham, Abraham, I have hearkened to thy voice and thy
prayer, and forgive thee thy sin, and those whom thou thinkest that I
destroyed I have called up and brought them into life by my exceeding
kindness, because for a season I have requited them in judgment, and those
whom I destroy living upon earth, I will not requite in death.
(L) XV. And the voice of the Lord said also to the chief-captain
Michael, Michael, my servant, turn back Abraham to his house, for behold
his end has come nigh, and the measure of his life is fulfilled, that he
may set all things in order, and then take him and bring him to me. So the
chief-captain, turning the chariot and the cloud, brought Abraham to his
house, and going into his chamber he sat upon his couch. And Sarah his wife
came and embraced the feet of the Incorporeal, and spoke humbly, saying, I
give thee thanks, my lord, that thou hast brought my lord Abraham, for
behold we thought he had been taken up from us. And his son Isaac also came
and fell upon his neck, and in the same way all his men-slaves and women-
slaves surrounded Abraham and embraced him, glorifying God. And the
Incorporeal one said to them, Hearken, righteous Abraham. Behold thy wife
Sarah, behold also thy beloved son Isaac, behold also all thy men-servants
and maid-servants round about thee. Make disposition of all that thou hast,
for the day has come nigh in which thou shalt depart from the body and go
to the Lord once for all. Abraham said, Has the Lord said it, or sayest
thou this of thyself? The chief-captain answered, Hearken, righteous
Abraham. The Lord has commanded, and I tell it thee. Abraham said, I will
not go with thee. The chief-captain, hearing these words, straightway went
forth from the presence of Abraham, and went up into the heavens, and stood
before God the Most High, and said, Lord Almighty, behold I have hearkened
to Thy friend Abraham in all he has said to Thee, and have fulfilled his
requests. I have shown to him Thy power, and all the earth and sea that is
under heaven. I have shown to him judgment and recompense by means of cloud
and chariots, and again he says, I will not go with thee. And the Most High
said to the angel, Does my friend Abraham say thus again, I will not go
with thee? The archangel said, Lord Almighty, he says thus, and I refrain
from laying hands on him, because from the beginning he is Thy friend, and
has done all things pleasing in Thy sight. There is no man like him on
earth, not even Job the wondrous man, and therefore I refrain from laying
hands on him. Command, therefore, Immortal King, what shall be done.
(S, XI cont.) And about the ninth hour Michael brought Abraham back to
his house. But Sarah his wife, not seeing what had become of Abraham, was
consumed with grief, and gave up the ghost, and after the return of Abraham
he found her dead, and buried her.
(L) XVI. Then the Most High said, Call me hither Death that is called
the shameless countenance and the pitiless look. And Michael the
Incorporeal went and said to Death, Come hither; the lord of creation, the
immortal king, calls thee. And Death, hearing this, shivered and trembled,
being possessed with great terror, and coming with great fear it stood
before the invisible father, shivering, groaning and trembling, awaiting
the command of the Lord. Therefore the invisible God said to Death, Come
hither, thou bitter and fierce name of the world, hide thy fierceness,
cover thy corruption, and cast away thy bitterness from thee, and put on
thy beauty and all thy glory, and go down to Abraham my friend, and take
him and bring him to me. But now also I tell thee not to terrify him, but
bring him with fair speech, for he is my own friend. Having heard this,
Death went out from the presence of the Most High, and put on a robe of
great brightness, and made his appearance like the sun, and became fair and
beautiful above the sons of men, assuming the form of an archangel, having
his cheeks flaming with fire, and he departed to Abraham. Now the righteous
Abraham went out of his chamber, and sat under the trees of Mamre, holding
his chin in his hand, and awaiting the coming of the archangel Michael. And
behold, a smell of sweet odor came to him, and a flashing of light, and
Abraham turned and saw Death coming towards him in great glory and beauty,
And Abraham arose and went to meet him, thinking that it was the chief-
captain of God, and Death beholding him saluted him, saying, Rejoice,
precious Abraham, righteous soul, true friend of the Most High God, and
companion of the holy angels. Abraham said to Death, Hail thou of
appearance and form like the sun, most glorious helper, bringer of light,
wondrous man, from whence does thy glory come to us, and who art thou, and
whence comest thou? Then Death said, Most righteous Abraham, behold I tell
thee the truth. I am the bitter lot of death. Abraham said to him, Nay, but
thou art the comeliness of the world, thou art the glory and beauty of
angels and men, thou art fairer in form than every other, and sayest thou,
I am the bitter lot of death, and not rather, I am fairer than every good
thing. Death said, I tell thee the truth. What the Lord has named me, that
also I tell thee. Abraham said, For what art thou come hither? Death said,
For thy holy soul am I come. Then Abraham said, I know what thou meanest,
but I will not go with thee; and Death was silent and answered him not a
word.
(S) XIII. But when the day of the death of Abraham drew nigh, the Lord
God said to Michael, Death will not dare to go near to take away the soul
of my servant, because he is my friend, but go thou and adorn Death with
great beauty, and send him thus to Abraham, that he may see him with his
eyes. And Michael straightway, as he was commanded, adorned Death with
great beauty, and sent him thus to Abraham that he might see him. And he
sat down near to Abraham, and Abraham seeing Death sitting near to him was
afraid with a great fear. And Death said to Abraham, Hail, holy soul! hail,
friend of the Lord God! hail, consolation and entertainment of travelers!
And Abraham said, Thou art welcome, servant of the Most High God. I beseech
thee, tell me who thou art; and entering into my house partake of food and
drink, and depart from me, for since I have seen thee sitting near to me my
soul has been troubled. For I am not at all worthy to come near thee, for
thou art an exalted spirit and I am flesh and blood, and therefore I cannot
bear thy glory, for I see that thy beauty is not of this world. And Death
said to Abraham, I tell thee, in all the creation that God has made, there
has not been found one like thee, for even the Lord himself by searching
has not found such an one upon the whole earth. And Abraham said to Death,
How durst thou lie? for I see that thy
(L) XVII. Then Abraham arose, and went into his house, and Death also
accompanied him thither. And Abraham went up into his chamber, and Death
went up with him. And Abraham lay down upon his couch, and Death came and
sat by his feet. Then Abraham said, Depart, depart from me, for I desire to
rest upon my couch. Death said, I will not depart until I take thy spirit
from thee. Abraham said to him, By the immortal God I charge thee to tell
me the truth. Art thou death? Death said to him, I am Death. I am the
destroyer of the world. Abraham said, I beseech thee, since thou art Death,
tell me if thou comest thus to all in such fairness and glory and beauty?
Death said, Nay, my lord Abraham, for thy righteousnesses, and the
boundless sea of thy hospitality, and the greatness of thy love towards God
has become a crown upon my head, and in beauty and great peace and
gentleness I approach the righteous, but to sinners I come in great
corruption and fierceness and the greatest bitterness and with fierce and
pitiless look. Abraham said, I beseech thee, hearken to me, and show me thy
fierceness and all thy corruption and bitterness. And Death said, Thou
canst not behold my fierceness, most righteous Abraham. Abraham said, Yes,
I shall be able to behold all thy fierceness by means of the name of the
living God, for the might of my God that is in heaven is with me. Then
Death put off all his comeliness and beauty, and all his glory and the form
like the sun with which he was clothed, and put upon himself a tyrant's
robe, and made his appearance gloomy and fiercer than all kind of wild
beasts, and more unclean than all uncleanness. And he showed to Abraham
seven fiery heads of serpents and fourteen faces, (one) of flaming fire and
of great fierceness, and a face of darkness, and a most gloomy face of a
viper, and a face of a most terrible precipice, and a face fiercer than an
asp, and a face of a terrible lion, and a face of a cerastes and basilisk.
He showed him also a face of a fiery scimitar, and a sword-bearing face,
and a face of lightning, lightening terribly, and a noise of dreadful
thunder. He showed him also another face of a fierce stormy sea, and a
fierce rushing river, and a terrible three-headed serpent, and a cup
mingled with poisons, and in short he showed to him great fierceness and
unendurable bitterness, and every mortal disease as of the odour of Death.
And from the great bitterness and fierceness there died servants and maid-
servants in number about seven thousand, and the righteous Abraham came
into indifference of death so that his spirit failed him.
(S, XIII cont.) beauty is not of this world. And Death said to Abraham,
Think not, Abraham, that this beauty is mine, or that I come thus to every
man. Nay, but if any one is righteous like thee, I thus take crowns and
come to him, but if it is a sinner I come in great corruption, and out of
their sin I make a crown for my head, and I shake them with great fear, so
that they are dismayed. Abraham therefore said to him, And whence comes thy
beauty? And Death said, There is none other more full of corruption than I
am. Abraham said to him, And art thou indeed he that is called Death? He
answered him and said, I am the bitter name. I am weeping....
(S) XIV. And Abraham said to Death, Show us thy corruption. And Death
made manifest his corruption; and he had two heads, the one had the face of
a serpent and by it some die at once by asps, and the other bead was like a
sword; by it some die by the sword as by bows.
(S) In that day the servants of Abraham died through fear of Death, and
Abraham seeing them prayed to the Lord, and he raised them up.
(L) XVIII. And the all-holy Abraham, seeing these things thus, said to
Death, I beseech thee, all-destroying Death, hide thy fierceness, and put
on thy beauty and the shape which thou hadst before. And straightway Death
hid his fierceness, and put on his beauty which he had before. And Abraham
said to Death, Why hast thou done this, that thou hast slain all my
servants and maidservants? Has God sent thee hither for this end this day?
Death said, Nay, my lord Abraham, it is not as thou sayest, but on thy
account was I sent hither. Abraham said to Death, How then have these died?
Has the Lord not spoken it? Death said, Believe thou, most righteous
Abraham, that this also is wonderful, that thou also wast not taken away
with them. Nevertheless I tell thee the truth, for if the right hand of God
had not been with thee at that time, thou also wouldst have had to depart
from this life. The righteous Abraham said, Now I know that I have come
into indifference of death, so that my spirit fails, but I beseech thee,
all-destroying Death, since my servants have died before their time, come
let us pray to the Lord our God that he may hear us and raise up those who
died by thy fierceness before their time. And death said, Amen, be it so.
Therefore Abraham arose and fell upon the face of the ground in prayer, and
Death together with him, and the Lord sent a spirit of life upon those that
were dead and they were made alive again. Then the righteous Abraham gave
glory to God.
(L) XIX. And going up into his chamber he lay down, and Death came and
stood before him. And Abraham said to him, Depart from me, for I desire to
rest, because my spirit is in indifference. Death said, I will not depart
from thee until I take thy soul. And Abraham with an austere countenance
and angry look said to Death, Who has ordered thee to say this? Thou sayest
these words of thyself boastfully, and I will not go with thee until the
chief-captain Michael come to me, and I shall go with him. But this also I
tell thee, if thou desirest that I shall accompany thee, explain to me all
thy changes, the seven fiery heads of serpents and what the face of the
precipice is, and what the sharp sword, and what the loud-roaring river,
and what the tempestuous sea that rages so fiercely. Teach me also the
unendurable thunder, and the terrible lightning, and the evil-smelling cup
mingled with poisons. Teach me concerning all these. And Death answered,
Listen, righteous Abraham. For seven ages I destroy the world and lead all
down to Hades, kings and rulers, rich and poor, slaves and free men, I
convoy to the bottom of Hades, and for this I showed thee the seven heads
of serpents. The face of fire I showed thee because many die consumed by
fire, and behold death through a face of fire. The face of the precipice I
showed thee, because many men die descending from the tops of trees or
terrible precipices and losing their life, and see death in the shape of a
terrible precipice. The face of the sword I showed thee because many are
slain in wars by the sword, and see death as a sword. The face of the great
rushing river I showed thee because many are drowned and perish snatched
away by the crossing of many waters and carried off by great rivers, and
see death before their time. The face of the angry raging sea I showed thee
because many in the sea falling into great surges and becoming shipwrecked
are swallowed up and behold death as the sea. The unendurable thunder and
the terrible lightning I showed thee because many men in the moment of
anger meet with unendurable thunder and terrible lightning coming to seize
upon men, and see death thus. I showed thee also the poisonous wild beasts,
asps and basilisks, leopards and lions and lions' whelps, bears and vipers,
and in short the face of every wild beast I showed thee, most righteous
one, because many men are destroyed by wild beasts, and others by poisonous
snakes, serpents and asps and cerastes and basilisks and vipers, breathe
out their life and die. I showed thee also the destroying cups mingled with
poison, because many men being given poison to drink by other men
straightway depart unexpectedly.
(L) XX. Abraham said, I beseech thee, is there also an unexpected death?
Tell me. Death said, Verily, verily, I tell thee in the truth of God that
there are seventy-two deaths. One is the just death, buying its fixed time,
and many men in one hour enter into death being given over to the grave.
Behold, I have told thee all that thou hast asked, now I tell thee, most
righteous Abraham, to dismiss all counsel, and cease from asking anything
once for all, and come, go with me, as the God and judge of all has
commanded me. Abraham said to Death, Depart from me yet a little, that I
may rest on my couch, for I am very faint at heart, for since I have seen
thee with my eyes my strength has failed me, all the limbs of my flesh seem
to me a weight as of lead, and my spirit is distressed exceedingly. Depart
for a little; for I have said I cannot bear to see thy shape. Then Isaac
his son came and fell upon his breast weeping, and his wife Sarah came and
embraced his feet, lamenting bitterly. There came also his men slaves and
women slaves and surrounded his couch, lamenting greatly. And Abraham came
into indifference of death, and Death said to Abraham, Come, take my right
hand, and may cheerfulness and life and strength come to thee. For Death
deceived Abraham, and he took his right hand, and straightway his soul
adhered to the hand of Death. And immediately the archangel Michael came
with a multitude of angels and took up his precious soul in his hands in a
divinely woven linen cloth, and they tended the body of the just Abraham
with divine ointments and perfumes until the third day after his death, and
buried him in the land of promise, the oak of Mamre, but the angels
received his precious soul, and ascended into heaven, singing the hymn of
"thrice holy" to the Lord the God of all, and they set it there to worship
the God and Father. And after great praise and glory had been given to the
Lord, and Abraham bowed down to worship, there came the undefiled voice of
the God and Father saying thus, Take therefore my friend Abraham into
Paradise, where are the tabernacles of my righteous ones, and the abodes of
my saints Isaac and Jacob in his bosom, where there is no trouble, nor
grief, nor sighing, but peace and rejoicing and life unending. (And let us,
too, my beloved brethren, imitate the hospitality of the patriarch Abraham,
and attain to his virtuous way of life, that we may be thought worthy of
the life eternal, glorifying the Father, Son and Holy Ghost; to whom be
glory and power forever. Amen.)
(S, XIV cont.) But God returned and removed the soul of Abraham as in a
dream, and the archangel Michael took it up into the heavens. And Isaac
buried his father beside his mother Sarah, glorifying and praising God, for
to him is due glory, honour and worship, of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost,
now and always and to all eternity. Amen.
LIFE AND CONDUCT OF THE HOLY WOMEN XANTHIPPE, POLYXENA, AND REBECCA
[Translated by W.A. Craigie, M.A., B.A. (Oxon.)]
I. When the blessed Paul was at Rome through the word of the Lord, it
happened that a certain servant of a ruler of Spain came to Rome with
letters of his master's, and heard the word of God from Paul, the truly
golden and beautiful nightingale. This servant being greatly touched, and
being unable to remain and be filled with the divine word because he was
hastened by the letters, returned into Spain in great grief, and being
unable to show his desire to any one, because his master was an idolater,
he was always pained at heart and sighing greatly. Now this servant was
honoured and faithful to his masters, and as time went past, the servant
tell sick and grew lean of flesh, which his master perceiving said to him,
What has happened to thee that thou art thus fallen together in
countenance? The servant said, here is a great pain in my heart, and I can
in no way find rest. His master said to him, And what is the pain that
cannot receive healing from my chief physician? The servant said, While I
was still in Rome, this pain and its recurring mishap made itself known to
me. His master said, And knowest thou not of any who have fallen into this
disease and been healed? The servant said, Yes, but where that physician is
I know not, for I left him in Rome. So many as have been attended by that
physician and have gone through the water m his hands, have received
healing immediately. His master said, I ought not to grudge to send thee
yet again to Rome, if perchance thou mightest obtain healing.
II. And while they spoke thus, behold his mistress, by name Xanthippe,
overhearing these words, and learning of the teaching of Paul, said, What
is the name of that physician, and what is the healing to ward off such a
disease? The servant said to her, The calling upon a new name, and
anointing with oil and washing with water. By this treatment I have seen
many that had incurable pains receive healings. As he said this, the images
of the idols that stood in the house began to be shaken and fall down. And
his mistress beckoned to him, saying, Seest thou, brother, the images of
the idols being shaken, how they cannot endure the power of the word? And
his master, by name Probus, arose from his mid-day sleep with a very gloomy
countenance, for the Devil had greatly disturbed him, because the knowledge
of God had come into his house. And he questioned the servant of everything
in order, and the servant having been seized by sickness by the
foreknowledge of God, disclosed to him the life of man, and Xanthippe was
incurable in her soul concerning this teaching. So Probus too was grieved
for Xanthippe, because from that time she was wasting herself away with
waking and abstinence and other austerities.
III. And Xanthippe going away to her couch and groaning, said, Woe is
me, wretched one, lying in darkness, that I have not learned the name of
the new teacher, that I might summon his prayer to help me, and what to say
I know not. Shall I call upon him by the name of his God? but I cannot say,
The God that is preached by such a one. Nevertheless I shall say thus by
conjecture, O God, giving light in Hades, and guiding those in darkness,
Lord of free men and kings, and preached by worthy servants in all the
world, called upon as a brother by sinful men and quick to hear, to whom
not even archangels can send up worthy songs of praise, who hast shown to
me, humble and unworthy, the ever-living and abiding seed (though my
ignorance permits me not to receive it), hasten also the things that
concern me, Lord, since by thy will thou hast made thyself heard by me, and
in thy compassion show me the proclamation of thy herald, that I may learn
of him what is pleasing to thee. Yea, I beseech thee look upon my
ignorance, O God, and enlighten me with the light of thy countenance, thou
that never overlookest any of those that call upon thee in truth. Probus,
her husband said to her, Why troublest thou thyself so much, lady, and dost
not at all turn to sleep? Xanthippe said, I cannot sleep, for there is in
me an incurable pain. Probus said to her, And what is thy pain or grief, O
lady, that I am not sufficient to comfort thee? All that thou hast wished
unto this day I have served thee in, and now what is it that thou hast, and
dost not tell me? Xanthippe says to him, I beseech thee this thing only, my
lord, permit me for a little and for this day only to sleep apart from
thee. And Probus said to her, Be it as thou wilt, lady; only leave off thy
groaning.
IV. Then entering into her bed-chamber alone, she spoke thus with
tears, In what way, my God, I shall act, or what counsel I shall take, I
know not. Shall I declare the thought that has come upon me? I fear the
madness and disorder of the city. Shall I fly from this impious city? I
fear the contrivance of the devil for seizing the sheep. Shall I await the
mercy and swiftness of the Lord? Again I fear the untimely snatching away
of life, for the death of sinners has no warning. Shall I depart and flee
away to Rome? I fear the length of the journey, being unable to go on foot.
But while I say these things by conjecture, constrained by my desire (for I
cannot speak with surety), may I find pardon with thee, my God, and do thou
fulfil my desire with excess of right words, and think me but worthy to
hear thy preacher, for if I say, to see his face, I ask a great thing.
Blessed is he that is found in the company of thy preachers, and is
satisfied with their precious countenances. Blessed are they that are yoked
under the preaching of thy commandments. Blessed are they that keep thy
commandments; but where now, Lord, are thy mercies to our fathers, that we
also may be their successors in love toward thee and heirs of faith. But
behold now, Lord, I cannot find any one that has love for thee, that
communing with him I might even a little refresh my soul. Speed therefore,
Lord, to yoke me in desire for thee, and keep me under the shadow of thy
wings, for thou alone art God, glorified to all eternity. Amen.
V. Therefore Xanthippe saying these words and others like them, groaned
continually all the night, and Probus heard her and was greatly distressed,
and arising from his couch when the morning came he went in to her, and
seeing her eyes inflamed with tears, he said, Wherefore, lady, dost thou
thus vex me, and wilt not tell me thy pain? Tell it me, that I may do
whatever is pleasing to thee, and distress me not with thy trouble.
Xanthippe says to him, Be of good cheer rather, my lord, and be not vexed,
for my trouble shall not harm thee, but if I have found favour before thee,
go forth now to the salutation, and allow me to indulge myself in it as I
will, for it is not possible for man to take from me the insatiable pain.
And listening to her he went out immediately to receive the salutations of
the men of the city, for he was the great man among them, and was also
known to Nero, the Emperor. And sitting down, great grief appeared in his
countenance, and being asked the reason of his grief by the chief met, of
the city, he said to them that he had fallen into many and unfounded
charges.
VI. And Xanthippe went out into the garden, that she might await there
looking closely for certainty of her husband, and she saw the delight of
the trees, and the various warbling of the birds, and said, groaning, O
beauty of the world! for that which we hitherto thought to come of itself,
we know now that all things are beautifully fashioned by the beautiful One.
O power and invention of wisdom! for not only has he placed in men a
thousand leagues, but also in birds he has distinguished various voices, as
if from anthems and responses to receive sweet-voiced and heart-stirring
hymns from his own works. O delightfulness of the air, declaring the
inimitable creator! Who shall turn my sorrow into rejoicing? And again she
said, God to whom praise is sung by all, give me peace and comfort. As she
said these things, Probus also came up from the street to break his fast,
and when he saw her countenance altered by tears, he began to pull out the
hairs of his head, but he dared not speak to her then so as not to mingle
other trouble with her trouble. So he went and fell upon his couch, and
said, groaning, Alas, that I had not even the consolation of a child from
her, but only acquire grief upon grief. Two years are not yet full since I
was wedded to her, and already she meditates divorce.
VII. But Xanthippe was always keeping watch through the doors into the
streets of the city, and the blessed Paul, the preacher and teacher and
illuminator of the world, left Rome and came even into Spain by the fore-
knowledge of God. And coming up to the gates of the city he stood and
prayed, and crossing himself entered the city. When Xanthippe saw the
blessed Paul walking quietly and equally, and adorned with all virtue and
understanding, she was greatly delighted in him and her heart leaped
continually, and as possessed with an unexpected joy she said with herself,
Why does my heart beat vehemently at the sight of this man? Why is his walk
quiet and equable, as of one who expects to take in his arms one that is
pursued? Why is his countenance kindly, as of one that tends the sick? Why
does he look so lovingly hither and thither, as one who desires to assist
those who are seeking to flee from the mouths of dragons? Who shall tell me
that this is one from the flock of preachers? If it were possible for me, I
should wish to touch the hem of his garments, that I may behold his
kindness and readiness to receive and sweet odour; for the servant had told
her this also, that the hems of his garments had the odour of precious
perfumes.
VIII. Now Probus heard her words, and straightway ran out by himself
into the street, and laying hold of Paul's hand said to him, Man, who thou
art I know not, but deign to enter into my house; perchance thou mayest be
to me a cause of salvation. Paul said to him, It will be well with thee,
son, after thy request! And they went in together to Xanthippe. When
Xanthippe therefore saw the great Paul, the intellectual eyes of her heart
were uncovered, and she read upon his forehead, having as it were golden
seals, these words, PAUL THE PREACHER OF GOD. Then exulting and rejoicing
she threw herself at his feet, and twisting her hair together she wiped his
feet, saying, Welcome, O man of God, to us humble ones, that live as
shadows among shadows. For thou hast looked upon those who were running
into Hades as into something beautiful, who addressed the crooked serpent
and destroyer as provider and protector, who were running into the dark
Hades as to their father, those that were fashioned with a rational nature
but have become like irrational creatures. Thou hast sought me, lowly one,
having the sun of righteousness in my heart. Now the poison is stayed, when
I have seen thy precious face. Now he that troubled me is flown away, when
thy most beautiful counsel has appeared to me. Now I shall be considered
worthy of repentance, when I have received the seal of the preacher of the
Lord. Before now I have deemed many happy who met with you, but I say
boldly that from this time forth I myself shall be called happy by others,
because I have touched thy hem, because I have received thy prayers,
because I have enjoyed thy sweet and honeyed teaching. Thou hast not
hesitated to come to us, thou that fishest the dry land in thy course, and
gatherest the fish that fall in thy way into the net of the kingdom of
heaven.
IX. The great Paul said to her, Arise, daughter, and look not upon me
as having been sought out of thy ignorance by my foresight. For Christ, the
provider of the world, the searcher out of sinners and the lost, who has
not only called to mind those upon earth, but also by his own presence has
redeemed those in Hades, he himself has pitied thee, and sent me hither
that he might visit and pity many others together with thee. For this mercy
and visitation are not of us, but are his injunction and command, even as
we also have received mercy and been saved by him. Probus hearing this was
astonished at their words, for he was altogether ignorant of these things.
But Paul by force raised up Xanthippe from his feet, and she running set a
new gilded chair for Paul to sit down upon. The great Paul said to her, My
daughter Xanthippe, do not thus. for ye have not yet accorded to the faith
of Christ, but wait a little, till the Lord shall set in order what is
necessary! Xanthippe said to Paul, Sayest thou this to try me, O preacher
of God, or hast thou any foreknowledge? Paul said, No, daughter, but the
devil, who hates the servants of God, sows wickedness in the hearts of his
own servants, to oppose those that labour for Christ in preaching, for his
wickedness has extended to the apostles and ever, to the Lord himself.
Therefore it is fitting to approach the unbelievers gently and kindly!
Xanthippe said to Paul, I beseech thee, if thou lovest thy servants, make
prayer for Probus, and let me see if he that is hated by thee can work in
him; let me see if he can even stand against thy prayer. And Paul rejoiced
exceedingly at the words of her faith, and said to her, Believe me,
daughter, that by his suggestion and working I have not passed a single
hour without chains and blows. Xanthippe said to him, But thou sufferest
these things by thy own free will, since thou hast not neglected thy
preaching even to scourging, but this again I tell thee, that thy bonds
shall be the defeat of the prompter, and thy humiliation their overthrow.
X. Now the report of his presence ran through the whole city and the
country round about, for some of that city having been at Rome had seen the
signs and wonders that were done by the blessed Paul, and came to see if
this was he. Many therefore came into the house of Probus, and he began to
be annoyed and to say, I will not suffer my house to be made an inn.
Xanthippe knowing that the face of Probus had begun to be estranged, and
that he spoke thus, was greatly distressed, saying, Alas, wretched me, that
we are not thought fully worthy to keep this man in our house; for if Paul
goes hence, the church also will be held elsewhere. Then Xanthippe,
considering these matters, put her hand on the foot of Paul, and taking
dust she called Probus to her, and placing her hand on his breast said, O
Lord, my God, who hast sought out me, lowly one and ignorant of thee, send
what is fitting into this heart. And Paul perceived her prayer, and made
the sign of the cross, and for several days the people entered unhindered,
and as many as had sick and vexed by unclean spirits brought them, and all
were healed.
XI. And Xanthippe said to Paul, Teacher, my heart is greatly consumed
because I have not as yet received baptism. And after this Probus being
again moved by the devil, cast Paul out of the house and shut up Xanthippe
in her chamber. Then one of the chief men, Philotheus by name, besought the
great Paul to come into his house, but the great Paul was unwilling to do
so, saying, Lest Probus trouble thy house on my account. Philotheus said to
him, Nay, father, I am not at all subject to him, for in no other thing is
he greater than me, except in rank, and that because the parents of
Xanthippe are above me. But if Probus come to me, I am above him in riches
and in war. Then Paul, the great apostle of the Lord, was persuaded, and
went into the house of Philotheus the ex-prefect. All this was done by the
Evil one that Xanthippe might receive holy baptism with tribulation, and be
faint-hearted concerning the commandments of Christ.
XII. Xanthippe therefore, with tears, said to her servants, Have ye
learned where Paul is gone to? They said, Yea, in the house of Philotheus
the ex-prefect, and Xanthippe rejoiced greatly that Philotheus also
believed, being able, as she said, to persuade Probus also. Then Probus
called Xanthippe to supper, and when she consented not, Probus said, Think
not that in bed also thou wilt keep away from me. But when he lay down to
supper, Xanthippe bending her knees, prayed to the Lord, saying, Eternal
and immortal God, that didst take dust from the ground, and didst not value
it according to the nature of its creation, but didst call it the son of
immortality, thou who didst come from the heart of the father to the heart
of the earth for our sake, on whom the cherubim dare not fix their gaze,
and for us wast hidden in the womb that by taking up thy abode in a mother
thou mightest make good the offence of Eve. Thou that didst drink gall and
vinegar, and wast pierced in the side by a spear, that thou mightest heal
the wound given by the rib to Adam. For Eve being his rib wrought a blow
for Adam, and through him for all the world. Thou that gavest a sleep
without perception to the serpent, so that he might not know thy
Incarnation, remember also my groaning and tears, and grant fulfilment to
my sleep,(1) and bring sleep upon Probus until I shall be deemed worthy of
the gift of holy baptism, for I vehemently desire to obtain this, to the
glory and praise of thy holy name.
XIII. But Probus, while still at supper, commanded the doors of their
house to be secured by cruel and wicked soldiers, and having given these
orders, he straightway fell asleep upon the couch. Then the servants came
and announced this to Xanthippe that he might be awakened, but she said,
Put out the lights, my children, and leave him thus. And in the first
sleep, taking three hundred pieces of gold, she went to the doors, saying
with herself, Perchance the porter will be persuaded by the amount of
money. But he, being evil and froward, would not be persuaded to do this,
and she. loosing also her girdle, which was set with precious stones and
worth two hundred pieces of gold, gave it to him and went out saying, Lord,
I win over my own slaves with money, that thy preacher Paul may not be
oppressed by Probus. And Xanthippe went on to the house of Philotheus the
ex-prefect, as to a great and incredible work, running and praising God. As
she therefore passed through a certain place, the demons pursued her with
fiery torches and lightnings, and she, turning, saw behind her this
terrible sight, and being possessed with great fear said, What has happened
to thee now, wretched soul? Thou hast been deprived of thy desire. Thou
wast running to salvation, thou wast running to baptism, and thou hast
fallen into the serpent and his ministers, and these things thy sins have
prepared for thee. Speaking thus she was even fainting at heart from great
despair, but the great Paul being forewarned by God of the assault of the
demons, immediately stood beside her, being also preceded by a beautiful
youth. And straightway the vision of the demons disappeared, and Paul said
to her, Arise, daughter Xanthippe, and behold the Lord desired by thee, by
whose flame the heavens are shaken and the deep is dried up, coming to thee
and pitying and saving thee. Behold him that accepts thy prayers and
straightway gives ear. See him coming in the shape of a man, and take
courage against the demons. Then she rising from the ground said to him,
Master, why hast thou left me solitary? Even now make haste to seal me, so
that if death come upon me I may depart to him who is full of compassion
and has no arrogance.
XIV. Therefore the great Paul straightway taking her hand, went into
the house of Philotheus, and baptised her in the name of the Father and of
the Son and the Holy Ghost. Then taking bread also he gave her the
eucharist saying, Let this be to thee for a remission of sins and for a
renewing of thy soul. Then the blessed Xanthippe, receiving the divine
grace of holy baptism, returned to her own house, rejoicing and praising
the Lord. The porter seeing her complained loudly in violent words, that
her going out might be deemed to have been without his will if Probus
should notice it; but he that gave her light along with Paul kept the whole
house, together with Probus, in a deep sleep, and they did not hear his
words at all. Then she went running into her bed-chamber, saying, What
shall I say of thee, searcher out of sinners, who art most present with us
in tribulations. Thy goodness does these things, since for the sake of man
whom thou didst make thou didst go down even to death, for, however much
man stir thee to anger many times, yet thou, Lord, pourest out thy mercies
upon him. O depth of compassion and wealth of mercy; O immeasurable
goodness and incomparable kindness; O treasure of good things, and giver of
mercy, and enricher of all that believe in thee! If, therefore, one who
loves thee say, Be near me, Lord, thou hast already anticipated him. If he
say, I give thee thanks; hear my words, before they are spoken, thou
understandest. And as for those that ask of thee, thou givest to each after
his asking. Thy goodness seeks out those that know thee not, and thou
runnest to sinners. O cheerful look, filling the ways of sinners with
mercy; O excellent watching and exhortation of the ignorant! Who shall tell
my lord Paul of the salvation that has now befallen me, that he might come
and give words of thanksgiving for me to this protector of sinners? Come
many and behold and know the Lord, who hates sin, but has mercy on sinners.
Come, now, O Paul, preacher of God, for with thee even now I sit under
instruction, and give words of thanksgiving for me, for I desire to keep
silence, since human reason makes me afraid, lest I have not the grace of
eloquence. I desire to keep silence, and am compelled to speak, for some
one inflames and sweetens me within. If I say, I will shut my mouth, there
is some one that murmurs in me. Shall I say a great thing? Is it not that
teacher that is in Paul, without arrogance, filling the heavens, speaking
within and waiting without, sitting on the throne with the father and
stretched upon the cross by man. What, therefore, I shall do I know not. My
worthless mind delights me, and is not unfolded to the end. Thou that hadst
thy hands fixed with nails and thy side pierced with the spear, thou star
out of Jacob and lion's whelp out of Judah, thou rod out of Jesse, and man
and God out of Mary, thou invisible God in the bosom of the Father, and
that canst not be looked upon by cherubim, and art mocked in Israel, glory
be to thee, who didst appear on the earth and wast taken by the people,
hung upon the tree and by the report of the wicked falsely said to be
stolen, and that hast bought us all together.
XV. While she was still speaking thus, there appeared a cross on the
eastern wall, and straightway there entered through it a beautiful youth,
having round about him trembling rays, and under him an extended light, on
which also he walked. And as he entered within, all the foundations of that
house shook and sounded with a great trembling. Xanthippe seeing him cried
out and fell to the ground as if dead; but he being pitiful and kind,
changing immediately into the shape of Paul, raised her up, saying, Arise,
Xanthippe, and fear not, for the servants of God are thus glorified. Then
Xanthippe arising, gazed upon him, and thinking it to be Paul said, How art
thou come in hither, preacher of God, seeing that I have given five hundred
pieces of gold to the porter, and that although he is my slave, while thou
hast no money? The Lord said to her, My servant Paul is richer than all
wealth, for whatsoever treasure he acquires here he sends it before him
into the kingdom of heaven, that departing thither he may rest in the
unending and eternal rest. This is the treasure of Paul, thou and thy like.
Then Xanthippe gazing upon him, desirous to say something, saw his face
shining as the light; and being greatly amazed, and putting both her hands
over her face she threw herself to the ground, and said, Hide thyself,
Lord, from my bodily eyes and enlighten my understanding, for I know now
who thou art. Thou art he whose precursor was the cross, the only begotten
son of the Father alone above, and only son of the Virgin alone below. Thou
art he who was pierced in the hands and who rent the rocks. Thou art he
whom none other can carry except the bosom of the Father.
XVI. And as she spoke thus the Lord was again hidden from her, and
Xanthippe, coming to herself, said, Woe is me wretched one, that no one has
told me what is the gratitude of slaves towards their master. If Paul the
preacher of the Lord were here, how could e give praise? But perchance in
the face of such favors and gifts they are silent, possessed only with
tears, for it is not possible worthily to praise any one according to his
favour. Saying this she was seized with great faintness from lack of food,
for having been strongly possessed with desire for Christ she had forgotten
to take nourishment. Therefore, being greatly exhausted by abstinence and
the vision and want of sleep and other austerities, she was unable to rise
from the ground.
XVII. And Probus arose from his couch with a very gloomy countenance,
for in his sleep he had seen a dream, and was greatly troubled concerning
it. But the porter seeing him about to issue to the market-place, having
his countenance thus troubled, was greatly afraid, Lest, said he, he know
what has happened, and will miserably destroy me. Probus, however, having
gone forth and signified to those in the market what was fitting for the
day and season, speedily returned into the house, and said to his servants,
Call me quickly the wise men Barandus and Gnosteas. When they were summoned
he said to them, I have seen a very terrible vision, and what appeared in
it is difficult for our power to interpret. This, however, do ye disclose
to me, as being the most excellent of all the world. Expound it to me when
I tell it you. Barandus says to him, If the vision can be interpreted by
our wisdom, we shall explain it to thee, but if it be of the faith that is
now spoken of we cannot expound it to thee, for it is of another wisdom and
understanding. However, let our lord and master tell the dream, and let us
see if there is any explanation for it. Probus says to Gnosteas, Wherefore
answerest thou nothing? Gnosteas said, I have not heard the dream, and what
can I say but whatever it may be, if it is by reason of Paul? Tell me now,
and thou wilt find it so. Probus said, I thought I was standing in a
certain unknown and strange country, and that there sat there an Ethiop
king, who ruled over all the earth and seemed never to have any successor.
There stood beside him multitudes of servants, and all hastened to
destruction and had mastery far and wide. And when that Ethiop seemed to
have gained his purpose, there arose a raven and standing above him croaked
with a pitiful voice. And straightway there arose from the eastern parts an
eagle, and seized his kingdom, and his power was made vain, and those
standing by him fled to the eagle. Then that king strove against those that
fled to the eagle, but the eagle carried it up into heaven, and, behold,
there came a helper to those that fled to the eagle and left his staff to
them. Then they laying hold of it were not overcome by the violence of that
king. So many as ran to those who had the staff, he washed them in pure
water, and they that were washed had power over his kingdom. And by that
staff the enemies of the king were put to flight, therefore capable men
laying hold of the staff turned to themselves great multitudes. And that
king strove against them, and had no might at all, but he hindered many
from believing in him that sent out the men into the world to bear witness,
and for that reason many were grieved. Nevertheless, this one did not
constrain any like the other, for he himself was ruler of all light. This
then was the end.
XVIII. Then the wise Barandus said, By the grace of God I shall tell
the things sent into the world by the Lord. The king whom thou sawest is
the Devil, and the multitudes of his servants are the demons, and the
throngs about him are they that worship the gods. Whereas he thought to
have no successor, he looked not for the coming of Christ. The raven
betokened the weakness of his kingdom, for the raven kept not obedience to
the righteous Noah, but loved pitiful things. The eagle that arose and took
away his kingdom and carried it up into heaven, and that there came a
protector of those that fled to the eagle, having a staff, that is the Lord
Jesus Christ, who left to them his staff, that is, his precious cross; and
that he washed those that fled to him signifies the invulnerable breast-
plate of baptism, and therefore they were not overcome. The capable men
sent into the world with the cross are the preachers of God like Paul who
is now with us, against whom that king has no power. This was made known to
thee because even on those who are hard of belief God has compassion in
some way. See therefore whether even thou wilt be able to injure Paul
though thou desirest, for the mighty power that shields him has been shown
thee by the Lord. Therefore, understand what has been said to thee by me,
and serve not that king of darkness, for as thou sawest his kingdom vanish
away, so shall all his servants perish with him. Come now, therefore, my
Lord, let us go to Paul and receive baptism from him, lest Satan have
mastery over us also. Probus said, Let us first go to Xanthippe and see
whether she still lives, for behold there are twenty-nine days since she
has tasted anything; for I saw her face in the even, ing, and it was as of
one prepared to depart.
XIX. And as they went into the chamber, they heard her singing.
Praise the Lord ye sinners also, because he accepts your prayers also.
Alleluia.
Praise the Lord ye that have despaired like me, for many are his
mercies. Alleluia.
Praise him ye ungodly, because for you he was crucified. Alleluia.
Praise him ye that strive for the salvation of sinners, because God
loves you. Alleluia.
Praise him, ye that rejoice at the calling of sinners, because ye are
fellow-citizens with the saints. Alleluia.
As she said these words and more than these with tears, the wise men
Barandus and Gnosteas opening the door entered and fell at her feet,
saying, Pray for us lowly ones, O servant of Christ, that he may bring us
also into thy number. But she said to them, Brethren, I am not Paul who
remits sins, but neither is he far from you. Therefore fall not before my
knees, but go to him, who is also more able to benefit you. Then they came
running to the house of Philotheus to Paul, and found him teaching a great
multitude. And Probus also came to hear Paul, and Xanthippe entered along
with him to salute him, and coming near to Paul and bending her knees she
did him reverence. Probus seeing this marvelled that her so proud spirit
had changed to so great humility, for she sat beside the feet of Paul on
the ground humbly and as one of the worthless. And Probus was greatly
grieved, not yet attending to the hearing of the word, but was ever gazing
and fixing his attention on Xanthippe.
XX. The great Paul was teaching thus, Let those that burn in the flesh
observe lawful marriage, avoiding fornication, especially that with
another's wife, and let those that are united keep to one another. Probus
heard this teaching with delight, and said, O Paul, how excellently and
wisely thou employest this teaching. Why then has Xanthippe withdrawn from
me? And Paul said, My son Probus, they that foresee that the works of men
shall be tried with fire, and that have always in their mind the
inexorableness of death, cast out all desire that cleaves to the flesh. But
woe when the desire shall judge him that desired, then he shall gnash his
teeth to no effect and in vain, for the amendment of repentance is past.
Hearing this Probus went up into his house marvelling, and tasted nothing
that day, but went and lay down upon his bed. And about the third hour of
the night he arose and said, Alas, how wretched was the day in which I was
wedded to Xanthippe. Would that I had died and not seen her. Saying this he
arose and said, I shall pray to the God of Paul. Perchance he will do to me
also what is fitting, that I may not become a reproach in the world, being
rejected by her. And straightway falling upon the ground he said, O God of
Paul, if, as I have heard from Xanthippe, thou dost seek after the ignorant
and turn back those that are astray, do to me also what is fitting; for
thou art the king of life and death, as I have heard, and hast dominion
over things in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and over all the
thoughts and desires of men, and to thee alone belongs glory to all
eternity. Amen.
XXI. Then Probus arising from the ground fell again upon the couch, and
arising early he came to Paul, and finding him baptising many in the name
of the life-giving Trinity, he said, My lord Paul, if only I were worthy to
receive baptism, behold the hour. Paul said to him, Son, behold the water
is ready for the cleansing of those that come to Christ. Therefore
immediately taking, off his garments, and Paul laying hold of him, he leapt
into the water, saying, Jesus Christ, son of God, and everlasting God, let
all my sins be taken away by this water. And Paul said, We baptise thee in
the name of the Father and Son and Holy Ghost. After this he made him to
receive the eucharist of Christ. Then Xanthippe, being greatly rejoiced,
began in the house toward evening together with her husband to give good
cheer to all those in the house, and to prepare a feast, and when they
came, after flying orders for the supper to be magnificent she herself went
up to the chamber. And behold on the stairs a demon coming in the likeness
of one of the actors, and standing in a dark corner, was desirous to
frighten and terrify Xanthippe. But she thinking it to be the actor that
she ordinarily had, said in anger, Many a time have I said to him that I no
longer care for toys, and he despises me as being a woman; and straightway
seizing an iron lamp-stand, she hurled it at his face, and crushed all his
features. Then the demon cried out, saying, O violence, from this destroyer
even women have received power to strike us. But Xanthippe was greatly
afraid.
XXII. After supper then Probus went forth to hear the word, but
Xanthippe sitting in her bed-chamber was reading the prophets, her sister
Polyxena lying upon the couch. Xanthippe loved Polyxena exceedingly,
because she was younger than herself, and beautiful in appearance, and
Probus also loved her greatly. And as Polyxena lay upon the couch she saw
this dream, that a dragon, hideous in appearance, came and signified to her
to come to him, and when she did not obey him to go to him, he came running
and swallowed her. From fear of this the girl leapt up trembling, and
Xanthippe running to her said, What has happened to thee, dearest, that
thou hast leapt up thus suddenly? She for a long time was unable to speak;
then coming to herself she said, Alas, my sister Xanthippe, what danger or
tribulation awaits me, I know not; for I saw in my dream that a hideous
dragon came and signed to me to go to him, and, when I would not go, he
came running and swallowed me, beginning at my feet. While I was terrified
at this, there suddenly spoke out of the air, in the light of the sun, a
beautiful youth, whom I thought to be the brother of Paul, saying, Verily,
thou hast no power. Who also took me by, the hand and straightway drew me
out of him, and straightway the dragon disappeared. And behold his hand was
full of sweet odour as of balsam or aught else for fragrance. Xanthippe
said to her, Truly thou must be greatly troubled, my sister Polyxena, but
God has thee dear, seeing that he has shown thee strange and marvellous
things. Therefore arise quickly in the morning and receive the holy
baptism, and ask in the baptism to be delivered from the snares of the
dragon.
XXIII. Xanthippe, having said this to Polyxena, and having made a cross
of wood, went to Paul, but Polyxena remained alone in the bed-chamber, her
nurse having gone together with Xanthippe. And about the middle of the
night, a certain man, powerful in wealth and assistance, finding the doors
open and using magical arts, entered within, desiring to carry away
Polyxena. She discovering this fled into the mill, but the magicians led by
the demons found her. And she, not finding any door to escape by, said,
Alas that I am given over to this destroyer; for she had heard that he was
at enmity with her suitor, and he did this to assail and vex him, being a
man who was a robber and exceeding cruel. Therefore seizing her they went
out of the city, dragging her to the sea. She looked round this way and
that, but there was none to deliver her, and groaning she said, Alas, my
sister Xanthippe, thou didst send seven hundred pieces of gold to Rome and
buy books, that through them thou mightest prophesy by me; for this evening
thou didst read, I looked to my right hand and beheld, but there was no one
that knew me; flight perished from me and there is no one that seeketh out
my soul.(1)
XXIV. While she said these words, those that were dragging her away
walked in haste, and coming to the shore they hired a ship and sailed for
Babylonia, for he that carried her off had a brother there, a ruler of a
district. But the wind blew against them, so that they could not proceed by
reason of it, and as they were rowing on the sea, behold the great apostle
of the Lord, Peter, was sailing past in a ship, being urged by a dream to
go to Rome, because when Paul departed for Spain there had entered into
Rome a certain deceiver and magician, Simon by name, and had broken up the
church which Paul had established. And, behold, as he journeyed he heard a
voice from heaven saying to him, Peter, to-morrow there will meet thee a
ship coming from Spain; arise, therefore, and pray for the soul that is
troubled in it. As soon therefore as Peter saw the ship, remembering the
dream, he said, O Jesus, that hast care for the troubled, whom the
tribulation of those in a strange land moves to compassion, whom the
weeping of those in captivity made to come upon the earth, who givest us at
all time whatsoever we desire, and never turnest away from our request,
show now also pity and assistance to the soul that is tossed about in that
ship, because thou, O Lord, pitiest at all time those in pain. The demons
then, perceiving his prayer, said to the magicians, Avoid ye the course of
that ship, for if we meet with it, we cannot move.
XXV. But the loving God taking care for Polyxena, the vessel arrived in
Greece, the blessed Philip being there, and having come down to the shore
by a vision, and there accompanied him also great multitudes of those who
were being taught by him. And behold the vessel wherein was Polyxena
appeared, terribly tossed about. And the blessed Philip said, Behold the
vessel on account of which we came down here, in which there is a soul in
trouble. When the vessel arrived and all had disembarked upon the dry land,
they lay as half dead, because they had been greatly tossed about in the
sea. But the apostle Philip ordered Polyxena to be lifted and taken to the
place where he was lodging, and the rest to be looked to. But he that had
carried off Polyxena, recovering from the disorder of the sea, was desirous
to take her again, for Philip, having entrusted Polyxena to one of those
that were taught by him, went on his way rejoicing. But he that had her
said, She was committed to me by a holy man, and I cannot give her up to
thee. He, however, giving no heed to him and finding there a kinsman of
his, a nobleman, prepared for war, gathering eight thousand men. Polyxena,
knowing this, went forth by night and departed, but he that had charge of
Polyxena said, Taking the tunic of Philip, I shall go forth alone to meet
them; but as he said this it was announced to him that the maid was not
there. Then he, leaving all thought of the war, ran into the bed-chamber,
and not finding the maid threw himself on the ground, saying, Woe is me,
wretched one, that have become an enemy of Philip. What shall I answer him,
when he asks the maiden from me? His servants came and said to him, Arise,
our lord, from the ground, for the forces have surrounded thy house, and
the maid cannot be found. He said, Leave me thus to die on her account.
Perhaps, even by this, Philip the servant of Christ may be fully satisfied,
since I shall be found despising his command. Then the servants, seeing
that he heeded them not, took counsel to flee from the enemies, but again
after a little, being moved by the fore-knowledge of God, they said, It is
not right for our master to die. Come, let us go forth to meet them,
raising the sign of the cross. Then raising the precious cross they went
forth, about thirty men, upon the enemy, and slew five thousand, and the
rest fled. And they returned with victory to their master, praising God and
saying, What God is so great as our God, who has not suffered his servant
to be slain by the wicked? And coming upon their lord, still weeping, they
said to him, Arise, lord, and weep not, for it befits it to be not as we
will, but as the Lord wills.
XXVI. Polyxena, however, going out of the city, and not knowing by what
way she should walk, found herself in desert places of the hills, and
sitting down said thus with tears, Woe is me, outcast and captive, that I
cannot find even a wild beast's den to rest in. Woe is me, left desolate,
that not even Hades, that no one escapes, has devoured me. Woe is me, who
at one time showed myself not even to my servants, and now display myself
to demons. Woe is me, that I am now made manifest to all those by whom I
disdained to be seen. Alas for me that was formerly devoted to idols; for
this now even the mercy of God has passed me in silence. Whom, then, shall
I call upon to help me? The God of Paul whom I have constantly offended?
But who shall help me now? No one sees or heeds or hears my groaning.
Verily I shall beseech Him that sees the hidden things, for who is more
pitiful and compassionate than He who always keeps watch over the
oppressed? But because my mouth is unclean and defiled, I dare not ask help
from Him. Would that I were as one of the wild beasts that I ,night not
know what captivity is. Would that I had been drowned in the sea; perhaps
having received the divine baptism I should have gone where no one is made
captive. What then shall I do, for death delays, and night has come on, and
there is no help anywhere. Having said thus, she arose and began to walk
onwards, and passing through a small defile she fell into a wood very thick
and large, and finding there a hollow in a tree, which was the den of a
lioness, she sat down there, for the lioness had gone forth for her food.
And sitting down she said, O wretched begetting, O grievous hour in which
I, unhappy one, came into this world; O mother that bore me, why,
foreseeing my troubles and wanderings, didst thou name me Polyxena? Has any
other ever fallen into such tribulations and misfortunes? Truly, my sister
Xanthippe, didst thou read concerning me, unhappy one, saying, I have
suffered affliction and been utterly bowed down (--Psalm xxxviii. 6). These
words thou didst utter with grief, while I lay upon the couch, thinking not
at all of my sorrows. On this account I have now come into the depths of
evils, and pass the night in deserts like a wild beast. But the beasts live
with others of their kind, while I am left solitary, as not being of one
race with mankind.
XXVII. And as she was saying these words, and more than these, the
morning dawned, and the lioness came from her hunting. Polyxena, seeing the
wild beast, trembled and said, By the God of Paul, O wild beast, have
compassion on me and tear me not until I receive baptism. And the wild
beast, fearing the adjuration, immediately went away, and standing afar off
gazed at her. And she said, Behold, the beast has obeyed me; I will also
retire from its dwelling. And immediately she began to journey towards the
east, and the beast went before her until she was come out of the wood.
Then Polyxena said, What shall I give to thee in return, O beast? The God
of Paul will repay thee this kindness; and the wild beast, hearing her
prayer, immediately returned to its place. Then she, descending, found a
public road, and standing on it wept, not knowing whither she should go,
and though many went past, she turned to none of them, but said, Perchance
the God of Paul will remember me, and whoever shall have pity upon me, to
him will I go.
XXVIII. As she said this, Andrew, the apostle of the Lord, also came
journeying to that place, and as he drew near to Polyxena he felt in his
heart some commotion arising in himself. Standing, therefore, to pray, and
folding his arms in the shape of the cross, he said, Lord Jesus Christ,
partaker of light and knower of things hidden, from whom nothing on earth
is hid, do unto me kindness and mercy, and make clear to me this commotion
of heart, and calm my reason, thou that makest peace always with those that
love peace. Then Polyxena ran to him, and Andrew, the apostle of the Lord,
said to her, Approach me not, daughter, but tell me who and whence thou
art. Polyxena said, My lord, I am a stranger here, but I see thy face is
gracious, and thy words as the words of Paul, and I suppose thee to be of
the same God. Andrew understood that she spoke of the apostle Paul, and
said to her, And whence dost thou know of Paul? She said, From my own
country, for I left him in Spain. Andrew said to her, And how happenest
thou to be here, the country being far distant? She said, Because it was
thus appointed for me, and came to pass; but I beseech thee and fall at thy
feet, seal me, as Paul seals, by the baptism of regeneration, so that even
I, lowly one, may be known by our God, for the kind God, seeing my
tribulation and distress, sent thee to pity me. Andrew, the great apostle
of tim Lord, said to her, Let us go, daughter, where there is water.
XXIX. And when they had gone no long way, they came to a well most
transparent and pure. And as the blessed Andrew stood to pray beside the
well, behold a certain maiden named Rebecca, of the tribe of Israel,
brought as a captive to that country, came to draw water at the well, and
seeing the blessed Andrew, knew him by his appearance. For Rebecca said,
This is the appearance of a Prophet, and this is one of the apostles. And
bowing down to him she said, Have mercy on me, servant of the true God, who
am captive and sold for the third time, who was once honored by prophets,
and am now insulted by idolaters, and recall me, lowly one, thou that wast
sent to call back many sinners. Andrew, the apostle of Christ, said, God
will care for thee also, daughter, as well as for this stranger. Therefore,
receive ye now baptism, and be ye as of one people, glorifying God always.
XXX. Therefore the apostle standing prayed, and, behold, the lioness
came running, and stood gazing upon him. And Andrew the apostle of the Lord
said, What then does this beast wish? The lioness opening her mouth spoke
with a human voice, Andrew, apostle of Christ, the prayer of her, that
stands on thy right hand, has overtaken me. Therefore confirm thou and
instruct and admonish them in the right and true faith of Christ, for they
greatly desire the name of the Lord. And, behold, the wonderful
condescension of God, that even on irrational and untamable beasts he has
poured out his mercy. The blessed Andrew weeping said, What shall I say or
what shall I speak concerning thy mercy, O God, that thus thou at all times
cleavest to the lowly, and takest care for those in ignorance, being
without arrogance and full of mercy? And having completed the prayer he
baptised the maidens in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost. Then
the lioness immediately set off to the mountain, and the Apostle Andrew
said to the maidens, Be zealous, daughters, to be of good repute before God
by living well in a strange land, and separate not from each other, and
God, that is always present to those that call upon him, keep you in
holiness, driving away from you the Evil One. And pray ye also for me.
Polyxena said, We will follow thee whithersoever thou goest. The Apostle
Andrew said, This was not made known to me by the Lord, daughters;
therefore remain with peace, hoping in the Lord, and he will preserve you
to the end.
XXXI. And Andrew went his way rejoicing and glorifying God. Then said
Polyxena, Whither shall we go, sister:? Rebecca said, Let us depart whither
thou wilt, lest my mistress send and separate us. Polyxena said, Come, let
us depart into the mountain to the lioness. Rebecca said, It is indeed
better for us to live with wild beasts and perish of hunger than to be
compelled by Greeks and idolaters to fall into the filth of marriage. So
they began to journey, and, behold, by the providence of God, they met a
man driving asses, who seeing them said, Ye are not of this country, and,
as I see, ye wear not its dress. Command therefore of your servant to eat
bread and receive one piece of silver that ye may remember your servant
when ye buy bread. And he made haste and took the sacks off his asses and
spread them on the ground, and made the maidens to sit upon them and said
to them, Seeing that the wine which your servant carries is gathered by
Greeks, tell me of what faith ye are, that thus we may taste of it.
Polyxena said, We, brother, taste no wine, and are of the God of Paul. The
ass-driver said. Is this God upon earth? Polyxena said to him, God is
everywhere, both in heaven and on earth. The ass-driver, being desirous to
learn clearly, said, Does this Paul then have the same God that is preached
by Philip? Polyxena, learning that he was a Christian, said, Yea, brother,
this is the God of all, whom Paul and Philip preach.
XXXII. The ass-driver hearing this wept unceasingly, and Polyxena said,
Has then the providence of God overtaken thee, that thou weepest thus? The
ass-driver said, If thou art desirous to learn wherefore I weep, hear the
truth, for one ought not to grudge to tell the things of Christ. I was a
disciple of Philip, the apostle of Christ, and seeing how all his thought
was towards the poor, I took all that I had and sold it. And taking the
price, I bought bread and wine, and divided them throughout the cities to
those that had need, when therefore I had done this for some time in the
neighbouring city, a certain maimed person cried out, saying (though it was
not himself that spoke, but Satan through his mouth), I desire nothing, I
take nothing from thee, because thou art a Christian. Then the whole city
arose against me and sought to take me, but some ran one way and some
another, while I go through their midst and no one sees me. And issuing
from the city I gave praise and glory to God that thus I had been rewarded,
and I prayed to my God that I should meet some one who knew his all-holy
name, so that relating these things I might obtain relief. For the men of
tiffs country will not hear at all concerning Christ, being full of impiety
and filled with wickedness. I exhort you therefore, take ye also one coin
from me, and if it seem good, take ye rest also upon the asses. Polyxena
said, Mayest thou obtain mercy from God, brother. But if thou wilt receive
a full reward, save us as far as the sea, so that, if God wills, we may
sail for Spain.
XXXIII. The ass-driver, as if commanded by the voice of God, eagerly
receiving the maidens, went on his way rejoicing in the Lord. And he said
to Polyxena, Alter thy appearance to that of a man, lest for thy beauty's
sake some one snatch thee away from me. And coming to an inn, they stayed
there, and on the morrow they went forward taking heed to the way. And
behold there came past a certain prefect journeying to Greece, who seeing
the maidens ordered Polyxena to be carried off on his chariot. Then the
ass-driver followed, crying and saying, A prefect does violence to none.
Why do ye this? Then they beat him and drove him away.
XXXIV. And he going on his way lamented, saying, Woe is me, wretched
and abominable one. Woe is me that thought to do good, but now I have
wrought mischief. Woe is me that my trouble and my running were
unacceptable. Would that I had died before yesterday, that I might not have
met with these maidens at all. But why troublest thou me, O wretched soul?
Let us go to Philip the apostle of God. If there is not forgiveness for me,
it is better for me to choose death in whatsoever fashion than to live with
such evil and bitter conscience. So he went and found Philip the apostle of
Christ, and said to him, O disciple and preacher of Christ, thus and thus
it has happened to me and befallen me. Has my soul salvation? Philip the
apostle of Christ said, Be not distressed concerning this, my son, it is
impossible for them to be dishonoured, seeing that no one ever overcomes
God; for this same Polyxena, when she first came from the sea, I entrusted
to a certain brother, who also was greatly distressed because of her
running away secretly from his house. Him also I persuaded not to grieve,
for through her tribulation and wanderings many shah know God.
XXXV. The prefect therefore carried Polyxena to the city where he
stayed, and ordered her to be shut up in a chamber. And one of the soldiers
seized Rebecca, but the maid secretly escaping fled into the house of an
old woman, who received the maiden kindly and entreated her well. And
sitting down she wept, saying, Alas, my sister Polyxena, I wretched one did
not think that anyone was oppressed like myself, but now I am persuaded and
know that all my misfortunes and tribulations do not compare with one day
of thine. And most grievous of all, behold I have been separated from thee
and am again a captive, but do thou search for me even into the next world,
my sister Polyxena. The old woman said to her, What ails thee, daughter,
that thou weepest thus bitterly? Rebecca said, Suffer me, mother, to be
distressed and to lament the great and incurable pain of my heart. The old
woman greatly compassionating her wept exceedingly, for the maid had told
her all that had happened to her, and how through Polyxena she had believed
in Christ. So too Polyxena, shut up in the chamber, said, Woe is me,
wretched one; alas for me miserable one; now I know clearly how the devil
hates virginity, but O Lord Jesus Christ, God of all, since I dare not
beseech thee of myself, I bring to thee the prayers of thy holy preacher
Paul, that thou mayst not suffer my virginity to be destroyed by any one.
XXXVI. And as she was yet praying, the attendants came to lead her to
the couch of the prefect. But Polyxena said to them, Brethren, make not
haste to any. one's destruction, for this time shall quickly pass away, and
they that work together with the destroyers shall perish with them. Rather
assist strangers, that ye be not found strangers to the angels of God. The
men, being shamed by these words, went to the prefect and said, The maid
from fear is seized with a violent fever. And the prefect said, Let her
alone. And, behold, the son of the prefect came to Polyxena by night, and
she seeing him was afraid, but the youth said to her, Fear not, girl. I
seek not to he wedded with thee as the bridegroom of destruction, for I
know from thy prayer that thou art the bride of the God of heaven. I know
this God who is never overcome by any one, for a certain man of glorious
countenance lately in Antioch preached this God, and a certain maid, whose
name was Thecla, believing him followed him, and encountered dangers on
account of her beauty, of whom I have heard that she was condemned to the
wild beasts. I therefore continually gazed upon the man, and he having
observed me said to me, God give heed to thee, my son. From that time
therefore by the grace of Christ I have not gone into the sacrifices of
idols, but sometimes feigning illness and sometimes involving myself in
some business, my father said to me, Because thou hast no zeal for the
sacrifices of the gods, therefore neither art thou in health, not being
worthy of the gods. But I rejoiced, hearing that I was not worthy of the
sacrifices to idols; and, by the grace of God, art thou come hither as a
providence to me. Polyxena said, And what is the name of that man? The
youth said, Paul is his name. Polyxena said, He is in my city. The youth
said, Come then, girl, put on my appearance, and go down to the shore and
wait me there; I having taken money will come quickly.
XXXVII. And one of the servants overhearing them told all this to the
prefect, who being filled with great anger condemned them to be cast to the
wild beasts. And when they were east into the arena, a fierce lioness was
let loose upon them, which ran and embraced the feet of Polyxena, and
licked the soles of her feet. Then the prefect and all the city, seeing
this fearful and wonderful sight, gave praise and glory to the merciful
God, saying, Of a truth thou art, and he, that is named by Polyxena, alone
is God, for the gods of the heathen are the works of men s hands, unable to
save or assist any one. Let them perish now, both themselves and their
makers. And the prefect straightway taking his son and Polyxena into the
palace, heard from them in order the faith and religion in Christ without
omission, and he and all in the city believed, and there was great joy and
giving of glory to God. And Polyxena said to the prefect, Be of good cheer,
my lord, for the man of God will quickly come, who will perfectly teach,
exhort, instruct, and enlighten you in the knowledge of Christ. She however
prepared in all haste to depart into Spain.
XXXVIII. And as I, Onesimus, was sailing into Spain to Paul, I received
from the Lord a revelation saying to me, Onesimus, the vessel in which thou
now art will land in the parts of Greece, and thou wilt find on the shore
of the harbour two maids and one youth. Assist them and take them to Paul.
hen we reached this place according to the command of the Lord, we found
the maids together with the youth seeking a vessel. When the maids saw us
therefore, they knew that we were of the hope of Christ, and Polyxena
running to us said, Verily the man of God cannot be concealed, for the
grace and kindliness of his countenance makes him manifest. And when we
sought to sail away, the sea was troubled by the providence of God. And
there was with us a disciple of Paul, by name Lucius, capable in word to
teach the city. Therefore we remained seven days, and God opened to that
place a great door of faith, and twenty thousand believed, and there was
great joy and rejoicing in all the city. And when the season was favourable
for us to sail the prefect again constrained us, and we stayed another
seven days, until all believed and rejoiced in the Lord.
XXXIX. Thus now by the fore-knowledge of Christ, the prefect sent us
away with supplies for the voyage, sending also his son with us. And when
we had sailed twenty days, Polyxena was greatly exhausted, and we touched
at a certain island for the sake of rest. And behold, certain fierce and
hardened men, coming down to us and seeing Polyxena, prepared for battle;
but by the grace of Christ our men defended Polyxena and vanquished them,
although the strangers were more numerous and more powerful. Polyxena
therefore fearing again to become a captive threw herself into the sea; but
the pilot dragged her out, having suffered no harm. Then we embarked in the
vessel and fled, for the places were rough and wooded, and we were afraid
to remain, and in twelve days we arrived in Spain, by the grace of God.
XL. And Paul seeing us rejoiced greatly, and said, Welcome ye that have
been troubled. And Polyxena, laying hold of his feet, said, It may be that
this trouble came upon me because I would have blasphemed thee, but now I
beseech and entreat that I may not again be delivered into such troubles
and misfortunes. And Paul said, weeping, Thus must we be troubled, my
daughter, that we may know our defender, Jesus Christ.
XLI. And while we were giving the letters of the brethren to Paul, one
ran and told Xanthippe of the arrival of Polyxena. And she made haste and
came to us, and seeing Polyxena, was overcome by an unspeakable joy and
fell to the ground; but Polyxena embracing her and caressing her for a long
time brought her back to life. Then Xanthippe said to her, I, my true
sister Polyxena, went not forth at all for forty days, praying much for
thee to the loving God, that thy virginity might not be taken away. And
Paul, the preacher of God, said to me, Her virginity will not be taken
away, and she will come quickly. And Probus said to me, It was assigned to
her by God to be thus afflicted. Seest thou how by many devices God saves
many? But now, my beloved sister, having unexpectedly seen thy face, now I
shall willingly die.
XLII. Then he who had carried her away came up again and sought for
Polyxena, but the great Paul persuaded him to refrain from her, and he also
believed and was baptised by Paul, as also the suitor of Polyxena believed,
and there was great joy in all that city of Spain for the recovery of
Polyxena. From that time forward she left not at all the blessed Paul in
her fear of temptations. These things then being thus, all rejoiced in the
Lord, glorifying Father, Son and Holy Ghost, one God, to whom is glory and
power, now and ever and to all eternity. Amen.
THE NARRATIVE OF ZOSIMUS CONCERNING THE LIFE OF THE BLESSED.
[Translated by W.A. Craigie, M.A., B.A. (Oxon.)]
I. About that time there was in the desert a certain man named Zosimus,
who for forty years ate no bread, and drank no wine, and saw not the face
of man. This man was entreating God that he might see the way of life of
the blessed, and behold an angel of the Lord was sent saying to him,
Zosimus, man of God, behold I am sent by the Most High, the God of all, to
tell thee that thou shalt journey to the blessed, but shalt not dwell with
them. But exalt not thy heart, saying, For forty years I have not eaten
bread, for the word of God is more than bread, and the spirit of God is
more than wine. And as for thy saying, I have not seen the face of man,
behold the face of the great king is nigh thee. Zosimus said, I know that
the Lord can do whatsoever he will. The angel said to him, Know this also,
that thou art not worthy of one of their delights, but arise and set out.
II. And I, Zosimus, issuing from my cave with God leading me, set out
not knowing which way I went, and after I had travelled forty days my
spirit grew faint and my body failed, and being exhausted I sat down, and
continued praying in that place for three days. And, behold, there came a
beast from the desert, whose name is the camel, and placing its knees on
the ground, it received me upon its neck and went into the desert and set
me down. There there was much howling of wild beasts, and gnashing of
teeth, and deadly poison. And becoming afraid, I prayed to the Lord, and
there came in that place a great earthquake with noise, and a storm of wind
blew and lifted me from the earth, and exalted me on its wing, and I was
praying and journeying till it set me upon a place beside a river, and the
name of the river is Eumeles. And behold when I desired to cross the river,
some one cried as if from the water, saying, Zosimus, man of God, thou
canst not pass through me, for no man can divide my waters: but look up
from the waters to the heaven. And looking up I saw a wall of cloud
stretching from the waters to the heaven, and the cloud said, Zosimus, man
of God, through me no bird passes out of this world, nor breath of wind,
nor the sun itself, nor can the tempter in this world pass through me.
III. And I was astonished at these words, and at the voice that spake
these things to me. And as I prayed, behold two trees sprang up out of the
earth, fair and beautiful, laden with fragrant fruits. And the tree on this
side bent down and received me on its top, and was lifted up exceedingly
above the middle of the river, and the other tree met me and received me in
its branches and bending down set me on the ground; and both trees were
lifted up and set me away from the river on the other side. In that place I
rested three days, and arising again I went forward, whither I knew not,
and that place was filled with much fragrance, and there was no mountain on
either hand, but the place was level and flowery, all crowned with
garlands, and all the land beautiful.
IV. And I saw there a naked man sitting, and said in myself, Surely
this is not the tempter. And I remembered the voice of the cloud that it
said to me, Not even the tempter in tiffs world passes through me. And thus
taking courage I said to him, Hail, brother. And he answering said to me,
The grace of my God be with thee. Again I said to him, Tell me, man of God,
who thou art? He answered and said to me, Who art thou rather? And I
answered and told him all concerning myself, and that I had prayed to God
and he had brought me into that place. He answered and said to me, I also
know that thou art a man of God, for if not, thou couldst not have passed
through the cloud and the river and the air. For the breadth of the river
is about thirty thousand paces, and the cloud reaches to heaven, and the
depth of the river to the abyss.
V. And having ended this discourse the man spoke again, Hast thou come
hither out of the vanity of the world? I said to him, Wherefore art thou
naked? He said, How knowest thou that I am naked? Thou wearest skins of the
cattle of the earth, that decay together with thy body, but look up to the
height of heaven and behold of what nature my clothing is. And looking up
into heaven I saw his face as the face of an angel, and his clothing as
lightning, which passes from the east to the west, and I was greatly
afraid, thinking that it was the son of God, and trembled, falling upon the
ground. And giving me his hand he raised me up, saying, Arise, I also am
one of the blessed. Come with me, that I may lead thee to the elders. And
laying hold of my hand he walked about with me and led me toward a certain
crowd, and there were in that crowd elders like sons of God, and young men
were sanding beside the elders. And as I came near to them, they said, This
man has come hither out of the vanity of the world; come, let us beseech
the Lord and he will reveal to us this mystery. Surely the end is not at
hand, that the man of vanity is come hither? Then they arose and besought
the Lord with one accord, and behold two angels came down from heaven and
said, Fear not the man, for God has sent him, that he may remain seven days
and learn your ways of life, and then he shall go forth and depart to his
own place. The angels of God having said this ascended into heaven before
our eyes.
VI. Then the elders of the blessed gave me over to one of the
attendants, saying, Keep him for seven days. So the attendant receiving me
led me to his cave, and we sat under a tree partaking of food. For from the
sixth hour even to the sixth, then we ate, and the water came out from the
root of the tree sweeter than honey, and we drank our fill, and again the
water sank down into its place. And all the country of those there heard of
me, that there had come thither a man out of the vanity of the world, and
all the country was stirred up, and they came to see me because it seemed
strange to them. Therefore they were asking me all things and I was
answering them, and I became faint in spirit and in body, and besought the
man of God that served me, and said, I beseech thee, brother, if any come
to see me, tell them He is not here, so that I may rest a little. And the
man of God cried out saying, Woe is me, that the story of Adam is summed up
in me, for Satan deceived him through Eve, and this man by his flattery
desires to make me a liar while he is here. Take me away from hence, for I
shall flee from the place. For behold he wishes to sow in me seeds of the
world of vanity. And all the multitude and the elders rose up against me,
and said. Depart from us, man; we know not whence thou art come to us. But
I lamented with great lamentation, and my senses left me. and I cried out
to the elders, saying, Forgive me, my lords, and the elders stilled them
and made quietness. Then I related to them all from the beginning till that
time, and said, I besought the Lord to come to you, and he deemed me
worthy. And the elders said, And now what wilt thou we should do to thee? I
said to them, I desire to learn of you your way of life.
VII. And they rejoiced with great joy, and taking up tables of stone
they wrote on them with their nails, thus, Hear, ye sons of men, hear ye us
who are become blessed, that we also are of you; for when the prophet
Jeremiah proclaimed that the city of Jerusalem should be delivered into the
hands of the destroyers, he rent his garments, and put sackcloth upon his
loins, and sprinkled dust upon his head, and took earth upon his bed, and
told all the people to turn from their wicked way. And our father Rechab,
the son of Aminadab, heard him and said to us, Ye sons and daughters of
Rechab, hearken to your father, and put off your garments from your body,
and drink no vessel of wine, and eat no bread from the fire, and drink not
strong drink and honey until the Lord hear your entreaty. And we said, All
that he has commanded us we shall do and hearken. So we cast away our
clothing from our bodies, and we ate no bread from the fire, and drank no
vessel of wine nor honey nor strong drink, and we lamented with a great
lamentation and besought the Lord, and he heard our prayer and turned away
his anger from the city of Jerusalem, and there came to the city of
Jerusalem mercy from the Lord, and he pitied its people, and turned away
his deadly anger.
VIII. And after these things the king of the city of Jerusalem died,
and there arose another king. And all the people gathered to him and
informed him concerning us, and said, There are certain of thy people, who
have changed their way from us. Therefore the king summoned them, and asked
them wherefore they had done this; and he sent for us and asked, Who are ye
and of what worship and of what country? And we said to him, We are the
sons of thy servant, and our father is Rechab the son of Jonadab, and when
Jeremiah the prophet preached in the days of thy father the king, he
proclaimed death to the city of Jerusalem, saying, Yet three days and all
the city shall be put to death. And the king thy father hearing this
repented of his sins, and issued a command to all to turn aside from their
wicked way. And our father thy servant hearing it charged us, saying, Drink
no vessel of wine, and eat no bread from the fire, until the Lord shall
hear your entreaty. And we hearkened to the commandment of our father, and
made naked our bodies, we drank no wine and ate no bread, and we prayed to
the Lord for the city of Jerusalem, and the Lord pitied his people and
turned away his anger, and we saw it and our soul was rejoiced, and we
said, It is good for us to be so.
IX. And the king said to us, Ye have done well. Now therefore mingle
with my people, and eat bread and drink wine, and glorify your Lord, and ye
shall be serving God and the king. But we said, We will not disobey God.
Then the king was enraged and set us in prison, and we passed that night
there. And behold a light shone in the building, and an angel uncovered the
prison and laid hold of the crowns of our heads, and took us out of the
prison, and set us beside the water of the river, and said to us,
Whithersoever the water goes, go ye also. And we travelled with the water
and with the angel. When therefore he had brought us to this place, the
river was dried up and the water was swallowed up by the abyss, and he made
a wall round this country, and there came a wall of cloud, and shadowed
above the water; and he did not scatter us over all the earth, but gave to
us this country.
X. Hear, ye sons of men, hear the way of life of the blessed. For God
placed us in this land, for we are holy but not immortal. For the earth
produces most fragrant fruit, and out of the trunks of the trees comes
water sweeter than honey, and these are our food and drink. We are also
praying night and day, and this is all our occupation. Hear, ye sons of
men; with us there is no vine, nor ploughed field, nor works of wood or
iron, nor have we any house or building, nor fire nor sword, nor iron
wrought or unwrought, nor silver nor gold, nor air too heavy or too keen.
Neither do any of us take to themselves wives, except for so long as to
beget two children, and after they have produced two children they withdraw
from each other and continue in chastity, not knowing that they were ever
in the intercourse of marriage, but being in virginity as from the
beginning. And the one child remains for marriage, and the other for
virginity.
XI. And there is no count of time, neither weeks nor months nor years,
for all our day is one day. In our caves lie the leaves of trees, and this
is our couch under the trees. But we are not naked of body, as ye wrongly
imagine, for we have the garment of immortality and are not ashamed of each
other. At the sixth hour of every day we eat, for the fruit of the tree
falls of itself at the sixth hour, and we eat and drink our fill, and again
the water sinks into its place. We also know you who are there m the world,
and who are in sins, and your works, for every day the angels of the Lord
come and tell them to us, and the number of your years. But we pray for you
to the Lord, because we also are of you and of your race, except that God
has chosen us, and has set us in this place without sin. And the angels of
God dwell with us every day, and tell us all things concerning you, and we
rejoice with the angels over the works of the just, but over the works of
sinners we mourn and lament, praying to the Lord that he may cease from
Iris anger and spare your offences.
XII. But when the time of the forty days comes, all the trees cease
from their fruits, and the manna that he gave to our fathers rains down
from heaven, and the manna is sweeter than honey. Thus we know that the
season of the year is changed. But when the time of the holy passover
comes, then again the trees put forth fragrant fruit, and thus we know that
it is the beginning of the year. But the feast of the resurrection of the
Lord is performed with much watching, for we continue watching for three
days and three nights.
XIII. We know also the time of our end, for we have no torment nor
disease nor pain in our bodies, nor exhaustion nor weakness, but peace and
great patience and love. For our soul is not troubled by the angels to go
forth, for the angels rejoice when they receive our souls, and the souls
also rejoice with the angels when they behold them; as a bride receives the
bridegroom, so our soul receives the announcement of the holy angels,
saying nothing more than only this, he Lord calls thee. Then the sent quits
the body and goes to the angels, and the angels seeing the soul coming
forth spotless rejoice, and spreading out their robes receive it. Then the
angels call it blessed, saying, Blessed art then, O soul, because the will
of the Lord is fulfilled in thee.
XIV. The time of our life is this. If one quits the body in his youth,
the days of his the here are three hundred and sixty years, and he that
quits the body in old age, the days of his life here are six hundred and
eighty-eight years. And the day of our completion is made known to us by
the angels, and when the angels of God come to take us, we go with them,
and the elders, seeing the angels, gather together all the people and we
depart together with the angels, singing psalms, until the angels arrive at
the place of our abode. And because we have no tools, the angels of God
themselves make the grave for our body, and thus he that is called by God
goes down, and all salute him from small to great, sending him on his way
and bidding him farewell. Then the soul quits the body and the angels
receive it, but we see the shape of the soul as a shape of light, perfect
in all the body apart from the distinction of male and female.
XV. Then the angels taking it up sing a song and hymn, making melody to
God, and again other troops of angels come in haste to meet them, saluting
the soul that is coming and entering into the firmaments. And when it has
come to the place where it is to worship God, the son of God himself,
together with the angels, receives the soul of the blessed one and bears it
to the undefiled father of the ages, and again, when the angels sing above,
we being below listen to them, and again we sing and they listen in heaven
above, and thus between us and the angels there arises a giving of praise
in hymns. But when the soul of the blessed one, falling upon its face,
worships the Lord, then we also falling down worship the Lord in that same
hour, and when the Lord raises it up then we also arise; and when it goes
to its appointed place, we also go into the church, fulfilling the
eucharist of the Lord.
Having written these things, and all the life of the blessed, we gave
them to our brother Zosimus, and escorted him as far as the place of trees
beside the river Eumeles.
XVI. And I, Zosimus, besought again the blessed ones to make entreaty
for me to the Lord that the trees might receive me to take me across. And
they all cried to the Lord and said, O God that hast shown us thy marvels
and hast made thy servant Zosimus to come to us out of the world of vanity,
set him again in his own place with peace, and command these trees to bow
down and take up thy servant and set him on the further side. And as they
finished their prayer, the trees straightway bent down before them, and
received me as on the second day before; and being set on the other side of
the river I cried with a loud voice and said, Men of righteousness, who are
brothers of the holy angels, grant me your prayer in peace, for behold I
depart from you. And making prayer they all cried out, saying, Peace, peace
be with you, brother.
XVII. Then I prayed to the Lord, and there came to me a storm of wind,
and received me upon its wings, and carried me to the place where it found
me sitting, and left me there in peace. And raising its voice the wind said
to me, Blessed art thou, Zosimus, that thou hast been numbered with the
blessed. And the beast from the desert, whose name is the camel, came and
received me upon its neck and carried me eighty and five stations, and set
me in the place where it found me praying, and left me in peace, crying and
saying, Blessed art thou, Zosimus, that thou hast been numbered with the
blessed.
XVIII. But seeing me thus praised, Satan desired to tempt me and throw
his dart at me from his station, but an angel of God came and said to me,
Zosimus, behold Satan is coming to tempt thee, but the Lord will fight for
thee, for the glory of thy faith must bind(1) Satan. And an angel of God
appeared, crying and saying, Welcome, blessed one of Christ. Come and I
shall lead thee to the cave that is the dwelling-place of thy body, for thy
cave shall be a testimony of the desert, a healing of the sick that come to
it, a place of trial and touch-stone of demons. And laying hold of my hand
he strengthened me, and led me for forty days to the cave where I had
dwelt. And there was there a table of righteousness, and I spent the night
with the angels of God. And I placed the tablets that were given me by the
holy blessed ones on the step of the altar in my cave.
XIX. And, behold, when the angels of God ascended, the Devil came,
having a fierce shape, and possessed with anger and gall, and said to me, I
knew that God would do with thee as with the blessed ones, and that they
shall be free from sin and be above the angels, and therefore I brought in
an evil design, and entered into the vessel of the serpent, an evil-doer
added to evil-doer. And by this I made the first man Adam to transgress and
taste of the tree of life, since God had commanded him not to eat of it,
that he might remain equal in glory to God and the holy angels; and thou
again hast gone and brought this commandment, but now that they may not be
without sin, I shall show thee how I shall destroy thee and all those that
receive this commandment, so that they may not be without sin, and the book
that thou hast brought.
XX. Saying these things the Devil departed from me, and after eight days he
brought with him one thousand three hundred and sixty demons, and dragged
me from the cave as I prayed, and they beat me, tossing me about between
them, for forty days. And after the forty days the devil lamented before me
and said, Woe is me that through one man I have lost the world, for he has
vanquished me by his prayer. And he began to run from me, but I laying hold
of him stayed him and said, Thou shalt not run away and flee from me until
thou swearest to me never again to tempt man. And lamenting with great and
violent lamentation he swore to me by the firmament of heaven, So long as
thy dwelling is here, and after thee, I will not come upon this place. Then
I let him go, sending him and the demons with him into eternal fire. Then
the angel came, who had companied with me at the table, and led me into my
cave with great glory.
XXI. After this I lived thirty-six years, and communicated the way of
life of the blessed to the fathers in the desert. But the Devil wept
because of the tables of the life of the blessed, saying, If this get
abroad in the world, I shall be mocked, and these will remain without sin
and I alone in folly. And after the completion of the thirty-six years, the
angels of God came to me as to the blessed.
And all the monks were gathered together and all who heard it, and this
testament was read to all of them, and in such life he gave up his soul to
God.
XXII. And I, Cryseos,(1) being one of those in the desert, spread it
abroad and gave it to all that were willing to learn it and profit by it.
Therefore the angels of God helped to bury the body of Zosimus as a
precious gift, and we saw the soul of the blessed one shining seven times
brighter than the sun. And straightway upon that place there came up seven
palm-trees and overshadowed the cave. There came up also a fountain of
water in that place, holy water, and unto this day a healing and salvation
to all the sick that come to it. Peace be to all that have heard the
memorial of the holy Zosimus; the Lord is the advocate and helper of all to
the endless 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 9, Menzies). The digital version is by The Electronic Bible
Society, P.O. Box 701356, Dallas, TX 75370, 214-407-WORD.
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