ON SAINT THEODORE OF SYKEON, BISHOP OF ANASTASIOPOLIS, Archimandrite of the monasteries in Galatia,
IN THE YEAR 613.
PrefaceTheodore of Sykeon, Bishop of Anastasiopolis, Archimandrite of the monasteries in Galatia (Saint)
G. H.
Galatia, once a most fertile region of Asia, was also most crowded with villages, towns, and cities: of these very many stood out with the episcopal dignity, Metropolis of Galatia Ancyra whose Metropoles were Ancyra of Galatia Prima, and Pessinus of Galatia Secunda. Mention is made of the latter below in no. 112 and following, and it is called the metropolis of the Pessinuntines, and its Metropolitan was Georgius. But in no. 71 Paul the Archbishop of the Metropolis of Ancyra ordained Saint Theodore as Bishop of Anastasiopolis, Anastasiopolis an episcopal city, and again in no. 91, after the episcopate had been administered for nearly eleven years, he permitted him to be freed from it. To the Anastasiopolitan episcopate pertained the town of Sykeon, Sykeon the town, twelve miles distant from that city; in which were several churches, all of which Saint Theodore is said as a young man to have frequented in no. 5. Namely in no. 9 the church of Saint John the Baptist, and various monasteries in it, in no. 12 of Saint Gemellus the Martyr, and especially of Saint George the Martyr on the neighboring mountain, where afterwards he built a most famous monastery; and another church of Saint Michael was added, in which a hundred monks dwelt. Near this mountain another lower monastery was built, in honor of the holy Mother of God Mary; and the third was the monastery of Saint Christopher, in which women and Virgins consecrated to God dwelt. The principal monastery of Saint George was flowed by the river Siberis, near the river Siberis which seems, not far from there, to have fallen into the river Segaris or Sangarius, and with it to have flowed through Bithynia into the Black Sea: but along it, from distant regions, Cyprian ships, as is said in no. 116, laden with flour, put in.
[2] These things about the town and monasteries of the Siceans, whence Siceote was called the Saint the Latin Life of Saint Theodore from the Greek of whom we are undertaking to treat, Theodore; and whence through the rest of the villages, fortified places, and cities, traveling, he performed virtues and miracles: which are narrated in his Life, which, found in the library of the Venetian Republic, Pier Francesco Zino translated into Latin, and Aloysius Lipomanus published it in part 1 of tome 7 of the Lives of the Holy Fathers, and from him Lawrence Surius under this April 22. With what great effort we sought to obtain the original Greek text from Venice, soliciting now this one, now that one by letters, whom we believed could and would help! The more excellent that appeared to be, the greater was the desire for having it and the persistence of asking: the Greek itself is desired, but so far nothing has been accomplished, some opposing themselves, who do not wish to understand or cannot, that it is not of the honor of the Most Serene Republic, that monuments, whose usefulness even in another language is so great, should perish with them abandoned to worms and moths, while the facility for copying is denied, which the highest Pontiff, Kings, and other Princes, having been instructed in the dignity of this work, have most promptly provided. We hope that even there more equitable appraisers of our affairs may eventually be found, and that the few Acts of Saints, which, not found in Greek at Rome, are still sought and awaited at Venice, may not always be asked for in vain. Meanwhile, what alone we can do, we give it rendered in Latin on the trust of another. Written by Eleusius, called Georgius
[3] Its author was Eleusius, called by Saint Theodore Georgius, who in no. 160 asserts that he was born of parents previously sterile, after their girdles were blessed by Saint Theodore, and was offered to him, and in his monastery, being nourished, learned letters, his disciple: and afterwards made a monk, lived with him for twelve years, an eyewitness of certain miracles wrought. Thus in no. 139 he says he was present at his sacrifice, and saw with admiration and fear the sacred host move of itself, ascending and descending. an eyewitness, And in no. 154 he was present when Saint Theodore, taking hold of the hair of the Proconsul Bonosus, dragged him down, and admonished him of his office. But the other things which had been done by Saint Theodore before his own time, he professes to have received from the servants who were spectators, or from those who were healed. And in no. 27, those things which had happened in the youth of Saint Theodore, he says he received from those who were his equals and fellow-disciples, and had seen with their own eyes. But very many things he heard from the Saint himself, when he narrated them modestly about himself, so that he might inflame his own people to emulation. After the death of the Saint he wrote, He was born under the Empire of Justinian, being the Priest and Hegumen or Provost of the monastery founded by him.
[4] Saint Theodore was born in the reign of Justinian, who reigned from the year 527 to the year 566. To Justinian succeeded Justin the Younger, Tiberius, Maurice, Phocas, and Heraclius, who began to reign on October 5 of the year 610, in whose third year, on December 25, in the first Indiction, Heraclius the son of Heraclius, the new Constantine, began to be crowned as colleague of the Empire, as we read in Theophanes, and also at the end of this Life, where is added that then on April 22 Saint Theodore departed from life, that is, in the year 613. He is inscribed on the said April 22 in the Menologium of the Emperor Basil Porphyrogenitus, and is called Thaumaturgus, because of the innumerable miracles produced by him. The same things are in the Greek Menaea, with a very long encomium, and in the calendars of other Greeks. Molanus, Canisius, and other Latins followed, with the modern Roman Martyrology. At Constantinople his festive solemnity was formerly celebrated in the shrine of the Great Martyr George, which Sergius the Patriarch had built (perhaps by his counsel), concerning whom below in no. 148 we treat. The same is shown in the habit of an Archimandrite in the tablets of the Muscovite Calendar, whence you may understand that his cult is also celebrated among the Russians: and with the title of holy Father he is inscribed in the Ruthenian Calendar in Possevinus in the Apparatus, and in the Arab-Egyptian Martyrology, translated by Gratia Simonio.
[4] We have distinguished and illustrated this Life in our usual manner, and indeed with a great sense of pleasure, that we perceived
the principal mysteries of the Catholic faith are touched upon in it: the mysteries of the Catholic faith are established in it: as are, the Ecclesiastical Hierarchy, with due subordination to Bishops, Archbishops, and Patriarch; and with the sacred ordination of Subdeacons, Deacons, Priests, and Bishops: the Sacrifice of the Mass, with the presence of the Body and Blood of Christ, and the elevation of the sacred host: the cult and veneration of the Cross of Christ, its erection against demons and tempests: by the sign of the Cross and the name of Jesus demons are driven out and miracles wrought: the cult, veneration, and invocation of Saints: from an image of the Virgin Mother of God at Sozopolis oil flowing, by which diseases are driven away: temples, altars, and monasteries erected in their honor, usually consecrated by Bishops. Public supplications, even held every year, to the church of the Virgin Mother of God: Crosses borne before them: apparitions of Saints: psalmody in the church: the Lenten fast; abstinence from flesh in the monastery: prayer for the dead mother. The cult of Relics: pilgrimages to the Holy Land, and to high sacred places: many monasteries under their Hegumens and Archimandrites: finally by his blessing, or by blessed water or oil, miracles performed: and similar things which the benevolent reader will find.
[5] Tamayo Salazar, in the Spanish Martyrology, reports Saint Theodore Siceote on the second day of April, because in the Adversaria published under the name of Luitprand the following is read: Was there an ancient cult in Galicia? "In the town of Muros in Galicia Saint Theodore is venerated, famous for his life and miracles, on the second of April": where Tamayo thinks April 12 should be read. These things seem to have been devised so that for Galatia, Galicia might be substituted. Masinus in his survey of Bologna celebrates Saint Theodore the Confessor on this April 22, because in the church of Saint Martin at the Carmelite Fathers some Relics of this Saint are preserved. was he a Carmelite? Lezana also in tome 3 of the Annals of the Carmelite Order, p. 276, ascribes this Theodore to his order, which things do not deserve refutation.
LIFE
By the author Eleusius, called Georgius, Priest and Hegumen and disciple of Saint Theodore.
From the Greek MSS. rendered into Latin by Pier Francesco Zino.
Theodore of Sykeon, Bishop of Anastasiopolis, Archimandrite of the monasteries in Galatia (Saint)
BY GEORGIUS HIS DISCIPLE.
PROLOGUE.
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who from ancient times has kindled his servants like stars in the earth, to rule his people, As he gave the Saints of both Testaments and to teach them those things which pertain to virtue and piety: whom now also, as shining rays of the Sun of Justice, from the most sweet reading of the Holy Scriptures we venerate: as the first type of innocence Abel, Enoch outstanding in virtue, Abraham the just, Isaac most faithful and expressing the figure of Christ, Jacob the simple, Joseph the chaste, Job the most patient, Moses the lawgiver, Samuel the suppliant, David the most gentle, Elijah the zealous, Elisha the performer of wonders, Isaiah the most eloquent, as an example for men, God gave: the venerable Jeremiah, Ezekiel the describer of the Cherubim, Daniel stopping the mouths of lions, the three boys extinguishing fire; Zechariah the priest, walking without reproach in all the commandments and ordinances of God; the aged Simeon, bearing the Light of the world in his arms; John the Baptist, dweller in the solitude and surpassing the Prophets; the chorus of the twelve Apostles, spreading in every region and city the faith delivered by Christ; the assemblies of the Martyrs, who built it up with their blood; the Councils of the holy Fathers, by whom the doctrines of the Apostolic teaching were confirmed; and many others who existed in the Old and New Testament, of whom mention is made in the sacred books, and whom I have passed over in silence because of their multitude, bringing forward only the more notable for you. All the Saints therefore, who underwent contests and performed miracles, God has bestowed on the world, that, scattered in each age of men, like certain stars, they should shine with the splendor of virtues and contests and miracles; that all, taught by their doctrine, strengthened by their contests, and confirmed by their miracles, might flee the destruction of impious institutions, and enter into the kingdom and glory of Christ: where those goods are laid up promised by him, which eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have they ascended into the heart of man, which God has prepared for those who love him.
[2] so also this Saint Theodore. So also in this age our own benevolent God, like a certain splendid star, sending forth his rays, has shown us blessed Theodore: who put demons to flight, restored health to the sick, was a father of orphans, nourisher of the poor, the garment of the naked, a safe harbor for those in peril, a refuge of the wretched, a leader of sinners to penitence, a staff of the needy, consoler of the afflicted, companion of the Apostles, partaker of the Saints, inhabitant of the kingdom of the heavens, temple of the Holy Spirit: who led many to heaven, excelled in all virtues, had a rich fountain from which healings flowed: who from the beginning of his age approached God, and was pleasing to him to the end of his life, and truly was Theodore in name and in deeds. Wherefore I beg you, Fathers and Brothers, that while I set forth his life, you lend me your kind ears. Truly splendid and very useful are the things which I shall to the best of my ability accurately explain: for I shall begin from those things which he did as a boy; for those also are full of the best fruit. You therefore, who have come to hear, again and again I beseech, considering my weakness, to aid me with your zeal and prayers: that God, the bountiful and Father of lights, forgetting my sins, may grant me, unworthy, so much of his grace and benevolence and wisdom, that I may be able to narrate the divine and admirable deeds of this holy man.
CHAPTER I.
Native land, birth, education, studies in letters, fasts, habit of praying.
In the region of the Galatians is a town which is called Sykeon, Born in Galatia subject to Anastasiopolis of the first principality of the Ancyrans: and it is twelve miles distant from Anastasiopolis. In the middle of this town is the public road of the royal post, on which was an inn, where a most beautiful girl, by name Mary, dwelt with her mother Elpidia, and sister Despenia: who indeed dwelling there, made their living by their bodies. At that time, when Justinian of pious memory was reigning, from his mother informed through a vision of her son's future holiness: it happened that among the magistrates a certain man, by name Cosmas, famous in equestrian contests, was sent as judge to those parts: who, when he had come to that inn, seeing Mary, was captured by her love, and lay with her. The woman conceived by him, and in her sleep saw a great and bright star descending from heaven into her womb: and waking, and full of fear, she narrated the vision to Cosmas himself. Who said, "Keep yourself, woman, perhaps God may look upon you, and give you fruit worthy of the lot of the episcopate." And going out in the morning, he departed joyfully. But the woman, when she had come to a certain holy old man, dwelling in a place six miles distant, narrated the dream which she had seen. Who said, "Truly a great man will the boy be who is born from you, and will have most power not with men, but with God: for the bright star signifies royal glory, as wise men judge who interpret dreams. But this is not to be said concerning you: but the splendid glory of virtues and graces is signified to you by the star seen by you, which God has infused into your offspring: for he is accustomed to sanctify his servants, before they are brought forth into the light, still existing in the womb." When Theodosius, Bishop of Anastasiopolis, had heard this, he judged the same.
[4] and forbidden by Saint George to be raised for the army, Therefore when the time of bearing had been completed, she brought forth the servant of God, and a few days after, as is the custom of Christians, they carried him to the holy Church of the Orthodox; and by the Priests he was baptized in the name of the Holy Trinity, and was named Theodore; that it might be evident from the name that he would be a gift of God. But when he was in the sixth year of his age, his mother desired to have him trained for the army in the royal city. And so when she had prepared for him a golden belt and precious garments and other necessary things, she was thinking of the journey. But on the night on which she was about to depart, the holy Martyr of God George appeared to her: and, "What counsel," he said, "have you taken, woman, concerning the boy? Do not undertake the labor in vain, for the King who is in the heavens requires the boy for himself." The woman, awakened in the morning from sleep, narrated her dream with tears: "The death of my son is approaching," she said: and so she refrained from the labor of the journey. And when the boy was eight years old, she handed him over to a master to be taught letters. He, since by the grace of God he was most of all apt for learning, made much progress in the wisdom of letters: and he was loved by all: and in what he did, he was approved. For even while playing with the boys, he would conquer them: yet he did not permit either himself or anyone else to swear, or curse, or do anything else absurd: and if from playful things any strife or fight arose, he immediately composed it.
[6] There was also in his house a certain pious man, by name Stephen, at eight years old he pursued abstinence and piety who artfully prepared foods: for those women afterwards, having left the life of prostitution, had returned to good ways, and were living piously and chastely, and receiving as guests many Princes and men of dignity, and they referred this honor, accepted from them, to Stephen, who was skilled in that art. But he spent whatever reward he received either from the women themselves or from the guests upon the churches: and morning and evening he was devoted to prayers, and in the holy days of Lent, when he was serving every kind of food to the women, he himself tasted nothing except a few crumbs of bread and water, and those toward evening. The women loved this man, and because of his modesty and humanity honored him as a father. But the boy seeing him so continent, inflamed with divine love, began to imitate his life. For thus the Apostle commands: "Remember your superiors, who have spoken the word of God to you: whose end of conversation beholding, imitate their faith: for it is best to strengthen the heart with grace, not with foods, which have not profited those walking in them: for food does not commend us to God." Heb. 13:7,9
[6] His mother and the other women, not knowing this zeal of his mind, fasting until evening at school when he returned home from his letter-school at the hour of luncheon, compelled him to eat with them. But he no longer returned at the hour of luncheon, but remained fasting in the letter-school until evening: and in the evening, when he was in his own house, he would go to the churches with the pious man Stephen: and devoted to prayers, would receive the Body and Blood of Christ: and so returning home, he would take nothing else except the already mentioned crumbs of bread and water. And when he was much admonished by the women and by Stephen to eat, he would not comply with their admonitions. But his mother asked his master to dismiss the boy at the hour of luncheon:
for she wished to persuade him to take at least a small amount of vegetable food, since because of his fasting and because he ate later, he was becoming exceedingly thin. The master therefore, understanding the mother's will, dismissed him with the rest of the boys. But he, as though hearing that song of David: "In the Lord I trust; why do you say to my soul, 'Flee to the mountain like a sparrow'" Ps. 10:2: when he left the school, he took himself to the rough mountain nearby, where was the temple of the holy Martyr George.
[7] But plainly by the Saint himself, as by some youth, he was led there: or to the oratory of Saint George and having entered the oratory, he applied himself to the reading of the divine Scriptures. But after noon he returned to the schools. And as evening came on, he sought his home: and when his mother asked why he had not come to her at the hour of luncheon, excusing himself, he answered, that he had been forced to remain in the schools, because he had not learned what he ought, and because his stomach was so languid that he was held by no desire of eating. And so the mother again admonished the master to dismiss her son with the other boys: but he answered, that he had always done so, from when he was first admonished by her. When she had learned that he was going to the church of the holy Martyr George, in vain rebuked for this by his mother, she sent some of her servants to drag him away from there. They brought the boy to his mother: who threatened him and commanded him to return directly to her from the schools. But he kept his former custom, from which the mother could neither by admonitions, nor by threats, nor by blows, call him away, nor interrupt the pattern of abstinence which he had begun. But when he was completing his tenth year of age, he too was seized by a certain kind of disease which had invaded that region, so that he was in danger of his life. They therefore carried him into the church of Saint John the Baptist, which was not far distant, and placed him at the entrance of the altar. Above, on the very receptacle of the Cross, was an image of our Lord Jesus Christ, from which two drops of dew fell upon him as he labored under his disease: and immediately, lifted up by the grace of God, he recovered and returned home.
[8] But when he was sleeping among his mother and the other women, Christ's Martyr George, approaching, roused the boy, while they meanwhile were oppressed by the deepest sleep, first indeed under the appearance of Stephen, having Saint George as his leader to those places; then under his own person, saying: "Rise, boy Theodore, the dawn has appeared: let us enter the oratory of Saint George to pray." And as he rose with joy and alacrity, while it was still dark, he led him from the house to the holy oratory. And on the way he was terrified by many tricks of the demons (for those wicked ones and enemies of truth, under the form of wolves and other beasts, terrifying the boy, and attacking him from all sides, as if to devour him, tried to lead him away from his good purpose): but the Martyr of Christ, his sword drawn, defended him, so that he could not be harmed by those wild beasts, and thereafter returned more cheerfully. But when the boy did this daily, his mother and the other women who were with her, when they did not see him in bed in the morning, suspected that he was passing the night in the church. And they wondered how, sleeping in the midst of them, he could suddenly rise without anyone feeling it. Fearing therefore that he would be devoured by wild beasts (for a wolf was then wandering there, that was devouring boys), they tried to frighten him from going to the oratory, especially before sunrise, because that place was desert and dangerous. To whose counsels he not yielding, at the appointed hour, roused by the Martyr, he took himself to the oracle.
[9] But when the women in the morning did not find the boy, stirred with wrath, and defended by him. they dragged him away from there by the hair. And his mother, having beaten her son, bound him to the side of the little bed, and gave him no food. But that night the holy Martyr of God George appeared to the women girded with a sword, and with drawn sword rushed against them, threatening, and "I will cut off," he said, "your heads, because you beat the boy and prevent him from coming to me." But when they swore that they would not do this any more, he relaxed his threats, and departed. Roused therefore from sleep, they released the boy, asking him with gentle words not to be angry with them because he had been beaten: and asked him, upon whose help he relied, that he went out thus before the light. To whom he said: "At first I used to go out with Stephen: but now I go out with a most beautiful and handsome youth as companion." And they recognized him to be the Martyr George, whom they had seen in their sleep, by whose protection being fortified they no longer prevented the boy, saying: "Let the will of God be done." He had also a little sister, by name Blatta, who embraced him with great love, and helped him in the work of God, and often went with him to the oratory in the daytime, and was zealous to relieve his labor.
CHAPTER II.
Pious youth: contempt of transient things: miracles.
[10] One day, when he had already made much progress in letters, having entered the temple of the holy Martyr a Gemellus, near his house, he passed the night in it, He is refreshed by a heavenly vision, and saw himself somehow standing before a King, while a great company of soldiers was present, and a woman stood by adorned with purple: and he heard the King himself thus addressing him: "Fight bravely, Theodore, that you may receive a perfect reward in the heavenly army: I besides will also on earth make you glorious and illustrious before men." Hearing these things, he was released from sleep, and when he was twelve years of age, roused by the exhortation of Christ the King, whom he had seen, he began to strive for the more excellent things and more conjoined with salvation, and to contain himself in one cell of his house from Epiphany until Palm Sunday. And for two weeks of Lent, namely the first and middle, he spoke with no one at all, but was devoted to God alone: but he used his former abstinence.
[11] Moreover when the enemy of truth, the devil, perceived him to have spiritual and splendid weapons against himself, he is provoked by the devil to a precipice, he was thinking how to destroy him. One day, therefore, he put on the appearance of Gerontius his fellow-disciple, and led him onto a rough rock, which is called Tzidrama: and when he had ascended to a lofty place, objecting to him the tentation of the Savior: "If you will," said he, "most excellent Theodore, give a specimen of your virtue, leap down." But he, looking at the height of the place, answered: "The height of the place frightens me." "But," said the devil, "you alone among all the boys were already stronger than I, and were conquering me: but now I do not fear this, and will cast myself down." "Take care," Theodore answered, "not to do that, lest you fall headlong and perish." But when he affirmed that he would do it without danger: "If you do it," said Theodore, "I likewise will do it." Standing therefore upon the rock, the devil leapt down: and standing upright cried out to Theodore: "Behold, I have leapt: if you have strength, do the same, that I may see, whether in this thing also, as in the others, you are noble." But the boy, terrified by the size of the leap, considered that Gerontius had never before been so bold. Meanwhile Christ's Martyr George was at hand, and taking the boy's hand, led him away from there: "Come," he said, "follow me, and do not listen to that tempter who seeks your soul: for he is not Gerontius, but the enemy of our race." And the holy Martyr placed the boy in his own oratory.
[12] While he was staying in this, his mother and grandmother one day with many flatteries exhorted him to return to his house, saying that they were expecting many illustrious friends. Jas. 4:4, Luke 16:13 But the boy, not ignorant of those words of Scripture, he despises the adornment of the body and riches: "The friendship of this world is enmity against God," and "Whoever wishes to be a friend of this world, is made an enemy of God; for no one can be a friend of God and of Mammon"; he did not wish to comply with them, to depart from there: but despising the riches of the world, and wishing to cast them off, taking from himself his belt and necklace and bracelets, he threw them down before them: "I know," he said, "that you are afraid lest I lose these, and therefore you watch me: take them therefore, and depart: for I shall not retreat from this place." And they, taking them, when they could not bend him, went away: for he was wholly fixed in mind upon the Lord, whose imitator and following in his footsteps he was fleeing his parents; and running to God, he was leaving riches and houses, that he might receive a hundredfold, and possess eternal life: as the Lord, who promised these things, says, "Whoever wishes to come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me." Luke 9:23 For rightly did the most just boy deny his body, and afflicting and subduing it as an adversary of the soul, bore the cross on his forehead: and as Peter and James and John and the rest of the Apostles, leaving all things, followed Jesus: so also this boy, having faith in the testimonies of the Scriptures, was zealous to fulfill them.
[13] Wishing therefore to imitate David in songs, he began to learn the Psalter. But with great labor he learned by heart as far as the sixteenth psalm: but the seventeenth he could in no way grasp. Wherefore, when he was staying meditating in the nearby oratory of Saint Christopher, and could not learn it, prostrating himself on the ground, he was begging the Lord to make him fit for easily committing the psalms to memory. But the merciful God, who said, "Ask and it shall be given you," granted him what he asked. Matt. 7:7 For when he had risen, and had supplicated the image of the Savior, he felt a sweetness sweeter than honey in his mouth: and recognizing the gift of God, and tasting the sweetness, and giving thanks to Christ, afterwards easily and conveniently in a few days committed the entire Psalter to memory. He commits the Psalter to memory: And so he frequented all the churches, with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs singing and praising the Lord. And wherever a memorial of the Saints was being celebrated, he promptly betook himself thither. Whence in the vigil of the holy Martyr b Euretus at Jopolis, which town was fifteen miles distant, he set out fasting at the hour of supper, and having devoted himself to prayers, and received the divine mysteries of Christ, he returned by running about midnight, and ate necessary things. For he was so swift in running, that, a wager being made, for three miles he ran with horses and conquered.
[14] Now when he had learned from the Proverbs, "Where you have heard that a prudent man is, watch for him: for with the holy you shall be holy, and with the chosen you shall be chosen," he was held by the greatest desire for servants of God. Ps. 17:26-27 And wherever he heard that a just man was, he visited him, to learn the manner of life he had established. And like a little bee, gathering the flowers of his virtues, he carried them home as a kind of provision. There was therefore a certain holy Father, by name Glycerius, in the place which is called Trapezas, ten miles distant: he is received by Glycerius the monk: to whom
Theodore came, that he might be blessed by him, and, as Elisha, blessed by Elijah, received a double grace of the spirit, so he too through his blessing might be made worthy of greater virtues and graces: for the blessing of the father confirms the house and the labors of the sons. When this holy man had beheld him, and divinely recognized the flowering virtue in him, he received him with a cheerful face, and smiling: "Do you love, my son, the habit of monks?" he said. "I even vehemently love it, believe me, father," he answered, "and I desire to become worthy of it." And since there was a great drought there, both going out into the open, they stood before a basin situated there near the church of Saint John the Baptist. And the blessed one said to the boy: "Let us bend our knees, son, and pray to the Lord, praying with him, he obtains rain. that he may of his clemency send rain upon the earth: from which we shall understand whether we are in the number of the just." As they prayed, the sky contracted with clouds: and when they had risen from prayer, God sent a great abundance of rain upon the earth. The old man rejoiced at this kindness of the Lord: and smiling at the boy: "Hereafter," he said, "whatever you ask the Lord, he will grant you. Fulfill therefore what you desire, and the Lord God shall be with you, that you may grow together in the age of the body and in virtues." When the boy had therefore received the blessing from the old man, and had greeted him, he returned to his home.
[15] But now entering his fourteenth year of age, he decided altogether to renounce his home, and to live in the oratory. In the oratory he lives on slender food: When this matter had been settled with the women, he took himself to the oratory, and dwelt in it. But his mother and the other women, being ignorant of the blessed manner of life he had undertaken, from which he, though still a boy, in no way receded, brought to him pure loaves and various kinds of bird meats, both boiled and roasted. All which he indeed received, lest he should seem to despise their pious mind, and because his fasting was hidden; but he did not eat of them; rather, when they had departed, he would go out of the oratory, and place everything on a rock, and return within. And birds and wild beasts, and even men traveling, would come and eat. But the boy's food consisted of what was offered in the oratory: but if nothing was offered, bread alone was enough for him.
[16] But when he had heard that a certain place, eight miles distant, which is called "Area" so from Diana, was occupied by many demons in a place infested by demons he is unharmed, who dwelt there, so that no one could approach it, especially at midday, without certain danger of death; he, in the days of July and August, after he had finished the prayers of the third Hour, went quickly to that place, and all midday remained there, where they said the dwelling of Diana was. But since with God's help he found nothing adverse, he would return to the oratory, where beneath the step of the altar he dug a cave for himself. But on the night in which the birth of Christ is celebrated, when certain clergy and laity had come to him, with them he went down from the oratory to cross the river: but he alone entering the water, stood in it until all the Prophetic and Apostolic in cold water he stands long: and Gospel reading, with the whole sacrifice, had been finished. After, he could hardly draw out his feet, so were they frozen with mud and ice: and thus singing psalms, he returned to the oratory: and when day had come, he celebrated the festival, and descended into the cave, and there rested until Palm Sunday. Wherefore all who beheld and saw these things, raising their hands to heaven, were saying: "We confess to you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise, and have revealed them to this little one: because so it was pleasing before you."
[17] Now his grandmother Elpidia vehemently pitied him: for she loved him more than both of her daughters. he fasts strictly: And so, coming to the oratory, while he was keeping quiet and silence, she served him food, namely fruits or vegetables, and that on Saturday and on the Lord's day: for on the other days he tasted nothing at all. But when Theodosius, Bishop of Anastasiopolis, had heard these things, he rejoiced greatly, and praised him before all, saying that he did these things moved by God's inspiration. But one day the devil, enemy of honor, brought it about that from cold he fell into sickness, and could not move: but while he was sleeping, the holy Martyr of Christ George stood by him and said to him: "Who, my son, was the cause that you fell into sickness?" But he, considering the unclean demon standing before him: sick, he is healed by Saint George. "This one," he said, "impure and detestable, has cast me into sickness." But the Martyr, torturing the demon vehemently, put him to flight: and taking Theodore's hand, said, "Arise and recover: for no longer shall that execrable demon appear in your sight." Immediately therefore the boy, roused, arose healed.
ANNOTATIONS.
CHAPTER III.
One possessed is freed. A strict life in a cave. The taking up of sacred Orders.
[18] But merciful God, who gave his holy Apostles the power He scourges a boy possessed by a devil: of casting out demons and healing diseases, gave to him also grace against demons, to drive them out of men and to heal the sick. For after the holy celebration of Easter, a certain man one day brought to him his only son, vexed by an unclean spirit; and led by faith, he asked the holy boy Theodore to cure his little son. But he himself did not know what to do for him: but excused himself, that he was a youth. But the father of the afflicted one, weeping, gave him a whip, and said: "Take this, my lord servant of God, and threatening my son, strike him, saying: 'Go out, go out, unclean spirit, from this boy, in the name of my Lord.'" Saint Theodore did as he had been instructed: and the demon, being troubled, began to mock him, and to proclaim him as though mad; and whatever he heard from him, the same he would echo: and for two days he answered nothing. But on the third day Theodore the boy of Christ did the same to the boy: then the demon again, stirred up, began to cry out: "I am going out, boy, I am going out, and I shall resist no more; give me an hour." As he went up to the altar, the demon cried out in this manner: "O great power of the Nazarene, who stirs up these things against us! For since he descended to the earth, he has armed men against us: and now has granted to the son of a harlot the power of casting us out. Alas, wretched me! by what boy am I driven out? For I cannot bear the grace sent down to him from heaven. A great calamity to our nature is at hand from this son of a harlot: and frees him. for he will drive many of our flock out of men. But I grieve that here he is exercising dominion over me: nor do I dare to return to my father the devil, since I have been driven out by such a little boy: for if this had happened to me from some old man, I would not think it so great a disgrace. Cursed be the day in which you were born." While he was saying these things, Theodore the boy of God, taking some of the oil of the lamp, anointed the head of the afflicted one, and applying the sign of the Cross, rebuked him, saying: "Go out now, most impure spirit, and do not trifle any longer." And the demon, crying out, cast the boy before his feet, and went out from him: but he lay as though dead. At which the boy, troubled, thought him dead: but his father said to him: "Stretch out your hand to him, and rouse him as he lies." Which being done, immediately the boy, coming to himself, arose: and so by the grace of God he restored him healed to his father. The matter was spread abroad throughout all that region: wherefore all were praising God, who gives understanding to little ones and grace.
[19] Imitating therefore the precursor of Christ and John the Baptist also in this, remaining in solitude until he should be shown to the people; and he expressed in himself those words of the Apostle Paul, "All the saints by faith have conquered kingdoms, wrought justice, obtained the promises; he hides for two years in a cave, cast down, vexed, in solitudes and caves of the earth." Heb. 11:33,38 Applying himself to these salutary Scriptures, he became not only a hearer of them, but a doer, with Christ helping, who always favors those choosing the good. He therefore ascended the higher part of the mountain; and looking at a rock suitable for covering himself, digging beneath it, he made a large cave for himself: and the entrance being blocked, he hid in it. But it then happened that soldiers were traveling that way. Wherefore when the boy, being sought for by his relatives, both in the oratory and elsewhere, was not found; they suspected that he had been taken by the soldiers, and stirred up the prince, to have the soldiers apprehended, so that they might restore the boy. But since even so he was not found, they judged that he had been devoured by wild beasts: and his mother with the other women and relatives mourned him a long time, as already dead. For two years Theodore the boy of Christ spent in that cave: and a certain religious clergyman, a Deacon, alone knew the matter, who also gave him his own rough garment (for before he used linen garments), and a little food from vegetables, and a little water (for so it had been agreed between them), supplied. But he had promised that he would not reveal it to anyone.
[20] But the good God, who cares for his servants, seeing his labors, in order to show that what he had said was true, "A city cannot be hidden set on a mountain: neither do men light a lamp, and put it under a bushel, but upon a candlestick, that it may give light to all who are in the house"; he revealed him to all. Matt. 5:14-15 For when his kinswomen observed that the pious Deacon was more frequently ascending the mountain, they, suspecting what was the fact, with an oath at her house adjured him, that whatever he knew about the boy he should make known to them. But he, both compelled by the oath and moved by the harsh manner of the boy's life, and fearing lest he should die, opens the matter, and indicates the place where he was. Then, full of joy, approaching, and thence he is led out almost dead: they find him near death, and lead him to the oratory of Saint George. Who, having caught sight of the air, remained long without a voice. His head stank with filth, and was full of lice, and his bones were bare, and his hair was matted, and no one could approach him because of the stench and the swarming worms: and his appearance was as of one dead: wherefore he was thought to be a new Job, because of such calamity. His mother wept, and his grandmother, and the other women: and when he had been a little refreshed,
they wished him to go down to his home, and care for his body: to whom he would not assent.
[21] When Theodosius, the most religious Bishop of Anastasiopolis, had heard these things, he is initiated into sacred Orders: he immediately came to him at the oratory, and seeing the ulcer of his head, shuddered: and when he had saluted him, declared him a Lector. With great labor they washed away his filth; and wiping his ulcers with linen cloths, they cut off the hair of his head. And the next day he ordained him a Subdeacon, Deacon, and Priest, saying: "Behold, by the gift of God you have obtained all the orders of the Clergy, that you may be able to perform the divine mysteries, at age 18 made a Priest by the Bishop moved divinely to it! to the edification of those who come to you. May the Lord God, bountiful bestower of his gifts, make you worthy to rightly govern and rule his flock: for having received these four gifts of grace, and being about to receive also the monastic habit, you seem to lack only this one thing, which the Lord will bestow on you after proof of your virtues. Grow therefore in faith and virtues and pray for me." And when he had both blessed him and greeted him, he returned to his city. Then Theodore, the servant of Christ, had completed eighteen years: wherefore many accused the Bishop, because he had promoted him to the dignity of the Priesthood before the lawful age. But the most religious Bishop Theodosius answered, that he was not ignorant that the Canons did not permit anyone to be made a Priest before the lawful time of age, and without testimony, since the Apostle thus writes to Timothy: "Not a neophyte, lest, puffed up with pride, he fall into the judgment and snares of the devil." But as Paul himself appointed Timothy, a youth in age, a Bishop; "so I too," he said, "in the name of the Lord have ordained this one a Priest because of his integrity: for God has signified to me that he is worthy of this office." 1 Tim. 3:6 "And surely this youth is from God. Wherefore do not regard his tender age, but the nobility of his soul: as was said of David to Samuel: for those advanced in age are not wise, nor do old men know judgment, as Elihu declares in Job; but the spirit of God is in mortals, and the spirit of the Almighty teaches and helps the young, and instructs them in a pious and right way of living." Job 32:9 To these words of the Bishop all assented. But the new soldier of Christ, Theodore, advanced in wisdom and spiritual prudence, and the grace of God was with him.
[22] Whence hitherto the author received the writings. These teachings of Theodore's boyhood I, his unworthy servant and disciple, Georgius, received from those who were his equals and fellow-disciples, and had lived with him, and had seen them with their own eyes. Very many things also I heard from the pious and holy man himself, when he modestly related them about himself, to incite us to emulation. But after his death I wrote them down, that boys and youths might imitate his angelic life, far from all crime, and might become worthy of the kingdom of heaven, through the grace of Christ our God, with whom glory be to the Father together with the Holy Spirit forever and ever, Amen. May the Lord Jesus Christ, our true God, who is the Sun of Justice, the ineffable Light, the perennial fountain of immortality, eternal life, the salvation of our souls, and the Bestower of wisdom, grant even to me, a sinner, Georgius your servant, such strength, and facility of speaking, that I may be able to bear the burden undertaken: and so inflame the minds of you who love him to hear, that you may willingly hear to the end the splendid and admirable life of our holy and great father Theodore: for now I shall undertake those things which pertain to his adolescence, trusting in your prayers to the Lord God, who was his leader and helper.
CHAPTER IV.
Journey to Jerusalem: monastic habit: rigor of penance. The state of his family.
[23] he decides to leave his country, The most holy servant of God Theodore, therefore, when he was eighteen years old, thus by the will of our Savior God being raised to the grade of the Priesthood, was devoted to the divine philosophy: that he might show himself like to a prudent man, and by the praiseworthy counsel of the Lord, leaving his paternal house, built upon sand, and the earthly things that were in it, he decided never again to return to it; and to imitate the footsteps of Christ: and consecrated himself wholly to the Lord in truth of heart and fullness of faith; and built himself a house upon the firm rock, whether you wish to understand it of the mind or of the senses. For the place was arduous and venerable, in which he built the oratory of the holy and glorious Martyr George, that he might easily, both with his faith in Christ confirmed, and relying on the help of the holy Martyr himself, avoid and drive away the assaults of alien winds and future storms, like rising waters. In all the divine Scriptures, which pour forth eternal life for us, he was engaged: and always revolving the holy Gospel in his mind, he was greatly moved, especially when he considered, how our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ had descended from heaven, how he had put on the man, how he had conversed with men, and had chosen Jerusalem for himself, in which he should endure the bitterness of torments, be led to the cross, buried, and rise again. Admiring these things, and looking up to things higher than earth, he was inflamed with desire of visiting and adoring those most holy places, where Christ's feet had stood: since also Zechariah the Prophet curses every nation and tribe that does not go and adore them. Zech. 14:17
[24] When therefore his mother had come to him, with her sister and the parent of both, having communicated the counsel with them, and having by God's providence found a guide for the journey, he undertook the journey: he goes to the Holy Land: and because of the desire of his mind, he did not feel the labor of the journey. At last he arrived at the longed-for city of the holy places, Jerusalem, and adored the saving Cross, and the holy Resurrection, and the nourishing Manger, and the glorious Ascension, and all the other monuments of the saving death and sojourn of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ; and he visited all the monasteries, and all the Fathers enclosed in cells everywhere, also those who dwelt in the interior solitude: and receiving a blessing from them, he learned thoroughly the more excellent rule and institutions of life. But when he had gone down to the Jordan, in which our Savior and God was baptized, he entered into the nearby temple of our Lady, Mother of God, which is called "of Chuzoba": and when he had prayed there, and had saluted the Archimandrite and the Fathers who were with him, he requested from them the monastic and Evangelical habit. But the Archimandrite, he is clothed with the monastic habit: since he knew divinely who he was, without any delay granted him the habit, and together with the other Fathers besought God, that he might be proved before him and before men.
[25] When the joy of his celebration had been completed, and all had been saluted, returning to his country: and receiving a blessing from them, he returned from the monastery to Galatia, to his own country, and revisited the oratory of Saint George the Martyr: where with great joy he was dwelling, shining with the grace of Mosaic glory; and by fasting, and sleeping on the ground, and by watching and singing psalms, he was edifying himself more from day to day; and he received greater gifts from God, both in casting out demons and in curing diseases. But his mother, since she was wise in the things of the flesh and not of the Lord, the mother marrying again. and did not retain the ardor of love with which mothers are wont to be kindled toward her most holy son, leaving him, and taking the part of the goods which suited her, married a certain man, by name David, distinguished in the metropolis of the Ancyrans. But his sister Despenia, and her mother Elpidia, and the Saint's sister Blatta did not allow themselves to be separated from him: but contemplating his holy life, and purging themselves with all modesty and chastity, and with alms and prayers, they were zealous to imitate him to the best of their ability. And Despenia, dying, made him her heir, and was buried by him in the church of the holy Martyr Gemellus. He places his sister in a monastery But Blatta his Virgin sister, when she was entering her twelfth year, the most holy man himself led to the metropolis of the Ancyrans, and placed her in the monastery of venerable Virgins, which is called Petrin: where, taking the monastic habit, she was consecrated to God, and lived most holily. But Theodore, having returned to his own place, when three years later he learned that this blessed sister had migrated to the heavenly bridal chamber, to her spouse Christ, to whom he himself had dedicated her, full of good works, gave thanks to God.
[26] Elpidia his grandmother But his blessed grandmother Elpidia loved him vehemently, and had compassion on him, and often going to him, and considering the manner of his life and his contests, praised God, who had brought forth from the thorns of prostitution a branch putting forth roses and such fruit, and had raised up a son to Abraham from useless stones: and with hands raised to heaven, she begged God that he would preserve his mind most far removed from all perturbations and desires, firm and stable in the zeal of piety and in faith to the end. And leaving the inn in which she was living, and gathering all her goods, that she might enjoy greater joy, she always wished to be with him, and to serve him. Which he did not permit, but admonished her He does not permit her to serve him. to remain in the monastery of the holy Martyr Christopher: and to her he used to send girls vexed by unclean spirits, that she might have care of them and instruct them, and if after their cure they wished to remain, she might exercise them in holy practices. But he himself took a certain hired man, from a neighboring town, by name Marinus, to serve him. But by the providence of God, who said, "Do not fear, hereafter you shall catch men, for I shall make you a fisher of men," it came to pass that someone, inflamed by pious zeal of God, he receives two companions: came to him from the town of the Paninians, begging to be received into his companionship. Wherefore, full of joy that God did not leave him alone, he received him and clothed him with the monastic habit, and rendered him so zealous, that he freed a certain one vexed by a demon. A woman also from the little town of Conchate came to him, who was suffering from a womb disease: and freed by his prayers, when she had come into the village of Enistratum to her son Philumenus, a young man, who was then engaged in the study of letters, she led him away from there, and offered him to holy Theodore, that he might train him together with himself in the same practices of life.
Some things here are lacking in the Greek exemplar.
[27] But there was in that place a certain most excellent iron smith, to whom Saint Theodore committed he has an iron cage made for himself, to make a very small b cell, so that entering into it he might pass the days of his fast standing: but the inhabitants of that place, impelled by faith, brought their rustic tools for fashioning that work: and when that cell was completed, it was fitted to his holiness. But when he wished it immediately to be transferred to his own place, the men of that place asked him to allow it to be there for a little while, until they should have another, similar to it, made of wood,
in which he might rest the following winter, that they might have an example of that form, and afterward hand over the same iron cell to him. Saint Theodore agreed with them. Finally, taking it, with supplications they brought it to his holy place; and in the great week of the saving Passion, when they had placed him in it, they returned to their places. When therefore they had completed the other wooden cell, the following winter, coming to him with supplications, they brought it thither. Having entered therefore into the wooden cell, in the church of Saint John the Baptist, he observed his abstinence from the birthday of Christ until Palm Sunday. Whence when he had come out, and been enclosed in the iron cell before that festival, they brought him back to his place: and taking a blessing from him, returned to their own places.
[28] But that cell stood without a roof, over his cave, he clothes himself in iron shoes, gauntlets, belt, breastplate: under the open sky: and he ordered that two iron shoes be made for him to the measure of his feet, and two gauntlets for the measure of his hands, and a cross of eighteen hand-breadths, and a belt about his loins. Besides, when he wished to have a most heavy tunic, by the providence of God a certain man brought a triple breastplate of eighteen pounds: this the most holy man taking, gave thanks to God, who so swiftly satisfies the desire of those asking in faith. But since he feared for himself, because his body was growing too much, in order to resist desires, he devised a perpetual bond for himself as a reminder, and placed two fetters about his feet; and decided never to cast them off, but to keep them to the grave. But when the day had come on which our Lord Jesus Christ deigned to be born from the most holy Mother of God Mary, he put on the breastplate over his usual garment, and girded himself with the iron belt, and took the cross upon his neck, and put on the gauntlets, then entering the wooden cell, kept his abstinence until the time of the Palm festival. Then going out, he would enclose himself in the iron cell, afflicting his body, and reducing it to servitude, both by the narrowness of the place and also by fasting and iron burdens, and so confounding the devil, and breaking his various attacks. But from Christ's birth until Palm Sunday, he did not eat bread or vegetables at all; but only fruits and greens, and that only on Saturday and the Lord's day. This rule he observed in singing psalms, that he would pause a little while, then repeat them.
[29] Moreover his labor during the winter was incredible. For when the snows covered the earth and the winds reigned, by the impetus of the winds he was covered with snow, he endures the sharpest cold, and water penetrating through his neck within his tunic, descended to his feet, and the shoes and garments were filled: and when they froze with ice, they brought him not a little pain: for his feet were frozen. For he had laid down this law for himself, that from cock-crow to evening, he should not move his feet from the step in which he stood, nor in any way incline himself to any part of the cell. Wherefore when in the two earlier years there had been a great force of cold, and trees and barrels were freezing, his feet were so frozen that he could not pull them out. Wherefore his attendant poured warm water over his feet, and so gradually pulling them out of the ice, he moved him from the appointed step. But when in a certain year the celebration of Easter fell at the end of c the month of April, and in the days of Lent the sun was more intense, and the heat of the sun. it happened that both from his abstinence and from the heat of the sun, he fell as if lifeless in the cell: which being noticed, pious Philumenus covered the cell with sackcloth, to provide shade. But when the soldier of God had collected himself, and saw the shade, he took the matter ill, and forbade anything of the kind to be done further.
ANNOTATIONS.
CHAPTER V.
Miracles performed on men and beasts. The death of his mother and grandmother: dangers of death and disease divinely removed.
[30] But God, who honors those by whom he is honored, showed by many arguments to all, that these things were not done by him through ambition, but with a most simple mind most zealous for God: A bear and a wolf approach him gently; for wild animals were gently conversing with him, and many miracles were being done by him upon men. For from the time he had enclosed himself in the iron cell, a terrible she-bear came continually to him for three years, and having received a blessing from his hand, departed harming no one. A wolf likewise, when he had come to the door of the cave in which the Saint was enclosed, waited there. Wherefore his attendant Marinus, going out, seeing the wild beast suddenly, was terrified; and going back in, reported the matter to the Saint. But he, smiling with gravity: "Do not fear, timid man," he said, "for he has not come to do harm, but to be given food. Give him therefore something, brother, that not only upon men, but also upon wild beasts the commandment of God, 'Give to everyone who asks you,' may be fulfilled." The attendant took therefore a piece of bread and fruits, from which the Saint was accustomed to give something with a blessing to those who came, and went out, and threw only the fruits before the beast, driving him away. When the wolf had eaten what had been thrown, again it stood and did not depart, as if it were expecting something else. Then he threw a piece of bread also: which being seized, the wolf immediately departed: but the attendant going in, related the matter to the Saint.
[31] He cleanses two lepers: Again when he was enclosed in the iron cell, a certain man came to him who had leprosy in his whole body, beseeching him to pray for him: he himself offered prayers, and ordered him to be undressed; and taking water, prayed in this manner: "Lord Jesus Christ our God, who through the Prophet Elisha cleansed Naaman the Syrian of leprosy, and who, when you had descended to us by your benignity, having become man, before you suffered death, cured a leper with a word; look upon this water, and blessing it, grant that it may avail for the cleansing of your present servant, so that he may depart healed to the glory and praise of your holy name." Prayers being completed, and his hand stretched out, and signing him with the figure of the Cross, he poured that water upon his head: and immediately the leprosy departed from him, and his whole body was cleansed: and he went away praising God. With the same disease when a certain famous Priest, by name Colluras, was oppressed, he came to him while he was still enclosed; and when he had put on the Saint's tunic, he was cleansed.
[32] But his blessed grandmother Elpidia, with all joy and tranquility, rejoiced in his best manner of life and miracles, and diligently governed the girls who had been either freed or afflicted: and she had already built a most beautiful monastery, his grandmother, after the monastery was built, when she came to the desired end of life; which she herself had foreseen from a certain vision which she related to Saint Theodore: "I saw," she said, "my sweetest son and light of my eyes, a very handsome youth, adorned with splendid garments, glittering with golden hair, and like to that one whom we see depicted as Saint George in his history. When he had approached me, he wished to understand the manner of your life and the rule of singing psalms: and having been visited by Saint George when she died, he buries: which when I had set forth to him, he said to me: 'When you sing psalms, say this: "Bless the Lord, mountains and hills."' Then he added: 'A great grace indeed, woman, you have obtained, who have seen your grandson in such an order. Hereafter you shall live without care, since you are satisfied with his right manner of life. But to me, as his helper, you owe much: rather, all grace is owed to the common Lord and Creator God, who made him worthy to be in the number of his holy servants. Now therefore rest: for you have labored enough.'" When she had narrated these things, she fell into sickness, and rested in peace, and was honorably buried by him. Now when a certain man had brought him a message from the city of the Ancyrans about the death of his mother Mary, he prays for his dead mother: and said that he should send to claim the dowry, because she had died without children; he in no way assenting, answered him: "You are deceived: for my mother is not dead." And when he affirmed that he had seen her dead with his own eyes, he answered again: "You are deceived, as I said: for my mother is neither dead, nor will she die, but she lives and remains for me forever." Yet he poured out prayers for her to the Lord, fasting for the space of one week, that the Lord might grant her pardon of her sins.
[33] a fugitive slave with stolen goods A certain Theodore, surnamed Tzutheus, procurator of the most holy Church of a Heliopolis, came to him in the cave, wrapped up and resting one day, and by his attendant announced to him with tears: "Have pity," he said, "on me, servant of God, who am in great calamity: for I sent my attendant to collect the revenues of the church, but he, when he had collected the revenues, took flight: and I running here and there, and searching everywhere, could not find him. I therefore beg your holiness to beseech God for me, so that I may be able to find him. For all my means are not sufficient to pay back to the church what he took away." The most holy Theodore replied to him in this manner: "If you promise that you will dismiss him without blows, and will not take anything more from him than what he snatched, God will console you, and will deliver him to you: but if you refuse this, you will not find him." He promised with an oath that he would do it, and would even give something of his own goods, provided he would restore the revenues of the church: otherwise even his sons must be left naked by him, so that he might make satisfaction to the church. Then the most holy Theodore prayed to the Lord, that that fugitive attendant, wherever he was, should be so held, that he could not depart from there: then he replied to the suppliant: "Go to your home, and there remain without any anxiety:
for I trust that God, if you fulfill what you have promised, will quickly restore him to you." by prayers he holds him fast: That man departed joyful, as if from the Saint's words he had received a great pledge: but the fugitive was held back by his prayers near the town of the Nicaeans, and could not extricate himself from there: and when he thought he had completed a great distance of journey, he had made no progress at all. And so since there were certain men there who knew both him and the procurator, and had heard what had been done by him, and saw him vainly wearying himself with the labor of the journey; and when it was asked of him why or whither he was going, and he answered ineptly; they apprehended him, and brought the matter to the procurator. Who when he had quickly received the stolen gold, returned to Saint Theodore, giving thanks to God.
[34] He holds a demon in check for a time But a certain man brought to him his wife in the days of Pentecost, vexed by a demon; who when he was rebuked by the Saint, cried out: "O great power! Do not be angry with me, iron-eating servant of God Most High, nor send me into the fire of vengeance: for I am not the cause, but unwilling have entered into her: for Theodore, surnamed Carappus, from the town of Mazamia, sent me." "Behold," said the servant of Christ, "I command you in the name of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, that you do not hinder her from conducting her affairs, until she returns here again." The demon therefore being quiet, he told the husband to depart with his wife, and gather the fruits of the fields, and then to return. They did so: for departing, they gathered their fruits, and returned to the monastery. But as they were entering the church, then he drives him out: to behold the face of the most holy man, the woman began to be bitterly vexed by the demon: wherefore her husband swore that, until the hour prescribed by the Saint, she had not been afflicted. But when they had dwelt there together for a week, the demon not bearing the rebuke of the servant of God, casting the woman at his feet, departed: and the woman was freed, and returned home joyful with her husband.
[35] he obtains the death of locusts: In the place of Mazania, which is on the upper Siberis, under the region of Mnozenia, in the month of June there was advancing such a multitude of locusts, that like a cloud it covered the whole region, and devoured all the crops and fruits. The inhabitants seeing this calamity, and hearing of the miracles which Saint Theodore had done, came as suppliants to him, and prostrating themselves at his feet, asked him to come and by his prayers drive away so great a calamity from them. Setting out with them, he arrived at their Catholic church of Saint Euenicus, and stayed in it as was customary: the next day he sent out the suppliant people into the fields, and ordered them to stand in a certain place and implore God's mercy. He himself, taking three locusts in his hand, was beseeching the Lord for the people: and meanwhile those three locusts died in his hand: and giving thanks to God, he said to the people: "Let us return to the church, my sons: for God will quickly show his mercy to us." Returning therefore to the church of Saint Euenicus, they performed the divine sacrifice. But the next day going out into the fields, they found all the locusts dead, and praised God.
[36] But that wicked one, who always envies good works and good men and servants of God, Theodore a sorcerer from envy of this miracle, stirred his own attendant and incited him to seek the death of the holy man who had done it. This was a certain sorcerer, by name Theodore, whom we mentioned above, most skilled in wicked arts, who dwelt in the same place: but his arts were of no avail against the holy servant of God. When therefore this most wicked man had seen the miracle done by the most holy man, and remembered that his wicked demon, whom he himself had sent, had been driven out a little before, and had departed without having accomplished his purpose; puffed up by the proud enemy, and inflamed by the wickedness of the demon subject to him, he sent men to tempt the holy servant of God, and to afflict him to the death. But those who had been sent, not daring to attack him awake, waited like robbers for the time of sleep. But when by divine power, which protected him, they were put to flight; those of them more daring in wickedness again approached the holy man: but the same grace of God, like fire proceeding from him, burned them and pursued them. Wherefore when they had tried the same thing often in vain, nay, with their own loss, they returned to him who had sent them in vain to him and through the demons. in confusion. And when he asked them why they had returned with nothing done, and sharply rebuked them: "There is," he said, "no strength in you: for since you cannot approach him while he sleeps, and inflict injury, how shall you overcome him awake?" And we, they replied, much more than you, desire to be found approved and unconquered in carrying out those things to which you send us: but when we approach him, a great flame of fire goes out from his mouth; not of this kind which is perceived by the senses, which we despise; but the divine one, dwelling in him, by which we are burned, and therefore we depart with our task undone. Into his food and drink also we mixed our power: but he himself, using a blessing, renders it useless."
[37] When therefore Theodore grieved that he had so many times been defeated, and was inflamed more day by day with envy, and plotting through poisons, he cast a deadly poison, prepared with great skill, into a fish, and sent it to the Saint through certain others. From which when, by the grace of God, a blessing being applied, he had received no harm; that Theodore was confused, because with so deadly a poison he had accomplished nothing, and considering how weak was the power of the devil, and how great and admirable the power of God, which had broken the force both of demons and of poison, and had slain the locusts: he came to himself from the diabolical drunkenness, and came as a suppliant to the holy man, and prostrating himself at his feet, weeping, entreated him to obtain for him God's mercy. But the most holy man asked the cause of such great lamentation and supplication. therefore he being penitent, To whom when Theodore had set forth his snares against him, and the replies of the demons, and the diabolical arts which he had exercised to the destruction of many souls, and begged to be freed from such wickedness and that the most holy baptism be imparted to him; Saint Theodore answered: "If you wish to obtain pardon from God, first confess all your sins, and if you have any books of sorcery, bring them into the midst: and whatever men, or houses, or animals, you have bound with your sorceries, loose them, and do not practice them any more on anyone; but do penance: and I will pray to God, who wills all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth, to forgive you for what you have done hitherto." When he had promised with an oath that he would do all these things, he instructs him and baptizes him. he brought forth all his sorcery books, and burned them before him. And Saint Theodore first instructed him in religion, and purged him by fasts and alms; afterwards he admitted him to the saving laver, and joined him to the number of ninety-nine, and declared himself a minister of the doctrine of James the brother of the Lord, converting a sinner from the error of his way, and freeing his soul from death, and covering a multitude of sins. James 5:20
[38] But it happened, after he had returned to his dwelling, sick unto death that he fell into a most grievous illness, and the holy Angels came to have mercy on him: but he began to weep and to be sad. But above him was the image of Saints Cosmas and Damian, famous for their miracles: who in his sleep offered themselves visible to him, such as they were depicted in that picture; and approaching him, as physicians are accustomed, were testing the pulse of his veins; and were conversing among themselves, so that they seemed to despair of his recovery, because his strength had collapsed; and turning to him, were saying: "Why do you weep, brother? why are you sad?" But he answered: "Because I have not done penance, my Lords, and because I am leaving this little flock, which is not yet perfectly instructed, and needs great diligence." Then they: "Do you wish us to supplicate for you, that some little space be yet granted you to live?" "If," he said, "you will do this, and obtain for me time for coming to myself, you will gain the reward both of my penance and of all the things I shall rightly do hereafter." But the Saints, turning to the Angels, asked them to have care of him for a little while, while they themselves went to the King to supplicate for him. And when the Angels said they would do it, Saints Cosmas and Damian set out, and for the salvation of Theodore were supplicating the omnipotent King Christ our God, who is in the heavens, Through Sts. Cosmas and Damian he is healed. and who had added fifteen years of life to Hezekiah. And so partakers of their vow they returned, having in their midst a young man, indeed like to the Angels who were present in appearance, but more excellent in glory: who addressed the Angels present thus: "Depart from him, for the common Lord of all and the King of glory has been appeased, and permits him to remain yet in the flesh." Who immediately returned to heaven together with him. But Saints Cosmas and Damian said: "Arise, brother, and attend to yourself and to your flock: for our benign and merciful Lord has received our prayers for you, and has granted you to live; and prepare the food that does not perish, but remains unto life eternal, and take care of the salvation of many souls." Having said these things, they too departed.
ANNOTATIONS.
CHAPTER VI.
Various sick and possessed persons healed. His illustrious disciples.
[39] With many coming to him, But Saint Theodore, his strength immediately recovered, arose healed, and praised God, and with greater zeal applied himself to abstinence and the singing of psalms; for the grace granted him by God, he did many miracles, both in curing all diseases and languors, and in driving out unclean spirits: for at his mere rebuke or command they departed from men. By these miracles many, being moved, left their homes; and coming to him, embraced the monastic habit and a quiet life. Some also of those who were being cured refused to depart from him, but remained with him and performed the necessary services. Wherefore, since the oratory of Saint George the Martyr was too narrow to contain those who performed the sacrifice, and who were staying there, and who were coming to pray; on the right side he built a most beautiful church of the holy Prince of the Angels, Michael, commodious both for summer and winter. He builds a monastery: This had on the left a small oratory of Saint John the Baptist, but on the right an oratory of the most holy Mother of God and ever-Virgin Mary: in which he decided also to establish the rule of the brothers, because
the sick and those vexed by evil spirits who were brought to be cured, and who came to pray, remained in the oratory of Michael the Archangel, which was open day and night. Among these the most holy servant of God Theodore, like a fruitful olive tree in the house of God, and like a palm among thorns, dwelt: and surrounded by a choir of monks, he excelled in the praises of God. But he sent his companion Philumenus to the Bishop of Anastasiopolis, that he might make him a Priest and Prefect of the brothers: because he excelled among the others in constancy and gentleness.
[40] A silver cup bought for him Now when that holy and venerable dwelling-place had been increased by the grace of God, but lacked silver furnishings, and only marble vessels were used in the mysteries; the most holy Theodore sent his Archdeacon to the royal city of Constantinople, to buy a silver vessel for use in the sacred mysteries. Having set out, he bought a vessel from a certain craftsman, unique both in material and workmanship, and brought it to the monastery. When therefore the next day the mysteries were to be performed, the Archdeacon showed that vessel to the most holy Theodore, that in it the sacrifice might be made. Which he, contemplating with the eye of the mind, despised as dirty and useless. And when the Archdeacon commended the integrity and beauty of the well-wrought vessel, made from a prostitute's vessel as one who could behold nothing more than the external appearance: "I know also, my son," said the most holy man, "that it is a most beautiful vessel, as far as the material and workmanship pertain: but for another reason, which is not seen by the eyes, it is defiled: its use, I believe, has stained it: if you doubt this, say a verse of a psalm, that we may pray, and you will understand." Which while he was doing, and the most holy man with bowed head was praying, the very vessel emerged such as silver usually is, when it is drawn black from the furnace of fire. Which being beheld, the brethren praised God, who through his servant had revealed what was hidden: but when the Archdeacon had taken it again in his hands, it appeared silver and shining. Wherefore, returning to Constantinople, he recognizes and returns it he returned it to the craftsman, and narrated the cause: but the craftsman, considering with himself, remembered that the vessel had been cast from the silver pot of a prostitute, and indicated the matter to the Archdeacon, asking pardon, and asking him to pray to God for him. But he gave him other pure and most beautiful vessels, which the Archdeacon brought to the most holy servant of Christ, and set forth the cause of the earlier vessel to him and to the Brethren: who gave thanks to God.
[41] At Buzaea he casts out infesting demons Now in the place of the a Buzaeans, situated under Gratianopolis, when a torrent had so increased from the rains that it could not be crossed, the inhabitants desired to build a bridge. When, with craftsmen employed, they had nearly completed the work, certain stone tablets were lacking, to cut out which (although many said, it was to carry off a treasure) they went to a certain hill nearby. But from there a great multitude of unclean spirits came forth, part of which invaded the men and women of that place, and vexed them bitterly; part cast the rest into various diseases: and very many occupied the roads and neighboring places, and afflicted men and beasts passing by with injuries: wherefore that region was laboring under great calamities, both internal and external. And when the servant of God Theodore came to their mind, they decided to adjure the unclean spirits by his prayers: from which the spirits began to fear him not a little, and, hearing his name, to act more mildly and gently. Setting out therefore to the monastery, they so greatly supplicated that at last he went with them: and as he approached their region, the spirits, feeling his presence, and seizing the possessed men, ran to meet him, and with howling were shouting in this manner: "Alas, what power! Why have you come here, O iron-eater? Why have you left Galatia, he drives them out, to seek b the Gordian region? There was no need for you to cross the boundaries: for the reason why you have come hither we are not ignorant of. But we shall not obey you, as the spirits of Galatia obey: for we are rougher and more cunning." But when the holy man rebuked them, they grew silent. The next day, when they had all been gathered, and those who were vexed were around the most holy man; he began a supplication and went about the whole region, and came to the hill from which the demons were said to have come out: and torturing them by the divine grace of Christ and the sign of the venerable Cross, with beatings on the breast applied, he devoted himself long to prayers: and ordered them to go out from the men and return to their place. Which crying loudly, with their garments torn, cast the possessed before his feet and went out.
[42] Yet the worst spirit, who was vexing the woman, resisted, and would not go out. But the most holy man, seizing his hair, and pressing vehemently, with the sign of the Cross applied, and with prayers poured forth to Christ, rebuked him: "I will not depart from here," he said, "before you have gone out from her." and shuts them in: Then the spirit began to cry out and to say: "Great is, O iron-eater, your power even over me: now I come out, and will not resist: only give us something of what you are carrying." He loosed his shoe and cast it into the pit of the hill from which they had come out. The woman therefore being cast before his feet, he went out of her. But the most holy man standing, prayed again to the Lord, that likewise all those spirits who were besieging the neighboring places and roads, and vexing those traveling, should be compelled to return to the place from which they had come out. And by God's grace all, under the appearance of flies and hares and mice, as seemed to some, being compelled returned into that pit. Then the most holy man, pouring forth prayers, sealed it with the sign of the Cross, and commanded that the opening be blocked, and reduced to its pristine form: and led the supplication back to his own place. Nor ever afterwards did that place feel that calamity; nor were the neighboring places, nor the roads, nor any men afflicted with such injury, to the glory of Christ our God, the bestower of healings. But the most holy man returned to his monastery.
[43] He does the same at Heraclea. From the town of Pontus, c Heraclea, Theodore, surnamed Latzeas, rich and born of a famous family, came to the pious man; and prostrate at his feet, weeping, besought him to come to his city, and in the sacred shrine of the most holy Mother of God to pray for the salvation of his household. For when his home was being dug, it happened from that digging that a great multitude of unclean spirits invaded both his household servants and also the other citizens, and vexed them bitterly. The blessed man therefore, desiring to pray in that shrine of the most holy Mother of God, went with him, and satisfied his desire: and by prayers and supplications freed the household of the illustrious Theodore, and the others vexed by unclean spirits: and did many other miracles of healings, both in the city itself and in the whole region, on his return, to the glory of our Savior God.
[44] At Ancyra he removes the plague: When a great pestilence was raging in the metropolis of the Ancyrans against men and herds, the curators of the metropolis, coming to the servant of God, led him away with them. And since they had daughters who were nuns in the most holy monastery of the Mother of God, which is called Becia, they asked him to stay there and pray to God for them. Having appointed a day of supplication, all the citizens and farmers came together to supplicate: and he with them praying to God, freed them from that plague. He also blessed water, with which the herds were sprinkled, and they were freed. Wherefore the metropolitans, giving thanks to God, led the holy man back to his dwelling.
[45] Moreover, when the river Siberis, which flows near the monastery, was carrying off the crops of the Siceans and even the fields themselves, He restrains the river Sibaris the most holy man came and commanded the river in the name of Christ to return to its channel and not approach the fields any more: and a wooden cross being fixed, and prayers poured forth, he went to the midst of its flow. And when many were endangered in crossing the same river, that memorable man approached its midst; and having poured forth a long prayer to God, he rendered it gentle, so that there was no longer any danger in crossing it.
[46] A boy was brought to him from a certain monastery, by name Arsinus, who was vexed by an unclean spirit. the possessed Arsinus Whom the most holy man having received, did not hasten to cure him, because he said such discipline was not unprofitable to him: but when he was now of perfect age, and the most holy man prayed for all who came, he too prayed that he would do the same for him. "If," said he, "you promise that you will embrace a right and exact manner of life, you shall quickly obtain what you ask." He promised. And so when the servant of Christ wished to visit the women's monastery of the holy Martyr Christopher, he frees him he took Arsinus with him: and when they were in the valley of Xeroniaca, and the time was opportune, the most holy man standing prayed to God for him. The demon therefore, being stirred up, began to afflict him, and to lift him on high: but the demon thus hanging said: "I come out, iron-eater: only loose me, and I will immediately depart." And saying these things, he saw the holy Martyr of Christ Christopher coming to meet the servant of God: and howling more vehemently, the demon cast him before his feet and departed. And when he had collected himself, the holy man led him to the monastery of that same Martyr: where by admonitions and grave precepts and entreaties he instructed the Virgins dwelling in it to modesty and the fear of God and human shame: for the Virgins greatly venerated him.
[47] After the Saint himself had returned to the men's monastery, and receives him as a disciple, Arsinus received from him a small cell, in which enclosed, cultivating quiet, he exercised himself: and for three days of the week he ate bread with vegetables or fruits; but during Lent his food was the same, but only on Saturday and on the Lord's day. There were also two others, who cultivated such a harsh kind of life, Evagrius and Andrew, who dwelling in cells near Arsinus, applied themselves to the salvation of their souls. At whose zeal the great servant of God rejoiced, and praised God. Some time after, they were filled with a great desire of visiting the holy city, likewise Evagrius and Andrew, and adoring its holy places. When they had discussed this among themselves, they asked the holy man as suppliants not to hinder their desire, but to aid it by his prayers. When therefore, dismissed by him, they had completed their journey, and were now partakers of their vow, it pleased Evagrius to stay there. Entering therefore d the Laura of Abbot Sabas, he was holily establishing his life, showing by deeds themselves, that he was a disciple of the divine and holy father Theodore. But Arsinus and Andrew returned to Galatia to the most holy man, and asked him to pray to God for them, and to permit them to go to other places, where separately in quiet they might lead their life. When therefore he had prayed to God for them,
and had granted what they asked, they departed whither each wished. Andrew went eight miles from the monastery to the hill of Brianea; where enclosed in a wooden cell, he lived holily, and from the natal day of Christ until Palm Sunday practiced the same abstinence which he had cultivated in the monastery. But Arsinus, when he had taken himself to a part of the upper Potamia, chose for himself Galeniros, a place removed from the frequency of men, in which demons dwelt, and standing, he prayed to God, saying: "Lord God of my father Theodore, appeased by his prayers, preserve me a sinner, and help me and defend me, that I may serve you and please you in this place." And immediately he enclosed himself in a wooden cell, and there spent that winter. But afterwards he made a higher column for himself, and ascended upon it: and cultivated the usual abstinence, and the zeal for the other virtues. And when he had now spent forty years thus, crowned with the crown of patience, and a disciple worthy of Theodore as his master, he rested in peace.
[48] Reparatus, Moreover, many having been instructed by our holy and famous Father Theodore, either passed their life with him, or excelled in other places. Among whom Reparatus, born of noble parents, moved by his exhortations and miracles, received the monastic order: and instructed by him, enclosed himself in a small cell in the region of Colonossa in Lycaonia, Elpidius, and lived rightly after the example of his master. And Elpidius, who, when he had lived rightly some years in the monastery, then having set out for the East, stopped near Mount Sinai, and there exercised himself. On account of his quiet and religion, the fathers dwelling in those places called him "Elpidius the Quiet." And Leontius, who, long instructed under the discipline of the servant of Christ, lived separately near the place of Permataia, so honorably and piously that he predicted many other things, and especially the attack of the wicked Persians, and that he would be killed by them. Which also came to pass, when he refused to go out from his own cell, and would not interrupt his quiet. And Theodore, Theodore, who cultivated a pious manner of life on the mountain of Draco, was instructed by him, and received the habit, Stephen. and afterwards was Prefect of his own holy mansion. And Stephen, who ruled near the river Psilis the mansion of Saint Theodore, was likewise instructed by him and received the habit. And very many others, whom because of their multitude I pass over; lest, while I linger in their history, I should leave imperfect and omit the things which pertain to their and our great Pastor. Their life indeed sufficiently commends them, but the discipline of such a master much more: for, as the Lord says, "a good tree cannot bring forth evil fruits." Matt. 7:17-18 Let us therefore, the branches being omitted meanwhile, consider the height of this tree to the best of our ability.
ANNOTATIONS.
CHAPTER VII.
Second journey to Jerusalem: certain miracles. The Anastasiopolitan episcopate.
[49] a Again a desire seized him of revisiting the holy city Jerusalem: he goes to Jerusalem suffering drought: wherefore with two companions he undertook the journey. But at that time Jerusalem was laboring with a great drought: and when both the ponds and the cisterns had dried up, all were in great straits: for the citizens and the monasteries gather rainwater into ponds and cisterns, since they have no fountains. Men therefore and beasts were afflicted by want of water: nor by supplications were they achieving anything, because God was reserving that grace for his servant. There were moreover there certain ones from the region of Galatia, who knew the great servant of God and his miracles, and concerning him in the holy city and in the monasteries, as often as the occasion brought it up, were speaking. "We know," they were saying, "a holy father in our region, who with a single prayer can fill the whole world with water, as we read that Elijah the Prophet did in the time of Ahab king of Israel." When therefore he had entered the holy city of Jerusalem, and had adored the saving Cross and the holy sepulchre of Christ; he visits the holy places: and was visiting all the sacred places and monasteries; the monks, who had spoken of him, seeing him, proclaimed his presence both in the city and in the monasteries. Wherefore, in the name of the Patriarch of Jerusalem, Clerics and monks came to him, and asked him to render God favorable to them by his prayers, and to obtain rain. Then he began to excuse himself, as being unworthy. But when they replied that they trusted that if he would join his own prayers to the prayers of the other Fathers, it would come to pass that God would bestow rain; "When," he said, "you say that you have faith, as you believe, so let it be done to you." Therefore, a supplication being established, he said to the soldiers: with a supplication held "Lay aside, my sons, your robes, lest they be wetted, and you be wearied: for quickly, believe me, because of your faith God will show his mercy with you." When therefore they went forward in supplication, and had stopped in a certain place by his command for the sake of prayer; with hands raised to heaven, he obtains abundant rain from God: the most holy man besought God long enough, and as he was beseeching, a small cloud appeared from the West: and when he had finished the beseeching, he commanded the suppliants to go forward. Then with clouds the whole sky was covered, and a huge rain began to descend, so that drenched they returned in haste, and praising God they put an end to the supplication. All the cisterns and ponds were filled, the rain flowing like a river, because of the prayer of the servant of God: who, lest he be troubled because of the greatness of the miracle, immediately returned to the monastery.
[50] In many other places also near the monastery such miracles, when drought was pressing, were wrought through him. But in the place which is called Reace, a certain savage cloud at set times would occupy the region, he averts a hailstorm: and would beat down with hail the ripe fruits of the vines. Wherefore the inhabitants, when for many years they had been afflicted constantly by that calamity, came to the monastery, and with many prayers led the blessed man away with them. Who, a supplication being held, went about the region, and set up four Crosses at the boundaries of the region, and returned to the monastery: from which it came to pass, that that savage cloud never again invaded the region. Mindful of which benefit, the inhabitants of that place every year offer to the monastery several measures of wine and various grapes.
[51] In b Caria, a river called Copas, overflowing, was casting down houses, he restrains a river. and overturning everything little by little. Wherefore the servant of Christ, brought by the prayers of the inhabitants, took himself there: and with a prayer applied, set up a Cross on the bank of the river, within which when it was small it used to be contained. And by the grace of God and the prayers of the holy man, it came to pass, that, though it even exceeded its usual flow more, yet it never crossed the boundary set by the Cross, nor dug up the places of the inhabitants.
[52] At that time c Tiberius of pious memory held the empire: who, when he had made Maurice secretary Count, d sent him against the Persians: and when he had defeated them, he was recalled to the city to the Emperor. When therefore he was making his journey through Galatia, hearing the things which were said of the servant of Christ; he came to him, who was then resting in his cave, he predicts to Maurice that he would be Emperor: with his brother Peter and companions: and prostrating himself at his feet, he prayed that he would pray to God for him, to favor his journey to the Emperor. But the blessed man, when he had commanded him to rise, both prayed to God for him, and, God revealing it to him, said to him: "Son, if you are mindful of the holy Martyr George, not long hence you will know in what glory of Empire you will be placed: which when it comes to pass, remember to feed and support the poor." And when Maurice hesitated, in what glory of Empire he e was to be placed, he drew him aside; and his companions being removed, openly signified that he would be the future Emperor. Maurice therefore with his companions, having received a blessing, departed joyfully, and came to Constantinople: and when Tiberius had died, as the holy man had predicted, he obtained the Empire: and mindful of his words, he sent a letter to him, asking him to pray to God for him, that he might preserve the Empire in peace and defend it from enemies: and he added, that he should ask, if he wished anything from him. But Saint Theodore sent blessed Philumenus, and wrote back to the Emperor, asking that he would grant some grain to the monastery for the uses of the poor. The Emperor therefore assigned to the monastery 600 measures of wheat every year, and sent him a goblet as a gift.
[53] But when he was flourishing day by day with greater virtues and miracles, and his fame was being celebrated everywhere with great praise; the monastery was filled with good men: among whom he himself, as David sang, was "like a fruitful Olive tree in the house of God": that in him might be fulfilled what was foretold in the Psalm: "The just shall flourish like a palm tree, and shall be multiplied like the cedar of Lebanon." Ps. 51:10, Ps. 91:13 he builds a large church, Now when the blessed man saw many crowds gathered, and the oratory of Saint George to be too narrow to hold all of them; he took care to have the church of the holy Martyr built larger, so that the right side of that church would hold the oratory of the holy Martyr; but the left, of the holy Martyrs Sergius and Bacchus. When they were digging to lay the foundations, and were breaking up and rolling away various stones with fire and vinegar (for that place was rough and rocky), it happened that they found a rock of wonderful size: he moves a great rock by prayer, which when they were demolishing, they pushed into a certain place, whence it could in no way be moved. When many workmen therefore labored in vain, the holy man approached, and touching the rock: "Blessed be God," he said, "be moved hence downward, that we may be able to use this place"; and quicker than said, the rock was moved, and was rolled most easily. And opposite, since there was an apple tree, which seemed likely to be overthrown by the rock, the blessed man, grieving, cried out: "So pass by, that you inflict no injury on the apple tree": and immediately, as if it were a prudent and intelligent man, so it leapt over outside the tree, that it in no way harmed it.
[54] When from a place which is called Euarzia, eight miles distant from the monastery, certain men were carrying lime in wagons for the building of the church, the holy man being present; it happened and he disperses rain. that a great cloud was settling over them, and a huge force of rain began to descend. Wherefore when those men, perturbed, feared lest the wagons and beasts, because of the burning of the lime stirred up by the rains, should be burned, with great voices they summoned the holy man approaching
saying: "Run, lord, run: we perish with our beasts." And they began quickly to loose the beasts, and to remove them from the wagons. But the holy man prohibited them from doing so: and standing, and raising his hands, he prayed to God, and approaching the preceding wagon, sat down, and singing psalms he directed it: and immediately the cloud was split into two parts, and with great rains flowing down on both sides, not even a drop fell upon the wagons. And so they arrived safe at the monastery, praising God, who was doing admirable things through his servant. Other miracles likewise, while the church was being built, were done by him.
[55] But after the building of the church, his disciple most dear to God, John, asked him he predicts he will be a Bishop: who would consecrate it. To whom he answered: "Behold, I tell you, this church is going to be consecrated by the Bishop of this place." And he prophesied. For God, making his servants famous and illustrious, who when he had given five talents to his servant, and he had doubled them, bestowed on him another gift; likewise heaped former graces and gifts on this most blessed and holy man, elected by the Anastasiopolitans because he had himself doubled them by rightly done deeds: for he honored him with the honor of a pastor. For when Timothy, Bishop of Anastasiopolis, had died, the citizens and Clerics came together before the most blessed Archbishop of the metropolis of Ancyra, and demanded the great servant of God, Theodore, Archimandrite of the mansion of the Siceans, as Bishop of their most holy Church. Who, rejoicing at their zeal and will, commanded them to bring him to him. But it was the time when Saint Theodore was enclosed in the cave, devoted to prayer and quiet. Therefore the Clerics and citizens of Anastasiopolis came to the monastery and cave, and supplicated that he would grant himself as Pastor to them. He is drawn to Ancyra: Which he, not even wishing to hear, much less to grant, they, applying a certain pious force, carried him out of the monastery, and cast into a litter, led him away. And when, at his departure, both the monks and the others who were dwelling there, were sad, the most holy man consoled them through the Brother: "Lay aside, my sons," he said, "your sadness: for if you believe me, I will not leave you. For there is nothing on earth which can separate me from your fellowship."
[56] Entering therefore the Metropolis of Ancyra, he was received with joy by the most blessed Archbishop Paul, and not without a marvel ordained, and was constituted Bishop. But a certain one had seen in his sleep, a great star descending from heaven, stopping over the church of that city, which with its rays was illumining both the city itself and the neighboring regions. Going out therefore from the metropolis of Ancyra, Saint Theodore came to Anastasiopolis with the most religious Prelate of the city of Cinara: by whom he was established in the See, like a star, which had been seen, shining with the divine graces of healings: and with constant fasts, and prayers, and alms, and finally with all virtues and offices, he adorned the city entrusted to him, and inflamed the others to emulation of it. For it had so risen up, excited to virtue and piety, that it plainly corresponded to its name: for it was not excelling so much through the multitude of its citizens and riches, and imperial gifts and fortifications, as through the virtues and right deeds of its divine Bishop; and it was inhabited not only by men, but by Angels, and was always visited by the heavenly Emperor Christ, and was guarded, and abounded in all gifts. But running out to his monastery, he consecrates the church of Saint George. he consecrated with joy and gladness the church of Saint George the Martyr, built by him. Wherefore all praised God, whose providence had brought it about that not another, but he himself, established in the Episcopal See, should enjoy the labors of the holy man, as it is written, "You shall eat the labors of your hands." Ps. 127:2
ANNOTATIONS.
CHAPTER VIII.
Various miracles performed during the time of the Episcopate. The third journey to Jerusalem.
[57] After the consecration of the church, the blessed man returned to Anastasiopolis, He heals the sick and possessed, and by the grace of God did many miracles of healings, so that the sick were carried to him on beds and pallets, that he might touch them: whom, with those who were vexed by unclean spirits, by his prayers he sent away free. For such grace he had from our Lord Jesus Christ against unclean spirits, that not only if he himself had rebuked them, but even if he had done it through others, they immediately fled from the possessed bodies. For so it happened one day, when he was enclosed in the oratory, that a certain woman was being vexed, and was breaking the candles that were there, nor could her husband restrain her. A certain one of his attendants entering the oratory a of Saint Plato, where the holy Bishop was, reported the matter to him: but when he himself did not wish to interrupt the bound of his quiet (for he had decided to stand and sit in the manger, and did not want the woman to enter there), he blessed oil, and gave it to the messenger, saying: "With this oil anoint the woman's forehead, and her hands, and her ears: and tell the demon to go out from her." Which when it had been done by the attendant, the unclean spirit became quiet and departed: and the woman was freed, and was no longer vexed by the demon.
[58] But while many such miracles were being daily done by the holy Bishop, and a mute boy: through the grace of God dwelling in him, there was a certain Deacon of the great church, by name Domitian, incredulous, who in mind was estranged and scandalized. On a certain Lord's day a certain man came from the metropolis of Ancyra with a mute son. At the very hour when the communion of the divine mysteries was being distributed in the Catholic church of Saint Sophia, and the boy himself opened his mouth, the holy man said: "Say, 'Amen'": and the boy immediately pronounced with a clear voice, "Amen." Wherefore his father began to praise God, and to make known the miracle. When therefore all were wondering, and praising God, Domitian immediately fell to the ground. Wherefore certain Clerics, running up, roused him trembling. And when they asked what had happened to him, he replied: "When that boy pronounced, 'Amen,' and the father exclaimed that his tongue had been loosed; I did not believe that it was true, but thought it feigned for the sake of glory: and I saw as it were a flame of fire going out from the boy's mouth." Having said these things, he came to the holy man, He corrects the unbelieving Deacon: and falling at his feet, asked him to pray to God for him, lest the diabolical force that had gone out from the boy, and the divine indignation, should fall upon him. The holy man, hearing what had happened: "This," he said, "son, has happened to you on account of the incredulity of your mind, which being driven away, be faithful: for these miracles we do not do; but God, even in this time; lest we should be able to say that God in our times has done no miracle: but let us believe that the things done before us through holy men are true; and so always growing in faith, let us adore God." As the blessed man was saying these things, the Deacon, having confessed his incredulity, and having received a blessing, was freed from horror and fear, and departed healed, and afterward heaped up his soul with faith.
[59] Moreover, kindled with desire of revisiting the holy city, the blessed man, he goes to Jerusalem a third time: and of completing there a third supplication, with two brothers taken along, John the Archdeacon of his monastery, and Martin, from the place called Dugaria, out of whom he had driven out a legion of demons, set out to the holy places, and adored the saving Cross and the sepulchre of Christ, and all the holy things there. He also visited the monasteries, and decided not to return any more to his country, but to live there quietly in some monastery: for he thought that, having taken up the burden of the Episcopate, he had fallen from the moderation of monastic life, and was oppressed with cares and anxieties. Setting out therefore to the Laura of Abbot Sabas, he was living there in the cell of a certain pious monk, by name Andrew. And when the time of his quiet and silence had come, the brother with whom he was staying made a little chair for him: in which the blessed man sitting, spent his abstinence from the natal day of Christ until Palm Sunday, not even moving his foot from there, so that all those Fathers wondered at his patience. But after the celebration of Easter, he stays in the Laura of Saint Sabas: those two brothers whom he had brought with him, constantly exhorted him to return to his country: but he did not wish to hear them, saying that he was leading a quiet and poor life there. But one night the holy Martyr of God, George, appeared to him in sleep, handing him a staff, and saying: "Go out quickly, that we may return to our country: for it is not permitted you, leaving it, to stay here." And when the holy man replied that he could not do it, since he had refused the Episcopate; the Martyr promised him, ordered to return to the Episcopate: and affirmed, that he would free him from that affliction too a little later, provided he would not desert his country: "Arise therefore," he said, "and go: for many, having undertaken long journeys, setting out thither, because of your absence depart afflicted and sad: wherefore I too am angry with you." Having said these things, the Martyr of Christ received from his hand a pledge, that he would do it without any delay. The blessed man being roused therefore, narrated the dream to the two Brothers, and by the counsel of the Fathers of that mansion, with his two disciples, departed.
[60] But when they had arrived at the parts of Galatia, in the monastery of the Druinians he commanded his Brothers becoming known in the monastery of the Druinians, not to disclose him to anyone: for he was unknown to the inhabitants. Therefore he entered into the monastery, to rest from the labor of the journey. But those monks had heard his fame, and were held with great desire for him, and wished to be blessed by him. The keeper of guests, Anicetus, a religious man, therefore received him; and the Provost asked the companions of Saint Theodore who that Father was. But they, answering that he was from a distant region, concealed the true knowledge of him. But when they had sat down at table, the holy man said: "Truly, my sons, we eat like Galatians." And when a little later he repeated the same thing, Anicetus the keeper began vehemently to doubt who he was, and to suspect that the Brothers had not truly answered about him. When therefore they had risen from the table, and blessed Theodore, as was his custom, was resting on the ground; he began to call the Brothers aside into a separate place, to entreat them to tell him who and whence that Father was. Then they answered that he was the Theodore famous for miracles, Archimandrite of the mansion of the Siceans, Bishop of Anastasiopolis. But Anicetus announced with joy what he had heard to the Provost and to the Brothers.
Wherefore when they had risen for the nocturnal office, he is greeted with candles: the holy man also arose: but as he was entering the oratory of the Apostle Saint Paul, the monks and the Provost, going out to meet him with candles, fell at his feet; and greeting him, led him to their own refectory; and with great joy asked that he would remain with them for several days, that he himself might rest, weary from the road, and might bestow a greater blessing on them. But he asked from them in return, that they should assign him some service, as long as he remained there. And when they refused, he imposed this burden on himself, to care for the bedding of the Brothers morning and evening.
[61] But as his fame was spread abroad, many, to receive a blessing from him, were coming to the monastery, he heals a mute and a lame man: and were bringing their sick. Among these a woman came, and brought her mute son, that the holy man might pray for him: who, opening his mouth, breathed into him, and the boy immediately spoke. The mother therefore, taking her son, departed joyful and praising God. Another boy, who could in no way walk, was offered to Saint Theodore by his mother: who, praying to God for him, departed a little from her, and called him, saying, "Come, boy, to me in the name of the Lord." The boy, leaving his mother, immediately came to the holy man: and he restored him healed to his mother, who was praising God. Now the Provost of the nearby monastery of Saint Stephen came, and asked the Provost of the Druinian monastery, that through him he might be allowed to lead away blessed Theodore, that he might bless his monastery. When this was heard, the most holy Prelate b of the city of Cinnae, Amiantus, came to the monastery of Saint Stephen, where the servant of God was, and led him to his own city, that he might bless it. The citizens went out to meet him with a supplication, rejoicing because of his presence. And so the blessed servant of God entering, when he had blessed them, and had greeted the Bishop, returned to the monastery of the Druinians. And thence again, with the Provost and Brothers accompanying, he departed, to return to Anastasiopolis. he is sought by various persons, And all hearing his fame, ran together, to receive a blessing.
[62] The citizens of a certain town, not far from the road, came to meet him as suppliants, beseeching him to enter into their town. There was there a young man who through stammering of the mouth was nearly mute and tongueless. Entering the town, the blessed man ordered him to follow him into the church: and when he had distributed the divine mysteries, having returned to Anastasiopolis, he heals a paralytic woman he ordered the young man to approach: and praying to God for him, he opened his mouth, and breathed into him three times: and when he had sealed him with the sign of the Cross, he imparted to him the holy body of Christ: "In the name," he said, "of the Lord Jesus Christ, speak": and by the grace of God he immediately spoke, saying, "Amen." Which when the men beheld, they praised God. Thence therefore, going on, he came to Anastasiopolis, and at his return all rejoiced. Certain men brought to him a paralytic woman placed on a beast: who ordered that she be set down in the monastery: and two days later, having set out to the monastery, and entered the church of the Archangel, he ordered that the woman be brought to him, and that she stretch out her hands to the lattice of the steps. And praying long for her, he took oil from the ever-burning lamp, and anointed the paralytic's forehead, and hands and feet; "In the name," he said, "of our Lord Jesus Christ, who drives out all diseases, recover, and return joyful to your home." And immediately of her own accord she walked, praising God. Then the men by whom she had been brought, taking her up, and giving thanks to God, departed.
[63] The blessed man commanded certain builders, for the use of the monastery, He prohibits the builders from eating meat in the monastery: to build a house of planks for preserving grain and fruits; and forbade them to eat meat before they had finished the work; or if they wished to eat it, to go into the town: for meat was not eaten in the monastery, except on three festivals of the Saints, that the crowds might be satisfied. But while the holy man was away, the master of the builders, a few days later, ate meat, and immediately fell into a fever, and lay half-dead, and there was no longer any hope of his life. When the holy man had heard this from a brother who had come from the monastery: "Truly," he said, "the word of Scripture is true, which says: 'From obedience comes life, from disobedience comes death.' For he, departing from my command, wished to eat meat in my monastery: and therefore he has fallen into sickness." And having set out there where the sick man was lying, he said to him: "Do not hide from me, brother, what is true." And he revealed what had happened. "Behold, then," said the blessed man, "God, as you experience, does not bring his indignation upon us, but we ourselves prepare it for ourselves. Believe therefore, brother, that I did not withhold meat from you out of avarice, but that I might preserve this place clean and pure and chaste. Arise therefore in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, and finish the work, and hereafter obey the commands." As the holy man was praying, and placing his hands upon the sick man, he immediately recovered: and rising on the same day, began to finish the rest of the work.
[64] He knows that meat has been brought there: But when the holy Bishop had returned to Anastasiopolis, a certain man came to the monastery, and obtained from the Provost to remain in the church of the holy Martyr George: for not all were in it, but also in the church of the Archangel they were staying: but this man had pork in his bag. That night, therefore, the Martyr George appeared to the servant of Christ, and indicated the matter to him: wherefore the blessed man, moved with grief, at dawn sent a messenger to Philumenus the Provost, to accuse him. When therefore they had searched in the church of the holy Martyr George, they found meat with the man remaining there: and all gave thanks to God, who had revealed hidden things to his servant.
[65] But when the most holy c Bishop Aemilianus of the city of the Germians desired to see blessed Theodore, and to obtain from him that he would pray to God for him; with many prayers he brought him to his own city, and received him honorably in the venerable church of the Archangel. At that time approached the festival of our Lady the Mother of God Mary, which is celebrated in the town of Musgi, to which every year with supplication the Bishops of two cities, the Germians and d Eudoxias, would come. He frees a possessed woman: Aemilianus the Bishop therefore, taking with him the servant of Christ Theodore, came to the festival. But when they entered into the town with supplication into the church of the Mother of God, a certain woman of the same town, by name Irene, long vexed by hidden spirits, and therefore subject to many diseases and calamities, and not recognizing the cause, then stood outside the church near the gate: and seeing the supplication and the blessed Bishops, began to be vexed by the spirits, and, her veil being thrown off, and her head uncovered, and the crowd being scattered, with great howlings barked against Saint Theodore, while the demons cursed him, because by his presence they were being disturbed. When the people beheld this, they began to cry out, "Lord, have mercy": but the woman, suspended from the earth, her hands bound, was carried through the air up to the railings, the demons crying out that blessed Theodore was praying to God against them. After the reading of the Gospel, she fell to the earth, and lay at the entrance of the altar, and with her tongue was licking the dust. But the servant of Christ Theodore, turning to her, and seizing her hair, rebuked the spirits that were in her, saying: "In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ I command you to come out of her." When this was said, the demons immediately with howling departed from her: and she remained unharmed. A little later, when her husband and sons had died, she was instructed by the holy man: and in a cell near the church of the Mother of God, enclosed, she lived holily. But the Bishops and peoples, seeing the miracle, gave glory to God, and returned to their own places with joy. But the blessed man, with the Bishop and citizens accompanying, departed, and set out for Anastasiopolis.
[66] The Archpriest Andrew of the town of e Araunia came to him: He predicts that a dying boy will live: who, when he had stayed with him several days, it happened that his son Comitas fell into a very grave illness. When therefore, his salvation being despaired of, he had lost his voice, and recognized no one, the tomb already prepared, his mother sent the Priest John to Anastasiopolis, that he might announce to the husband to come quickly to his son's funeral. But at that time blessed Theodore, when he had performed the sacrifice, was taking food, and had the boy's father with him. The messenger therefore indicated to Andrew the cause why he had come. When blessed Theodore knew this, he did not permit him to depart: "And I," he said, "will come with you: for I wish to visit the monastery and my brothers; but first let us enjoy the gifts given us by God: but I hope, with God favoring, that we shall find the boy alive; for now he is not dying, but shall still live, and shall rejoice with you." And having said these things, he commanded the messenger also to take food with them. But when they had risen, the blessed man set out to the town, and all with torches and incense went out to meet him. And as it was evening, he entered the church, and blessing the people, pronounced the evening prayers: and so he took himself to the house of Andrew the Archpriest. But seeing the boy dying, he beseeched Christ our God, Lord of life and death, to retain the soul in him, and to bestow him alive and unharmed upon his parents. And when he had finished beseeching, he looked at the boy, and addressed him. And he opened his eyes, and fixed them; but he could not answer, and heals him. because his tongue was impeded. Again therefore, bowing his head, the servant of God prayed to the Lord, to give the boy complete health: and having finished praying, he addressed the boy; "Comitas," he said, "look, and say how you are, and answer your father, so that he may not grieve because of you." Opening his eyes again the boy, and fixing them, answered the questions. Then signing his forehead, and hands, and feet, with his right hand he took hold of him; "In the name," he said, "of the Lord Jesus Christ, who raised the dying boy of the Centurion, arise and stand healed: for the same now bestows life also on you." And he ordered that food be given him, and he ate. Now when the holy man was called to supper by the parents of the boy, he commanded the Priest John to bring the boy likewise to supper: whom John, when he had brought, and was serving him from the things which were set forth, he ate more than the others. All, seeing this with great joy, gave glory to God with the parents, who even to the dead, being entreated through his servants, grants life. The next day the boy walked healed: and the blessed man set out from the town to the monastery.
ANNOTATIONS.
CHAPTER IX.
Conversation with Blessed Antiochus the hermit. The abdication of the Episcopate.
[67] He is visited by the holy hermit Antiochus, At that time he received as guest the divine and holy man, the hermit Antiochus, who was returning to the East from Constantinople: he had come as a Legate to the Emperor Maurice, to commend to him the town of Synophris, plundered by the Barbarians. He had dense and joined eyebrows, a white beard, and the hair of his head white as wool, and extending to his flanks; likewise his beard and nails very long: he had come to his hundredth year: for sixty years he had tasted neither wine, nor oil, nor anything of the kind: for thirty years he had not eaten bread: he fed on raw vegetables with salt and vinegar, and drank water. His fame had come to Theodore, and the fame of Theodore likewise to him, God revealing it. And that just man indeed said to his disciples about holy Bishop Theodore, that he had not found such a holy man up to that day: for the institutions of his life had been revealed to him by God. And blessed Theodore in turn spoke thus about him with the Brothers, by this one the Saint is held, that in all the eastern wilderness he had seen or heard of no such worthy servant of God. Those who heard these things took something from the hem of his garments for the sake of religion. And when the Brothers of the mansion approached him to venerate him, he reproached them, and through an interpreter refused: "Why," he said, "when you have such a star, and a holy Apostle of Christ, do you come to venerate me, a rustic and vile and worthless man? Turn yourselves to honor that truly praiseworthy and admirable and holy man, who leads a divine life in the world, and tramples desires in himself, and by his teaching converts many to God." When evening had come, the divine Sacrifice being made, they reclined, to eat the small and usual food. Afterwards Saint Theodore wished, as was his custom, he foreknows his death: to wash the guest's feet: but he did not permit it. They therefore mutually washed their hands. But the next morning the servant of God was hastening to go out and finish his journey. When blessed Theodore observed this, and divinely knew that his death was near, and desired that it should happen with him, he asked him to rest, weary from the labor of the journey. He on the contrary begged to be dismissed: "My departure from the body is at hand," he said, "and therefore I hasten, that I may yield to nature in my own cell." Setting out therefore, blessed Theodore accompanied him as far as Anastasiopolis: and he revealed the afflictions and anxieties which he endured in the Episcopate, by which the established manner of life and the care of his monasteries were interrupted; asking him what he should do, and whether, leaving the dignity of the Episcopate, by his counsel he thinks of leaving the Episcopate, he ought to attend only to the monastic order. But he judged that this should be done as quickly as possible, lest he seem to be condemned before God. But Saint Theodore gave him his own beast, and a Brother, who should accompany him as far as he wished. Mutually saluting and embracing therefore, they departed. And Saint Theodore, having returned to the Episcopal residence, said that he would depart from life more quickly than he would be able to reach his own place: which also came to pass: for a few days afterwards it was announced that he had died on the road.
[68] Since therefore very many of the miracles of blessed Theodore were seen after he had refused the Episcopate, because of the troubles and anxieties, I, recalling these, will omit those which he did in the Episcopal city itself, because they are known to all; only touching upon those which in some way indicate the causes and afflictions, because of which he refused the Episcopate. For when he was necessarily compelled to be involved in various affairs and anxieties of the Episcopate, he was affected with great troubles and straits: for he did not wish to be distracted by earthly cares from the contemplation of heavenly things. Matt. 6:24 For, as the Lord says, "No one can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other: or he will cling to the one, and despise the other." Since therefore it was necessary to administer the lands belonging to the Church through procurators, and the procurators themselves afflicted the farmers with injuries, the pious man could not but be vehemently grieved and tormented. For when he had given that office to a certain citizen, by name Theodosius, and the farmers had been afflicted with injury by him, they fled weeping to the servant of Christ: who pitying them (for his holy and pious mind could not without grief behold anyone afflicted and calamitous) took care to have Theodosius summoned, because of quarrels between the procurator and the farmers: and admonished him to cease from injuring the farmers. But he, having found an opportunity, did not cease from injury. Wherefore when he was going in a certain place, called Euchraes, to harm them; all gathered with one mind, and armed with swords and slings, stood against him, threatening him with slaughter unless he retreated. Who seeing them prepared for a fight, and fearing lest he be overcome by them, departed, and took himself to Anastasiopolis, to return against them fortified with greater help. When the holy man heard this, he spent that whole day with tears and groans, considering, if that attack should be carried out, and some slaughter made, it would be charged to him as the author, and he would be guilty of the souls imperiled. Prostrating himself on the ground therefore and adoring God, he earnestly asked that he would check the motion of that fury before it was brought to an end. And having summoned Theodosius, he commanded him not to go to those places any more, lest some evil should happen. Then he, saying that at the holy man's exhortation that attack of the farmers against him had been made, cast many insults upon him, and because of the injuries inflicted upon him by that one. and adding the force of wicked insult, with his foot pushed the seat on which he was sitting: by which the blessed man fell on his back in the sight of all. But when he had risen, with a milder voice he swore that he would not die among them as Bishop, but would return to his monastery. By which words Theodosius was in no way appeased, saying he would pay out to him two pounds of gold, because he was being removed from the procurement of the estates before the appointed day. But his wife opposed her husband: "Let there be no controversy," she said, "to you with the holy Bishop, lest instead of the blessing which we have received from him, we fall into a curse." But he, not listening to his wife, again came to the Episcopal residence, to quarrel with the holy man, and to contend in judgment. But while the doorkeeper was announcing his coming to the holy Bishop, suddenly a great fear invaded him, and there appeared to him a young man terrible in aspect and splendidly dressed, who with indignation threatened him: "O most wicked man," he said, "thus do you oppose the great Bishop, and do you not cease to bring him trouble and grief? Behold, I predict to you, unless you cease, great wrath shall come upon you, and wretchedly you shall end your life." And having said these things, he departed. But Theodosius, when he had been for a long time senseless, at last collecting himself, and being called by the holy man, entered; and fell at his feet, with tears begging that he would forgive the injuries with which he had been afflicted by him, and that he would no longer demand the pounds of gold as a penalty.
[69] Again, I know not how, he was attacked with poison, attacked with poison, he is healed by the Mother of God, and in that cell of his in the Episcopal residence he lay mute and immobile for three days, so that a rumor of his death was already becoming widespread. But after the third day there appeared to him the Lady, the most holy Mother of God Mary: who threatening destruction to the wicked men, and revealing the cause of the disease, and making known the plotters, gave him three b pomegranates from her hand: "Eat these," she said, "and nothing evil will happen to you." Released from sleep, the holy man gave thanks to Christ the Savior, and to his immaculate Mother the Virgin Mary: and he indeed signified the cause of the disease, but was silent about the authors, and prayed to God for them. Moreover in distributing alms, and in the frequenting and care of the monasteries which he had for the Brothers he had gained, he was being accused as if he neglected the church; although yet out of three hundred and sixty-five gold pieces assigned to his table, he consumed only forty every year, and gave all the rest to the church. Besides, from the singing of psalms and prayer he was being distracted by affairs. By which things being afflicted, and seeing the citizens indeed profiting nothing thereby, but remaining in the misery of a sinful life, and those who were living in the monasteries being given over to negligence and sloth by his absence, and thinking about departing from the monasteries, for whom an account would have to be rendered by him on the day of judgment; he implored the help of the glorious Martyr of Christ George, to restore him to his proper place: and with many prayers he prayed to God not to count it as a crime against him, that he was refusing the Episcopate. When therefore he knew for certain that he had obtained that pardon from God, with the Clergy and citizens called together, he made this oration: "You, Brothers, as you know, unwillingly and drawn away, have compelled me to undergo this yoke. And although I excused myself, as most unfit to bear it, yet you did not wish to hear me, before the Clergy and people he resigns the Episcopate but preferred to indulge your own desire. It is now the eleventh year, therefore, since I have afflicted you, and been afflicted by you. Wherefore I beseech you, provide yourselves a Pastor, who can both please you and care for your affairs. For hereafter I shall not be your Bishop, but, as a cast-off monk, shall return to my mansion, where for all my life I have decided to serve God." Having said these things, and taking the Archdeacon of his monastery John, he betook himself to the metropolis of the Ancyrans. But on that night, a certain citizen saw in his sleep a splendid star, illuminating the whole city with its rays from the top of the church, departing so far from there that it could scarcely be seen. By which vision, the departure of the blessed man was undoubtedly signified.
[70] and is absolved: When therefore he had come to Paul, the Metropolitan Archbishop of the Ancyrans, he asked that a successor be given him: but he answered that one could not be given for such a good man. And when a great contention had arisen between them, it was agreed between them that this matter would
be referred to the most blessed Patriarch of Constantinople, c Cyriacus, and what he decided would stand. Blessed Theodore therefore petitioned the Emperor Maurice of pious memory, and the most blessed Patriarch Cyriacus, that they decree that a successor must be given him: but the Metropolitan opposed his own reasons to his refusal. But the most blessed Patriarch Cyriacus, the Emperor also so commanding, answered the Metropolitan, that he should admit the prayers of blessed Theodore, and leave him the insignia of the Episcopate for his holiness of life and innocence. Obeying therefore the command, the Metropolitan freed blessed Theodore from the burden of the Episcopate, and left him the insignia of the Episcopate. But he advised him not to depart too far before he had appointed another in his place. Setting out therefore from the metropolis of the Ancyrans, he took himself to the region of Heliopolis, near the town of Pidri, into the oratory of the Archangel, which is at Ambrena, and hid himself. One day, when he was celebrating the sacred mysteries in this oratory of the Archangel, his face was made cheerful and joyful, and shining with great glory and grace: and one of the Brothers, by name Julian the Priest, a very pious man, when he had seen his face so cheerful and joyful, prostrating himself before him; "One thing," he said, "Father, I ask, that you reply to me." celebrating Mass he appears with an illumined face: And when Saint Theodore had blessed him, and commanded him to rise and set forth what he wished; then he: "While you are sacrificing, Father," he said, "sometimes there is no change in your countenance; but more often we see your face shining with great splendor and grace: wherefore we also are filled with cheerfulness and rejoice, as it happened today. I beseech you by the Lord, to explain to me the cause of this thing." Then the servant of Christ began to excuse himself and evade the narration: he on the contrary as a suppliant and entreating to insist. At last the blessed man: "Promise me," he said, "that you will reveal what I say to no one, and I will explain the cause." When therefore he had bound himself with an oath, that while he himself was living, he would reveal the matter to no one: "When," said the blessed man, "you see me more joyful as I sacrifice, know that I am seeing a vision. For I see as it were a true and most splendid veil, descending upon the holy offerings during the sacrifice: and as often as I see this, I rejoice and exult: for I do not always see it, and therefore my face is not always cheerful. But when I do not see it for an hour, I prolong the matter, waiting until I see that which today also has been shown to me." When the Priest Julian had heard these things, he did not reveal them before the holy man departed from life.
[71] Moreover, when the blessed man had received word that there was a Bishop at Anastasiopolis, rejoicing and praising God, he returned to the monastery, and by the grace of God did many miracles on the sick who came. A certain Priest, by name Paul, was brought on a beast to him from a monastery of Lycaonia: for his left side was contracted into the right side of his entrails; having returned to the monastery, a distorted Priest and his right hip had long been dislocated, and his head was approaching to his foot on the left side: wherefore he could neither stand, nor be stretched out on a bed: for he was so distorted that he presented a pitiable sight. He had profited nothing from many washings and medicines applied. When therefore by blessed Theodore's command he had stayed three days in the monastery, and had set forth his misery, he heard these things from him: "If you wish to recover, return to your country, and be reconciled with your adversary, and before winter return to me, and God will give you health." But when he denied that he had any enmities with anyone: "See," said the holy man, "that you do not lie: for you have enmities with your Provost." When he had heard this, he began tearfully to beseech blessed Theodore to pray to God for him, that the pain being mitigated, he might walk more expeditiously. He ordered him therefore to be stripped: and laying his hands on his body, he felt his weak members; and for him prayers being poured forth, he anointed his whole body with a medicine: and immediately he was freed from pain, by his prayers he heals. but still remained distorted. Placed on a beast therefore they led him back to his country, and he was reconciled with his Provost: afterwards he returned to the monastery, at which time blessed Theodore was devoting himself to quiet and silence in a very narrow cell of the church of the holy Mother of God; and pouring forth prayers for him, he loosed him from the bond of the disease, and commanded him to walk about near him, and to receive the prayer daily: he also gave a staff with which to support himself: and having received this, he was better. For his correction he handed him a longer staff; and after the celebration of Easter he gave him another staff; "Take this," he said, "in your hand, and return to the place from which you came: for in a short time you shall obtain perfect health: but when this staff shall fall from your hand, do not pick it up again." Therefore, having received the blessing of the holy man, the Priest Paul returned home: and as he was journeying one day, the staff slipped from his hand. He, remembering the word of Saint Theodore, did not pick it up, and was completely healed, and made the miracle known to all. But this Paul, through the zeal of the holy man, was made a Priest at Constantinople: and then was made Bishop of a certain city of Isauria.
ANNOTATIONS.
CHAPTER X.
Visit to the Emperor Maurice. Various things done at Constantinople.
[72] At that time the pious Emperor Maurice, and blessed Patriarch Cyriacus, and the Princes, by their letters summoned the holy servant of Christ to Constantinople, that he might bless them. Wherefore when he had taken himself there, and had saluted the most blessed Patriarch Cyriacus, and the Emperor, and the Senate and blessed them, he stayed with them. He visits the Emperor Maurice and Cyriacus the Patriarch of Constantinople. With great zeal and honor the Emperor and the Augusta and all the household embraced him; and immunities were granted to his monasteries, and it was granted that they should not be subject to any other Episcopate: but only to the most holy and great Apostolic church of the royal city itself, God so providing, and the holy Martyr George helping, because of their benevolence to those who dwelt and sacrificed in them. But in that short time in which he stayed in the city, God did great miracles through him.
[73] For a woman who dwelt with him, having a four-year-old son blind, carried him in her arms to the holy man, and prostrate before him with many tears, laid the boy at his feet, begging that he would bestow on him the light of his eyes. The blessed man, he enlightens a blind man, heals a paralytic woman: when he had sealed the boy's eyes, and blessed him, gave blessed water to the mother, ordering that with that water she should wash her son's eyes daily in the morning. When the mother had done this three times, on the fourth day she brought her son healed to the holy man, praising God. The same woman, when she had lain paralytic for seven months, at the hour in which she received the blessing of the holy man, immediately recovered. he reveals that a girl is possessed:
[74] A certain girl, the handmaid of a certain Prince, for twenty-eight years already had a hidden demon: wherefore she constantly lay sick, and did not know the cause of the disease. Hearing therefore the fame of the blessed man, her master brought the girl to him, asking him to pray to God for her, to bestow either death or health on her. Then the servant of Christ, stretching out his hand, took hold of her head, and prayed to God to reveal her disease to him, and free her. And immediately the demon began to disturb and vex her. and frees her: And thus it cried out: "Even against me, O iron-eater, do you exercise the power given to you by God? Abstain from me, I pray, pursuer of demons." But blessed Theodore commanded it to be silent. And since it was the fourth day of the week, he dismissed her: and commanded her master that on the fourth day of the next following week he should lead her back to him. When she had returned on the appointed day, and saw the holy man, again the demon stirred up in her began to cry out and to detest the holy man: "O power!" it said, "which now goes forth against us from a bastard and son of a prostitute. It is now the twenty-eighth year since I have been occupying this woman, and none of the Saints has revealed me: but this son of a prostitute has come, to reveal me, and hand me over to torture and punishment. Cursed the day on which you were born, and on which you have come hither." But the servant of God Theodore rebuked him with the sign of the Cross, and said: "Although I am the son of a prostitute, as you say; yet to the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ the Son of God, I command you in his name to depart from this woman, and not to enter her again." But the demon with a great voice said: "Your commands I will indeed obey, and I will go out: yet this one shall die on the third day from hence." "You," said the blessed man, "go out, and the will of the Lord be done: for it is not permitted to a Christian man to believe you, since your words are wicked and false." Therefore, the demon, having torn the woman, cast her before the feet of the holy man, and with a great voice uttered, departed: but she, when she had collected herself, said: "I, by your holy prayers, Father, have obtained health: for I saw the wicked one going out of my mouth like a serpent." The holy man therefore dismissed her with a blessing, and ordered her to remain at the church for seven days. But what the demon had predicted about her death was false: for the master of the woman, together with her, a few days later returning to the holy man, with great joy gave thanks to God, who had given such power over unclean spirits to his servants.
[75] He again heals a paralytic woman Another noble paralytic woman, brought by her maidservants to the holy man, with many tears began to cry out: "Have pity," she said, "on me, servant of God Most High: beseech God, who has bestowed on you the grace of healings, for me, that I may depart whole." The holy man ordered her to be placed on the ground, and taking hold of her head with his left hand, he stretched out his right to the East, and prayed in this manner: "God, bestower of healings, and physician of the sick, who cured the paralytic, heal also this your handmaid, and drive the paralysis away from her, that she may depart healed, to the glory and praise of your holy name." And signing her he roused her, and anointed her with oil: and immediately she began to walk about, praising God; and made a partaker of the divine mysteries of Christ, she departed unharmed, and announced the miracle to all.
[76] He reveals and drives out a hidden demon: A certain innkeeper's son, by name Peter, invaded by a demon, was being consumed in his heart, and did not know that he was vexed by a demon. His father led him to the holy man, that he might pray to God for him, so that the pain of his heart might cease, and he might be freed from the continuous disease. But the holy man, knowing the cause of the disease, led him into his cell, and pressing close to his side, sealed his face with the sign of the Cross, and struck him near the heart: "Do not conceal yourself," he said, "unclean spirit: for your works are manifest. The Lord Jesus Christ, searcher of hearts, commands you to come out of him." At once the demon, being stirred up, began to cry out: "I come out, iron-eater; nor do I oppose you: for I cannot bear your threats: I cannot endure the fire going out of your mouth and burning me." Having said these and many other things, casting Peter at the holy man's feet, howling with a great voice, it departed. But the boy coming to himself, and prostrating himself before him; "By your pious prayers, Father," he said, "I have been freed from the demon: for I saw him, bearing the appearance of a black woman, being separated from me, and being cast out by you through the window howling." But blessed Theodore ordered him to stay the day with him: and the next day restored him healed to his father.
[77] He frees a sailor from a demon, A certain sailor, vexed by a demon, was tormented with pains and tremblings of the limbs, and many calamities, and had fallen into want. He came to the holy man, and weeping supplicated, that by his prayers he might be freed from so many miseries. When therefore he had besought God for him, he blessed oil, and gave it to him, that he might anoint himself with it, and dismissed him. Who, a few days later, returned to the holy man, and reported that he had recovered and was prospering; and for the sake of a grateful and mindful spirit, offered the sail of the ship; and at last with many prayers scarcely obtained that he accept it. He heals another by the help of Saint George,
[78] A certain wrestler, vexed by an unclean spirit, was suffering in his head and in all his limbs. He came to the holy man, begging that he would pray to God for him. Which when he had done, and had blessed wine and oil, he gave it to him: "Go," he said, "my son, to your home: and when you are going to bed in the evening, anoint yourself with these: and what you see in your sleep, tell me." He went, and did what the holy man had commanded. The next day he returned to him, saying: "I saw, my most holy Lord, in my sleep, a certain young man going from you to me, who seized the hair of my head and drew me to himself: and immediately all pain departed from my joints and bones and limbs, and like some violent wind went out through the hairs of my head." Hearing these things, the servant of God blessed him: "Behold," he said, "now by God's grace you have been made healed. But the young man whom you saw in your sleep is the glorious Martyr of Christ George." And he dismissed him, giving thanks to God.
[79] A certain famous man, by name Mennas, was suffering from a hidden and grave disease, from a diabolic vexation. He came to the holy man: but he was ashamed to reveal his disease to him. On a certain day therefore the holy man, when Mennas had come to him according to custom, he recognizes an internal disease. called him aside into his cell, and humanely addressed him thus: "Often have you come hither, my son, to tell me some secret, and have been deterred by shame. Why has this happened to you, my son? why do you not openly disclose what you are hiding?" Then he, falling at his feet, revealed everything, asking that he would pray to God for him, and drive the disease from him, and deign to come to his house, and bless him and all who dwelt in it. The holy man promised to do this: and two days later he went to his house, and was kindly received by the pious man. But that night the same thing happened to him as was usual, and he had been greatly afflicted. Then the blessed man devoted himself to prayers, and heals: and besought God to free the man from that misery. On that same night, the prayers of the psalms being finished, one of his disciples, by name Julian, saw in his sleep the blessed man standing on the seashore; and Mennas approaching him, and carrying in his arms a certain three-headed monster, which was crying out immensely: which when the holy man had seized, he cast it into the sea. The next day therefore, when after the sacrifice they had sat down to have lunch, the servant of Christ Theodore said to Mennas: "Trust, my son, and praise God: for, trusting in the goodness of God, I hope that your calamity has departed from you, and that you shall no more be afflicted by it." And when he had said these things, his disciple, remembering his dream, explained it. When therefore the holy man had blessed Mennas, and his most faithful wife, and all his household, he departed: but Mennas was never again vexed by that disease. Now his wife, a most serious woman and most loving of Christ, Theodora, asked the holy man to know whether she or her husband would first depart from this life. He obtains for the woman that she may die before her husband. Scarcely at last being prevailed upon, he prayed to God to reveal it to him: and he answered, that her husband would first depart from life. But she with many tears daily asked him, to pray to God, to call her the sooner from this life. Overcome by her entreaties, the blessed man besought God to grant her what she desired. And divinely admonished, he said to her: "God has granted you what you asked: therefore set your affairs in order, for in a few days you will die." At this response the woman departed joyful, and, her affairs being set in order, on the fortieth day afterward she died.
[80] Eutychius, the doorkeeper of blessed Theodore, when he was sleeping on the road, He drives out a demon sitting on a hand: was so wounded by a demon, that his hand with the whole arm grew stiff: wherefore he was carrying it swollen and bound, and suspended around his neck. He came according to custom to Saint Theodore, to receive a blessing: and being asked by him why his hand hurt; "I was sleeping, my Lord," he said, "in a certain place, and when I was roused from sleep, my hand grew stiff, and contracted a swelling." When therefore the blessed man, after prayers had been offered, was touching his bared hand, the demon began to run through his hand. Then the holy man signed the shoulder, lest it should run up and kill him. The hand therefore began to be rolled and distorted by the demon this way and that, so that the doorkeeper could not control and sustain it: but when the holy man touched it, and rebuked the unclean spirit, it immediately ceased. And taking oil which the holy man had blessed, the doorkeeper anointed his hand, and recovered in three days.
[81] A certain slave was badly vexed by a demon. His mistress brought him to the blessed man: He binds the devil in a possessed body: and immediately the spirit, being stirred up, was tearing him, and did not wish to go out. When the holy man had rebuked him, he forbade him to depart from the step's boundary, so that in this way he might be tormented: "Blessed be God," he said, "this man, created by Him, shall not depart from this house before you have gone out of him." When he had said these things, the holy man entered his cell, and pronounced the number of Psalms prescribed by the rule. But when for many hours now that slave remained there vexed, and the spirit bound there was tormented, it began to cry out with a pitiful voice in this manner: "I come out, servant of God: for I cannot bear this torment. Come, loose me, and I will go out: do not torment me any longer." The holy man coming out of his cell, said to him: "I do not wish, unclean one, that you come out now." But the demon cried out: "Alas, wretched me, I beg you, to loose me: I have endured enough punishment. When will you permit me to go out?" "I wish," said the holy man, "that you depart at the middle hour of the night. But now you are loosed from the prescribed term: wherefore now let this man be permitted through you to be in possession of his mind." and prescribes the departure: Therefore he cast him at his feet: but at midnight, when the holy man had risen to perform the nocturnal prayers, the man who was vexed, springing up, began to suffer; and the demon, which was in him, was crying out: "The hour has come. Come out, iron-eater, permit me, that I may depart." Going out an hour later therefore, the servant of God rebuked him in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and commanded him to depart. And immediately, casting the man whom he was vexing at his feet, he went out, and that servant was left healed: whom his mistress, having received, with great joy took herself to her home, praising God.
[82] A certain woman, a servant, who had a hidden demon, approached blessed Theodore, He frees three possessed people, to receive a blessing from him. Who, looking sharply at her, as at one vexed by a demon, had asked God for her, the demon being stirred up immediately went out, and the woman was made healed. One day three came to him, who in his cell were being most grievously vexed, when he was summoned at the same hour by the Patriarch Cyriacus. Wherefore the blessed man, hastening to go, commanded two to be freed, and they were immediately prostrated on the ground at his feet like the dead. The third he permitted to suffer: for the demon in him was hard and could not easily be driven out. Wherefore the holy man, raging: "Since," he said, he sets the fourth immobile; "our most holy Patriarch has summoned me, and at this time I cannot do what pertains to you, stand in this place, and be tormented; and do not depart hence, until I return." And saying this, he went to the most holy Patriarch.
[83] Now Sergius, the pious Deacon of the most holy great church and familiar of the most holy Patriarch, had a sister, who, when she had lived three years with her husband, meanwhile he obtains for a barren couple offspring of children, could never conceive. Sergius placed both the spouses in the vestibule; and when the holy servant of Christ Theodore was departing from the Patriarch, he asked John the Subdeacon his companion to lead the holy man that way. Which when it had been done, Sergius the Deacon brought them to the holy man, and fell together with them at the holy man's feet, supplicating him to grant them children. To whom the Saint: "Not to me," he said, "my sons, but to God approach." But when they did not cease to beseech, he took the belts of both, and placing them between on both sides, bending his knees, he prayed to God: afterwards he restored the belts to them, that they might gird themselves. And by the grace of God it came to pass, that after nine months the woman bore a son. But when he had departed, and afterwards drives out a demon: he sent John ahead, to see whether the vexed one outside the prescribed
bounds had gone out. He found him therefore in the appointed place, and suspended from the earth. And thus the demon was crying: "Opportunely against me, servant of God, have you come, having obtained greater grace against me: I can no longer bear you, because you burn me. I come out, by the Most High, only spare me." But the servant of God, striking his breast: "Often," he said, "you have promised me, and have lied: I will not spare you." Then the demon swore an oath that he would depart that night, when in the most holy great church the signal for prayer was given. When therefore his punishment had been remitted, at the appointed hour he departed.
[84] And after some days, a certain handmaid of Theodore, Deacon of the most holy Mother of God, he heals a possessed woman, by name Theodora, suddenly was seized by a mute spirit. But when her master had indicated the matter to the servant of God through John, he ordered them to bring her to him. Who, as she was vexed and was falling down, her fellow servants, lifting her up, carried her to the holy man's feet: and in the space of six days she was freed, and departed unharmed. Another girl of eight years old, dedicated to God in a monastery of the great church, had remained mute for three years. Her teacher therefore brought her to the servant of God, a mute girl, crying out bitterly, and begging with tears that he would obtain health for her. When therefore he had besought God for her, he ordered her to come to him daily morning and evening. When she was doing this, and he was praying for her, on the day when she was to be healed, he commanded her to open her mouth: and taking hold of her tongue, he sealed it with the sign of the Cross, and breathed upon it three times, commanding her to swallow. And by God's grace she immediately spoke, saying with a great voice: "I have swallowed, lord." Wherefore the crowd standing by, and seeing the matter, cried out long, "Lord, have mercy." And so the girl with her teacher was dismissed unharmed.
[85] A certain other woman, who for ten years had suffered from a flow of blood, a woman suffering from a flow of blood, with great desire came to receive a blessing from him: and having brought an alabaster of ointment, when she had seen a great crowd around him, she approached secretly, to anoint his feet with the ointment. Noting which, the servant of God drew his feet to himself, and crying out, said to her: "Stop, woman: what are you trying to do? The thing you are attempting is troublesome to me." The woman, terrified, handed him the ointment, asking him to pray to God for her. Then the holy man prayed thus: "May the Lord Jesus Christ, who is the knower of hidden things, prevailed upon by the prayers of Saint George the Martyr, according to your faith, bestow upon you what you ask." And immediately by the grace of God her flow of blood stopped: seeing which miracle the woman, praising God, began to announce the matter to all. It happened that one of the sons of the Emperor Maurice was suffering from the disease of leprosy: the leprous son of the Emperor. for whom when the physicians could bring no help, the Emperor took care to summon the holy man. He, having entered the palace where the boy lay, and pouring forth prayers to God for him, blessed water: and when he had sprinkled him, he gave the remainder of the water, that he might be sprinkled again: and by the prayers of the holy man the boy was made healed. And brought by the prayers of the Emperor and the Augusta, standing between them, he besought God for them: and when he had blessed them, he departed to his country, and came to the monastery.
[86] A certain paterfamilias from the town of Alectoria had a wild ox, He makes a wild ox gentle: which refused the yoke. Therefore he brought it to the monastery, and asked the blessed man to seal the ox with the sign of the Cross, so that it might lay down its wildness. And when the holy man had come to him, the ox, moving its head this way and that, was panting: he, taking hold of its horns, prayed to God that the ox, its wildness laid down, might become gentle: and signing it, he said: "I command you in the name of Christ, to desist from your anger, and to take the yoke in the gentleness which God has granted to you, and to obey your master." When the holy man had said these things, the ox immediately laid down its anger and wildness: and when it had been led away from there, submitted its neck to the yoke easily. Likewise a certain woman had a mule, which allowed neither bridle nor saddle, likewise a mule and other animals. but, raising itself with its feet lifted up, could in no way be made gentle. The woman brought it to the monastery: to which the holy man, applying the sign of the Cross, said: "Blessed be God, be no longer wild and perverse hereafter: but having received the bridle, allow your mistress to sit on you with all gentleness: for to this service God has created you." And immediately the woman sat on her: for she refused no longer to obey. The same was also done in horses, and in other animals.
CHAPTER XI.
Relics of Saint George received. Journeys to neighboring cities: various miracles.
[87] The blessed man desired to have something from the relics of the glorious Martyr George, and asked him Desiring the relics of Saint George, he is summoned to Germia: to make him a partaker of his vow. But pious Aemilianus, Bishop of the Germians, had a particle of his holy head, and a finger of his hand, and one tooth, and another particle of his body. To him the Martyr appeared, and commanded that he should hand them over to his servant Theodore, to be transferred to the church which he had built for him. The Bishop therefore sent a messenger to the blessed man, to exhort him in his name to come to pray in the church of the holy Archangel: for he desired to greet him, and to give him the longed-for relics of the holy Martyr. Joyful at this promise, he went out of the monastery, and entering the city of the Germians, was praying in the church of the Archangel. The holy Bishop Aemilianus received him lovingly, and led him into the monastery of the holy Mother of God, which is called Aligetes.
[88] At that time there was a great drought in the a metropolis of the Pessinuntines, and all the crops and fruits had dried up. Wherefore when the inhabitants had understood going to Pessinus, that Theodore, the servant of Christ, had turned aside to Bishop Aemilianus, quickly they all with the Clerics came together to him in the church of the holy Mother of God: and with Bishop Aemilianus permitting, they led him into their city, that, with a supplication made, through his prayers they might obtain rain from heaven. Six miles from this city there was a garden, which a great multitude of locusts had occupied, and had almost entirely devastated. The owner of this garden, when he had understood that blessed Theodore was present, went out to meet him, and prostrating himself at his feet, made known the calamity inflicted by the locusts on his garden. To whom the holy man: "Go," he said, "son, and bring water in a vessel." He ran, he frees the garden from locusts: and brought water from a nearby river. Which the servant of God, when he had blessed it, gave to him, saying: "With this water sprinkle the four corners of your garden, and the Lord will give you what you desire." The man returning to the garden, did zealously what the holy man had commanded: and when he had returned to the place which he had first sprinkled, he found not even one locust. A little later also, visiting, he found all the locusts completely destroyed: wherefore, when he had filled his hands with vegetables, running, he hastened to blessed Theodore, the worker of the miracle. But at that time the supplication had gone out three miles from the city to meet him. With that supplication therefore the vegetable-seller overtook the holy man entering, fell at his feet, and offered him the vegetables which he was carrying in his hands, announcing the miracle which had been done.
[89] He obtains rain: But the most blessed Metropolitan Georgius received Saint Theodore with joy, who commanded a supplication to be announced for the following day. The next morning therefore, when the whole city had been gathered in the Catholic church of holy Sophia, blessed Theodore and the Metropolitan Georgius with all the people, supplicating, came to the venerable church of the holy Angels outside the walls: and from there returned to holy Sophia. Where, when the holy servant of Christ at the request of the Metropolitan had sacrificed, and all had received the sacred mysteries, the sky was covered with clouds, and so great an abundance of rain came down on all that region, that the fountains of waters and the rivers overflowed for three days. All therefore full of joy were praising God, who, moved by the prayers of his servant, had shown his mercy. But with the Metropolitan and the people accompanying, Saint Theodore departed from there: he receives the relics of Saint George. and when he had come to Bishop Aemilianus, and had received from him the most longed-for relics of the holy Martyr George, he returned with joy to his holy monastery.
[90] In those days the Bishop of b Cadosia was carried to him in a litter, he cures the arthritic Bishop of Cadosia: who was suffering from pain of the hands, and a dissolution of all the joints, and could not move food to his mouth with his hands. He, prostrate at the feet of blessed Theodore in the church of the Archangel, with a great voice said: "Have pity on me, servant of God most high: and make me also a partaker of your miracles: for I know that God will bestow on you whatever you ask." But when the servant of Christ had understood that he was a Bishop, he bore that adoration ill, and had him roused; and devoting himself to prayer, he prayed to God to drive out his disease. But having finished the prayer, he ordered him to be placed on the right side of the church of Saint George the Martyr, at the oratory of the holy Martyr Plato, where also his own cell is situated: and thus addressed the Bishop: "Be of good cheer, great lord: for trusting in the goodness of God, I hope that you will shortly be freed from the disease." And having blessed oil, he gave it to him, that with it he might anoint himself. In the space therefore of two weeks the Bishop recovered, and departed from the monastery, walking and leaping, and praising God.
[91] A certain cleric, by name Solomon, vexed by an unclean spirit, came to the most holy man with his wife, he frees three from an unclean spirit: who herself was also likewise vexed. These, receiving his blessing daily, in a short space of time were freed from the unclean spirits: as can be understood from the painted tablet, which they left in the vestibule of the church of the Archangel, where they slept, as a witness of the miracle. A certain man from the village of Salmania, grievously vexed by an unclean spirit, took himself to the monastery: whom the holy man, because of the demon's importunity, commanded to be cast into a narrow cell: and there he would go daily to pray: wherefore in the space of two weeks he was freed, and departed.
[92] It happened that at the same time all that region was suffering from famine. The monks therefore, and the poor sick, all their foods being consumed, were in great straits. But it was the time of Lent: at which time the blessed man was observing quiet and silence in the monastery of the Mother of God. With provisions failing, he promises that they will be brought abundantly. Two days therefore before Palm Sunday, Dionysius, the keeper of the granary, came to him, and announced to him that he did not have food even for the monasteries, much less for the multitude to be fed: for on Palm day he was accustomed to go out of his cell, and on those two days a great multitude would come together. "Go," said blessed Theodore, "to the granary, and gather the remnants of flour from the chests into a vessel, and bring it to me": and when this had been done by him, the holy man, God
prayed, that he would supply the necessities of sustenance to his monasteries. And when the prayer had been finished: "Take," he said, "brother, the little vessel of flour, and place it upon the altar of the most holy Mother of God: and God will supply us with food." He did what the holy man commanded: but the next day certain pious men from distant regions brought thirty Cyprian ships laden with flour. By these and other innumerable admirable things, with which, as with flowers and pearls, the Saint was daily crowned, great thanks were given to God by all; and many, leaving the world, took up the monastic yoke, not only in his monasteries, but also in other places. Matt. 5:16 And so those words of the Gospel were being fulfilled: "So let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father, who is in heaven."
[93] Since therefore this man too, like the Apostle Paul, He himself also being subject to illnesses was subject to afflictions of the body, it will not be out of place, for our use, to pursue them; lest, as often as we fall into such diseases and calamities, we fall down in our minds: especially since God prepares a reward for us by this means: and therefore sometimes opposes just men, praying to be freed from miseries, and says: "My grace is sufficient for you: for my power is made perfect in weakness." 2 Cor. 12 In order therefore that in this holy imitator of Christ, the power of God might be made perfect through weakness, his body was afflicted with a wound: which, if ever by itself it had formed a scar, was reopened again by the roughness of his clothing. With this wound he labored to his death, and used to say it had been given to him by God, that he might continually give him thanks. Likewise he suffered from a disease of the eyes every year in the summer time for a month and a half, and in a greater degree gave thanks to God. He was, however, hindered from being able to receive crowds. Wherefore, being divinely incited, he decided to set out for the church of our Lady the Mother of God, which is at c Sozopolis: for he had long desired to see the divine gift which is there.
[94] When therefore he had arrived at the bridge which is called Tantaendia, a certain innkeeper Phentinus sent to meet him, to ask him a distorted face, that he would enter his guest-house, and leave his blessing for him: for he lay half-dead for a long time now, and his face was twisted behind his back. To him therefore Saint Theodore entering, asked the cause why this had happened to him. To whom he answering: "When I was," he said, "outside the inn, a certain black dog came, and yawned before me: wherefore I also against my will did the same. And when it had immediately vanished, I fell into a fever, and twisted my face. But if you, servant of God, can do anything, help me: for when both my flocks and herds were dying, after you poured forth prayers for me, not even one animal perished." When he had said these things, the blessed man, having prayed to God for him, breathed three times upon his face: and blessing water, gave it to him: "Take," he said, "and sprinkle yourself with this water: for what you saw was a demon. But in the name of Christ, when we return from our prayer, we shall find you whole and unharmed."
[95] and restores his feet: Setting out therefore from the inn, he was proceeding on his journey: and when he had approached the city of d Amorium, his saving arrival became known to all: and all the citizens, with supplications, went out to meet him outside the walls. And a boy was offered to him by his father, with feet so twisted that he could in no way walk: who, the holy man beseeching God, was cured. And behold a certain illustrious man from the same city, by name John, had his son, eighteen years old, who had lain paralytic for three years, carried to the holy man, and with many tears asked him: "Have pity," he said, "on this unhappy and calamitous one, servant of God, and entreat God for him, either to cure him of the disease, and grant him to me unharmed: or certainly to grant him a swift exit from this life, that I may not see him so wretchedly consumed by the disease." "How," said Saint Theodore, "did he fall into this disease?" To whom he answered: "When we had set out to hunt, this poor one ran upon a hare: which when he had transfixed with a javelin, he fell into paralysis, A paralytic one at Amorium, and with it he has been afflicted now for three years." Hearing these things, the servant of Christ ordered him to be carried to the house of Anastasius, a pious man, and to be placed in the oratory of the most holy Mother of God, where he himself was going to stay: and soon entering the city, he traversed it all in supplication. But when it had been come to the catholic and chief church of the city, the Bishop met him: for he could not, because of his health, proceed too far to meet him with the people. Wherefore, at the request of the Bishop himself, Saint Theodore offered the sacrifice, and blessed the people: and departing, took himself to the house of Anastasius outside the walls: and entering the oratory of the Mother of God, he found that paralytic young man lying there. And when he had blessed oil, he anointed his face, and hands, and feet, and all the other dissolved members of his body, and thus addressed him: "I say to you, young man, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, arise, and stand healed, that your father may not grieve because of you." And when he had raised his head, the most holy man another at Sozopolis, stretched out his hand to him, and raised him: and with prayers applied over him, he restored him healed to his father.
[96] When he had entered the church of the Mother of God, behold another, suffering from paralysis because of a demon who had secretly vexed him for many years, at that very hour rose up, and began to be vexed by the unclean spirit, and running to the servant of the Mother of God, for whom this miracle had been reserved by her, and crying out: "O power!" he said. "Why have you come here, iron-eater, with George the Cappadocian, where he himself is healed by the Blessed Virgin, to torment and pierce me? For so many years I have been hidden, and through you now I am discovered." Then all the spectators were amazed. But the blessed man, rebuking the unclean spirit, with the sign of the Cross and prayers applied, cured the paralytic. And entering the venerable church of the most holy Mother of God Mary, where by divine gift oil flows, praying with hands extended in the form of a Cross, he fixed his eyes on the admirable image; when the oil, boiling up at the divine nod, leaped into his eyes, and sprinkled them. Wherefore all who beheld that divine testimony said: "Truly great is this servant of God." and returns to his own. But when the most blessed Bishop Zoilus had understood about his coming, he immediately led him honorably into his Episcopal residence, and treated him amicably. Afterwards when for forty days he had devoted himself to prayers, leaving Sozopolis, he was approaching the city of Amorium: where the boy, leaping, came out to meet him, who, having had twisted feet, had received a blessing from him, and announced the glory of God which had been manifested in himself. But as the day inclined toward evening, entering the city, he turned aside at the house of the illustrious John, whose paralytic son he had cured by his prayers. And the next morning departing, he came to the city of the Germians to Bishop Aemilianus: from whom, being dismissed, he was setting out to his monastery. And when he had come to the aforementioned bridge, Phentinus, hearing of his coming, went out to meet him, healed and praising God, who had freed him from such a danger by the prayers of his servant: and as a gift of grateful mind offered a horse from his herd.
ANNOTATIONS.
CHAPTER XII.
Various sick persons healed. Demons restrained.
[97] When therefore the pious and holy man had arrived at the monastery, he heals a paralytic woman, two noble women from the metropolis of Ephesus came to him with litters and great equipment. One of them had a son of twenty years, by name Andrew, mute: but the other had a little daughter of eight years, a paralytic. These women, with their children and households, falling at the holy man's feet, with a great voice and many tears supplicated, that he would grant health to their children. To whom the servant of Christ Theodore commanded to rise: and when he had prayed to God, he ordered them to stay there for some days. But on a certain day, having finished singing psalms about the ninth hour, according to custom he went out to bless the people and dismiss them, and found the little girl lying: and approaching, he signed her, and besought God: and leaving her, he ascended to the entrance of the altar, and blessed the people, and commanded the paralytic girl to come to him. Who suddenly, the devil's bonds being loosed, arose and came to him. The crowds standing by, a mute, together with the mother of the girl, gave thanks to God for such a miracle with tears. And so the mother approaching, received her little daughter healed from his hand. Moreover, blessed Theodore, when he had signed the mute young man, told his mother to depart with the others: for it would come to pass that on the very journey he would speak. Having received therefore the blessing of the holy man, they all returned to their own city. And a little later someone coming from that city announced that the young man had spoken. The Priest Florentius of the town of Sandi had a brother's son a cancerous boy, whose mouth cancer was eating away. Therefore, having placed him upon his beast, with great zeal he hastened to the monastery: and falling at the feet of the blessed man and weeping, he begged that he would cure the boy's disease, for which no remedies of physicians were profiting. He, with prayers poured forth, touching the place eaten away by the disease, breathed three times into his mouth, and gave him water which he had blessed, to take from it, and immediately the disease began to be lighter. And when they had gone out from the monastery, before they reached home, it had entirely vanished.
[98] When the supplication of the whole people, after the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ on Saturday, a boy fallen into boiling water, as is wont to be done every year, had come to the monastery, there was in a lower place a cauldron boiling near the road. But when the sacrifice had been performed, as all the people were hastening to the banquet, hurrying to go out of the monastery, a boy going out from the church of the holy Martyr George, the devil impelling him, fell into the boiling cauldron. But his parents running up, having drawn him out from there by the feet, brought him into the church of the holy Martyr, where the holy man was blessing the people, and placed him half-dead at his feet with tears. Then the servant of God placed the boy next to the holy altar, and with his head inclined, prayed to God for him: and when he had
anointed him with the oil of the ever-burning lamp, by God's grace he roused him, and his hand burned by the same. and returned him unharmed to his parents without any damage. It happened that with the supplication of the monastery of Saint Theodore, Anicetus, Provost from Briania, had come. When he had heard what had happened to the boy, and saw him healed and in no part burned, he thought the water of the cauldron was cold. And so when at the same hour he was making his way there in supplication, he cast his hand into the cauldron, to learn whether the water was hot or cold: and immediately his hand was burned. When therefore the blessed man, the supplication finished, was blessing the people and dismissing them, Anicetus approached him, and showed his hand; begging that he would seal it with the sign of the Cross. To whom Saint Theodore smiling said: "Believe, brother: and the Lord will heal the hand which you voluntarily cast into the cauldron." And with the sign of the Cross applied, Anicetus was relieved of the pain, and departed healed, praising God for what he had heard and seen.
[99] In the town of Sandi a certain paterfamilias, by name Eutolmius, demons having come out from their hiding-place, desired to make his threshing-floor larger: for it was too narrow to hold the abundance of crops. Moreover a certain hill adjoined, in which there were many demons. When therefore, enlarging the threshing-floor, he was digging everywhere, he also moved a stone of that hill: whence unclean spirits going out were invading and torturing flocks and herds, and even men. Some of them were crying out, that they were being vexed because that hill had been dug up. Therefore the inhabitants, having considered their calamity, and thinking that it had happened because Eutolmius had carried off money thence; and that from this it would come to pass that the Provost of the place, Euphrantas, would come against them as those guilty of the crime; made an attack on Eutolmius, threatening him that they would burn him and all his household as the author of the whole disturbance. When this tumult had been calmed by old and grave men, he compels them to return to the same: they sent messengers to the holy servant of Christ, to supplicate him to come to the town, and free the inhabitants from so many troubles and calamities. The blessed man set out with them, and when he had come to the place that had been dug up, he said to them: "Be of good cheer, my sons: for in this place that which you suspect has not been done: which that you may more easily understand, dig more deeply." They obeyed, and found nothing at all. The next day he announced a supplication: and when he had gone over the whole place, with those who were being vexed also accompanying, he came to the dug-up hill: where, when he had poured out prayers with his head inclined, all the unclean spirits, who had entered inanimate objects and diverse places, returned there. And beseeching God also for those men who were being vexed, he rebuked the unclean spirits; and having driven them back by the invocation of the Lord Jesus Christ, with the help of the Holy Spirit, he enclosed them there. And when he had replaced the stone that had been moved, and had filled the pit, he placed the sign of the nourishing Cross on it, and spent the whole night there singing psalms and praising God.
[100] he does the same at Permetania, The next day, the Sacrifice having been performed, when he wished to return to the monastery, the chiefs of the town of Permetania came to him, and prostrate at his feet, with tears they asked that he would also enter their town: because there too, when from a certain place a tablet had been removed, many demons going out, had invaded six men and seven women. Departing therefore, the servant of Christ Theodore set out with them. But when he approached the town of Aeantium, by the work of the demons, against whom to cast out he was going, it happened that the beast on which he was riding fell down, and he slipped from its back, and two sharp pieces of wood were fixed in his belly, and, his triple garment having been cut, so clung to his flesh, that much blood flowed out. A linen cloth therefore being cast on the wound, he again mounted the beast, and smiling at his companions: "Truly, my sons," he said, "God's help protects us against the demons, who try to injure us." But when they had come into the town, his companions thought that he would be sick because of the grave wound he had received. But he, strengthened by the grace of the Holy Spirit, like an iron statue, spent that night praising God without sleep. The next day therefore he traversed the town in supplication, and ordered the tablet to be replaced in its place: and there he too approached with the supplication: and having invoked the name of the holy and consubstantial Trinity, he drove out the spirits by which the men were being vexed; and compelled all those who had departed from there: and so bound them in that place, that they could no longer inflict injury on anyone. For he had also the great Martyr of Christ George helping him, by whose help he had been supported from his very boyhood. When therefore he had sealed the place with the sign of the holy Cross, he departed from there with his companions, and returned to the monastery. He also sent a letter to the Provost Euphrantas, and checked his attack, teaching that that place had been dug up not for the finding of money, but by the cunning of Satan: and sent home those who had accompanied him from the town of Sandi.
[101] Likewise at another time, when in the region of the same town of Sandi the vines were being devastated by locusts, and in the region of the town of Permetania the vines likewise were being eaten by worms, the holy man destroyed them by his presence and prayers, to the glory of Christ our God, who bestowed that grace on him. and near Euereae, In the town of the Euereaenses, when a certain farmer, by name Timothy, was digging a certain hill, either for the sake of finding money or for some other cause, so great a multitude of unclean spirits so invaded the inhabitants, that they were vexing very many of them, both men and women and boys. Wherefore Euphrantas, who was then Provost of the metropolis of the Ancyrans, ordered that farmer to be seized, and also some of those who were being vexed, and to be beaten with rods. But they with a great shout begged not to be afflicted with more blows: but being dismissed, they stirred up greater tumults. For gathering, first they burned down the farm of Timothy, who had been the author of the evil: then they were seeking him to kill him; and likewise were burning the farms of others: but whatever they found in their own places, they devoured and scattered, and broke the furniture: but if anyone wished to restrain them, he was badly beaten by them. where similarly men and animals were being vexed, Nor were only men being vexed by these demons themselves, but even animals without reason were partly being killed, partly rendered wild and untameable. Moreover, besieging the borders of the region, they brought great harm to those traveling. When therefore that whole region was engaged in these calamities, a few fathers of households, who had remained sound, with the Clergy fled to the monastery, and as suppliants casting themselves at the holy man's feet, were entreating that he would snatch their unhappy town from so many miseries. Prevailed upon by their prayers, the holy man set out with them: and all the townspeople came out to meet him, both those sound in mind and those vexed by demons, by whom the blessed man was being affected with insults. But when he had entered the church of the holy Archangel, he spent the whole night in hymns and prayers, beseeching merciful God to compel the multitude of demons from the men and beasts and the boundaries of the whole region, into the place from which they had gone out. In the morning all the people came running to him: and the spirits of those who were being vexed were crying out that force was being brought upon them by him, who had come against them, and was praying to God. But the divine man, rebuking them, and trusting in divine grace, as though chastising boys, and reducing them to servitude; commanded them to return to the place with a disciple sent in his stead whence they had gone out, and to remain there without injury to anyone. And since he himself could not go there, both because of weak health and because of excessive watching; he commanded one of the Brother Priests, by name Julian, who was with him, to go in his name, and to lead the Clergy supplicating to that hill, and to read the Gospel over the vexed men. And when Julian begged him to forgive him: for he said that nothing would profit, unless he himself came: the holy man, indignant, reproving him as contumacious and incredulous, said: "Quickly lead out the supplication, and be obedient and faithful, not incredulous. For God will altogether bestow his mercy and health on them, even in my absence." When therefore all had set out to the hill with the supplication, and were reciting the Gospel, he himself remained in the church, beseeching God for the healing of all: wherefore the spirits, who were around the hill, were crying out that they were being overcome and defeated by the prayers of the holy man: likewise those themselves who were vexing either men or beasts or besieging the neighboring places, were forced and compelled there, as if by Angelic powers. And while the Gospel was being pronounced, all with howling, casting the men down, returned to that mound, by the power of our Savior God through the prayers of his servant so ordering the matter. The pit of the mound therefore being closed, all with a supplication returned to the church: and the sacrifice being performed, when the holy man in that place, prayers being poured out, had placed a Cross, he was led back to the monastery by the inhabitants; and by God's grace it came to pass, that those demons did nothing further either against men or against beasts without reason.
[102] and again, Again it happened, that, when in the region of the same town there was a certain chest, and a vessel with tabernacles of the ancient Greek men, which were being watched by demons; certain lords of the place itself opened the chest, and brought its top or lid into the town for receiving water. Wherefore the demons again occupied men, and animals, and certain neighboring places. The citizens therefore meanwhile brought the servant of God, who by his prayers freed both men, and animals, and neighboring places from unclean spirits, and compelled the spirits themselves to the same place where they had been: nor did he permit the top of the chest to be restored to them, as they demanded; but wished that it should serve the use of water, as it now also is for a monument of his miracles. When Buna, and Peton, and Hynia, certain neighboring places, he extinguishes beetles. a multitude of beetles was so oppressing, that they were intercepting all the crops of the fields; prevailed upon by the prayers of the inhabitants, he took himself to those places, and when he had besought God for them, immediately all that multitude of beetles was destroyed. And such miracles in diverse places were often done by him to the glory of Christ our Savior God, who was bestowing this grace on the holy man.
CHAPTER XIII.
Various predictions and other miracles.
[103] Before the Emperor Maurice was slain, when in the monastery of the Mother of God the holy man was reading the prescribed number of psalms, After the lamp was extinguished four times, in the sanctuary recently built, the lamp that always burns was extinguished: wherefore he nodded to one of the Brothers to light it again. But when it was at once extinguished again, the Brother returned, and with prayers lit it again. And suddenly, it being again extinguished, the holy man, reproving him, as though he had done it ineptly, approached, and with his own hand lit it. But while he was still standing there, it was likewise extinguished again.
Then, all the Brothers being assembled, he spoke severely in this manner: "This sign, Brothers, believe me, has not happened simply, nor rashly. Do you therefore diligently search out what you have done, and confess your sin in the sight of God. For although you may try to hide it, God himself will reveal it." But when the Brothers had replied that they were conscious of no fault, he went to beseech God to reveal the matter to him. And when, the matter having been divinely revealed, he was sad, and was saying with a groan: "Truly you, Isaiah, weighed the nature of men, when you said: 'All flesh is grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of the grass: the grass has withered, and the flower has fallen.'" Isa. 40:6-7 And while he was saying these things, the Brothers asked him to reveal the matter to all. Whom when he had commanded to reveal the matter to no one, he predicts the slaying of the Emperor Maurice, he predicted to them by what kind of death the Emperor Maurice was about to perish. And when the Brothers replied that it was deservedly going to happen to him, because of the things he had wickedly done; "So he indeed, my sons," said Saint Theodore, "shall die: but after him much worse things shall happen, which this age does not expect."
[104] A few days later therefore a the Emperor Maurice was killed, and Phocas obtained the empire. Who when he had sent b Domitius his cousin into the East, to lead the army against the Persians, who were laying waste and plundering our regions; Domitius himself, learning of the attack of the enemies, who had come even to Cappadocia, and of the death of Sergius the Patrician, relative of the Emperor, was in great sorrow and fear, and did not dare to complete the undertaken journey. Having heard therefore the fame of the servant of God, he took himself to him at the monastery, and casting himself at his feet, as a suppliant asked him to pray to God for him, so that he could know what he should do: for he was in doubt because of the enemies' incursion. The servant of God answering him: "Go," he said, "my son, in the name of God, and complete the undertaken journey: for you will arrive unharmed at the army. But when you shall stand in battle line against the Persians, and shall enter the battle, you will be in great danger: but I commend you to God and his holy Martyr George, that he may preserve you unharmed from danger. other future things for the Commander Domitius: When therefore danger shall press you, be mindful of this prayer, and God will snatch you from danger." Having spoken these and many other things suitable to the time, he blessed him, and allowed him to depart. He arrived therefore unharmed at the army, as the holy man had predicted: and when, battle having been joined with the Persians, he was being attacked by ambushes, and was in great danger with the whole army; he remembered the words of the holy man, by whose prayers he had been commended to God: and entering a reed-bed on foot he hid himself, and so withdrew himself from danger: and having gathered the army, he took himself to the places of the Romans, and came to the Emperor. On which journey he visited the holy man, and with great faith, prostrating himself at his feet, gave thanks to God, who had snatched him from such great danger by his prayers: and he confessed that everything which the blessed man had predicted had come to pass. A solemn Lord's day therefore being celebrated, and the blessing of the holy man having been received, he set out to the royal city: and from that time held blessed Theodore and his holy mansion in great veneration: and always when he journeyed from the East to the royal city, he would turn aside to the holy man, and leave many gifts for his mansion and for the church of Saint George and for the oratories.
[105] For one suffering from an intestinal disease, healing, A certain man came from the royal city, by name Phocas, who was gravely suffering from a certain intestinal disease, and continually was sending out much blood from mouth and belly, unable either to stand or lie down. Having found the holy man in the monastery of the most holy Mother of God, he fell at his feet, begging him to pray to God for him, that he would free him from such great misery. For, he said, he had tried many remedies of physicians in vain. But the holy man commanded him to stay in the most holy oratory of the Mother of God. And in the morning he said to him: "Now, my son, go in peace." But he with a shout began to say: "So, father, do you dismiss me uncured, who have come to you from such distant places? All the sick who fled to you depart healed, and am I alone, wretched, neglected? I shall not depart from this place, unless I am freed from the disease." "Obey," said the blessed man, "my son, and set out with faith: for your prayers have been received. Nor will you have gone far from here, before you feel complete curing of the disease: but if you shall consume the whole time of your life here, believe me, you shall not receive any relief for that reason." When he had heard these things, with many tears crying out: "I know, servant of God," he said, "that you persecute me, as one unworthy to stay here and be cured. Behold, I depart, as you command. Do you at least ask God, whom you worship purely, for me, that I may return home healed." "Go," said the holy man, "my son: for I hope that God will shortly show you his mercy." When therefore, departing thence, he had approached the bridge of the river Siberis, compelled by natural necessity, he descended from the litter; and, as those who are purged by medicines taken, laid down the foul burden of his body with the disease; and sent a messenger to the servant of God, to indicate the gift of healing divinely given to him, and to ask that it might be permitted him through him to return, to give thanks to God. Blessed Theodore replied that he should praise God in his mind: wherefore he returned to the royal city praising God.
[106] Another, a certain governor of the city of c Sebaste, deprived of his eyes, came to the holy man at the monastery. And when he had understood that he was in the lower monastery of the most holy Mother of God, being led by one of his companions, he prostrated himself on the ground, and weeping prayed to God. Whom when the holy man, who was then finishing the prescribed number of psalms in the oratory of the Mother of God, and illumination for a blind man. saw thus praying, to the Brothers who were with him: "That man," he said, "has obtained what he came for: for he brought faith with him: and faith is worth most of all." But when entering, he had cast himself as a suppliant at the feet of the holy man, asking for the ability to see: "God," said blessed Theodore, "will certainly grant you what you ask. Stay here two days with your companions, and refresh yourself, weary from the labor of the journey: and then you shall depart." On the third day therefore, when he had blessed him, he commanded him to go. But he, a suppliant and weeping: "I entreat you," he said, "most holy man, by God, who has bestowed on you the gift of healings, do not dismiss me thus blind, lest to my fellow citizens my labor and supplication seem to have been in vain." When he was saying these and many other things with a great voice: "Believe me," said the blessed man, "your labor will not be in vain: for your prayers have been received by God; and quickly, if you depart, you will receive the ability to see; but if you refuse to obey, you shall remain blind." Having heard this, he departed, and turned aside at the town of Araunia, which was five miles away. But in the morning, when he was washing his hands and face, he looked, and began to praise God. And when he wished to return to the holy man, and did not dare to do it without his permission, he sent one of his companions to report the matter to him, and to ask that it might be permitted him through him to return. But the holy man ordered it to be signified to him, that he should complete his journey in peace, and give thanks to God. Returning therefore healed to his country, through certain persons who were going to Saint Theodore, he reported his greetings to him, and gave thanks to God.
[107] He drives out a demon A certain boatman, by name Theodore, when he was sailing from the market of the Callenses of Pontus, was wounded by a demon, and took himself to the holy man: whom when he had found in the lower monastery of the most holy Mother of God, falling at his feet, he showed him his wound. The spirit was visible to us under the skin of the body, like a mouse. To whom the holy man, having placed his hand, fleeing, it ran through his members. But when the holy man had enclosed it in his arm, so that it might not run about, he ordered the man to turn aside in the same monastery, and to refresh himself, weary from the labor of the journey. But soon, prayers being applied, he placed the sign of the Cross on the arm, and, the demon being driven out, dismissed him free.
[108] Antipater, Procurator from the town of Aeantium, and Demetrius the Priest most zealous for piety, those fed with poisoned food from the town of Silindicon, and Aetius, procurator from the town of Alectoria, illustrious men, came to Saint Theodore when he was in the women's monastery of Saint Christopher. But at that time he was having supper: wherefore he called them also to supper. Moreover since the cauldron was without a cover, by the work of a demon it happened, that a chlorosaura (green lizard) fell into the vegetables that were being cooked. And when the servant had set the vegetables on the table, and all had eaten them, the blessing of the holy man being applied, the blessed man commanded the servant, if there was any of the vegetables still remaining, to set it before them. And when he had done so, and they were eating, they came upon the chlorosaura, and recognizing it, they began to cry out: "We perish, holy father, we perish. What have we done? For the chlorosaura is a poisonous serpent." When therefore they were lamenting and grieving, that they would no longer see their wives and children, the servant of Christ said to them: "Do not fear, my sons: for if you believe in God, believe also in me his humble servant; you shall receive no harm at all. For he who was invoked by the Prophet Elisha as God, when there was death in the pot, promises true things: 'And if you drink anything deadly,' he says, 'it shall not hurt you.'" Mark 16:18 And when he had blessed the people, he gave them to drink: nor was any of them affected with any injury. The next day therefore he dismissed them praising God.
[109] George the Cappadocian, with a great band of soldiers, chains being thrown on his neck and hands and feet, George being led to execution was being dragged bound to the Emperor Phocas, as being liable to the charge of lese-majesty, desired to visit Saint Theodore, and to commend himself to his prayers. The guards also were held by the same desire: wherefore they took themselves to him, and having received his blessing, asked him to admonish George, who was bound, that he should allow himself to be led with sincere mind, and not lay ambushes for himself or for them, lest they fall into peril of their lives before the Emperor. The holy father did it: for using the testimonies of the divine Scriptures, he was admonishing him; "These things," he said, "my son, which are in this life, are brief and fleeting: but those which await us in the other life are stable and eternal. Take care therefore, lest, laying death upon yourself, you fall into eternal punishment: and consider this, my son, and set it before yourself, that whether for this or he animates him to bear it patiently for another crime justly condemned, you are beheaded, you should undergo the punishment with a willing mind, that in the future life you may be free and absolved. But if
you are conscious of no crime, much more willingly, if you are condemned, go to the punishment; that you may receive the same crown as all the Saints who were unjustly killed. For it is profitable to die suffering violence unjustly: as it happened to holy Abel, and to innocent Zechariah, and to Saint John the Baptist, and to the holy Apostles, and to the Martyrs of Christ." By these and many other testimonies of the divine Scriptures, George being confirmed in spirit, asked to be made partaker of the divine mysteries. Then blessed Theodore to the guards: "Reverence," he said, "my sons, the mystery of the Lord, and unbind this man, while he receives it: for it is not right that anyone bound with chains should receive Christ, who suffered for us, to free us from the bonds of hell." When they excused themselves, and said that this was not permitted them: and imparts the holy communion. that George was a noble and vigorous man, who, if loosed, if he wished to be ungrateful and flee, could in no way be apprehended; blessed Theodore, taking the cup of divine Communion, to impart it to him, sighing looked up to God, and at once the chains fell to the ground with a crash. Wherefore when the soldiers were in tumult, and were running to shut the doors, lest George flee: "Fear nothing," said Saint Theodore, "for I well know the grateful and sincere mind of this man." When therefore he had given him the divine mysteries, he wished also that, together with the guards, he should take food with him. Afterwards, the chains being again thrown on, they departed.
[110] d When on the 17th day before the Kalends of August the solemn day of the holy Martyr Antiochus was being celebrated in his church, and blessed Theodore was sacrificing, while, as is the custom of the region, he was raising the paten on high, what happened to him as he was sacrificing. to show the holy bread; the holy bread itself of the sacrifice received began of itself to be raised on high upon the paten, and as though exulting and leaping up and down, while all beheld, to be so moved, that all of us present, seeing and hearing the motion and sound of it ascending and descending, were filled with wonder and fear because of the miracle. But the Saint himself, full of tears of compunction and incredible joy, with us was praising the immense goodness of our God.
ANNOTATIONS.
CHAPTER XIV.
Journey to Constantinople to Saint Thomas the Patriarch. Various miracles.
[111] When in neighboring towns supplications were being made, and the Crosses which are wont to be carried, with a horrible and pitiable sight, were being shaken and moved of themselves, The Crosses being moved as a prodigy the divine man being asked what this meant, replied: "By your prayers, my sons, appease God, because great calamities threaten the world." But Domitius the Patrician, a most illustrious man, had promised that he would make a golden Cross for the use of supplication and adoration. And so the holy man sent Epiphanius the Deacon to him. Who, when he had given gold to the goldsmith, asked the Deacon to wait a little while the goldsmith finished the work. And the most holy Patriarch a Thomas, who had succeeded Cyriacus of blessed memory in the Pontifical See of the royal city, praising the piety of the glorious man, also himself gave a particle of the venerable wood of the holy Cross, and a particle of the holy sepulchre of our Savior God, summoned to Constantinople, and a particle of the veil of the most holy Mother of God, to be placed in the navel of that Cross which was being cast in gold. But he asked from the Deacon himself, whether that motion of the Crosses, which was said to have happened in the region of the Galatians, had been true. And when the Deacon had affirmed it, the most blessed Patriarch was very afraid, and full of anxiety, wrote a letter to the servant of God, asking him to come as quickly as possible to him in the royal city. Then came to him from the upper gates Theodore the royal Duke, who once, through the devil's trick, had lost his mind, and by the prayers of the holy man had been restored to his right mind, and asked him, if he went to the royal city, to go through the upper gates, and free his house from unclean spirits: the blessed man replied that he would do so, and dismissed him.
[112] It happened that Philumenus the Provost, most dear to God, the course of his praiseworthy life being finished, in a good old age met his last day. When the servant of God had taken care that he be honorably buried, Upon the dead Philumenus he substitutes John. he exhorted John the Priest, like to him in integrity and manners, to undertake the care of his monasteries. Which office when he was refusing, and was looking to a retreat in the East; "If," he said, "in this you do not obey, to undertake the care of your Brothers, you shall have no part with me." By which words moved, he undertook the burden. But when he had decided to set out for the royal city, being entreated by the inhabitants of b the town of Dorylaeum, and by the monks and his disciples Photius and Cyricus of the mansion of Saint George, which is called "of the Fountains," he had his way there: and crowds everywhere from neighboring places coming to meet him with supplication, he entered the town: where, the Sacrifice being performed, he blessed them. He also visited the monastery of the Fountains: and when he had confirmed the minds of the monks in religion with divine documents, he departed. But as he was approaching the monastery of the most holy Mother of God, that Theodore the royal Duke, of whom we made mention a little before, came to meet him, and led the holy man to his house, situated at the upper gates, that he might free it from the great vexation of demons. For both men and irrational animals were being vexed by unclean spirits: and when the household members were taking lunch or supper, stones were being thrown upon the tables, from which great terror was invading all; and the women's looms were being broken; he frees the house from demons infesting it: and such a multitude of mice and serpents was occupying the house, that no one for fear dared to enter it. The servant of God therefore entering the house, spent the whole night in singing psalms and beseeching God; and with water which he had blessed, sprinkling the whole house, freed it from unclean spirits.
[113] and a possessed sailor: Departing thence, he boarded a ship, to sail to the royal city. A certain passenger on the ship was sitting very close to him, vexed for many years by an unclean spirit: who when in the middle of the sea he could not bear the grace of his sanctity, began to be shaken, and to afflict the holy man with insults. Wherefore those who were on the ship, since they did not know by whose impulse he was cursing, were reproving him, that he should not rage against the servant of God. But the holy man commanded them to forgive the man: and taking hold of him, and striking his breast, and applying the sign of the Cross, he ordered the demon, which was uttering hidden insults, to go out. Who, like a mouse, was seen by those in the ship to come out of his mouth. But the man who was being vexed lay as though dead on the ground: but a little later he was roused by the holy man, and was healed, all wondering and praising God.
[114] He is received by Saint Thomas the Patriarch Entering therefore the royal city, he was honorably and with great joy received by the most blessed Patriarch Thomas. And when they had saluted each other, he offered to him his disciple John, and commending the sanctity of his life and his manners, he asked that he appoint him Provost of the monasteries. Which the most holy Patriarch immediately did, and granted the pallium, He heals the Emperor Phocas: and sent him ahead to the holy monasteries. The Emperor Phocas also had him summoned: for he was lying tormented by pains of the hands and feet. The holy man therefore entering, and placing his hands upon him and praying, the Emperor being relieved, asked him to pray for him and for the empire. Wherefore the holy man admonished him to refrain from the affliction of men and the shedding of blood, if he wished his prayers to be heard by God. But when he had departed from the Emperor, he predicts future disasters, the most blessed Patriarch Thomas asked him, that for his benevolence toward him, he would turn aside with him, and beseech God, that they might be found together in the heavenly life. And he asked from him, whether that admirable movement of the Crosses in the supplications had been true: which when he had understood to be true, he began to ask the holy man to indicate what that sign portended. Then the Saint to refuse, and to call himself cast-off and humble, and not to know what he should answer to the questions. Prostrating himself at his feet, he denied that he would rise, unless he complied with him in this matter: "For I know," he said, "that not only this sign, but many other things are known to you: for you have not neglected that up to this day: but even if you had neglected it, yet it will be revealed to you, if you ask it from God." When therefore the servant of Christ had promised to satisfy his desire, he compelled him to rise: and weeping: "I did not wish," he said, "to afflict you: for it is not expedient for you to know these things. But, since you so wish, know that by that shaking of the Crosses many grave and troublesome things are foretold to us. For it signifies that very many will fall away from our religion; and the incursions of barbarian nations, and a great shedding of blood, and immense destruction, and that in the whole world there will be seditions, and that the holy churches will be deserted, and the destruction of the divine worship and of the empire, and the approach of the adversary. It remains that, as helmsman of the Church and pastor of the people, you with all your strength continually supplicate God, that he may forgive the people, and of his mercy temper all these things."
[115] Hearing these things, the most blessed Patriarch, seized with great fear and sadness, with tears began to ask the holy man to beseech God to take up his soul, before he was oppressed by those calamities. And when holy Theodore wished to return to his country, because the time of his quiet and silence was approaching, the most blessed Patriarch did not permit him: for a rumor had grown that the city would not long afterwards be swallowed up: wherefore he wished that he should spend the winter with him. For he said that he needed his prayers before God for the people, that at least he might put off the evils which were threatening. But when the holy man asked for a proper place to dwell, he ordered him to live in the monastery of Saint Stephen, c which is called "of the Romans." He remains enclosed in Saint Stephen's: On the natal day of our Savior God therefore he enclosed himself there, to observe his usual quiet and abstinence. At which time it happened that the most holy Patriarch fell into illness: and so he sent a message to blessed Theodore, asking him
to pray to God to give him the end of life. But the servant of Christ replied that, although he himself, like the holy Apostle Paul of old, desired to be dissolved and to be with Christ; yet since it was more necessary that he should remain in the body for the salvation of the people, he would rather pray that he might bestow life and health on him. But again the most holy Patriarch sent a messenger to the servant of God: "By the Lord," he said, "I beseech you, Father, if you love me, that for the mutual and fraternal benevolence between us, you would beseech God, that he would receive his deposited pledge from my body, and free me from the impending dangers: for I cannot bear to see what you have predicted." Then the servant of God, he obtains the death of Saint Thomas: with knees bent, and prayers poured out for him, announced to him through Epiphanius the attendant, that he indeed had desired his life for the salvation of all; but since he had so earnestly asked that prayers be poured forth for him, that he might be dissolved and be with Christ, he had obeyed his commands, and that God would grant him what he desired, and that his petition would be fulfilled on the same day. "Wherefore if you command," he said, "that I come to you, I shall immediately do it: otherwise, we shall yet behold each other with Christ the Lord." Having heard this, the most blessed Patriarch rejoiced with great joy, and praising God, admonished his servant not to go out, nor to depart from the institution of his quiet and abstinence: for he was content with his promise, that they would behold each other with Christ. When the Emperor also had understood this, he visited the most holy Patriarch. Who, when he had blessed all, before the evening Hour, with wonderful prudence and constancy, d migrated to the Lord.
[116] At whose departure, when the servants of God's household were grieving, because they had lost so friendly and benevolent a Patriarch: "Do not," said the holy man, "you men of little faith and small mind, grieve and lament: for he who is going to be Patriarch will love us no less." Which also came to pass. e For Sergius, who was made Patriarch, he is visited by Sergius made Patriarch: came himself to the servant of God, and did not permit him first to be made certain by anyone: but unexpectedly found him singing psalms, and prostrating himself at his feet, asked him to pray to the Lord for him, that being made worthy by his divine grace of the Episcopate and Apostolic See, he might by his will rule and govern the people in peace: for he said that he was too young and inexperienced to be able to do this without the chief and singular protection of God. But the servant of God, prayers being poured forth, and embracing him: "For this reason," he said, "God has laid so great a burden upon you, a young man, that with greater virtue and strength you may sustain the impending calamities and troubles: which your predecessor seemed unable to accomplish for himself. Strengthen yourself therefore and be strong, and act manfully: for, trusting in God, I hope that your administration will be both long and illustrious." From that time, taking greater strength, the Patriarch administered his office uprightly, and pursued the holy man with greater benevolence than his predecessor.
[117] The holy man rebuked that custom, by which many, especially those placed in dignity, he reproves those running to the baths after receiving the Eucharist: after the reception of the mysteries betook themselves to the baths. Wherefore the assembly of Clerics of the most holy great church came to him, and addressed him thus: "Since we have heard, most holy Father, that you rebuke those who, after receiving the mysteries, wash themselves; we flee to you, to understand, whether you have learned this from the reading of sacred Scripture, or from elsewhere." 1 John 2:21, Ps. 1:7 (sic) The divine man answered thus: "We read in the holy Scriptures, 'Every lie is from the evil one'; and, 'You shall destroy all who speak a lie.' Know therefore, my sons, that God has indicated to me, that those sin greatly, who after the holy communion betake themselves to the baths, to wash and care for the body. For who, when smeared with ointment and spices, wipes off their sweetness? Who, as soon as he has had lunch with the Emperor, runs to the bath?" But while he was still staying in the same monastery, many crowds ran together there, to receive a blessing. And when a certain vexed one had come to him, and was crying out many things, rebuking him, and striking his breast with his hand, he commanded the unclean spirit, who was in him, to go out: and it immediately went out, with other Brothers watching, and Zoilus most zealous for God, who afterwards was made their Provost. He did many other miracles likewise, while he was there, he drives a demon out of a possessed man, through the grace of Christ our God. Wherefore Christopher, the Provost of the monastery most devoted to piety, and all the Brothers, wishing the image of him to remain with them, summoned a painter, who, having observed his face, might express his likeness. When therefore the painter had satisfied their desire, before they dismissed the holy man, he is painted: they led him where that image was, that he might bless it. Who, smiling with gravity: "You," he said, "are thieves. For why have you done this, except that you may sometime steal something?" And when he had blessed them, he departed.
[118] But Domitius the Patrician, a most illustrious man, brought the holy man to his house, which is in the Arcadians, with a blessing given to the barren, he predicts sons, to bless his household. And when he had brought in his wife Irene, a woman most loving of piety: "Bless," he said, "my lord, this fellow-servant of mine, from whom I, though we have long lived together, have not yet received any children: wherefore we are in grief." But the holy man, when he had blessed her with prayers poured forth: "By the grace of God," he said, "she will bear you male children." He then brought the whole household, and male and female servants, that he might bless all: among whom a certain handmaid, following after all the others, had a hidden demon, and with great pain had then risen from her little bed. Seeing her from afar, the truly divine man ordered her to be brought to him. And when he had seized her with his left hand, he began with his right hand to strike her breast, and to rebuke the vexing demon, not to remain hidden, but to be revealed. Immediately therefore the demon began to move, and as if suffering violence to cry out. But the holy man, having cast her on the ground, he frees a possessed woman. and placing his foot on her neck, turned to the East, prayed silently, moving only his lips, so that his voice could not be heard. And when he had come to the end of the prayer, with a clear voice, so that all might understand, he added the praise and glory of the most holy Trinity. The girl therefore remained mute for a long time: but when meanwhile he had blessed all the others, roused by him, she arose unharmed, and remained healed her whole life. Moreover, the wife of Domitius, Irene, as the divine man had predicted, bore three sons, having conceived the first son immediately after his blessing. Dismissed therefore by the Emperor and by the Patriarch, the servant of Christ returned to his monastery.
ANNOTATIONS.
CHAPTER XV.
Various virtues and miracles. Death. Life written.
[119] In the town of Scudris, near the monastery of the holy Archangel, at set times a cloud would come down, and on the underlying fields was casting down an immense amount of hail, and with great rains the torrent was so swelling, that entering the town, it was overturning houses, and carrying off farms and fields. Surely when that savage cloud on a certain occasion, more vehemently than usual, had rushed down; the torrent swelled with violent and unbearable force, and carried off the houses of the town, and irrational animals, and men and women with children, and small infants crying in cradles, and birds, with a pitiable sight into the nearby river Sagaris, since no help could be brought. The inhabitants therefore who had survived, with tears as suppliants coming to the holy man, brought him to the town. Who, being placed in that part against which the cloud was accustomed to rage, with prayers poured out to him, placed a Cross there: With a Cross placed, he hinders storms: and by the grace of God it came to pass, that never again did that savage cloud come down. And if ever, from an abundance of snow or water, the torrent was swollen, yet it never leapt over the bounds of its channel, nor brought any damage to the inhabitants.
[120] a Bonosus, a harsh man, when he was going into the regions of the East as Proconsul, He approaches Bonosus the Proconsul: and was approaching the monastery, having heard the fame of the divine man, sent a messenger to him, asking that he would come to the oratory of Saint Gemellus, because there, being about to adore God himself, he desired to receive the blessing of the holy man; since he could not come to the monastery, because he was hastening to set out. Saint Theodore therefore came to him, and when he was praying for him, and he was standing and not bending his neck, the holy man, taking hold of the hairs of his forehead, drew him downward. Thus virtue is wont to take confidence, and not to fear human power: "For the just man," as it is written, "is confident as a lion." But we, who were with the holy man, were very much afraid lest the Proconsul, as he was a fierce and cruel man, thinking himself affected with insult, would be indignant. Prov. 28:1 But he humanly receiving both the prayer and the reproof, venerated the holy man: and kissing his hand, applied it to his breast; begging him to pray to God for him, that he might be freed from a certain pain which was afflicting his breast. Wherefore the holy man, lightly striking his breast with his fingers: "You must first pray," he said, "that the inner man may be corrected, He admonishes him of his office: and recover: for when that has been cured, the outer will easily be freed. I also ask God for you in this. Wherefore give yourself to gentleness, and fear God, that my prayers may be heard: for if I indeed pray for you, and you neglect piety and virtue, my prayer will be in vain. Be therefore clement and merciful toward Christian men. In your magistracy do not show yourself cruel and inhuman: but considering your sins, be gentle and kind in avenging the sins of others. Take care that you never shed innocent blood: for if he who has only called another a fool, shall be guilty; how much more shall he be punished by God, who has unjustly shed blood?" These seeds of piety in his mind, as in a fruitful soil,
when the holy man had cast; he brought out some coins, which he gave to the holy man for the sake of religion: and he compelled him, refusing, to accept, asking that he distribute them individually to the individual Brothers. To whom the holy man, before he had looked at them: "How," he said, "since there are fifty coins, can they be distributed so that each of the Brothers, who are a hundred, may receive one each?" Then he, wondering at the words of the divine man, answered: "There are indeed fifty, as with your holy mouth, venerable Father, you have pronounced: presently therefore I will send as many others, so that they may suffice for all"; which also he did. Thus the virtue of the just is wont to make men, even proud ones, gentle and mild.
[121] The inhabitants of the village Apocomensis slew an ox, to eat of its flesh. But it happened he heals very many sick: that all who had eaten of that flesh fell into sickness, and lay as though dead: and whatever remained of the flesh turned black and foul-smelling. Those therefore who had not tasted of that flesh announced what had happened to the holy man. Who replied that that destruction had come from a phalanx of demons, who had passed through the cauldrons. And when he could not at that time depart with them, he blessed water, which he sent by one of the Brothers, that he might sprinkle those in danger, and give it them to drink. Which being done, all rose as from sleep; except one, who died. For John the procurator, whose brother that calamity had befallen, not waiting for the holy man's blessing, ran to a sorcerer woman: and while she was applying her incantations to his brother, he gave up the ghost. In the same place an immense cloud at the time of vintage was casting down such an abundance of hail, that it was devastating the vines even for many years. But when the holy man, having set out there, with prayers poured forth, had fixed a Cross; the cloud at the same time still came thereafter, but it so passed through, that it brought no damage. Wherefore the inhabitants, giving thanks to God for such a benefit, assigned a vineyard to his monastery.
[122] And in other places such miracles were done by Saint Theodore against beetles, and locusts, and worms, Whatever adversities he repels by a blessing: and mice, by which crops and vines were being devoured. For wherever any such thing happened, immediately fleeing to the holy man, they would either bring him with them, or carry water which he had blessed with his own hand, to sprinkle the devastated places: and immediately they obtained what they desired. If immense clouds and savage hails were overwhelming any region, or if torrents and rivers were swelling too much to the detriment of the peoples, the inhabitants immediately ran to him; and either brought him, or took a Cross from his hand, and fixed it in the places that were being overwhelmed; and they received no more calamities of this kind. If a plague invaded cattle or sheep, or other kinds of four-footed or winged animals, or even men; likewise they would take him, or his blessing, and water which he had blessed; or they would even bring halters or bells to him, that he might bless them: and they obtained the desired healing. Those who were vexed by unclean spirits were cured by his prayers. If hatred had fallen between spouses, it was driven away by the prayer of the holy man. Those who could not receive children fled to blessed Theodore; or took belts which he had blessed: and by his prayers were made partakers of their wish. As often as anyone was sick, his relatives or friends would apply oil or water, which the holy man had blessed, to the sick person, and he was cured. To those who needed the remedies of physicians, either by work and hand or by baths, the holy man advised them which physicians and medicines and baths they should use; and all obeying his counsel were cured. But those who, neglecting his counsel, fled to other physicians or to other remedies or baths, became more grievously and dangerously sick. Those who revealed hidden diseases of mind to the holy man received opportune remedies: He heals diseases of the mind: for he would appoint a time of penance, during which they should purge themselves either with fasts, or prayers, or alms. But those who concealed and hid the ulcers of the mind, he admonished to come to themselves and do penance. But those who bound themselves with perjuries and blasphemies, he rebuked with a grave look, that they might desist from their impious custom, and with many tears and entreaties and good works appease the divine wrath. "For if," he used to say, "those who only speak a lie, as David says, the Lord shall destroy; how much more shall he afflict with eternal punishments those who heap up lies with perjuries? Ps. 5:7 'You shall render to the Lord your oaths,' says the divine Scripture; 'and of every idle word that men speak, they shall render account on the day of judgment.' Matt. 12:36 But if we are going to render account for an idle word, how shall we sustain the threats of God against perjurers, and evil-speakers, and the flagitious?"
[123] Moreover, those who were waging enmities among themselves, he reconciled: those who were contending in judgment, he exhorted to settle and compose quarrels and controversies, He removes enmities: admonishing them not to afflict each other with mutual injuries, but to neglect and despise those fleeting things, and to prefer to all riches that precept, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." For love, as the Apostle says, "does not work evil"; and, "He who loves his brother, loves God." Rom. 13:10 But he would exhort all to be hospitable, and kind to the poor, and so to redeem their sins, and lay up food for themselves for the future. But blessed Theodore was very clement and merciful toward all. And if anyone was being oppressed before a Prince or Magistrate, the blessed man approached them, and obeyed the divine Scripture, so commanding: "Deliver the poor, and rescue the needy out of the hand of the sinner": in which he imitated also the virtue of Job, who freed the poor from the hand of the powerful. Ps. 81:4, Job 29:12 But in other matters he conversed with holy men, to the glory of the supreme and same-essence and nourishing Trinity, which preserves and adorns its true and holy worshipers to the end.
[124] These things I Eleusius, who was also called Georgius by Saint Theodore, have, God helping, written all of them. The author of the life born from sterile parents, Nor was I without a share in his miracles: but most of all I experienced them. For when my parents, sprung from the town of Adigermaron, had long lived together, and could have no children; they came to the holy man: and when they had received belts which he had blessed; he lived with him for 12 years: I was conceived, and brought forth into light, and as an infant was offered to him, and nourished in his holy monastery, and I learned letters from the most religious Provost. And when my parents had received another son by the prayers of Saint Theodore, they gave him his name. For twelve years therefore, during which I lived with him, I was a spectator of many of the miracles which were done by him: but those which had been done by him in earlier times, I received either from his attendants who had been spectators, or from those same persons who had been cured. Although I confess I have forgotten many things, and because of my weakness have passed over some. Therefore I have touched upon a few things out of very many: for if I had wished to follow all, time and strength would plainly have failed me.
[125] The most holy and most blessed and most faithful servant of Christ, Theodore, departed from life in the third year of the Empire of the most pious and most zealous for Christ, Heraclius, Saint Theodore died in the year 613, April 22 in which indeed year his son most dear to God, Constantine, was made Caesar, in the first Indiction, on the 22nd day of the month of April. By whose prayers may we obtain mercy before the tribunal of Christ our God, and together with him possess the heavenly kingdom, with all those who honor his memory, to the glory of our Savior Jesus Christ: with whom glory to the Father with the Holy Spirit, now and always, forever and ever. Amen.