Martinianus

ON ST. MARTINIANUS, HERMIT IN PALESTINE

ABOUT THE YEAR 400.

Preliminary Commentary.

Martinianus, Hermit, in Palestine (St.)

G. H.

[1] The memory of St. Martinianus is celebrated on February 13, whose deeds the Greeks adorn in the Ecclesiastical Office with various odes, antiphons, and other canticles. The Life of St. Martinianus was written in Greek by a contemporary author, His Life, from which the others have excerpted their eulogies, was written by an ancient author, and, as far as we can gather from it, a contemporary, who testifies that he knew St. Martinianus, living with other monks or hermits in the Place-of-the-Ark. "Among whom," he says, "I also knew the most blessed Martinianus dwelling." The author seems to have flourished in Palestine, where, both on the mainland and on an island in the sea, St. Martinianus lived for a very long time, having found a pious sailor as a helper for his life spent on a rock in the sea. There also in a monastery at Bethlehem, the prostitute Zoe, converted by him, died most piously. We give this Life rendered into Latin from an ancient manuscript Medici codex of the King of France. published from a manuscript of the King of France; embellished by Metaphrastes: It was augmented by Metaphrastes with various paraphrases, and published from the translation of Gentianus Hervetus by Aloysius Lipomanus and Laurentius Surius for this day, February 13, and then translated into various languages by others. An epitome of the same Life is contained in the great Menaea of the Greeks, in the new Anthology published by Antonio Arcudius by the authority of Clement VIII, its Greek epitome and in the Lives of Saints composed by Maximus, Bishop of Cythera. We give only the older Life, hitherto unpublished, preserving in many places the translation of Hervetus.

[2] In the Menologion of the Greeks published by Henry Canisius, the following is read: On the 13th day of the same month of February. The birthday of St. Martinianus is on February 13: The birthday of our most blessed Father Martinianus, who was from Caesarea in Palestine, a man distinguished for piety and monastic discipline. In the Menaea these verses are added:

Martinianus, having extinguished the flame of the flesh, Flees by dying the flame that does not end. On the thirteenth day Martinianus put off the body.

Molanus also records him in his supplement to Usuard, as does Ferrarius in his General Catalogue of Saints, whose words are these: At Athens, of St. Martinianus the monk. For in the church of that city, in the presence of the Bishop, he departed to another life. But his principal solemnity used to be celebrated at Constantinople in the church of the Prince of the Apostles, Peter, veneration at Constantinople, which was situated near the most holy great church, as is read in the same Menaea of the Greeks and in Maximus of Cythera.

[3] At what time St. Martinianus flourished can be gathered approximately thus. He flourished toward the end of the fourth century, There was then no persecution: neither Emperor nor Governor was persecuting Christians, as is read in section 19. The peaceful times of Theodosius the Great and his sons Arcadius and Honorius are indicated, when monks and anchorites especially flourished throughout the East. Then not only men were stirred up, but most devout women also traveled from Rome to the East. Among these was St. Paula, a most noble matron, who lived at Bethlehem for twenty years, he sends the prostitute Zoe to St. Paula at Bethlehem, from the year 384 to the year 404. To her, the prostitute Zoe was sent by St. Martinianus in section 10, where it is said that she had built a temple of Christ, which in section 11 is called the monastery of St. Paula, in which virgins gathered from various provinces lived with her, of noble, middle, and low birth, divided into three companies. This monastery was situated beside the church that had been built over the cave of the Nativity of Christ by the Emperor Constantine and his mother Helena, as we said on January 26, section 2, in the Life of the same St. Paula written by St. Jerome, who in number 46 says that she was buried in the middle of the church of the cave of the Savior. That she lived among virgins, or even presided over them, we said in section 1, number 2, and in various ancient manuscript Martyrologies she is also called a Virgin. The author of the Life of St. Martinianus followed this, who says that the prostitute Zoe, sent by St. Martinianus, lived under her ten years, who died before St. Paula, as did he himself. or, as is read in Metaphrastes, twelve years. But St. Martinianus, after he had dismissed this woman, lived seven months in solitude, six years on a rock in the sea, and two years in various pilgrimages, so that he must be said to have departed this life even before St. Paula.

LIFE.

By a contemporary author. From a Greek manuscript, collated with Metaphrastes.

Martinianus, Hermit, in Palestine (St.)

By a contemporary author, from a Greek manuscript.

CHAPTER I

The solitary life, miracles, and diabolical assaults through a prostitute upon St. Martinianus.

[1] The mountain called the Place-of-the-Ark is near the city of Caesarea in Palestine. On this mountain is a solitude situated, in which many men who lead the monastic life dwell; St. Martinianus as a youth seeks the desert: among whom I also knew the most blessed Martinianus dwelling, worthy of celebrated memory and endowed with divine power. For this aforesaid man, while still of youthful age (being about eighteen years old and excelling in bodily beauty), left the city with all its inhabitants and their tumults, and giving himself to a quiet and solitary life, came to this solitude and lived in it for twenty-five years, leading an angelic life on earth. He was therefore deemed worthy to receive from God the gifts of healing, and the Lord healed many through his holy prayers. For some who were held by various infirmities, he is renowned for miracles: and others who were tormented by demons, when they came to him, he freed from the assault of demons. And the Lord worked other miracles through his prayers. Day by day he advanced in his most beautiful discipline, and good fame about him spread in every direction, and all came to him to be helped.

[2] But the enemy, hostile to virtue, did not allow the virtue in which others excel in old age to shine securely in this young man. And first he began to stir up various temptations against him and seemed to terrify the man through visions. Then also by his ancient weapons, by which he cast Adam out of paradise, he schemed to tear him too from his good resolve. One day, therefore, while the Blessed one was singing psalms, the devil, transformed into a great dragon, he is harassed by the devil: going under his cell, began to dig up the foundations, as if wishing to overturn it. But the blessed Martinianus, having completed his prayers without any disturbance, looking through the window, said to him: "Truly it suits you to crawl upon the earth. Why do you labor in vain, O wretched one? Your visions do not terrify me. For I have Christ, who bears me aid and tramples upon your power." But when the devil heard these things, transformed into a youth, he said: "Wait for me, wait, Martinianus, and I will cast you down thus. For I have found a device by which I will cast you down and frustrate your hope. For unless I make you humble and abject, I cannot depart from you. For I bear such anger against you that you cannot endure it; I will lead you out of your cell and cast you down, no differently than a leaf is cast down by the wind, and I will see who it is that bears you aid." When the devil had said these things, he vanished. But the holy man lived as quietly he is not frightened: as if he had seen no phantom, but rejoiced in the meditation of the divine words.

[3] It happened one day that certain people were walking in the city of Caesarea, who were speaking among themselves about the divine way of life. While they were still conversing about the affairs of St. Martinianus and admiring his constancy, behold, a certain woman, a prostitute, passing by, heard what they were saying. She, impelled by the devil, approached the men and said: "Who is he whom you admire among yourselves? Or what are his righteous deeds, or what way of life does he have? If I wished, I would drag him down as a leaf from a tree. For what is his praiseworthy pursuit, a prostitute equipped with arts of deception, that he has shut himself up like a wild beast in the wilderness, unable to endure the desires of the flesh? Does he not, looking upon a woman, have desire? Know this: if fire is not present, hay is not burned. But if, with fire placed near, it remains unburned, this is admirable and to be valued highly. So too it must be said of him. If, when I go to him and he looks upon me, he is neither moved from his purpose, nor offended at me, nor is his mind stirred on account of my beauty, then such a man will be admirable, not only among men but also among the Angels of God." When she had said these things, having made a pact with those men to assail the noble mind of the blessed man, she went to her house, removed her finery, wrapped herself in ragged clothes, placed a tattered veil on her head, and girded herself with a cord; taking a wallet, she put into it all the clothing of her finery; and when evening came, setting out from the city, she came to the mountain as the wind and rain were rising.

[4] When she was near his cell, she began to beg the holy man with a pitiable voice, saying: "Have mercy on me, servant of God, and do not allow me, a wretch, to be devoured by beasts; for I have strayed from the road and fallen into this wilderness, and I do not know where to go. Do not despise me who am in such need, nor abhor me, a sinner. For I too am a creature of God." She said these things and more with weeping and wailing, when the Blessed one, seeing her in such a state, covered with rags and soaked with rain, asking to be admitted into his cell lest she be devoured by beasts, was moved in his soul and said: "Woe to me, a sinner! Now I will either fall from the commandment or from my purpose. A woman is in need; if I despise her and do not admit her into my cell, she will be devoured by beasts and will stain my soul. after pouring forth prayers, But if it be a temptation and she enters here, it is to be feared that she may drive me from the commandment; and I know not what to do." And raising his hands to heaven, he said: "In you, Lord, I have hoped; let me not be confounded forever. Let not my enemies mock me, nor allow me to be held in the dominion of the enemy; but according to your will, preserve me in this hour, and with your strong hand protect me from the evil one."

[5] He admits her: When he had said these things, he opened the door and admitted her; and when he had lit a fire, he said to her: "Woman, warm yourself, and look after yourself; for I will not remain with you." And when he had brought dates, on which he himself was nourished, he set them before her and said: "Eat, and take care of yourself; stay here, he withdraws: and tomorrow go in peace." He then entered the inner cell and shut the door; and when he had sung Psalms at the third hour of the night he prays: and had prayed, he slept on the ground as was his custom. But the woman, rising in the night, drew all her ornaments from the wallet, put them on, and adorned herself to deceive the blessed Martinianus, throwing the ragged clothes into the wallet. The holy man, rising in the morning after singing the Psalms, went out of the cell the prostitute, now adorned, to send the woman away. And when he had seen her so adorned, he did not recognize her; and being astonished and having remained silent a long time, he said to her: "Who are you, and from where have you entered here, and what is this diabolical garb?"

[6] She answered and said to him: "It is I, my lord." The Saint said to her: "And for what reason has your dress changed, so that you who were pitiable yesterday evening are now proud?" She said to him: "I am from the city of Caesarea in Palestine; and when I had heard about your youth, that you possess such bodily beauty, my heart burned greatly on account of your comeliness and beauty, and I came to see you and to feast on your beauty; for I did not make so great a journey without purpose. But what, my lord, is this importunate fasting of yours? And for what reason do you mortify such youth and fresh age with affliction and untimely abstinence? What Scripture says that one must not eat, nor drink, nor enter into lawful marriage? Hebrews 13:4 Does not Paul the Apostle say, introducing a discussion about marriage, 'Marriage is honorable and the bed undefiled'? Which of the Prophets or Patriarchs was not joined in marriage and became an heir of the kingdom of heaven? Was not that great and admirable Enoch, joined in marriage, one who has not seen death to this day? Likewise also Abraham and Isaac and that noble man Jacob, and Moses the lawgiver, and David, and Solomon, and all who followed -- were they not, joined in marriage, held worthy of the kingdom of heaven?" The woman, saying these things, weakened his good resolution and began to cast him down into the abyss of sin.

[7] And answering, he said to her: "If I take you as my wife, where shall I lead you, he is induced toward consent: or with what shall I support you, since I have nothing? For as you see, I have lived a life of poverty." She said to him: "Do not be anxious about any such thing; only agree with me, and dwell with me, and let me enjoy your youth, and do not afflict your heart in this. For I have both a house, and gold, and silver, and fine possessions, and men-servants and maidservants; and of all these I will make you master. Only agree to my desire." When she said these things -- or rather the devil speaking through her -- the man began to be moved from his purpose and to be inflamed with the desire of the flesh, and was now speaking of sin with her, to commit it with her. Then he said to her: "Woman, wait a little while. Since some people are accustomed to come and receive a blessing from me. Allow me: I will watch the roads, he takes care not to be seen by people, lest some come to us and find us in this act. For even if our action is manifest to God, let us at least not behave indecently among men, offending them." When he had said these things, he went out of his cell and, standing upon the rock, surveyed the roads.

Caesarea in Palestine, as the Menaea and the Anthology of the Greeks explain. This was the metropolis of First Palestine, which we treat of frequently elsewhere.

In Metaphrastes the order of the narrative is changed, and Gentianus has "fevers"; in Greek, "infirmities."

Gentianus translates "whirlwind." In Greek, "a youth."

Metaphrastes adds: "For two palm trees stood outside the cell."

CHAPTER II

The penance of St. Martinianus, who throws himself into fire. The amendment of the prostitute and her monastic life holily lived.

[8] But the gracious and merciful God, who does not wish anyone to perish, moved by God, he comes to his senses, did not despise his labor undertaken from youth, nor his prayer, but bore him aid. For when he stood upon the rock and surveyed the roads, God turned his heart so that he was changed from this evil action; and descending from the rock, he gathered a great quantity of dry brushwood; and entering the cell, he threw it in the middle, and taking fire, he lit the brushwood. When a great flame was kindled, he leaps into the fire: he leaped into it and stood in the middle of the fire, severely burned, and when his feet pained him greatly, he went out; and as if fighting with himself, he said: "What is it, Martinianus? This fire has received you rightly. You endure this chastisement as a test -- if you can suffer these things, approach this woman. For through her the devil is preparing eternal fire for you. For this is not the cause, but he who moved her, to impede your good purpose. Consider therefore the eternal punishment, O Martinianus; call to mind that eternal fire. For this fire, which can be seen, is extinguished by water; but the eternal fire is not extinguished by water, and those worms never cease; the angels who preside over the punishments are without mercy. Consider all these things, O Martinianus." scorched, he lies on the ground: But when he had rested a little from his sufferings, he entered the fire again and stood in the middle; and severely burned, he came out, fell to the ground, and groaning, said with tears: "O God, be merciful to me for my consent to sin; he implores the mercy of God: for you are the searcher of hearts and minds, and you know my heart, Lord. Because I have loved you, and desired you, and for your sake I have given my body to the fire. Pardon me, you who alone exist as gracious and merciful." He prayed these things lying on the ground; for he could not stand because of the wounds of the burning.

[9] When the woman had both seen and heard these things, rising as if from the deepest sleep, the prostitute is moved to repentance: having considered within herself the man, that for the sake of the salvation of his soul he had given his body to the fire, and having recalled her own wicked actions, she rose up, took off all her worldly clothing, threw everything into the fire, put on the ragged clothes drawn from the wallet, and falling at the feet of the blessed Martinianus lying on the ground, began to cry out with tears, saying: "Forgive me, servant of God. For you, Lord, know the various arts and deceits of the devil; but pray for me, I beg your holiness, that through your prayers my soul, bound by sins, may be saved. But know this clearly, that I will never return to my city, nor enter my house, nor walk in the evil way; but save my soul. she resolves not to return to the city: For know, Lord, that just as the devil strives to wage war against you, so I too will wage war against him, in the name of our Lord Jesus, who cleansed the harlot, and I will put him to shame. For he thought that he would raise me up against you; but he has raised me up against himself, and expecting that I would conquer you, he is to be mocked by me." As she said these things, tears flowed continually from her eyes.

[10] The blessed Martinianus answered and said to her: "The Lord my God will pardon you your sin; go in peace, at the urging of St. Martinianus, and as you have said, fight for your salvation, wage war against the flesh, and so you will be able to put the evil one to shame." She answered and said to him: "I beg you, direct me to salvation; tell me, where going, can I be saved?" The Saint said to her: "Go to Jerusalem, and go to holy Bethlehem; seek there a Virgin named Paula, who built a temple of Christ; and go to her and tell her she goes to Bethlehem, what has happened, and you will be able to be saved with her." She rose up and worshipped him, saying: "Pray for me, Father." And he, rising with pain in his feet, gave her a few dates for the comfort of the journey; and going out of his cell, he showed her the road that leads to Jerusalem and said to her: "Go in peace, woman, and keeping, keep your soul, and fight for your salvation. See that you do not turn back. For no one who puts his hand to the plow and turns back is fit for the kingdom of heaven. Do not therefore turn back, that is, to the pleasures of this life; but attend to yourself, lest you be mocked; and persevere in penance. For God belongs to those who do penance." strengthened by his counsel: She, having heard these things, greatly increased her weeping, saying: "I hope in him in whom the nations hoped and were not put to shame, that the devil will not find hope in me." And when she had prayed thus and worshipped the servant of God, Martinianus, she departed. The Blessed one, having signed her with the sign of the Cross, said: "The Lord my God will keep your soul." And when he had said this, he entered his cell, fell to the ground, and sighed and prayed. And she likewise went, weeping and praying that the Lord would lead her to salvation. And that night, since she could not traverse the breadth of the wilderness, she remained in the place to which she had come. In the morning, when she had risen, she walked, weeping and praying.

[11] Toward evening, therefore, she arrived at Bethlehem; and when she had come to the monastery of the blessed Paula the Virgin, entering to her, she told her everything that had happened. She, when she heard, admitted into the monastery, she lives austerely: glorified God, who is gracious and merciful, and received her into the monastery, and instructed her every hour in the things pertaining to salvation. She indeed persevered so greatly in her discipline that the Blessed Paula often admonished her and said: "Spare your flesh, so that you may be able to endure to the end." But she applied herself more and more, relaxing her labor of discipline in nothing until her death. The gracious God therefore bestowed the benefits of healings through her prayers as a certain proof of her virtue. For one day a certain woman whose eyes were gravely afflicted came to the monastery to be healed. The blessed Paula therefore, wishing to test her repentance, said to her: "Daughter, pray for her, that through your intercession the Lord may grant her health." In a few days, therefore, when she had prayed, the Lord healed her. she is renowned for miracles: That woman also placed herself in the same monastery. She, when she had lived ten years in the monastery, was perfected in Christ, having finished her course. she dies holily: For the whole time of her conversion, she did not drink wine, did not eat oil, nor a grape, nor any other fruit, nor anything else except bread and water, and that not to satiety, taking it in the evening and sometimes on the second day. She also slept on the ground. This is the end of this Blessed one, and these are her combats.

Whether she is St. Paula the widow, mother of St. Eustochium, who is here called Virgin, that is, a consecrated woman, we inquired above. Gentianus translates "Paulina," as Metaphrastes had perhaps written. In our Greek copy she is perpetually called "he Paule."

In Greek, "hope." Gentianus has "part," in Greek merida.

In Metaphrastes it is added: "the blessed Zoe (for this was her name)," which he could have known from another source.

The same author gives "twelve."

We have not found her inscribed in any Martyrology thus far, unless perhaps she had another name.

CHAPTER III

The solitary life of St. Martinianus in the open air on a rock in the middle of the sea.

[12] But it is necessary for us, returning to the life of the blessed Martinianus, to narrate the noble deeds of the man for the benefit of many. After seven months, therefore, having been healed of the wounds of the burning, he began to reason within himself, saying: "Truly, unless I depart from this place and go to a place unknown and hidden, the evil one will not allow me to rest. Henceforth therefore I must inhabit such a place to which it is impossible for a woman to come." St. Martinianus, healed from the burning, When he had said these things, he rose and prayed, saying: "Lord of heaven and earth, be present to provide what is beneficial for my humility; do not allow my soul to perish in the end, but bear me aid, Lord, and be my physician and the way of life, and my staff, and my wallet, and my bread." he leaves his cell. When he had said these things and signed himself, he went out. But the demon cried out, saying: "Let my powers boast of their strength, and let my name be famous, because I have prevailed against you. I have driven you from your cell and made you a fugitive and captive." And again he said: "What, Martinianus? Wherever you go, wherever you depart, I will be there; and as I have driven you from here, so I will also drive you away wherever you wish to dwell." But the Blessed one said: "Weak and wretched one, he laughs at the threats of the devil: did you think that I was driven out by you from my cell, or that I departed consumed with anguish? God forbid -- but that I may trample upon you the more." And again he said: "Was not the first and second assault of temptation enough for you? Attack yet once more. The workshop that you had built against me -- I have dissolved it and offered it to my God. Whence she too has regarded you as a leaf and trampled upon your strength, and you dare not even approach her shadow." When he said these things, the devil vanished from him. The Blessed one began to sing this Psalm: "Let God arise, and let his enemies be scattered, and let those who hate him flee from his face," and singing he entered upon the road that leads to the sea. Psalm 67

[13] When he had come to the port, he found a certain ship-master who feared God; and approaching, he said to him: "Brother, do you know any small island in the midst of the sea where no one lives?" The ship-master said to him: "For what reason do you ask, and what do you want?" He said: "I wish to find rest from this world, and I cannot find a place where I may rest and flee the assaults of the evil one." He said to him: "There is a rock, narrow and terrible, far from land. he seeks an island in the sea inhabited by no one: For if anyone is near that rock, terror seizes him." The Blessed one said: "I am greatly delighted by such a place, to which especially a woman cannot come." The ship-master said to him: "Whence will you afterward get nourishment?" The Blessed one said: "We will make a pact between us. having made a pact with a pious sailor, You will supply me with food, and I will intercede with God for you. Moreover I will work, sitting upon the rock: only bring me palm branches, and I will weave them with my hands; you will take them from me and sell them, and bring me food. Furthermore, also get lagoons for me, in which we may store water; and when we have broken bread and cooled it, we will put it into the lagoons. You will come to me two or three times a year, bringing bread and water." When the ship-master heard these things and recognized him as a spiritual man, he agreed with an eager spirit to do everything. And taking a small boat and receiving the Blessed one in it, they made straight for the rock with a favorable wind and arrived at the place in the evening. When the Blessed one had seen that the place was suitable, he greatly rejoiced; and having given thanks to God and blessed the ship-master, he climbed upon the rock. he is conveyed to a rock in the sea; he lives in the open: And when he had climbed up, he sang: "With expectation I have waited for the Lord, and he inclined to me, and heard my prayer, and he drew me out of the pit of misery and out of the miry clay. And he set my feet upon a rock and directed my steps." When he had completed his prayers, he said to the ship-master: "Go, and bring me lagoons, and bread and water." The ship-master said to him: "Do you wish me to bring you also wood, so that we may make you a small shelter?" But the Saint would not allow it; rather he sat in the open upon the rock, scorched by the heat and constricted by the cold of night. The ship-master brought all the things that the Blessed one had commanded, and brought him bread and water each year. The blessed Martinianus rested as if he had departed from the world and rejoiced in the meditation of the Scriptures.

[14] In a storm stirred up by the devil, But the evil one did not cease even so from harassing the just man with war, but began to bring temptations upon him again. For one night, having stirred up the sea and raised the waves, he showed him that the waves were being carried fifteen cubits above his head, and the demon cried out, saying: "Now I will drown you in the waters, Martinianus." But the Blessed one answered and said without any disturbance: "Weak and wretched one, why do you labor in vain? For your phantoms do not terrify me, nor do your threats fill me with fear. I hope in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ strong and unconquered, he prays: that I will put you to shame even to the end." And when he had said these things, he began to sing: "Save me, O Lord, for the waters have entered even to my soul. Psalm 68 I am stuck in the deep mire, and there is no foothold. I have come into the depth of the sea, and the storm has overwhelmed me." And when he had completed the Psalm, he began to say: "Only-begotten Son, who for our sins descended to earth, hear me. Lord, who rebuked the sea and restrained its uncontrollable force, who rebuked the winds and conquered those things that cannot be conquered -- since all things obey you with trembling -- hear me in this hour, and cause the temptation that has been raised against me to cease, and put to shame the devil who rises against me; for you can do all things, Lord." And as he said these things, the devil vanished from him. For six years, therefore, the Saint lived thus upon the rock, he perseveres for six years, enduring every labor and suffering for the salvation of his soul.

Gentianus: "like dung and mud." In Greek: "recently a leaf."

Metaphrastes adds: "three times"; so they had agreed that he would bring the necessities two or three times a year.

The Menaea say "ten years."

CHAPTER IV

A girl driven ashore from a shipwreck. The flight of St. Martinianus with the help of dolphins. Pilgrimage. Death.

[15] But even so the evil one did not rest from him, but brought another temptation upon him. For when the demon had observed a ship coming that carried men and women, he broke the ship with the wind and dashed it against the rock and drowned all who were in the ship. But one girl A girl driven to the rock from a shipwreck, was able to seize a plank and be saved. And when she had drawn near to the rock where the Blessed one sat, she hung from it and began to cry out: "Have mercy on me, servant of the Lord, and stretch out your hand to me, and save me from this water, and do not allow me to perish in the deep." The Blessed one, seeing that she had no other means of salvation, said with a smile: "This too is a machination of the evil one. Truly you will not conquer my ready zeal of mind, O devil." And he thought within himself, saying: "Woe to me, a sinner; again the testing of my heart is upon me. What then shall I do? If I leave her in the waters, she drowns, and it stains my soul. She is in graver need than the first. after pouring forth prayers, For that one, since she was on land, could often be saved; but this one cannot be saved from elsewhere." And stretching his eyes to heaven, he said: "Lord, do not allow me to perish, but provide what is useful for my soul." he admits her: And when he had said these things, he gave her his hand.

[16] When he had noticed that she was beautiful, he said to her: "Fire and hay do not agree well together. You and I cannot be here together; for the evil one works corruption in me. But you stay here, to avoid the occasion of sin, have no fear; for you have bread and water, and as I ate, you also eat, so that it may suffice for you until the ship-master comes who brings me bread; for two months still remain, after which he will come. And when he arrives here, tell him what has happened. He will lead you out of here and conduct you to your city." When he had said these things, he signed the sea with the sign of the cross and said: fortified by the sign of the Cross, "Lord my God, who rebuked the winds and the sea, and they obey you with trembling, look upon me also and have mercy on me, and do not allow me to perish. For behold, Lord, trusting in your holy name, I will cast myself into the sea. For I prefer to die recklessly than to have intercourse with a woman with the disturbance of my body." Then turning to the girl, he said: "Be well, he casts himself into the sea; woman. The Lord will keep your soul and preserve you to the end." When he had said these things, he is carried on the backs of dolphins to the shore: he immediately threw himself into the sea. And immediately two dolphins received him and, carrying him, brought him out of the sea and set him on land. The girl, until he passed from her sight, watched him being carried above the waters and did not know further what had happened. The blessed Martinianus, having come forth onto land, prayed, saying: "I give you thanks, O God, that you have shown mercy to me, unworthy; and do not abandon me to the end, O good and gracious Lord."

[17] When he had said these things, he said within himself: "What shall I do? In the mountains Satan does not leave me alone, nor in the sea, and I do not know what to do. For the rest, it is good for me to meditate on the saying of the Gospel and to do this. Matthew 10:23 For it teaches thus: 'If they persecute you in one city, flee to another. For amen I say to you, you will not finish the cities of Israel.'" When he had said these things, he began to flee and to say: "Flee, Martinianus, lest temptation seize you; flee, O monk." And so fleeing and pursuing himself, he finished the days of his life, he undertakes a perpetual pilgrimage: never carrying two tunics, nor money in his belt, nor bearing anything else for the use of the body from those things that should serve a man. But wherever he entered a city or a village, he asked who was a pious man there, and came to him; and taking what was necessary for food, he went out, and so fleeing, he completed his days. And wherever evening found him -- whether on a mountain, or in a wilderness, or on a rock -- there he stayed. For two years, therefore, running and pursuing himself, after two years had passed, he completed his beautiful course, having visited one hundred and sixty-four cities.

[18] When he was about to die, he came to Athens. Now to the blessed Bishop who was there he comes to Athens; about to die, he calls the Bishop to him: it was revealed concerning the departure of the Blessed one. The blessed Martinianus, entering the church, since he foreknew the hour of his death, falling upon a bench, said: "Call your Bishop to me quickly." They thought he was a fool. But when he asked yet more urgently, they went to announce it to the Bishop, saying: "A man lies in the church, and we do not know if he is a fool. He certainly says to us: 'Call the Bishop to me.'" He said: "You are the fools. That man is higher than both me and you." And rising at once, he went quickly to the church. When the Blessed one saw him, he could not indeed rise, but stretched out his hands upon the ground and thus rendered him due honor. The Bishop bestowed greater honor upon him, saying: "God promised me long ago that he would show me his servant, and he who is a stranger to falsehood has fulfilled what he said. But when you dwell in the kingdom of heaven, remember my soul also." He answered and said to him: "Bless me, Father, and pray for me, that I may find confidence when I stand before the tribunal of Christ." having received a blessing, When he had said these things, he closed his eyes and said: "Into your hands, Lord, I commend my spirit." And when he had signed himself all around, he said to the Bishop: "Commend me to God, Father." When he had said this, with a smiling face he gave up his spirit to the Lord, having finished the race and kept the faith, having received the promise of the crown set before him, he dies holily, deemed worthy of the kingdom of heaven.

[19] Who would not admire this holy and noble athlete? Who would not pronounce blessed his unconquered course and his life full of confidence? Who would not tell and wonder at his admirable way of living, which was led by virtue? How he fought to the very end for his soul! And the martyrdom of his combat he built for himself. He is to be regarded as like a Martyr. For when there was no persecution, and neither Emperor nor Governor was persecuting, he built for himself a martyrdom, waging war against the devil with his own strength and trampling upon his pride. He was therefore his own persecutor, and King, and executioner tormenting himself, and Martyr fighting, and righteous one declared. What then? Will you call him a Martyr? Certainly. For as a brave athlete he despised the fire; and what is admirable, he himself kindled the furnace for himself, and through this fire trampled upon the eternal fire; and the woman whom the devil had raised up against him, he made through his prayers a perfect handmaid of God.

Metaphrastes adds: "neither wallet nor staff."

In the odes of the Greeks he is called "Martyr voluntarius" -- a voluntary Martyr.

CHAPTER V

The holy life, death, and burial of the girl on the rock in the sea.

[20] But it is fitting for us to narrate also about that girl who was left on the rock -- what end she received and how she completed the end of her life without any reproach. She herself, left on the rock, the girl lives on the rock according to St. Martinianus's instructions: ate as the Saint had instructed her. When the ship-master who brought bread and water came, he departed, and when he approached the rock and saw the girl standing, he thought it was a phantom; and struck with fear, he began to withdraw from the rock, rowing his little boat. But she, calling out, said to the ship-master: "Do not be afraid, brother; for I am truly a woman, and I am a Christian. But come near me, and I will tell you what happened." When he still did not believe and feared the more, she swore, saying: "By Christ the King, I am a Christian. Do not be afraid, but approach me, and I will tell you in order what happened." Then the ship-master brought his vessel, and said to her: "Where is the monk who was here, or what happened to him that he left? And who brought you here?" She, having signed herself, began to narrate everything that had happened to them.

[21] When the ship-master heard, he said to her: "Come, so that I may lead you away from here, she asks the sailor to bring her men's clothing: and you will go to your city." But she, answering, said to him: "Do not mock me, my lord; do not cast me out from this rock. But show me mercy and clemency, and going to your city, bring me a cloak and a tunic woven of hair; and bread and water, as you brought to the Blessed one, and you will receive the same reward from the Lord Christ. For there is no distinction of male and female with God, as Paul the Apostle said: 'You are all one in Christ Jesus.' Galatians 3:28 Do not therefore abhor me, humble and lowly, who wishes to be saved. For unless God had willed me to be saved, I too would have perished with all the others in the sea. Since God wills to save me, do not destroy me because I am a woman. Remember that he who fashioned Adam also created Eve; God made them both, and in the last days he was manifested through a woman. Come therefore, I beg you, go to your city, and as I have told you, bring me a cloak and tunic, and bread and water, and wool, and bring your wife here, so that I may speak with her about the wool, and so that she may clothe me in a man's garb; and the Lord my God will be with you and will give you mercy in this life, and confidence in that one."

[22] When the ship-master heard these things and saw her desire for God, he said to her: "Behold, I will do everything you have commanded me. Only be strong and brave, and the Lord will fulfill your desire." When he had said these things, he moved his vessel and went to his city; and after two months, taking his wife and whatever she had commanded, he came to her. And when his wife had ascended the rock, she embraced her, she clothes her, and falling with her face to the ground, she worshipped, and brought everything from the ship. She asked the man to withdraw a little while she was dressed in the men's garb. When he had withdrawn, she took off her women's clothes, and at the same time put aside womanly weakness, and girded herself with manly prudence and fortitude; and standing, she prayed, saying: "You who heard all your Saints, hear me also, a sinner, and perfect me in this garb; preserve my soul, Lord, and strengthen my heart; strengthen my body, and lead my soul so that it may willingly rest in your commandments; and to those who obey me, grant a good reward, for you are blessed forever and ever. Amen." And she said to the woman: "I ask you, my lady, when bread and water are brought to me, see to it that you also bring me wool, and when I have prepared it, I will give you the wages, lest I eat bread for nothing. Keep these clothes of mine also as a memorial of me." When she had said these things, she sent them away in peace.

[23] she prays day and night: In the third month the ship-master and his wife came to her, bringing her what was necessary for food. The Blessed one rejoiced in her good way of life. She poured forth twelve prayers during the day and twenty-four at night. Her food was a pound of bread in two days. And so she completed her course in a good way of living. She was, when she came to the rock, twenty-five years old; on the rock she lived six years. Two months before the ship-master and his wife were to come, the Blessed one she dies holily: gave up her spirit to Christ, having completed her course in a good way of life.

[24] After the period of two months was completed, the ship-master came with his wife and found her dead, lying decorously and honestly, with her hands in the form of the Cross, her mouth seemly, and her eyes carefully closed, and -- to say it in one word -- lying so decently that they thought she was sleeping. Approaching, they found her dead, like a morning flower; and when they had venerated the revered relics, they took them in the little boat she is buried at Caesarea and carried them to the city of Caesarea in Palestine and reported to the Bishop the life she had led by virtue. Wherefore the Bishop ordered her to be buried in an honorable and distinguished place, with lamps and divine hymns, in Christ Jesus our Lord, to whom be glory and power, forever and ever. Amen.

Gentianus translates: "a cap and a man's tunic." In Greek: "a birrus and a tunic of hair." And below, in more corrupt form, "the barin and sticharin." In the Life of St. Athanasius on May 2: "taking his sticharin and birrhus." These corrupted words stood for birrion and sticharion. Artemidorus, book 2 of the Interpretation of Dreams, chapter 3: "a chlamys, which some call mandion, others ephestris, others birrion." And sticharion, or stoicharion, is a sacred tunic; whence in the Liturgy of St. Chrysostom: "the deacon puts on the stoicharion," and then: "the priest, taking the stoicharion, puts it on." Thus the Deacon and the Priest are clothed in the sacred tunic. Below in this Life they are called "the manly habit."

Metaphrastes or Gentianus: "on the second day." But in Greek it is "after two months."

In Metaphrastes the name Photina is added, which the ancient author did not express. We have treated of her among the Passed Over saints on this day.