ON THE HOLY ABYSSINIAN ABBOTS,
BATATZUNUS, PALÆMON, AND GARUMA,
From the Metric Hagiology of an Abyssinian Poet.
CommentaryBatatzunus, Abbot in Abyssinia (S.)
Palæmon, Abbot in Abyssinia (S.)
Garuma, Abbot in Abyssinia (S.)
D. P.
[1] I have treated on the VI day of this month of S. Bazalota, sister of one of those first Monks, who from the institution of SS. Anthony or Pachomius the first fervors of anchoretic and monastic discipline, They can be estimated from the first Monks; introduced into Ethiopia, bodily black, but through the grace of Christ spiritually white. From their discipline to have proceeded the three above-titled holy Abbots, it is permitted us to presume; or certainly to have flourished much earlier, than that gold was turned into dross, the Alexandrian schism being received. Although also of the Abyssinians it may be permitted to think, what we have almost demonstrated of the Muscovites or Ruthenians; that they too were later in receiving the schism. Under this indulgence, those three set forth as Saints, we shall not reject, until some probable cause offers itself for doubting their antiquity and orthodoxy. whom in one place they venerate together. But I believe they are commemorated together; because although not dead on one day, they are venerated however by common veneration, in one and the same place buried by some common translation. The elogia of each, in the above-praised Poet, are these.
[2] The first from singular abstinence "I bid greeting to you, Abba Catatzunus, who in prolonging the labor of your asceticism strongly persevered; that you might free fallen man from hell. By great abstinence exercising your body, you made it almost ethereal; eating only on the sixth day, and not but one leaf of vegetable."
[3] the second from repentance, "I bid greeting to you, Abba Palaemon, whom the author and lover of eternal destruction indeed deceived, bringing forth before you spectres of every kind; but the Lord mercifully remitting sins, a voice was sent forth over your head, saying to Satan: 'I have done this,' as if wishing it to be subintended: 'And this too I will save': that that voice may be understood to have been of God."
[4] the third is praised from miracles, "I bid greeting to you, Abba Garuma, who, for the demonstration of your great virtue, gathered seeds, and joined them to their own ears. Wherever this just one was, at the face of his greatness and the sound of his venerable word, stones withdrew and trees retreated."
[5] the rest are wanting. These miracles indicate a great Thaumaturge, of which the first seems thus to be understood, that the seeds cast into the earth he caused at once to rise into ear: the abstinence of Catatzunus, admirable indeed and not to be imitated, but not incredible, anyone moderately versed in the Acts of the Saints will say. To add more by divining is not pleasant, but to wish that the Acts come forth, about to explain more certainly both their age and the place of asceticism, and their true sanctity.