ON SAINT TYCHO THE WONDERWORKER,
BISHOP OF AMATHUS ON THE ISLAND OF CYPRUS,
5th Century.
HISTORICAL COLLECTION.
Concerning his cult among the Greeks and Latins, and the Office by Saint Joseph the Hymnographer, from which is had an epitome of his Life and Miracles.
Tycho the Wonderworker, Bishop of Amathus on the island of Cyprus (S.)
BY THE AUTHOR D. P.
Among the more illustrious Cities of the island of Cyprus in antiquity was held Amathus, whence Cyprus too was called Amathusa, and it is a coastal city on the Southern shore, mentioned in the Periplus of Scylax, and likewise by Virgil, The time of his life Ovid, Strabo, Pliny, Ptolemy and others. When the faith of Christ began to be announced in this island, an Episcopal See seems to have been erected at Amathus; in which there shone Mnemenius and his successor Saint Tycho the Wonderworker, consecrated by Saint Epiphanius. This man indeed flourished in the fourth century of Christ, having died in the year 403, as we said at his Life on the 12th of May. his memory among the Greeks Most celebrated, moreover, is the memory of Saint Tycho among the Greeks on this 16th of June in absolutely all the Ritual books, such as are the Typicon of Saint Sabas, the Menologion of the Emperor Basil Porphyrogenitus, in whose elogium he is called "our holy Father and wonderworker Tycho," as also in the Manuscript Synaxarion of the Church of Constantinople, from which we shall soon give the elogium, which is similarly found in various Manuscript Menaea: Milanese, of the Ambrosian library; Parisian, of Cardinal Mazarin and of the Fathers Preachers; of Dijon, of the Society of Jesus; in the printed Greek Menaea, in which the whole office of this day concerning Saint Tycho is recited: and likewise with Maximus Bishop of Cythera, whose compendium is extant in the new Greek Anthology, which Antonius Arcudius inscribed to Clement VIII. Another compendium in his Menologion Cardinal Sirletus gave to be published in Latin, which being cited by Baronius in the Notes to the Roman Martyrology, there is found Saint Tycho Bishop of Amathus in Cyprus, in the time of Theodosius the Younger. This man was declared Augustus in the year 402, but from the death of his father Arcadius in the 8th year of the said century, and the Latins he began to reign under the direction of Saint Pulcheria his Sister; up to which time or beyond whether Saint Tycho lived, we find nothing by which it may be proved or disproved. Of the same Genebrard makes mention in his Calendar of the Greeks, and Molanus in the Supplement to Usuard, and by the former he is called a worker of miracles, by the latter holy and famous for miracles; namely, as by the Greeks, a Wonderworker.
[2] The Canon proper to the Saint, with the Stichera Homoia, that is, Similar Verses, and other things pertaining thereto, Saint Joseph the Hymnographer composed, whose Canon's Acrostic, under which we are pleased to render the same into Latin too, is this.
The Canon of Saint Joseph concerning Saint Tycho.
(Acrostic:) "I address the Shepherd who works wonders, Joseph."
Tycho the Wonderworker, Bishop of Amathus on the island of Cyprus (S.)
BY THE AUTHOR D. P.
Ode One.
(Greek text follows; rendered:) Standing crowned before the throne of God, as one who lived holily on earth and shone with light that never sets, enlighten my heart and mind to hymn with worthy hymns your angelic life, O Blessed one.
You appeared sprouting forth from a renowned and blessed root, holily as a branch of true fruitfulness, filled with faith and love, and with the grace of stupendous miracles, O divinely Inspired one.
A pure and perfect sacrifice you offered yourself to Christ, who was sacrificed for us, mortifying in yourself the passions that slay the soul, through the exertion of constant asceticism and continual supplication, O Father.
TO THE THEOTOKOS.
You raised us up, who had fallen into the depths of perdition, having conceived Christ, O pure one, from your immaculate womb; him therefore, as having boldness, beseech, that your servants be delivered from dangers.
(Latin rendering of the same:) Standing crowned before the Majesty of God, as one who lived holily on earth, and shone with light that never sets; illumine my heart and mind, that I may hymn your Angelic life with worthy hymns, O Blessed one.
Having a glorious and happy root, you came forth holily from the womb, as a branch of true fruitfulness, full of faith, charity, and the grace of stupendous miracles, O divinely Inspired one.
A reasonable and pure victim you offered yourself to Christ, who was offered for us; mortifying in yourself the passions that slay the soul, by the contention of exercise and continual entreaty, O Father.
Marian (verse).
You raised up those swallowed by the abyss of perdition, bearing Christ from your immaculate womb, O Immaculate one. Him therefore, as having authority, entreat, that he may free your servants from dangers.
Ode THREE, for the Second is by custom sought from elsewhere.
(Greek rendered:) Cutting the matter of malice off at the roots with the sickle of your wisdom, of prayers, as a fertile field, O Holy one, you cultivated a hundredfold ear of grain.
Desiring only those things that led you to the divine life, O Father, you traveled the right paths without turning back, having the grace of the Spirit guiding you.
You imitated the lives of all the Saints, O Divinely-minded one, as a holy man, and you acquired impassibility of soul, divinely inspired Tycho; and you were proved to have been a house of the Holy Spirit.
(Latin rendering:) With the sickle of your Wisdom uprooting the shoots of malice, and as a fertile field, O holy one, cultivating the seed of prayers, you multiplied the ears a hundredfold.
Desiring only the things leading to the divine life, Father, you held the right way with unswerving step; because you had the grace of the Spirit leading you.
You imitated the lives of all Saints, O Divine-wise one, as a holy man; and you possessed impassibility of soul, divinely inspired Tycho; and you were proved to have been a house of the holy Spirit.
Since the Theotokion, which by custom was to close this Ode, begins from the same letter T with which the other Ode begins, and yet the prefixed Acrostic requires only a single T; a poetic license follows whereby it is here doubled. Wherefore have it here separately.
(Greek rendered:) You bore One of the Trinity, O All-blameless one, who reforms us who were formerly crushed by the wickedness of the enemy warring against us.
(Latin rendering:) One out of the Trinity you bore, Most Immaculate one, reforming us, who were before crushed, by the wickedness of the serpent warring against us.
Ode FOUR.
(Greek rendered:) Your virtuous life, your most glorious miracles, your firm faith, your endurance, your meekness, the pious beholding, openly appointed you a priest and shepherd, O Holy one.
The grain given by your hand to the needy, O Blessed one, was not diminished, but rather was more abundantly blessed; the emptied storehouses you filled with divine grace, O Hierarch, truly multiplying manifold what was entrusted.
Opening your compassionate heart, glorious Tycho, you became to the poor riches and to the naked clothing, a protector of orphans, ministering in these to Christ our God.
TO THE THEOTOKOS.
The whole world beset with sloth and wholly darkened with the gloom of passions, and enslaved to sin, do you illumine and lead by the hand to life, you who bore the sinless Word.
(Latin rendering:) That virtuous life of yours, the stupendous miracles, the firm faith, the tolerance and meekness beholding, the pious faithful openly ordained you Pontiff and Pastor, O Holy one.
The grain given to the needy by your hand, O Blessed one, was not diminished, but was very greatly blessed; when you filled the exhausted granaries with divine grace, O Hierarch, truly multiplying what was entrusted.
To the naked clothing, to the needy a treasure, to orphans a defender you were, glorious Tycho; opening to them the bowels of your compassion, and in them serving Christ our God.
Marian (verse).
The whole world beset with inertia, and obscured by the gloom of passions, and serving sin, illumine and lead by the hand to life, you who begot the impeccable Word.
Ode FIVE.
(Greek rendered:) As an excellent farmer you renewed souls grown barren, O wise Father, and inserting your word as the best seed, you prepared them to produce heavenly thoughts.
As you had become a receptacle of the divine Spirit, you became to evil spirits a place of banishment, O Hierarch, and a cleansing of passions, and a healing of the sick.
A river full of mystical streams you were known to be, O Sacred Minister; and you dried up the fountains of passions in grace, and watered souls germinating piety.
TO THE THEOTOKOS.
Appear, O Undefiled one, delivering from the assault of enemies and the incursion of barbarians your servants; who have your powerful protection and patronage unashamed.
(Latin rendering:) Effete souls, as a good farmer renewing, O most wise Father, and inserting your word in them as good seed, you made them produce heavenly thoughts.
You became a terror to malignant spirits, because you were a receptacle of the holy Spirit, O Hierarch; an expurgative of passions, and a medicament of diseases.
Full of mystic waters a river you appeared, O Priest; and you dried up the fountains of passions, with charity irrigating souls germinating piety.
Marian (verse).
Appear, Inviolate one, rescuing from the assault of enemies and the incursion of barbarians your servants; who have your powerful protection, and patronage unconfusible.
Ode SIX.
(Greek rendered:) The evil one did not shake, O Father, the house of your soul; for upon the rock of truth you stood truly, O Divinely-inspired one, strengthened by divine power.
Adorned with the Wisdom of God, and ascending to the height of virtues, O most Holy one, you cast down the exaltations of the evil one, humbled in heart by grace.
A flowery meadow of virtues, Tycho, you appeared, putting forth, by divine discretion, the flowers of your miracles for the sweet fragrance of all the faithful, O most holy Hierarch.
TO THE THEOTOKOS.
Holy Virgin, my soul, which the enemy has deceitfully defiled with sin, as you are good, I implore, make good and brighten with your light.
(Latin rendering:) Satan did not move the house of your soul, Father: for you stood truly upon the rock of truth, O Divinely inspired one, confirmed by divine virtue.
Adorned with Divine-wisdom, and raised to the summit of virtues, O most holy one, you overcame the elation of the demon; and humbled in heart, you persevered in grace.
A flowery meadow of all virtues you appeared, Tycho, to all the faithful, with divine discretion bringing forth to sweetness the flowers of your miracles, O most holy Priest.
Marian (verse).
Queen of heaven, my soul which the enemy fraudulently defiled with sin, sanctify (as you are holy) and clarify with your light.
[7] Here by custom, after the usual Tract, the elogium of the Saint is interposed, under this title;
"In the same month, the 16th. Of our Father among the Saints Tycho, Bishop of Amathus, a city of the island of Cyprus." On the same month (June) the 16th day. Of our holy Father Tycho, Bishop of the city of Amathus, on the island of Cyprus. The Elogium I shall give below: now I continue the Canon.
Ode SEVEN.
(Greek rendered:) Your heart, Tycho, was watered with divine words, as a true vine; and bearing fruit, an ear of the knowledge of God, it poured forth for us the sweetness of healings.
You blossomed like a rose, you shone like a star, you appeared like the sun, Father; enlighten those who cry: Blessed are you, O Lord.
A crown of graces, Father, was placed upon your divine head, as it is written, to you who carried off victory over enemies and sing melodiously: Lord God of our fathers.
TO THE THEOTOKOS.
You were seen as Mother of God, truly surpassing all the bodiless ones; entreating him, O Virgin, show my reason superior to fleshly pleasures.
(Latin rendering:) Pouring forth for us the sweetness of cures, your heart, Tycho, was irrigated with divine words; so that, as a true vine, you might bring forth the cluster of divine knowledge.
You blossomed for the world like a rose, you shone like a star, you appeared like the sun, Father; illumine those who say with a cry: Blessed are you, O Lord.
To you, who bore off a Lawful victory from the enemies, Father, a crown was placed upon your divine head, as is read in scripture; while you sweetly sing, O Lord God of our Fathers.
Marian (verse).
Far excelling all incorporeal things, as Mother of God, beseech him, Virgin; and make me have a mind superior to the pleasures of the flesh.
Ode EIGHT.
(Greek text begins:) In no way did you slumber in pleasures, but rather, keeping watch, you ran through the night of this life, O Holy one; and lulling to sleep the passions of the flesh, toward the radiance of impassibility
divinely you arrived.
(Greek rendered, continued:) The coffer of your holy Relics has been shown forth as an infirmary of the passions, which encircling we sing, most holy Tycho: All you works, bless and praise the Lord.
You magnify Christ our God, having heard the voice that called you to the resplendent kingdoms on high, all-renowned Father, as one who lived well and holily.
TO THE THEOTOKOS.
Priests and people praise you, all-blessed and all-blameless Maiden, who crowned all with blessings; those who with faith sing the Hymn, saying, Bless and sing of the Lord.
(Latin rendering:) In no way anywhere conniving at pleasure, but rather always watchful, you ran through the night of this life, O Holy one; and the passions of the flesh being lulled to sleep, you arrived at the clarity of impassibility, divinely aided.
As if an apothecary of medicines, for healing the passions of the soul, seems to be the chest of your sacred Relics: which encircling, most holy Tycho, we sing the hymn, Bless the Lord all you works of the Lord.
Hearing the Voice, Most Reverend Father, which called you to the blessed kingdoms of heaven, on account of a life rightly and holily passed, you magnify Christ our God.
Marian (verse).
Immaculate and above all blessed Maiden, the Priests together with the People celebrate you; and as you crown with blessings all who with faith sing the Hymn together, saying, Bless and sing the Lord.
Ode NINE.
(Greek rendered:) Behold, to you who have finished the good course and now kept the faith, divinely-minded Father, Hierarch, heavenly tabernacles were opened, and a place full of light received you, shining with sanctity.
As an initiate, as a divine Priest, as the best Shepherd-leader, as a stay of the Church, as a worker of miracles, O All-blessed one, bless me, and number me among the sacred multitudes of all the saints rejoicing.
Cyprus possesses your body, O Wise one, as a holy fountain of healings; and every city and country proclaims your life, your miracles, and your familiarity with the Master, all-blessed and most admirable Tycho.
TO THE THEOTOKOS.
A dwelling of light, O All-blameless one, your all-holy womb became; whereby, being enlightened, we are delivered from the darkness of error, hymning you and with true longing blessing you, O sole restoration of mankind.
(Latin rendering:) O Father and divine Archpriest, behold, to you, after the good course completed and the faith here kept, heavenly tabernacles are opened; and a splendid place receives you, as one shining round about with sanctity.
Preserve and beatify me, O most blessed Priest, as a divine Mystic, the best leader of Pastors, a stay of the Church, a Worker of wonders, and number me, rejoicing, into the holy assembly of all the Holy.
Cyprus possesses your holy body, O Wise one, a fountain of cures: but every city and region proclaims your life, your miracles, and your familiarity with the Lord, most blessed Tycho and most worthy of good things.
To the Mother of God.
A habitation of light, O Inviolate one, is your most holy womb; whence, enlightened, we are freed from the shadows of errors; and we praise and beatify you with true love, who alone are the restorer of mankind.
[10] Thus far the Canon, whose very form, when I wished to exhibit to you, with the Theotokia also added, although they pertain in nothing to the Saint; The style of the Canon. I found that the Poet does not very strictly insist on the laws of the Acrostics; but, just as, for his own convenience of completing the third Ode, he assumed one superabundant letter, doubling the T, which in the word θαυματούργῳ was single, nor did the verse, requiring an Iambus in the second place, suffer it to be doubled: so he subsequently compacted several letters into a single Strophe, lest they should grow beyond four strophes contrary to the custom of the Ode, in VII, VIII and IX. It will help to have noticed this for him who wishes to investigate more deeply the method of the Greek Canons, lest he stick at such things: and let him think that it is always by the fault of the transcribers (which I confess has sometimes befallen me) that an Acrostic consists of more or fewer letters than the strophes found. I come now to the Epitome of the Life omitted above, that the whole Canon might consequently be read. And I exhibit it the more willingly separately, because such things are very often found described and collected separately in books, which are called Synaxaria by their proper name; just as Canons too are sometimes found written separately; and from both joined together arise the Menaea.
THE SYNAXARION OF THE SAINT.
(Greek rendered:) Having escaped the hands of the Destroyer, Tycho, rejoice, having obtained the Life that cannot be destroyed.
(Latin rendering:) Having slipped from the hands of the Exterminator, Tycho, rejoice to obtain the Life not to be ended.
Where you see an allusion to the name of Tycho, which is derived from τυχεῖν, to obtain:
There follows moreover from the Ephemeris a verse, by which it is proved that this day is held the chief one for him.
The earth received Tycho on the sixteenth (after the tenth). (Greek:) On the sixteenth and tenth the earth held back Tycho.
Then at last is read an epitome of the life such as follows.
(Greek rendered:) This man, having pious and Christ-loving parents, dedicated to God by them, Epitome of the life from the Synaxarion, and having learned the sacred letters, and sufficiently exercised in the scriptures, was first appointed to read to the people the oracles and teachings; then, on account of his worthiness in all things and the purity and irreproachableness of his life, he was ordained Deacon by Mnemonius the most holy Bishop of Amathus. And when that man had departed life, he himself was raised to the throne of the bishopric by the great Epiphanius. And having converted many from the error and vanity of idols to the faith in Christ and our God, and having torn down and overthrown many temples of the idols, and raised up divine temples, and adorned them with divine offerings, and consecrated them, he was translated to the Lord, having performed many wonderworkings both while yet living in this life and after death: of which it is worthy to set forth one or two, as a specimen of the man's virtue. for loaves distributed to the poor For yet at the beginning of his life, he received from his own father loaves to sell in the market; for this was his trade: but he himself gave the loaves to the needy. When his father had learned this, and bore it grievously, he was reproached by him; but he said that he had lent the loaves to God, and held a written bond from him for their repayment. the full granary returned to the father. And straightway the proof of his words stood confirmed, the granaries being found fuller than when his father made the harvest gathering. And this indeed was so much; yet it has some account, that he did the like to others also; so that the abundance of the well-doing might be of God, measuring out and adding the grain; but that other thing redounding to his glory, and admitting neither cause nor comparison. Placing a dry vine-shoot in the ground, straightway it took root, then sprouted and that before its time. For where, on the sixteenth of the month of June (on which the memory of the Saint is celebrated), is a ripe cluster? But it, until then, having fruit suited to the season, at the divine hymnody beginning and the liturgy commencing, shows the grapes growing dark and colored; but when the sacred sacrifice is completed, shows them ripened and brought to maturity and welcome, for partaking, to the glory of the Father, and the Son, and the holy Spirit.
The same miracle is confirmed in the Verses before the Canon, the third of the Similars.
(Greek rendered:) God glorifying you with miracles, Father, glorifies those who faithfully glorify him; for at the time of your venerable and divine memory, O Wise one, the cluster is seen become ripe to those who hymn the marvel of the miracle; from which the faithful partaking, we set you forth as intercessor: entreat that our souls be saved.
[11] Here, having got pious and Christ-loving parents, and dedicated to God by them, he gave attention to Sacred letters; and being sufficiently instructed in the exercise of scripture, he was first appointed Lector of the sacred oracles to the people. Then, on account of the singular honesty and integrity of his life and the inculpate sanctity of his morals, he was ordained Deacon by Mnemonius, Bishop of Amathus. But when that man had departed life, he himself was elevated to the Episcopal throne by the Great Epiphanius: and converted many from the vain and foolish superstition of idols to the true religion in Christ our God. And when he had overthrown many idolatrous temples, and broken the very idols in them, and raised up temples sacred to God, and adorned them with divine offerings, and consecrated them; he was translated to the Lord, and performed both very many miracles in life and after death: of which by way of example one or two are recounted, that the man's exceptional virtue may appear.
[12] At the beginning of his life he received loaves from his father to be sold in the forum (for this was his trade), but he distributed them all to the poor. When his father, learning this and judging the thing unworthy, reprehended him vehemently for it, he said that he had given these loaves as a loan to God, and held a bond received from him for what he was to receive. And behold, soon the manifest demonstration of his words stood firm: for the granaries were found fuller of grain than they had been when the father, after gathering the harvest, had filled them, nor had anything yet been taken out from them. But this miracle has some comparison, because it is read to have been done by others too, and the liberality of beneficence proceeds from the munificence of God, who is wont to measure back beyond measure. But this other thing commends the praise of Tycho alone and a cause which loses no comparison.
[13] and the miracle of the grape ripening under the sacred rites. A dry vine-shoot, fixed in the ground, at once puts forth roots: then even before its time it germinates and ripens. But in what place on the sixteenth day of June, on which the Saint's memory is kept, is a ripe cluster found? But that shoot, having until then a fruit suited to the season, at the beginning of the divine service and the singing of the psalms, displays grapes already livid and colored; but at the end of the sacrifice it exhibits the same fully cooked and ripe, and most pleasing to the palate, to the praise of the Father and the Son and the holy Spirit. concerning which also a Sticheron God, who glorifies those who faithfully glorify him, glorified you with miracles, Father; for indeed at the time of your venerable and divine memory, O Wise one, those who pour forth into hymns at the novelty of the miracle behold a ripe cluster, and tasting of it the faithful employ you as intercessor, saying: Pray that our souls be saved.
whether it lasts to this day? In the Manuscript Synaxarion of the Emperor Basil, that miracle is said to continue, μέχρι τῆς σήμερον, up to today. But just as the new Anthology, printed under Clement VIII in the year 1598, uses the same phrase (drawn no doubt from an older author), nor proves that the miracle itself continues today in Cyprus, long since subjugated by the Turks; so neither is the same effectively proved for the age of Basil, or for the 10th century, from his words, which similarly could have been taken from elsewhere. If however any cult of the Saint still survives in Cyprus, I would not wonder that the miracle is still continued; since we have taught by several examples that the miracle of the Paschal fire, wont to be had divinely in the church of the holy Resurrection at Jerusalem, was often renewed, even when the City and the Holy Land were under the infidels. See our Treatise on the Bishops and Patriarchs of Jerusalem before the 3rd volume of May.