ON ST. PETER THE WONDER-WORKER
BISHOP OF THE ARGIVES IN THE PELOPONNESUS.
CENT. X.
CommentaryPeter the Wonder-Worker, Bishop of the Argives, in the Peloponnesus (St.)
D. P.
In the tenth century of Christ flourished in the Peloponnesus two brothers, on account of singular virtue assumed into Bishops: Brother Peter Archbp. of Corinth of these one Paul presided over the Church of the Corinthians, whose memory we celebrated on day XXVII March; the other Peter, surnamed Wonder-Worker, pertains to this III May. This Bishop the region had, most celebrated by the fables of Poets, Argive or Argolic in the Peloponnesus, now called Saconia or Romania of the Morea: whose metropolis is distant 15 miles from Corinth, to which it is subject, and even now is called Argo, by Greeks τὸ Ἄργος, and in the genitive τοῦ Ἄργεος and contractedly τοῦ Ἄργους: he himself Bishop of the Argives, which to the Latins in the plural is of masculine gender, and so is most used. But Stephanus in his book on cities, who enumerates ten different of this name, teaches Ἄργος almost to be called every maritime plain, perhaps from the color of whitening and sandy soil, since ἄργος is white: also empty and idle, as for the most part are shores.
[2] The notable eulogy of S. Peter, splendidly confirming the title of Wonder-Worker, praised in the MS. Synaxarium we have in the MS. Synaxarium of the Clermont College of the Society of Jesus at Paris, which also we exhibit in Greek, and found by us is almost the same in the MSS. of Milan of the Ambrosian library, and of Turin of the Duke of Savoy, now consumed by flame. But it is of this kind.
[3] On the same day, namely the third of May, the memory of our holy Father Peter, from monastic exercise, Bishop of the Argives, the Wonder-Worker. He had as fatherland Constantinople: and since he was the son of most pious parents, who with the whole family embraced the monastic life, with brothers Paul and Dionysius first tonsured, he himself together with Plato to their emulation and imitation undertook the ascetic contest, and so well contended, that it is not easy to explain. For not only in vigils and meditations of sacred Scriptures did he surpass all, but also in liberality of alms toward the poor and compassion. But when on account of excellence of virtue he was being compelled to be made Archbishop of Corinth, liberality toward the poor, on account of modesty and humility he could not be persuaded to consent. With his brother Paul therefore ordained, he followed him: and induced by the prayers of the Argives and his brother himself, was consecrated Bishop at Argos. In which grade he so abounded in alms, that on individual days nothing was found in the storehouse besides the tunic which he was wearing, excellence of miracles nor would he repel any poor man coming to him. With famine also wearing down the Peloponnesus, he fed many thousands of men; and when his liberality, had left only a little of flour in the vessel, this was found full, and for a long time sufficed both for the needy and for his familiars: but many captives by ransom paid he redeemed, and those oppressed with violent hand he restored to liberty, indeed and a virgin girl seized by a demon he cured, and the future calamity to come upon the Peloponnesus he predicted under enigma, and the very time of his death he foreknew. In the seventieth year of his age therefore, also after death. after innumerable contests of virtue he gave up the blessed spirit: and after death manifest
making the efficacy of his virtue, from his holy tomb pours forth oil, drives away demons, and healing diseases of every kind, makes plain how great glory of beatitude and rewards he obtains, in the other life received from God.
[4] So far the MS. of the Clermont College. The Synaxarium compiled by command of Emperor Basil, elsewhere a shorter eulogy, has nearly the same as to the first part, the other in few words it concludes saying that, he wrought many miracles, and, when he had served God for a long time, he passed away in peace. The Chiffletian MS. prefaces the eulogy with such a distich.
Ῥίψας τὸν ἔχθρον ἐν θεάτρῳ τοῦ βίου
Ζωστῆρα νίκης ζωννύη θάνων, Πέτρε.
Casting down the enemy on the earth in the theater of life,
You are girded with the belt of victory in your death, Peter.
Another eulogy, in which both parts are summarized in compendium, James Goar sent to us at Paris from the MS. Synaxarium of Gabriel Naudaeus, perhaps the same that now in that, where Goar died, from which we know he flourished under Patriarch Nicholas convent of reformed Preachers is preserved with Francis Combefis and his successors, where it being communicated to us we hastily turned over, describing only those things which seemed of greater moment, so that easily a word or two could escape us: such as is what the transcript sent to us contains, teaching that he, who wished to compel Peter to assume the Archbishopric of the Corinthians, and ordained Paul his brother for him refusing, was Nicholas Patriarch of Constantinople: and the ordination of Peter himself was made by the violence of the Argives and the persuasion of the Naupliani. Wherefore we believe that more ample Acts of him existed, whence each author received his own eulogies, using as he saw fit his own phrase.
[5] Nauplia is the naval city of the Argolic region, today a city and celebrated emporium, commonly Napoli. Nicholas in the year DCCCXCV succeeded S. Anthony Caulea as we showed at his Life on day XII February, who died according to Cedrenus, in the year DCCCCXXX. Hence the times, in which both these holy brothers flourished, we somehow know. After the year 900. We published on January XXXI the Life of S. Athanasius Bishop of Methone, by author Peter Bishop of the Argives, whom we judge to be this. For Methone is a city of the same Peloponnesus in the province of Messenia. About Athanasius however this has been treated also on February V § XIII at the Life of S. Agatha the Virgin.