Sicilians

ON THE HOLY SICILIANS

PHILIP THE PRESBYTER, AND EUSEBIUS THE MONK OF AGYRIUM, AND PHILIP THE DEACON OF PANORMUS.

Philip the Presbyter, Wonder-Worker (St.)

Eusebius the monk, Confessor, at Agyrium in Sicily (St.)

Philip the Deacon, at Panormus in Sicily (St.)

BY THE AUTHOR G. H.

Agyrium, a town of Sicily, on a lofty and

sharp hill, not far from the river Symaethus

situated, between the Aetna and Enna

mountains, Argyrium a town of Sicily, by Cicero, Dionysius and Diodorus

the Sicilian, who there was born, mentioned,

by Ptolemy and Antoninus Agurium, by Stephen of the Cities

Agyrena, whence the common now word Agirone derived;

and on account of the memory of S. Philip, of whom we treat, everywhere

by the inhabitants S. Filippo d' Agirone, or also, d' Argirone.

To which last name Fasellus in the first decade of the Sicilian

Affairs book 10 thus alludes: Argyre a most ancient

city, on a most lofty and sharp mount situated, so called, because

a silver (for ἀργύριον silver to the Greeks signifies)

it has soil, and of silver near it is a mine:

which itself by use even in this age we have learned. Since

the torrents of waters, which when the winter rages to the depths

slip down, of gold and of silver very many with them carry

filings. From silver therefore Argyra is named.

But by whom it was founded, escapes me. These things Fasellus.

[2] Renowned is this place by the habitation, sepulture, miracles

and veneration of the said S. Philip the Presbyter, concerning whom on

this XII day of May Francis Maurolycus Abbot of Messina

in his Martyrology thus writes: the cult of S. Philip the Presbyter, On the same day at Argyra

in Sicily of S. Philip the Presbyter, whose in demons

being put to flight virtue by frequent signs appears. Which

same things thence transcribed are read at Molanus in the Auctarium

of Usuard and Felicius in the Italian Ephemeris. In today's

Roman Martyrology these things are had: In Sicily of S. Philip

of Argyrium, who by the Roman Pontiff to that island

sent, a great part of it to Christ

converted: whose sanctity in freeing the demoniacs

especially is declared.

[3] Adds Baronius in the Notes that he received his deeds

manuscript, of which is the beginning: In the days of Arcadius

the Emperor &c. These things Baronius. The Acts both Greek and Latin are given, That there are extant the same

Acts in Ms. codices of the Churches of Agyrium, Catania,

Syracuse, and Palermo, from Greek

sources deduced, and in Greek written to be found in the library

of the Vatican, of Grottaferrata and of the Messina

monastery of S. Salvator, asserts Octavius Cajetan, in volume

first of the Lives of the Sicilian Saints, and adds that he that one

gives, which thence rendered into Latin P. James Sirmond

of the Society of Jesus, a man among the first learned. the interpreter James Sirmond: We the Greek

found at Rome in the library Vatican and at the end we give,

here indeed we subjoin the Latin of Sirmond himself interpretation,

and with our Annotations illustrate.

[4] Of this the title is of this kind: The Narration of Eusebius the monk,

of the life and miracles of our holy Father Philip,

the Apostolic Presbyter, the expeller of demons. By the Author S. Eusebius the companion,

This author of the Life with him himself sailed to Rome, and at number 6 in

the plural number says, the calm being made we were saved, and

to Rome we came, and then at Rome at number 7 in Syriac

he expounded to S. Philip, what to him was said. Then with

him to Agyrium having set out at number 9 he saw the demons' crowd

like stones rolled from the mountain's summit, and at number 26

in the appearance of fire from the temple to burst forth. But after death,

as in the Notes is observed, to Alexandria he betook himself, and there

to the Patriarch the life and miracles of S. Philip, by

himself written, offered. Adds moreover Cajetan under the title

concerning S. Eusebius the monk and Confessor the following:

At Agyrium in peace he rested, and a shrine to himself divinely described

a certain Besilarius had built: and in it

two cases, the upper indeed for B. Eusebius, and the lower

for S. Philip the Presbyter, which is intimated

at number 32. At present, says Cajetan, the Bodies

of the Saints Eusebius, Philip the Deacon, and Luke the Abbot

in the same ark are kept, but the head of Eusebius with silver

covered is shown on the feast day of S. Philip on

the fourth of the Ides of May: on which day Eusebius together with

Philip at Agyrium is venerated. These things Cajetan, who before in

the Sicilian Martyrology on this XII of May these things had written:

At Agyra of the Holy Confessors Philip the Presbyter

and Eusebius the monk. this related on the 12th of May. Ferrarius when in the Catalogue of the Saints

of Italy an illustrious epitome from this Life he had edited,

likewise in the Catalogue of the Saints, who in the Roman Martyrology

are not, from the Tables of the Church of Agyrium related S. Eusebius

the monk at Argyra. The same in the title, relying

on their authority, we subjoined. But it can be asked, whether the Life

this, as now it is had, was by Eusebius the holy man

written. Doubts Cajetan, because certain things there are read

from the crossroad taken, whose text another afterwards amplified namely concerning the demons' enclosure at Jerusalem by

Solomon made &c. which he therefore passed over, and we from

the Greek among the Annotations restored. But could also holy men

in holy simplicity concerning ancient things have believed

certain things, and into their writings inserted. More us moves to doubt,

the gift of the Latin tongue, to S. Philip divinely conferred,

which he used in the divine office, since it is narrated with that circumstance,

which a witness present and eye-seeing could not so

have expressed, that in the Latin rite's Mass, such as in Latin to be believed

is to have done the Pontiff, the applied Deacon is said in Latin

to have expressed these words, In peace let us pray the Lord:

since of them in our Mass there is no use; but well in the Greek

liturgy, while that is done which of S. Chrysostom is called. Wherefore

altogether we judge those things which S. Eusebius briefly wrote concerning

Philip, to have been by some Sicilian, not sufficiently prudent and grave,

adorned and amplified; just as from the same Sicily

various other lives we have, under contemporary writers'

names, to say it most mildly, amplified, which to use we are compelled

by the lack of a more ancient and more sincere context.

[5] In this life it is said, that the parents of S. Philip in

Thrace lived, and children procreated, in the times

of Arcadius the Emperor, Other things more apocryphal, who after the death of his father Theodosius from

the year CCCXCV to CCCCVIII reigned. Wherefore against the aforesaid

Life, as utterly apocryphal, vehemently rise up

first the abovementioned Fasellus, then Rocchus Pirrus the Notice

first of the Sicilian Churches and others, whom the antiquity's

love in their minds blazing thither led, that in the time

of S. Peter the Apostle to have lived S. Philip they wish: and they bring forth

some life of his, as if by S. Athanasius Bishop of Alexandria

written: not by S. Athanasius, which, that satisfaction may be made to their clamors, although

apocryphal, we subjoin: that anyone by himself may be able to judge,

that ignorance of truer circumstances, which we note,

not to have been able to fall upon any prudent man,

much less upon the most learned and most prudent Athanasius,

whose Acts accurately illustrated we gave on the second day

of May. The author however, but written in the 7th century or so. whoever he was, in the eighth or

seventh century must have lived, before by the Saracens was occupied Sicily;

and so could in the ancient form of characters in Greek

have been written that Life, which says Cajetan among

his manuscripts to have had the Prelate Antony Augustine,

in the prudence of law and erudition renowned; and

himself the same at Messina in our college in Latin written

in an ancient codex to have found and copied. Several

but of small moment by Cajetan are brought forward arguments, that

he may prove that S. Philip in the time of S. Peter lived, led

by the people of Palermo, among whom before imprinting an Idea,

for the time of Arcadius the former opinion he had favored.

[6] To us nothing is sown or reaped, when he lived:

but the Life, under the name of Eusebius edited, more to us is approved: or

even from those things, which in the third chapter are narrated of Philip the younger

and Deacon, whom the people of Palermo as their citizen are said

also on this XII of May to venerate: on which day Cajetan

in the Sicilian Martyrology these things has: At Palermo of S. Philip

the Deacon, the disciple of the elder Philip. Philip the Deacon is venerated also on the 12th of May. And Ferrarius

in the General Catalogue, from the tables of the Church of Palermo,

which on this day him as its citizen venerates, celebrates

the feast of S. Philip the Deacon at Palermo: and Cajetan at

the end of the Life, separately from the Acts of S. Philip of Agyrium extracted,

and by us in it left, adds: The body of Philip the Younger and

Deacon at Agyrium is kept, with SS. Luke the Abbot

and Eusebius the Monk, with whom on the fourth

of the Ides of May he is venerated: whose name we also in the title present.

The Acts of S. Luke the Abbot we gave on the second day of March.

But of all four the translation is celebrated at the said

Cajetan on the XXV of July.

[7] Fasellus in the indicated book 10, concerning the virtue of S. Philip

the Presbyter, in casting out demons divinely to his merits

conceded, these things writes: For indeed in the year MDXLI, [In the year 1541 two hundred demoniacs gathered at the feast of S. Philip, wondrously agitated,] at the solemn

feast of Divine Philip, while at Agyra together with others by the impulse of religion I was present, almost two hundred there possessed

women I met. A wondrous and stupendous

miracle it was, to see them not from themselves, but from the demon who

in their bodies the command had occupied, with mockeries

agitated, voices on high to bear, all covering and modesty

cast off, to whirl their hair, to gnash with their teeth, their mouth

and eyes to distort, foam to emit, their arms and

almost the whole body on high with great force to lift up, a voluble

tongue to swell, the throat and its veins to swell,

and finally a fury unheard-of in all their members

to conceive: some in Greek, several in Latin, who speaking in various tongues, in Saracen

others to speak, so perfectly, that nothing more pure by anyone most experienced

even in his own kind could be brought forth. The hearts' lastly

conceptions and what secretly anyone and known to himself alone

crimes had perpetrated (which more wondrous was) a woman

a certain Leontina ignominiously to anyone

to reproach.

[8] And these things indeed private. But the public, and what in the proceeding

pomp of the divine image happened, than those far

were greater. For that night, which the sacred preceded,

these possessed women at the principal altar of the temple with

their guards, without any sign of disease as if altogether

whole rested, the image of Divine Philip

from the shrine, which is near, to be carried out awaiting:

where both a most frequent assembly of the people, and we too

with wondrous expectation were present. But in the morning,

the door of the shrine being opened, and the Divine sign being shown, before the image of S. Philip they are direly agitated: when it

the possessed beheld; presently as if a capital enemy were present,

his aspect dreading, with raised voice their garments

to rend, their hair to pluck, and the bonds by which most tightly

they were impeded being broken, some even from

the guards' hands to slip began. Of whom then the unusual

clamors, than any groaning greater, like roarings

immense, so through the whole temple and the neighboring fields resounded,

that nearby a war huge and savage,

and a most bloody battle to be joined seemed. And there

then a certain Ragusan woman, of these one is freed a sign being left: all beholding,

presently was cured, a most clearly perceived sign being left.

For there hung from a rope above the left altar, a candelabrum

of bronze, with lamps and several lights

translucent, from the earth about eight cubits raised:

which in that very moment in which she was freed, no one indeed

being seen to move it, all the lamps being dispersed (wondrous to see) with frequent motions, like a millstone

wheel, as swiftly as possible was wholly turned over.

[9] But to the pomp itself I come. The men therefore, who

either in priesthood or in dignity excelled, the most renowned

in a long order pomp conducting, of Divine Philip

the image, blackish indeed that and to sight horrible, then in the procession,

preceded: which thereupon of whatsoever condition

men and women innumerable, almost with wax tapers with incense

also burning, mingled followed. And when

to the middle of the temple, where the altar was, it had been come,

Leontina a certain woman, who by a certain Priest

in his bosom was carried, several already years by a demon

held, with a voice uttered to the rest turned, a sign with her hand made,

Be strong, she exclaimed, be of good courage: let none depart:

this day will now set. When I heard this, I was astonished,

because him, the prince of demons in vain animating his companions by whom she was besieged, to be among

the demons the prince, from the words, the countenance besides, the boldness

and the command, by which the rest he seemed to excel,

not absurdly I knew: which also to the Patricians of Catania,

who near me were, that they should notice, I indicated:

and in fact afterwards it was declared. For

when little by little in the same order proceeding, the bier

now to the chief doors of the temple had reached, that same

woman, from a higher place on the last step of the temple

beholding all the crowd of the possessed subject to herself,

stopped; and all being called, and with hand

pointed out, again in the vernacular, Away, she said, with fear,

far hence let terror go. Now it grows evening,

now to its setting verges this day to us hostile, and

an enemy most fierce: cast away fear, let none of you

withdraw: let cares depart, bear a little while, now the setting

is at hand. To whom from those one, Force I suffer, answered,

I am compelled hence to go out. But the prince on the contrary: Where

are thy strengths? resume courage: now the day's destruction is at hand. But

she again: she is freed the second one: I am compelled to go out. O crosses! o torments! which

I suffer. Which scarcely expressed, a roaring being premised, by

the power of Divine Philip driven out, from her departed the demon.

And the woman just now most ferocious, an unheard-of immediately

meekness put on.

[10] But the demon from her presently into a servant

a certain one, and a curious onlooker is seized, these things more curiously inspecting, we seeing

and wondering migrated. Who to howl, to groan,

with his teeth to gnash, and with bloody eyes

occupied, to rage forthwith began: which his Lord,

who of Licata was, when he saw, by the impulse of anger into contumelies

burst forth, But also this one is freed, and the holy devil (which a familiar

today to the Sicilians blasphemy is) he cried out:

because a servant of a hundred gold pieces' price so suddenly

and unexpectedly he had lost. But a little after also

he led to the altar, with no labor his pristine mind

and free recovered. Moreover time will fail me

and the plan of the undertaking, if all things, which on that day most openly

of Divine Philip shone forth miracles, I should wish to recount.

For there were there among the rest sixty girls

of Cirami, and 60 girls, and all the others who in one hour of the night, while together in the same

village they played, by demons had been occupied:

who all and as many others as to these sacred rites had gathered,

we beholding, wondrously freed and

to wholeness restored were, except one only however that Leontina

of so great a benefit was deprived.

[11] These things he as an eye-witness. Nothing therefore we wonder,

that the cult of S. Philip even into the island of Malta penetrated, a parish temple in Malta.

where at the fourth from the Metropolis milestone toward the southwest,

a town called Zelugi, of about three thousand souls,

both other various buildings has to the urban ones by no means

yielding in elegance, and a magnificent above all church

parochial under the title and invocation of S. Philip

of Argyrium; as in his description of Malta in Italian

notes the Commendator Abela, of the sacred Hierosolymitan Religion

Vice-chancellor page 88. Then he observes page

370, that that church was built before Bernardine

de Paterno and James de Paterno of Catania, from

the monastery of S. Philip, of which Abbots they had been, to the Maltese

Bishopric were assumed, in the years MCCCCXLVI and

XLVII: and thence a conjecture he draws, that of it the author was

Antony Platamontius, to this See assumed, from

the Priorate of Scicli of S. Mary de Monaco, on the said Abbey

dependent, before the year MCCCXCII, in which dead writes

Rocchus Pyrrhus in the notice of Malta, but he himself doubts

whether it be not much older.

LIFE

Rendered into Latin by James Sirmond, and with the Greek Vatican by us collated.

Philip the Presbyter, Wonder-Worker (St.)

Eusebius the monk, Confessor, at Agyrium in Sicily (St.)

Philip the Deacon, at Panormus in Sicily (St.)

BY THE AUTHOR EUSEBIUS THE MONK FROM A GREEK MS.

CHAPTER I.

Birth, education, the Diaconate. Things done at Rome with the Pontiff. The Priesthood.

the province of Thrace a certain man by name Theodosius, His parents rich and Christian

by race a Syrian, whose wife was Augia, from the great

city of the Romans sprung, with ample wealth both and

family, God above all worshipping, and His law

keeping.

[2] To these sons three were, who all their substance

in the buying of beasts of all kinds laid out,

in Galatia, Cappadocia, and all Asia, all their age

placing in this kind of trading. But on the feast

day of the Exaltation of the ^c Holy Cross they were wont

to seek Constantinople, after the 3 sons drowned with their stock of trade,

and there with their parents to pass the sacred

day. It happened therefore at one time, that while the feast being at hand,

in the month of September, they cross the ^d Sagaris river,

together with the horse-colts, which they had bought; suddenly

the swelling wave of the river themselves with the beasts

snatched away. Which when it had been brought to their father and mother,

with great grief affected, to God thanks they gave,

after the example of Job, saying: Be the name of the Lord blessed,

from now and unto ages. But the mother being urged

by the goad of grief, days and nights was distressed, so that

secretly her husband to leave she thought, and her fatherland to seek again,

that is the Roman province. But Theodosius

the father assiduously for his sons prayed, and good things many bestowed.

[3] Wherefore the kindled toward Himself love beholding the Lord,

his wife Augia in dreams consoled

on a certain night, Himself showing in the form of an old man, and

with these words addressing: Why thus unceasingly art thou distressed,

for the sons' cause? Knowest thou not, that he who indiscreetly bewails

the dead, God provokes to anger? and again; If

to the Lord's service thou hast acceded, prepare thy heart

for temptation, and again; If thou doest good, expect

temptation: for the Lord, whom He loves, He chastises. the one to be born is foretold:

So put aside the mournful garment, and awaking anoint thy head

with oil, and thy face in the gladness of thy heart

wash, and take the stole with which thou art clothed in the church, and make

exultation, and approach thy husband, and console

him; and behold thy gifts will be for an odor of incense. But

she rising, by the divine spirit truly illuminated, in all things

obeyed, and her gifts with her husband together

offered to God, saying: The Lord lives, no longer any more

grief will there be to us for the dead sons, but we will be,

my Lord Theodosius, as in our youth, God serving,

and His commandments keeping. But can

to us God give one son, for the three who dead

are.

[4] And she bore to her husband a male, whom she called

Philip: and the boy being weaned, when to the seventh

year he had come, he advanced in morals and

doctrine. Whom shearing his mother dedicated to the Church,

who also Deacon was made in the twenty-first year of his age,

and studiously the ^f Syriac tongue learned, and

all Ecclesiastical discipline. in his 21st year he is made a Deacon: But often said

to him his mother: My most sweet son, if to thee it were permitted to Rome

to go, where my kinsmen and relatives all are, there

thou wouldst see the greatest temples, and orders of Priests

and congregations of monks, and of the ascetics the prudence,

continence and modesty and the vigils of the laity;

all moreover with fear the church frequenting, taught by his mother the piety of the Romans,

and standing at the sanctuary as at the tribunal

of God, nor otherwise their heads downward bending.

There it is unlawful, for a reprehensible anyone to enter

the church, or any whisper or laughter to be heard,

but solicitously all and with reverence, as I said, stand

as at the tribunal of God.

[5] He hearing these things, in mind was inflamed and with desire;

and again dreaded, fearing his parents to sadden,

to whom indeed for solace he was the only one for the brothers

deceased. and by the desire of seeing it moved, Sitting moreover with his parents

often he said, not without affection: Would that to me it might befall

to Rome to go, and to see the synaxis of ^g Peter, the Apostolic

Patriarch, and from him communion to receive,

and afterwards straightway to die, if it could be. And vehemently

was distressed Philip by this thought: and he interposed

with his father some of his relatives, that from

him they might obtain leave of setting out by this condition, that as soon

as worthy he had been made, who the Apostles might adore and

the ecclesiastical discipline might inspect, to his own he should return.

But Theodosius, perceiving fixed his toward

God love, by the hand him taking, and in the Syriac

dialect prayers pouring forth toward the East, thus

spoke: God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, into Thy hands

I commend Thy servant: as Thou wilt, so to Thee the care

be of him. he is dismissed by his father, And thus him having embraced he dismissed, the mother being unaware,

nothing of this matter with her communicating.

[6] But he by God's will sailing came to

the shore of Italy, and straightway arose a huge sea-storm.

Then Philip standing, he is tossed by a tempest; Lord, said, into Thy hands

deposited me my father, do not destroy me by this

water, as perished my brothers in the water of the torrent.

But if this is Thy will, of my vow first possessed

may I be made, and then let that be done which Thou hast commanded. But not for

my sins let perish, who with me are men thirteen.

These things by him being said, into sleep were turned all,

and there appeared to them the Apostle, under the Pope's figure, and to the shipmaster

Thomas said: Hasten, shipmaster, to Rome

to put in, leading with thee Philip the Deacon,

because there to me of use he will be. and S. Peter appearing, carried to Rome, Being made thence suddenly

a calm and tranquillity great, saved all we were

by the merits of the Apostle.

[7] But on the third day after when going out to Rome

we had come, on the Lord's day, Philip with Eusebius

the monk, by the Pontiff to read he is summoned. unanimous to the church set out:

and stood in the left part of the temple. And no delay,

God favoring, it is revealed to the Pope: who calling one of the Deacons,

said to him: Go to the left of the temple, there thou wilt find

call, and say, that he enter the church, and with thee

minister. Obeying therefore the Deacon all things performed,

as he had been ordered, and by the hand him taking led

before the ambo. But he not even a word knew

of the Roman tongue, but Eusebius the monk, what

to him was said, expounded in Syriac, for he was skilled

also in Syriac. He signified therefore through the Deacon;

Give pardon, Lord, to thy servant, since of the Roman

tongue not a word one I know. But the Pope his hand extending,

and him signing, and by him blessed in Latin he reads though ignorant of the tongue. said; In the name of Christ

our God, open thy mouth, and speak in thy ministry

the Roman words. But he with mouth opened, his tongue

moving in his own tongue, straightway said ^h what follows

in the sacred Liturgy, to the Deacon pertaining.

[8] But he tarried there months three, days

twelve; he grieved that while in the Deacon's office

the Roman tongue he spoke, in other things not a word

even could he bring forth. Thinking therefore he

at the Pope's feet to fall down, and that tongue having attained, and his prayers to implore,

that to him everywhere it be conceded in the Roman dialect

to speak, knew straightway the Pope what in mind he was revolving,

and said to him: Approach to the lesson. But he mute

remained, to read not able. And the Pope, Speak,

said, Philip, as we speak; and straightway

flying forth fire from the mouth of the Patriarch, touched his lips,

and in Roman to speak he began with all. a Priest he is created; Then he created

him a Presbyter, and a book into his hands delivered

written, saying; The Apostolic Tome take today,

and when thou shalt have come to the Southern parts of the Province

of Sicily, in the mountains, which there are, there is a place, to which

the name is Agyrium, ⁱ over against the Aetna mountain, from which

bursts forth fire, perpetual flame belching, which

his forces obtained as it were an inheritance.

But the Tome, which to thee I gave, ^l with my hand I wrote

by the virtue of the Holy Spirit: until all to one of them thou shalt

have expelled, to return to thee to thy parents is not permitted. and he receives the book of exorcisms. The Apostolic

mandate speedily obeying Philip, the tome being received,

and the Pope being saluted, and prayer being performed,

taking also with him Eusebius the monk, a ship

he boarded, God well helping, and setting sail Rhegium

of Calabria they reached, great modesty

showing forth, and by the divine nod at Messina they put in,

and by a land journey into the place aforesaid Agyrium

they came.

ANNOTATIONS

CHAPTER II.

On the Agyrium mount pious exercises, and miracles wrought.

[9] Philip settled in a cave ^a a certain one where

a triple is order of columns, he expels the demons from the mountain, and steps three

of stone polished: where after the custom sitting, and cures

making, after the space of two days he ascended into a lofty

mountain, which is over against Aetna, where are

the possessions of Argyrus the Toparch. And prayer being made on

the summit of the mountain, his prayer he turned to Him, by

whom sent he had come, and to the Apostle Peter, saying;

Show, Lord, show Thy face, and

there will be blotted out the demons' troops. And a sign being made through

the tome, which in his hand he carried, was seen by the monk the demons'

crowd like stones rolled from the mountain's summit,

and fleeing with a mournful voice they cried; Woe to us,

Peter the Apostle's hand again us in valleys

these has caught. Others said, again hence we are driven,

as when Simon Magus into the high was lifted up,

driven out by Paul we were; again we are driven now by Peter,

through Philip the Presbyter.

[10] and from the bodies of very many: Then on a certain day, when for those he prayed, who

by unclean spirits possessed were held, there approached

a girl of a rich man the daughter, and God fearing,

who by a spirit was vexed. Straightway therefore his hand stretched out Philip,

and on her placed it and said: In the name of Jesus Christ,

and of Peter the Apostle, go out, and go into the place for thee prepared.

But the spirit with a great voice crying, said; By

the Most High, Philip, and Peter the Apostle, from

this girl indeed I go out; but from this place never

will I depart, but with thee I will dwell unto the last

day. Presently falling down the girl on the ground before the feet

of the Priest Philip whole was made, and went away

praises rendering to God. But there was a great multitude

of those, who by spirits were tormented, in number about

forty, who indeed by the highest Trinity's grace

and our holy Father Philip's prayers safe were made,

to God thanks giving, who through His servants marvels

does.

[11] he abolishes a superstition: A custom there was for those peoples, before the Saint's coming

on account of the unclean spirits' fear, ^b gifts

to them to offer: nor that only, but also their substance in

sepulchres they hid, because demons men's appearance

assuming, said the fathers dead to ask from

their sons: Give us, sons, of your goods, that we may enjoy.

By which reasoning deceived men, from the needy's help were called away.

The holy moreover man churches in the Apostle's

name in many places built.

[12] On another again day, the holy one setting out to the Northern

place's parts, for the sake of praying, there approached to him a man

with his wife, mourning with a great mourning, and they say

to the Saint; Have mercy on us, Holy one of God, because our son

the only-begotten, when to draw water he had gone

to the fountain, a dead man he raises. to which the name is Mamoniaca, when from it he tasted,

straightway died. But he his head shaking,

forthwith went to the fountain, and sees the youth dead

lying: and by the hand taking him, says to his

parents: What is called your son? but they said,

John. And signing him with the Apostolic tome,

thrice him he called, John, John, John,

in the name of God arise. And straightway arose the youth,

as from sleep; and gave him to his mother, saying;

Go, give glory to the Lord our God, who through His servants

does marvels. The Lord mortifies, and

vivifies. But thou spirit unclean, who in this place

to remain dost wish, beware lest any man thou harm. But if

thou continue in malice according to thy desire, and God's permission;

this to thee will be from me, and from the Apostle Peter

a punishment, that thou shalt be bound with iron chains by the Spirit

Holy, and ^c Gabriel the Leader of the militia, and bound

thou shalt be unto the world's end, that here thou dwell, as

thou hast asked, and God shall have permitted.

[13] He sitting, and the Gospel in his hands holding,

there met an old man a certain one by name Athanasius by

a viper struck: and his body from that bite grievously wounded, Struck by a viper he heals;

and almost now despaired of, fell at the Saint's feet rolled,

and lamenting. For this Athanasius was avaricious, and

of gifts and of persons an accepter: and who all things

into the better converts, permitted that by a beast he be wounded,

that to a better fruit he might be recalled. Said therefore to him

the Saint; What has happened to thee? Old man. He showed him the welt

of the wound struck by the serpent: and the holy man his hand

applying, said. If whole thou shalt have been made, thou shalt abstain

thyself from thy wickednesses; To whom he with an oath added,

answered: If by thy prayers health I recover, I will abstain

from this day from all my depraved actions.

But he on the pavement spitting, and with spittle

the dust diluting, anointed his wound, and straightway

was cured.

[14] A woman a fetus bearing in the womb dead, for

days four to bring forth could not, and to death now drew near,

but walking about before his doors the Saint, a woman in labor he frees,

said. What is it, that ails the woman? It was answered,

a fetus in the womb dead to be, and to bring forth her

not to be able. And he with both hands water taking, and

putting into a little vessel, ordered her to drink in the name

of the Lord, and of Philip the Apostolic Presbyter; and straightway

came forth the infant utterly entire, and was saved the woman.

[15] There came to him a shepherd at midday, saying; Have mercy,

Lord, since a hired man I am of a rich

certain one, and feed his cattle: the cattle from beasts safe he renders: there rushed in two beasts

wild, and handle them cruelly: the Lord moreover

with impatient bears mind, nor to me even one of those

remits: and so what I should do I know not. But God's servant

dust from the earth taking, and with his tome blessing it,

to the shepherd gave, saying: Sprinkle this in the cattle's enclosure,

and when the beasts rush in, say; The sinner Philip the Presbyter,

in the name of the Lord, commanded you this: Abstain

henceforth from the cattle. He did, as he had been ordered

the shepherd, and terrified were and repelled the beasts, the holy Priest

Philip's intercession.

[16] he heals a woman with a flux of blood, There was a woman, a flux of blood having suffered for nine

years, who also her all on physicians had consumed, that

health she might recover, but in vain. But when she heard of

the Saint and thrice blessed Father our Philip, she approached

he still sacrificing, and stood at a distance, where he the sacred

mysteries was working: and after his hands he had washed,

she asked the Subdeacon, that to her he give the water, in which

his sacred hands he had washed; who also a linen napkin had brought

for wiping the hands of him. And when he had washed,

and the water to the woman the Subdeacon had given; she

with faith receiving, and from it drinking, by divine counsel

suddenly recovered. And the napkin carrying home,

she found a woman with a grievous disease laboring, and another from a grievous disease. and lying

in a little bed for years three, who by others' hands

food took. But she the napkin applying, in which

his sacred hands had washed the Saint, said: In the name

of Jesus Christ and of the Holy Presbyter Philip, through whom

health I received, arise also thou from thy little bed, and walk

with thy feet, to venerate his church. And she

the napkin to her whole body applying, straightway recovered: and

rising God praised, who through His servants cures

worked.

[17] A certain one, whose daughter with the elephantiac disease most grievously

labored, so that her whole almost body

was covered, another from the elephantiac disease: approached to the feet of the holy man, crying, and

saying; Most holy Father, show mercy, and

let be cured through thee thy girl, because her husband to desert her

wishes, on account of the exuberant force of the disease: very much

I have consumed on physicians for the sake of the cure, and nothing

I have obtained: but I beseech thee, let be healed thy girl

by thy prayers. But he the Deacon ordered to him to be brought

the extended veil of the church, and with it to be covered the girl: who

straightway cleansed shone forth than gold brighter, and home returned

praise giving to God.

[18] Again, the feast day of the Apostle Peter being celebrated by Philip the holy

Presbyter, there came

Leontius a certain one by name, he cures a putrid ulcer: an ulcer having putrid

in his thigh, and vociferated in these words: Servant

of God, who to all the grace of health makest, command also me

to be healed from this wound, because a hired man I am, and by my hands'

labor I live: but now with this

ulcer idle I remain: and because to labor I cannot,

with hunger I am tortured: I beseech thee heal me through the Lord.

Then he washing his hands, to the Deacon said: Go to

the middle door of the church, and the dust which to it adheres

with this water diluting, make a plaster of clay, and apply

to the ulcer of this one, saying; Through the name of God let be healed

the wound: and to thee I command, if anyone ask, who to thee

health restored, answer, Through God's mercy,

and the Holy Spirit's grace, whole I am. And in the same

hour he was restored to health, to God thanks giving,

through the intercession of the holy Presbyter Philip.

[19] A certain hired man a fierce working beast of burden

an ass, a fierce beast of burden he renders gentle: by it with kicks and teeth wholly

had been bruised. But this grief when days some

patiently he had borne, nor the beast in any way

tame could; remembering the miracles, which S. Philip

had wrought, said within himself: Be the name of the Lord

blessed: tomorrow I will take this fierce beast, and

with my hand will lead to Philip the Presbyter, who

also demons expels, that he command it, to be tamed it suffer.

On the next therefore day he led to the Saint, saying:

Have mercy on me, who the sick healest, see my humility

and my labor, which from this wild animal

I suffer: because to bear I am unable, what day and night

by it to me is done of evils. Smiling the holy Father his hand

extended, and the animal signing, said; Obey

thy lord, and bend to him thy untamed neck,

nor any more with kick and tooth attack him but be

henceforth as a lamb in all obedience. And the hour

itself, by the holy Presbyter's command, it was rendered than a sheep gentler:

and went away the man rejoicing, and God glorifying.

[20] An ark there was to the temple of the Saint near, and in it by God's

permission dwelt a spirit unclean, to a blind man he restores sight: who about the hour

sixth of those passing by the eyes blind rendered.

A certain one however when at one time with a grievous disease he was held,

approached to the ark, that he might rest at the hour first,

and straightway was blinded. But when he cried out,

where indeed is Philip, who healings works, asking

those who passed by, he said; Have mercy

on me, lead me to the door of the church of the venerable

Presbyter Philip. And when led in the same hour

he had been to the door, he said: Holy one of God, from many stadia

to thee I came for health's cause, and blind I was made at the ark

to thy temple near, the hour about the sixth. But the Saint

indignant, said; To thee I say spirit unclean, who

men's eyes blind renderest, thou shalt be from this time

forever blind thyself, nothing seeing within that ark.

But outside thou shalt not be able to a man or beast

any nearer to approach. And in the same hour was freed

the man from blindness, and at the same time from his disease,

and went away praising God, who His servants frees from

all infirmity.

[21] A man a certain one there was in the toparch's dominion whom

a rabid beast had bitten. Him seeing the sacred Philip,

an herb from the field to be brought ordered and to be burned, and at the same time

with water to be poured on his wounds; and straightway healed

was the man, by God's will and the holy man's prayers. he cures the bite of a rabid beast:

[22] Certain ones from the Agrigentines' city in number

men twelve, by an unjust accusation circumvented, and delated

to the Duke by their President, twelve men unjustly bound and to be delivered to death, as if against the Duke

they had conspired, bound were led to be unjustly slain.

But when the Catanians' city they were passing, asked

the soldiers, by whom they were led, money to them being given,

that to pass it might be permitted through the temple of Philip the Presbyter:

for they hoped themselves by his prayer appeased

to have the Duke: which also was done. For when

to the venerable church they had come, with a voice great

and mournful they cried, saying, Have mercy on us, Holy one

of God, who by an unjust death are condemned: because

iniquitous is the accusation against us written, which carry

the soldiers. But he their mourning pitying,

said to the soldiers: Bring hither these men, as if

to inquire of them he wished, why bound they were led. But they

to the Saint said; Delivered to us them the President, written

also against them an epistle, that with capital punishment on

them he animadvert, showing at the same time the letters with a leaden

in this paper by my words, and God's virtue, thus within:

These men unjustly are condemned, the writing being miraculously changed he frees them, the President by envy

against them being driven. But thou merciful be, Duke, neither

with scourges, nor with sword them subjecting; but let them be freed from

the unjust accusation, and let them return to their own rejoicing. Then

when they had been led to the place which the Duke inhabited,

as soon as the epistle he read, to be loosed he ordered the bound ones,

saying that they nothing unjustly had perpetrated, nor against

himself anything had machinated: nay rather as

to men having suffered injury let be given food, and let them return to their own glad.

But they God praising, and His Saint Philip,

by whom they had been before freed, returned

home.

[23] their accuser then a demoniac he frees and amends: But he who them unjustly had accused and bound had sent,

when returned he saw, by a demon was seized. Then

said to him those who bound had been, as with one mouth; Go

to the feet of the venerable Philip the Presbyter, by whom we

from the iniquitous slaughter freed were, and thee he from the unclean

spirit will free. And he with a course hastening, the holy

his temple entered, and said; Have mercy on me,

servant of God Philip, let be expelled from me by thy prayers

the wicked spirit, who me vexes. To whom the Saint: Unworthy

thou art of excuse, he said, who a little before men innocent

to death didst persecute. At last however

when by the wretched one long he was wearied, pitying him, said

to the spirit: Go out, and depart from him, in the name of Christ Crucified

our God. Presently falling on the earth, whole he escaped,

a mandate from the blessed man being received, that no one ever

by gifts corrupted he should falsely accuse: and went away God

magnifying, who prodigies great does through His servants.

[24] A spiritual a certain one there was woman, who the care

bore of the cloister of the venerable temple of SS. Sergius, likewise a nun. and Bacchus,

by an unclean spirit grievously agitated; and she came

to the holy man, at which time to sacred things intent he was:

and straightway when she seized the hem of his cloak, and with mouth

bit it, whole was made by divine virtue, and to the monastery

returned proclaiming God's power.

[25] Three men from the Lydian Province into Sicily

had come, with much money to buy corn,

and they had of gold pounds about thirty

two. the stolen money of the companions, Suggested to one a demon, that secretly he should take and to himself

usurp, what common were to all. Troubled

moreover they being on account of the gold lost, when they had heard of

our holy Father Philip, they approach to him speedily,

and say: Have mercy on us, servant of God, because

the gold, which to trade in common we had,

we have lost, and we know not what to say or to do

we ought. Then the holy one opening his prophetic mouth

said to them; Stretch forth your hands into the ground, and the clay

where ye stand, and seize the clay. And when

straightway their hands into the designated place they had extended,

again he said: Bring now your hands, and

two indeed when they had drawn back, wondrously he detects, and amends him they appeared as with water

clean washed: but his who had stolen, the clay dried

held his fingers, so that to unfold them he could not.

Then said to him the Saint: Go, render the gold to thy companions,

and whole be henceforth thy hand. But he crying,

and saying; Let be healed my hand, I am, who

the gold hid; immediately was restored the hand, and

the gold to his companions he restored, and they went away God praising.

ANNOTATIONS

CHAPTER III.

The demons driven out. The pious death. Miracles. Likewise the Acts of S. Philip the Deacon inserted.

[26] On a certain day, when to Peter the Apostle's church

had come the venerable Presbyter Philip, demons he expels by his coming and prayers.

together with Eusebius the monk to pray, and his mind

he intended to the nocturnal prayer, about the hour

sixth of the night a voice he hears of an unclean spirit: Down

rush, descend, flee, because Philip our persecutor

to the mountain ascends, and straightway will consume

us the fire. But that voice was of the spirit, who had asked

in that place to dwell, and this said to the other spirits,

who from far-off shores had gathered. Then said

Eusebius to Philip the sacred Presbyter: Venerable

father, what is that voice? But he answered,

There have migrated hither from remote places unclean spirits:

but we fixed let us remain in prayer, that the merciful

God through our prayers may rebuke them, and hence expel.

Them praying therefore, leaped forth from the temple fire

like a torrent, and expelled them from that place. For at what

hour the spirit's voice was heard, whether by night or

by day, in that place, which was called ^a Katopedontes,

that is the down-rushers, suddenly fell a stone, and slew

either a man, or a boy, or a beast whatsoever.

But from that day whole and unhurt remained, as many

men or beasts as through the Catopedontes place

passed.

[27] Then to him said Eusebius the Monk: Truly, Philip,

a disciple thee thou hast shown of him, he is praised by Eusebius, who Presbyter

thee consecrated, Peter: to whom to be fed Christ's

sheepfold was committed, that he should feed men as sheep, and

boys as lambs: similarly also thou thy flock keepest

from beasts wild and wolves, that is from unclean

spirits, from all harmful them by thy wisdom guarding.

Indeed ought the whole West thy case

golden to make, and thy temple's pavement with silver

to spread, and prayers to thee daily to offer.

For nothing is under the sun, which can be repaid for the benefits,

which through thy merits individuals have received. all to God he attributes: Philip

but to Eusebius answered: Be the name of the Lord blessed,

Brother, who freely has mercy, and saves

the whole world: because we all, since we are sinners,

nothing of good doing, what worthy of His glory

to be offered by us can or equal to His benefits, the perpetual

upon us of His grace gifts He derives. ^b

[28] A man a certain one wealthy very much, from the Palermitan

city, but children lacking, very much was afflicted: he when

of B. Philip's miracles he heard, a Palermitan citizen by a hidden vow came to the Agyrium

place, and sees from afar the Saint before the doors of the temple

sitting, and says to his servants: Lo truly the star,

which to see I desired: whom also by night in dreams

I saw calling me, and with cheerful countenance inviting, lo himself

it is. But if from God's will was the vision which to me

appeared, his seat left he will call us, and to enter into the temple

will order to pray, and will interrogate, Whence

are ye, brothers, why hither came ye? But the man S. Philip,

as if a divine revelation received, rising at once

from the seat, in which he sat, said to Eusebius the monk:

Call cheerfully them, who from afar come to us.

And straightway called them with cheerful countenance Eusebius, saying:

Well are ye come, pilgrims, he satisfies him: he calls you our Father

Philip the Presbyter, for whose cause from abroad ye have come.

Which heard the man with great joy suffused, to God gave

thanks, that whom he sought he had found, and his vow

he had obtained: but he ordered, that he should pray. After these things

many gifts, which he had brought, before his feet he cast,

saying: Father, thou knowest God revealing, for what cause

I came. And the Saint, I know, said, but thou home

return, and what thou desirest, will be to thee according to thy faith.

[29] And when home he had returned, he found his wife

rejoicing at a vision, which to her by night had appeared. She saw

for B. Philip saying to her: and assigns to him a son Behold, returning

thy husband, from him thou shalt conceive, and a son thou shalt bear, whom

Philip thou shalt call, and the blessing of God be with you.

Which when from her had learned the husband, wondering within

himself he said; Blessed, Lord God, who doest marvels,

who also to those far placed as in a moment

near makest Thy mercy, through the venerable

Presbyter Philip, above all who invoke

Thee in truth. He narrated moreover the man to his wife,

how he had learned what in mind he desired,

and Eusebius the monk had sent before, and the cause of his coming

had known. And shortly after bore a male

the wife to her husband, and called him Philip. And when

of years he was about eight, to the holy Hierarch

Philip him she offered, saying: Behold, Father, the fruit

of thy prayers. But he kindly by the hand taking, who at his command at eight years is offered to God,

offers him to the temple, and blesses, and said to him:

Go, son, to the borders of thy birth, and build a temple

to the Lord, and there will be His blessing with thee. And returning

the boy together with his father, afterwards a Deacon was made

under the Bishop of Palermo: and gave to him a mandate

Philip our Father, that never gold he should care for

or silver, but that all his goods, which he had

and would have, he should distribute among the poor. Which also

he did, and gave that man glory to God, together with his son

his, through the whole life, all things always distributing to the poor.

[30] But receiving the boy Philip from the venerable

Presbyter Philip one of his tunics, and the girdle of Philip received a withered man he heals, and a napkin

one, and a girdle, with which his loins he girded,

in his memory; while he returns, he met

on the way a man by a serpent wasted. And wishing

the Saint's cures to imitate the boy, the girdle being loosed,

which from the Saint he had received, he girded the withered man

lying, saying; In the name of S. Philip arise whole

and unhurt. He rose forthwith whole, as before praise

to God saying: and wondered very much the younger Philip

at what had happened, that not only present diseases

he cured, but his garments diseases expelled.

Hearing moreover this the citizens of Palermo, the Palermitans rejoicing, that

the tunics of the Saint were carried by Philip the Younger, returning

into the Palermitan city, and that miracles

through them were done; they rejoiced above measure, saying:

Blessed be God, since He has had mercy on us unworthy

and sinners the most holy Philip, his venerable

tunics to us sending, to heal infirmities

ours: and what to him we worthy to repay

can we? Prayers, and supplicating orations to Philip?

But his prayer, which for us all

he makes, our all gifts surpasses, than gold and stone

precious and sapphire more precious. And one could see the crowd

nothing else speaking, than, Glory be to God,

who glorifies those who love Him. And there was made that day a rejoicing,

so that God Himself to be present they seemed to think

the inhabitants.

[31] But straightway an Abbot a certain one, an unclean

spirit suffering, Philip coming, as he had entered

the first gate of the city, and a demoniac he frees. exclaimed: Well art thou come,

younger Philip, with the holy garments, which thou bringest

of Philip the Presbyter. For I in this hour hasten to

him, that I may be freed from the infestation of an unclean spirit.

Then he said to him: Go most quickly, return to my Lord

and my master, the holy Father and Presbyter

Philip, and by him thou shalt be cured: which also was done.

When he had gone moreover the Abbot, he found Philip

departed to the Lord.

[32] But he after a life pleasing to God and all

the miracles which I have said, forty days before his death,

he prescribes the sepulture to be made for himself and Eusebius appeared to one of the chief men of the region, by name

Belisarius: and taking his servants, he came to

the Agyrium place, and showed him in dreams the delineation

of a church, in the manner of a Cross to be built: and he built

also two cases, the upper indeed for Eusebius

the monk, who his life wrote and miracles: but the lower

for his sacred relics. Built the same

Belisarius his sacred temple: and piously dying for forty

days before his death he performed his fortieth-day

memory's funeral rites, and the divine mysteries being discharged,

falling down the Saint at his sepulchre, opening his mouth

his, said: This is my rest unto the world of the world.

Lord into Thy hands I commend my spirit:

for he who in Thee sincerely believes, although he die, shall live. And

so he fell asleep in the Lord ^c.

[33] But that after his death also God's servant

fountains of cures might pour forth; he is renowned for miracles, to his sacred case

approaching Eulalius the monk from Palermo city,

by an unclean spirit grievously vexed, and having entered

the temple, said: Me at the sepulchre to roll

it behoves, until I obtain health. And straightway extending

his hand the Saint with the tome, when he had signed

him, he presently whole was made, by the highest Trinity's

grace. But the fame of his miracles being spread, there ran together

a multitude great of those ill at the sepulchre:

came moreover on the fortieth day after his

consummation a man a certain one, by name Eutropius,

whose halved part of the body was withered: and standing at

the bier and applying himself, straightway whole was made.

Approaching moreover to the bier with fear and

desire, he frees all from temptations, and perils

and unclean spirits, evil calumny and civil war,

from various diseases and the fields' sterility, from the perils

of rivers and of the sea, from the wrath of God and of Princes,

those who his annual memory with faith and fear

celebrate ^d.

[34] The most holy man Philip lived years about

sixty-three, and rested in peace. There is held the annual

his commemoration of his death in the month of May, The space of his life. on the twelfth day,

through the grace of the Holy Spirit, with whom glory

to the Father we render and to the Only-begotten Son His Word? to whom

glory and power unto ages of ages. Amen.

ANNOTATIONS

ANOTHER APOCRYPHAL LIFE

Falsely attributed to S. Athanasius of Alexandria.

Philip the Presbyter, Wonder-Worker (St.)

Eusebius the monk, Confessor, at Agyrium in Sicily (St.)

Philip the Deacon, at Panormus in Sicily (St.)

BHL Number: 6819

FROM CAJETAN.

PROLOGUE.

[1] Just as the Sun to those beholding, so to those hearing

the discourse of the Saints light brings: The memory of the Saints useful, and as the stars

to heaven are an ornament, so the Saints the Church, whom it

in its as it were bosom embraces, illustrate. For what

in the meadows are the flowers, that are the Saints in the Churches. The memory of the Saints to those, who by evil spirits are besieged,

a quiet and tranquil mind, to the infirm solace,

life to all, and a firm health of body

affords. Of great men great are the contests;

of the Martyrs, and of the Saints splendid crowns,

who all things of this world for nothing counted. Which

mind that to them might repay the Lord God, He caused that

with the holy Angels perpetually they should live. For when

them to assail the ancient enemy of the human race thought,

nothing else, than to heaven more familiar them

he rendered. With great voices moreover it must be sounded,

with how great hardness of life they exercised themselves, and with how great

spirit to the contemplation of divine things they were lifted: whose

for voice into the whole earth went forth, and

in speaking the faculty to the extreme ends of the world

was carried, of them assuredly the praise to the same

place to be borne by merit it behoves. But who anywhere is, who himself

able hopes of S. Philip of Agyrium, commonly Argyrium

called, the contests equally and miracles for their merit

to commend? For he the crowd of demons expelled,

he a flux of blood stilled, he a withered hand

to health restored, he finally a dead man raised. and among those S. Philip of Agyrium.

Of which indeed all the glory to God, of things

all the Curator and President, to attribute we ought: from

whom the faculty and grace into His servants emanates, by which

not to resist only, but also to trample the enemy's

forces easily they may be able. Wherefore also David, says:

Wonderful is God in His Saints; and again: The just one,

as the palm shall flourish, and as the cedar, which in Lebanon is,

shall be multiplied: and Solomon, The just one if by death he be snatched away,

and again, The souls of the just are in the hand

of God, nor shall touch them torment: for these causes for

the favor of the Son of God Jesus Christ, His Saint's miracles

to narrate we have undertaken.

NARRATION.

[2] In the times of the ruling ^a Nero there was ^b at Rome

a man a certain one pious, Theodosius by name; to him was

a wife ^c Anesia called, from Bethsaida the town of Andrew

and Peter; were these both most Christian and most learned,

although the wife's ^d sterility of both the mind

not a little depressed and dejected: The parents long sterile, which

for cause with alms and prayers day and night assiduously they were occupied,

God earnestly asking, that offspring

to them He might concede. But on a certain day went the wife into the temple

apart, that she might pray; and her mouth opened with tears

she said to the Lord: God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob,

who heaven with a span, with a fist the earth measurest, who

sittest upon the chariot of the Cherubim, to whom stand the Angels crying,

and saying Holy, holy, holy, the Lord

God of Sabaoth; hear today Thy handmaid's prayers,

and as the womb of Sarah Thou didst bless, and gavest that a son

she should bear Isaac; and as Anna, who Mary

ever Virgin and the Angels' Lady bore,

Thou didst bless; so also to me of my womb a fruit some

bestow, that to Thy holy name I may give glory.

[3] These and other things when she had said, she returned to her house

her: a son by prayers obtained whose tears and prayers not despising God

omnipotent, what she had asked granted: and bore she

rejoiced. But he when in age he seemed fit,

began to things to be done and to tradings his mind

to apply, as the custom bears of this world. But

when he was on a certain day into another place set out for the sake of trading,

and after his custom sheep and oxen,

and other likewise animals four-footed had bought, and his return

to his native soil prepared; by the work of a demon he perished.

For that of all evils the author and prince,

who nothing not hates of good, beholding the offspring's and parents'

felicity, they lament him drowned: and that with the highest sincerity and confidence

before God they walked, by envy stimulated, and a great

rain being excited, the river ^f, which was to be crossed

by the youth, so increased, that with the same force both the animals

and the animals' master it submerged. This

bitter and sudden tidings of the death of their only-begotten son

received, the parents into mournings and lamentations burst:

and the mother herself first wailing and groaning, Woe

to me, she said, woe to me! my bowels I feel disturbed.

Alas, alas! where is dead my son? Where, I say,

that thither set out, my gray head upon his most beautiful

face hairless I may make, for neither thee henceforth,

my son, am I to see. Where art thou my light? Not

indeed for thy cause, but for ours descended this river,

which thee snatched away, and us of our inheritance a good part deprived.

Now whatever to me of life remains, that all in

mourning and weeping, my son, I will pass, until I too

hence departing to thee may set out.

[4] These things being said and others, again their each one to

the Lord prayer poured, and another they ask, him about to consecrate to God: and falling down God in

these words they besought: Lord, give us another

offspring: and if indeed a male we shall have begotten,

him to Thee we will consecrate in the ministry of Thy temple

in the city of Rome, that there to Thee he may serve, and pleasing to Thy majesty

may render obsequy: and we will offer

him to Thee, not otherwise than Joachim Mary the Virgin.

Moreover God the patience and humility of them

noticing, a second son, as to Anna another

Samuel, to them gave, to whom the name Philip was imposed.

Him although with great affection they educated, yet

in fear and trembling they kept.

[5] And when the twelfth year of age he had attained,

what concerning him they had determined the parents in these to him words opened:

We promised, son, in the sight of the Lord, who at twelve to Rome hastening to S. Peter. if

offspring to us He should give, and it should be male, that we

it would dedicate to the temple of the Lord. Wherefore we wish, my son

mine, that to Rome thou betake thyself, where our kinsman

the most holy Peter, the Roman Pontiff, of Christ

the Lord the disciple, thou shalt find; to whose thee committing

judgment, thou shalt give effort, that God thou mayest please and

men, and the name of God through thee may be glorified. These things

Philip when he had heard, gladly what was commanded

received, and not many days after said to his father

his. Father, if me to Rome thou wilt (as thou hadst said) set out,

bless me, and to the most holy Pope write

letters, that I may go away, God so willing. Which hearing

the father wrote all things, which had happened concerning his son

this: and Philip having received from his part letters and money,

as much as for the journey was needful, and also of each parent

the blessing, rejoicing went out: and when

to the shore he had descended, the ship being boarded he set out.

[6] But after into the ^h Italic gulf they came,

blowing more vehemently the wind, and tossed by a tempest, and being made on the sea

no small tempest, the ship nearly was submerged.

But the sailors by this peril dismayed the divine

help implored, and that themselves from the surge of waves so great

God would rescue, they prayed. Philip also

the tempest's magnitude having noticed, his knees set

in this prayed: Lord God, who

heaven, earth, sea, and all things which in them are,

didst create, let us not I beseech swallow the gulf of so great a sea,

nor now let us die: he stills it. but as Jonah

the Prophet from the whale's belly after the third day

Thou didst save, so us from the present peril free. When of praying

an end he made, great straightway was made a tranquillity;

which when the sailors perceived from the boy's prayers

to have followed; by the wonder of the matter moved, God

most good and great they praised, who His grace

to the Saints bestows.

[6] But they came into the ⁱ Crete island, and there

seven days having tarried, restored what for

the journey were necessary, thence having departed, by a happy navigation

to Rome were carried. But when thither it was come,

into a lodging a certain one, where also other certain

Christians dwelt, they turned aside. from S. Peter divinely admonished But that night

felt Peter, the Pontiff and Apostle of Jesus Christ,

within himself a divine inspiration, which said:

Send one who may summon thy kinsman, and faithful servant

mine Philip by name: in a lodging for

he is, and him into the temple of the Lord introduce.

But Peter calling one of his ministers: Enter,

said, ^k into the City, and its right part seeking,

thou wilt meet a man, Philip by name in

a lodging staying. Him thou in my name to be greeted

bid, and hither to us bring. Set out he, the found

man in these words greeted: Peace to thee.

Let us go, said, to the most holy Pope. At the name

of the Pontiff rejoicing the youth, the minister having followed,

the temple ^l entered: and there after the custom prayer being made,

beholding B. Peter, himself onto the pavement

cast, kindly he is received; and at the feet of the holy Pontiff

fell down. Whom he kindly by the hand received raising,

Say, said, youth, from what place,

or from what region comest thou? And when the offered

by the youth epistle he had read through; he learned

what concerning him was written: whom most humanely embracing

and kissing, he asked concerning his parents,

that they were well, and that with them it went. Which when

he had been one by one by Philip taught, thanks gave

to God.

[7] But Philip there remaining with the Apostle,

and to fastings and vigils being given, with his whole

mind toward God intent, and taught also the holy

letters and of the holy Scripture's mysteries perceived, in life

and morals illustrious, great himself before God and men

he approved. and to sacred things initiated But seeing Peter the virtue

of his greatness into the number of the Deacons him

he received, and then a Priest constituted, and of the ineffable

mysteries made him a participant.

[8] In those times a prodigious thing very much

happened, in the western parts of the world. For there was in

the island of Sicily a mount a certain one Agyrion, or, as the common people,

Argyrion called. against the infestations of a demon. Its inhabitants and the around

neighboring agitated the demons, and oppressed

so much, that some into the sea they plunged, others within

whatsoever waters they choked, some headlong

from high places they cast down. The Christians indeed, who

then there were, a council being gathered ^m, a man one

in virtue distinguished chose, whom to the blessed

Pope with little writings they sent as legate, in which

was written, That they prayed the holy Pontiff's Beatitude,

that through the divine clemency and mercy

a man some in piety illustrious to them

he would send who the demons, their region infesting, and

the Christians into the sea plunging, put to flight and conquer

might be able.

[9] These letters when to him brought the Pontiff read through,

with wonder of so great a matter taken, called to himself

the Priest Philip thus addresses: Go, says,

into the island of Sicily, into Sicily he is destined, into the mount Agyrion, and the thrice entwined

and turned dragon the enemy of truth

bind, that from his hand the human race thou mayest free.

Then Philip, I am not, said, of this ministry

worthy, since my iniquities have gone over

my head. To whom the Pontiff, Render, said,

obedience and set out. with the Cross. But I the venerable

and life-giving Cross, and the grace and power

to thee will give, which from my Lord I received,

when He said: Lepers cleanse, demons cast out:

freely you have received, freely give. Then the holy Priest

to obey wishing, and presently to modesty

and humility composed, in this manner answered.

Command, Venerable Father, let be present only to us

the Lord, nor let us Thy Holiness's prayers fail,

and send me wherever to God it shall seem good.

The Pontiff therefore letters being written, and poured as he was wont

prayer, with a blessing by him given into Sicily

him dismissed.

[10] But he came first to Catania, and thence into

the Agyrion mount ascended, who having set out to Agyrion, and on it by all the people

with honor and veneration was received. But there began

after his coming the demons all things

to disturb, and those who by unclean spirits were held,

into flight to turn themselves. But the Saint his knees set

prayed, and to those who were present commanded, that the possessed

all to him they should bring. the demoniacs he frees: Who as themselves to be forced they saw,

to gnash with a horrible voice, and foam from their teeth to emit

began. At last by the Holy Trinity's power,

in which is of life the fountain and beginning, whole

them and of themselves possessed he rendered: by which thing of his name

the celebrity into the whole island was divulged ⁿ.

[11] Then there approached to him a man a certain one pious, whose

daughter by demons was agitated, years thirteen old.

The Saint moreover poured in this prayer, to health restored,

and in mind quiet and sober to the father into his hands

delivered: who her received with joy and exultation

departed.

[12] Another John by name, by a demon's work near

a fountain was found dead: a dead man he raises whom thrice by his name

called, as Christ Lazarus, the Saint prayer being made

into life brought back. But the spirit wicked unto

the end of the ages with indissoluble bonds he condemned, and

John to his parents, not otherwise than to Martha Christ

Lazarus, restored.

[13] Another by name Eutropius a hand had

withered, this the Saint by his prayers to health pristine

restored, and thence he rejoicing, blessing, a withered hand he cures: and praising

God, departed.

[14] A woman a certain one a miscarriage having suffered, a fetus in

her womb had, now ^o three before days dead, to her

the Saint ordered [p] Ambrose his Minister water to be drunk

to offer. a woman in labor he frees Which drunk up, straightway from the labor's molestation,

in which now for three days she had labored, freed

she was, and praise and glory to God omnipotent

rendered.

[15] he stays a flux of blood: Another woman, who a flux of blood was suffering,

and various of physicians remedies having tried to be cured not

had been able, to the Saint approaching, fell down at the feet

of him, and straightway that flux ceased: and she went away

God praising and glorifying.

[16] A man a certain one, called Athanasius, when amid cultivating

a vineyard with labor wearied under a tree he had fallen asleep, he heals one struck by a viper:

a viper his hand bit: but he from the grief

waking cried out, and all but dead appeared.

But running to the Saint, he fell at the feet of him,

and said: Holy one of God, help me. Prayer moreover by

B. Philip being made, the venom from his hand went out,

and it itself into its pristine state was restored. Moreover Athanasius,

by so great a benefit moved, praise equally and

glory gave to the Lord.

[17] A shepherd a certain one, whose sheep wolves frequently

coming choked, the wolves from the sheepfold he wards off: and who not sufficiently knew

by what reason them from his flock to ward off; (for there were

many) came to Philip, and falling down at the feet

of him, Holy one of God, said, bring help. To whom the Saint, In what

matter? Of the wolves, said he, a multitude our flock

infests, whom neither resist can we on account of

the multitude. Then the Saint bent down, of dust

a little took, which to him offering, Take, said,

this dust, and with this thy sheep sprinkle: which

if thou shalt do, they will not enter henceforth the wolves into the sheepfold

your.

[18] Three men, together a journey making, into a lodging a certain one

turned aside. Of these one secretly by night having opened

[q] the innkeeper's chest, a sufficiently great sum stole.

But the innkeeper on the following day, the stolen money he detects: when the chest he had seen

opened, those three detained, asking which of them

the money had stolen. Which when they heard,

what to say they knew not they answered: Let us go, said

the innkeeper, to Divine Philip: he also what we seek

straightway will disclose. Thither moreover having set out, when the matter

all to the Saint they had narrated, the thief being straightway known,

This is, said the Saint, who thy gold has stolen.

And straightway his hand withered, who the theft

had committed; for which reason most quickly falling down,

the Saint's feet he embraced, crying

and saying, Holy one of God have mercy on me, but I

the received gold will restore. Which when in fact he had performed,

suddenly into its pristine state his hand was changed.

[19] Many also other miracles, and beyond measure

to be wondered at prodigies when the Saint had done, other miracles he wrought: lepers

cleansing, and every of diseases kind from

human bodies driving away, he descended at last

from the Argyrium mount into a place a certain one [r] separated

from the city of Messina, by three of paces thousand,

commonly… called: where having built a cell together with

certain religious men in age equally and morals

approved he dwelt to fastings and vigils and prayers

being given assiduously. Many also in that place miracles

he wrought, and especially in expelling unclean spirits

another himself Elias he showed; nor by word

less than by work a Saint himself he proved. and after a pious life dying an old man, But

since in speaking he was eloquent and ready, by no means

that faculty idly or in vain possessed:

but in the divine praises chanting most holily

occupied, holily also and according to God's will

his flock he ruled; with the highest zeal to spiritual exercises

intent, and in life and morals grave. Finally

when of his life the years with all virtue he had run through,

in honest old age he migrated to the Lord.

But of his funeral the sacred Relics, and worthy of all

veneration body, on the Argyrium mount he is buried. into the Argyrium mount

was translated. But from his case most precious

various emanate remedies and of diseases cures:

and unto the present day miracles to do not

ceases of God omnipotent the grace; to whom befits glory,

dominion, and adoration, now, and ever, and unto ages

of ages. Amen.

ANNOTATIONS.

p. No Ambrose mention in the other Life.

q. Nay the companions' money he stole is said in the other Life.

r. Cajetan at number 13 of the other Life, S. Philip in his approach into Sicily judges from Messina set out, in a cave to have stayed three from the city of paces thousand, and from it many demons to have expelled. There is extant of the matter a monument, he says, an altar in the cave, and of marble a statue, and near a monastery of the Order of S. Basil, and a shrine to Divine Philip's name sacred, and in it a Cross, which of Divine Philip to have been, by which the demons he expelled, fame reports.