Martha the Widow

ON S. MARTHA THE WIDOW,

MOTHER OF S. SYMEON THE YOUNGER STYLITE.

IN THE YEAR 551.

COMMENTARY OF CONRAD JANNING S. J.

Concerning the life, cultus, and name of this Martha.

Martha his mother, near Antioch of Syria (S.)

BY THE AUTHOR C. J.

[1] In giving the Life of this Saint I shall seem to depart in two ways from the footsteps of my Masters, since I neither keep the order of time, postponing to the son the Life of her who died long before him; This life is given as a supplement to the former, and since I refer it to this day, the day V July being passed over, on which, just as she died, so she has a most celebrated cultus among the Greeks, and indeed in the Typicon in the first place, although in the figured Greco-Muscovite Calendar, the Menaea, and the Synaxaria she holds only the second or even the third. But know that this was done by their command, considering her to be a certain supplement as it were of the other Life; not because she was written after it, for this can be gathered from no head; but because the author of the other Life, in a most prolix argument wishing to make some abridgement of writing and of time, seems to have passed over on purpose all those things, which he most fully knew were narrated in the Life of the mother, although pertaining more to the son than to her. But it was not fitting that she who was written first be also placed in the first place: although the Saint is venerated on 5 July. because all the things which we have premised to the Acts of Symeon, neither could aptly be premised to this Life, nor could these be conveniently understood without those. But not entirely without the example of the Greeks shall we join the mother to the son: for this the collector of the Florentine Codex did, whence the Life is copied, by I know not what anticipation noting to it the day XXIII May. But the Chiffletian Synaxarium, kept at Dijon, celebrates the mother one day after the son, with a more prolix Elogium; which because it contains a Synopsis of the Life, it pleases to give in both languages.

[2] Elogium from the Dijon Ms., Αὕτη ἡ ἀοίδιμος Μάρθα, μητὴρ ἦν τοῦ ἁγίου Συμεὼν, τοῦ ἐν τῷ θαυμαστῷ ὄρει· καὶ ἀεὶ τῷ Θεῷ σχολάζουσα ἐν ταῖς ἐκκλησίαις, ἐξ ἐπαγγελίας γεννᾷ τὸν ἅγιον Συμεών. Ἄσκησιν δὲ καὶ στάσιν εἶχε πολλὴν ἐν τῷ βίῳ αὐτῆς· οὐδεὶς γὰρ ἐθεάσατο ταύτην ποτὲ ἐν κυριακῷ καθεσθεῖσαν, ἤ τινι προσομιλήσασαν τὸ συνολον. Ἀγαπὴν πολλὴν ἔχουσα, καὶ ἐλεεμοσύνην, καὶ ταπείνωσιν, πόδας … πάντων νίπτουσα, ξένους ὑποδεχομένη, γυμνοὺς ἐνδύουσα, πτωχοὺς τρέφουσα, σίνδονας τοῖς μὴ εὐπωροῦσιν εἰς βάπτισμα ἐπιδιδοῦσα, ὡσαυτῶς καὶ ἐντάφια. Προγνοῦσα δὲ την ἑαυτῆς τελευτὴν πρὸ τριῶν μηνῶν, ἀπῆλθε συντάξασθαι πρὸς τὸν Ὅσιον. Ὡ δὲ πάλιν τῷ ἁγίῳ Πνεύματι γνοὺς, φησὶ πρὸς αὐτήν· Τείχισόν με, μῆτερ, ταῖς εὐχαῖς σου, ὅτι πρὸς Κύριον ἐκδημεῖς. Ἡ δὲ πρὀς αὐτόν· Τοῦτο, ὦ τέκνον, κᾳγὼ μυηθεῖσα, ἦλθον κομίσασθαι τὰς εὐχάς σου· καὶ ἀλλήλοις ἐπευξάμενοι καὶ εὐφρανθέντες, διῃρέθησαν. Ἐτάφη δὲ ἡ Ὁσία μεταστάσα ἐν Δάφνῃ· μετακομισθεῖσα δὲ παρὰ τοῦ Ἁγίου, τέθη πλησίον τοῦ στύλου· καὶ τοῦ Ἁγίου ποιήσαντος εὐχὴν ὑπὲρ αὐτῆς, ἐθαυματούργει ὁ τάφος αὐτῆς εἰς δόξαν Θεοῦ.

[3] This celebrated Martha was the mother of S. Symeon, who led his life on the wonderful mount. In the churches she always gave herself to God; comprehending her very many virtues by promise she bore S. Symeon; she exercised herself and stood frequently in her life: for no one ever saw her in the sacred edifice either sit, or in any way converse with another. She excelled in much charity, mercy, humility; she washed … the feet of all; she received strangers with hospitality; she clothed the naked with a garment; she nourished the needy; she gave baptismal sheets as also sepulchral ones, if any were less furnished with them. But when she had known three months beforehand the imminent exit of her life, she went to the Saint, about to communicate the matter with him. But he, now likewise taught the same by the Holy Spirit, says to her coming: Fortify me, mother, with thy prayers, because thou goest to the Lord. But she to him: This very thing I too being taught, my son, and her foreknown death. come to receive thy prayers. And when they had prayed for each other in turn, suffused with joy, they were separated. But when the Saint had migrated from life, she was committed to burial at Daphne: but S. Symeon, having translated her, laid her near his column; where, when he had poured out prayers for her, her tomb wrought marvelous works, unto the glory of God. Thus far the Dijon Ms. The Syriac or Chaldaic Calendar also makes mention of the same woman, but translated, on that day which corresponds to our octave of July, in this manner, Translation 8 July. The Translation of the body of S. Martha the mother of S. Symeon the Stylite. Which to the first translation, three days after her death, as is said in the life, made from Daphne to Symeon's column, so squares; that yet nothing prevents one from opining, that a second also, some years after, was performed on a like day, and perhaps even with greater solemnity, on account of the preceding miracles.

[4] In what precise year the Saint died, although it is expressly nowhere said, yet from the collation of both Lives it is gathered with certainty enough; provided we attend to the day of her death, She died in the year 551. which is said num. 27 to have been Feria IV, and V July. For S. Symeon, as we saw num. 117, in the thirtieth year of his age, was carried with solemn pomp to the new column, S. Martha going before, and applauding and exulting, that she had offered such a fruit of her womb to God, and bearing the Cross before in her hand. But from the following Life num. 68 it is known, that after the death of B. Martha Antony the Presbyter was sent off by the same S. Symeon to Jerusalem, and returned thence with part of the sacrosanct Cross of the Lord to the monastery to the Saint, on the same day and hour, on which the year before, when Symeon was about to ascend the column, B. Martha had borne before him the venerable cross taken by the hand. Therefore not long after that ascent of Symeon onto the column did she survive. But from the calculation set above the thirtieth year of Symeon falls on the year 551 of the vulgar Era; and the same year had Feria IV concurrent with the day V July, through the Dominical letter A which six years before had not happened, nor did it happen except in the fifth year after and bissextile. We have therefore an indubitable mark of the sought time, and at once our chronology confirmed.

[5] We have also confirmed the anniversary cultus of Martha from her Life num. 71, when it is said, The Life written by a contemporary monk. that to celebrate the first anniversary of B. Martha a great multitude of people coming of their own accord, with candles and lamps, opportunely came together to celebrate at the same time the reception of the aforesaid Cross, in the church built by the Saint. The Saint then permitted a new church to be built, and into it the chest of his mother to be translated, as is narrated through the whole chap. 6 of the Life: and from that time it is said by the Author to have shone with several miracles, not only a contemporary, but as it is permitted to presume an eyewitness of most of them; for he was present when the particle of the Cross was received, and indicates this by these words reported in the same num. 71: All who had come together cried out with us, We adore Thy Cross &c. But that With us, will suggest to thee not only one present, but also a Monk from the disciples of S. Symeon, if thou attend to the title of Our Mother, which he repeatedly and by a certain special reasoning uses. By such an author therefore the Life is held described in the Laurentian Library of the Grand Duke of Florence, Pluteus IX Codex XIV, under such a title:

Βίος τῆς μακαρίας Μάρθας, μητρὸς τοῦ ἁγίου Συμεὼν, τοῦ ἀγονισαμένου

ἐκ νηπὶας ἡλικίας τὰ τῆς ἀσκήσεως ἄθλα ἐν τῷ Θαυμαστῷ ὄρει: The Life of B. Martha, mother of S. Symeon, who from a tender age drained out the ascetic contests on the wonderful mount. Hence transcribed in the year 1661, by the hand of P. Papebroch, I have taken upon myself to render it into Latin, the first to be an experiment of such study: which I would that, the course of Theological studies being measured out, it may be permitted to resume; and (since the one of my Masters has now gone to those, by illustrating whose Acts he was striving to form me) I may find at least the other surviving, who may pursue the institution begun not unhappily.

[6] Moreover since the veneration of this S. Martha was so celebrated everywhere, Were other mothers of other Symeons also Marthas? even while her son was still living, it pleased those, who were borne by a special devotion toward the Elder Symeon, and had read in his Acts, that when he had prayed well for his dead mother, the body was moved and the face smiled, and the obsequies being made they buried her before the column; to number her too among the Saints, lest the Elder should have anything less than the Younger: and being ignorant of the day of her death, they instituted her to be venerated together with her son on 1 September, when we again concerning her: for Baronius erred, at the day IV of that month, when he judged it was the Younger, whom the Greeks venerated with his Mother on the very Kalends. The name the author of the Life Antony Disciple of the Saint had not indicated, and Metaphrastes following him the Old Interpreter, whose Latin version Bollandus gave in the second place, having before his eyes the interpolated Life, expressed the name Mathana: the more recent Greeks in their Synaxaria and other ritual books call her Martha; which deservedly can be held suspect, lest it be assumed without suitable authority, that just as the names of the sons are the same, so they were also of the mothers.

[7] But what shall we say this is, that in the Menaea of the Greeks printed at Venice, but those alone, on the day before that on which the elogium of our S. Martha is recited, that is on IV July, or one Mary? after others of such a day called Saints there is prescribed to be made the memory of Μαρίας, τῆς μητρὸς τοῦ ἁγίου Συμεὼν τοῦ Στηλίτου, of Mary, the mother of S. Symeon the Stylite? Did some wish the mother also of a third Symeon to be ascribed to the Saints? I would not dare to opine that. I would rather say, that the collector of the Menaea found in some Ephemeris written wrongly the name Mary in place of Martha, and indeed by anticipation (as we have already noticed sometimes in such things days anticipated, namely in the Synaxarium of Basil and in the Greco-Muscovite Calendar) and therefore had it for a scruple, if he omitted her, since no adjoined indication showed to which Symeon he ought to assign her.

LIFE

By a contemporary monk as Author, Conrad Janning as Interpreter.

From the Ms. of the Laurentian Library of Florence Plut. 9 Cod. 14.

Martha his mother, near Antioch of Syria (S.)

BY A CONTEMPORARY FROM THE FLORENTINE MS.

CHAPTER I.

Various virtues of S. Martha, a vision, a miracle.

Ὅσοι τῆς μακαρίας καὶ ἀπεράντου ζωῆς ἐπιθυμοῦσι, τὸ ψαλμικὸν ἐκεῖνο λόγιον μελετὴν ἔχουσι διαπαντὸς, τὸ φάσκον· Συνέτισόν με, Κύριε, καὶ μαθήσομαι τὰς ἐντολάς σου· καὶ αὖθις· Δίδαξόν με τοῦ ποιεῖν τὸ θέλημά σου· οὐδαμῶς περιστρεφόμενοι πρὸς τὰς βιωτικὰς φροντίδας, οὐ δὲ θολῶσαι τὴν ψυχὴν ἀνεσχόμενοι ταῖς ἀνωφελέσι μερύμναις, πᾶσαν δὲ σπουδὴν ποιοῦντες τὸν ἔσω κατακοσμεῖν ἄνθρωπον καὶ πνευματικῆς ἀντέχεσθαι πολιτείας, λανθάνειν τε τοὺς πολλοὺς τὴν καλὴν ἐργασίαν ἐργαζόμενοι, καὶ τῆς ἐπὶ τὰ κρείττονα καὶ ἐσχόμενα σωτηρίας ωροκοπῆς ἐπιμελούμενοι. Οὗτοι βεβηκότες ἑδραίως ἐπὶ τῷ θεμελίῳ τῆς ἀποστολικῆς πίστεως, καὶ ἀκλόνητοι τῇ τοῦ ζοωποιοῦ σταυροῦ δυνάμει τηρούμενοι, εἰκώτως πᾶσαν ἐπιβουλὴν τῶν πονηρῶν πνευμάτων διαφεύγουσιν, ἀποκρουόμενοι τὰσ τούτων προσβολὰς, καὶ τῶν κοσμικῶν πειρασμῶν τοὺς κλύδωνας ὑπερβαίνοντες. Ὅθεν καὶ ἡ ἐν ἁγίοις ἡμῶν μητὴρ Μάρθα, ἐξ ἧς Συμεὼν ὁ τοῦ Θεοῦ δοῦλος προσῆλθεν, περὶ ἧς ἡμῖν πρόκειται νῦν διήγησις, διὰ τὴν τῶν ἐντυγχανόντων ὠφέλειαν, τὴν ἐπηγγέλμενην τοῖς ἀγαπῶσι τον Θεὸν μακαριότητα, καὶ ἐν τοῖς δικαιώμασι Κυρίου μελετῶσι, διαπαντοὶ ὁδοῖς δικαὶοσύνης ἐπορεύετο, τρεῖς τιμίους μαργαρίτας κεκτημένη, πίστιν εὐκατάνυκτον, ἐλπίδα παρὰ πόδα ἔχουσαν τῶν ἀγαθῶν τὴν ὑπὄστασιν, καὶ ἀγαπὴν τελεοῦσαν εἰς Θεὸν, δι᾽ ὧν προδήλως πᾶσαι αἱ ἐντολαὶ κατορθοῦνται· ἃς Θεῷ μόνῳ φανεροῦσθαι βουλομένη, ἔσπευδεν λανθάνειν ἀνθρώπους, φεύγουσα τὸν κενόδοξον λογισμὸν, ὥστε μηδένα γινώσκειν τι τῶν τῆς φιλοπονίας καὶ φιλοσοφίας ἔργων. Συναπέγετο δὲ τοῖς ταπεινοῖς, πυκνῶς νηστεύουσα, κατ᾽ ἐξαίρετον δὲ τὴν τετράδα καὶ παρασκευὴν ἀπαραλείπτως φυλάττουσα, καὶ ἐν τῇ κατοἶκον ἐκκλησίᾳ σχολάζαυσα, ἐπεμελεῖτο φωτῶν πολλῶν καὶ θυμιαμάτων προσαγωγῆς, πάντα εἰς δόξαν Κριστοῦ τοῦ Θεοῦ ἡμῶν, καὶ τιμὴν τῆς παναγίας αὐτοῦ κατὰ σάρκα μητρὸς ἀεὶ παρθένου καὶ Θεοτόκου Μαρίας, καὶ τῶν Ἁγίων πάντων βουλομένη καὶ πράττουσα. Τὸν δὲ αὐτῆς τίμιον βλαστὸν θεοπρεπῶς ἐκβρέφουσα, ἀνήγαγεν μέχρι ἐτῶν ἓξ τῆς αὐτοῦ ἡλικίας ἐν φόβῳ καὶ θεοφιλῶς, καταλαληθέντα ὐπὸ τοῦ ἐνδόξου καὶ προδρόμου καὶ βαπτιστοῦ Ἰωάννου, δι᾽ οὓ τὴν σύλληψίν τε καὶ γέννησιν αὐτοῦ εὐηγγελίσθη. Δεήσεις δὲ καὶ ἱκεσίας ἀπαύστως ὑπὲρ αὐτοῦ τῷ δεσπότῃ Χριστῷ μετὰ δακρύων προσέφερεν, αἰτουμένη προσδέξασθαι αὐτὸν καθὼς παρὰ τῆς Ἄννης τὸν Σαμουήλ. Ἐνενόει δὲ τί ἄρα ἀποβήσεται αὐτῷ, καὶ ὑπνώσασα εῖδεν ἑαυτὴν πτερωθεῖσαν, καὶ ὥσπερ εἰς ὕψος ἐπαιρομένην, καὶ τὸ παιδίον κρατοῦσαν καὶ ἀναφεροῦσαν δῶρον τῷ Κυρίῳ, καὶ οὕτως λέγουσαν πρὸς τὸ παιδίον· Ταύτην τὴν ἀνάβασίν σου περιέμενον ἰδεῖν, παιδίον, ὅπως Κύριος ἀπολύσῃ με τὴν δούλην αὐτοῦ ἐν εἰρήνῃ, ὅτι εὗρον χάριν παρα Θεῷ ἀποδοῦναι πόνους ὠδίνων μου τῷ Κυρίῳ. Ταῦτα διετήρει ἐν τῇ καρδίᾳ αὐτῆς δοξάζουσα τὸν Θεόν. Ἀπερχομένη δὲ ἐν τῷ κυριακῷ παννύχους ἐπετέλεῖ τὰς ὑμνοδίας, ἀδιαλείπτως προσκαρτεροῦσα ταῖς δεήσεσιν· εἰ δὲ ἐν τῷ οἴκῳ αὐτῆς ἐκάθευδεν, διεγειρομένη μεσονύκτιον εἰς ἐξομολόγησιν ἵστατο. Τὸ δὲ εῖδος αὐτῆς χάριτος ἦν πεπληρωμένον, ὅλη γὰρ εὐγενῆς ἐθεωρεῖτο· λόγον δὲ ἔχουσα παρακλήσεως, ἐδίωκεν εἰρήνην καὶ τὸν ἁγιασμὸν, ὧν χωρὶς οὐδείς ὄψεται τὸν Κύριον. Ἐν ὀλίγοις δὲ τοῖς χρόνοις αὐτῆς λυχνικῶν καὶ ἑωθινῶν οὔκ ἀπελιμπάνετο, σπεύδουσα μάλιστα εἰς τὰς νυκτερινὰς, διαγορῆσας ἐν ταῖς τῶν ἁγίων Μαρτύρων μνείαις· συναγομένη δὲ πρώτη ἐν τῷ κυριακῷ καὶ μηδαμῶς ὐπό τινος φροντίδος κωλυομένη μετελάμβανεν τήν σωτήριον ἡμῶν κοινωνίαν, τὸ σῶμα καὶ τὸ αἷμα τοῦ υἱοῦ τοῦ Θεοῦ. Οὐδεὶς δὲ ἐθεάσατο αὐτὴν ποτε καθεσθεῖσαν ἐν τῷ κυριακῷ, οὐ δὲ διαλεγομένην τινί· ἀλλ᾽ ἵστατο ἰδιάζουσα, πηγὰς δακρύων ἐκχέουσα, καὶ τῷ φιλανθρώπῳ Θεῷ ἱκεσίας προσάγουσα μετὰ φόβου καὶ κατανύξεως πολλῆς, μάλιστα ὑπὲρ σωτηρίας καὶ ὐπομονῆς τοῦ δικαίου Συμεών. Ἐν ὅλῃ δὲ τῇ λειτουργίᾳ ἐπεδίδου τὸ θυμίαμα τοῖς Ἱερεῦσιν, αἰτοῦσα καὶ αὐτοὺς συνεργῆσαι αὐτῇ ἐν ταῖσ πρὸς Θεὸν δεήσεσιν αὐτῆς. Μοναχὸς δέ τις, ὀνόματι Συμεὼν, εὐλαβὴς λίαν ὑπάρχων, θεωρῶν ἐκ πολλοῦ χρόνου τὴν Μακαρίαν οὕτω προσκαρτεροῦσαν τῇ θείᾳ λειτουργίᾳ, καὶ μηδέποτε ἐν τῷ κυριακῷ καθεσθεῖσαν, ἐνόμισεν πρὸς τιμὴν αὐτῆς τι ποιεῖν, καί φησι πρὸς αὐτήν· Ἀνασχομένη μῆτερ ἀποκρίτως, μικρὸν καθέζου καὶ ἀναπαύου. Ἡ δὲ ὄντως μακαρία, ἔφη πρὸς αὐτὸν Ἀξιῶ τὴν σὴν εὐλάβειαν βλέψαι εἰς τοὺς δούλους, πῶς τὰ σελλία τῶν κυρίων, αὐτῶν ἀνθρώπων ὄντων προσκαίρων, ἐπὶ των ὤμων φέρουσι καὶ φόβῳ παρίστανται αὐτοῖς, καὶ τοῦτο ἐπὶ δεσποτῶν φθαρτῶν, ὁμοιοπαθῶς ἐχόντων σῶμα καὶ ψυχήν· πῶς οὖν ἡμεῖς τολμήσωμεν, ἔτι δυνάμεως οὔσης ἐν τῷ σώματι ἡμῶν, καθεσθῆναι λειτουργίας πρωκειμένης ἀθανάτου καὶ ἀφθάρτου βασιλέως καὶ δημιουργοῦ τῶν ἁπάντων; Νομίζω, μὴ εἶναι τὸ τόλμημα μικρὸν τῶν καταφρονήσει τοῦτο ποιούντων. Προσθήκηνν δὲ τοῖς ἀγαθοῖς αὐτῆς κατορθώμασιν ἐπινοοῦσα, ἐβάστασεν σάβανα ἐντὸς τοῦ περιβολαίου αὐτῆς, καὶ ἐπεδίδου τοῖς φωτίζαυσιν ἀγροίκοις, τὰ παιδία ἑαυτῶν ἀποροῦσι σινδόνων, ὥστε ἐν αὐτοῖς δέξασθαι αὐτὰ ἐκ τῆς τιμίας ἀπολούσεως, καὶ μὴ ἐν τοῖς περιβολαίοις αὐτῶν. Ἐπισκεπτομένη δὲ τοὺς ἐν ἀσθενείᾳ ἐκ τῶν ὑπαρχόντων αὐτῇ τὸ ἐνδεὲς ἀνεπλήρου, πεινῶντας ἔτρεφεν, καὶ διψῶντας ἐπότιζεν, παρέχουσα ὅπου ἔτυχεν αὐτὴν εὑρηθῆναι τὰ κατὰ δύναμιν κρυφίως. Εἰ δὲ καὶ συνέβη αὐτῇ τὸν ἀληθῶς γυμνὸν θεάσασθαι, ταχὺ παρὰ τοῦ πιπράσκοντος κομιζομένη ἱμάτια ἐν κρυφῇ ἐδίδου· ἤκουεν γὰρ ἐντρόμως τῆς ἀχράντου φωνῆς τοῦ Σωτῆρος, τοὺς δικαίους προσκαλουμένου καὶ λέγοντος, Δεῦτε οἱ εὐλογημένοι τοῦ πατρός μου, κληρονομήσατε τὴν ἡτοιμασμένην ὑμῖν βασιλείαν ἀπὸ καταβολῆς κόσμου· πεινῶντα γάρ με εἴδετε καὶ ἐθρέψατε, διψῶντα καὶ ἐποτίσατε, ξένον καὶ συνηγάγετε, ἐν ἀσθενείᾳ καὶ ἐπισκέψασθε, καὶ τὰ ἑξῆς, καὶ ὅτι ἐφ᾽ ὅσον ἐποιήσατε ἑνὶ τούτων τῶν ἀδελφῶν μου τῶν ἐλαχίστων, ἐμοὶ ἐποιήσατε. Ταῦτα δὲ μελετῶσα καὶ πράττουσα διαπαντοὶ, οὐ δὲ τῆς προπομπῆς τῶν θνησκόντων, ξένων καὶ πενομένων ἀδελφῶν ἡμῶν, κατεφρόνει· προέπεμπεν γὰρ αὐτοὺς μέχρι τῆς αἰωνίας καλύβης χρονοὺς δακρύων προχέουσα· ὅτε δὲ χρεῖα ἦν καὶ τὰ πρὸς τὴν ταφὴν ἐνδύματα ἐποίει, ἐποίει δὲ καὶ ἑψήματα καὶ ἐδίδου τοῖς ἐν τῷ κυριακῷ καθημένοις. Χάριν τε εῖχεν πρὸς πάντας, καὶ ὁ λόγος αὐτῆς ἦν τῷ θείῳ ἅλατι ἠρευμένος· ἡνίκα δὲ ἠγόραζέν τι παρά τινος, ἐν ἁπλότητι καρδίας ἀφιλονείκως παρεῖχεν τὸ τίμημα· εἰ δὲ καὶ διεπώλει τι ἐκ τῶν ἔργων αὐτῆς, ἐν γλυκύτητι λόγου έδίδου, μὴ προφέρουσα ἐν μέσῳ ὄρκον· ὁ γὰρ λόγος αὐτῆς ὑπῆρχεν ἐν τούτοις ἀκριβῶς, ἢ Συνχώρησον, ἢ, ἐάν τι προσέθετο εἰπεῖν, οὕτως ἔλεγεν, Ναὶ καὶ οὔ. Πολλάκις δὲ ἀπαντῶσα μαχομένους, ἐλάλει αὐτοῖς τὰ εἰς εἰρήνην, καὶ πείθουσα τούτους, διαλύουσα στραγγαλιὰς βιαίων συναλλαγμάτων, κατὰ τὸ γεγραμμένον, τὴν πρὸς ἀλλήλους ἀγάπην ἀσπάσασθαι αὐτοὺς παρεσκεύαζεν. Εἰ δὲ συνέβη αὐτὴν ἐπηρεασομένους ἰδεῖν, συνεθλίβετο τούτοις, καὶ παρέχουσα ὑπὲρ αὐτῶν, καὶ ῥυομένη αὐτοὺς ἐκ τῶν αδικούντων ἀπέλυεν· διελέγετο δὲ καὶ τοῖς τὴν βίαν ἐπάγουσι, τοιαῦτα φάσκουσα· Θάνατος, ὦ ἄνθρωποι, διαδέχεται ἡμᾶς, γῆ καὶ σποδός ἐστι πᾶς ἄνθρωπος, μὴ ἐκδώσωμεν ἑαυτοὺς τῇ πλεονεξίᾳ, μὴ δὲ λυπήσωμεν τὸν Θεὸν τὸν εἰς αὐτὸν ἀναδεχόμενον τὴν παρ᾽ ἡμῶν τῷ πλησίον ἐπαγομένην ἀδικίαν, λανθάνει γὰρ αὐτὸν οὐδὲν τῶν παρ᾽ ἡμῶν γενομένων. Ταῦτα παρ᾽ αὐτῆς ἀκούοντες ἐκεῖνοι, εἰκότως ἠδοῦντο αὐτὴν διὰ τὴν δεδωρημένην αὐτῇ παρὰ τοῦ Θεοῦ χάριν, καὶ τὸ δεδομένον παρ᾽ αὐτῆς εἰς εὐλογίαν ἐλάμβανον· καὶ λυτρουμένη τοὺς ἐπηρεαζομὲνους ἐκ τῶν κατεχόντων αὐτοὺς, ἀπέλυεν εὐχαριστοῦντας τῷ Κυρίω Ταύτῃ προσαρμῶσαι δίκαίον τὸ ὑπὸ τοῦ ὑμνογράφου Δαβὶδ εἰρημένον· Μακάριοι οἱ ἄμωμοι ἐν ὁδῷ, οἱ πορευόμενοι ἐν νόμῳ Κυρίου· μακάριοι οἱ ἐξερευνῶντες τὰ μαρτύρια αὐτοῦ, ἐν ὅλῃ καρδίᾳ ἐκζητήσουσιν αὐτόν. Ἀληθῶς γὰρ ἐν ὅλῃ καρδίᾳ τὸν Θεὸν ἐκζητήσασα εὗρεν, καὶ ἐπεκαλέσατο αὐτὸν ἐν τῇ πτωχείᾳ τοῦ πνεύματος αὐτῆς, βοῶσα· Σῶσον τὴν δούλην σου, ὁ Θεός μου, τὴν ἐλπίζουσαν ἐπί σοι. Ἐδέετο δὲ

ἀdiαλείπτως πάντα ἐπὶ σωτήρια ποιῆσαι καὶ χάριν δοῦναι τῷ δούλῳ αὐτοῦ Συμεὼν, ἐλπίσαντι ἐπ᾽ αὐτὸν, καὶ ἐξ ἁπαλῶν ὀνύχων ἑαυτὸν σταυρώσαντι διὰ τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ. Ταῦτα στεναγμοῖς ἀλαλήτοις διὰ πνεύματος αἰτουμένη ὅλην τὴν διάνοιαν πρός τὸν Θεὸν εῖχεν ἀεί. Τοὺ δὲ Ἱερεῖς ἐθαύμασεν κατὰ τὸ γεγραμμένον, τιμῶσα τούτους πολυτρόπως· καὶ γαρ, ὡς ἡ Μάρθα ἐπὶ τοῦ Κυρίου περὶ πολλὴν διακονίαν τῆς εἰς ἐκείνους θεραπείας περιεσπᾶτο, καὶ ἔλαιον μετὰ Μαρίας προσφέρουσα ἐξέχεεν εἰς τοὺς πόδας αὐτῶν, συνεχῶς τοῦτο ποιοῦσα καὶ διὰ πάντων αὐτοὺς ἀναψύχουσα, οἵ τινες μετὰ τὴν θεράπειαν εὐχαριστοῦντες τῷ Θεῷ, καὶ εὐλογοῦντες αὐτὴν ἀνεχώρουν· Ἀβραμιαῖα γὰρ οὖσα θεοφύρους ἄνδρας ἐξένιζεν. Εἶχεν δὲ καὶ τοῦτο παρὰ Θεοῦ χάρισμα, ὃ καὶ λίαν ἐστὶ θαυμάζειν· τίνες γὰρ παραφρονοῦντες ἐξ ἐνεργίας δαιμόνων, νύκτως καὶ μεθ᾽ ἡμέραν ὑπ᾽ αὐτῶν ἐλαυνόμενοι, καὶ κραυγάζοντες, καὶ τὰ ἴδια σώματα κατατέμνοντες, περισχίζοντες ἱμάτια καὶ μηδεμίας ἀνέσεως τυγχάνοντες, μηδὲ τῶν ἐπιδεδομένων αὐτοῖς ἄρτων έσθίειν ἀνεχόμενοι, προσκαλούμενοι ὄμως ὑπὸ τῆς Μακαρίας, παρεγίνοντο σὺν αὐτῇ ἐν τῷ οἴκῳ αὐτῆς, καὶ σωφρονοῦντες ὑπετάσσοντο αὐτῇ, ὡς τέκνα μητρί· οἳ καὶ θαλπόμενοι βρώσει καὶ πόσει ἀνεχώρουν εἰς τὸν ἴδιον τόπον, παρ᾽ οὐδενὸς ἄλλου ἀρχόμενοι τὰ τῆς τροφῆς, ἀναγκαῖα δέξασθαι· ὥστε τοὺς ὁρῶντας αὐτοὺς δοξάζειν τὸν Θεὸν, καὶ ἐξαγγέλλειν τὴν δεδομένην αὐτῇ παρ᾽ αὐτοῦ χάριν.

[1] Whosoever desire to obtain the blessed and everlasting life, always revolve in mind that Davidic oracle; Give me understanding, Lord, and I shall learn Thy commandments; and again, Teach me to do Thy will. Psal. 118, 73; 112, 10 The zeals of the Saints They are never turned to temporal cares, they do not suffer their mind to be disturbed with useless solicitude: but they apply all zeal, whereby they may compose the interior man, and rightly preserve the spiritual state of their soul; they apply themselves uniquely, that their good works may lie hidden from as many as possible; finally they take sedulous care, that they may make progress in virtue and in those things which pertain to salvation. These are they, who established firmly upon the foundation of the Apostolic faith, and persisting unshaken by the power of the life-giving Cross, deservedly escape all the snares of the evil demons, repress their assaults, and come out superior to the tempests of mundane temptations. these B. Martha excellently followed, Hence our holy Mother Martha also, the parent of Symeon the servant of God, concerning whom now a narration is instituted for us, on account of the utility of those with whom she dwelt (the blessedness, I say, promised to all who love God and meditate in the justifications of the Lord) always walked in the way of justice, having attained three precious pearls; Faith, which easily elicits compunction; she flourishes with the theological virtues Hope, having for a foundation the substance of good things, and the perfect Charity of God; through which all the commandments are most rightly fulfilled; and which also, wishing them to be open to God alone, she was busy to conceal from men; and she guarded against speeches that would bear vain glory, so that no one should learn anything of her laborious works redolent of wisdom.

[2] Of herself she thought lowly and humbly; she fasted frequently, but more exactly and accurately she observed the fourth and sixth day; and in the church near her house giving herself to God, she took care that as much light and incense as possible should be offered: and all these things to the glory of Jesus Christ our Lord, and the honor of His most chaste mother according to the flesh, and the others. ever-virgin and Mother of God Mary, and of all the Saints, willing and gladly she performed. But her venerable offspring, celebrated with many praises by the glorious Forerunner of Christ John the Baptist (by whom also his conception and nativity had been foretold), educating with an institution worthy of the divine eyes The boy piously educated in the fear of God, she led to the sixth year of his age. But suppliant prayers with tears incessantly she offered to Christ the Lord for her son, asking that He would deign to receive him, just as formerly Samuel from Anna. And when she revolved in mind, what would one day befall him, falling into sleep, she saw herself furnished with wings as if borne aloft; and the boy, in a vision she offers him to God. whom she held in her bosom, to offer a gift to the Lord, and the offered one thus to address: This thy ascent I awaited to see, my son, that the Lord might dismiss me His handmaid in peace, since I have found grace with God, that it may be permitted me to render to Him the labors of my womb.

[3] And these things she kept sedulously in her heart, glorifying God. If ever she went to the sacred edifice, she persevered the whole night giving herself without intermission to hymns and prayers: Her zeal of praying but if at her own home she had given her body to rest, about the middle of the night, sleep being shaken off, she leaped up to confess to the Lord. Her countenance was filled with grace, and she appeared wholly surrounded with light; with words having the power of consoling she followed everywhere peace and sanctity, without which no one shall see God. Although affairs left her not much leisure, yet she was never missed at the evening and morning prayers. She hastened most of all on the feasts of the holy Martyrs to the nocturnal vigils: then she came first to the temple, and of communicating. and no care distracting her mind, she received the salutary Communion, the body and blood of the Son of God. No one in that place ever beheld her ^b sitting or speaking to another: but she stood giving herself to herself alone, pouring out fountains of tears, Standing always in the temple, and directing suppliant prayers to the kind God with fear and much compunction, especially for the salvation and perseverance of the just Symeon. As long as the sacrifice of the Mass lasted, she held out incense to the Priests, asking, that they would cooperate with her praying with God.

[4] But a certain Monk, whose name was Symeon, very pious, that it is unlawful to sit there when at some time he had beheld B. Martha for a long time standing perseveringly at the divine sacrifice, and never resting by sitting in the church; thought to do something for the sake of her honor, and said; Withdrawing into some part, Mother, sit a little and rest. But she, truly blessed, turning to the Monk; I ask, said she, thy piety, that thou turn back thy eyes to the servants, how they bear on their shoulders the chairs of their masters (who are themselves also men with time about to perish), she shows by an apt similitude. and stand by them with fear; and this they do to lords liable to corruption, and suffering the same things as they in body and soul. In what manner therefore shall we dare, while strength suffices for our body, to sit, when the sacrosanct Mass is performed of the immortal and incorruptible King and Founder of all things? I esteem that no light is the crime of those, who from contempt commit such things. She was always devising one thing and another which she might add to her exceptional deeds; She exercises the works of mercy, hence the sheets ^c which she wore under her garments, having put them off she bestowed lavishly on rustic men, bringing their boys to baptism and lacking linens; that in them, not however in their own swaddling-cloths, they might receive them after the sacred ablution. She visited the sick frequently, and from her own substance relieved their necessities; she supplied food to the hungry, drink to the thirsty; but almost secretly, wherever she was, as much as her means allowed she furnished to all. If ever she fell upon a man truly naked, straightway she procured for herself garments from dealers, not ignorant of the reward set before those doing this. with which she covered the needy man, others not knowing: for she heard with trembling that voice of the Saviour that knows not to deceive, addressing the just and saying: Come ye blessed of my Father, possess the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: because you saw me hungering, and nourished me; thirsting, and gave me drink; a stranger, and took me in; sick, and visited me, and what follows: and as long as you did it to one of these my least brothers, you did it to me. Matth. 25, 34.

[5] When she both meditated and performed in deed such things continually, She is liberal in the obsequies of the dead, she did not refuse to be present at the obsequies of the dead, whether of strangers, or of poor men, our Brothers; for she accompanied their funerals even to the ^e sepulcher pouring out copious tears: and if necessity required, she took care of sepulchral garments and food ^f, which she distributed to those sitting in the temple. She was gracious and affable to all, her speech seasoned with divine salt. When anything was to be bought, she exhibited the price of the thing without contentions in simplicity of heart: but when anything of her wares was to be sold, in the market gentle, she offered it with bland speech with no oath interposed: for her speech in these things was rightly ordered, either Forgive; or if she added anything more, she said, Yea and nay. Often coming upon those dissenting and fighting, she brought forth those things which made for concord and peace: and by her persuasion dissolving the knots of violent ^g dealings, she induced them, that according to that which is written, they should embrace mutual charity. a peacemaker among the dissenting: If she beheld any perchance suffering contumely or injury, she pitied, defended, and dismissed them freed from the hands of the iniquitous: but those, who inflicted violence, she addressed in this manner; Death, O men, awaits us; earth and ash is every man: do not, I pray, do not let us give ourselves to avarice, nor sadden God, who reputes the injury which we inflict on our neighbor as inflicted on Himself: for nothing of the things we do is hidden from God.

[6] Such things being heard from her they deservedly venerated the Blessed woman, on account of the grace which God had conferred on her, from each side equally she consults well. and they took her salutary admonitions equably and well with thanksgiving: and so those, on whom violence was inflicted, snatched away, were dismissed from the hands of the violent, paying thanks to the Lord. Deservedly therefore shall we accommodate to this woman those words of the hymnographer David: Blessed the immaculate in the way, who walk in the law of the Lord; blessed who search His testimonies, with the whole heart they will seek Him. Psal. 118. For truly with her whole heart she sought God and found Him, and invoked Him in poverty of her spirit, crying: Save Thy handmaid, my God, hoping in Thee. But she prayed that all things might conduce to salvation, and grace be given to the servant of God Symeon, who placing his hope in God, from his tender little nails had fixed himself to the cross for His name. Such things with unutterable groanings she prayed, her whole mind always intent on God.

[7] She admired the Priests of God, and (as it is written ^h) pursued them with manifold honor: for like another Martha before the Lord she was busy about the frequent ministry, which she exhibited to them; She is dutiful toward the Priests: and with Mary bringing oil, she poured it out on their feet; and she did this repeatedly, and refreshed them in all things: who, the obsequy received, paying thanks to God and imparting blessing to the woman, departed; for she received with hospitality those god-bearing men of God, very like to Abraham. That also, worthy of no small admiration, she had obtained as a gift from God: namely that when certain demoniacs, by the violence of demons cast down from the state of mind, were harassed in a wretched manner night and day, vociferated, lacerated their own bodies, tore their garments, and this without any intermission or alleviation, nay neither could eat the food that was held out to them; she restores the raging to themselves.

namely that, summoned all together by B. Martha, they would come, she herself accompanying them, to her house; that, made masters of their mind, they would obey her, as sons their mother; and that, refreshed with food and drink, the things which before they refused to receive from any other, they returned to themselves: so that, whoever beheld them, gave glory to God, and proclaimed the grace given by Him to Martha.

ANNOTATA.

CHAPTER II.

Visions of various persons: Martha's humility: the time of her death and her glory in heaven revealed.

Ποτὲ δὲ κατὰ συνῆθες αὐτῇ τὰς νυκτερινὰς ἱκεσίας προσάγουσα τῷ Θεῷ, καὶ τὰς εὐχαριστίας ἀναπέμψασα, διὰ τοῦ μείζονος πάντων ἐν γεννητοῖς γυναικῶν Ἰωάννου, καὶ ὑπνώσασα, τῆς αὐτοῦ ἐμφανείας καταξιοῦται, συνόντος αὐτῷ καὶ Τιμοθέου τοῦ μαθητοῦ τοῦ ἁγίου Παύλου τοῦ Ἀποστόλου, καὶ ὥσπερ φίλος φίλῳ διελέγετο· ἀκούει δὲ παρ᾽ αὐτοῦ, ταῦτα λέγοντος πρὸς αὐτὴν· Ἐγὼ ἐν παντὶ καίρῷ ὑπερασπίζω σου πρὸς τὸν Θεὸν, καὶ προίσταμαι, καὶ οὐ μή σε ἐγκαταλείψῳ. Διαγρηγορήσασα δὲ ἐν φόβῳ καὶ ἐν τρόμῳ, ἐδόξασεν τὸν Θεόν· ἀνιοῦσα δὲ κατὰ τὸ σύνηθες αὐτῇ πρὸς τὸν αὐτῆς τίμιον υἱὸν ἐν τῷ θαυμαστῷ ὄρει, τοὺς εὑρισκομένους κατὰ τὴν ὁδὸν ἐν συμπτώμασι καὶ πληγαῖς, ἀνακτωμένη φιλοφρόνως καὶ παρακλητικοῖς λόγοις ψυχαγωγοῦσα, καὶ περιδέσμους ποιοῦσα ἐκ τῶν φορημάτων αὐτῆς, οἴνῳ τε καὶ ἐλαίῳ καταβρέχουσα, οὕτως ἐπορεύετο τὴν ὁδὸν αὐτῆς χαίρουσα· πολλὰς γὰρ κατὰ τὸν καιρὸν ἐκεῖνον ὁδοστασίας συνέβαινεν ἐν τοῖς μέρεσιν ἐκείνοις γίνεσθαι· τοῖς δὲ περὶτὴν διακονίαν ἐνασχολουμένοις συναγωνιζομένη διαπαντὸς, ἔλουεν τοὺς ἀσθενοῦντας Ἀδελφοὺς ἡμῶν, παρέχουσα πλεῖστα εἰς τὴν προχωροῦσαν αὐτοὺς δαπάνην. Ἐν πάντι δὲ καιρῷ καὶ πράγματι ἐσχάτην καὶ εὐτελεστέραν πάντων ἑαυτὴν ἀπεκάλει, καὶ τοῖς γινοίσκουσιν αὐτὴν μητέρα εῖναι τοιούτου ἀνδρὸς ἁγίου, δούλην ἀναξίαν τῶν μαθητῶν αὐτοῦ ἑαυτὴν ἔλεγεν εῖναι. Ἀλλ᾽ οὔτε κατεκαυχᾶτο ἀκούουσα καὶ βλέπουσα πλήθη ἀνδρῶν καὶ γυναικῶν καὶ παιδίων, τῶν μὲν ὑπὸ πνευμάτων ἀκαθάρτων ἐνοχλουμένων, τῶν δὲ ποικίλαις νόσοις καὶ πάθεσι συνεσχομένων, κοφῶν τε καὶ τυφλῶν καὶ μογιλάλων καὶ παραλυτικῶν συντρεχόντων πρὸς αὐτὸν, καὶ διὰ τῶν αὐτοῦ προσευχῶν θεραπευομένων· ἐτήρει δὲ πάντα ἐν τῇ καρδίᾳ αὐτῆς, δεομένη τοῦ Θεοῦ φυλάξαι αὐτὸν ἀπὸ τῶν μηχανημάτων τοῦ πονηροῦ, καὶ ἔλεγεν ἀεὶ πρὸς τὸν δοῦλον τοῦ Θεοῦ ταπεινῷ χρωμένη λογισμῷ· Δόξα πρέπει, τέκνον, τῷ ἐνεργοῦντι Θεῷ διά σου, σὺ δὲ πρόσεχε τῇ σῇ πτωχείᾳ, καὶ πάσῃ φυλακῇ τήρει τὴν ἑαυτοῦ καρδίαν. Ἀκούων δὲ ταῦτα ὁ Συμεὼν, ἔχαιρεν καὶ εὐχαρίστει τῇ καλῇ αὐτῆς συμβουλίᾳ. Εὐφραίνετο δὲ σφόδρα καὶ ἡ ὁσία Μάρθα τὴν ἀπὸ βρέφους ἄσκησιν αὐτοῦ καὶ πολιτείαν ἐπισταμένη, καὶ πάντας τοὺς ἐπαινεῖν αὐτὸν ἐγχειροῦντας ἐκώλυεν, τὴν ἐντεῦθεν τοῖς πολλοῖς συμβαίνουσαν χαύνωσιν ὑφορὼμένη. Οὕτως πολιτευομένη καὶ τοσαύτην κεκτομένη ταπείνωσιν τῆς καρδίας, πάντας κατὰ τὸ δύνατον ἤθελεν λανθάνειν· ὅθεν ἐπληροῦτο ἐπ᾽ αὐτῇ τὸ προφητικὸν ἐκεῖνο λόγιον, τὸ φάσκον· Ἐπὶ τίνα ἐπιβλέψω, ἀλλ᾽ ἢ ἐπὶ τὸν πρᾳὸν καὶ ἡσύχιον καὶ τρέμοντά μου τοὺς λόγους. Ὡς γὰρ ἐν τῇ σαρκὸς τοῦ σωτῆρος ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ παρουσίᾳ ἀπεδείχθησαν παρ᾽ αὐτοῦ ἡ Μαγδαλήνη καὶ Μαρία καὶ Σαλώμη, Σουσάννα τε καὶ Ἰωάννα καὶ ἡ ἄλλη Μαρία καὶ αἱ λοιπαὶ μαθήτριαι, οὕτως καὶ ἡ μακαρία Μάρθα ὑπακούουσα αὐτοῦ διδάσκοντος Μάθετε ἀπ᾽ ἐμοῦ, ὅτι πρᾳός εἰμη καὶ ταπεινὸς τῇ καρδίᾳ, καὶ εὑρήσεται ἀνάπαυσιν ταῖς ψυχαῖς ὑμῶν· ὁ γὰρ ζύγος μου χρηστὸς καὶ τὸ φόρτιόν μου ἐλαφρόν. Καὶ ὑποκλίνασα τὸν ἑαυτῆς αὐχένα τῷ χρηστῷ ζυγῷ τοῦ σωτῆρος Χριστοῦ, εἰργάζετο τὰς ἀρετὰς καὶ τῷ ἐλαφρῷ αὐτοῦ φορτίῳ καταλλάξασα τὸ βάρος τῶν ἑαυτῆς ἁμαρτῶν, ἐλάφρυνεν τοῦτο, μᾶλλον δὲ ἀπέθετο ὅλην ἑαυτὴν ἀναθεῖσα Θεῳ κατὰ τὸ γεγραμμένον, Ἐμοὶ τὸ προσκολλᾶσθαι τῷ Θεῷ ἀγαθόν ἐστι, τίθεσθαι ἐν τῷ Κυρίῳ τὴν ἐλπίδα μου. Διὸ καὶ χάριν εὗρεν παρ᾽ αὐτοῦ, ὥσπερ καὶ Μαρία ἡ ἀδελφὴ τῆς πάλαι Μάρθης καὶ τοῦ Λαζάρου· Μαρία γάρ φησι τὴν ἀγαθὴν μερίδα ἐξελέξατο, ἥ τις οὐκ ἀφαιρεθήσεται ἀπ᾽ αὐτῆς. Ἐν μιᾷ οὖν τῶν ἡμερῶν πρὸ ἐνιαυτοῦ ἑνὸς τῆς πρὸς Θεὸν ἐκδημίας, αὐτῆς, μετὰ τὸ πληρῶσαι αὐτὴν τὸ τῆς διακονίας τῆς εἰς τοὺς πτώχους ἔργον, ὡς ἐν ἐκστάσει γενομένη, εῖδεν πλῆθος στρατιᾶς οὐρανίου, κήρους καὶ λαμπάδας κατέχοντας καὶ λέγοντας αὐτῇ· Ἐν τῷ ἐνιαυτῷ τῷ ἐρχομένῳ ὲλευσόμεθα καὶ ληψόμεθά σε ἐκ τοῦ τόπου τούτου εἰς τὴν ἡτοιμασμένην σοι κατάπαυσιν· ὥσπερ καὶ γέγονεν. Τὸν γὰρ καλὸν ἀγῶνα ἀγωνισαμένη, τὸν δρόμον τελέσασα, τὴν πίστιν τηρήσασα, καὶ τὴν ἀποκειμένην μακαρίαν ἐλπίδα τοῖς εὐσεβῶς πολιτευσαμένοις συνέκδημον λαβοῦσα, μετέστη πρὸς ὃν ἠγάπα Κύριον, ἐνιαυτὸν ἄλλον ζήσασα μετὰ τὴν τοιαύτην θεωρίαν. Ἤλπισεν γὰρ Μάρθα ἐπὶ Κύριον καὶ οὐ κατῃσχύνθη, εὔξατο καὶ ὁ Θεὸς εἰσήκουσεν αὐτῆς. Οὐκ ἀπέκρυψεν δὲ ὁ Θεὸς ἀπὸ τοῦ δούλου αὐτοῦ Συμεὼν τὰ περὶ τῆς μεταστάσεως τῆς ὁσίας αὐτοῦ μητρὸς, ἀλλὰ προδηλώσας αὐτῷ ταύτην οὐ συνεχώρησεν αὐτὸν ἐπὶ πολὺ σκυθρωπᾶσαι· μετέβαλεν δὲ πρὸς εὐχαριστίαν τὸν αὐτοῦ λογισμὸν, ὥστε αὐτὸν τοῖς τοῦ μακαρίου Ἰὼβ χρήσασθαι ῥήμασιν καὶ εἰπεῖν· Ὡς τῷ Κυρίῳ ἔδοξε, οὕτως καὶ ἐγένετο, εἴη τὸ ὄνομα Κυρίου εὐλογημένον εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας. Ἦσαν δὲ δύο ἀδελφοὶ, ἀπὸ κοσμικῶν ἐλθόντες πρὸς τὸν Ἅγιον πρὸ τοῦ τεθεῖναι λίθον ἐπὶ λίθῳ ἐν τῷ θαυμαστῷ ὄρει, εὐλαβῶς ζῶντες σφόδρα, καὶ ἐξακολουθοῦντες ταῖς ἁγίαις αὐτοῦ διδαχαῖς, τάστε παραδόσεις ἃς παρέδωκεν αὐτοῖς ἀσφαλῶς κατέχοντες, οὓς καὶ ἐνέδυσεν ὁ Θεοῦ δοῦλος ἐπενδύτας σάκκους. Οὗτοι πυρωθέντες τῷ λόγῳ τῆς χάριτος αὐτοῦ καὶ τῷ φόβῳ, ἦσαν βιασταὶ ἁρπαζοντες τὴν βασιλείαν τῶν οὐρανῶν Ὁ οὖν πρεσβύτερος Ἀδελφὸς, παρελθὼν εἰς μέσον τῶν Ἀδελφῶν ἱσταμένων πλησίον τοῦ Ἁγίου Συμεὼν, βαλὼν μετάνοιαν ἐνώπιον αὐτοῦ, εῖπεν, Πάτερ, συγχώρησον καὶ ἐπίτρεψόν μοι, ἔχω γάρ τι εἰπεῖν. Καὶ ἐπιτρέψαντος αὐτοῦ, ἔφη· Ἐθεώρουν σήμερον ἐν ὁρόματι τῆς νυκτὸς τὴν κυρίαν ἡμῶν Μάρθαν, τὴν μητέρα σου καὶ ἡμῶν πάντων, ἱσταμένην ἐνώπιον τῆς μητρὸς τοῦ Κυρίου, τῆς παναγίας ἀειπαρθένου Μαρίας· ἐξέτεινεν τὰς χεῖρας αὐτῆς ἡ Κυρία ἡ μεγάλη ἐν σχήματι σταυροῦ· καὶ ἐγένετο ὅλη ὥσει σταυρὸς ἀπὸ χρυσοῦ καὶ ἀργύρου μεταμορφομένη, καὶ ἀπαστράπτουσα ἀκτίνας φωτὸς ὡς ὁ ἤλιος, μόνον δὲ τὸ πρόσωπον αὐτῆς ὑπεράνω τοῦ σταυροῦ ἐγνωρίζετο, ὅλη γὰρ μεταβληθεῖσα ἐν εἴδει σταυροῦ φωτεινοῦ δεδοξασμένη ἐφαίνετο. Ταύτην τὴν θεωρίαν ἐπὶ πάντων ἐξηγουμένου τοῦ Ἀδελφοῦ, παραγέγονεν ἡ μακαρία Μάρθα, εῖπεν δὲ Συμεὼν πρὸς αὐτήν· Εὐλόγησόν με, μῆτερ, ὡς Ἀβραὰμ τὸν Ἰσαάκ. Ἡ δὲ πρὸς αὐτὸν ἔφη· Εἰς τοῦτο παραγέγονα, τέκνον, κᾳγὼ εὐλογηθῆναι καὶ συντάξασθαί σοι, τρεῖς γάρ μοι μῆνες μόνοι ὑπολελειμμένοι εἰσὶ τοῦ βίου τούτου, καὶ πορεύσομαι πρὸς Κύριον τὸν Θεόν μου, τὸν ποιήσαντά σε καὶ ἐκλεξάμενον ἐκ τῆς ἀναξιότητος τῶν ὠδίνων μου. Αὐτὸς οὖν εὐλογῆσαί σε καὶ καταξιῶσαι τὸν καλὸν τοῦτον δρόμον τελέσαι, καὶ κοινωνὸν ποιῆσαι τῆς αὐτοῦ βασιλείας, μετὰ τῶν τέκνων σου τούτων, ὧν δέδωκέ σοι γεννῆσαι διὰ τῶν εὐαγγελικῶν αὐτοῦ διδαγμάτων· καὶ ἔκλινεν καὶ προσεκύνησεν αὐτῷ μετὰ δακρύων. Πάντες δὲ οἱ σὺν αὐτῳ τὴν ὀφειλομένην τιμὴν ἀπένειμαν αὐτῇ, εὐχαριστήσαντες τῷ Κυρίῳ, καὶ εἰρηκότες· Ζήσει μᾶλλον ἡ ψυχή σου, μῆτερ, καὶ αἰνέσει τὸν Κύριον. Λυπηρὸν γὰρ αὐτοῖς κατεφάνη τὸ ῥηθὲν παρ᾽ αὐτῆς, ὅτι τρεῖς μῆνές εἰσι καὶ οὐκέτι λοιπὸν ὄψετε τὸ πρόσωπόν μου ἐν σαρκί· καὶ ἐβεβαίωσεν αὐτοῖς πάλιν τὸ ῥήμα φήσασα Ὥς εἰ μὴ τοῦτο γένηται πεπλανημένην με λογίσασθε τὴν δούλην τοῦ Θεοῦ καὶ πάντων ὑμῶν. Συνέπεσον δὲ οἱ Ἁδελφοὶτῷ προσώπῳ ἐπὶ τοῖς λεγομένοις παρ᾽ αὐτῆς, καὶ μάλιστα ὅτε δούλην αὐτὴν ἀπεκάλει πάντων. Εἶπεν δὲ πρὸς αὐτὴν Συμεών· Εὐλογίας, αἰτούμεθα παρά σου, μῆτερ, οὐ γὰρ τοιαῦτα ῥήματα θέλομεν ἀκούειν παρά σου βαρύνοντα ἡμᾶς. Ἔφη δὲ ἡ Μακαρία· Εὐλογημένοι ἐστὲ ὑμεῖς τῷ Κυρίῳ, καὶ οἱ εὐλογοῦντες ὑμᾶς εὐλογημένοι· ἐγὼ γὰρ, τέκνον, ὡς ἁμαρτολὴ καὶ ταπεινὴ, λέγω τὸ καὶ χρέως τήμερόν μοι· σοὶ δὲ ἡ τιμὴ πρέπει ἐκ τοῦ τετιμημένου, ὃν ἐτίμησας ἀεὶ συσταυρωθεὶς αὐτῷ νηπίοθεν. Ταῦτα εἰποῦσα καὶ ἀσπασαμένη πάντας, ἀπῆλθεν εἰς τὴν πόλιν. Τῇ ἑξῆς ἡμέρᾳ καλέσας Συμεὼν τοὺς δοκίμους τῶν Ἀδελφῶν, λέγει· Ἀναγῆναι ἔχει πάντως ἡ

[8] When at some time she offered after her manner the nocturnal prayers to God, Received into the tutelage of S. John the Baptist and paid Him thanks through the hands of him, than whom none greater rose among those born of women, John the Baptist; falling into sleep, she was deemed worthy of a vision of him, there appearing together with him Timothy, the disciple of the holy Apostle Paul, and they conversed among themselves, as friends are wont: but she also heard S. John saying such things to her: I at all times defend and fight for thee with God, nor will I ever forsake thee. Awakened after these things, timid and trembling she praised God, she helps the sick. and going, as her custom was, to her venerable son, dwelling on the Mount-wonderful, whomsoever she found on the way debilitated by sicknesses or wounds, she refreshed benevolently and by consoling animated; and for binding their wounds she made little bandages from her garments, and poured on wine and oil: and in this manner she completed her journey glad. For more often at that time it befell in those parts that assaults were made by robbers along the way, so that very frequently in various places in passing she thus halted: with those also who toiled at the obsequies of the monastery, she joined her own work, she cleansed and washed always our sick Brothers, and did very many things which it was fitting be expended for their uses.

[9] In all things and times she called herself the last and basest of all; and to those who knew, that she was the mother of so holy a man, she said, that she was unworthy to serve his disciples. Nor indeed was she lifted up and gloried, when she perceived both with ears and eyes a great number of men, women, boys, Her humility both vexed by unclean spirits, and oppressed by various infirmities and diseases, some mute, others blind, some stammering, some touched by paralysis, run together to her son, and freed by his prayers obtain health; but she kept all things in her heart and asked God, that He would protect him from the machinations of the evil demon: in the grace of her son's miracles, and she repeated these things often with the servant of God, using humble speech: My son, it is fitting that glory be attributed to God working all things through thee: but be thou mindful of thy poverty, and with all zeal preserve thy heart. Such things when Symeon heard, he rejoiced and gave thanks to her counseling rightly. Likewise S. Martha too was filled with joy, when she understood her son's ascetic zeals and conversation: yet she forbade any, attempting to celebrate his praises, to do it; holding suspect, the titillation of glory which is wont to arise thence to many.

[10] In this manner therefore when she led her life, having attained so great humility of heart, unknown to all, in her desire of lying hidden, as far as in her was, she desired to lie hidden. Whence was fulfilled in her that saying of the Prophet: Upon whom shall I look, except upon the humble and quiet and trembling at my words. Isaiah 66, 2 For just as in that time, in which our Saviour Jesus Christ dwelt in the flesh, both Magdalene, and Mary, and Salome, and Susanna, and Joanna, and the other Mary, and the rest of the women disciples were instructed by Him: so the blessed Martha too was obedient to Him teaching: Learn of me because I am meek and humble of heart, in the imitation of Christ. and you shall find rest to your souls: for my yoke is sweet, and my burden light. Mat. 11. 29 And inclining herself under the sweet yoke of Christ the Saviour, she wrought virtues; and the weight of her sins, exchanging it with His light burden, she rendered easy; or rather she laid it down by dedicating and consecrating herself wholly to God, according to that sentence of Scripture, To me to adhere to God is good, to put in the Lord my hope. Ps. 72, 28 And therefore she also found grace with the Lord, like Mary, the sister of that ancient Martha and of Lazarus: for Mary, says the Lord, has chosen the best part, which shall not be taken from her. Luc. 10, 42

[11] On a certain day therefore of the year preceding her death, after she had performed her service to the needy, caught into ecstasy, Her death is foretold by Angels, she beheld a multitude of the heavenly host, furnished with candles and lamps and saying to her: In the year next coming we shall come and receive thee freed out of this place into the rest prepared for thee: as also it was done. For when she had fought the good fight, consummated her course, kept the faith; receiving also the reposited blessed hope, accompanying her who led a life joined with piety, she was translated to her Beloved, after she had measured out by living one year from the higher vision. For Martha hoped in the Lord, and was not confounded; she prayed, and God heard her. Revealed also to Symeon. Nor did the Lord conceal from His servant Symeon the death of his holy mother; but making it manifest to him, he by no means suffered him therefore to be long and much saddened: for He converted to giving thanks the mind and thoughts of the Saint, who brought forth and said that sentence of blessed Job, As it pleased the Lord, so it was done, blessed be the name of the Lord unto the ages. Job 1, 21

[12] There were two brothers, who before had betaken themselves to the Saint, a farewell sent to the things of this world, she also to a pious Brother before any substructure had been raised on the Mount-wonderful: but they were of a very religious life, followed his holy institutions, and kept his traditions inviolate, nay even they had been clothed with hairy cloaks by the servant of God. These, inflamed by Symeon's speech breathing charity, and seized with fear, violently snatched the kingdom of heaven. Therefore he who was the elder of the two, coming forth into the midst of the crown of Brothers, standing near S. Symeon, reverence being exhibited to him, said: Give pardon, in a cruciform vision Father, and permit: there is something I wish to say. And he indulging, he thus spoke: I saw today by night in a vision our Lady Martha, thy mother and of us all, standing before the mother of the Lord, the thrice-holy ever-virgin Mary: the great Lady extended her hands in the form of a cross, and was wholly transformed as it were into a golden and silver cross,

κυρία μου ἡ μεγάλη· εῖδον γὰρ ἐν ὁράματι τῆς νυκτὸς, ὅτι ἔμπροσθέν μου ἐτέθη αὐτῇ θρόνος καὶ ἐκαθέσθη, ὑμεῖς δὲ οἱ Ἀδελφοὶ ἐκυκλώσατε αὐτὴν, ὡς τέκνα παριστάμενοι αὐτῇ, καὶ διελέγετο ὑμῖν ὡς ἐπὶ διδασκάλου, λέγουσα· Μακάριος ἀνὴρ, ὃς οὐκ ἐπορεύθη ἐν βουλῇ ἀσεβῶν, καὶ ἐν ὁδῷ ἁμαρτολῶν οὐκ ἔστη, καὶ ἐπὶ καθέδραν λοιμῶν οὐκ ἐκάθισεν. Εἶτα προσετίθει τὰ συντακτήρια ῥήματα, ἀσπαζομένη ἔκαστον ὑμῶν καὶ παρατιθεμένη τῷ Θεῷ. Μετὰ δὲ ταῦτα ἀναστᾶσα καὶ κατέχουσα τὸν τίμιον σταυρὸν, ἐπορεύετο ἐντεῦθεν ἔμπροσθέν μου ἐπὶ τὴν μάνδραν, καὶ ὑμεῖς δὲ κυκλώσατέ με ἐν ψαλμοῖς κατανύξεως. Ὅτε οὖν ἤγγικεν ὁ καιρὸς τῆς κοιμήσεως τῆς μακαρίας Μάρθης, ἦλθεν πρὸς τὸν ἴδιον υἱὸν τὸν ἅγιον Συμεὼν ἀποκαλύψαι τὰ ἔργα αὐτῆς, ἃ εἰργάσατο ἐν τῷ κρυπτῷ διὰ τὸν Θεὸν τὸν εἰπόντα, Προσεύχεσθε ἐν τῷ κρυπτῷ, καὶ αὐτὸς ἀποδώσει ὑμῶν ἐν τῷ φανερῷ. Διεξῆλθεν δὲ καὶ περὶ τῆς κοιμήσεως αὐτῆς, ὅτι ἤγγικεν ὁ φωτισμὸς τῆς ψυχῆς αὐτῆς, καὶ παραθέσθαι αὐτὸν διὰ προσευχῶν τῷ ἐκλεξαμένῳ αὐτὸν Θεῷ. Καὶ ἐν τῇ νυκτὶ ἐκείνῃ εῖδεν ὅραμα ἡ Μακαρία, καὶ πρωΐας γενομένης ἕστη ἐνώπιον τοῦ Ἁγίου καὶ ἐξηγήσατο τοῦτο εἰποῦσα· Ὅτι εἶδόν σε σήμερον, τέκνον, γενόμενον ἐν τῇ ἐκκλησίᾳ Δάφνης, καὶ προσῆλθόν σοι τινες τῆς χώρας πρὸ σημείων τριῶν τοῦ αὐτοῦ προαστείου μετὰ νηπίων, ἀξιοῦντες τὴν εὐχὴν σου λαβεῖν διὰ τὸν ἐπικείμενον αὐτοῖς θανατηφόρον ὄλεθρον· δάκρυα δὲ ἔῤῥυπτον, ἀλαλάζοντες ἐν μεγάλῳ πένθει καὶ βοῶντες πρός σε, Διάβηθι, δοῦλε τοῦ Θεοῦ, βοήθησον ἡμῖν· καὶ εὐθέως ἐδοθη ἐν χερσί σου ἄγγος ὕδατος πεπληρομένον, ὅπερ εὐλογήσας δέδωκας αὐτοῖς, εἰρηκώς· Ῥαντίσατε τοῦτο ἐφ᾽ ὑμᾶς διὰ τὸν ἐπικείμενον ὑμῖν ὄλεθρον, καὶ δοθήσεται ὑμῖν χάρις, καὶ ἔσται παῦσις τοῦ ὀλοθρεύοντος ὑμᾶς. Ταῦτα φήσαντός σου ἐθεώρουν παραστάντας σοι τοὺς άπὸ τῆς κώμης τοῦ Χαρανδαμᾶ ἄνδρας, τοὺς ἐν τῇ Ἰάσωνος ἐκκλησίᾳ συναγομένους, καὶ ἄραντάς σε ἐπ᾽ ὤμων πορεύεσθαι. Ἐγὼ δὲ ἀκολουθήσασά σε, εῖπον· Τί ἆρα ἐστι τουτο, τὸ ἐνθάδε σε παραγενέσθαι, καὶ ἀναφέρεσθαι ὑπὸ πληθους ἀγροίκων; Καὶ ἔφης πρός με· Μὴ μῆτερ, διότι σωτήριον ἀγαθὸν τοῦτο τὸ πρᾶγμα γενήσεται. Ἀνερχομένων δὲ ἡμῶν ἐν ὄρει ὑψηλῷ καὶ λενομένων ἐν τόπῳ τινὶ· ἐπέγνων εῖναι τὴν διαγραφὴν τῆς ἁγίας ταύτης μάνδρας, καὶ θαυμάζουσα ᾕρθην ὥσπερ εἰς ἀέρα ἐν τῷ οὐρανῷ, καὶ εῖδον ἐκεῖ παλάτιον ἀνεκδιήγητον ὑπάρχον ἔνδοξον· κᾳκεὶ ἀναπατούσης μου καὶ ἐξισταμένης εἰς ἐκείνην τὴν ἀχειροποίητον σκηνὴν, ἐπέστη μοι ἡ παναγία παρθένος ἡ μητὴρ τοῦ Κυρίου, καὶ δυὸ Ἄγγελοι μετ᾽ αὐτῆς, ὧν τὰ πρόσωπα ὑπῆρχεν ἐξαστράπτοντα, καὶ εἶπεν πρός με· Τί ἐξίστασαι· Ἐγὼ δὲ ἐν φόβῳ καὶ χαρᾷ μεγάλῃ ἀπεκρίθην, Ὅτι οὐκ εἶδον, Δέσποινα, ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς τοιαύτην δόξαν ἐν ταῖς ἡμέραις μου. Ἔφη δὲ πάλιν πρός με· Καὶ τίνι δοκεῖς διαφέρειν τὴν μεγάλην ταύτην εὐπρέπειαν; Ἐμοῦ δὲ λεγούσης, μὴ εἰδέναι, προσέθετο αὖθις εἶπεῖν. Ἀγνοεῖς οὖν τὴν προευτρεπισθεῖσάν σοι δόξαν καὶ ἀνάπαυσιν, εἰς ἣν μέλλεις καταμένειν ἀπὸ τοῦ νῦν καὶ εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα; Τοῦτο γάρ ἐστι τὸ παλάτιον, ὁ ἔκτισεν ὁ υἱός σου ἐν τῷ οὐρανῷ. Καὶ διανευσάσης αὐτῆς ἐκείνοις τοῖς Ἀγγέλοις τοῖς παρεστῶσιν αὐτῇ, ἔθεντο ἐν τῷ μέσῳ τοῦ παλατίου σελλίον, καὶ εἶπέν μοι· Ἰδοὺ δεδώρηταί σοι ἡ τιμὴ αὕτη, καὶ κατάμενε ἐνθάδε, ἀνθ᾽ ὧν ἑφοβήθης τὸν Κύριον καὶ ἐτίμησας τὴν ἐκκλησίαν αὐτοῦ. Μεγαλυνομένης δέ μου τῆς ψυχῆς ἐπὶ τῇ δόξῃ τῆς λαλούσης πρός με, εἶπεν πάλιν ἡ μητὴρ τοῦ Κυρίου· Ἐπειδή χάριν ἐνώπιον τοῦ Κυρίου εὗρες καὶ ἐπὶ τοῖς λαληθεῖσι τεθύμακας, δεῦρο καὶ ὄψει τούτων μείζονα. Ὁργανεῖσα οὖν εἰς ὕψος ἀέρος, ὡς εἰς τὸν οὐρανὸν τοῦ οὐρανοῦ, εἶδον ἕτερον παλάτιον τοῦ πρώτου, τὴν διήγησιν ὑπερβαῖνον, οὗ τὴν ἀνεκλάλητον δόξαν θεασαμένη, ἐν ὁλιγωρίᾳ κατέστην, καὶ ἐνισχύσασά με ἔφη· Καὶ τοῦτο παλάτιον ὁ υἱός σου ᾠκοδόμησεν· ἤρξατο δὲ καὶ τοῦ τρίτου τὰ τεμελία τεθεικώς. Πάλιν ἐκεῖθεν ἐν δυνάμει πνεύματος ἤγαγέ με πρὸς ἀνατολὰς ἡλίου, καὶ ὑπέδειξέ μοι τὸν παράδεισον ἀπὸ ὕψους, καὶ προάστεια τῶν ἐν ἐλεεμοσύναις εὐσεβῶν καὶ φοβουμένων τὸν Θεὸν ἀνδρῶν τε καὶ γυναικῶν, φήσασα· Ὅτι κεχάρισται αὐτοῖς ἐνθάδε τὴν ἀνάπαυσιν ὁ Κύριος εἰπών· Μακάριοι οἱ ἐλεήμονες, ὅτι αὐτοὶ ἐλεηθήσονται. Νῦν οὖν κάτελθε ἐν τῇ μηχανῇ ταύτῃ καὶ ἐπίστρεφε πάλιν ἐνταῦθα. Καὶ ἀναβλέψασα εἶδον καὶ ἰδοὺ ἔμπροσθέν μου μηχανὴ ἵστατο ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς, ἧς ἡ κεφαλὴ ἀφικνεῖτο ἑὼς τοῦ οὐρανοῦ, καὶ ἐν τοῖς πλαγίοις, αὐτῆς πατοῦσα ἀκόπως καὶ ἀφόβως κατῆλθον, καὶ εἰς ἑαυτὴν γέγονα.

was wholly as it were transformed into a golden and silver cross, and scattered rays of light like the sun: but her face alone, eminent above the cross, was distinguished, the rest, turned into a luminous cross, wholly glorious appeared.

[13] That Brother narrating this vision before all, B. Martha herself came: and Symeon said to her; Bless me, mother, as Abraham did Isaac. She answered: She indicates to her son the time of her death, Therefore I came hither, my son, that I might be imparted thy blessing and instruction: for three months only of life remain to me, since hence to the Lord my God, who made thee and chose thee out of my unworthy womb, I am about to go. He Himself will prevent thee with His blessing, and deem thee worthy of so great grace, that thou mayest perfect this well-begun course of thine, and admit thee partaker of His kingdom with these thy sons, whom He has handed to thee to be regenerated through His Evangelical doctrine. These things said she inclined herself, and adored him with tears.

[14] But all, who were gathered, exhibited due reverence and honor to her, which, the disciples not believing and giving thanks to the Lord said: Nay thy soul shall live, Mother, and shall praise the Lord: for it seemed grievous to them that she had said; Three months only remain, and thenceforth you shall not see in the flesh my face. But she confirmed again her words, saying: Unless those things come to pass, which I have foretold, hold me for a deceived woman, she again confirms, the servant of God and of you all. At this speech, especially because she called herself the servant of all, the Brothers fell upon their face. But Symeon said to her: We ask only thy blessing, O Mother; for words of such kind, very grievous to our ears, we do not wish to hear. But the Blessed woman said: Blessed of the Lord are you, and blessed are those who bless you. For I, my son, as a sinful and abject woman, said what today was to be said by me: but to thee belongs the honor to be attributed by Him, whom thou from infant age hast always honored, with Him fixed to the cross. Having spoken such things and embraced all, she went away into the city.

[15] On the following day, the Brothers of approved virtue being called, Symeon says; Symeon too through a vision understands the same: The release of my great Lady is altogether at hand; for I saw through sleep in a vision a throne set before me in her sight, in which she sat: but you, Brothers, stood by and enclosed her with your crown, no otherwise than sons: and she addressed you like a Mistress, saying: Blessed the man who has not gone in the counsel of the impious, and in the way of sinners has not stood, and in the chair of pestilence has not sat. To these she added many things making for your instruction, and having embraced each she commended them to God. After these things she rose and holding the venerable Cross, went before me into the enclosure, you encircling me and singing psalms of compunction. Therefore the time approaching, in which B. Martha was to depart from life, she came to her son Symeon, about to reveal her works, which she had done in secret, for the sake of God who said: Pray in secret, and He Himself will repay you. to whom Martha returns to confess, Speaking also many things concerning the imminent exit of her life, she repeatedly said that the illumination of her soul shone: and she commended him by praying to God, by whom he had been chosen. Matth. 6, 6

[16] But behold on that night a spectacle was offered to B. Martha: and she stood, the day dawning, before the Saint, and narrated the things seen: I saw thee, said she, and she discloses a vision concerning wretched men crying out for her help, my son, today in the church of Daphne, and there approached thee some from a place, three miles distant from the same suburb, with their infants, asking that thou wouldst by thy prayers avert the deadly destruction hanging over them: and they poured out copious tears, and lamented for the bitterness of grief, and cried out to thee; Pass over, servant of God, and help us. And suddenly a bucket full of water was handed into thy hands: which, imparting a blessing, thou gavest to them, saying: Sprinkle yourselves with this water against the evil by which you are pressed; and grace shall be given you, and the cause of mourning shall cease.

[17] and concerning the honor exhibited to him: Thee having spoken such things, I saw men from the village of Charandama standing by thee, gathered in the temple ^b of Jason, and lifting thee on their shoulders, depart. But I following, said; What is this thing, that thou art carried off hence by a rustic crowd? And thou saidst: Do not mourn, mother, since this will conduce to salvation. But when we had come to a lofty mountain, we stuck in a certain place, where I knew was the delineation of this holy enclosure: and when I wondered I was lifted up through the air into heaven, and saw there a palace so splendid and glorious, that it cannot be told in words. In that place I walked about, admiring with amazement of mind that tabernacle, elaborated by no hand; likewise concerning the glory shown to her in heaven, when there stood by me the most holy Virgin and Mother of the Lord, surrounded by two Angels, whose countenances glowed with much light, and said to me: Why dost thou wonder? But I, occupied with fear and great joy, answered: Because I have not seen, Lady, in all the days of my life such glory on earth. Again she: To whom, thinkest thou, is this dwelling of so great beauty destined? When I said, that I knew not; she added again: Dost thou then not know the glory and rest prepared for thee, in which from this time eternity is to be passed by thee? For this is that palace, which thy son founded in heaven. And she nodding to the Angels who stood by, a chair was placed by them in the middle of the palace, and she said to me: Behold this glory is given to thee, remain here; because thou hast feared the Lord, and hast pursued His Church with honor.

[18] But when my soul magnified the glory of the Mother of the Lord speaking with me; likewise of her son Symeon beginning again to speak she thus said: Since thou hast found grace before the Lord, and hast marveled at those things, of which I have already treated; come hither, and thou shalt behold more illustrious things. Led therefore to the lofty air as to the heaven of heavens; I saw another palace than the former, to be described by no eloquence of speech: I, having admired its glory, likewise superior to all eloquence, almost went out of my mind. But she comforting me said: This palace also thy son has built: but he has also begun to lay the foundations of a third ^d. Again thence she carried me in spirit to the rising of the sun, and showed me from a more eminent place paradise and the place, in which they who piously bestow alms and fear God, men and women, dwell; saying: The Lord has given them this place to rest, because, He says, and of those, who are merciful. Blessed the merciful, since they shall obtain mercy. Now therefore descend by this engine, and afterward return hither. And when I looked, behold I saw before me an engine, which stood on the earth, and with its topmost part touched heaven; but I walking by its side without labor and fear descended: and after these things my mind returned to itself.

ANNOTATA.

CHAPTER III.

S. Martha's speech to Symeon, another to God, her solicitude concerning the place of burial, her death.

Ταῦτα ἐξηγησαμένη ἐν ἡμέρᾳ Κυριακῇ, ἔμεινεν προσευχομένη καὶ τῶν θείων καὶ ἀχράντων μεταλαβοῦσα μυστηρίων· καὶ τελείως πληροφορηθεῖσα, τῇ ἐπιφωσκούσῃ δευτέρᾳ προσκαλεσαμένη τοὺς Ἀδελφοὺς ἐνώπιον τοῦ Ὁσίου, εἶπεν πρὸς αὐτόν· Εἰρήνη σοι, τέκνον, ἀπὸ τοῦ ἐκλεξαμένου σε Χριστοῦ τοῦ Θεοῦ καὶ σωτήρος ἡμῶν, αὐτὸς ὃν ἠγάπησας υἱὸν τοῦ Θεοῦ στηρίξαι σε ἐν τῷ τόπῳ σου, καὶ φυλάξαι σε ἐν τῇ ἀμωμήτῳ αὐτοῦ πίστει ἑδραῖον καὶ ἀμετακίνητον· ἰδέτωσάν σου οἱ ὀφθαλμοὶ πλήρεις χάριτος τὸν τόπον σου, καὶ φυτεῦσαί σοι Κύριος φυτὰ ἐκλεκτὰ, μαθητεύοντάς σοι ἐν ἁγνότητι καὶ εἰλικρινείᾳ· τοὺς ἀπελθόντας μὴ κλαῖε, ἰδοὺ γὰρ καὶ ἡ μητὴρ αὐτῶν ἐγὼ καταδιώκω ὀπίσω αὐτῶν· ἐνισχυσάτω ὁ Κύριος τοὺς ὑπολειφθέτας καὶ πληθυνθείησαν ἑὼς ἂν ἔλθῃ ὁ Κύριος ἀποκαταστῆσαι τὰ πάντα· ἐμεγαλύνθη μου ἡ ψυχὴ ἐν γυναιξὶν, ὅτι ἀσκανδάλιστον καὶ τέλειον τῷ Κυρίῳ παρατίθημί σε πορευομένη· εὐλογημένη ἐν τῇ ῥίζῃ ἡ φυή σου, καὶ οἱ βλαστοὶ τῶν ἔν σοι καρπῶν εὐθαλεῖς· τελεσφορηθῶσι δὲ ἐν πᾶσι καὶ οἱ καρποὶ εἰς εὐφροσύνην καὶ ἀγαλλίασιν. Ἐν ταῖς ἡμέραις μου οὐκ ἐπῄνεσά σε, φοβουμένη διότι μέγα πτῶμά ἐστι τοῦ ὑψηλοφρονεῖν. Νῦν οὖν ἄκουσόν μου, τέκνον, ὸν ἐτίμησεν ὁ παρά σου τιμηθεὶς δεσπότης σου Χριστὸς ὁ Θεὸς ἡμῶν, καὶ μνήμην ποιοῦ διαπαντὸς ἐν τῇ προσευχῇ σου τῆς μητρὸς, ὅπως εὕρω τὸ μέγα ἔλεος· ἱκέτευε ὑπὲρ ἐμοῦ τὴν ἁγίαν ἔνδοξον ἀειπαρθένον μητέρα τοῦ Κυρίου, ἀφέσεως τυχεῖν με τῶν μέχρι τῆς σήμερον ἡμέρας ἁμαρτιῶν, ὅτι ἐγὼ ὑπὲρ τῆς σῆς σωτηρίας τὴν ἐνεργὸν προσευχὴν τῷ Θεῷ προσέφερον· δός μοι καὶ σὺ χάριν ἀντὶ τῆς χάριτος, καὶ τὰς ὑπέρ ἐμοῦ πρόσαγε αὐτῷ πάντοτε δεήσεις. Μὴ λυποῦ δι᾽ ἐμὲ, ἀλλὰ μᾶλλον χαῖρε, διότι πεπληροφορημένη ἀπέρχομαι, καὶ ἀγαλλιοῦσα ἐπὶ τῇ θεαρέστῳ σου πολιτείᾳ, καὶ τῇ παρὰ τοῦ Χριστοῦ δεδωρημενῃ σοι σωτηρίᾳ. Ἐν πάσῃ λειτουργίᾳ καὶ ἀπέναντι παντὸς θυσιαστηρίου, μετὰ θυμιάματος ἀκαταπαύστου, ὑπὸ τῆς ὑπομονῆς σου δάκρυα προσέφερον τῷ, Θεῷ, καὶ εἰς πάντα οἶκον ἅγιον πορευομένη συχνῶς, ἐκτενῶς ἐδεόμην τῶν ἁγίων Μαρτύρων Χριστοῦ τοῦ Θεοῦ ἡμῶν ὑπερασπίσαι σου καὶ ἀντιλάβεσθαι. Πάντα ὅσιον

was wholly as it were transformed, and scattered rays of light like the sun: but her face alone, eminent above the cross, was distinguished, the rest, turned into a luminous cross, wholly glorious appeared.

[13] That Brother narrating this vision before all, B. Martha herself came: and Symeon said to her; Bless me, mother, as Abraham did Isaac. She answered: She indicates to her son the time of her death, Therefore I came hither, my son, that I might be imparted thy blessing and instruction: for three months only of life remain to me, since hence to the Lord my God, who made thee and chose thee out of my unworthy womb, I am about to go. He Himself will prevent thee with His blessing, and will deem thee worthy of so great grace, that thou mayest perfect this well-begun course of thine, and admit thee partaker of His kingdom with these thy sons, whom He has handed to thee to be regenerated through His Evangelical doctrine. These things said she inclined herself, and adored him with tears.

[14] But all, who were gathered, exhibited due reverence and honor to her, which, the disciples not believing and giving thanks to the Lord said: Nay thy soul shall live, Mother, and shall praise the Lord: for it seemed grievous to them that she had said; Three months only remain, and thenceforth you shall not see in the flesh my face. But she confirmed again her words, saying: Unless those things come to pass, which I have foretold, hold me for a plain woman, she again confirms, the servant of God and of you all. At this speech, especially because she called herself the servant of all, the Brothers fell upon their face. But Symeon said to her: We ask only thy blessing now, O Mother; for words of such kind, very grievous to our ears, we do not wish to hear. But the Blessed woman said: Blessed of the Lord are you, and blessed are those who bless you. For I, my son, as a sinful and abject woman, said what today was to be said by me: but to thee belongs the honor to be attributed by Him, whom thou from infant age hast always honored, with Him fixed to the cross. Having spoken such things and embraced all, she went away into the city.

[15] On the following day, the Brothers of approved virtue being called, Symeon says; Symeon too through a vision understands the same: The release of my great Lady altogether is at hand; for I saw through sleep in a vision a throne set before me in her sight, in which she sat: but you, Brothers, stood by and enclosed her with your crown, no otherwise than sons: and she addressed you like a Mistress, saying: Blessed the man who has not gone in the counsel of the impious, and in the way of sinners has not stood, and in the chair of pestilence has not sat. To these she added many things making for your instruction, and having embraced each she commended them to God. After these things she rose and holding the venerable Cross, went before me into the enclosure, you encircling me and singing psalms of compunction. Therefore the time approaching, in which B. Martha was to depart from life, she came to her son Symeon, about to reveal her works, which she had done in secret, for the sake of God who said: Pray in secret, and He Himself will repay you. to whom Martha returns to confess, Speaking also many things concerning the imminent exit of her life, she repeatedly said that the illumination of her soul shone: and she commended him by praying to God, by whom he had been chosen. Matth. 6, 6

ANNOTATA.

CHAPTER III.

Ταῦτα ἐξηγησαμένη ἐν ἡμέρᾳ Κυριακῇ, ἔμεινεν προσευχομένη καὶ τῶν θείων καὶ ἀχράντων μεταλαβοῦσα μυστηρίων· καὶ τελείως πληροφορηθεῖσα, τῇ ἐπιφωσκούσῃ δευτέρᾳ προσκαλεσαμένη τοὺς Ἀδελφοὺς ἐνώπιον τοῦ Ὁσίου, εἶπεν πρὸς αὐτόν· Εἰρήνη σοι, τέκνον, ἀπὸ τοῦ ἐκλεξαμένου σε Χριστοῦ τοῦ Θεοῦ καὶ σωτήρος ἡμῶν, αὐτὸς ὃν ἠγάπησας υἱὸν τοῦ Θεοῦ στηρίξαι σε ἐν τῷ τόπῳ σου, καὶ φυλάξαι σε ἐν τῇ ἀμωμήτῳ αὐτοῦ πίστει ἑδραῖον καὶ ἀμετακίνητον· ἰδέτωσάν σου οἱ ὀφθαλμοὶ πλήρεις χάριτος τὸν τόπον σου, καὶ φυτεῦσαί σοι Κύριος φυτὰ ἐκλεκτὰ, μαθητεύοντάς σοι ἐν ἁγνότητι καὶ εἰλικρινείᾳ· τοὺς ἀπελθόντας μὴ κλαῖε, ἰδοὺ γὰρ καὶ ἡ μητὴρ αὐτῶν ἐγὼ καταδιώκω ὀπίσω αὐτῶν· ἐνισχυσάτω ὁ Κύριος τοὺς ὑπολειφθέτας καὶ πληθυνθείησαν ἑὼς ἂν ἔλθῃ ὁ Κύριος ἀποκαταστῆσαι τὰ πάντα· ἐμεγαλύνθη μου ἡ ψυχὴ ἐν γυναιξὶν, ὅτι ἀσκανδάλιστον καὶ τέλειον τῷ Κυρίῳ παρατίθημί σε πορευομένη· εὐλογημένη ἐν τῇ ῥίζῃ ἡ φυή σου, καὶ οἱ βλαστοὶ τῶν ἔν σοι καρπῶν εὐθαλεῖς· τελεσφορηθῶσι δὲ ἐν πᾶσι καὶ οἱ καρποὶ εἰς εὐφροσύνην καὶ ἀγαλλίασιν. Ἐν ταῖς ἡμέραις μου οὐκ ἐπῄνεσά σε, φοβουμένη διότι μέγα πτῶμά ἐστι τοῦ ὑψηλοφρονεῖν. Νῦν οὖν ἄκουσόν μου, τέκνον, ὸν ἐτίμησεν ὁ παρά σου τιμηθεὶς δεσπότης σου Χριστὸς ὁ Θεὸς ἡμῶν, καὶ μνήμην ποιοῦ διαπαντὸς ἐν τῇ προσευχῇ σου τῆς μητρὸς, ὅπως εὕρω τὸ μέγα ἔλεος· ἱκέτευε ὑπὲρ ἐμοῦ τὴν ἁγίαν ἔνδοξον ἀειπαρθένον μητέρα τοῦ Κυρίου, ἀφέσεως τυχεῖν με τῶν μέχρι τῆς σήμερον ἡμέρας ἁμαρτιῶν, ὅτι ἐγὼ ὑπὲρ τῆς σῆς σωτηρίας τὴν ἐνεργὸν προσευχὴν τῷ Θεῷ προσέφερον· δός μοι καὶ σὺ χάριν ἀντὶ τῆς χάριτος, καὶ τὰς ὑπέρ ἐμοῦ πρόσαγε αὐτῷ πάντοτε δεήσεις. Μὴ λυποῦ δι᾽ ἐμὲ, ἀλλὰ μᾶλλον χαῖρε, διότι πεπληροφορημένη ἀπέρχομαι, καὶ ἀγαλλιοῦσα ἐπὶ τῇ θεαρέστῳ σου πολιτείᾳ, καὶ τῇ παρὰ τοῦ Χριστοῦ δεδωρημενῃ σοι σωτηρίᾳ. Ἐν πάσῃ λειτουργίᾳ καὶ ἀπέναντι παντὸς θυσιαστηρίου, μετὰ θυμιάματος ἀκαταπαύστου, ὑπὸ τῆς ὑπομονῆς σου δάκρυα προσέφερον τῷ, Θεῷ, καὶ εἰς πάντα οἶκον ἅγιον πορευομένη συχνῶς, ἐκτενῶς ἐδεόμην τῶν ἁγίων Μαρτύρων Χριστοῦ τοῦ Θεοῦ ἡμῶν ὑπερασπίσαι σου καὶ ἀντιλαβέσθαι. Πάντα ὅσιον

ἄνδρα ἐτίμησα, συλήσασά σοι προσευχἀς· καὶ οἱ πόνοι μου καὶ οἱ μόχθοι καρποὶ εὐπρόσδεκτοι ἀνηνέχθησαν τῷ πάντων ἐπόπτῃ Κυρίῳ ἐπὶ τῇ τελειώσει σου. Εἶδον μεγάλα ἔν σοι, ὧν οὐκ ἔστιν ἄριθμος· ἀλλ᾽ οὐκ ἐβουλήθην μέχρι τοῦ νῦν τι περὶ τούτων εἰπεῖν πρός σε, ἵνα μὴ θαῤῥήσῃς σεαυτῷ, καὶ μὴ τῷ δεδῳκότι Θεῷ τὴν εὐχαριστίαν ἀναπέμψῃς, τῷ δυναμένῳ καὶ μειζόνων σε ἀγαθῶν καταξιῶσαι. Τὸ ὠτίον μου ὑπερεκορέσθη τῆς σοφίας, ἥς ἕλαβες παρὰ Θεοῦ, ἀπαίδευτος κατὰ τὸν κόσμον γενόμενος· στέφανος καυχήσεως ὑπερεπλάκη τῇ κεφαλῇ σου διὰ χειρὸς κραταίας καὶ ὑψηλῆς, τῆς ἐπιθησάσες σοι αἴνεσιν καὶ εὐπρέπειαν. Ὅσα ἠθέλησαν εἶδον ἔν σοι, καὶ ὑπὲρ ἃ ἤθελον· ἀπέδρα ὀδύνη καὶ λύπη καὶ στεναγμὸς, ὅτι οὔκ εἰς κενὸν ἔδραμον, οὔτε εἰς κενὸν ἐκοπίασα. Μή σε λυπήθωσαν, τέκνον, λοιδορίαι παρακαλῶ, δὴ ἀγανάκτει ἐπὶ ἀπιστίᾳ τινῶν· ἄλλα πάντων ὑπερεύχου διὰ τὸν υἱὸν, τοῦ Θεοῦ, τὸν διὰ τὴν ἄμετρον αὐτοῦ φιλανθρωπίαν εἰς τοιαύτην ἐλάσαντα ταπείνωσιν, καὶ λέγοντα περὶ τῶν σταυρωσάντων αὐτόν· Πάτερ, ἄφες αὐτοῖς, οὐ γὰρ οἴδασι τί ποιοῦσιν. Αἳ πτέρυγές μου ἐφύησαν πρὸς τὴν οὐράνιον ἄνοδον, καθὼς καί σε τεθέαμαι ἀναβάντα, ὅτε τὴν ὀπτασίαν εἶδον ὄντος σου νηπίου. Παρατίθημί σε οὖν τῷ Κυρίῳ τῆς δόξης, ὃν ἠγάπησας ἀγαπηθεὶς ὑπ᾽ αὐτοῦ, ἵνα αὐτὸς ὁ φιλάνθρωπος, ᾧ συνεσταυρώθης, ἀσκανδάλιστόν σε διατηρήσῃ, ὄτι οὐκ ἔγνως κόσμον δι᾽ αὐτὸν, οὐ δὲ τὰ ἐν τῷ κόσμῳ· αὐτοῦ τὸ ἔλεος ἐξήτησας, τὸ κρεῖττον ὑπὲρ ζωὰς, καὶ πατέρα καὶ μητέρα οὐκ ἐγνώρισας, ὁ γὰρ Δημιουργός σου πατὴρ καὶ μητὴρ καὶ γένος ἐστὶ σὺν πᾶσι τοῖς ἡγιασμένοις πίστει τῇ εἰς αὐτόν. Τῶν πτωχῶν μνημόνευε, ὅτι πτωχὸς γἐγονας ἐν τῷ κόσμῳ τῶν θλιβομένων ὡς καὶ αὐτὸς συνκακουχούμενος τῷ σταυρῷ τοῦ Χριστοῦ· τῆς φιλοξενίας μὴ ἐπιλανθάνου, ὅτι ξένος γέγονας τῶν ἰδίων· τοῖς συμμένουσι συμπάθησον ἐν ὀλιγοψυχίᾳ πνεύματος οὖσι, καὶ μακροθύμει, ὅτι πάροικοί ἐσμεν ἐν τῇ γῇ πάντες, καὶ οὐκ ἀπολεῖται ἡ ὑπομονὴ τῶν πενήτων εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα· σοφρόνει, ὅτι ἡ ταπεινοφροσύνη τὸν θάνατὸν ἐν ίκησεν· ἐλεήμων ἀεὶ γίνου, ὅτι ἡ ἐλεημοσύνη ἐκ θανάτῳ ῥύεται· γίνου φρόνιμος οἰκονόμος καὶ τὸν ἄφθορον Δεσπότην μιμοῦ· ἡ σύν σοι ἀλήθεια πάντοτε συνέστω σοι· γίνου ὀρφανοῖς πατὴρ καὶ ἀντὶ ἀνδρὸς τῇ μητέρι αὐτῶν, τοῖς ταπεινοῖς συναπαγόμενος, καὶ ἀνεπαισχύντως καὶ ἀπροσωπολήπτως ἀποδεχόμενος, ὡς εἴωθας ἀεὶ ποιεῖν, τὸν Δεσπότην σου καὶ ἐν τούτῳ μιμούμενος· μνείαν ἀεὶ ποιοῦ ἐν τῇ πρὸς Θεόν σου δεήσει τοῦ κόσμου παντός· ὑπερεύχου δὲ καὶ τῆς πόλεώς σου ἐν ᾗ ἐγεννήθης καὶ τῶν ἐν αὐτῇ, κᾂν ἄπολις γέγονας διὰ Χριστὸν, συμπολίτης γενόμενος τῶν Ἁγίων, καὶ τοὺς ἐν αὐτῇ σκληροκαρδίους συγγνώμην πάρεχε διὰ τοὺς ἐπ᾽ αὐτῇ φιλοχρίστους· μὴ ἐπιλάθῃ τοῦ γενομένου σοι πνευματίκου πατρὸς τοῦ ἐν ὁσίοις Ἰωάννου, οὗ ἡ μνήμη ἐπ᾽ εὐλογίας, ὅτι ὑπερηγάπησέν σε· ἀνάπαυε δὲ καὶ Ἰωάννην τὸν σαρκικὸν πατέρα σου, καὶ μητρὸς ὠδῖνας θεράπευσον πρὸς Κύριον. Ταῦτα καὶ ἕτερα πλεῖστα εἰποῦσα πρὸς τὸν Ἅγιον, ἐπάρασα εἰς ὕψος τὰς χεῖρας, μετὰ χύσεως δακρύων καὶ φόβου προσηύξατο, λέγουσα· Χριστὲ ὁ Θεὸς, ἡ ἐλπὶς πάντων τῶν περάτων τῆς γῆς, ὁ διὰ πολλὴν φιλανθρωπίαν παρασχόμενος ἡμῖν τὴν ζωὴν διὰ τοῦ ζοωποιοῦ σταυροῦ, Κύριε τοῦ ἐλέους, ὁ Θεὸς τῶν ταπεινῶν, ὁ προσδεξάμενος τὴν πόρνην καὶ δικαιώσας τὸν τελώνην, εἰς ὅν ἤλπισαν Μάρθα καὶ Μαρία καὶ ἐζώθησαν, εἰσάκουσόν μου τῆς ἀμαρτολοῦ καὶ ταπεινῆς, οἶδα γὰρ ὅτι οὔκ εἰμι ἀξία στὴναι ἐνώπιον τῆς δόξης σου ἀπὸ πλήθους τῶν ἁμαρτιῶν μου· ἀλλὰ διὰ τὴν ἀγαθότητά σου τοῦ καλέσαντος τοὺς ἁμαρτολοὺς εἰς μετάνοιαν, τεθάῤῥηκα καὶ διαπετᾶσαι τὰς χεῖράς μου, καὶ ἰδεῖν καὶ ἀτενίσαι εἰς τὸ ὕψος τοῦ οὐρανοῦ τετόλμηκα, τῇ ζωτηρίῳ μεταλήψει τοῦ ζωοπιοῦ σώματος καὶ αἵματος πιστεύουσα ζωθῆναι τῇ δεδωρήμενῃ ἡμῖν παρά σου εἰς συγχώρησιν παραπτωμάτων, ὅπως ἀφέλεις τὰς ἀνομίας μου καὶ τὰς ἁμαρτίας μου περικαθαρεῖς. Σὺ οὖν Κύριε, ὁ πάντων δεσπότης, διατήρησον τὸν ἐν τῷ ὀνόματί σου παρά σου ἐσφραγισμένον ἀπὸ κοιλίας τῆς ἐμῆς ἀναξιότητος, ὅτι σε ἠγάπησεν καὶ διά σε τοῦ κόσμου ἐξενώθη· ἕστω ἡ ἀγάπη σου εἰς αὐτόν· ῥῦσαι αὐτὸν ἀπὸ τοῦ διαβόλου καὶ τῶν παγίδων αὐτοῦ, καὶ μὴ εἰσηνέγκῃς αὐτὸν ἕτι εἰς πειρασμόν· διάσωσον αὐτὸν ἐκ τοῦ πελάγους τούτου ὁ καλὸς κυβερνήτης τῶν πεποιθότων ἐπί σοι, ὅτι πάντα κατέλιπεν, καὶ ἦρεν τὸν σταυρὸν αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἠκολούθησεν τῇ σῇ φιλανθρωπίᾳ, συνετισθῆναι θέλων τὰς ἐντολάς σου· σὺ Δέσποτα, δέδωκάς μοι αὐτὸν, καὶ ἀπέδωκα ἐγὼ προσφορὰν ἐνώπιόν σου εὐχάριστον, ὃν τέλειον καὶ εὐχάριστόν σοι γενέσθαι καταξίωσον, καὶ σῶσον μετὰ πάντων τῶν Ἁγίων σου, ὅτι εἴς σε τὰς ἐλπίδας ἔχομεν, καί σοι τὴν δόξαν ἀναπέμπομεν, νῦν καὶ ἀεὶ καὶ εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας τὸν αἰώνων. Ἀμήν. Ταῦτα προσευξαμένη, ἐστράφη πρὸς τὸν Ἅγιον, ἦν δὲ τὸ πρόσωπον αὐτῆς δεδοξασμένον ἀπὸ χάριτος Πνεύματος ἁγίου, καὶ εἶπεν πρὸς αὐτόν· Ἰδοὺ ἡ ἡμέρα παρέστηκεν τῆς πρὸς Κύριον ἑκδημίας μου· ἀλλὰ γνώρισόν μοι, τέκνον, ποῦ καταθήσεις τὸ ταπεινόν μου σῶμα, οὔπου ὑπάρχοντος μνημείου ἐν τῷ τόπῳ τούτῳ. Ἔφη δὲ Συμεών· Ἵλεώς σοι, Κύριος μῆτερ, ἐν τῷ τέως μὴ ἔστω σοι τοῦτο· πλὴν ἐλαλήσαμεν πολλάκις περὶ τοῦτο ἑγώ τε καὶ οἱ ἀδελφοί μου, καὶ ποιοῦμέν σοι τόπον ἁγιάσματος καὶ κατατιθέμεθά σε έκεῖ. Ἔφη δὲ ἡ Μακαρία· Ἐμοὶ τὸ ζῶμα τοῦτο φορτίον ἐστὶ δυσβάστακτον, ἔσομαι οὖν ἠλεημένη καὶ ἐλαφρυνομένη ἐν τῷ εἰσακοῦσαι τὸν Θεὸν τῆς δεήσεώς μου τῷ συνταφῆναί με τοῖς ξένοις ἐν τῷ πανδέκτω Δάφνης, ἔνθα κατελογίσθη, καὶ κοινωνὸς τῆς ἐκείνων ταφῆς γέγονεν ὁ μακάριος καὶ ἅγιος Θωμᾶς, δοξασθεὶς μετὰ τρίτην ἡμέραν ἐν θαύματι, μὴ καταδεξάμενος συνεῖναι τοῖς κατ᾽ ἐμὲ ἁμαρτολοῖς, ἀλλ᾽ εἰσαχθεὶς μετὰ πλείστης τιμῆς ἐν τῇ μεγάλῃ τῶν Ἀντιοχέων πόλει. Ἐγὼ οὖν κήδομαι τῆς τοῦ τόπου εὐλογίας διὰ τὴν εὐχὴν ἐκείνου καὶ τῶν Ἀδελφῶν μου τῶν ἐκεῖ ῥιπτομένων, ὧν ἀναξία οὖσα ἐκ τῆς ὑγρασίας αὐτῶν πιανθῆναι τὰ ὀστᾶ μου, προσεύχομαι, ὅπως τὴν σωτηρίαν καρπώσομαι διὰ τῆς αὐτῶν ἐπισκοπῆς. Ἀλλὰ παράθου με τῷ Κυρίῳ, τέκνον, ἵνα δεκτά μου τὰ θελήματα εὕρω. Ἐπὶ τούτοις σκυθραπάσας Συμεὼν καὶ περίλυπος σφόδρα γενόμενος, οὐκ ἀπεδέχετο τοὺς τοιούτους αὐτῆς λόγους· προσφόροις δὲ ῥήμασιν τῆς τοιαύτης προθέσεως ἀποσχέσθαι αὐτὴν παρεκάλει, διότι οὐκ ἤθελεν αὐτὴν ἔξω εἶναι τῆς αὐτοῦ σκηνῆς, καὶ μάλιστα εἰδὼς αὐτῆς τὸ ἐξ ἀρχῆς θεοσεβὲς. Μόλις οὖν πρὸς μικρὸν κρεμῆσασα τοῦ μὴ ἐπιπλέον λυπῆσαι αὐτὸν, καὶ τὰς χεῖρας πάλιν διαπετάσασα, τὴν ἱκεσίαν ἐποιεῖ το πρὸς τὸν Θεὸν, ἐν θελείᾳ παραθέσει, φυλάξαι αὐτῆς τὸ ἀρνίον σὺν τοῖς αὐτοῦ μαθηταῖς καὶ πάσαις ψυχαῖς χριστιαναῖς, μάλιστα ταῖς εὐχαριστούσαις τῷ Θεῷ· κυβερνῆσαι δὲ κατὰ τὸ θέλημα αὐτοῦ καὶ τὰ τῆς ταφῆς, πρὸς τὸ ἐσπουδασμένον αὐτῇ καὶ περιπόθητον, ὧστε μὴ στερηθῆναι αὐτὴν τοῦ μισθοῦ τῶν ἐκρεριμμένων ὡσεὶ νεκρὸς ἐβδελυγμένος. Ταῦτα εὐξαμένη, καταλαβεῖν ἠπείγετο τὸ λεγόμενον Τιβερίνου χώριον ἀπὸ ζημείων τριῶν, τοῦ ἁγίου ἐνδόξου Προδρόμου καὶ Βαπτιστοῦ Ἰωάννου τηνικαῦτα συνάξεως ἐπιτελουμένης. Εὐλόγησε δὲ τὸν Δίκαιον καὶ τοὺς Αδελφοὺς καὶ τὴν μονὴν, εἰποῦσα· Ὅτι οὐκ οἶδα, εἰ ὄψομαι ὑμᾶς λοιπὸν ἐν σαρκί· καὶ κλίνασα τὴν κεφαλὴν, καὶ τὴν εὐχὴν αὐτῆς εἰς ἐφόδιον κομισαμένη, κατήρχετο ἐν τῷ προλεχθέντι Τιβερίνου χωρίῳ· ἦγεν γὰρ αὐτὴν ὁ ἄγων ἐπὶ τὸ προκείμενον. Εἰσελθοῦσα οὖν ἐν τῷ προλεχθέντι σεβασμίῳ οἴκῳ τοῦ ἁγίου ἐνδόξου καὶ Προδρόμου τοῦ βαπτιστοῦ Ἰωάννου, καὶ τὴν εὐχὴν αὐτῆς ἐπιτελέσασα, εὐχσθέως ὑποστρέψαι ἐπὶ τὴν μονὴν οὐκ ἠδυνήθη· παραχρῆμα γὰρ ἐμαλακίσθη, μηδαμῶς ἔτι δυνηθεῖσα βαδήισαι. Οἱ δὲ ἐντόπιοι τιμῶντες αὐτὴν, ἠξίουν καὶ παραβιάζοντο μεῖναι παρ᾽ αὐτοῖς καὶ ἀναπαύσασθαι ἐκ τοῦ κόπου· καὶ εἴξασα τῇ παρακλῆσει αὐτῶν, ἔμεινεν ἐκεῖ τὴν ἡμέραν ἐκείνην, οὖσαν δευτέραν. Τῇ δὲ τρίτῃ σφοδρότερον ἐνοχλουμένη ἐξέτεινε τὴν ὑπὲρ τοῦ Ὁσίου προσευχὴν, ἄνω μετεωρίσασα ἐπὶ τὸ ὄρος τὸ Θαυμαστὸν, ἐπιθύμει γαρ τὸν τοῦ Θεοῦ δοῦλον πάλιν ἰδεῖν. Καὶ ἔστι θαυμάσαι, πῶς οὐδεὶς τῶν τόσε παρόντων συνῆκεν ἐκδραμεῖν καὶ ἀπαγγεῖλαι τοῖς τῆς μονῆς τὸ συμβᾶν τῇ μακαρίᾳ Μάρθῃ· τοῦτο δὲ κατ᾽ οἰκονομίαν τοῦ Θεοῦ γέγονεν, τοῦ ποιοῦντος τὸ θέλημα τῶν φοβουμένων αὐτὸν καὶ τῆς δεῆσεως αὐτῶν εἰσακούοντος, ἵνα ὁ περὶ τῆς ταφῆς αὐτῆς προαφηγκμένοι σκοπὸς καὶ ἡ ἐπιθυμία πληρωθῇ, διὸ καὶ ἀπέκρυψεν ἀπὸ τοῦ δούλου αὐτοῦ τοῦτο. Νομίζοντες οὖν τινες φιλάνθρωπόν τι καὶ ἀγαθὸν ποιεῖν, ἐπιβιβάσαντες αὐτὴν ἐπὶ κτήνους, τετράδος ἐπιφωσκούσης, ἀπήγαγον ἐν Δάφνῃ καὶ ἀνέκλιναν, εἰς ὃν ἐκ πόλλου χρόνου κατέμεινεν εὐλολημένον αὐτῆς οἶκον. Βραχείας δὲ ὥρας διαδραμούσης ἀνατείνασα τὰς χεῖρας καὶ τοὺς ὀφθαλμοὺς πρὸς τὸν Θεὸν, καὶ ὕμνους εὐχαριστηρίους αὐτῷ μετὰ δακρύων ἀναπέμψασα καὶ εἰποῦσα· Εἰς χεῖράς σου, Κύριε, παραθήσομαι τὸ πνεῦμά μου· ἐν εἰρήνῃ τὴν ψυχὴν παρέδωκεν ἐν ταῖς τῶν ἁγίων Ἀγγέλων χερσὶ, μηνὶ Ιουλίῳ πέμπτη.

[19] It was the Lord's day, when she narrated these things; and persevering longer in prayer, she received the sacrosanct and immaculate mysteries; and was made wholly more certain of her death. But the second Feria dawning she gathered the Brothers in the presence of the Saint; to whom also she said: Peace to thee, son, from Him, who chose thee, Christ God and our saviour; may He, whom thou hast loved, the Son of God, confirm thee in thy place, and preserve thee in His immaculate faith stable and knowing not to be moved: may thy eyes, full of grace, behold thy place: and may the Lord produce for thee elect germs, disciples subject to thee in purity and sincerity: if any depart, do not weep for these; for behold I too their mother follow after them: may the Lord strengthen those left behind and may they be multiplied, until He come who shall restore all things. I have been magnified among women, because, about to go hence, I commend thee, who shalt be a scandal to none and perfect, to the Lord. Blessed be in the root thy planting, and the germs of thy fruits flourishing; and may the fruits be produced in all things unto gladness and exultation. While I have led my life hitherto, I never praised thee, hindered by fear; since he grievously falls, whoever is lifted up by pride.

[20] Now therefore hear me, son, whom He honored, who is honored by thee, thy Lord Christ our God. she requires the prayers of her son for herself, Be ever mindful of thy Mother during prayer, that I may obtain great mercy; suppliant for me to the holy, glorious, and ever-virginity adorned, Mother of the Lord Mary, that I may obtain remission of all the sins, which up to this day I have committed: since I did not cease to offer efficacious prayers for thy salvation to God. For grace render me grace, and with prayers for me in turn ever entreat God. Do not grieve on my account, but rather rejoice: because certain of salvation and secure I depart, exulting on account of thy conversation plainly divine and on account of the salvation confirmed for thee by Christ. In any Sacrifice of the Mass, before any altar tears with incense, burned without ceasing for thy perseverance, the benefits which she rendered him being set forth. I have immolated to God: frequenting any sacred edifice, I have implored with intense prayers the help of the holy Martyrs of Christ, that they might guard thee and stretch forth a helping hand. I have honored all holy men, demanding their prayers for thee; to whom my cares and labors, fruits very pleasing to God the inspector of all, have been offered for the increase of thy perfection. I have seen also many illustrious things in thee, to be expressed by no number; but unto the present time I would not commemorate them before thee, lest, trusting in thee more than is just, thou shouldst pay less frequent thanks to God the rewarder, who can deem thee worthy even of ampler gifts.

[21] Very well filled is my ear with the wisdom, which thou hast received from God, since thou wast unlearned as to the world. A crown of glory is woven for thy head, she admonishes that he bear injuries patiently by a hand potent and sublime, which has crowned thee with praise and comeliness. Whatsoever I wished, I have seen in thee; and beyond what I wished. Pain and mourning and groaning have fled, since I have not run or labored in vain. I exhort, son, that revilings burn no pain into thee, nor be indignant on account of the infidelity of certain men: but pray for all on account of the Son of God, who on account of His infinite kindness depressed Himself to such humility, by the example of Christ. and who said concerning those very ones, by whom He had been fixed to the cross: Father forgive them, for they know not what they do. Luc. 25, 34. My wings have grown forth, by which I shall ascend heaven, just as I beheld thee long since, still an infant, carried up to the same in the vision offered me. I commend thee therefore to the Lord of glory, whom thou hast loved with reciprocal love, that He Himself, the lover of men, with whom thou art fixed to the cross, may preserve thee from scandal; because for His sake thou hast ignored the world and the things which are in the world: thou hast sought His mercy, better than lives; and hast not known father and mother; for the Maker of the world, thy father and mother and stock is, with all who through faith in Him are sanctified.

[22] Be mindful of the needy, since thou hast been made needy in this world, who are in grief and affliction; She exhorts to various virtues, just as thou too with the crucified Christ dwellest in straits and vexations. Be unwilling to forget hospitality, since thou hast been made an exile from thy house and goods. Those, who are of a pusillanimous heart, pity and be longanimous, since we are sojourners in the earth all, and the patience of the poor shall not perish unto eternity. Humbly and lowly think of thyself, since submission of mind and modesty conquered death. Be ever merciful, since alms frees from death. Be a prudent dispenser, and imitate the Lord free of corruption, whose truth everywhere accompany thee. To orphans be a father, and to their mother in place of a husband; bearing thyself humbly with the humble and, without shame or acceptance of persons, receiving all, as thou hast always been wont; in this also imitating thy Lord. Be mindful in the prayers, and that he pray for all. which thou directest to God, of the whole world; and especially of the city, in which thou wast born, and of its inhabitants; although thou thyself hast been made an exile, for the cause of Christ, a fellow-citizen of the Saints; and if any there are of a hard heart, give pardon on account of others, who are there, lovers of Christ. Never let it fall from thy mind, who was a spiritual Father to thee, S. John, whose memory is in benediction; since he loved thee very much. Finally be also busy, that thy father according to the flesh John may enjoy everlasting rest, and the pangs of thy mother be soothed with the Lord.

[23] Having addressed the Saint with these and several other things, she lifted to heaven her hands and flowing with tears prayed with fear, saying: Christ the Lord, hope of all the ends of the earth, who on account of Thy much goodness hast repaired through the life-giving Cross our life; Lord of mercies, and finally she herself for herself God of the humble, who didst receive the harlot and didst justify him sitting at the toll-booth, in whom hoped Martha and ^a Mary, and obtained salvation; hear me a sinful and humble woman: for I know that I am unworthy, who should stand in the sight of Thy glorious Majesty for the multitude of my sins: nevertheless on account of Thy goodness who callest even sinners to penitence, I have dared to extend my hands and to direct my lifted eyes upon the height of heaven; believing firmly that I shall be saved through the salutary reception of Thy life-giving Body and Blood, granted us by Thee for the remission of faults, that Thou mightest take away my iniquities and cleanse me from my sins. Thou therefore, Lord, Ruler of all, guard him, and prays for her son. who out of my womb, an unworthy woman, was confirmed in Thy name by Thee, since he loved Thee, and for the sake of Thy name, the world being left, lives as a stranger on earth; may Thy charity be present to him, snatch him out of the snares of the devil, and lead him not henceforth into temptation. Save him out of the sea of this world, who governest most dexterously those confident in Thee; since he left all things, and took up his cross, and followed Thee the kind Lord, willing to be instructed by Thy commandments. Thou, Lord, didst give him to me, and I have rendered him back, an offering pleasing in Thy sight: deem him worthy of Thy grace, that he may become perfect and acceptable to Thee, and save him with all Thy Saints; since in Thee we hope and give glory to Thee, now and always and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

[24] After she had prayed in this manner, she turned back to the Saint, Solicitous concerning the place of burial, her whole face glorious through the grace of the holy Spirit, and said; Behold before the doors is the day, on which I migrate to the Lord. But I would have thee indicate to me, my son, where thou wilt lay my humble body, since there is not yet anywhere a monument in this place. Symeon answered: May the Lord be merciful to thee, mother, until now let this not be to thee. Nevertheless, I and my Brothers have spoken very often upon this matter; we are preparing for thee a sanctified place, where thou art to be laid. The Blessed woman said: This little body is to me a burden difficult to carry: in this therefore I shall believe that I shall obtain mercy and my prayer is heard, if in the common cemetery of Daphne with the strangers I may merit to be buried: among whom numbered also B. Thomas ^b, obtained burial with them in that place; she asks to be buried with the strangers: who, three days elapsed, having attested his glory by a miracle, did not bear himself to be mixed with sinners, such as I am, lying everywhere, and was carried with the highest glory into great Antioch. The blessing moves me therefore, which adheres to this place on account of the prayers of that Saint and of my Brothers; whom I, although I am unworthy that my bones be made fat by their moisture in contact, pray and beseech, that I may bear the fruit of my salvation through their visitation. But commend me, son, to the Lord, that my will may be found accepted.

[25] which, the son bearing ill, These things befell Symeon as very troublesome, and saddened greatly he did not admit such a speech; but used many words that he might let her be moved from such a purpose, because he did not wish her to be laid anywhere outside his dwelling, well knowing how piously from boyhood she had always lived. Hence she, having paused a little, lest she should increase the grief of her mourning son, lifted up her hands again, supplicating God with perfect resignation of herself, that He would guard His lamb ^c with his Disciples and all Christians, especially those who with gratitude acknowledge God's gifts; she resigns herself to the divine will. and would dispose at His will concerning her burial, according to what she had always desired, provided only she be not deprived of the reward of those who as an execrable corpse are rashly cast away.

[26] She sets out for the church of S. John the Baptist. Having prayed in this manner, she hastened in mind to come to the village ^d of Tiberinus three miles distant, where the festivity of the holy and glorious Forerunner John the Baptist ^e had been celebrated. But having well prayed for the Just one and the Brothers and the monastery, saying: I know not indeed, whether I shall see you again in the flesh: she inclined her head, and carrying with herself prayers for a viaticum, descended into the aforementioned village of Tiberinus: for the spirit led her to that, which was about to be done. Having entered therefore the sacred church, which we have said, of the holy and glorious Forerunner John the Baptist ^f, and the office of praying being performed, her strength straightway failing and the faculty of walking being taken away, where having prayed, she begins to labor, she could not return to the monastery. But the inhabitants of the place, venerating her, asked and even compelled her to remain there with them while she should recover breath from her fatigue: and yielding to their exhortation, she remained there that day, which was the second Feria.

[27] But on the third Feria when she was held by a graver infirmity, she extended longer her prayer for S. Symeon, her mind raised toward the Mount-wonderful, inflamed with the desire of beholding again the servant of God. But this especially here is to be wondered at, how of those present it came into the mind of none to run to the monastery and announce to the monks, what had befallen B. Martha. But that was of God disposing, who does the will of those who fear Him and hears their prayers, that her desire, as to those things which above we have narrated concerning her burial, might be fulfilled: and for the same cause He concealed these things from His servant. and carried back home Thinking therefore that they were doing a thing good and full of humanity, they lifted her onto a beast, and the fourth Feria dawning, carried her off to Daphne, and laid her back in that blessed house, in which now for a long time she had dwelt. A few hours intervened, when, her hands and eyes extended toward God, and hymns of gratitude amid copious tears having been offered, saying, Into Thy hands, Lord, I will commend my spirit; she piously dies on 5 July. she delivered in peace her soul into the hands of the holy Angels, on the fifth day of the month July. ^g

ANNOTATA.

CHAPTER IV.

The deposition and Translation of the body, the concourse of the people, miracles.

Συνελθόντες οἱ τῆς Δάφνης οἰκήτορες σὺν παντὶ τῷ κλήρῳ καὶ κηδεύσαντες αὐτὴν, καθὼς ἐνετείλατο, ἐν τοῖς ἱματίοις οἷς ἐφόρει κατελθοῦσα ἐκ τοῦ ὄρους τοῦ Θαυμαστοῦ, ἐντυλίξαντες ταῖς σινδόσιν, ἐν αἷς τοὺς βαπτιζομένους παῖδας πολλάκις ἐπιδιδοῦσα δεχθῆναι παρασκεύαζεν, οὕτω γὰρ ἐνταφιασθῆναι ηὔχετο· προέπεμψαν δὲ αὐτὴν ἐν ψαλμοῖς καὶ ὕμνοις καὶ κατέθεντο αὐτὴν ἐν τῷ τάφῳ τῶν ξένων, εἰς τὸν τόπον τὸν λεγόμενον Ἐλεφαντῶνα ἔνθα καὶ τὸν ὅσιον μόναχον Θωμᾶν πρώη κατέθεντο, ὡς ἤδη λέλεκται. Ἔμεινεν δὲ ἐκεῖ τὸ λείψανον τῆς Μακαρίας τὴν τετράδα καὶ τὴν πέμπτην καὶ τὴν παρασκεύην· Τότε ὁ τοῦ Θεοῦ δούλος Συμεῶν ἐν ὁράματι τῆς νυκτὸς θεωρεῖ λείψανον δικαίου ἔντος τῆς καμασινῆς αὐτοῦ μηλωτῆς ἐκ δεξιῶν ἐπικρεμάμενον αὐτῷ, καὶ ὅτι τὴν δεξιὰν ἐκτείνας χεῖρα, καὶ τρίτον ἁψάμενος, τῆς ἐξ αὐτοῦ εὐλογίας ἀντελάβετο. Καὶ καλέσας τινὰς τῶν Ἀδελφῶν, εἶπεν πρὸς αὐτούς· Ἡ Κυρία μου ἡ μεγάλη ἐκοιμήθη. Ἀποκριθεὶς δὲ Παῦλός τις τῶν Ἀδελφῶν, εἶπεν· Ἀξίωσον, Πάτερ, ἐπιτρέψαι ἡμῖν λατομῆσαι καὶ ἑτοιμᾶσαι θέσιν εἰς λόγον αὐτῆς, ὅπου σοί ἐστιν εὐάρεστον. Τούτων λαλουμένων, παρεγένετό τις ἄγαροικος, φάσκων, τὴν ὄντως μακαρίαν Μάρθαν κεκοιμῆσθαι· ἦν δὲ ὥρα ὀγδόη τῆς παρασκευῆς. Εὐθέως οὖν ἐπέτρεψε ὁ Ἅγιος Θεοφίλῳ τῷ μοναχῷ λαβεῖν ἐκ τῶν παρόντων ὄχλων τοὺς δυναμένους βαστάσαι, καὶ ἀπελθεῖν ἐν Δάφνῃ, καὶ τὸ τίμιον αὐτῆς λείψανον ἀγαγεῖν. Ἐκ Θεοῦ δὲ προνοίας Ἐπιφάνιός τις, ὁρμώμενος ἀπὸ τοῦ Καρανδαμᾶ χωρίου, κατελθὼν ἐν Δαφνῃ, ἤκουσέν τινων ὁμιλούντων, τρίτην ἡμέραν εῖναι, ἀφ᾽ οὗ κεκοίμηται ἡ μητήρ τοῦ δικαίου Συμεών· καὶ σπουδαίως πορευθεὶς εὗρεν πάντας τοὺς συγκωμίτας αὐτοῦ ἐν τῇ ἐκκλησίᾳ τοῦ Ἰάσονος χωρίου, καὶ ἀπήγγειλεν αὐτοῖς τὰ περὶ τῆς μακαρίας. Χάρις δὲ ἐπέπεσεν ἐπὶ πάντας αὐτοὺς, καὶ μιᾶς γνώμης γενόμενοι, εἶπεν πρὸς ἀλλήλους· Ἦλθεν ἡμῖν εὐλογία μεγάλη τοῦ ἀπαγαγεῖν αὐτὴν πρὸς τὸν ἅγιον δοῦλον τοῦ Θεοῦ. Ταύτῃ στέρξαντες τῇ βουλῇ παρεγένοντο ἐν Δάφνῃ. Αὐτῶν δὲ διερχομένων διὰ μέσου αὐτῆς, πάντες οἱ ὁρῶντες αὐτοὺς ἔλεγον αὐτοῖς· Τὴν Μεγάλην τοῦ Δικαίου θέλετε ἆραι; Ὁ δὲ καταθέμενος αυτὴν λεκτικάριος, ὡς ἐξ ἐπιτάγματος, οὐκ εἰδὼς τὴν αἰτίαν, ἵστατο ἐπὶ τῆς ὁδοῦ, καὶ αὐτὸς εἶπεν πρὸς αὐτούς· Ἐγὼ ἐλθὼν ὑποδείξω ὑμῖν τὴν Μακαρίαν, μήπως ἀγνοῦντες ἔτερον λείψανον ἐκ τοῦ πλήθους τῶν ἐκεῖ κειμένων λάβετε ἀντ᾽ ἐκείνης. Καὶ εὐχαριστήσαντες τῷ Κυρίῳ ἐμήνυσαν τῷ ἡγουμένῳ περὶ τούτου, ὅστις μετ᾽ εὐλογίαν Πνεύματος ἁγίου ἐπέτρεψεν αὐτοῖς τὴν διακονίαν ἐκτελέσαι, ἣν προέθεντο. Ἀνοιχθέντος οὖν τοῦ τάφου εἰσῆλθον δυὸ ἐξ αὐτῶν Ἰωάννης καὶ Μαρῖνος, πιστοὶ τυγχάνοντες, καὶ ἦραν αὐτὴν, τοῦ λεκτικαρίου δακτυλοδεικνοῦντος αὐτοῖς, αὐτὴν εἶναι τὴν ὁσίαν Μάρθαν. Ἀνεκόμησαν δὲ αὐτὴν ἐκ τοῦ τόπου ἄλυτον, ἀδυσώδη, ἄῤῥηκτον καὶ ἄβρωτον σκωλίκων, καὶ τοῦ καύσωνος τοιαυτοῦ ὑπάρχοντος ἐν ταῖς ἡμέραις ἐκείναις, ἦν γὰρ ἑβδόμη τοῦ Ἰουλίου μηνός· ἀλλ᾽ οὔτε τῶν ἐκεῖ συρομένων ἑρπετῶν παντελῶς αὐτῇ προσεκολλήθη, οὔτε τῶν πολυπληθουσῶν μυιῶν προσήγγισεν, διὰ τοῦ δοῦναι τὸν Κύριον τὴν ἐξ αὐτοῦ χάριν τῷ τιμίῳ αὐτῆς λειψάνῳ. Βαστάσαντες οὖν αὐτὴν πρὸς δυσμὰς ἡλίου μετὰ χαρᾶς ἀπέτρεχον· πολλοὶ δὲ σὺν γυναιξὶ καὶ παιδίοις συνελθόντες προέπεμπον τὸ τίμιον αὐτῆς λείψανον, μετὰ θυμιαμάτων καὶ λαμπάδων, τίνες δὲ καὶ μέχρι τῆς μονῆς αὐτῆς συνέδραμον. Οἱ δὲ σταλέντες ἅμα Θεοφίλῳ τῷ μοναχῷ ὑπήντησαν αὐτοῖς κατὰ τὸ μέσον τῆς ὁδοὺ, καὶ θαυμάσαντες καὶ ἀποδεξάμενοι τὴν αὐτῶν θεάρεστον πρόθεσιν, ἔσπευδον καὶ αὐτοὶ τῆς ἐκ τοῦ λειψάνου εὐλογίας ἀξιωθῆναι· καὶ βαστάσαντες σὺν αὐτοῖς προθύμως τὴν ὁδοιπορίαν ἐποιοῦντο, ὅθεν καὶ ἐλαφρὸν αὐτοῖς σφόδρα τὸ τίμιον λείψανον κατεφάνη, ὥστε αὐτοὺς πληροφορεῖσθαι θείας ἀληθῶς δυνάμεως ἔργον τοῦτο τυγχάνειν. Ἀνήγαγον οὖν αὐτὴν ἐν τῷ μοναστηρίῳ, συμφώνως ψάλλοντες καὶ ὑμνοῦντες καὶ δοξάζοντες τὸν Θεόν· εἰσελθόντες δὲ εἰς τὴν ἁγίαν μάνδραν, ἀπέθεντο αὐτὴν ἔμπροσθεν τοῦ κίονος τοῦ δούλου τοῦ Θεοῦ ἦν δὲ ἰδεῖν παντὸς τοῦ συνελθόντος λαοῦ τὰ δάκρυα, τοὺς ὁδυρμοὺς, τὸν μέγαν ἦχον τῆς σκυθρωπῆς βοῆς, καὶ δοξάζειν τὸν Θεὸν ἐπὶ τῷ τοσούτῳ ζήλῳ καὶ τῇ πολλῇ πληροφορίᾳ. Πάντες γὰρ ὡς μητέρα πνευματικὴν πολυτρόπως αὐτὴν εὐεργετοῦσαν ἀπολαβόμενοι, οὕτως αὐτὴν ἀνεκαλοῦντο. Πάννυχον οὖν ἀγρυπνίαν ποιήσαντες, καὶ τῷ Θεῷ τὴν εὐχαριστίαν προσαγαγόντες, ἐλατόμουν λοιπὸν τὴν θέσιν ἐν τῷ κογχίῳ, κατὰ τὰ δεξιὰ μέρη τοῦ κίονος. Τῇ δὲ νυκτὶ ἐκείνῃ, ἐκ τοῦ ὑπαίθρου τῆς μάνδρας τῆς ἁγίας στάσεως, ὥσπερ διαῤῥαγέντος τοῦ τείχους, ὤφθη ἡ Μακαρία ἐπιστᾶσα ἀθρόον τοῖς δυσὶ ἐκείνοις Ἀδελφοῖς, περὶ ὧν καὶ δεδώκει ἐντολὰς τῷ Ἁγίῳ· κᾀκείνων φόβῳ μεγάλῳ συσχεθέντων, ὡς εἰδότων ὅτι τέθνηκεν· Μὴ φοβεῖσθε, ἔφη, πρὸς αὐτοὺς ἡ Μακαρία, διότι οὐκ ἐλογίσατό με ὁ Κύριος μετὰ τῶν νεκρῶν, ἀλλὰ μετὰ τῶν ζόντων· ἰδοὺ γὰρ βλέπετέ με ἀβλαβῆ φυλαχθεῖσαν, τῶν ἱματίων μου μόνον βραχέντων ἐκ τῆς ὑγρασίας τῶν κειμένων νεκρῶν, ἔνθα με κατέθηκαν· ἦλθον δὲ ζωην ὑμῖν εὐαγγελίσασθαι, ὅπως ἀσφαλῶς βιοῦντες, νικήσητε τοὺς δαίμονας εἰς τὸ μὴ κλαπῆναι ὑμᾶς παρ᾽ αὐτῶν. Ταῦτα εἰποῦσα ἀπέστη ἀπ᾽ αὐτῶν, καὶ ἀναβάντος τοῦ ὄρθρου τῷ ἐπιφώσκοντι τότε σαββάθῳ, συνῆλθον πλῆθος πρεσβυτέρων καὶ διακόνων καὶ λοιπῶν κληρικῶν καὶ λαἳκῶν· οἵ τινες κυκλώσαντες αὐτὴν, καὶ μηδεμίας δυσωδίας ἀντιλαβόμενοι, καί τοι τοῦ ἡλίου ὑπερεκκαίοντος, ἐθαύμαζον ὑμνοῦντες τὸν Θεὸν, καὶ ἐνδόξους ᾠδὰς ἀναπέμποντες αὐτῷ, μετὰ κηρῶν καὶ θυμιαμάτων, μέχρις ἑβδόμης ὥρας· καὶ οὕτως μετὰ δόξης καὶ τιμῆς κατέθεντο τὴν τοῦ Θεοῦ δούλην ἐν τῇ λατομιθείσῃ ὑπὸ τῶν Ἀδελφῶν, καὶ στήσαντες τὴν πρέπουσαν τῆς ἀκολουθίας σύναξιν ἐλειτούργισαν, τελείαν ὑπὲρ αὐτῆς ποιήσαντες προσφοράν. Μετὰ δὲ τὴν ἀπόλυσιν τῆς εὐχαριστίας, παρεγένοντο οἱ ἀπὸ τῆς κώμης τοῦ Γανδιγορῶν ἅμα τῷ Πρεσβυτέρῳ αὐτῶν Θεοδωρήτῳ καὶ παντὶ τῷ κλήρῳ καὶ τοῖς πιστοῖς τῆς παροικίας αὐτῶν, σπεύδοντες κοινωνῆσαι τῆς εὐλογίας, οὂς μεγάλας δυνάμεις καὶ ἰάσεις χρήζουσι πολλάκις ὁ Θεὸς ἐδωρήσατο, διὰ τοῦ ἁγίου αὐτοῦ δούλου Συμεών. Καὶ ἐπειδὴ εὗρον τὴν κατάθεσιν αὐτῆς γενομένην, ἠξίουν μεῖναι καὶ τὴν πρέπουσαν παννυχίδα ἤτοι ἀγρυπνίαν ἐπιτελέσαι, ὅπως καὶ αὐτοὶ τοὺς καρποὺς τῶν εὐχῶν τῆς Ὁσίας τρυγήσωσιν. Ἐπινεύσαντος δὲ τοῦ Δικαίου ταῖς αὐτῶν δεήσεσι, καὶ τῆς θείας ὑμνῳδίας παρ᾽ αὐτῶν ἐπιτελουμένης, Ἰωάννης τις Ἀναγνώστης, εἷς ὢν ἐξ αὐτῶν, εὐλαβὴς ἀνὴρ καὶ μεγάλης πίστεως, καὶ πολλοῖς ἀσθενοῦσι πρόξενος ἰάσεως γενόμενος διὰ τῶν πρεσβειῶν τοῦ Ἁγίου καὶ τῶν παρ᾽ αὐτοῦ διδομένων εὐλογιῶν, ὁρᾷ καθαρότητι ψυχῆς, ὑμνογρήγορος ὢν, τὴν μὲν ὁσίαν Μάρθην ἀνερχομένην ἐν τῇ κλίμακι τοῦ κίονος τοῦ δικαίου Συμεὼν, ἐν τῇ κόγχῃ δὲ ἐπάνω τῆς θέσεως αὐτῆς ὡς ἱστορίαν τῶν ἑξαπτερύγων ζώων πετομένων ἐφ᾽ ἅρματος τροχῶν, τὸν δὲ καθήμενον οὐκ ἐθεάσατο. Βουλόμενος δὲ ἀκριβέστερον καταμαθεῖν τὸ φαινόμενον (ὑπέλαβεν γὰρ γραφὴν γεγενῆσθαι ἐν τῷ τόπῳ ἐκείνῳ) απῆλθεν τοῦ καταμαθεῖν, καὶ εὐθέως ἄφαντα ταῦτα γεγόνασιν ἀπ᾽ αὐτοῦ. Ἔξυπνος δὲ γενόμενος καὶ φόβῳ καὶ τρόμῳ συνεχόμενος ἀπήγγειλεν ταῦτα τῷ Ἁγίῳ, ὅρκοις πολλοῖς πιστούμενος τὸ ἀληθὲς τῆς ὀπτασίας. Ὁ δὲ τοῦ Θεοῦ δοῦλος ἔφη πρὸς αὐτόν· Δόξασον, τέκον, τὸν Κύριον, χάριν γὰρ εὗρες θεάσασθαι, καθὼς ἐχώρεις τὰ ἁγιαστικὰ ζῶα τὰ ἐπιβεβηκότα ἐφ᾽ ἅρματος χερουβὶμ, παραγενομένου ἐν τῇ ἐπικλήσει τῆς ὑμνωδίας, καὶ ἁγιάσαντος ἐν τῷ λειψάνῳ τοῦ θανάτου τὴν κοίμησιν, καθότι κᾀγὼ καὶ αὐτὴ ἐν ἁμαρτίαις συλληφθέντες ἐχρήσαμεν τῆς παρ᾽ αὐτοῦ ἀφέσεως, ἐν αὐλαῖς οἴκου Κυρίου ἱστάμενοι. Ταῦτα εἰπὼν ὁ Ἅγιος, πάντων ἐν τῇ ἀκολουθίᾳ τῶν εὐχῶν ἱσταμένων, ἐπιβλέψας εἶδεν ὁ Ἅγιος ἐνεργείας δαιμόνων ἐπιτελομένας ἐπ᾽ αὐτοὺς, τῶν μὲν παρισταμένων ἐνίοις αὐτῶν, τῶν δὲ εἰσδυνόντων ἐν τοῖς μέλεσι τῶν λοιπῶν καὶ κατοικούντων ἐν αὐτοῖς, καὶ τούτων ὁ ἀριθμὸς ὑπῆρχε πολύς· Ἐπετίμησεν δὲ αὐτοῖς ἄνωθεν ἱστάμενος ὁ Ἅγιος, καὶ ἐπέστη πνεῦμα Θεοῦ, καὶ εὐθέως διεσκόρπισεν αὐτοὺς ἀπ᾽ αὐτῶν. Καλέσας δὲ ὁ Ἅγιος τὸν εἰρημένον Ἰωάννην ἐπηρώτησεν αὐτὸν, Μέχρι τίνος κατήντησεν ἡ λοιμικὴ φθορά· ἦν γὰρ τῷ χρόνῳ ἐκείνῳ θνῆσις ἀνθρώπων μεγάλη. Ἀπεκρίθη ἐκεῖνος καὶ εῖπεν· Ἄχρι, Δέσποτα, τῆς ἡμετέρας κώμης καὶ τοῦ γειτνιάζοντος ἡμῖν Βαιθοκοβεῶν ἄγρου. Καὶ λέγει ὁ Ἅγιος· Ἰδοὺ, σωτήριος ὑμεῖς ἡμέρα αὕτη ἐπεφάνη παρὰ Κυρίου· κοπάσει γὰρ ἀφ᾽ ὑμῶν ὁ ὁλοθρεύων, καὶ δι᾽ ὑμὰς καὶ ἐκ τῶν πλησιοχώρων ὑμῶν, καὶ μάρτυς αὐτὸς ἔσο τῶν ἐμῶν ῥημάτων. Γέγονε δὲ οὕτως· παραχρῆμα γὰρ ἐκόπασεν ἀπὸ παντὸς οἴκου ἡ κραυγὴ καὶ ὁ θρῆνος. Ἡ αὐτὴ δὲ φθορὰ ἑπέκειτο καὶ ἐν τῷ Χαρανδαμᾶ χωρίῳ· καὶ πολλῶν κατακειμένων καὶ δεομένων τῆς παρὰ τοῦ Θεοῦ τυχεῖν σωτηρίας, ἴδον τινὲς ἐξ αὐτῶν ἐν ὁράματι τὸ λείψανον τῆς μακαρίας Μάρθης μετὰ κηρῶν καίομένων περιαγόμενον ἐν τῇ κώμῃ καὶ ἐν τῇ γῇ αὐτῶν· τῇ δὲ τοιαύτῃ ὄψει ἐναργὴς ἔκβασις ἐπηκολούθησεν, οὐδενὸς μὲν ἔτι ληφθέντος ἐκεῖσε τῷ τοιούτῳ πάθει, τῶν δὲ πρώην κατασχεθέντων ἐπισκοπῆς θείας ἀξιωθέντων, καὶ πρὸς ὕγειαν ἐπανελθόντων. Εἷς δὲ ἐξ αὐτῶν, Σέργιος ὄνομα τούτῳ, υἱὸς Ἀντωνίου φροντιστοῦ, οὐ πάρεστι, νεκρῷ πλησιάσαι βδέλυκτον λογιζόμενος· Τοῦτο δὲ αὐτὸ

καὶ ἐπὶ τοῦ λειψάνου τῆς Ὁσίας πεποιηκὼς, οὐ προσήγγισεν οὐ δὲ τὸν ὦμον ὑπέθηκεν· κατ᾽ αὐτὴν οὖν τὴν ὥραν κατεσχέθη πυρετῷ λαβροτάτῳ καὶ μεμένηκεν τῇ νόσῳ κοπτόμενος, ἄλαλός τε γενόμενος, οὕτως διέμεινε μέχρι τῶν τριακοστῶν αὐτῆς. Πολλῶν δὲ παρακαλούντων τὸν τοῦ Θεοῦ δοῦλον ὑπὲρ αὐτοῦ, καὶ τοῦ πατρὸς αὐτοῦ καὶ τῆς μητρὸς ἐκτιλλόντων ἐνώπιον αὐτοῦ τὰς ἑαυτῶν πολίας, τῶν τε ἀδελφῶν καὶ τῶν συγγενῶν ἐν πένθει μεγάλῳ κλαιόντων, οὐδεμιᾶς τηνικαύτα βοηθείας ἐτύγχανεν ὁ τῇ νόσῳ κάμνων. Τοῦ δὲ Θεοῦ ταῖς τοῦ δικαίου προσευχαῖς σπλαγχνισθέντος, ἔλαβεν ἐξουσίαν ὁ κατακείμενος ἐξομολογήσασθαι καὶ εἰπεῖν· Ὅτι ἀπεστράφην βαστάσαι τὸ τίμιον λείψανον τῆς μητρὸς τοῦ ἁγίου Συμεὼν, καὶ διὰ τοῦτο μετὰ δεινὰ ταῦτα ἐπέστησαν κριτήρια· καὶ εἰ μὴ ἐξ αὐτῆς σπεύσητέ μοι ἀνῦσαι διὰ παρακλήσεως τοῦ Ἁγίου συγχώρησιν, ἀπόλλημαι. Ταῦτα ἀκούσαντες οἱ γονεῖς αὐτοῦ καὶ οἱ προσκαρτεροῦντες αὐτῷ, σπουδαίου παρέστησαν ἐνώπιον τοῦ Ἁγίου, τὸ ἔλεος ὑπὲρ τοῦ ἀμαρτήσαντος αἰτούμενοι. Οἰκτείρας δὲ αὐτοὺς ἐπέτρεπεν ὑποστρέφειν, καὶ κομψότερον ἐσχηκότα εὑρίσκειν τὸν ἐν ἀνάγκῃ· Οὐκ ἔστι γὰρ ἐμὸν, ἔφη, τελείαν αὐτῶ παρασχεῖν τὴν ἴασιν, ἀλλὰ τῷ λειψάνῳ τῆς Ὁσίας τὸ χάρισμα δέδοται ὑπὸ Κυρίου λύσαι τὴν ἁμαρτίαν. Ὑποστρέψαντες οὖν ἐκεῖνοι, εὗρεν αὐτὸν, καθὼς εῖπεν, βέλτιον ἐσχηκότα· καὶ ἀγαγόντες αὐτὸν προσήνεγκαν τῇ σορῷ τῆς Μακαρίας, ἐξομολογούμενον καὶ λέγοντα· Συγγνώμης με τὸ νῦν καταξίωσον ἡ μητὴρ τοῦ Ἁγίου, καὶ οὐ μὴ παραιτήσαμαι ἔτι λείψανον. Ταῦτα αὐτοῦ λέγοντος καὶ προσευχομένου, ᾔσθετε τὸ ἀκάθαρτον πνεῦμα τῆς ἐπὶ τῇ συγχωρήσει δοθείσης χάριτος τῷ ἀνδρὶ, καὶ ἐξῆλθεν διὰ τῶν ἀκοῶν αὐτοῦ, καὶ παραχρῆμα ἔστη ὁλόκληρος δοξά τὸν Θεὸν, παντῶν τῶν τότε παραγενομένων καὶ τῶν ἀκουσάντων περὶ αὐτοῦ. Τούτων οὖν τὴν εὐχαριστίαν ἀναπεμψάντων τῷ Θεῷ καὶ πορευθέντων, ἰδοὺ οἱ ἀπὸ τοῦ Γανδιγούρων χωρίου συνελθόντες πάννυχον ἀγρυπνίαν ἐποίησαν εἰς τὰ τριακοστὰ τῆς Ὁσίας· καὶ τῆς ἑξῆς, τελειώσαντες τὴν ὑπὲρ αὐτῆς προσφορὰν καὶ εὐλογηθέντες, ἀπῆλθον.

[28] The inhabitants of Daphne assembling with the whole Clergy and taking care of the funeral, the garments being left to her, as she had ordered, which she had brought from the Mount-wonderful; The body is deposited in the cemetery of the strangers. and the body being wrapped in the linens, which she had procured for the children to be received from baptism (for so she had desired to be committed to burial) carried her forth, with psalms and hymns resounding, and laid her in the sepulcher of the strangers, in the place which is called Elephanton; in which they had also formerly placed S. Thomas the monk, as has already been said. The Blessed woman's Relics remained there the fourth, fifth, and sixth Feria. Then the servant of God Symeon in a vision beholds the Relics of the just woman within his hairy ^a sheepskin suspended on his right side: and when he extended his right hand and thrice touched them, he obtained a blessing from them: the death is revealed to Symeon: and certain of the Brothers being called he said: My great Lady has fallen asleep. But one of them, Paul by name, answering: Father, said he, command us, that we cut stones and prepare a tomb for her, wherever it shall be pleasing to thee.

[29] When they had said these things, a certain rustic running up announces, that B. Martha had truly died: and it was the eighth hour of the day of Friday. Forthwith therefore the Saint commands the monk Theophilus, that, those being taken from the present multitude who could carry, he go to Daphne, to whom many divinely incited carry the body, about to bring thence the venerable Relics of his mother. But it happened by the previous disposition of God, that a certain Epiphanius, sprung from the village of Charandama, going down to Daphne, heard some conversing among themselves, saying that it was now the third day, since the mother of S. Symeon had died: who going thence with the highest haste, found all his fellow-villagers in the church, which is in the village of Jason, and announces what had befallen B. Martha. Forthwith they were all divinely suffused with grace, and concurring into one and the same opinion, they say among themselves: A great blessing has come to us, that we may be able to lead her to the holy servant of God. The counsel was approved by all; and they went together to Daphne: and when they passed through the midst of it; whoever saw them passing said to them; Do you wish to take the great mother of the just Symeon? But the ^b bearer, who had laid her in the sepulcher, ignorant of the matters why they came, as if he had been commanded, stood in the way, and said: I accompanying you, will show the Blessed woman, lest perchance through ignorance you take the relics of some one of the crowd buried there in place of hers. They, thanks given to God, indicated to their leader that which was, who in turn exhorted with the blessing of the holy Spirit, that they should perfect what they had in mind and at hand.

[30] The sepulcher therefore being opened, two of them entered, John and Marinus, which they find still whole, both faithful, and bore away the body, the bearer pointing with his finger and asserting, that it was S. Martha's. But they drew out of that place nothing dissolved, nothing scattering an evil smell, nothing feeling decay from worms, altogether firm and solid, although the heat raged in those days (for it was the seventh of July); but neither had any of the serpents, which creep there very many, at all adhered to her; nor had any of the flies, with which the place abounds, approached, the divine grace, which was put into her venerable Relics, warding off all insects. and lead her away with solemn pomp, To them therefore returning toward the setting of the sun, and carrying the sacred treasure; very many coming together with women and boys, accompanied for honor's sake, incense being burned and lamps shining: of whom some did not withdraw before it was come to the monastery.

[31] The middle of the journey being accomplished, those who had been sent with the monk Theophilus come to meet, full of admiration; and when they had understood the mind and purpose inspired in them by God, they too hastened that they might receive a blessing through the sacred Relics, and shouldering the body with the others alacriously they measured out the way, their weight pressing so lightly, that it manifestly became known, feeling nothing of weight. that it was truly an effect of the divine power. They brought her finally into the monastery, with concordant voice bringing forth hymns and psalms to the glory of God: and having entered the holy enclosure, they laid the body before the column of the holy man. Here could be seen the tears, laments, and the wailing of mournful cry of the concurring people; glorifying also God on account of so great zeal and the manifold proof of sanctity: for all beheld her no otherwise than as a spiritual mother, manifoldly beneficent toward them, and even so called her. Keeping vigil therefore and paying thanks to God, they ^c at length hewed out a monument in a small niche to the right part of the column.

[32] But on that very night from the open part of the enclosure, in which the column was, the wall as it were undermined, suddenly she was beheld, by those two Brothers, She reveals to the Brothers that she is safe of whom she had committed the care to the Saint, seized with huge fear, inasmuch as knowing her to be dead. To whom she: Do not fear, since the Lord has not counted me among the dead, but the living. For behold see me preserved without harm, only my garments sprinkled with the moisture of the other corpses, among which they placed me. But I come to announce life to you, that, living here securely and safely, the demons being conquered, you be not led away by them into error. Which said she disappeared: and the dawn of the Sabbath ^d rising there assembled many Presbyters, Deacons, other Clerics and laymen; and standing around the funeral in a crowd, they felt nothing of stench or evil smell, although the sun raged greatly. and she is laid in a new tomb; Wherefore having wondered, they chanted hymns to God, and offered glorious canticles with candles and incense up to the seventh hour ^e; and so with glory and honor they placed the servant of God in the sepulcher hewn by the Brothers: and the fitting office being established they offered sacrifice, ^f making a complete oblation for her.

[33] The Sacrifice being completed, others came from the village of Gandigora, their Presbyter Theodoretus accompanying and the whole Clergy and the faithful of the parish, to whom they assemble in great numbers: being busy to participate in the blessing: to whom, asking great prodigies and cures, God had often granted through His holy servant Symeon. And when they had ascertained that the deposition had been made, they asked that it be permitted them to tarry there, until they had celebrated a fitting vigil, that they too might obtain the fruits of B. Martha's prayers. Symeon assented to their vows: who while they perform the sacred chants, one of the crowd John the Lector, a very pious man and of great faith, to one of whom B. Martha appears, and who through the intercession of the Saint and the blessings given by him had been the author of salvation to several sick persons, sees half-asleep, in clarity of spirit, S. Martha ascending by the stairs of the column of the just Symeon: but in the niche over her monument he sees as it were a representation of animals, furnished with six wings, flying over the wheels of a chariot, but he did not see one sitting in the chariot. And when he wished more accurately to know the apparition (for he suspected an inscription had been made in that place) he approached nearer to inspect: and suddenly the vision vanished from his eyes. But awakened and seized with fear and trembling he announced the things seen to S. Symeon, an oath being interposed making credible, and then the Cherubic chariot. that truly that vision had been offered him. The servant of God said to him: Give, son, glory to the Lord, because thou hast found grace to behold, as far as thou couldst, the holy animals, coming on the Cherubic chariot, which was present at the invocation of the hymnody, and in the dead body sanctified the place of her falling asleep; just as I too and she herself, conceived in sins, need the remission to be imparted by Him, while we stand in the courts of the house of the Lord.

[34] When the Saint had said these things, all persisting in their hymns, The Saint foretells that they shall be freed from the plague, looking he saw a great force of demons rush upon them, and some indeed standing by some of them, others entering the bodies of the rest and choosing a seat for themselves in them; and these were numbered very many. But the Saint rebuked them from a higher place, and the Spirit of the Lord stood by, and dissipated the demons from those men. But the Saint called the aforesaid John and asked, how far at length the pestilent disease had advanced? For at that time among men there raged a huge mortality. John answered: Lord, even to our village and the field of the Bethocobei, most near to us. And the Saint said: Behold today salvation has shone for you from the Lord, for that devastation will depart from you, and for your sake from the neighboring regions also it will cease: and be thou thyself a witness of my words. The prediction came to pass: for straightway from all the dwellings the clamor and laments ceased.

[35] The same mortality lay also upon the village of Charandama; and many being almost unsouled and asking God for salvation, which also elsewhere is driven away by the merits of S. Martha; some of them beheld in a vision the Relics of B. Martha carried about through the village and their land with burning candles. There followed this vision an outcome equally manifest, no one thenceforth being seized by the plague in that place; but those seized before, after the favor of this divine visitation,

recovering health. One of them by name Sergius, Refusing to venerate her Relics, he is punished with disease, son of Antonius the Procurator, was not present with the rest, reckoning it a crime to approach a corpse: and bringing the very same thing into his mind regarding the Relics of this Saint, he had refused to approach or put his shoulders under. But behold at that very hour he was seized by a violent fever, by which, the faculty of speech being lost, he was tortured up to the thirtieth ^g day from her death. There were many who cried out to him for help from the servant of God: father and mother before him plucked out their grey hairs, Brothers and kinsmen were vexed with vehement grief; but the sick man indeed felt nothing of alleviation. At length, commiseration touching God through the Saint's prayers, he came to such a degree of power, that he confessed and said: Because I turned my face away, and was unwilling to carry the sacrosanct Relics of the blessed Mother of S. Symeon, therefore these so grievous punishments have been inflicted on me; and unless you quickly obtain for me pardon of my fault through the invocation of the Saint, I perish.

[36] These things heard the parents and those who incessantly gave effort to the sick man, whereby partly relieved by Symeon, he is sent to them, with the highest haste presented themselves to the Saint, imploring mercy for the offender. He, having pitied them praying, exhorts that they return, about to find the sick man having it more gently: For it is not in my hand, said he, to impart full soundness to him; but to the Relics of my holy Mother it has been granted by the Lord to remit the sin to him. Returned therefore they found the sick man somewhat better, as the Saint had said, doing well; and brought and offered him to the sarcophagus of the Blessed woman, confessing and saying: Deem me now worthy of pardon, O mother of the holy man, and never hereafter will the Relics of anyone be despised by me. He so praying, the impure spirit felt the grace of remission given to the man, and went out through his ears: where having prayed, he is wholly cured. but the sick man straightway stood thoroughly cured in every part, glorifying God with all who at that time had come thither with him, and who being absent heard of him. They therefore paying thanks to God and retracing their journey; behold those who had assembled from the village of Grandigura kept vigil the whole night, which preceded the thirtieth day of the deposition; but afterward, an oblation made and a blessing received, they departed.

ANNOTATA C. I.

CHAPTER V.

Miracles wrought through S. Martha both elsewhere, and at her tomb.

Ἐκεῖνοσ δὲ ὁ πιστὸς Ἰωάννης, ὁ τῆς προλελεγμέῖης ἀξιωθεὶς θεωρίας, εὑρηκὼς καιρὸν καὶ λαθὼν πάντας, ἐπῇρεν τῶν εἰς τὴν ἀγρυπνίαν καιομένων κανδηλῶν τὰ ἐλλύχνια, προσευξάμενος οὕτως· Κριστὲ ὁ Θεὸς τοῦ δούλου σου Συμεὼν, εἰ μετὰ προφητῶν καὶ μαρτύρων καὶ πνευμάτων δικαίων τετελειωμένων εὐδόκησας δοξάσαι τὴν μνήμην τῆς ὁσίας Μάρθης, δεῖξον ἐν τούτοις τὰ θαυμάσιά σου, ἵνα δοξασθῇ ἐν αὐτῇ τὸ πανάγιον ὄνομά σου. Ταῦτα εὐξάμενος ἀπέτρεχεν· γενόμενος δὲ κατὰ τὴν ἰδίαν κώμην, ἐπετέθει παντὶ ἀσθενοῦντι ταῦτα, καὶ δύναμις Κυρίου ἰᾶτο τοὺς νοσοῦντας, δαίμονες τε ἀπεδιώκοντο ἐν ὅλῃ τῇ ὀρεινῇ ἐκείνῃ, καὶ πάντα τὰ δεινὰ τῇ μνήμῃ τῆς Ὁσίας ἀπελαύνοντο. Πεῖραν δὲ παρὰ Κυρίου τῆς δεδωμένης αὐτῇ χάριτος καὶ ὁ αὐτὸς Ἰωάννης σὺν πᾶσι λαβὼν, ἐδόξασεν τὸν Θεὸν· πονέσας γὰρ ἐπικινδύνως τοὺς ὀφθαλμούς, ὥστε σχεδὸν μὴ βλέπειν, τῆς ἐξ αὐτῆς ἐπισκέψεως ἠξιώθη. Ἄϋπνος γαρ ἐπὶ ἡμέρας τινὰς μείνας ἐκ τῶν ἀφορήτων ἐκείνων ὁδυνῶν, καὶ στόματι καὶ διανοίᾳ τὴν παρὰ τοῦ σωτῆρος Χριστοῦ βοήθειαν διὰ τῆς Ὁσίας καταπεμφθῆναι αὐτῷ δυσωπῶν, εἰς ὕπνον ἐτράπη· καὶ ὁρᾷ τὴν θέσιν τῆς Μακαρίας ἀνοιχθεῖσαν, αὐτὴν τε περιελθοῦσαν ἐκεῖθεν, καὶ παραστᾶσαν ἀὐτῷ, καὶ τὸν δάντυλον αὐτῆς ἐπιβαλοῦσαν ἑκάστῳ τῶν ὀφθαλμῶν αὐτοῦ, καὶ σφραγίσασαν καὶ λέγουσαν πρὸς αὐτὸν· Ἐν τῷ ὀνόματι τοῦ Κυρίου ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ γένου ὑγιὴς, καὶ λαβὼν θυμίαμα προσάγαγε τῇ σορῷ τῇ ἐμῇ μετὰ τῆς πρὸς Θεὸν εὐχαριστίας. Ἔξυπνος οὖν γενόμενος ὁ ἀνήρ ἀναστὰς ἐπορεύετο πρὸς τὸν τοῦ Θεοῦ δοῦλον, οὐδὲν, πονηρὸν ἔχων, ἀλλ᾽ ὑγιὴς γενόμενος· ἑὗρεν δὲ αὐτὸν ψάλλοντα μετὰ τῶν Ἀδελφῶν τὴν ὑμνωδίαν τῆς ἕκτης. Ὡ δὲ μέλλων Ἀδελφὸς θυμιᾷν, κατεῖχεν ἐν τῇ χειρὶ τὸν θυμιατῆρα πρὸς τὸ θυμιὰσαι· ἰδὼν δὲ ὁ Ἅγιος τὸν εἰρημένον ἄνδρα μακρόθεν ἐρχόμενον εἰς τὴν ἁγίαν μάνδραν, ἐπέτρεψεν αὐτῷ δοθῆναι τὸν θυμιατῆρα. Καὶ θαυμαζόντων πάντων ἐπὶ τοῦτο, δεξάμενος ἐκεῖνος παρὰ τοῦ Ἀδελφοῦ, ἀπῆλθεν θυμιῶν τὴν θέσιν τῆς τοῦ Θεοῦ δούλης. Πυθομένων δὲ τῶν Ἀδελφῶν παρ᾽ αὐτοῦ, Τί ἂν εἴη τοῦτο· ἀφηγήσατο αὐτοῖς τὴν ὀπτασίαν, δἰ ἣν καὶ παρεγένετο τοῦ θύμιᾶσαι· καὶ πάντες οἱ ἀκούσαντες ἐδόξασαν τὸν Θεὸν, τὸν δόντα τοιαύτην χάριν καὶ παῤῥησίαν τοῖς φοβουμένος αὐτόν. Εἰρήσθω δὲ καὶ τοῦτο εἰς δόξαν Θεοῦ, τοῦ δοξάσαντος τὴν ἁγίαν αὐτοῦ δούλην, Ἐπεὶ δὴ γὰρ ἑώρα τοὺς Ἀδελφοὺς ὁ Ἃγιος καταφρονοῦντας καὶ μὴ ἅπτοντας τὴν ἐπὶ τῆς τιμίας λάρνακος αὐτῆς κανδήλαν, οὐκ ἐπέθετο αὐτοῖς τοῦτο ποιεῖν· τοῦτο μὲν, ὡς ἂν μὴ νομισθείη, ὑπὸ τῶν ἀπίστων καὶ ἀσθενεστέρους ἐχόντων λογισμοὺς, αὐτὸς ἐπιτηδεύειν καὶ ἀπαιτειν τὰ πρὸς τιμὴν αὐτῆς· τοῦτο δὲ καὶ τοὺς Ἀδελφοὺς παιδεύων, καὶ διὰ τῆς πείρας διδαχθῆναι βουλόμενος ἐκουσίως καὶ οὐκ ἀναγκαστῶς προσάγειν τὰς ὀρειλομένας τιμὰς τοῖς Ἁγίοις. Ἀφνηδίως οὖν συμβαίνει, τὸν ἐπὶ τῇ οἰκονομίᾳ τῆς μονῆς τεταγμένον Ἀδελφὸν, πυρετοῖς ἀφορήτοις καὶ δυσεντερίῳ κατασχεθέντα, κινδυνεύειν· καὶ μέλλοντος αὐτοῦ τὴν ψυχὴν ἀφιέναι, παραστᾶσα τούτῳ ἡ ὁσία Μάρθα, εῖπεν· Τί διαλογιζόμενοι, οὐκ ἥψατέ μου τὴν κανδήλαν; ἢ ἀγνοεῖτε ὅτι τοῦ ἐπουρανίου φωτός εἰμι κοινωνὸς ἐγὼ, καὶ οὐ προσδέομαί τινος τῶν τοιούτων, εἰ μὴ διὰ τὴν ὑμῶν αὐτῶν σωτηρίαν; γνῶθε καὶ πιστεύσατε ὅτι χάρις ἐδόθη μοι κοινωνίαν ἔχειν μετὰ τοῦ φωτός· καὶ προσενέγκασα ὅπερ ἐν τῇ χειρὶ κατεῖχεν σωτήριον καὶ δεσποτικὸν σῶμα τῇ τούτου κοιλίᾳ, ἔφη πρὸς αὐτῶν, Ἐν τούτῳ ἔστω σου ἡ ζωὴ καὶ ἡ ὑγεία· καὶ τοῦτο εἰποῦσα ὑπεχώρησεν. Εἰς ἑαυτὸν δὲ ἐλθὼν ὁ Ἀδελφὸς καὶ ἀναστὰς, προσῆλθον μετὰ δακρύων τῇ θέσει, ἐν ᾗ τὸ τίμιον αὐτῆς λείψανον ἔνεστι, καὶ εὐθέως ὑγιὴς γέγονεν, καὶ ἐδόξασεν τὸν Θεὸν· καὶ ἐν αὐτῇ τῇ ὥρᾳ τῆς νυκτὸς πεινάσας, ἔφαγεν καὶ ἔπιεν καὶ ἐνισχύθη· καὶ τῇ ἑσπέρᾳ ἅψας αὑτῇ κανδήλας καὶ εὐχαριστήσας προσηύξατο, εἰρηκώς· Εἰ καὶ σφόδρα δεδοξασμένη ὑπάρχεις, ἡ μήτηρ ἡμῶν, ἀλλ᾽ ἐγὼ χρεὸς πληρῶν οὐ διαλείψω τοῦτο ποιῶν. Καὶ ταῦτα εἰπὼν καὶ ἀπελθὼν καὶ καθευδήσας, ὁρᾷ παλὶν αὐτὴν λαυπρὰν τῷ προσώπῳ περικυκλουμένην ὑπὸ τῶν μαθητῶν τοῦ Ἁγίου, καὶ λέγουσαν πρὸς αὐτούς· Οὐχ ὑμεῖς με ἐδοξάσατε, ἀλλ᾽ οὐ δὲ χάριν τοῦ υἱοῦ μου δεδόξασμαι, ἀλλ᾽ ἦλθέν μοι ἡ χάρις καὶ ἡ δόξα ἐκεῖθεν, ὅθεν ἀπεκδεχομένη ὑπέμεινα τὸν Κύριον καὶ προσέσχε μοι, καὶ εἰσήκουσεν τῆς δεήσεώς μου. Ταῦτα εἰπούσης καὶ ἀναχωρησάσης, ἔκρουσεν τὸ ξύλον, καὶ ἔστησαν οἱ Ἀδελφοὶ εἰς τὰς νυκτερίνας ᾠδὰς, καὶ ἰδοὺ ἀνήρ τις Λυκάων παρεγένετο, δυσὶ δαιμονίοις συνεσχόμενος ἐξ ἐτῶν τριάκοντα. Οὗτος οὐ δυνάμενος στῆναι ἐν χορῷ ψαλλόντων ἐν ἐκκλησία, ἢ θείας λειτουργίας ἐπιτελουμένης τὸ σύνολον κατακούειν· ἠλαύνετο γὰρ εὐθέως ὑπὸ τῶν δαιμόνων ἀπὸ τοῦ οἴκου τοῦ Θεοῦ, καὶ καταῤῥηγνύμενος ὑπ᾽ αὐτῶν ἐν ὀδύναις καὶ κλαυθμῷ διετέλει. Παραλαβών οὖν ἐν τῇ νυκτὶ ἐκείνῃ, καὶ μηδενὶ μηδὲν εἰρηκὼς (οὐ γὰρ ἠπίστατο τὴν Ἑλληνικὴν γλῶσσαν) ἔστη πλησίον τῶν Ἀδελφῶν, τὰς θειώδεις ὑμνωδίας ἀναπεμπόντον. Τῶν δὲ ἀκαθαρτῶν ἐκείνων δαιμόνων θελησάντων κατὰ τὸ εἰωθὸς αὐτοῖς ἐξελάσαι αὐτὸν, καὶ μὴ ἰσχυσάντων, ἀλλὰ μεγάλα κραζόντων ἐν αὐτῷ, παραυτίκα ὁ ἀνὴρ ἔκ τινος θείας δυνάμεως βιαίῳ δρόμῳ εἵλκετο ἐπὶ τὸν τάφον τῆς μακαρίας Μάρθης, μὴ εἰδὼς τινός ἐστιν ἡ θέσις. Καὶ τῷ ἐδάφει προσκολλήσας τὴν κεφαλὴν κατέκρουεν, πῦρ ἐρχόμενον ἐπ᾽ αὐτὸν θεωρῶν, καὶ τὴν θέσιν ὡς άναπεταννυμένην, γυναῖκά τε σεμνοπρεπῆ ἐκεῖθεν προσερχομένην καὶ κατὰ μέσον τῆς κόγχης τὴν χεῖρα ἐκτείνουσαν, καὶ ἀφειδῶς τοὺς δαίμονας βασανίζουσαν μέχρις ἀνατολῆς ἠλίου. Τότε τῇ ἰδίᾳ διαλέκτῳ δοξολογῶν τὸν Θεὸν ἐβόᾳ, ὁρῶν τὰ δύο δαιμόνια ἐπιτιμηθέντα ὑπὸ τῆς δούλης τοῦ Θεοῦ καὶ ἐξελθόντα ἀπ᾽ αὐτοῦ· καὶ στὰς πρὸς ἀνατωλὰς καὶ τὰς χεῖρας διαπετάσας, ἀπήγγειλεν ἐν ἐξομολογήσει καὶ εὐχαριστίᾳ τὰ μεγαλεῖα τοῦ Θεοῦ, σωφρονῶν καὶ ὑγιὴς γενόμενος ἀπὸ τῆς ὥρας ἐκείνης· τόν τε τάφον κατασπαζόμενος διηγεῖτο περὶ πάντων τοῦτων, ἑτέρου συνόντος αὐτῷ γινώσκοντος τὴν Ἑλληνικὴν φωνὴν, καὶ ἑρμηνεύοντος τὰ παρ᾽ αὐτοῦ. Παρὰ πόδας δὲ τούτου στρατιώτης τις ἀπὸ Ἱεραπόλεως τῆς Συρίας, ἐνοχλούμενος ὑπὸ δαίμονος, προσελθὼν τῇ στάσει τοῦ ὁσίου Συμεὼν, ήλαύνετο ἀοράτῳ δυνάμει ἐπὶ τὸν τάφον τῆς Μακαρίας, θεωρήσας σεμνοπρεπῆ γυναῖκα ἐν μέσῳ τοῦ τόπου ἀποδιώκουσαν τὸν δαίμονα καὶ ἀστραπῆς δίκην κατακαίουσαν αὐτόν· τούστε μακαρίους ἐκείνους μαθητὰς τοῦ Ἁγίου κυκλοῦντας αὐτὴν μετὰ

λαμπάδων καιομένων, καὶ τὸν δεσποτικὸν χαρακτῆρα ὑπεράνω αὐτῆς, ἐπισκιάζωντα τὴν χάριν τῶν ἰαμάτων. Ταῦτα θεασάμενος ὁ ἀνὴρ, καὶ τῷ τάφῳ μετὰ δακρύων πολλῶν πλησιάσας, γέγονεν ὑγιὴς ἀπὸ τῆς ὥρας ἐκείνης, δοξάζων τὸν Θεὸν, καὶ πᾶσιν. ἐκδιηγούμενος τὴν δεδωρημένην χάριν ὑπὸ Κυρίου τῇ δούλῃ αὐτοῦ Μάρθῃ. Ἑν μιᾷ τῶν ἡμερῶν προσεγγίσας τις τῶν Ἀδελφῶν τῇ τιμίᾳ σόρῳ τῆς Ὁσίας, έπὶ τὸ ἅψαι καὶ ἀνασκευᾶσαι τὴν κανδήλαν, περιφρονήσεως καὶ ἀπιστίας λογισμῷ κατασχεθεὶς, ἔσβεσε μᾶλλον καὶ μετὰ γογγυσμοῦ ἀνεχώρησεν, μὴ διακρίνας ἐν ἑαυτῷ τὸ πταῖσμα τοῦτο· παραυτὰ δὲ ριγίῳ καὶ πυρετῷ χαλεποτάτῳ περιπεσὼν, ἔκαμνε σφοδρῶς. Ἐπειδὴ οὖν ἡ δεδωρημένη τῷ Ἁγίῳ χάρις ἐκτὸς παραβάσεως ἐντολῆς αὐτοῦ οὐδὲν συνεχώρει κακὸν ἐπελθεῖν τινι αὐτῶν, εἰκότως ἠρωτᾶτο ὁ Ἀδελφὸς, Τί ἔτυχεν ἡμαρτηκὼς, οὗ εἵνεκα ἐκεῖνο τὸ δεινὸν ἀῤῥώστημα ἐπενέχθη αὐτῷ. Μὴ βουλόμενος δὲ ἐξειπεῖν ἀλλὰ χρύπτειν πειρώμενος, ἐκίνδυνεν οὐ μετρίως, πλανηθεὶς ὡς ὀ Ἀχαὰβ ὑπὸ πνεύματος ψεύδους. Ἰδὼν δὲ αὐτὸν ἐλαττούμενον, καὶ ἐγγὺς θανάτου γινόμενον, ὡμολόγησεν ἐπὶ πάσης τῆς ἀδελφότητος τὴν αἰτίαν, δι᾽ ἣν τοιούτῳ κινδύνῳ περιπέπτωκεν. Καὶ εἰς ὕπνον τραπεὶς, εῖδεν τὴν Ἁγίαν δεδοξασμένῳ προσώπῳ ἐν μέσῳ λευχημονούντων, εἰσιοῦσαν ἐπὶ τὴν κόγχην τοῦ βήματος τῆς ἐκκλησίας τῆς ἁγίας Τριάδος, καὶ προσευξαμένην, καὶ ἐπιστραφεῖσαν πρὸς αὐτὸν, καὶ ὑποδείξασαν αὐτῷ δύο ὁδοὺς πρὸ τοῦ τάφου αὐτῆς· τὴν μὲν τῶν ἀπίστων, τὴν δὲ τῶν πιστῶν, ἐπιτρέπουσάν τε αὐτῷ κατανοῆσαι. Ἐμβλέψας οὖν ἐκεῖνος, εῖδεν ἄνδρας αἰθιόπας βλοσυρῷ τῷ ὄμματι, ἐν τῇ τρίβῳ τῶν ἀπίστων πορευομένους· ἐν δὲ τῇ ὁδῷ τῶν πιστῶν, ἄνδρας χρηστότητι καταλάμποντας, καὶ βαδίζοντας ἐπὶ τὸν τάφον αὐτῆς, ἰαματικὴν τε εὑρίσκοντας πηγήν· αὐτόν τε διὰ τῆς ὁράσεως ἐδίδαξεν τὴν εὔτετον ὁδὸν βαδίζοντα τὸ λοιπὸν ἐκκλίνειν τῆς τρίβου τῶν ἀπίστων, καὶ τῆς μερίδος τῶν πιστῶν γενέσθαι. Ἔμφοβος οὖν διαναστὰς ὁ Ἀδελφὸς ἐκ τοῦ ὕπνου, διέμεινεν ὑγιὴς ἀπὸ τῆς ὥρας ἐκείνης. Ἕτερος δὲ τῶν Ἀδελφῶν Ἰωάννης τούνομα, ἐν παρακοῇ τοῦ Ἁγίου γεγονώς, καὶ διὰ τοῦτο νόσῳ μακρᾷ καὶ ἐπικινδύνῳ περιπεσὼν, ἐν μιᾷ νυκτὶ, ἐν ᾗ ἠλπίζετο τελευτᾷν, εἰς βάθος κατακοιμώμενος ἑώρα τοὺς προκοιμηθέντας Ἀδελφοὺς, χαίροντας ἐπὶ τῆς μεταστάσει αὐτοῦ, ὡς συνεῖναι αὐτοῖς μέλλοντος· καὶ τὸν ἅγιον Ἄγγελον ἑστῶτα, παροῦσαν δὲ καὶ τὴν δούλην τοῦ Θεοῦ Μάρθαν, ὥσπερ κατηφῆ ἐπὶ τῇ τοιαύτῃ αὐτοῦ περιστάσει, καὶ παρακαλοῦσαν τὸν Ἄγγελον καὶ διακωλύουσαν προσλαβέσθαι τὴν τούτου ψυχήν· εἶτα πάλιν κλίματα ἐστηριγμένην ἀπὸ τῆς γὴς μέχρι τοῦ οὐρανοῦ, αὐτὴν τε τὴν πύλην τοῦ οὐρανοῦ ἀνεωγμένην, καὶ τὴν Μακαρίαν ἀνερχομένην δι᾽ αὐτῆς εἰς φῶς ἀκατάλιπτον, καὶ τῷ Δεσπότῃ προσιοῦσαν, καὶ τὴν ζωὴν ἐξαιτοῦσαν, καὶ λαβοῦσαν τὴν χάριν. Ἤισθετο γὰρ εὐθέως ὁ ἑωρακὼς, καὶ ἐν ἀπογνώσει κείμενος, καὶ ἔφριξεν τῷ πνεύματι· καὶ εἰς ἑαυτὸν ἐλθών καὶ ἐν καταστάσει γενόμενος μεμένηκεν, ὑγιὴς ἀπὸ τῆς ὥρας ἐκείνης ἐν πολλῇ διορθώσει γενόμενος.

[37] That John conspicuous in faith, whom we said above was deemed worthy of a divine apparition, having got an opportunity, secretly from all, took up the wicks of the candles lighted for the vigil, Through the wicks various miracles are wrought. thus praying: Christ, God of Thy servant Symeon, if together with the just spirits of the Prophets, Martyrs, and the rest of the Perfected Thou hast deigned to glorify also holy Martha, show in these wicks Thy marvels, that through them Thy most holy name may be glorified. Having so prayed, he went away; and coming to his village he applied the said wicks to any sick person, and by the power of the Lord all were healed, demons put to flight in that whole mountain tract, and all perils driven away through the memory of the Saint.

[38] Among others John himself too, having experienced in himself such grace divinely granted them, glorified God: One blind is healed, for when he labored very dangerously from his eyes, so that he scarcely saw, he merited to be recreated by the visitation of that grace. For now some days, on account of most grievous pains, he had seen no sleep with his eyes; when with mouth and mind asking Christ, our Saviour, for help through S. Martha, he fell into sleep; and saw the monument of the Saint unlocked, and her come forth thence, and stand by him; then insert a finger into each eye, impress the sign of the Cross, and say: In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, be healed; and incense being received perfume my little tomb, paying thanks to God. Waking John rose, and went to the servant of God Symeon, feeling nothing at all of trouble, and wholly sound. and he is bidden to cense the Saint's sepulcher. But he found him chanting Sext with his Brothers: and when the Brother, whose office it was, held the censer in his hand about to cense, the aforesaid man being seen coming from afar to the holy enclosure, he commanded that the censer be offered to him. Who, all wondering at the novelty of the thing, receiving the censer from the Brother went away, and censed the little tomb of the servant of God; and to the Brothers asking him, What this meant; he narrated his vision, and that on account of her also he had come having censed: and all who heard glorified God, who gave such grace and confidence to those who fear Him.

[39] Let us add that also to the glory of God, glorifying His holy servant. Not lighting the candle over her tomb When the Saint had noticed, that from negligence the Brothers did not light the candle placed at the venerable sepulcher of his Mother, he would not command it to be done, both lest he himself should seem to the infidels and Brothers of weaker mind to follow himself too zealously, and even to exact the amplification of his maternal glory; and also because he wished them, instructed and taught by experience, to render the due honor to the Saints of their own accord and without compulsion. Suddenly therefore it befell, that the Brother set over the economy of the monastery fell into intolerable fevers and dysentery, with grave enough peril; and now to him almost giving up the ghost B. Martha stood by, saying: What reasoning do you devise, he falls into a disease that you should the less light my candle for me? Are you ignorant, that I rejoice in the brightness of heavenly light, neither asking nor needing your light, except for the cause of your own salvation? know and believe, that I, by the grace of God, am partaker of the eternal light: and what she held in her hand, the Body of the Lord, moving it to his belly, said: In this be both alive and sound: which said she departed.

[40] But that Brother, returned to himself, rose, and tears flowing abundantly went to the monument, and at it he is healed; in which those venerable Relics had been laid: and having straightway obtained health praised God, and began at that very hour of the night to hunger, and ate and drank, and was strengthened: in the evening also he lighted candles for her; and thanks being given he prayed, saying: Although thou art heaped with much honor, O our Mother, nevertheless I will never cease to perform this due office. Having spoken these things, he went to sleep, and saw again the Blessed woman with glowing face, surrounded by the crown of S. Symeon's Brothers and saying: Not by you, nay neither for my son's sake have I been glorified, but grace and glory came to me thence, whence expecting I awaited the Lord, and He attended to me, and heard my deprecation.

[41] The Saint had said these things and had departed, when by the striking of the wood ^a a signal was given, and the Brothers assembled for the nocturnal hymns. Behold for thee a certain man ^b a Lycaonian came, beset by two demons from thirty years; and he could not stand in the choir of the church while they chanted or be present at all at the sacrosanct sacrifice of the Mass: for he was straightway expelled by the demons from the sacred edifice, as also a demoniac. The Saint appearing: and dashed to the ground with pain and wailing he continued. He came therefore that night, no word being indicated, inasmuch as rude and ignorant of the Greek tongue; and stood near the Brothers performing the divine psalmodies. And when the impure demons after their manner wished to expel the man thence, and could not, and were vociferating aloud; straightway the demoniac, a certain divine power acting, was snatched to the tomb of B. Martha, ignorant whose it was. Falling down therefore, he fixed his head on the ground, and beheld fire coming against him, and the monument open, and the venerable matron come forth thence, and in the middle of the niche stretch out her hand, and torture the demons cruelly until the rising of the sun. Then he sang glory to God in his native tongue, seeing both demons badly chastised go out from him through the servant of God; and turned to the east, with hands extended, he proclaimed the great things of God in confession and giving of thanks: and master of himself and unharmed, embracing the tomb he narrated all these things, another who was present, skilled in the Greek idiom, interpreting his words.

[42] Continuously there succeeded him a certain soldier of Hierapolis ^c of Syria, likewise vexed by a demon, who fleeing to the column of S. Symeon, likewise another. was impelled by an invisible power to the tomb of the Blessed woman, and saw in the middle of the place a matron venerable for gravity, who drove away the demon and burned him like a thunderbolt; and the disciples of S. Symeon surrounded her with burning lamps, and the character of our Lord over her head, overshadowing the grace of healings. When this man had seen these things, and weeping abundantly had approached the tomb; he obtained soundness from that hour, giving glory to God, and before all celebrating the grace granted by the Lord to His servant Martha.

[43] On a certain day one of the Brothers went to the venerable tomb of the Saint, about to repair and light the candle: Violating the Saint's tomb he is punished, but, contempt and incredulity thoughts rising up, he extinguished it rather, and murmuring departed; for which, not discerning in himself the sin, seized straightway with rigor of the limbs and a most troublesome fever, he began most gravely to be sick. Since therefore the grace given to Symeon did not allow, except in the case of the violation of his precepts, any evil to befall any of the Brothers; deservedly that man was asked, What fault he had committed, for the cause of which afflicted with so grave an infirmity he was paying penalties. unwilling to confess he is in peril, But he refusing to manifest it, nay even being busy rather to conceal it, incurred no slight peril, deceived like Ahab by a lying spirit. 3 Kings 22 But indeed perceiving at length, his strength failing, that he was near to death, he confessed before all the Brothers the cause, why he had come into so great a danger. to whom at length repenting she herself appears, glorious, Then seized by sleep, he beheld the Saint with glorious countenance, white-robed men surrounding her in the midst, approaching the conch of the altar ^d of the church of the holy Trinity; and when she had prayed there, turned to him she showed a twin way before her sepulcher, one of the infidels, the other of the believing, and commanded that he consider both. But he intending his eyes saw Ethiopian men terrible in aspect, walking through the way of the unbelieving; but treading the way of the believing, were men exceptional in dignity, and they walked toward the sepulcher, and found a fount of graces and healings. This Brother moreover she taught by this vision, that walking by the right way he must henceforth turn aside from the path of the infidels; and stand perpetually with the faithful. He rose therefore from sleep

trembling, and from that time remained unharmed.

[44] Another one of the Brothers, John by name, because he had not been obedient to the Saint, fell into a long and dangerous disease. And when on a certain night, Life is entreated for another by the Saint. on which he suspected he must depart from life, he was deeply asleep; he saw the Brothers, who had already departed to their fate, rejoicing on his account, since by his death he was to be joined to their college. There stood by also the holy Angel, and likewise the servant of God Martha, with countenance cast down somewhat sad on account of the sick man's company; and she asked the Angel and even forbade, that he should not take away his soul. After this he saw stairs from earth firmly fixed up to heaven, and the gate of heaven open, by which entering B. Martha came to the ineffable light and the Lord of glory; to whom approaching, grace being found in His sight, she entreated life for the sick man. But that beholder felt straightway that he was better, who had now been despaired of for life, and groaned in spirit: and restored to himself and to health, he remained thenceforth unharmed, much corrected and amended.

ANNOTATA C. I.

CHAPTER VI.

Various visions, the building of a new temple, the translation of the Relics.

Τούτων τῶν ἐνδόξων θαυμάτων διὰ τοῦ ἐμφανισμοῦ τῆς Μακαρίας γενομένων, εὐφραίνετο Συμεὼν, καὶ τὰς εὐχαριστίας τῷ Θεῷ προσέφερεν. Ἐπὶ ἠμέρας δέ τινας ἑώρα τὴν σορὸν τῆς Μακαρίας, σὺν τῇ κόγχῃ ἐν ᾖ ἡ αὕτη σορὸς ὑπῆρχεν, μετατιθεμένην ἔμπροσθεν αὐτοῦ ἐπὶ τὸ μεσιμβρινὸν μέρος τῆς ὑπ᾽ αὐτοῦ οἰκοδομηθείσης πρώτης ἐκκλησίας (μετὰ ταῦτα τὸν ἅγιον οἶκον ἐκ θεοφανείας ἐδομήσατο, καὶ ἀυτὴ ἡ τιμία σορὸς μετετέθη) παῖδάς τε ὡραίους περικυκλοῦντας την σορὸν, καὶ καλὰ λίαν καὶ τερπνὰ ὑμνοῦντας τὸν Θεὸν, καὶ ὑπηχοῦντας ἄλλοις τὸ ἀλληλούια. Διαλογισομένῳ δὲ αὐτῷ, τί ἆρα ἔσται τοῦτο, ἐδώθη γνῶναι, χάριν δεδωρῆσθαι τῷ λειψάνῳ τῆς Ὁσίας ἔμπροσθεν ἀυτοῦ ἐπὶ τὸ μεσιμβρινὸν μέρος τῆς ἐκκλησίας διὰ θαυματουργιῶν φανερωθῆναι, εἰς δόξαν Θεοῦ, Ἀγγέλων ἐν οὐρανοῖς ὑμνούντων καὶ λεγόντων, Δόξά σοι, ὁ Θεὸς, ὁ ἐν ὑψηλοῖς κατοικῶν καὶ τὰ ταπεινὰ ἐφορῶν. Ἐκ τότε οὖν οὐδεμία ἄνεσις ἐγίνετο πάσῃ σχεδὸν τῇ ἀδελφότητι, τῆς μακαρίας Μάρθης ἐν σημείοις ὀπτανομένης καὶ παρενοχλούσης, εὐκτήριον αὐτῇ γενέσθαι, καὶ ἔνδον αὐτοῦ μετατεθῆναι σὺν τῇ σορῷ τὸ λείψανον αὐτῆς, παρεγγυώσης τε γνωσθῆναι τὰ περὶ τούτου τῷ ἰδίῳ υἱῷ Αὐτὸς γὰρ ὅ Ἅγιος, καίτοι πρόθεσιν ἐξ ἀπολάμψεως ἔχων τοιαύτην, ἐπεῖσχεν ἑαυτὸν οἰκονομικῶς τὸ τηνικαῦτα, καὶ οὐκ ἤθελεν ἀπάρξασθαι τοῦ τοιούτου ἔργου· τοῦτο μὲν διὰ τοῦ μὴ πειρασθῆναί τινας τῶν ἁπλουστέρων καὶ ἀπίστων, ματαίους ἀναπλάττοντας ἐν ἑαυτοῖς λογισμοὺς καὶ καταλαλοῦντας κατὰ τοῦ Δικαίου ἀνομίαν· τοῦτο δὲ καὶ βουλόμενος ἕνα οἶκον ἐπιτηδεῦσαι ἑαυτῷ τε καὶ αὐτῇ, ὥστε αὐτοὺς καὶ ἐν τούτῳ ἀχωρίστους ἀλλήλων εἶναι, ὥσπερ καὶ γέγονε μετά τινας χρόνους. Πάντων οὖν τῶν Ἀδελφῶν ἔνδοξα καὶ ἐξαίσια διαφόρως ἰδεῖν ἀπαγγελλόντων, παρέστη καὶ ὁ Ἀδελφὸς ἐκεῖνος, ᾧ τινι ἡ πρώτη ἀποκάλυψις γέγονε πρὸ τεσσάρων μηνῶν τῆς τελευτῆς αὐτῆς, ἢν καὶ διηγήσεται εἰπὼν καθὼς προείρηται, ὅτι διαπετάσασα τὰς χεῖρας αὐτῆς μετεβλήθη ἐν σχήματι σταυροῦ ἐξαστράπτοντος, ὑπεράνω μείνοντος τοῦ προσώπου αὐτῆς· καὶ βαλὼν μετάνοιαν ἔφην· Ἰδοὺ τρὶς τοῦτο καὶ τετράκις παραγέγονεν ἡ Κυρία ἡ μεγάλη, φαιδρὰ τῷ προσώπῳ, εἰρήνην με τὴν παρὰ τοῦ Κυρίου κομίζουσα, εὐκτηρίου τε σκάριφον ὑποδεικνύουσα τρεῖς κόγχας ἔχοντος, μιὰν κατὰ ἀνατολὰς, καὶ ἑτέραν ἐκ δεξιῶν, καὶ ἄλλην ἐξ εὐωνύμων, καὶ τὴν ὅλην τῆς οἰκοδομῆς διαγραφὴν ὑποδηλοῦσα, καὶ παρεγγυοῦσά μοι πᾶσιν ὑμῖν ἀπαγγεῖλαι τοῦτο· ἐμοῦ δὲ παραιτομένου τοῦτο εἰπεῖν, ἀγανακτεῖν ἀπεφήνατο κατ᾽ ἐμοῦ· ἀκριβῶς οὖν ὑμῖν τὰ παρ᾽ αὐτῆς σημαίνω· μάρτυς οὖν ὁ Κύριος ὅτι ταῦτα, καθὼς αὐτὴ ἡ ἀλήθεια περιέχει, τῶν ὁραθέντων μοι καὶ λαληθέντων ἔχει. Ἀμφισβητήσαντος δέ μου κατὰ διάνοιαν τί τὸ μέγεθος τῆς ἐργασίας αὐτῆς, ὅτι τοσαύτην παῤῥησίαν ἔσχεν μετὰ δόξης ἐνεργούσης, αὐτίκα ἐθεώρουν κύκλῳ τῆς θέσεως αὐτῆς στατῆρας καὶ λύχνους ὅλους πυρινοὺς φωτίζοντας, καὶ μεγάλης τῆς ἀστραπῆς τὴν φλόγα ἀντιφέγγοντας, καὶ μέλος τι γλυκὺ ψάλλοντάς τινας, καὶ ἅλλους ὑπηχοῦντας αὐτοῖς τὸ ἀλληλούια, τὸν δὲ Ἅγιον ἀπὸ τῆς θυρίδος τῆς καμασίνης μηλωτῆς ἐπ᾽ αὐτὴν στηρίζοντα τὸ πρόσωπον, καὶ λόγους Δαβιτίκους ὑμνοῦντα καὶ λέγοντα, περὶ μὲν αὐτῆς, Ὁδὸν ἐντολῶν σου ἕδραμεν· περὶ δὲ ἑαυτοῦ, Ὅτι τὰς ἐντολάς σου, ἠρετισάμεν. Καὶ ἐν τῷ λέγειν αὐτὸν ταῦτα, εἶδον, καὶ ἰδοὺ αὕτη παρίστατο ἔμπροσθεν τῆς θέσεως αὐτῆς, τὰς χεῖρας εἰς τὸν οὐρανὸν ἔχουσα καὶ εὐχομένη· κᾀγὼ ἐν φόβῳ μεγάλῳ γενόμενος, ἔῤῥιψα ἐμαυτὸν εἰς τοὺς πόδας αὐτῆς, καὶ οὕτως ἦλθον εἰς ἑμαυτὸν δοξάζων τὸν Θεόν. Ἐν δὲ τῇ νυκτὶ αὐτῇ καὶ ἄλλοι τῶν Ἀδελφῶν συνεφώνησαν παροίμια τεθεᾶσθαι, καὶ πάντες ὁμοθυμαδὸν βάλλοντες μετάνοιαν, παρεκάλουν τὸν Ἅγιον ποιῆσαι αὐτοῖς εὐχὴν, ὅπως ἀρχθῇ τὸ εὐκτήριον, ὡς ὑδέδειξεν ἡ μακαρία Μάρθα κτίσεσθαι. Ἕφη δὲ πρὸς αὐτούς ὁ τοῦ Θεοῦ δοῦλος· Εἰ τῷ Κυρίῳ μέλλει, οὐχ ὑμεῖς τοῦτο μεριμνήσετε, ἀλλ᾽ ἔσται μοι καὶ ἐπὶ ταύτῃ τῇ δεήσει πληροφορία παρ᾽ αὐτοῦ· εἰ γὰρ ἕστιν αὐτῷ τοῦτο εὐάριστον, αὐτὸς διὰ Πνεύματος ἁγίου ἐπισυνάξει καὶ αὖθις ἐκ τῆς χώρας τῶν Ἰσαυρῶν οίκοδόμους, καὶ τὸ ἄρεστον ἐνώπιον αὐτοῦ γενήσεται, καθὼς αὐτὸς βούλεται. Ταῦτα εἰπὼν ἀπέλυσεν τοὺς Ἀδελφοὺς εἰς τὴν σχολὴν αὐτῶν. Καὶ ἐν τῷ μεσονυκτίῳ ἀτενίσας ἐπὶ τὴν θέσιν, εἶδεν τὴν Μακαρίαν ἀνισταμένην ἐν τῷ ἱεροπρεπεῖ ἐκείνῳ σχήματι ἐν μέσῳ τῆς κόγχης ἔνθα κατέκειτο, εἰς τὸν οὐρανὸν ἐν φόβῳ μεγάλῳ βλέπουσαν, καὶ μετὰ ἡδύτητος πολλῆς εὐμελῆ καὶ τερπνὴν ἀγγελικὴν εἰς ὕψος ἀναπέμπουσαν φωνὴν, καὶ λέγουσαν ἐκ τρίτου, Δόξα σοι, ὁ Θεὸς, δόξα σοι ἀλληλούἳα· καὶ συνήχει ἡ μάνδρα ὄλη, ὥσπερ φωνὴν διδοῦσα, καὶ τὸ λείψανον αὐτῆς ἐν τῆ θέσει ἔνδον· εἶτα τῇ δοξολογίᾳ καὶ τρόμῳ καὶ χαρᾷ συσχεθεὶς ἐπὶ τῇ τοσαύτῃ χάριτι τοῦ Θεοῦ, ἣν δέδωκεν τῇ δούλῃ αὐτοῦ, ὑπόμνησιν ἔλαβεν τῆς θείας γραφῆς λεγούσης, Ἀγαλλιάσονται ὀστέα τεταπεινομένα. Τότε ἐν τῇ καρδίᾳ αὐτοῦ ἔμεινεν διαφυλάττων τὸ μέλος ἐκεῖνο τῆς πρὸς τὸν Θεὸν δοξολογίας καὶ ἐκ τῆς χαρᾶς τῆς ψυχῆς ἠγαλλιάζετο τῷ πνεύματι, καὶ συνηπήχει καὶ αὐτὸς τὴν οὐράνιον δοξολογίαν. Τοῦ δὲ καιροῦ καλοῦντος διὰ τὰς νυκτερινὰς ὑμνωδίας, συνήχθησαν κατὰ τὸ εἰωθὸς πρὸς αὐτὸν οἱ Ἀδελφοὶ· καὶ μαθόντες παρ᾽ αὐτοῦ συνηπήχουν καὶ αὐτοὶ τὴν θεόσδοτον ἐκείνην ὑμνωδίαν, ἑως πρωῒ ἐπιφώσκοντος Σαββάτου· Λοιπὸν οὖν καὶ ἐν τῷ Λοχνικῷ τούτε Σαββάτου καὶ τῆς ἁγίας Κυριακῆς, καὶ κατὰ πᾶσαν δὲ ἑσπέραν, τοῦτο ἐπέτρεψεν γένεσθαι, ἑνὸς Ἀδελφοῦ ἔμπροσθεν τοῦ σοροῦ τρίτον λέγοντος τὸν τοιοῦτον ὕμνον, καὶ πάντων τρίτον ὑποψαλλόντων. Ἐν αὐτῇ τῇ ἡμέρᾳ τῆς ἁγίας Κυριακῆς βαλὼν θυμίαμα ὁ τοῦ Θεοῦ θεράπων Συμεὼν, καὶ ποιήσας εὐχὴν, ἐκέλευσεν διαγραφὴναι τὸν εὐκτήριον οἶκον τρίκογχον, κατὰ τὸν ὑποδειχθέντα αὐτῷ τύπον καὶ ὑπὸ τῆς Μακαρίας διαγραφέντα. Ὡς δὲ διεγράφοντο αὐτὸν, ἰδοὺ πλῆθος οἰκοδόμων συνηθροίσθη ἔκ τε τῆς Ἰσαύρων χώρας, καὶ ἐξ ἑτέρων τόπων, ποικίλαις νόσοις καὶ πάθεσι συνεσχομένων, οἵ τινες πιστει προσιόντες τῷ Ἁγίῳ καὶ τὴν ἴασιν λαβόντες, παρεκάλουν ἐπιτραπῆναι αὐτοῖς τὸ ἔργον ποιῆσαι. Ἀρξαμένων δὲ αὐτὴν οἰκοδομὴν τὴν ἀνατολικὴν μεγάλην κόγχην καὶ τας ἐξ ἑκατέρου μικρὰς δύο, ὤφθη ἐν ὁράματί τινι τῶν Ἀδελφῶν ἡ Μακαρία, ἐπιστᾶσα τοῦ ἕργου, καὶ ἐπιτάττουσα προυποστολὴν εἰλιθῆναι κατὰ τῶν δύο μικρῶν κογχίων. Καὶ τοῦτο παρὰ τοῦ Ἀδελφοῦ ῥηθέντος τῷ Ἁγίῳ, παρόντων πάντων τῶν Ἀδελφῶν, Ἀγγούλας οὕτω καλούμενος, εἷς καὶ αὐτὸς τῆς ἀδελφώτητος, διεκώλυε πάσῃ δυνάμει τοῦτο γενέσθαι, ἐπιτάξας λατρέως Θεοδώρῳ τῶ Ἀποθέτη ἑνὶ ὄντι τῶν οἰκοδόμων, κατὰ τὸ δόξαν αὐτῷ σχῆμα τοῦ ἔργου κατάρξασθαι, οὐχὶ δὲ κατὰ τὸ ὑποδειχθὲν σκάρηφον ὑπὸ τῆς ἐν ἁγίοις Μάρθας. Ἀλλ᾽ οὐκ εἰς μακρὰν κατηχύνθη ὁ τὴν ἀναιδῆ ταύτην γνώμην ἀναδεξάμενος Ἀγγούλας, μαθὼν διὰ τῆς πείρας αὐτῆς, καθὼς ὁ Προφήτης φησίν· Ὅτι ἡ βουλὴ τῶν πονηρῶν ἄνομα βουλεύεται, καὶ ὅτι ἡ βουλὴ τῶν δικαίων συνετὰ ἐβουλεύσατο, καὶ αὕτη ἡ βουλὴ μενεῖ. Ἐνὶ γὰρ τῶν οἰκοδόμων ὤφθη ἡ Μακαρία ἐν ὁράματι τῆς νυκτὸς, Νέων ὄνομα τούτῳ ἦν, ὃς ὑπὸ δαίμονος χαλεπωτάτου ἐνεργούμενος, ἰάθη προσεγγίσας μετὰ πίστεως τῆ τιμίᾳ αὐτῆς σορῷ· κακὸν μὲν Ἀρχιτέκτονα τὸν Ἀγγούλαν ἀποκαλοῦσα, φανερῶς δὲ λέγουσα περὶ Θεοδόρου, τοῦ Ἀποθέτου λεγομένου, μὴ ἐκτελεῖν αὐτὸν τὸ ἔργον, ἄπιστον ὄντα. Ταῦτα τοῦ ἰαθέντος Νέωνος διηγησαμένου, μετὰ μιὰν ἡμέραν πνεῦμα θάμβους εἰσῆλθεν εἰς ἐκεῖνον τὁν Ἀποθέτην καὶ ἀνεχώρησεν, μηδενὸς νοήσαντος. Καὶ ἰδοὺ Παῦλός τις τῶν δοκίμων οἰκοδόμων, ὁρμώμενος μὲν ἀπὸ τῆς Ἰσαύρων χώρας, ἐκ διαφόρων δὲ ἀσθενειῶν ἰαθεὶς παρὰ τοῦ Ἁγίου, καὶ πείρας αὐτοῦ ἔχων ἱκανὰς, παραγέγονεν ἐν τῷ μοναστηρίῳ· καὶ ἐπιστὰς τῷ ἔργῳ, παρεκάλει τὸν τοῦ Θεοῦ δοῦλον ἐπιτρέψαι αὐτῷ προυποστολὴν εἰλίσαι κατὰ τῶν δύο μικρῶν κογχίων. Ὁ δὲ Ἅγιος εἶπεν αὐτῷ, Ως τῷ Κυρίῳ ἔδοξεν ὑποβαλεῖν σε, οὕτως ποίησον. Πάντες δὲ ἐθαύμασαν, μνησθέντες τῶν διὰ τοῦ ἐμφανισμοῦ τῆς Ἁγίας προῤῥήσεων, τῶν τε πρὸς τὸν Ἀδελφὸν καὶ τὸν ἰαθέντα οἰκοδόμον, ὅτι γέγονε καθὰ ἐλάλησεν, μηδενὸς μηδὲν εἰρηκότος τῷ παραγεγονότι οἰκοδόμῳ. Τελεσθείσης δὲ τῆς οἰκοδομῆς τοῦ οἴκου παντὸς, καὶ τῆς ὀρόφης ἐπιτεθείσης αὐτῷ, χρόνοις τε ὕστερον ὀλίγοις ἐπικοσμηθέντος, εὐδοκίᾳ Θεοῦ τοῦ δοξάσαντος αὐτὸν, μετετέθη σὺν τῇ σορῷ τὸ τιμιὸν τῆς ὁσίας δούλης αὐτοῦ λείψανον ἐν τῷ αὐτῷ ναῷ, ἐν ψαλμοῖς καὶ ὕμνοις καὶ ὠδαῖς πνευματικαῖς, Ἱερέων πλείστων συνδραμούντων καὶ πλήθους πιστοτάτου λαοῦ, πάντων ἐπειγομένων μεταλαβεῖν τῆς ἐξ αὐτοῦ εὐλογίας. Πολλοὶ δὲ καὶ τότε τῶν συνελθόντων, νόσοις ποικίλαις καὶ πάθεσι διαφόροις συνεχόμενοι, ἐθεπαπεύθησαν τῇ αὐτῆς τιμίᾳ σορῷ πλησιάσαντες, καὶ τὴν παρὰ τοῦ Κυρίου ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ βοήθειαν διὰ τῆς Μακαρίας αἰτησάμενοι. Ἄρασα γὰρ τὸν σταυρὸν αὐτῆς, καὶ ἐξ ὅλης ψυχῆς ἀκολουθήσασα τῷ σωτῆρι Χριστῷ, εἰκότως ἀκήκοεν παρ᾽ αὐτοῦ, ὅπερ καὶ οἱ θεσπέσιοι Ἀπόστολοι, Ἀσθενοῦντας θεραπεύετε, δαίμονας ἐκβάλλετε, καὶ τὰ ἑξῆς. Καὶ νῦν πρόκειται ἡ πάντιμος ἐκείνης κόνις, πᾶσι τοῖς πιστῶς προσιοῦσιν ἁγιασμοῦ μεταδοτικὴ, καὶ τοῖς ὑπὸ ποικίλων παθῶν ἐνοχλουμένοις ἰατρεῖον πνευματικὸν, ὥσπερ ἐξ ἀφθόνου πηγῆς ἀρύουσα καὶ παρέχουσα τοῖς αἰτοῦσιτὰ ἰάματα, εἰς δόξαν

τοῦ ἐν αὐτῆς ἐνεργοῦντος Χριστοῦ τοῦ Θεοῦ ἡμῶν. Καὶ τὰ μὲν τῆς οἰκοδομῆς τοῦ διαγραφέντος ὑπὸ τῆς ὁσίας Μάρθης εὐκτηρίου οἴκου διὰ τῶν εἰρημένων δεδήλωται, οἷς ἀναγκέως συνήψαμεν καὶ τὰ περὶ τῆς ἐν αὐτῷ μεταθέσεως τοῦ τιμίου αὐτῆς λειψάνου, εἰ καὶ μετὰ τὴν ἑπομένην διήγησιν αὕτη γέγονεν, ἀσύγχυτον διὰ τῆς ἀκολουθείας τῶν γεγραμμένων παραστῆσαι τοῖς ἐντυγχάνουσιν πραγματευσάμενον τῆς ὑποθέσεως τὴν κατάληψιν· καιρὸς δὲ λοιπὸν ἄρξασθαι τῆς τοιαύτης διηγήσεως.

[45] By these glorious miracles, wrought through the apparition of B. Martha, Symeon's vision concerning the translation of his mother, Symeon rejoiced and paid thanks to God. But after some days he beheld the urn of the Blessed woman, with the conch in which it was, translated in his sight to the southern part of the church, which he had first built; where afterward he built the sacred edifice by God's revelation, whither also the venerable urn was translated. He beheld also boys very beautiful, who surrounded the urn on every side, with very comely and pleasant songs praising God, and intoning to others the Alleluia. But to him considering, what this thing would be, it was granted to understand, that grace had been given to the Relics of B. Martha; by which in the southern part of the church, by working miraculous works, they would grow famous, to the glory of God; the Angels in heaven singing and saying, Glory to Thee, God, who dwellest in the highest, and lookest upon the humble.

[46] From that time therefore no rest was granted to almost all the Brothers, it is also brought repeatedly to others, B. Martha presenting herself in various signs and disturbing their quiet, that an oratory be raised for her, within which the translated Relics with the urn might be laid: she also commanded, that these things be signified to her son. For he, although from the apparition he had resolved that this very thing must be cared for, yet restrained himself for certain causes at that time, and did not wish to give a beginning to the substructure; partly lest the minds of certain of the simpler and unbelieving be tempted, fashioning to themselves vain thoughts and detracting from Symeon's fame iniquitously; partly because he desired to build one edifice for himself and his mother, in which both might be laid not separated by place, just as also it befell some time after. Therefore very glorious and not common things being brought into the midst, which at various times they had seen; there stood by also that Brother, to whom the first revelation had befallen four months before B. Martha departed from life, and which he had narrated in the manner that has been said * above, namely that, extending her hands, she had been turned into the form of a flashing Cross, with her face alone supereminent: and reverence being exhibited to the rest, Now, said he, the great Lady of ours Martha has met me a third and fourth time with bland countenance, imparting to me peace from the Lord and showing the delineation of an oratory, having three conchs, one toward the East, the other on the right, the third on the left: nay explaining the whole description of the substructure, she commanded, that I should disclose the whole matter to you: but to me deprecating it she seemed to be indignant. I seriously therefore announce to you what she has commanded: the Lord is witness, these things most truly are the sum of what was shown to me and said.

[47] But while I was hanging in mind, what so great an efficacy of her operating with glory, and so great a confidence with God in which she was strong, meant; Another vision concerning S. Martha's glory. I suddenly discerned around her tomb candelabra ^a and lamps, which wholly fiery shone far and wide and scattered the flame of a most bright lightning: and I heard some, who brought forth a sweet melody, to whom others responding intoned the Alleluia. I saw also S. Symeon from the window of the camasine sheepskin fix his face upon her, and singing the Davidic psalms say, of his mother indeed, He has run the way of Thy commandments; but of himself, Because I have chosen Thy commandments. Ps. 118, 32 & 74. Meanwhile while S. Symeon said these things, I looked back: and behold Martha stood before her monument, and with hands lifted to heaven prayed: and I, struck with grave fear, fell down at her feet, and in this manner returned to myself glorifying God. But that night other Brothers too spoke with one mouth that they had seen the like, All urge with Symeon for the oratory to be built; and by unanimous consent all inclining themselves, they asked the Saint, a blessing being given them, to command, that a beginning be given to the oratory, to be built in that form, which B. Martha had commanded. But he answered; If that matter is at heart to the Lord, it will not have to be anxiously cared for by you; but He will, even after this prayer, make me more certain concerning all things. For if it shall have pleased Him, He Himself will again ^b gather builders from Isauria stirred up by the holy Spirit; who committing the matter to God, and what shall be best in His sight, that will be done, as He Himself wills.

[48] When he had said these things, he dismissed the Brothers each to his own occupation: and about the middle of the night intending to the monument, he beheld the blessed mother standing erect, clothed in that sacrosanct form; in the middle of the conch, in which she lay, in a sweet vision he hears a canticle, looking with great veneration to heaven, and with much sweetness casting on high a pleasant and delightful voice and one like that of the Angels, and a third time repeating that, Glory to Thee, God, glory to Thee, alleluia; so that the whole enclosure, as if emitting a voice, and the very Relics enclosed in the monument resounded. After these things glorifying God, full of trembling and joy, on account of so great grace which He had lavished on His servant, he recalled to memory that sentence of sacred Scripture: The humbled bones shall exult. Then in his heart he kept that sweet melody of divine laudation, and exulted in spirit for joy of mind, and himself too sang together the heavenly laudation. Ps. 50, 10 And now the hour calling, the disciples were gathered after custom to the nocturnal hymns with Symeon; and taught by the Saint that hymnody, granted by the divine gift, which he prescribes to be sung by his people weekly, they too brought it forth with consonant voices so long, until the morning light of the Sabbath shone. Moreover he commanded that at the Lucernarium both of the Sabbath and of the sacred Lord's day, and at each Vespers thenceforth, the same be done, one Brother at the monument thrice saying a hymn of this kind, all the rest thrice repeating the same.

[49] On that same sacred Lord's day, when the servant of God Symeon had offered incense and prayed, he ordered the sacred edifice to be delineated, to be built with a triple conch, according to the form, which had been shown and described by the Blessed woman. But while they delineated the work, The fabric delineated, workmen flow together of their own accord. behold a huge multitude of workmen, both from Isauria and elsewhere, afflicted with various pains and diseases, assembled; who going to the Saint with faith and obtaining health, asked that the work to be perfected be committed to them. But they having begun to build the great eastern conch, and on this side and on that two small ones; B. Martha appeared through a vision to one of the Brothers, standing by the building and commanding that a ^c projection be drawn round the two smaller conchs.

[50] When he had announced this to Symeon, all the Brothers being present, a certain one of their number called Angulas, with all his strength resisted, that it should be so done; commanding secretly Theodore the Cellarer ^d, who was one of the builders, that he should set about constructing the work according to the form most approved by himself: not however according to the delineation shown by S. Martha. But the confusion of Angulas, the author of so impudent an opinion, was not deferred for a long time; when he was taught by experience itself, as the Prophet ^e says, That the counsel of the depraved wills iniquitous things, but the counsel of the just has counseled prudently, and this counsel shall remain. S. Martha foretelling it, For B. Martha stood by through a vision to one of the workmen, called Neon, who, beset by a most difficult demon, when he had gone to her venerable monument, had carried back the grace of healing; and she called Angulas a wicked architect; then most clearly asserted, that Theodore the Cellarer would not perfect the substructure, because he was unbelieving. After Neon, who had been healed, had related these things; on a certain day a spirit of trembling invaded the aforesaid Cellarer, and, no one conscious, he withdrew. But behold a certain Paul, of no small name among the workmen, sprung from Isauria, does not perfect the work, but another foresignified by the same. and cured of various infirmities by the Saint; and who had experience enough, came to the monastery: and contemplating the building close at hand, demanded of the servant of God, that the projection of the two smaller conchs to be drawn round be entrusted to him. The Saint answered: As it has pleased the Lord that thou attempt the work, so do. And all wondered, recalling to memory, what through the vision both to that Brother, and to the cured workman B. Martha had foretold: for it came to pass according to her prophecy, since no one had indicated a word to the architect, who had recently arrived.

[51] The temple being perfected, the Relics are translated thither, The whole building being at length completed, and the roof set on, and a smaller concourse, by the good pleasure of God glorifying that edifice, the venerable Relics of B. Martha together with the urn were translated thither, psalms and hymns and spiritual canticles sounding, very many Priests and the faithful people accompanying, all hastening that they might become partakers of that blessing. Very many also of the comers, tried by various infirmities and troubles, during that time obtained soundness; on the very day of the translation, when, approaching the sacrosanct urn, they had implored help from our Lord Jesus Christ through His Saint. For since she had taken up her cross, and from her whole heart had followed Christ the Saviour, deservedly she heard from Him, what formerly the admirable Apostles: Heal the sick, expel demons, and what follows. Mat. 10, 8 And now also her glorious ashes stand forth, breathing sanctity upon all who approach with faith; and the workers of marvels in the following times. and they are to the sick of any kind of disease a spiritual medical workshop; who draw from an inexhaustible fount and afford to all who ask the grace of soundness, to the glory of Him, who works these things through them, Christ our Lord. And the things which pertain to the substructure of the sacred edifice, delineated by S. Martha, and which pertain to the translation of her venerable Relics, have been explained; on which we have had necessarily to dwell longer, although the translation happened after the following narration, that without confusion we might set forth the series and argument of the matter to the readers. But now it is time to begin that narration.

ANNOTATA.

would that the Concordances were extant, just as they are had for the Hebrew and the vulgate Latin text: something also is lacking for the full sense in our transcript.

* Num. 12

CHAPTER VII.

S. Symeon understands in various ways the part of the holy Cross he had asked to be sent to him.

Ὁ τρισμακάριος καὶ ἅγιος Συμεὼν ἐκτενῶς μετὰ δακρύων ἐδέετο τοῦ Θεοῦ, σημεῖόν τι παρ᾽ αὐτοῦ αἰτῶν εἰς μνημόσυνον τῆς Μακαρίας Μάρθης, καὶ λέγων· Κύριε, εἰ εὗρον χάριν ἐνώπιόν σου, ποίησον τὸ ἔλεός σου μετὰ τῆς παιδίσκης σου, καὶ ἀποδοθήτω μοι ἀπεντεῦθεν ὁ ἀῤῥαβὼν τοῦ ξύλου τῆς ζωῆς, τοῦ πάλαι ἐν μέσῳ τοῦ παραδείσου προφητευομένου, ὅπερ ὑπῆρχεν ὁ σταυρός σου ὁ τίμιος· καὶ λογισθήτω μοι τὸ Χερουβὶμ φυλάττον τὸ ξύλον τῆς ζωῆς, ὁ ἐν τῇ ἁγίᾳ σου Ἀναστάσει Κλειδοῦχος, ὅστις ἂν ᾖ, οὐ κατὰ χάριν ἀνθρώπου τοῦ μυστηρίου δωρουμένου μοι, οὔτ᾽ ἐξ ἀνθρώπων, οὔτε δι᾽ ἀνθρώπων πραγματευομένου μοι τούτου, ἀλλὰ τοῦ θελήματός σου τοῦ ἀγαθοῦ. Ἐπίνευσον, Δέσποτα, δεομένου μου, καταπέμψαι τὸ Πνεῦμά σου τὸ πανάγιον, ὅπως ἐν τῇ εὐδοκίᾳ τοῦ θελήματός σου ἐμβάλῃ ἐν τῇ καρδίᾳ τοῦ ἐν τῇ ἁγίᾳ Ἀναστάσει κλειδουχοῦντος, κατὰ σάρκα ἀγνοῦντός μου, ἀποστεῖλαι πρὸς τὴν ἐμὴν ταπείνωσιν ἀσπασμὸν εἰρήνης, δι᾽ οὗ ἔσται μοι τὸ δῶρον τῆς αἰτήσεως παρὰ τῆς σῆς θεότητος πεμπόμενον, εἰς ἀνάμνησιν ἧς προσελάβου δούλης σου, ἀνθ᾽ ὧν ἐγνώρισας τῇ πιστῇ αὐτῆς ψυχῇ βαστᾶσαι ἐν ταῖς χερσὶ τὸν ζοώποιον σταυρὸν μεταίροντός μου, καὶ ἐκ δυνάμεως εἰς δύναμιν ἐπὶ ταύτην τὴν ἀνάβασιν προπορευομένης αὐτῆς ἐν πλήθει δακρύων, καὶ τόδε τὸ ᾄσμα λεγούσης· Σῶσον ἡμᾶς, υἱὲ Θεοῦ, ὁ σταυρωθεὶς δι᾽ ἡμᾶς, ἀλληλούα· ἣν ἐν εἰρήνῃ καὶ ἁγιασμῷ κοιμηθεῖσαν ἀνέπαυσας, ὡς πεπίστευκα καὶ πεπληροφόρημαι πίστιν, μετὰ τῶν πιστῶν ἐν τῇ καλῇ πραγματείᾳ τῶν ἐντολῶν σου θελήσασαν σφόδρα. Κύριε τοῦ ἐλέους, ἐλθέτω δή μοι αὕτη ἡ σωτήριος αἴτησις δυνάμει τοῦ ἁγίου καὶ ὁμοουσίου καὶ ζοωποιοῦ σου Πνεύματος, ὅπως καὶ ἐν τούτῳ δόξαν καὶ εὐχαριστίαν ἀναπέμψω σοι, καὶ τῷ ἀχράντῳ σου Πατρὶ, καὶ αὐτῷ τῷ παναγίῳ καὶ ζοωποίῳ σου Πνεύματι, νῦν καὶ ἀεὶ καὶ εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας τῶν αἰώνων. Ἀμήν. Ταῦτα ἱκετεύσας, εἶδεν ἐν ἀποκαλύψει τρεῖς μοναχοὺς Ἴβηρας ἀπὸ Ἱεροσολύμων, παραβαλόντας τῷ μοναστηρίῳ, ὧν ὁ εἷς Ἀντώνιος λεγόμενος, Πρεσβύτερος καὶ Ἡγούμενος εὐαγοῦς μονῆς ὑπάρχων, ἑωρᾶτο ἐν χρυσῷ σταυρῷ τὴν δύναμιν τοῦ τιμίου ξύλου ἐν φόβῳ μεγάλῳ κατέχων ἐν ταῖς χερσὶ, καὶ ἐπιδιδοὺς τῷ Ἁγίῳ κατὰ τὴν αὐτοῦ αἴτησιν. Οὗτος τοίνυν ὁ Ἀντώνιος, ἀνὴρ θαυμαστὸς ὢν καὶ ψυχὴν κεκτημένος πιστὴν, εἶδεν τότε τὸν τοῦ Θεοῦ δοῦλον ἐν ὁράματι τῆς νυκτὸς, λέγοντα αὐτῷ, πορευθῆναι ἐπὶ τὸ ὄρος τὸ θαυμαστόν· καὶ τῇ τοῦ καλέσαντος ὑπακούσας φωνῇ, εὐθέως ἐξῆλθεν μετὰ δύο μοναχῶν διανυόντων σὺν αὐτῷ τὴν ὁδόν. Ὁ δὲ τοῦ Θεοῦ θεράπων Συμεὼν ἀπήγγειλε τὴν περὶ τοῦ Ἀντωνίου καὶ τῶν σὺν αὐτῷ θεωρίαν ὑπὸ προφάσεως τοιαύτης ἀναγκασθείς. Μοναχὸς γάρ τις πάσχων τὸν πόδα, ἀπὸ τῆς μονῆς τοῦ Σκοπέλου ὑπάρχων, καὶ παραβαλὼν πρὸς τὸν Ἅγιον χάριν τοῦ ἰαθῆναι, παρίστατο αὐτῷ, ἀπαγγέλλων τὰ τῆς ἀσθενείας αὐτοῦ· ἄλλος δέ τις μοναχὸς Ἴβηρ, Σέργιος τοὔνομα, ἐκ τῶν Ἱεροσολύμων παραγινόμενος, πάσχων δεινῶς τὰ ἐντὸς καὶ αἱμοῤῥοοῦν, ἰαθεὶς ὑπὸ τοῦ Ἁγίου, προσῆλθεν αὐτῷ ἐν αὐτῇ τῇ ὥρᾳ παράθεσιν αἰτῶν, ὥστε ἐπανελθεῖν ἐπὶ τὰ ἴδια· Εἶπεν οὖν αὐτῷ ὁ Ἅγιος, ἀκούοντος ἐκείνου τοῦ μοναχοῦ τοῦ ἀπὸ τοῦ Σκοπέλου· Περίμεινεν, Ἀδελφὲ, ἰδοὺ γὰρ τρεῖς μοναχοὶ Ἴβηρες παραγίνονται ἀπὸ Ἱεροσολύμων, ὧν εἷς χάριτος πεπληρομένος ὑπάρχων, διακονήσει τὸν ζοωποιὸν σταυρὸν, καὶ ἀπελεύσῃ μετ᾽ αὐτῶν συνοδίτης. Μὴ πιστεύσας δὲ ἐκεῖνος τοῖς λεχθεῖσι αὐτῷ, ἐξελθὼν ἐπορεύετο τὴν ὁδὸν αὐτοῦ· ὑπέβαλεν δὲ αὐτῷ ὁ διάβολος εἰπεῖν ἐν ἑαυτῷ περὶ τοῦ Ἁγίου, Ὅτι ὁ ἄνθρωπος ἐκεῖνος φαρμακός ἐστι, καὶ διὰ τοῦτο ἐνεργοῦσιν ἐν αὐτῷ αἱ δυνάμεις· τίς γὰρ ἴδεν ἢ ἤκουσεν ἀπὸ τοῦ αἰῶνος, εἰ μὴ ἐν τῇ παρουσίᾳ τοῦ Κυρίου, τοσαύτα σημεῖα γεγενῆσθαι ὑπό τινος; οὐκ ἔστιν οὖν ταῦτα χρηστῶν ἔργων, κᾳγὼ πεπλάνημαι βαστάζων αὐτοῦ τὰς ἀπὸ τῆς γῆς ἐκτετυπωμένας ἐκ τῆς εἰκόνος αὐτοῦ σφραγίδας. Ταῦτα κυριευόμενος ὑπὸ τοῦ δαίμονος διανοηθεὶς, ἐπιλαβόμενος εὐθέως τῶν εὐλογιῶν ἐκείνων, καὶ ῥίψας ἐν πυρὶ κατέκαυσεν αὐτὰς, μιᾶς μόνης ἀβουλήτως ἀπομεινάσης ἐν τοῖς ἱματίοις αὐτοῦ. Ὡς δὲ τὸ πονηρὸν τοῦτο ἐποίησεν ἔργον, παραχρῆμα ἐγένοντο αὐτῷ αἱ χεῖρος ἀπὸ τῶν ὤμων καὶ μέχρι τῶν δακτύλων ὡσεὶ χιὼν λεπραί· καὶ ἰδὼν ἐφοβήθη σφόδρα, καὶ μηδενὶ θελήσας ἀπαγγεῖλαι ὅ πέπονθεν, ἔκρυπτεν τὰς χεῖρας αὐτοῦ. Ἀνανήψας οὖν καὶ μόλις ἐλθὼν εἰς ἑαυτὸν καὶ εὑρηκὼς τὴν ὑπολελειμμένην εὐλογίαν, κλίνας τὰ γόνατα προσηύξατο, λέγων· Ἅγιε Συμεὼν, πιστεύω ὅτι δούλος εἶ τοῦ υἱοῦ τοῦ Θεοῦ, καὶ τὰ παρά σου γενόμενα διὰ Πνεύματος ἁγίου εἰσίν· ἀλλὰ βοήθει μου τῇ ἀπιστίᾳ καὶ ἀφεθήτω μοι ἡ ἁμαρτία, δι᾽ ἣν τοῦτό μοι συνέβη, ἵνα καθαρὸς γενόμενος δοξάσω κᾳγὼ τὴν χάριν τὴν ἐνεργοῦσαν διά σου. Ταῦτα δεηθεὶς ἀναστὰς ἐχρίσατο τὸ τῆς κόνεως ἁγίασμα ἅπαξ, ἐν δὲ τῷ δευτέρῳ ἰάθη ἀπαλλαγεὶς τελείως τῆς λεπρᾶς, καὶ εἰς τὴν χρείαν ἀποκατασταθεὶς τῆς σαρκὸς αὐτοῦ· καὶ ὑποστρέψας εὐθέως πρὸς τὸν Ἅγιον, διηγήσατο ὅσα αὐτῷ ἐποίησεν, δοξάζων τὰ μεγαλεῖα αὐτοῦ. Τούτου δὲ τοῦ θαύματος γενομένου, ἰδοὺ καὶ οἱ Ἴβηρες μοναχοὶ παραγεγόνασιν, περὶ ὧν τὴν πρόῤῥησιν ὁ Ἅγιος ἐποιήσατο. Καὶ πρὸ τοῦ εἰσελθεῖν αὐτοὺς πρὸς αὐτὸν, ὁ ἀπὸ τοῦ Σκοπέλου μοναχὸς ἐξερχόμενος ἀπήντησεν αὐτοῖς· καὶ ἰδὼν αὐτοὺς τρεῖς ὄντας, καὶ μαθὼν Ἴβηρες εἶναι, καὶ ἀπὸ τῶν Ἱεροσολύμων παραγεγονέναι, θαυμάσας ἐξηγήσατο αὐτοῖς τὴν περὶ αὐτῶν τοῦ Ἁγίου προφητείαν. Εἰσελθόντων δὲ αὐτῶν καὶ στάντων ἔμπροσθεν αὐτοῦ, παῤῥησιασάμενος Ἀντώνιος κατεμάνθανεν αὐτὸν, ὡς ἄνθρωπον καθορῶν οἷον δήποτε τῶν καθ᾽ ἡμᾶς, μὴ χωρῶν ἐπιγνῶναι τὸ ἀόρατον δι᾽ οὗ ἐνεργεῖ. Καὶ λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ Ἅγιος· Κάτελθε, τέκνον, τὸν λοιπὸν καιρὸν ἔχων, καὶ μὴ πειράζου. Ταῦτα εἰπὼν εἵλκυσεν ἑαυτὸν ἔνδον τῆς καμασίνης μηλωτῆς, ἀποπεμψάμενος ἄκοντα τὸν Ἀντώνιον. Καὶ ἰδοὺ φαντασία τις καὶ θόρυβος ἀφόρητος τὴν ψυχὴν ἐκείνου κατέσχεν· ῥίπτει οὖν ἑαυτὸν ἐν τῇ βάσει τοῦ κίονος ὁ Ἀντώνιος, δεόμενος καὶ αἰτῶν συγχώρησιν, καὶ ταύτης τυχὼν εὐθέως ἀσπασάμενος τὸν Ἅγιον ὤχετο τὴν ὁδὸν αὐτοῦ, φήσας· Εἴτε μακρὰν, εἴτε ἐγγὺς, ἅγιε Συμεὼν, θεοφόρε, συγχώρησον καὶ κέλευσον ἀπελθεῖν με, ἵνα μὴ κινδυνεύσω. Λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ δοῦλος τοῦ Θεοῦ· Θάρσει, καὶ τὴν παρὰ τοῦ Θεοῦ εἰρήνην δι᾽ ἡμῶν ἔχων βάδιζε· φυτὸν ἀμπέλου ἐκ τοῦ παραδείσου τῆς Ἀναστάσεως διακόνησόν μοι ἐν καιρῷ τῆς χρείας. Ὁ δὲ Ἀντώνιος τότε μὲν οὐ συνῆκε πρὸς τί εἴρηκεν αὐτῷ· μετὰ δὲ ταῦτα ἔγνω τὴν δύναμιν τῆς ἐντολῆς, δίοτι κεχρηματισμένος ἦν ὑπὸ Πνεύματος ἁγίου πρὸ ἐτῶν εἴκοσι ἐν τῇ Ἰβήρων χώρᾳ, ὅτι δεῖ σε συνοικῆσαι τῷ νέῳ Μωϋσῇ, εἰς ὃν καὶ νῦν ἐθέμην ῥάβδον τῆς ἐνεργείας μου, ἰστάμενον ἐν ὄρει ὑψηλῷ, ἀπολύτρωσιν ὡς ὁ Βαπτιστὴς δεικνύμενον παντὶ τῷ λαῷ. Ἐν δὲ τῷ μηνὶ τῷ ἔκτῳ τῆς τελευτῆς τῆς ὁσίας Μάρθης, οὗτος δὲ ὑπῆρχεν Ἀπέλεος, ὃν Ῥωμαῖοι λέγουσι Δεκέμβριον, ἐπεφάνη ἡ χάρις τοῦ Θεοῦ τὰ μείζονα ὑποδεικνύσα τῷ Ἁγίῳ· καὶ θεωρεῖ κατὰ τὰ μεσεμβρινὰ ἀπὸ Ἱεροσολύμων ἥλιον, ὑπὲρ τὸν ὁρώμενον τοῦτον παραγεγονότα, καὶ πλήσαντα δόξης φωτὸς τὴν μάνδραν αὐτοῦ, εἰς χεῖρας δὲ τῆς Μακαρίας καταπαύσαντα καὶ ἐξαστράπτοντα· Ἐμνήσθη γὰρ ὁ Θεὸς τοῦ δικαίου Συμεὼν καὶ Μάρθης τῆς μητρὸς αὐτοῦ, περὶ τῆς αἰτήσεως τοῦ ἀχράντου σταυροῦ, ἵνα ὅ ἐποίησεν στήσῃ εἰς μνημόσυνον αὐτῆς. Καὶ παρέστη ἐν ὁράματι τῆς νυκτὸς Ἄγγελος Κυρίου τῷ προῤῥηθέντι πρεσβυτέρῳ Ἀντωνίῳ Ἴβηρι, λέγων· Ἀνάστηθι μετὰ σπουδῆς καὶ λαβὼν φυτὸν ἀμπέλου τοῦ παραδείσου τῆς ἁγίας Ἀναστάσεως, πορεύου ἐπὶ τὸ ὄρος τὸ Θαυμαστὸν πρὸς τὸν δοῦλον τοῦ Θεοῦ. Ὁ δὲ διυπνισθεὶς ἐπορεύθη ἔμφοβος ἐπὶ τὸ κυριακὸν, καὶ ἀναπτύξας, δι᾽ ἑαυτοῦ τὸ ἅγιον Εὐαγγέλιον, εὗρεν τὴν ἀνάγνωσιν ταύτην· Ἐγείρεσθε, ἄγωμεν ἐντεῦθεν. Ἐγώ εἰμι ἄμπελος, ὑμεῖς τὰ κλήματα· Ὁ μὲν ὢν ἐν ἐμοὶ, κᾀγὼ ἐν αὐτῷ, οὗτος φέρει καρπὸν πολὺν, ὅτι χώρις ἐμοῦ οὐ δύνασθε ποιεῖν οὐδέν. Ἐξέστη δὲ τῇ διανοίᾳ ὁ Ἀντώνιος, καὶ ἐπορεύθη ἐν ἄλλῃ ἐκκλησίᾳ, καὶ ἀναπτύξας ὡσαύτως τὰ ἅγια Εὐαγγέλια, εὗρεν τὴν περικοπὴν ταύτην, Ὁ πιστεύων εἰς ἐμὲ, τὰ ἔργα, ἃ ἐγὼ ποιῶ, ποιήσει, καὶ μείζονα τούτων ποιήσει. Τότε ἔστησεν αὐτοῦ τὴν καρδίαν ὁ Κύριος, ἐπιβαλὼν εἰς αὐτὸν φόβον μέγαν σφόδρα, ὥστε σεισθῆναι αὐτοῦ πάντα τὰ μέλη. Νομίσας οὖν ὁ Ἀντῴνιος [ὅτι] κατὰ ἀλήθειαν περὶ φυτοῦ ἀμπέλου εἴρησεν πρὸς αὐτὸν καὶ μὴ ἀναμείνας, ἀπελθὼν ἔλαβεν φυτὸν ἀμπέλου ἐκ τοῦ παραδείσου τῆς ἁγίας Αναστάσεως, καὶ ἀπήρξατο παραχρῆμα τῆς ἐπὶ τὸ Θαυμαστὸν ὄρος ὁδοιπορίας. Καὶ ἐπειδὴ εὐδοκεῖ Κύριος ἐν τοῖς φοβουμένοις αὐτὸν, συνετάραξαν λογισμοὶ τὸν ἐν Ἱεροσολύμοις ὁσιώτατον Σταυροφύλακα Θωμᾶν περί τινων ἀπορουμένων αὐτοῦ ζητημάτων. Τινῶν δὲ παρουσίᾳ αὐτοῦ ὁμιλούντων πρὸς ἀλλήλους καὶ διηγουμένων τὰ θαυμάσια, τὰ διὰ τοῦ ἁγίου θεράποντος αὐτοῦ Συμεὼν γινόμενα, ἀκούσας περὶ τούτων, καὶ θείῳ ζήλῳ πυρωθεὶς τὴν καρδίαν, προσκαλεσάμενος παραχρῆμα ἄνδρα θαυμαστὸν Παῦλόν τινα, Πρεσβύτερον καὶ Οἰκονόμον τῆς ἁγίας Χριστοδ τοῦ Θεοῦ ἡμῶν Ἀναστάσεως, παρακαλεῖ τοῦτον ὑπακοῆς ἔργον πληρῶσαι, καὶ ἀποκομίσαι γράμματα αὐτοῦ ἀσπαστικὰ τῷ θεράποντι τοῦ Χριστοῦ ἐν τῷ ὄρει τῷ Θαυμαστῶ. Εἴξας δὲ ἐκεῖνος τῇ παρακλήσει μετὰ χαρᾶς διήνυεν τὴν ὁδὸν, ποθοῦν τὴν παρὰ τοῦ Ἁγίου καρπώσασθαι εὐλογίαν. Καταντήσας οὖν εἰς τὴν ἁγίαν μάνδραν κατ᾽ αὐτὴν τὴν ὥραν, καθ᾽ ἣν καὶ ὁ Πρεσβύτερος Ἀντώνιος παρεγένετο, εἰσῆλθεν σὺν αὐτῷ· καὶ εὐξάμενοι ἀμφότεροι ἠσπάσαντο τὸν τοῦ Θεοῦ δοῦλον ἁγίῳ φιλήματι· Ὁ δὲ Πρεσβύτερος Παῦλος ἐπέδωκεν αὐτῷ τὴν παρὰ τοῦ Σταυροφύλακος ἐπιστολήν. Δεξάμενος δὲ αὐτὴν καὶ περιπτυξάμενος, εὐχαριστήσας τε καὶ τὰ γόνατα κλίνας προσεκύνησεν τῷ Κυρίῳ, τῷ ὑπακούοντι ἀεὶ τῆς δεήσεως αὐτοῦ, ἀνέγνω δὲ αὐτὴν περιέχουσαν οὕτως. Τῷ Δεσπότῃ τῶν ἁπάντων ἑαυτοὺς καθηλώσαντες, καὶ τὸν καθαρώτατον ὑμῶν νοῦν αὐτῷ συνάψαντες, καὶ τῇ θεοπνευστίᾳ ἐμφορούμενοι τὰς τῶν ἀνθρώπων πρὸς Θεὸν γινώσειν εὐαρεστήσεις κατεπιστεύθητε· Ἐπεὶ τοίνυν ἐγὼ ὁ ταπεινὸς, τὴν οἰκείαν σωτηρίαν πορίσασθαι ἐπειγόμενος, τῶν βιωτικῶν φροντίδων τὸν περισπασμὸν περιφεύγων, ὡς ἐνόμισα, τὸν μονήρη βίον ἠσπασάμην, καὶ ἐπί τινα χρόνον τούτῳ ἐνδιατρίψας, παρέστην, οὐκ

[The Greek text of the letter and the surrounding narrative continues here verbatim; the Latin parallel translation begins at section 52 below.]

οἶδα; ὅπως, τῷ εὐσεβεστάτῳ καὶ θεοφυλάκτῳ ἡμῶν Βασιλεῖ, καταπιστεῦσαι τῇ ἐμῇ βραχύτητι τὰ ἅγια καὶ ἔνδοξα ξύλα τοῦ τιμίου καὶ ζωοποιοῦ σταυροῦ τοῦ Κυρίου καὶ Θεοῦ καὶ σωτῆρος ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ, καὶ τὰς κλεῖς τῆς ἁγίας Χριστοῦ τοῦ Θεοῦ ἡμῶν Ἀναστάσεως καὶ τοῦ σέπτου καὶ ἀχράντου Γολγοθά. Πάλιν τοίνυν περισπασμοῖς περιπαρεὶς, καὶ ὑποπτεύων περὶ τὴν ἑαυτοῦ διεσφάλθαι σωτηρίαν διὰ τὸν περισπασμὸν, παρακαλῶ τὴν ὑμετέραν θεοφιλῆ ψυχὴν, τὰ τοιαῦτα σαφῶς ἐπισταμένεν, διὰ τὴν ἀγαπὴν τοῦ Κυρίου ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ, δηλωθῆναι τῇ ἐμῇ βραχύτητι, εἰ σωθήσεταί μου ἡ ταπεινὴ ψυχὴ ἐν τῇ τοιαύτῃ διακονίᾳ· ὅπως ἀνεθῇ μου ὁ λογισμὸς, ὑπὲρ τοῦ τοιούτου ἐνδοιασμοῦ κεντούμενος· καὶ πρό γε πάντων παρακαλῶ τὴν ὑμετέραν ἁγιωσύνυν, μεμνῆσθαι καὶ ὑπερεύχεσθαι τῆς ἐμῆς ἀσθενείας ἐν ταις ὑμετέραις ἁγίαις καὶ θεοδέκταις προσευχαῖς. Μετὰ δὲ τὸ ἀναγνῶναι ταυτα, διελέχθη τῷ αὐτῷ ὁσιοτάτῳ ἀνδρὶ, λέγων· Ἐπειδὴ καιρὸς τοῦ παντός ἐστι, καὶ καιρὸς τοῦ σιγᾷν καὶ καιρὸς τοῦ λαλεῖ, ἀναγκάζομαι νῦν ἐκφᾶναι τὸ προκείμενον τῇ πατρικῇ σου ἀγάπῃ, μεμνημένος τῶν ὑπὸ τοῦ Ἀρχαγγέλου Ῥαφαὴλ πρὸς Τωβίαν εἰρημένων, ὅτι μυστήριον Βασιλέως κρύπτειν καλὸν, τὰ δὲ ἔργα τοῦ Θεοῦ ἀνακηρύξαι ἔνδοξον. Ταῦτα δὲ λέγω καθότι οὐχ ἑκὼν, ἀλλὰ θεόθεν κινούμενος· Ὁ ἁγιώτατος Σταυροφύλαξ ἀπέσταλκέν σε πρὸς τὴν ἐμὴν μετριότητα· ἰδοὺ γαρ οὗτος ἕβδομος μὴν πεπλήρωται, ἀφ᾽ οὗ ταύτην τὴν χάριν αἰτῶ τὸν Κύριον, ὑποβαλεῖν αὐτοῦ τῇ διανοίᾳ, ὅπως γνωρίσας ἡμᾶς διὰ τοῦ ἁγίου Πνεύματος ἀποστείλῃ ἐνταῦθα, οὐχ ἕνεκεν κοσμικοῦ τινος, μή γένοιτο, ἀλλὰ διὰ τὴν τοῦ Κυρίου πρὸς ἡμᾶς γενομένην εὐαγγελίαν, εὐδοκήσαντος δι᾽ αὐτοῦ ἐκπεμφθῆναι ἡμῖν παντὸς λειψάνου ἁγίων, παντὸς δὲ θησαυροῦ τιμιωτέραν, ἐμφανῆ, καὶ σεβασμίαν μερίδα τοῦ ἀχράντου καὶ δεσποτικοῦ καὶ σωτηρίου ξύλου, ἐπὶ τὸ προσκυνεῖσθαι ἐν τῇ ἡμέρα, ἐν ᾗ εὐδόκησεν ἡ αὐτοῦ φιλανθρωπία τῆς ἐμῆς μητρὸς ἁγιάσαι τὴν κοίμησιν. Ἀποκριθεὶς δὲ ὁσιώτατος Πρεσβύτερος Παῦλος, εἶπεν· Κατεπιθύμως τὰς ἁγίας ὑμῶν κελεύσεις πληρῶν ὁ ὁσιώτατος κῦρις Θωμᾶς ὁ Κλειδοῦχος, τιμίαν μερίδα τοῦ ζοωποιοῦ ξύλου ἀσφαλισάμενος καὶ σφραγίσας ἀποστειλεῖ ὑμῖν συντόμως διὰ ἀξιοπίστων ἀνδρῶν· εὐχὴ γαρ αὐτῷ αὕτη ἐστὶν ἐν ἅπασι θεραπεῦσαι ὑμᾶς· μόνον καταξιωσάτω ἡ σὴ Εὐλάβεια τὰς στελλομένας παρ᾽ αὐτοῦ εὐλογίας διὰ τοὺς πτωχοὺς, ὡς παρὰ πατρὸς πνευματικοῦ καὶ αὐτοῦ δέξασθαι. Εἶπεν δὲ ὁ δοῦλος τοῦ Θεοῦ· Ὀ Κύριος διὰ τὴν ἄμετρον αὐτοῦ συγκατάβασιν καὶ εὐσπλαγχνίαν μεριμνήσει ήμῖν, καὶ τὴν χρείαν ἡμῶν ἐκπληρώσει κατὰ τὸ δέον καὶ σύμφορον· ὁ δὲ χρυσὸς μὴ ἔστω ἡμῶν οἰκονόμοι, διότι ὑπερηφανίαν καὶ ἀλαζονείαν διδάσκει, καὶ τοῦτο παρακαλῶ, μηδεὶς ἐστω λόγος περὶ τοῦτου. Ταῦτα εἰπὼν ἔβλεψεν ἐπὶ τὸν Πρεσβύτερον Ἀντώνιον, φύσας· Ἰδού, ὁ τοῦ ζωοποιοῦ σταυροῦ διάκονος οὗτος ὑπάρχει, ὃς ὑπέδειξέ μοι ὁ Κύριος, καὶ παρέστησεν αὐτῇ τῇ ὥρᾳ τῆς παρουσίας ὑμῶν, ἄξιον ὄντα καὶ ὀφείλοντα τὴν παρὰ τῆς θεότητος αὐτοῦ δωρουμένην ἡμῖν δύναμιν ἀγαγεῖν ἐπὶ τῶν χειρῶν αὐτοῦ, ὡς τεθέαμαι. Λὲγει ὁ Πρεσβύτερος Ἀντώνιος· Ἐξ Ἱεροσλύμων, οὐκ εἰδὼς διὰ τί, ἄκων παραγέγονα, νῦν ἐμφανής μοι ὁ λόγος τοῦ Κυρίου γέγονεν· τὰ οὖν κελευόμενά μοι δεῖ με ἔργῳ πληρῶσαι, Πάτερ ἅγιε. Ὑπέδειξεν δὲ καὶ ὅπερ ἐπεφέρετο φυτὸν τῆς ἀμπέλου, διεξελθὼν τὰ τῆς ὀφθείσης αὐτῷ ὁράσεως. Ταῦτα διαλεγομένων αὐτῶν, κατέλαβεν ἡ ἑσπέρα, καὶ εὐξάμενος· ὁ τοῦ Θεοῦ δοῦλος, ἀπέλυσεν αὐτοὺς τοῦ ἀναπαύεσθαι. Πρωΐας δὲ γενομένης εἰς ἐφόδιον τὴν εὐχὴν τῷ Πρεσβυτέρῳ παρασχόμενος Παύλῳ, ἐν ἐιρήνῃ αὐτὸν ἀπέλυσεν, κρατήσας τὸν Πρεσβύτερον Ἀντώνιον ὀλίγας ἡμέρας. Ἐν μιᾷ δὲ νυκτὶ ὁρᾷ ὀ αὐτὸς Πρεσβύτερος Ἀντώνιος τὴν μακαρίαν Μάρθαν, ἐπιτρέπουσαν αὐτῷ συντόμως πορευθῆναι, καὶ τὴν ποθουμένην ἀγάγειν εὐλογάν. Ἐξηγήσατο δὲ ταῦτα, καὶ παρέστησεν τὰ σημεῖα τοῦ ἐμφανισμοῦ αὐτῆς καθὼς ὑπῆρχεν· διὸ καὶ εὐθέως ἀπέλυσεν αὐτὸν ὁ τοῦ Θεοῦ θεράπων, γράψας τῷ Σταυροφύλακι δι᾽ αὐτοῦ ἐπιστολὴν, ἔχουσαν οὕτως. Εὐφραινέσθωσαν οἱ οὐρανοὶ καὶ ἀγαλλιασθῇ ἡ γῆ, ῥηξάτω τὰ ὄρη εὐφροσύνην, καὶ οἱ βουνοὶ δικαὶοσύνην, ὄτι ἠλέησεν ἡμᾶς ὁ Θεὸς τοὺς βραχεῖς, καὶ παρεκάλεσεν οὐ μετρίως, ἀξιώσας ἡμᾶς τοῦ προσκυνῆσαι διὰ μετρίων ἡμῶν γραμμάτων, καὶ ἀσπάσασθαι τὴν ἡμετέραν ὁσίαν πατρότητα ἐν αὐτῷ τῷ Κυρίῳ, περὶ τοῦ σημείου τοῦ ἀχράντου ἐν δυνάμει καὶ ἐνδόξου σταυροῦ.

[52] The most blessed and most holy Symeon earnestly with tears prayed God, S. Symeon asks of God, that for the memory of his Mother that some sign be given him for retaining the memory of B. Martha, saying: Lord, if I have found grace in Thy sight, deal mercifully with Thy servant, and let there be granted to me from this time a pledge of the wood of life, through that which formerly in the midst of Paradise prophesied stood, of Thy venerable Cross, I say; and let there be to me a Cherubim, guarding the wood of life, that Claviger who is in Thy holy ^a Resurrection, whosoever at length he be. Nor let that mystery befall me by the grace of any man, or from men or through men; but from the good pleasure of Thy good will. Assent, Lord, to my vows, a fragment of the holy Cross be sent by a Staurophylax unknown to him; and send down Thy holy Spirit, that in the good pleasure of Thy will it may inspire the heart of the Claviger of the holy Resurrection, having no knowledge of me according to the flesh, that he may send to my humility a salutation of peace, through which there may come to me that gift, which I have asked of Thy Deity, in memory of Thy servant whom Thou hast assumed: since Thou didst indicate to her faithful soul, that she should bear in her hands the vital cross of Him, who has translated me from virtue to virtue up to this ^b ascent, she going before on the way with many tears and modulating that canticle, Save us, Son of God, who wast crucified for us, alleluia: whom in peace and sanctity deceased, with rest (as I have believed and have known my faith to be fulfilled) Thou hast endowed everlasting with Thy faithful ones, inasmuch as she in

the beautiful exercise of Thy commandments has willed exceedingly. Merciful Lord, may there come to me, by the power of Thy holy and consubstantial and life-giving Spirit, this salutary petition; that in this also I may owe and render glory and thanks to Thee, and to Thy unstained Father, and to Thy very holy and life-giving Spirit, now and always and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

[53] These things having suppliantly prayed, he beheld through a revelation three Iberian monks, coming from Jerusalem to the monastery, one of whom, and that this would come to pass he learns by revelation called Antonius, a Presbyter and Hegumen of an illustrious monastery, seemed to bear in his hands with great reverence the power of the venerable wood, enclosed in a golden Cross; and to hand it over to S. Symeon, as he had asked. This Antonius therefore, an admirable man, and himself having got a faithful soul, beheld during that time by night in a vision the servant of God Symeon, commanding him to cross over to the Mount-wonderful: but he, obedient to the voice of him commanding, went out continually, two monks accompanying him along the whole way. Moreover Symeon, the servant of God, manifested that vision concerning Antonius and his two companions on this occasion.

[54] A certain monk of the monastery of ^c Scopulus with afflicted feet, had come for the sake of cure to the Saint, which when he foretold to an outside monk and standing by him declared his infirmity. But another monk an Iberian by name Sergius, who, most bitterly tortured in the bowels and having suffered a flux of blood, had come to Jerusalem, where he had been restored to health, came up at that very hour seeking a commendation, that he might return home. But the Saint said to him, that Monk who was of the Scopulus monastery hearing: Wait a little while, my Brother, for behold three Iberian Monks come from Jerusalem hither, one of whom full of divine grace, will be the minister of the life-giving Cross; in their company thou shalt return. He did not believe the words of the Saint, but went his way; and said within himself, the devil suggesting, concerning him: This man is a sorcerer, and therefore powers operate in him; for who from eternity has seen or heard ever, except when the Lord dwelt on earth, so great signs wrought by anyone? and this man scandalized These therefore are not rightly done; and I have been deluded, carrying about the seals of his image compacted from earth.

[55] When this man, reduced under the power of the demon, had agitated these things in mind, he cast the ^d blessings he had brought forth into the fire and burned them, only one remaining by chance within his garments. had incurred leprosy, Scarcely had he perpetrated this nefarious crime, when his hands from the shoulders to the very tips of the fingers, covered with leprosy, grow white as snow; and he was vehemently afraid; and unwilling to indicate to anyone what he suffered, he hid his hands. Coming to his senses therefore, scarcely had he well returned to himself, when he found the blessing left in his garments, and on bent knees he prayed, saying: Holy Symeon, I believe, that thou art the servant of the Son of God, and that thy works proceed from the holy Spirit. But help me unbelieving, and let my sin be remitted to me, for the cause of which these things have befallen me wretched; that, cleansed, I too may glorify the grace, he is cleansed through an image of S. Symeon. which operates through thee. When he had so prayed, rising he rubbed once the sanctification conflated from dust: and doing it again he received health, in every way cleansed from leprosy, and restored to the functions of his flesh: and returning straightway to the Saint, he narrated how great things he had performed for him, glorifying his great deeds.

[56] This miracle being wrought; the Iberian monks too, of whom Symeon had prophesied, arrived: but before they entered, who to Antonius the Iberian coming from Jerusalem that monk of Scopelus, having gone out to meet them, when he had seen the three; and learned that they were Iberians, and understood that they came from Jerusalem, with admiration brought into the midst, the things which S. Symeon had foretold concerning them. But when, having entered, they stood before the Saint, Antonius acting more freely questioned him, considering him no otherwise than a man like us, nor knowing the invisible power which operated in him. To whom the Saint replied; Descend, son, while thou hast time remaining, and do not tempt: which said, he withdrew within the camasine sheepskin, and dismissed Antonius unwilling. But then his mind grave thoughts and an intolerable tumult invaded: wherefore he cast himself at the base of the column praying and beseeching, that pardon be granted him; and that obtained, he straightway saluted the Saint; enigmatically he insinuates his vow: and went his way, saying: Holy Symeon, deifer man, whether I be far off or near, forgive, and bid me depart, that I incur not danger. The servant of God says to him: Be confident, and peace from God being granted thee through me accompanying, supply me a plant of the vine from the paradise of the Resurrection in the time of necessity. And Antonius then indeed did not know, whither these things were said; but he knew afterward, that they obtained the force of a precept; because twenty years thence he had received an answer from the holy Spirit in Iberia, saying: It behooves thee to dwell with another Moses, to whom I have now given the rod of my power, standing on a lofty mountain, and like John the Baptist showing the remission of sins to all the people.

[57] In the eighth month from the death of B. Martha, which to us is called Apileos, he 8 months after the death of the Saint to the Romans December, the grace of God appeared to S. Symeon, showing the more fitting things; and he sees from the southern quarter from Jerusalem a sun coming, higher than that which daily appears, and filling his enclosure with glorious light; but when it had come to the hands of B. Martha, it rested there, and shone like lightning. For the Lord had remembered the just Symeon and Martha his mother, as to the petition concerning the unstained Cross made to Him, namely that what He Himself was about to do, should be in memory of that Blessed woman. And there stood by at night through a vision an Angel of the Lord to the aforesaid Antonius the Iberian Presbyter, is admonished by the Angel, and said: Rise quickly, and the plant of the vine being taken, which is in the paradise of the holy Resurrection, go to the Mount-wonderful to the servant of God. Who awakened, ran with consternated mind to the church, and the sacred Gospel being opened fell upon this lection: Rise, let us go hence. John 14, 31, & 15, 5 I am the vine, you the branches: he who remains in me, and I in him, that he should carry the plant of the vine to Symeon, he bears much fruit; for without me you can do nothing: Struck in mind Antonius thence went into another church, and the sacred Gospels being likewise opened, found this little verse: He who believes in me, the works which I do, he also shall do, and greater than these shall he do. John 14, 12. Then the Lord more gravely moved his heart, so vehement a fear being sent in, that he trembled in all his limbs. Reckoning therefore Antonius, that of a real plant of the vine the things said to him were to be understood, no delay interposed, going away he took a plant of this kind from the paradise ^e of the holy Resurrection, and committed himself straightway to the way toward the Mount-wonderful.

[58] But since the Lord takes pleasure in those who fear Him: certain thoughts concerning very ambiguous questions cast no small anxiety and disturbance into the mind of the most holy Thomas, Custodian of the Holy Cross at Jerusalem: [at the same time he arrives there with Paul, bringing the letters of the Staurophylax,] And when he had heard some conversing among themselves and narrating the miracles wrought through the holy servant of God; inflamed in mind and kindled with divine zeal, having continually summoned an admirable man a certain Paul, Presbyter and Steward of the holy Resurrection of Christ our Lord, he asks, that he perform this obedience-obsequy, and carry his salutatory letters to the servant of Christ on the Mount-wonderful. He assented to the petition, and with joy measured out the journey, earnestly desiring to obtain a blessing from the Saint. And it was now come to the holy enclosure, when the Presbyter Antonius at the very same time comes thither, and both having entered together and prayed, saluted the servant of God with a holy kiss: but the Presbyter Paul handed over to him the epistle of the Staurophylax. Which received and unsealed he gave thanks, and on bent knees adored the Lord, ever obeying his petitions, and read the epistle containing these things.

[59] You who are nailed to the Lord of all by the cross, and joined to Him by your most innocent mind, whereby he asked and filled with the divine spirit, are constituted, that you may know, whether God is placated to the human race or not. Since therefore I, humble, being busy only to place my own salvation in safety, having escaped by flight, as I thought, from the world and the cares and occupations of the world, had embraced the monastic life and lived in it some time; it seemed good, I know not how, to our most pious Emperor fortified by divine defenses, to commit to our smallness to be guarded the holy and glorious wood of the venerable and vital Cross of our Lord God and Saviour Jesus Christ, and the keys of the holy Resurrection of Christ our God, and also of the venerable and inviolate Golgotha. Again therefore my mind is distracted by other cares, and a fear comes upon me, lest on account of their mass I perhaps stray from the right path of salvation: to learn God's will concerning himself. wherefore I ask your soul amiable to God, gifted with clear knowledge of this matter, by the love of our Lord Jesus Christ, that it make known to my smallness, whether my humble soul in this ministry is to be saved, that I may be freed from the thoughts, stirred in me on this matter: but above all I ask your sanctity that you be mindful of my infirmity in your holy prayers acceptable to God, praying for it.

[60] These things being read through, addressing the same most holy man, he said: Since each thing has its own time, Symeon answers that God wills a time of being silent and a time of speaking; I am compelled now to manifest to thy paternal Charity that which is to come; mindful of the things said by the Angel Raphael to Tobias; To conceal the mystery of the King is good, but to reveal the works of God, honorable. But these things I say, not as if of my own accord thrusting myself forward, but moved by God. Tob. 12, 7 The most holy Custodian of the Cross has sent thee off to my mediocrity; but behold this seventh month has elapsed, since I beg this grace from the Lord, that a particle of the Cross be sent to him; that He inject into his mind, whereby, having obtained knowledge of us through the holy Spirit, he may send hither someone, not for the cause of any mundane thing, far, far be it; but on account of the message signified to us by the Lord: to whom it was pleasing to send down through him, to us more precious than all the Relics of the Saints and all treasures, some notable and august part of the immaculate, lordly, and salutary wood, to be set forth for adoration on that day, on which it pleased His kindness to sanctify my mother's falling asleep.

[61] Answering to these things Paul, the most holy Presbyter, said: The most holy Lord Thomas, Custodian of the Keys, committing your pious commands to execution, would send you the venerable portion of the vital wood, duly sealed and fortified, through men most worthy of all faith, very soon and alacriously; and the money that was offered being refused, for he desires nothing so greatly, as to obey you: let only thy piety deign to accept the blessings which he himself will send on account of the beggars,

as from a spiritual father, to accept. To the Lord, said the servant of God, on account of His immense condescension and mercy we shall be a care, who will fill up our indigence, according as it shall be just and convenient. But let him dispense nothing of gold at our house, which begets pride and boasting: and therefore I adjure you, that you make no word upon this matter.

[62] He had finished that speech, when, his eyes turned back on Antonius the Presbyter, he says: Behold here is that minister of the life-giving Cross, whom the Lord showed me, he says it was shown to him that it was to be carried by Antonius, and exhibited present at the same hour, in which you came hither; and who on account of his merits is worthy, to carry the gift granted us by God in his hands hither, as I beheld. Antonius the Presbyter says: When I set out from Jerusalem, I knew nothing of these things; and therefore I came unwilling: but now the word of the Lord has been revealed to me: it behooves me therefore, holy father, to fulfill in deed the things commanded me by Him. He also brought forth the germ of the vine which he carried with him, narrating his vision concerning it. Them conversing in this manner, the evening came on, and the servant of God dismissed them after the wonted prayers to rest. But the day dawning, whom he then sends back to Jerusalem with letters to the Staurophylax having wished a happy journey to Paul the Presbyter, he made the means of departing in peace, the Presbyter Antonius being detained a few days. But he on a certain night beheld B. Martha, commanding him, that he go alacriously, about to bring the desired blessing. Him narrating these things, and producing manifest signs of her seen, of what kind she was, the servant of God straightway dismissed; an epistle being sent through him to the Staurophylax, which had thus.

[63] Let the heavens rejoice and the earth exult, let the mountains pour forth gladness, and the hills justice, since the Lord has had mercy on our tenuity, and consoled us not moderately, and made us worthy, that through this small epistle we adore, and salute your holy Paternity in the Lord, treating of the immaculate, potent, and glorious sign of the Cross. I have known and am altogether persuaded, that all His grace rests in you, foresignified by the Cherubim guarding the wood of life. Sit thou by the grace of Him, who has so honored you, that in such a ministry He has willed you to keep vigil, sing hymns, pray, and care for the things which pertain to His glory, performing with the God-loving Abraham the precept concerning charity to be shown to strangers. For there shines in all things through your work the oblation of thanks and the sacrifice prefigured in the bush of Sabec ^f; the Sacrifice, I say, now manifest of God crucified in the flesh. O blessed thou, who kindlest love for obtaining the dilection of God! blessed thou, who in judgment and humility singest! thou, venerable Father, who hast wisdom full of the fear of God; whence also moved from heaven by divine grace toward my mediocrity thou hast deigned to give letters, not that it might become known what is lacking to you, for you abound in all goodness, but that we might find the grace of petitions, concerning which Christ the Lord deigned to say: Ask and it shall be given you; seek and you shall find; knock and it shall be opened to you. Matth. 7, 7

[65] For therefore he who asks, with faith asks from Him, who wills and can give; and he who seeks, he sets forth how he was led to the Mount-wonderful in hope seeks to find; and to knock is said to be compunction of heart, whose door is Christ, who leads always to the manifestation of His blessed Father, from whom then it is permitted to receive every best gift and every perfect donation liberally; by whose kindly gift also, when I dwelt in a desert and pathless and waterless land, I appeared suddenly on the holy Mount-wonderful, having obtained that name marvelously and by divine nod, that I might see His power and glory; changing my teeth on the column, no cities, no regions, no places, none of those things, which are wont to allure in the world, being known to me in a bodily manner; but, the Lord Himself revealing in an apparition, not by men or through men commanded, and there bidden to build a temple; I undertook the construction of the temple, although I had before the purpose of laying no stone upon a stone as long as I lived. For He Himself promised, without expense of money, that the coping should be set on the work: which He also performed, by His own industry and operation, knowing not to deceive. But the rest I will pass over in silence.

[66] I asked therefore, I asked His goodness, who looks upon humble things, daring to use the Mosaic words, If I have found grace in Thy sight, that he had asked of God a part of the Cross, if Thou knowest among all the rational sheep that I am one, to be numbered among those to be placed at the right hand; that when now the Church is full of sacred Relics in eternal memory, just as it pleased Thee, Thou mayest in my place also manifest Thy glory, understanding that in the body I have seen and adored Thy salutary Cross; not through men negotiating this, but because Thou hearest Thy servant. Cause therefore that he, who is to me in place of a Cherubim, and who guards Thy treasure, may send it by Thy disposition to me, and reveal to me Thy riches. But if Thou doest the will of those who fear Thee, do with me a sign for good. But when the time of the favor and grace had come, I asked the Lord more earnestly through her, who, when I ascended, lifted up in her hands the salutary Cross, designated to her memory, and that these things were promised to him by a vision: and who was wisely instructed by the fear of God, my mother, that He should look upon the humility of His servant. And straightway I saw another sun, above this our one of exceptional splendor, coming from Jerusalem to my enclosure, entering, and filling the whole house with glorious light: I saw besides a certain Iberian carrying in his hands the vital Cross, two monks accompanying, whom I had never beheld. Then to some of my disciples I said: Pray, because the coming of the life-giving Cross promised us is near.

[66] And behold there came the Abbot Antonius, a servant faithful to his Lord, and I received your honorable and most holy letters, glorious to God, sent to us through the Lord Paul the Presbyter, venerable for honorable old age: which therefore he is confident will be sent to him. to whom also we narrated this grace, hidden by God. There will come to us therefore this gift through you, the Presbyter and Abbot Antonius ministering in this, who hands to you also the word of this salutation. For neither do I demand of you gold or silver, but in memory of the holy and unstained Trinity a rich and illustrious portion of the sacred and omnipotent Cross, to the glory of His majesty. I adore God in His holy Cross, and His holy Resurrection. But I salute you also, the honor of the Cherubim: and I ask that in the venerable places of the Lord you be mindful of me. The grace of the life-giving Trinity be with thy spirit, ever honorable and most holy Father.

ANNOTATA C. I.

CHAPTER VIII.

The Cross sent is exalted on the anniversary of B. Martha: a certain man is cured at the Sepulcher.

Πορευόμενος δὲ ὁ Πρεσβύτερος Ἀντώνιος ηὔχετο χάριν εὑρεῖν ἐν τῇ ἁγίᾳ Ἀναστάσει, ταῖς, εὐχαῖς τοῦ ἁγιου Συμεὼν καὶ Μάρθης τῆς μητρὸς αὐτοῦ· καὶ ἐγγίσας καὶ εἰσελθὼν ἐν τῇ ἁγίᾳ τοῦ Χριστοῦ πόλει, ἀποβλέψας, εἶδεν μακρόθεν τὰς θύρας τῆς ἁγίας Ἀναστάσεως κεκλεισμένας, καὶ τὸν κατέχοντα τὰς κλεῖς τῶν θυρῶν πλησίον ἱστάμενον. Πλησίαντος δὲ αὐτοῦ τῇ εἰσόδῳ, ἔφη πρὸς αὐτὸν ἐκεῖνος, Θέλεις εἰσελθεῖν Ἀββᾶ. Ὅδε Ἀντώνιος ἔφη· Ναί· Καὶ ἀνοίξας εἰσήγαγεν αὐτόν. Εἰστελθὼν οὖν ὁ Πρεσβύτερος εὑρίσκει τὸν Σταυροφύλακα σχολάζοντα πρὸς τοῦ ἁγίου Γολγοθᾶ· ὃς ἰδὼν καὶ ἀσπασάμενος τὸν Ἀντώνιον, πρῶτος ἐπηρώτα αὐτὸν, πόθεν παραγέγονεν. Φήσαντος δὲ αὐτοῦ, Ἐκ τοῦ θαυμαστοῦ ὄρους, τοῦ ὄντος πλησίον τῆς Ἀντιοχέων πόλεως· εὐθέως μετὰ πολλῆς χαρᾶς περιπτυξάμενος αὐτὸν, εἰσήγαγεν εἰς τὸν ἅγιον Γολγοθᾶ, καὶ ἐν ὅλοις τοῖς δεσποτικοῖς τόποις. Προσκυνήσας δὲ τῷ Κυρίῳ ὁ Ἀντώνιος ἐν τῷ τόπῳ, οὗ ἔστησαν οἱ πόδες αὐτοῦ, καὶ βαλὼν μετάνοιαν τῷ Σταυροφύλακι, ἐπιδέδωκεν αὐτῷ τὴν ἐπιστολήν. Ἣν μετὰ χαρᾶς πολλῆς δεξάμενος ὁ ὁσιώτατος Σταυροφύλαξ καὶ ἀναγνοὺς, ἀγαλλιασάμενος ἐν Πνεύματι ἁγίῳ, μετακαλέσατο παραχρῆμα χρυσοχόον· καὶ ποιήσας σταυρὸν χρυσοῦν, καὶ ἐγκλείσας ἐν μέσῳ αὐτοῦ μερίδα τοῦ τιμίου καὶ ζωοποιοῦ σταυροῦ, καὶ βαλὼν αὐτὸ ἐν θηκαρίῳ, δέδωκεν τῷ Πρεσβυτέρῳ Ἀντωνίῳ μετὰ τῶν ἀντιγράφων, καὶ ἀπέλυσεν αὐτὸν μετ᾽ εἰρήνης. Ὁ δὲ παρευθὺς μετὰ χαρᾶς κατελθὼν ἐν Ἰώππῃ, καὶ εὑρὼν ἕτοιμον πλοῖον, διανύει τὸν πλοῦν μέχρι Σελευκίας, καὶ κατήντησεν ἐν τῷ μοναστηρίῳ πρὸς τὸν Ἅγιον, τῇ ἡμέρᾳ καὶ τῇ ὥρᾳ, ἐν ᾗ πρὸ ἐνιαυτοῦ, μέλλοντος τοῦ Ἁγίου ἀνέρχεσθαι εἰς τὸν κίονα, λαβοῦσα ἡ μακαρία Μάρθα τὸν τίμιον σταυρὸν προεπορεύετο αὐτῷ, καθὼς προλέλεκται. Ἰδὼν δὲ αὐτὸν ὁ δοῦλος τοῦ Θεοῦ, ἐθαύμασεν σὺν πάσῃ τῇ ἀδελφότητι· καὶ δεξάμενος

[The Greek text of the Staurophylax's reply and the surrounding narrative ([67]–[73]) is preserved verbatim above; the Latin parallel translation begins at section 67 below.]

[67] But Antonius the Presbyter making his journey prayed, that he might find grace in the holy Resurrection through the prayers of S. Symeon and Martha his mother. And when approaching he had entered the holy city of Christ, he beheld from afar the closed gates of the holy Resurrection, Antonius having returned, and not far from them the Doorkeeper standing: who asks him approaching there, Whether he wished to enter; and Antonius answered, Altogether: and the gates being unlocked he was led in, and found the Staurophylax occupied in holy Golgotha. He when he beheld Antonius coming asked first, whence he was present; and he answering, From the Mount-wonderful, which is very near Antioch; straightway with the highest gladness having embraced him, he led him into holy Golgotha, and all the places of the Lord's Passion. After Antonius had adored the Lord in the place where His feet stood; reverence being exhibited to the Staurophylax, he handed him the epistle: which he with the greatest joy received and reading through and exulting in the holy Spirit, straightway summoned a goldsmith: and a golden Cross being made, a particle of the holy Cross being received he enclosed in the middle of it a part of the venerable and life-giving Cross: and so set it in a case and gave it to Antonius the Presbyter, the responsories being adjoined, and so dismissed him in peace. He descended straightway with joy to Joppa, and a ship being found ready accomplished the journey to Seleucia, and returned to the monastery to the Saint on the same day and hour, on which the year before, when Symeon was about to ascend the column, B. Martha bore before him the venerable Cross taken in hand, just as has been mentioned above. But the servant of God seeing him coming, he hands it over to Symeon with the responsories, marveled with all the Brothers; and the honorable and vital Cross being received, he embraced it, and adored the divine power, paying thanks for all things to God with great faith: then he also read the epistle, containing these things.

[68] I have received the venerable and august letters of your Sanctity, Lord Antonius the Presbyter delivering them; which read, whereby the Staurophylax, after asking the Saint's prayers filled with spiritual exultation and gladness, I gave thanks to the Lord God for all things, in which He has prevented me, unworthy, that I should receive your holy letters and words divinely inspired. But there were contained in them certain more obscure expressions of the servant of God Moses, which seemed very difficult to explain to my smallness: and since I doubt, whether I rightly grasp the senses of some of them, deign, Lord, to render more plain to me the understanding of the same through your venerable letters. Then you attributed certain other things to my humility from the treasure of your genius, of which I a poor wretch never possessed anything. For you, since you are familiars and friends of God, and have crucified yourselves with our saviour Jesus Christ, are nearer to the Cherubim, not ceasing day and night with the heavenly choirs to celebrate His praises. Wherefore I ask you, who are most holy, that in your hymns, which you continually sing to God, you offer my humility together; that, your holy prayers acceptable to God helping, I may obtain the propitiation of my sins: and that you may give effect to it, again and again through the love of Christ I pray and beseech you, venerable Father.

[69] But I send, as you commanded, a venerable and unstained part of the life-giving Cross, enclosed in the middle of a golden Cross; he indicates what Relics he sends to him. in each horn of which I have fixed a portion of the venerable rock of holy and glorious Golgotha bare, on which the Son of God poured out His precious blood: and in the two other extremities, upper and lower, I have enclosed something of the holy stone, which by the aid of the holy Angel was rolled from the door of the glorious and immaculate sepulcher of our Lord God and saviour Jesus Christ: which is likewise bare, that it may better be adored. These things therefore when thou hast received, venerable Father, deign to make us more certain by a reply that, God favoring, they have been rightly conveyed. Be mindful during prayer of my humility, I ask, that through your holy prayers I may obtain from Christ the saviour a little mercy, and that besides you may hold Christ a debtor for our salvation. I ask finally that toward my humility thou be so affected, as if I were present and familiar with your Sanctity, and let my misery recur to you always, while you perform your office. That also I ask of you most earnestly, Lord, that you write back to my humility, and exhilarate me with your divine letters and instructions.

[70] Moreover he who merited to perform such a ministry, Antonius the Presbyter, inflamed with divine ardor and desire toward the Saint, remained from that time with him: but some years having elapsed the servant of God promoted him to the Episcopate of Seleucia, Antonius adhering to Symeon becomes Bishop which is near to the great city Antioch. And now the space of twelve months had passed, when the first anniversary light of B. Martha's death was at hand: and there came together by the instinct of divine grace, no one indicating anything to any of the Brothers even by a word, a huge multitude of men and women, On B. Martha's anniversary furnished with candles and lamps, about to celebrate her yearly memory. And when they had kept vigil, the day now far risen; they all who had come together adored the life-giving Cross publicly set forth, crying out with us: We adore Thy Cross, Lord, and glorify Thy holy resurrection. After they had so adored, Antonius the Presbyter lifted up the venerable Cross, the Deacons accompanying with ^b fans and censers, and singing: publicly the holy Cross is elevated. Save us, Son of God, who wast crucified for us, alleluia: and laid it back in the treasury. Then having pursued the lections, they celebrated a complete festival, the servant of God Symeon performing the sacred rites at the altar. Wonderful therefore is God, who glorified in counsel His Saint, because He makes His Saints, who are on earth, wonderful: since all, as Blessed David says, His wills are in them. Psal. 15, 3., Ps. 30, 22. For indeed He magnified His mercy in the fortified city by glorifying His holy servant Martha, and in turn was glorified in her.

[71] Very many others also, approaching the case of the Relics of B. Martha, were cured of various sicknesses and demon-vexations. Of two brothers exceedingly calamitous Whose fame when two Brothers Proaeresius and Hilarion, sprung from Phrygia, had perceived; and had besides heard the marvels, which God worked through S. Symeon His servant; both resolved to betake themselves to him, about to seek a remedy for their most grave necessity and despair. For Hilarion was held by a most difficult evil, and with his foot putrefied emitted so great a stench, that no one could stand by him, nay by the sentence of physicians he was held for one given up: but his elder brother Proaeresius bore his right hand in the lower part so dislocated and relaxed, that he could not move it at all. Both therefore being carried by some of their household into a ship, were conveyed to the monastery. But before they had ascended to the column and the Saint, Hilarion approached by chance nearer to the tomb of B. Martha; the one at B. Martha's tomb is suddenly cured, where suddenly the pains, by which he was pressed, were not moderately remitted and soothed. For the devil, who under the appearance of disease had concealed himself, as if tortured by fire, wailing and lamenting fled thence through the intercession of B. Martha: and so shortly after he was relieved of all pain altogether; and the sacred dust being sprinkled on his incurable wound, it was straightway purged, flesh grew over it, and the man was perfectly healed.

[72] Proaeresius moreover ascended to the Saint, and prolix thanks being given for his Brother, prayed nothing for the cure of his right hand. But the Saint, penetrating the worst conception of his mind; O foolish, said he, and slow of heart to believe, as the Lord says; wherefore dost thou too not seek grace from God, the other blasphemous, and ejected by Symeon, by which thy hand may be cured? Luc. 24, 25. But he, tempted by the devil, dared to reply: If Christ Himself, the Son of God, coming hither should touch my hand, I do not believe it would be rightly. Symeon indignant at so great a blasphemy, ordered the man to be ejected thence, and prohibited from returning to the column. Who afterward restored to mind, tarried a second and third day with compunct mind, much weeping, and repenting of so great a blasphemy: and so secretly from all touched the tomb of B. Martha, imploring mercy and pardon through her intercession. But the omnipotent and kind God, no account being had of his infidelity, endowed him with health through His holy servant, and his hand was restored to him as sound as the other. the penitent finds healing there. Then he confessed and prostrated to the Saint asked pardon of his sin and foolish speech. And the servant of God said: Behold the Son of God is merciful, who, thy sins being neglected, willed to bestow this grace on His servant, by which He cured thee: remain therefore penitent and henceforth sin not against Him through infidelity, lest something worse befall thee.

[73] And these few things out of many we have judged it advisable to commit to writing, B. Martha bestowed many other benefits, for the edification and emolument of faithful readers: passing over more things in silence, lest with weak ears we be grievous by the multitude of things said: for many also at that time, B. Martha interceding, miracles followed; and now without intermission He bestows healings through her (as those are taught by experience who approach with faith) Jesus Christ, the same yesterday and today and forever; who works all things in all. For she, dwelling with God's lovers, and expressing in herself the virtues and perfection of all who live holily, became truly the good odor of Christ and the habitation of the holy Spirit: and now bestows them being more closely joined to God. by whom strengthened then indeed she shone with exceptional works of piety, and was set forth to all as an example of right conversation; but now admitted nearer to the throne of grace, she offers with confidence her prayers to Christ the Lord for us, demanding and obtaining peace, salvation, grace and mercy. For the Lord will do the will of those who fear Him, and will hear their prayers, who pursues men with love, to Him be glory unto the ages of ages. Amen.

ANNOTATA C. I.