ON BLESSED MARTHA
HEGUMENA OF MONEMVASIA IN LACONIA.
THE 10TH CENTURY.
A FRAGMENT OF THE LIFE
From a Florentine Ms., Translator C. Janning.
Martha the Hegumena, of Monemvasia in Laconia (B.)
BY THE AUTHOR C. J.
Besides the Life of B. Martha, the mother of Symeon the Stylite on the Mount-wonderful, which from the Florentine Library we have already given: of another also of the same name, Of another Martha of a day unknown to us but far younger and much separated in place, a short elogium or one or another miracle the Fathers, my Masters, found in a Ms. in the Library of the Duke of Savoy: which (if no other cause remained) even for this reason can seem to be made public, because that Library, now reduced to ashes with no slight detriment to letters, has been snatched away by the voracious flames, and perhaps cannot be found elsewhere. I would not however that the Reader attribute more sanctity to this woman, than from the following narration he shall have judged to belong to her: since from elsewhere not only nothing of her cultus, but not even of her name or life has become known to us. No day also is ascribed, and therefore fleeing to the name, we have judged it best to subjoin her to the other Martha. The title moreover comprehends several things, of which in the narration there is not a word; which if any zealous of this Work, to be promoted to the glory of God and the Saints, can communicate to us, they will deserve well of very many. But the title is, as follows.
[2] Παύλου Ἀρχιεπισκόπου Μονεμβασίας διήγεσις ψυχοφελὴς, περὶ τῶν εὐαρέτων καὶ θεοσεβῶν ἀνδρῶν τε καὶ γυναικῶν, καὶ περὶ τῶν τριῶν ἁγίων Γυναικῶν, τῶν ἀναιρεθέντων ἐπὶ Κονσταντίνου τοῦ Βασιλέως, τοῦ υἰοῦ τοῦ Λέοντος καὶ Ζωῆς, γαμβροῦ δὲ Ῥωμανοῦ Βασιλέως τοῦ Γέροντος, καὶ περὶ τῆς μακαρίας Μάρθας, τῆς Ἡγουμένης τοῦ πανσέπτου ναοῦ τῆς ὑπεγαγίας Θεοθόκου, ἐν τῇ θεοφρουρήτῳ πόλει Μονεμβασίας, κάθωθεν τῆς ὁδηγηρίας τοῦ αὐτοῦ κάστροῦ ἄνωθεν τοῦ Βλυχαροῦ ὕδατος. That is: A narration of Paul the Archbishop a of Monemvasia, very useful, concerning the best and religious men and women, and also concerning the three holy women, slain under Constantine b the Emperor, son of Leo and c Zoe, son-in-law of Romanus the elder Emperor: likewise concerning B. Martha d the Hegumena of the venerable church of the most holy Mother of God in the city, safe by divine protection, Monemvasia; below the way of the same castle, above the Blychara water. But the narration concerning Martha alone is such.
[3] Ἐπὶ τῶν ἡμετέρων προγόνων, ἐν τῷ κάτω μοναστηρίῳ τῆς ὑπεραγίας Θεοτόκου, ἦν Ἡγουμένη ἡ μακαρία Μάρθα, καὶ ἡ αὐτὴ ἦν ἐνάρετος, ὡς μὴ ἄλλην τινὰ τοιαύτην δείκνυσθαι ἐν τῷ κάστρῳ Μονεμβασίας. Συνέβη οὖν αὐτῇ αἱμοῤῥοεῖν, καὶ διὰ τὴν τοιαύτην ἀσθένειαν ἐν τοῖς κατηχουμένοις ἐσχόλαζεν τοῦ αὐτοῦ ἁγίου ναοῦ. Ἐν μιᾷ οὖν τῶν ἡμερῶν μοναχός τις γέρων ἦλθεν ἐν τῷ τοιούτῳ
Continebantur autem illis obscuriores quædam famuli Dei Moysis locutiones, quæ admodum difficiles explicatu visæ sunt exiguitati meæ: & quoniam dubito, utrum quarumdam sensa recte capiam, dignare, Domine, planiorem mihi reddere earumdem intellectum per venerandas litteras vestras. Tum alia quædam attribuistis humilitati meæ ex thesauro ingenii vestri, quorum misellus ego nihil umquam possedi. Vos namque, familiares ac amici Dei cum sitis, & crucifixeritis vos cum salvatore nostro Jesu Christo, propius a Cherubinis abestis, non cessantes diu noctuque cum cælestibus choris laudes illius celebrare. Qua propter rogo vos, qui sanctissimi estis, ut in hymnis vestris, quos Deo continenter canitis, humilitatem meam simul offeratis; quo, auxiliantibus sanctis acceptisque Deo precibus vestris, propitiationem meorum consequar peccatorum: idque ut effectum detis, etiam atque etiam per amorem Christi vos oro atque obsecro, venerande Pater.
[69] I send moreover, 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, the upper and lower, I have enclosed something of the holy stone, which by the aid of the holy Angel was rolled away from the door of the glorious and immaculate sepulcher of our Lord God and saviour Jesus Christ: which itself likewise is bare, that it may better be adored. These things therefore when thou shalt have 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 the saviour Christ a little of mercy, 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 most earnestly I ask of you, Lord, that you write back to my humility, and exhilarate me with your divine letters and instructions.
[70] Moreover Antonius the Presbyter who merited to perform such a ministry, 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 of 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 he were tortured by fire, wailing and lamenting fled thence through the intercession of B. Martha: and so a short time 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 have it 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 his 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.
ANNOTATA C. I.
ON BLESSED MARTHA
HEGUMENA OF MONEMVASIA IN LACONIA.
THE 10TH CENTURY.
A FRAGMENT OF THE LIFE
From a Florentine Ms., Translator C. Janning.
Martha the Hegumena, of Monemvasia in Laconia (B.)
BY THE AUTHOR C. J.
Besides the Life of B. Martha, the mother of Symeon the Stylite on the Mount-wonderful, which from the Florentine Library we have already given: of another also of the same name, Of another Martha of a day unknown to us but far younger and much separated in place, a short elogium or one or another miracle the Fathers, my Masters, found in a Ms. in the Library of the Duke of Savoy: which (if no other cause remained) even for this reason can seem to be made public, because that Library, now reduced to ashes with no slight detriment to letters, has been snatched away by the voracious flames, and perhaps cannot be found elsewhere. I would not however that the Reader attribute more sanctity to this woman, than from the following narration he shall have judged to belong to her: since from elsewhere not only nothing of her cultus, but not even of her name or life has become known to us. No day also is ascribed, and therefore fleeing to the name, we have judged it best to subjoin her to the other Martha. The title moreover comprehends several things, of which in the narration there is not even a word; which if any zealous of this Work, to be promoted to the glory of God and the Saints, can communicate to us, they will deserve well of very many. But the title is, as follows.
[2] Παύλου Ἀρχιεπισκόπου Μονεμβασίας διήγεσις ψυχοφελὴς, περὶ τῶν εὐαρέτων καὶ θεοσεβῶν ἀνδρῶν τε καὶ γυναικῶν, καὶ περὶ τῶν τριῶν ἁγίων Γυναικῶν, τῶν ἀναιρεθέντων ἐπὶ Κονσταντίνου τοῦ Βασιλέως, τοῦ υἰοῦ τοῦ Λέοντος καὶ Ζωῆς, γαμβροῦ δὲ Ῥωμανοῦ Βασιλέως τοῦ Γέροντος, καὶ περὶ τῆς μακαρίας Μάρθας, τῆς Ἡγουμένης τοῦ πανσέπτου ναοῦ τῆς ὑπεγαγίας Θεοθόκου, ἐν τῇ θεοφρουρήτῳ πόλει Μονεμβασίας, κάθωθεν τῆς ὁδηγηρίας τοῦ αὐτοῦ κάστροῦ ἄνωθεν τοῦ Βλυχαροῦ ὕδατος. That is: A spiritually profitable narration of Paul the Archbishop a of Monemvasia, concerning the virtuous and God-fearing men and women, and concerning the three holy Women, slain under Constantine [b] the Emperor, son of Leo and [c] Zoe, son-in-law of Romanus the elder Emperor: likewise concerning B. Martha [d] the Hegumena of the all-venerable temple of the most holy Mother of God in the city, safe by divine protection, Monemvasia; below the way of the same castle, above the Blychara water. But the narration concerning Martha alone is such.
[3] Ἐπὶ τῶν ἡμετέρων προγόνων, ἐν τῷ κάτω μοναστηρίῳ τῆς ὑπεραγίας Θεοτόκου, ἦν Ἡγουμένη ἡ μακαρία Μάρθα, καὶ ἡ αὐτὴ ἦν ἐνάρετος, ὡς μὴ ἄλλην τινὰ τοιαύτην δείκνυσθαι ἐν τῷ κάστρῳ Μονεμβασίας. Συνέβη οὖν αὐτῇ αἱμοῤῥοεῖν, καὶ διὰ τὴν τοιαύτην ἀσθένειαν ἐν τοῖς κατηχουμένοις ἐσχόλαζεν τοῦ αὐτοῦ ἁγίου ναοῦ. Ἐν μιᾷ οὖν τῶν ἡμερῶν μοναχός τις γέρων ἦλθεν ἐν τῷ τοιούτῳ
μοναστηρίῳ, ἐπεζήτει τὴν Ἡγουμένην θεάσασθαι. Ὡς οὖν ἀπήγγειλαν αὐτῇ αἱ μονάζουσαι ὅτι μοναχός τις ξένος ἐπεζήτει σε ἰδεῖν, προσέταξεν ἀνελθεῖν αὐτὸν ἐν τοῖς κατηχουμένοις. Ὁ δὲ ἀνελθὼν, ᾐτεῖτο ἓν τῶν ἱματίων αὐτῆς δοθῆναι αὐτῷ. Ἡ δὲ πρὸς αὐτὸν εἶπε· Πίστευσον, Πάτερ, ὅτι δύο χιτῶνας κέκτημαι, καὶ τὸν ἕνα, ὡς ὁρᾷς, εἰμι ἐνδεδυμένη, καὶ τὸν ἕτερον ἀρτίως ἔπληνεν ἡ ἐμὴ θεράπαινα, ὅπως ἐνδύσομαι αὐτὸν, καὶ ἐκπλύνεται πάλιν ὅν εἰμι ἐνδεδυμένη, διὰ τὴν ἐπισυμβάσαν μοι κατὰ τὰς ἀμαρτίας ἀσθένειαν· ἀλλ᾽ εἰ κελεύεις, ζητήσω ἐκ τῶν μοναζουσῶν ἱμάτιον καὶ ἐπιδώσω σοι. Ὁ δὲ γέρων ἀκούσας ταῦτα, πεσὼν ἐπὶ πρόσωπον, εἶπεν· Ὁρκίζω σε εἰς Χριστὸν τὸν Θεὸν ἡμῶν, τὸν τεκθέντα ἐκ τῆς ἁγίας παρθένου Μαρίας, ἐκ τῶν σῶν ἱματίων δός μοι ἕν. Τότε ἡ Μακαρία ἐκείνη, ὡς ἤκουσε ταῦτα, προσέταξε τὴν ὑπηρετοῦσαν αὐτὴν δωρήσασθαι τῷ μοναχῷ τὸν ἐκπλυθέντα χιτῶνα. Ὁ δὲ τοῦτον λαβὼν ὡς ἐκ τῶν κατηχουμένων κατῆλθεν, ἔστη ἡ ῥύσις τοῦ αἵματος τῆς ἀοιδίμου ἐκείνης. Ὡς δὲ ᾔσθετο τῆς γεγονυίας αὐτῇ θαυματουργίας, ἀπέσταλε μετὰ σπουδῆς μοναζούσας κελεῦσαι τὸν γέροντα· ὡς δὲ ἐξῆθον ἐκ τοῦ μοναστηρίου αἱ μονάζουσαι ἔνθεν καὶ ἔνθεν, οὐδαμῶς τοῦτον θεάσασθαι ἐδυνήθησαν.
[4] Τὴν τοιαύτην ἡμέραν καὶ ὥραν ὤφθη ὁ γέρων ἐκεῖνος, ὁ φαινόμενος ὡς μοναχὸς, ἐν Θεσσαλονίκῃ Μονεμβασιώταις τισὶ, οὖσιν ἐκεῖσε δι᾽ οἰκείας αὐτῶν δουλείας, καὶ εἶπεν αὐτοῖς· Γινώσκεται τὴν Κυρίαν τὴν Ἡγουμένην τοῦ κάτω μοναστηρίου ἐν Μονεμβασίᾳ; Οἱ δὲ ἀπεκρίθησαν, Ναί πάνυ γινώσκομεν αὐτὴν καὶ συγγενὴς ἡμῶν ἐστι. Ὁ δὲ γέρων, … ἀρτίως, καὶ αὐτή μοι δέδωκεν τοῦτο τὸ ἱμάτιον· ἀλλ᾽ ὑπάγοντες εἰς Μονεμβασίαν, εἴπατε, αὐτὴν … καὶ τοῦτο εἰπὼν ἐξῆλθεν ἐξ αὐτῶν. Οἱ δὲ κατώπιν αὐτοῦ ἔδραμεν, ἐρωτῆσαι αὐτὸν. Οἱ δὲ θαυμάσαντες ἐσημειώσαντο τὴν ἡμέραν καὶ τὴν ὥραν, ὅτε ὤφθη αὐτοῖς, καὶ ὡς ὑπέστρεψαν ἐν Μονεμβασίᾳ ἐλθόντες καὶ τὴν μακαρίαν Ἡγουμένην εὑρόντες ἐπληρωφορήθησαν παρ᾽ αὐτῆς τὴν αὐτὴν ἡμέραν καὶ ὥραν, ὅτε ἔστη ἡ ῥύσις τοῦ αἵματος αὐτῆς· καὶ θαυμάσαντες καὶ δοξάζοντες τὸν Θεὸν, ὑπέλαβον ἐκεῖνον εἶναι τὸν ὡς γέροντα ὀρθέντα, τὸν θεολόγον καὶ εὐαγγελιστὴν Ἰωάννην.
[5] Αὕτη ἡ μακαρία Μάρθα τῆς ἑορτῆς τελουμένς τῆς κοιμήσεως τῆς ὑπεραγίου, Θεοτόκου, ὡς ἦν ἐν τοῖς κατηχουμένοις καὶ τοῦ ὀρθρινοῦ ὔμνου ἐπιετέλουν αἱ μονάζουσαι, ἐθεώρει ἐν τῷ θυσιαστηρίῳ τοῦ ἁγίου ἐκεῖνου ναοῦ ἐπὶ τοῦ θρόνου καθεζομένην τὴν πανύμνυτον Θεοτόκον, καὶ ταύτην βλέπουσα ἀκαταπαύστως ἐδάκρυεν. Ὡς οὖν πρὸς τὸ τέλος τῆς ὀρθρινῆς δοξολογίας ἤρξαντο αἱ μονάζουσαι ψάλλειν μετὰ φωνᾶς ἰσχυρᾶς, ἡ θεωρία τῆς δεσποίνας ἡμῶν Θεοτόκου ἠκ τῶν ὀφθαλμῶν τῆς ἀοιδήμου ἐκείνης ἀφανὴς ἐγένετο, καὶ εὐθέως ἔκραξα λέγουσα· Ὢ τί ἐποιήσατε; Αἱ δὲ θαμβεθεῖσαι, μετὰ τὴν συμπλήρωσιν τῆς ὀρθρινῆς δοξολογίας, ἠρώτων αὐτὴν, διὰ τί ἔκραξεν; Ἡ δὲ ἀπήγγειλεν αὐταῖς τὴν φοβερὰν ἐκείνην θέαν, καὶ παρήγγειλεν ἀπὸ τότε ἠσυχῶς ψάλλειν καὶ μετὰ σηντετριμμένης καρδίας. Οἱ γὰρ παριστάμενοι ἐπιγηίῳ Βασιλεῖ, ἀνθρώπῳ φθάρτῳ καὶ ὁμοιοπαθεῖ, οὐ τολμῶσι περιστραφῆναι ἔνθεν καὶ ἔνθεν, ἀλλά μεταβεβλημένου τοῦ φρονήματος παρίστανται, κάτω νεύοντες, μήπως προσκρούσωσι τῷ Βασιλεῖ· καὶ πόσον μᾶλλον ἡμεῖς, αἱ τῷ ἐπουρανίῳ καὶ φοβερῷ Βασιλεῖ, τῷ αφθάρτῳ καὶ αἰωνίω δημιουργῷ πάσης κτίσεως ὁρατῆς καὶ νοουμένης παρίστασαι μέλλομεν σπουδεῖν μήπως προσκρούσωμεν αὐτῷ καὶ ἐνοχοι γενώμεθα τῶν αἰωνίων κολάσεων. Τοῖς τοιούτοις λόγοις τάς ἐμπιστευθείσας αὐτῇ ψυχὰς… ἀσκήσεως δρόμον καλῶς διανύσασα, μέτεστι πρὸς Κύριον, παρ᾽ αὐτοῦ κομισαμένη τὸν τῆς ἀσκήσεως καὶ ὑπομονῆς αἰώνιον μισθὸν σὺν τοῖς ἄλλοις. Καὶ ταῦτα συνέγραψεν ὁ προειράμενος Παῦλος Ἐπίσκοπος Μονεμβασίας, γέννημα καὶ θρέμμα τῆς αὐτῆς πόλεως.
[6] In the times of our elders there was in the lower monastery of the most holy Mother of God B. Martha the Hegumena, so excellent in virtue, B. Martha the Hegumena, laboring with a flux of blood, that no one to be compared to her was found in the castle of Monemvasia. But it happened that she labored with an issue of blood, and therefore tarried in the e Catechumenia of that holy church. On a certain day there came into that monastery a certain monk of advanced age, wishing to address the Hegumena. Which when they announced to her the nuns; she commanded, that he should ascend to the Catechumenia: whither after he had striven, he asked that one of her garments be given him. But the Hegumena said: Believe, Father, I have only two tunics, of which one, as thou seest, I am clothed in; the other my handmaid has just washed, that I may clothe myself in it, while she cleanses this, with which I am now covered on account of the infirmity, which has invaded me for the cause of my sins. But, if thou so commandest, I will bestow on thee some garment of the nuns sought out. Which things heard, the old man fell on his face, saying: to an unknown monk asking she gives her own garment, I adjure thee by Christ our God, who was born of the holy virgin Mary, that thou give me one of thy garments. Then that Blessed woman, when she heard these things, commanded the woman serving her to give the monk the washed tunic. He received it, and descended from the Catechumenia; when suddenly the flux of blood of that celebrated woman stopped: and she is healed, he vanishing: which prodigy wrought in herself when she perceived; she sent with haste nuns to seek the old man: but having gone out from the monastery here and there, they could by no means find him.
[7] On the same day and hour the same old man, clothed in the appearance of a monk, appeared to certain men of Monemvasia at Thessalonica, where they were transacting their own business; who at the same hour appearing elsewhere also to others, and said: Do you know the Lady Hegumena of the lower monastery of Monemvasia? Who answered, Indeed, we know her very well, and she is related to us by blood. Again the old man: Just now I saw her and she has bestowed on me this garment: but going to Monemvasia tell, f that she was healed by S. John the Theologian and Evangelist: and these things said, he went out from them. But they followed him departing, about to question more diligently; but he vanished from their eyes. he is thought to have been S. John the Evangelist. Wherefore having wondered, they noted the day and hour, on which he had appeared: and returned to Monemvasia, the blessed Hegumena being found, they were made more certain, that it was the same day and hour, on which the flux of blood had ceased: hence with admiration praising God, they suspected, that the old man had been the Theologian and Evangelist John.
[8] This same B. Martha, the festal day of the death of the most holy Mother of God being celebrated, when she was in the Catechumenia; and the nuns were performing the morning hymns; beheld in the sanctuary of that holy church sitting on the throne, She sees the B. Virgin in the temple, the all-laudable Mother of God, most worthy of all praise: and while she beheld, she wept continually. But when the nuns toward the end of the hymns began to intone with a clearer sound; the spectacle of our Lady the Mother of God departed from the sight of the venerable Martha, who exclaimed straightway: O what have you done! But they being terrified and after the hymns asking, why she had so exclaimed: she narrated that fearful spectacle, and commanded that thenceforth they sing more modestly and with contrite heart. and she teaches the nuns, with how great modesty one must sing to God. For they, said she, who stand by an earthly King, a man liable to corruption and to pains as well as another, do not dare to turn themselves here and there, but with cast-down face and mind stand still, lest perhaps they offend the King. With how much greater right therefore must we be busy, who stand by the heavenly and dread King, the incorruptible and everlasting artificer of every creature visible and conceivable, lest perchance we incur His offense and eternal punishments. By such words instructing the souls entrusted to her, the stadium of her exercise being well run through, she passed to the Lord, about to receive from Him the eternal reward of her exercise and patience with the others. And these things were written by the aforesaid Paul Bishop of Monemvasia, born and nourished in the same city.