THE

BOOK OF THE SAINTS

OF THE ETHIOPIAN CHURCH
A translation of the Ethiopic Synaxarium
መጽሐፈ ፡ስክሳር ፡
made from the manuscripts Oriental
660 and 661 in the British
Museum
by

SIR E . A . WALLIS BUDGE, Kt

M . A . and Litt. D . Cambridge, M .A . and D .Litt .Oxford ,
Lit.D . Durham , F .S.A . Sometime Keeper of
the Egyptian and Assyrian Antiquities
in the British Museum .
Star of Ethiopia ,
3rd class

Volume I
Maskaram Těķěmt Khědâr
(September 8 - December 6 )

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 CONTENTS
Volume I
Preface . . . . . . . page ix
Introduction . . . . . . . . xiii
The Ethiopic Synaxarium . Its Compilers and Con
tents . . . . . . . . xiii
The Codices of the Maşhafa Sěnkěsâr . . . xxviii
The Publication of the Maşhafa Sěnkėsâr . xxxiii
Salutations to the Saints and Martyrs for the month
of Sanê . . . . . . . . Xxxvii
The Jacobite Patriarchs of Alexandria . . . xlix
The Melchite Patriarchs of Alexandria . li

The Patriarchs of Constantinople . .. liv

The Popes of Rome . . . . . lxi

The Patriarchs of Antioch . . . . . lxvii

Commemoration of Iyâsû I 'Adyâm Sagad , King of
Abyssinia from 1682 to 1706 . . . . lxxii

List of the Saints and Martyrs, and Events Com

memorated during themonths ofMaskaram , Těķěmt
and Khedâr . . . . . . . .. lxxx
The Saints commemorated in the month of Maskaram
The Saints commemorated in the month of ļēķěmt . 107
The Saints commemorated in the month ofKhědâr . 203
 TS
viii CONTEN

Volume II
The Saints commemorated in themonth of Tâkhshash page 309
The Saints commemorated in the month of Įěr . 434
The Saints commemorated in the month of Yakâtît . 571

Volume III
bit ..
The Saints commemorated in the month of Magâbît 662
The Saints commemorated in the month of Mîyâzyâ . 773
The Saints commemorated in the month of Genbôt . 848

Volume IV
The Saints commemorated in the month of Sanê . 955
The Saints commemorated in the month of Hamle . 1049
The Saints commemorated in the month of Naḥassê . 1177
Index . . . . . . . . . 1289
 PREFACE

The want of a translation into some European language of the

ETHIOPIC SYNAXARIUM (MAŞHAFA SỀNKỀSÂR ) has been
long felt by students of the Literatures of Oriental Christianity .
For none of the extracts printed in Ethiopic, and none of the
general descriptions of that work in German or English that are
found in the published accounts of Ethiopic Literature, have
succeeded in giving a true idea of the nature and scope and
variety of the contents of that voluminous work. For some
years Bruce's incorrect and contemptuous description of the
" Synaxar” (see p . xxxiii)prevented students from examining the
manuscripts of the MAŞŅAFA SĚN KĚSÂR for themselves, and
it was not until Dillmann and Professor William Wright of
Cambridge had published lists of the contents of the Codices
in the British Museum and Bodleian Library, that the historian
and theologian regarded the work as worthy of serious study.
Wright was no sentimental admirer of the literature ofmiracles ,
whether Ethiopian or European , but he certainly did regard
the MAŞHAFA SĚNKĚSÂR as a work of very considerable
historical and religious value. On many occasions in 1882 and
1883 , when reading with him the extracts from it in the section
“ De viris sanctis ” in Dillmann 's Chrestomathia Aethiopica , he
impressed upon me the importance of reading the whole work
for the sake of the historical facts which were to be found in
it throughout. As Wright had read through, for cataloguing
purposes, the whole of the 350 manuscripts which the British
Army brought back from Maķdalâ , I regarded and , having
read through the book , still regard his opinion as incontro
vertible .
The first to conceive the idea of publishing the MAŞŅAFA
SĚNKĚSÂR in its entirety was, I believe, the late Marquess of
BESI
 PREFACE

Bute. In 1895 he decided to publish the Ethiopic text with an

English translation , and commissioned me to undertake the
work, which I began forthwith and continued for nearly two
years . (For further details see p . xxxv.) In 1897 M . L 'Abbé
Graffin brought before the Oriental Congress, which sat in Paris
that year , a proposal for the publication of the text of the
MAŞŅAFA SỀN KỀSÂR with a French translation , and as his
plan was generally approved by the Orientalists he began to
take steps to carry it out. He obtained the help of four dis
tinguished Ethiopic scholars , and each undertook to edit and
translate a section dealing with three months of the year.
Their work was to be published in various fasciculi of the Abbé
Graffin 's great work the Patrologia Orientalis. On hearing of
this decision I felt that any attempt I could make to compete
with such a syndicate of scholars must fail. I abandoned the
work , and at the wish of Lord Bute prepared for publication
the edition of the Contendings of the Apostles (Gadla Ħawâryât)
which appeared in 1899 and 1901. The progress in the publica
tion of the Abbé Graffin 's edition has been slow , and now ,
nearly 30 years after the sanction ofhis proposal by the Oriental
Congress, little more than a half of the MAŞŅAFA SĚN KĚSÂR
has been printed by him . As the need for a translation is
greater than ever it was, it seemed to me that, without unduly
trespassing on a field ofwork marked out so long ago by other
students , I might publish my complete English translation of
that highly interesting work which had lain among my papers
for about II years.
The translation printed in the following pages has been made
from the famous Codex in the British Museum (Orient. Nos.
660 and 661) which was copied by the scribe Takla Hâymânôt
in one year and onemonth . It was begun in the 21st year of the
reign of Fâsîladas, King ofAbyssinia (A .M . 7147 = A. D. 1654 -55).
The manuscript is well written , and Takla Hâymânôt was
evidently a competent scribe ; here and there he omits words,
 PREFACE
and even whole lines, but the manuscript is one of the best
examples of the Second Recension of the MAŞŅAFA SĚNKĚSÂR
to which it belongs. The few passages which contain faulty or
defective readings are indicated by dots . . . . The translation
has been made as literal as possible , and the Ethiopic text of
the manuscripts is so good that only a few passages have
needed paraphrasing. The proper names are a subject of con
siderable difficulty. The Ethiopian scribe made his translations
of them from the Arabic version of the Jacobite Synaxarium ,
in which many Greek and Roman names appear in corrupt
forms. In some of the sections two or three , and even four,
different forms of the same name will be found. And many of
the saints who are commemorated I have found it impossible
to identify .
The MASŅAFA SĚNKĚSÂ R is a vast storehouse of Christian
legends and traditions and popular folk -lore, and as a whole it
illustrates clearly the history of Egyptian , Nubian and Ethio
pian Christianity for a period of about thirteen hundred years.
Some of the historical statements made in it are incorrect,
facts are distorted, the actions of religious opponents are mis
represented, the sufferings and numbers of the martyrs are
exaggerated , and the miracles out-miracle those recorded in the
Old and New Testaments ; but in spite of all this the work is
full of interesting information , much of which is found nowhere
else . The esteem in which the book was held in Abyssinia is
proved by the existence of the large number of copies of it
which are now preserved in the great libraries on the Continent
and in England. The full history of its origin and growth and
development has yet to be written, but this can hardly be done
until the whole of the Ethiopic text has been printed.
In the Introduction to this translation the reader will find
sections in which the compilation and the general contents of
the MAŞŅAFA SĚNKĚSÂR are described, and the lists of the
Patriarchs of Alexandria , Antioch and Constantinople, and
62
 E
xij PREFAC

the Popes of Rome, with their dates , which have been drawn
up and checked with the aid of the invaluable work of M .
Chaine, will be found useful for chronological purposes. The
Index of proper names and things has been made tolerably
full, for to a work of such miscellaneous contents an Index of
this kind is absolutely necessary . The reading of the proofs has
been a laborious task , but I have been greatly helped by the
readers of the Cambridge Press , whose skill and accuracy are
well known , and I am grateful for their suggestions and help .
And my thanks are due also to Mr S . C . Roberts, Secretary
to the Syndics of the Press, and to their printer, Mr Lewis, for
the care they have shewn in the production of this book .
E . A . WALLIS BUDGE

48 Bloomsbury Street,
Bedford Square, W .C . 1 .
November 21st, 1927.
 INTRODUCTION
THE ETHIOPIC SYNAXARIUM. ITS
COMPILERS & CONTENTS
( M ASHA F A sENKES AR መጽሐፈ ፡ስንክሳር ፡)
The ETHIOPIC SYNAXARIUM or " Book of the Saints of the
Ethiopian Church ,” as I have called the present translation of
the work , contains the histories of angels and archangels and
their dealings with men , and narratives of the lives of the
patriarchs, prophets, apostles, archbishops, bishops, anchorites,
coenobites and famous ascetics who lived in the deserts of
Egypt and Ethiopia . These histories and narratives were trans
lated into Ethiopic (Gěʻěz) from Arabic ; the Arabic versions
were made from “ Lives of Saints ” written in Coptic , and these
were in turn translated from Greek and , sometimes, Syriac
originals. Most of the saints commemorated in the MAŞĦAFA
SĚNKĚSÂR were martyrs . The great ascetics, e. g . Anthony
and Pachomius, are belauded , but the names of very few of the
famous solitaries and anchorites whose lives are given by
Palladius in his “ Paradise of the Fathers " find mention in the
Ethiopic work . It is quite certain that the compilers of the
SĚNKĚSÂR had knowledge of the founders of the monastic
life who lived in the Scete Desert, and in Akhmîm and Aswân
and other places in Upper Egypt, because we find Ethiopic
versions of the histories of them , and of their “ Sayings ” and
“ Questions and Answers,” in the “ Gannat ” 77 : (i.e. " the
Garden ,” or “ Paradise ” ), and in " The Book of the Histories of
the Fathers " alichbo: SUOD . : mhn . : (Brit .Mus.Ms. Orient.
No. 766 ), “ The strife of theHoly Fathers " Zeraino .: 883 :
or the " Garden of the Monks ” 25t : crnnt : (Brit. Mus. MS.
Orient.No. 763). Speaking generally the MAŞŅAFA SÈNKĚSÂR
is the Ethiopian Book of Martyrs.
In the title of the Ethiopic work the compilation is said to have
been made by “ the honourable father Abbâ Mîkâ'êl (Michael),
xiv INTRODUCTION
Bishop of the city of 'Atrîb and Malîg X + 6N0001 , 9 and
the honourable father Abbâ John, Bishop of Bûrles ( -CAN : and
the other holy and honourable Fathers who collected materials
for the sĚNKĚSÂR from the old lives of saints and martyrs.”
Of the life of Michael, Bishop of Athribis nothing is known ,
and it is not very certain when he lived , but there seems to be
no doubt that a bishop of Athribis called Michael was the com
piler of the Jacobite Synaxarium (see Vansleb , Hist. de l'Église
d 'Alexandrie, pp. 333- 335). He must have been a man of great
learning and his see was so important that we may justly
assume that he possessed great authority in the Jacobite
Church of Egypt. Athribis was a very ancient city, and it was
the capital of the Xth nomeof Lower Egypt; it was situated in
the south of the Delta between two of the branches of the Nile ,
and not far from Banhâ. The ancient Egyptians called the city
He-t ta her åb - i.e.“ House of the middle land,”
and from this nameare formed theCopticaepehe,the Arabic w peut
Atrîb , and the Assyrian Kha -at-khi- ri-bi -EN HEEL & - TE .
The chief goddess of the nome Athribites was Hathor, and
when the Egyptians in the Delta adopted Christianity the
Virgin Mary took her place in the religious system of the people.
In the seventh century of our era there was a very famous
church dedicated to the Virgin Mary at Athribis, and according
to an Arabic ms. in the Bibliothèque Nationale it was built of
stone and was 160 cubits (i.e . about 270 feet ) in length. It had
four doors, and there were in it 160 pillars. The sculptured apse
and altar were decorated with gold and silver inlayings, and
it contained a silk -clad figure of the Virgin inlaid with semi
precious stones, and portraits of Michael, Gabriel and other
angels. The lamps and candelabra were made of gold and
silver and the lights in them burned continually . (Amélineau ,
Géog . de l'Égypte, pp. 67, 68.)
The situation of Malîg , which formed part of the diocese of
Michael, one
M of the compilers of the sĚNKĚSÂR, is not easily
alig is undoubtedly
defined. Malig Madr the meaex (Meledj) of the Copts
l o i an
and the condo (Malîg or Malij) ofc ,thed Arabs. But we also find
i g r
the form Mêdjel maxna in Coptic, and this is given as a variant
 THE ETHIOPIC SYNAXARIUM XV

of mehes. In a list of the Bishops of Egypt quoted by Améli

neau (op . cit. p . 244) we have this equation :
metedoc = thars maxha = ögi coss steg Juss,
that is to say, Metelos is the town Madjêl, that is Maşil,which
is Fuah . Metelos ( the Metêlis of the Greeks) is no doubtMeledj,
or Mêdjel, or Madjêl, or Melîg , or Malîg , and it seems certain
thatMaşîl and Madjêl are one and the same town , the transcrip
tion of x dj by vo s being due to the local pronunciation . The
town or village of Fuah was added to the diocese of the Bishop
of Athribis when the importance of Metelos declined.
Of John of Bûrles , the collaborator with Michael the Bishop
of Malîg , nothing much is known except that he was Bishop of
Bûrles; he is mentioned in the Jacobite Synaxarium in the
section dealing with the 19th day of the month of Kihak (see
Vansleb , op. cit. p . 18). The town of Bûrles was situated on the
side of the great lake of the samename, between Damietta and
Rosetta. The diocese was very old , for Athanasius, the bishop
of the day, attended the Council of Ephesus. (Amélineau , Géog.
de l'Égypte , p . 104.) The little town had various names, i.e .
Parallou , Nikedjouaou and Paralia , for in a list of bishops we
find that napaalor = nsrexovaor = tnapaasa = wondyl, or
Al-Burles or Al-Burlos. From this it would seem that Bûrles
was the name of a district rather than a town. John was the
author of a work on the Ordinances of the Church and the
Orthodox Faith , and copies of it are extant in Brit. Mus. Add .
16219, Fol. 234 (Dillmann , Catalogus,No.XIV, P . 19) , and Orient.
No. 784, Fol. 193 (Wright, Catalogue, No. CCCXLIV, p . 234), and
a Paris Ms. (Éth . III, Zotenberg, Catalogue, p. 124, $ 64).
According to the manuscripts of the MAŞŅAFA SĚNKĚSÂR
the date of the making of the compilation is somewhat un
certain . The Paris Codex says that it was made in the gozrd
year of the Era of the Martyrs, i.e. A . D . 1187 (Zotenberg,
Catalogue, p . 152) . The British Museum Codex translated in
the following pages dates the compilation in the year 963 of the
Era of the Martyrs, i.e. A . D . 1247 (Orient. 660 and 661, Wright,
Catalogue, p . 152 ). This same date is also found in Brit. Mus.
MS. Add. 16218 , ørhofnoot :0904t : (Dillmann , Catalogus,
xvi INTRODUCTION
p.45 , col. 2). In theOxford Codex the date given is the 983rd year
of the Era of the Martyrs och of: i.e . A .D . 1267 (Dillmann ,
Catalogus Codicum Manuscriptorum Bibliothecae Bodleianae
Oxoniensis, p . 37). But it is quite possible that the scribe wrote
Î (80 ) instead of (60 ). Other writers mentioned by Zoten
berg (op . cit. p . 152) state that Michael, Bishop of Athribis,
lived about the 1141st year of the Era of the Martyrs , i.e .
A .D . 1425. Thus according to one ms. the compilation was made
in the last quarter of the twelfth century , and according to
others in the first quarter of the fifteenth century ; the earlier
date is probably the more correct, and it is quite possible that
the latest date given for the compilation of the work may refer
to a second Recension of the MAŞŅAFA SĚN KĚSÂR .
The compilers of the ETHIOPIC SYNAXARIUM readily
understood that none of the faithful, however pious, would have
either the time or patience to sit down and read from beginning
to end the voluminous work which they had translated and
edited , and they therefore arranged its contents in such a way
that theymight be read piecemeal. Very few private individuals
could ever hope to possess a complete copy of the SYNAX
ARIUM , for only kings and governors or very rich men could
afford to slaughter whole flocks of sheep or goats in order to
obtain the skins on which the work was to be written , or would
possess money enough to pay the scribe, or scribes, for their
labour,which would extend over many months. The churches
in some of the great monasteries possessed copies of the SYN
AXARIUM , and it was ordered that in these a section of the
work was to be read daily, either to the clergy in themonasteries
or to congregations of the laity . The king, or the wealthy owner
of a copy, no doubt arranged that his private chaplain should
read to him a section each day, just as wealthy Muslims caused a
number of the Surahs of the Kur' ân to be read in their houses
or courtyards daily. The ETHIOPIC SYNAXARIUM is usually
bound in two or four volumes. When in two volumes the first
contains the lives of the saints and martyrs which were to be
read during the first six months of the Abyssinian year, and
the second those which were to be read during the second six
months and the intercalary month at the end of them . The
 THE ETHIOPIC SYNAXARIUM xvii

names of the months and the approximate equivalents of the

first days of each in the seventeenth century according to our
reckoning are as follows :
Ist day of MASKARAM = September 8 .
Ist day of TĚK ĚMT = October 8 .
Ist day of KHĚDÂR = November 7 .
Ist day of TÂKHSHÂSH = December 7 .
Ist day of TĚR = January 6 .
Ist day of YAKÂTIT = February 6 .
Ist day of MAGÂBÎT = March 7 .
Ist day of MÎYÂZYÂ = April 6 .
Ist day of GENBÔT = May 6 .
Ist day of SANÊ = June 5 .
Ist day of ĦAMLÊ = July 5.
Ist day of NAHASSÊ = August 4
Ist day of PÂGUĚMÊN = September 3.
The Codices of the SYNAXARIUM which have come down to
us shew that the work was usually bound in two volumes;
the finest example in four volumes known is the Oxford Codex
(Dillmann, Catalogus, Nos. XXII - XXV). One volume of a set of
four containing the months Tâkhshash, Įěr and Yakâtît is
described by Zotenberg, Catalogue, No. 127, p . 178 .
The number of the saints whose lives or martyrdoms are
described , or whose festivals are commemorated , and of those
to whom Salutations are addressed , is considerably over one
thousand.
The lives and descriptions of the martyrdoms of the saints
vary in length from a single column of text to several folios.
The narratives of the Patriarchs are based on the Old Testament,
and those of the Apostles partly upon the Four Gospels, and
the well-known Apocryphal Acts of the Apostles, especially
those which are found in the “ Gadla Hawâryât." 1 The com
pilers of the SYNAXARIUM were acquainted with the famous
old work , the “ Cave of Treasures,” which is attributed to
Ephrem the Syrian , but whether in the original Syriac or an
Arabic translation is not clear (see p . xxii). The sources of a
large number of the legends incorporated in the work have still
to be traced , but it is clear that some were derived from books
1 For the Ethiopic text and an English translation of this work see
Budge, The Contendings of the Apostles , 2 vols . Oxford , 1899 - 1901.
xviii INTRODUCTION
containing stories of Persian, Babylonian and Egyptian origin .
The principalobject of the compilers of theMAŞŅAFA SĚNKĚSÂR
was to instruct believers in the doctrines of the Orthodox
Faith as understood by the Jacobite Church , that is to say that
Christ, the Word of God , was of one Nature , One Person , and
One Essence with the Father . The faithful were to abhor and
hold as accursed the doctrine of the Two Natures as promul
gated by Nestorius and his associates, and the, to the Jacobites ,
abominable sayings and writings of Arius. Another object of
the compilers, almost as important, was to instruct the faithful
in the history of their religion , as illustrated by the lives and
deaths of the martyrs; and the narratives of the saints ' actions
were intended to interest and amuse their hearers as well as
to instruct them . The writers of these narratives often made
mistakes in their historical facts, and the anachronisms in
them are many; they accepted and repeated doubtful legends
and traditions without question , and as a result their lives of
the saints are filled with stories of incredible and impossible
happenings.
The principal sections in each of the portions of the SYNAX
ARIUM to be read day after day deal with the lives and deaths
of the saints whether Apostles or martyrs. The rank and social
condition of each man are first stated ,and then the circumstances
which caused him to become a Christian are given . The various
steps which he took in declaring his Faith are next detailed ,
and then follows the account of his martyrdom . After making
allowance for much exaggeration it is unfortunately only too
clear that in the early centuries of our era “ Christian baiting "
was as much enjoyed by the governors and officials who per
secuted the Christians, as by the populace. The governor called
upon the Christian to renounce his Faith , and to sacrifice to
Apollo and Artemis or some other god or goddess, full well
knowing by experience that it was useless to do so . Then the
executioners or soldiers were ordered to begin their horrid
work, and scenes of incredible cruelty followed . Ears and nose
were slit or cut off, the teeth were smashed and the tongue cut
out, red -hot borers were thrust into the eyes, and dismember
ment and mutilation followed . The Christians were broken on
 THE ETHIOPIC SYNAXARIUM xix
the wheel, or roasted on an iron bed beneath which a fire was
lighted, or beaten to a pulp with iron rods or whips of string
and hide, or thrust into red -hot ovens, or boiled in a mixture
of oil, pitch and bitumen , or scraped with combs or shells , or
tied up in sacks or cast into pits filled with snakes and scorpions,
or thrown to the lions, or tied up in sacks and cast into the sea ,
or crucified head downwards, or eviscerated , or speared to
death , and their agonies were further increased by the vinegar
and salt which were rubbed into their wounds. Many suc
cumbed under these tortures, but some did not, and when , as
we read ,the “ governor was tired of torturing ” the latter he had
their heads cut off with the sword . There is no reason for
doubting that under the Emperors Decius and Diocletian the
Christians were persecuted bitterly, but it is impossible to
accept the numbers of those who suffered martyrdom as given
in the SĚNKĚSÂR as correct. The roundness of some of the
numbers given , e.g . 190,084, 76 ,000, 25 ,000, 90 ,000 , 30,000 , 2000,
17,000, suggests guesswork on the part of the writers of the
narratives , whilst the exactness of the others, e.g . 14,730 men
and 7 women , 484 men , 292 men and 49 women , 450 priests,
deacons, etc. and 8490 of the laity , is suspicious.
In its oldest form the MAŞŅAFA SĚNKĚSÂ R was simply a
translation from Arabic into Ethiopic of the SYNAXARIUM
of the Jacobite Church of Egypt, and it only commemorated
the saints venerated by the Egyptian Christians. But it seems
that soon after the Ethiopic translation began to be read in the
churches and monasteries of Abyssinia , the scribes began to
add to it the names of the saints who were specially venerated
in that country. A little later still the scribes added to each of the
lives of the more famous saints a Salâm ang09 or “ Saluta
tion ,” in a metrical five-lined form . Nearly all the Codices of the
SĚNKĚSÂR now available for study include these Salamât or
“ Salutations ” to the saints, and they were written in the
sixteenth , seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. The oldest
Codex of the SĚNKĚSÂR is No. 66 of A . d 'Abbadie 's Catalogue
raisonné (p . 79), which , according to Guidi, was written at the
end of the fifteenth century (Le Synaxaire Éthiopien , Tome 1,
Fasc . 5 , p . 523) ; in this the Salamât are not found. It would
XX INTRODUCTION
seem then that the insertion of the Salamât in the SĚN KĚSÂR
took place in the sixteenth century , and as they are all rhymed
verses , we are justified in assuming that each was sung after
the reading of the life of the saint to whom it referred , by the
congregations of the monks or laity. If this were the case the
singing of a Salâm at intervals would break agreeably the
monotony of the reading, and help to fix the acts of the saints
in men 's minds. We may note in passing that in the large
illustrated manuscripts containing the miracles of the Virgin
Mary , each text describing a miracle is followed by a Salâm .
The Salamât were in fact hymns of praise, and the singing of
hymns has always formed a very important part of religious
services in the East.
The Salamât in the SĚN KĚSÂR number somehundreds, and
are in fact so many that in a collected form they fill a large
volume. There is one collection in the British Museum (Orient.
No. 534, No. 5 , Fol. 153a – 185a ; Wright, Catalogue, p . 84) and
another in the Bibliothèque Nationale (Zotenberg , Catalogue,
No. 129, P . 195). The latter bears the title oohm : $ 0 .93 :
0908-C33: i.e. “ The Praise of the Heavenly and the Earthly
Beings.” As the Salamât contain very little information which
is not already given in the lives of the saints which they follow ,
I decided that it was unnecessary to add translations of them
all in the present work, which is already sufficiently voluminous.
But that the reader may be able to judge of their character and
contents I have given translations of the Salamât for themonth
of Sanê,made from Guidi's text, on pp. xxxvii f. The following
examples illustrate the form and rhyme of the Salâm .
1. To Bartholomew , who worked as a slave in a vineyard
on the Great Oasis :
ሰላም ፡ለበርትሎሜዎስ ፡ዘጠብለልዎ ፡በሰቅ ።
ኣመ ፡ይወግርዎ ፡ሎቱ ፡ ውስተ ፡ባሕር ፡ዕሙቅ ።
ቅድመ ፡ ጉቡኣን ፡ ሕዝብ ፡ትእምርተ ፡ ዝንቱ ፡ ጻድቅ ።
አስተርአየ ፡ ውስተ ፡ እዴሁ ፡ዘምስለ ፡ፍሬ ፡ጽፉቅ ።
እምኅረገ ፡ወይን፡ብሉይ ፡ዘተመትረ፡ዓዕቅ ።
Ist day of Maskaram
 THE ETHIOPIC SYNAXARIUM xxi
Salutation to BARTHOLOMEW whom they rolled into a sack .
When they were about to cast him into the deep sea,
This righteous man before the crowds of the people a miracle
Mademanifest. In his hand was the similitude of a thick cluster of
fruit
On a little twig which was cut off the stem of an old vine.
2 . To Abbâ Matthew who dwelt in the desert :
ሰላም ፡ለማቴዎስ ፡ነቢረ ፡ገዳም ፡ዘኣንኃ ።
አምሳለ ፡በግዕ ፡ጸጕረ ፡እስከ ፡ተሞጥሐ ።
ከመ ፡ ያርኢ ፡ጽድቆ ፡ ወተአምሪሁ ፡ ስቡሐ ።
ሐፀበ ፡በማየ ፡ጥምቀት ፡ አባላ ፡ መርምህናም ፡ ርሱሐ ።
ወአባላ ፡ሳራ ፡እምለምጽ ፡በህየ ፡ ኣንጽሐ ።
4th day of Naḥasse
Salutation to MATTHEW who lengthened his stay in the desert
Until he was covered with hair like a sheep (or, goat).
In order to shew his righteousness and his glorious miracles ,
He washed the unclean body of MARMEHNÂm in the water of
baptism ,
And at the same time cleansed the body of SÂRÂ of leprosy.
3. To Eutyches, the disciple of St John the Evangelist :
ሰላም ፡ ለኡቲከስ ፡ዘተሰምየ ፡ሱታፎ ።
ለወንጌላዊ ፡ዮሐንስ ፡ለንጽሐ ፡ መላእክት ፡ እንተ ፡ተዓጽፎ ።
መኰንን ፡ዕልው ፡በእንተ ፡ሃይማኖት ፡አመ ፡ገደፎ ።
ኣናብስት ፡ስእኑ ፡ይግሥሥዎ ፡ ወእሳት ፡ይልክፎ ።
እስመ ፡ዓቃቢሁ ፡ መልአክ ፡እምኵሉ ፡ ኀደፎ ።
Ist day of Pâguěmên
Salutation to EUTYCHES who was called the friend
Of the Evangelist John , who had endued him with the purity of
the angels.
The wicked governor having, because of the Faith, cast him to the
beasts ],
Neither the lions could touch him , nor the fire seize him ,
For his guardian , the angel, shielded him from all harm .
The compilers of the MAŞŅAFA SEN KĚSÂR drew their
information from many sources. The chief authority for the
xxii INTRODUCTION
lives of the Patriarchs and Prophets was the Old Testament,
and Psalms and the Books of the Prophets , both major and
minor, are frequently quoted . For the lives of the Apostles and
the Seventy -two Disciples, the Four Gospels were drawn upon ,
and some work similar in contents and character to the Gadla
Ħawâryât or The Book of the Contendings of the Apostles. The
Gospels are frequently quoted , as well as the Revelation of St
John , which has always been , and still is, a favourite book with
the Abyssinians. The lives of the Jacobite Patriarchs of Alex
andria are derived from the old Jacobite Synaxarium , the
Arabic version of which was translated from Coptic. The lives
of many of the saints and martyrs given in it were translated
some from Coptic and some from Greek . The lives of Ethiopian
saints were compiled from native records preserved probably in
the Libraries of the great monasteries. The compilers of the
Jacobite Synaxarium were acquainted , perhaps through Greek
translations, with the Book of Enoch , and the Wisdom of
Jesus, the son of Sīrach, and some of the early Hebrew works
on Adam and Eve, Moses, and others enumerated by Mr Gaster
in his A satir , London , 1927 , pp. 322 f. Portions of the early part
of the “ Book of the Cave of Treasures " were also known to
them , but not in the original Syriac, and many passages in the
MAŞŅAFA SỀN KỀSÂR suggest that the writers of the works
upon which its compilers, or translators , drew , had access to all
the apocryphal works which were current in Palestine, Syria ,
Egypt and Nubia from the sixth century downwards.
Every now and then we find passages which suggest that the
writer had in his mind confused remembrances of some of the
ancient legends of his country. Thus in the story of one of the
miracles of StMichael the Archangel (infra , p . 988) we are told
of a certain rich man whose interest it was to destroy a certain
youth who was the son of a pious neighbour. After the death
of the father of the youth , he took advantage of the widow 's
poverty which forced her to accept a gift of twenty dînârs (about
£10 sterling) , and to hand over her son to the rich man , who
promised to feed and clothe him and employ him as his servant.
Having got possession of the youth the rich man made a wooden
box as long as the boy was tall, and he forced the boy into the
 THE ETHIOPIC SYNAXARIUM xxiii
box, and fastened the cover over him , and he carried the box to
the river, and cast it into the water, and he also cast thekey of the
boxinto the river. Thebox floated down the river, until it reached
a certain place where it grounded , and a certain shepherd seeing
it arrive went and dragged it out of the water, and carried it to
his house ; but as he lacked the key he could not open it. Whilst
pondering how he could open the box , God told him to go back
to the river. He did so, and finding a fisherman there bade him
cast his net in his (the shepherd 's) name, and promised to buy
the fish he could catch . The fisherman cast his net and brought
out a large fish, which the shepherd took and paid for, and
carried home. When he slit open the fish , preparatory to cooking
it , he found a gold key , and after thrusting this into thekeyhole
of the box , he found that he could turn the lock , and so was able
to open the box. To his amazement he saw the youth , who was
alive, and he took him out of the box , and the youth became to
him as a son . The shepherd called him “ Bahrân ,” because he
found him in the river (Bahr). The youth grew and flourished ,
and by the help of Saint Michael married the daughter of the
rich man who tried to kill him , and inherited all his wealth .
In this story we have, clearly , a mixture of the old legends
of Osiris , and the finding ofMoses who was reared by Pharaoh 's
daughter , and the finding of Cyrus who was reared by a herds
man , and the finding of Sargon I who was reared by Akki the
ferryman .
Elsewhere we have a story (p . 1008) which recalls an incident
described in the old Egyptian story of Setna. One day when
Palâmôn was going to Egypt to sell the thingswhich hehadmade,
Satan met him ,and cast a spellupon him so thathemight not call
upon the Nameof Christ. And he led him to asplendid city where
there were gardens and ornamental waters and trees. Whilst he
was walking about here wondering how he could dispose of the
produce of his handicraft, a rich widow suddenly appeared and
offered to buy his wares. Then she took him to her house, and
bringing him up into the upper storey , she removed the basket
from his head ; and having made him sit down she washed his
feet. The widow commanded her maidens and they brought
a table and wine, and she pressed him to eat, and they ate
xxiv INTRODUCTION
together and drank and got drunk . The maidservants left them
alone together ,and the fire oflust burning hotly within Palâmôn ,
he forgot God and His angels, and turned to the widow and
consorted with her. Later when he came to himself there was
no woman , no house , no table , no people, no beasts, no water ,
and no garden , and his head was spinning round and he felt as
if he had neither eaten nor drunk . He wept much and when he
looked up he saw Satan standing by his side and grinning at
him .
The old Egyptian story of which the above is a tolerably
exact parallel, states that Setna Khāmuast, the son of Pharaoh
Usermarā , saw a woman and became enamoured of her , and he
sent a slave to her with ten pieces of gold to ask her to arrange
a meeting with him . In answer , the woman , who was called
Tabubu , sent him an invitation to come to her in her house in
Per-Bast, where they could enjoy strict privacy . Setna took a
boat and went to Per- Bast forthwith , and he found there
Tabubu 's house, which was splendid and stood in a garden .
He passed into the garden and thence into the guest chamber,
and his arrival having been announced to Tabubu , she came
and received him and led him up into the upper storey, and into
a room which was handsomely furnished. The floor was inlaid
with lapis lazuli and turquoise , and in it stood couches covered
with byssus, and many cups of gold stood on the table there.
A gold cup filled with wine was handed to Setna , and Tabubu
invited him to eat; perfumed unguents were brought to him , and
sweet smelling incense was burnt before him in a censer. Setna
spent a happy day with Tabubu, who was a woman the like of
which he had never before seen . She was dressed in trans
parent apparel, and bewitched him to such an extent that he
settled all hismoney on her, and had all his children slain before
her so that they could make no claim on his estate at a later
period . Then she invited Setna into her own apartment, and
he lay down on a couch of gold and ebony with her. When he
approached her she uttered a loud cry of horror , and Setna
leaped up and found that he was burning hot and naked .
The Demonology of the Abyssinians was much the same as
that of the Copts , who inherited many of their beliefs in devils
 THE ETHIOPIC SYNAXARIUM XXV

and evil spirits from their ancestors, the so-called Pagan Egyp
tians. They believed in a personal Devil, who was able to take
any or every form and shape at will, and who could travelwith
equal ease through earth , air and water. In the pictures which
illustrate Ethiopic manuscripts he is usually represented as a
huge black man , with large fiery eyes and long body, arms and
legs; on his head is a pair of horns, and he has claws and a long
tail. The Typhonic animal which represents him has also
scales on his body. But the Devil, who is called Diabolos,
Masțêmâ or Satan , could assume the form of an ordinary
individual, and transact business with men , especially in the
matter of buying their souls from them . A typical instance of
this will be found on pp . 46 – 48. A certain young man fell in love
with his master's daughter, and asked a magician to help him
to obtain his desire. The magician wrote a deed of sale of the
young man 's soul, and gave it to him and told him to go and
stand by a grave in one of the pagan cemeteries at midnight
holding the paper in his hand. This he did , and a devil appeared
and led him to Satan , whomade him write on the paper a state
ment in which he declared his belief in Satan , and denied Christ ;
then Satan took the paper , and the young man left him , being
satisfied that he would obtain themaiden . Satan then inflamed
her with lust for the young man , and she importuned her father
so strongly , that he and his wife consented to her marriage with
her lover. Themarriage took place, and the couple lived happily
together for a time, but the parents knew that their son -in -law
was not a Christian , and they told their daughter so . Husband
and wife went to church together, but the young man never
partook of the Eucharist, and this fact grieved his wife sorely .
One day she insisted that he should receive the Sacrament
with her , and then he confessed to her that he had denied
Christ and sold himself to the Devil in order to obtain her to
wife . On hearing this the young woman went to St Basil the
bishop, and entreated him to save her husband . The bishop
had the young man brought to him , and succeeded in making
him repeat the confession that he had made to his wife , and
express the wish to be saved . Basil took the young man into
his house , and shut him up in close confinement for forty days,
BESI
xxvi INTRODUCTION
and fed him on bread and water . Every third day he questioned
the penitent and learned from him that the devils were always
prowling round about his room and terrifying him , and at the
end of forty days he summoned all the monks from the monas
teries, and they and all the people prayed all night for the
salvation of the young man , crying out to God “ Have mercy
upon us." Finally their prayers were answered, and the paper
which the young man had written and given to the Devil fell
down from aboveamong all the people. Basiltook up the paper,
and unrolled it, and read it to the congregation , and then he
blessed the young man and gave him the Holy Mysteries .
The little Books of the Dead which were written in the first
century B. C . and the first century A . D . prove that the Egyptians
had abandoned many of the beliefs which their ancestors had
held in respect of the Other World . But they retained the very
ancient belief in the Last Judgement, and clung to the opinion
that souls would be weighed in a pair of Scales, and that those
that were “ light on the balance ” would suffer punishment in
the River of Fire. When the Egyptians became Christians they
substituted God for Osiris in the Last Judgement, but they
retained their belief in the pair of Scales and the River of Fire.
In the pagan cult the souls of those who were condemned in the
Judgement were handed over to the executioner Shesmu and
his assistants, who hacked their bodies in pieces and cast their
members into the River of Fire and the fire pits of Sekhet.
The Christianized Egyptians substituted the Devil for Shesmu ,
and his fiends for the servants of Shesmu, but the fate of the
damned was the same, for they were destroyed by fire. The
Ethiopians adopted the views of the Copts about the Scales ,
and they are mentioned more than once in the MAŞHAFA
SĚN KĚSÂR (see pp. 96 , 541). In one of the Miracles of the
Virgin Mary we read that the soul of a certain cannibalwho had
murdered and eaten seventy-eight men , was weighed in the
Scales , and that the one good deed which he had done, viz .
giving a drink of water to a thirsty man ,made it outweigh the
seventy -eight murders which he had committed (Budge,
Miracles of the Virgin , London , 1923, No. XXIX ). The punish
ments of the wicked in the River of Fire in hell are minutelv
 THE ETHIOPIC SYNAXARIUM xxvii

described in many Ethiopic apocryphal works, and in some of

them we have allusions to the “ worm which dieth not.” The
prototype of that “ worm ” seems to have been the “ Watcher at
the Bight of the Lake of Fire, who devoureth the bodies of the
dead and swalloweth hearts," whose face was like that of a
greyhound , and whose brows were like those of a man (Book of
the Dead , XVII, Nebseni, ll. 40 – 1).
Details of the life of the beatified in heaven which are so
abundant in the ancient Egyptian and Coptic works are almost
entirely wanting in the MAŞŅAFA SĚNKĚSÂR. The righteous
man and the martyr receive the crown of life when they depart
from this world , and we hear nothing of the clean white apparel
and sandals, and the dainty bread cakes, and the abundant
beer , and luscious fruits, and the reunion of the family ofwhich
the dwellers in the Valley of the Nile dreamed. The highlands
of Ethiopia lacked the flat fertile plains and the network of
canals of Egypt, and therefore we find no mention of such things
existing in the Ethiopian heaven . The souls of the beatified
dwelt with the various Ranks of Angels, and, presumably ,
assisted them in praising the Persons of the Trinity .

C 2
 THE CODICES OF THE MAŞHAFA SĚNKĚSÂR
Wehave seen above that in somemanuscripts the compilation
of the SĚNKĚSÂR is said to have been made in the twelfth
century of our era, and in others in the thirteenth century ,
and that someauthorities consider that the work was not carried
out until the first half of the fifteenth century . It is possible
that copies in Ethiopic may have been in use in Ethiopia in
the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries, but if so none have
come down to us. Littmann in his Geschichte der äthiopischen
Litteratur (Leipzig, 1907, p . 210 ) says that the sĚNKĚSÂR is
first mentioned in the year 1495 , and that as one of the authors
of the work did not live until about 1425, the translation of the
SYNAXARIUM into Ethiopic did not take place until the first
or second half of the fifteenth century . Dr Harden (Introduction
to Ethiopic Christian Literature , London , 1926 , pp. 29 , 69)
simply repeats Littmann 's statement. A great revival in the
study of Ethiopic Literature took place in Ethiopia in the
fifteenth century , as is proved by the manuscripts of the Gadla
Hawâryât (Orient. 678), the History of King Lâlîbalâ of Lâstâ
(Orient. 719), the Book of Prayers (Add . 11678), the Miracles of
the Virgin (Orient. 650 ), and the Acts of Fâsîladas (Orient. 706 ) ,
and it is therefore not impossible that the sĚN KĚSÂR of that
century was a second Recension of that work .
The Codices of the MAŞŅAFA SĚNKĚSÂR preserved in the
British Museum and Paris shew that the Abyssinians of the
seventeenth and eighteenth centuries usually bound the work
in two volumes, but the fine Codex in the Bodleian Library is
bound in four volumes (Dillmann , Catalogus, Nos. XXII-XXV ),
and Orient. Nos. 662 and 663 in the British Museum are two of
the volumes of a set of four. The oldest half of the MAŞŅAFA
SENKĚ SÂR in the British Museum is Orient. No. 667. It con
tains the lives for the first six months of the year, and was
written for the church of St Michael by Sarşa Krestôs, the son
of Yamâna Krestôs, during the reign of Sûsenyôs, Malak Sagad
III, Selțân Sagad I, who began to reign in 1607 and died in
June 1632 . The ms. Orient. 670, which contains the lives for
 THE CODICES OF THE MAŞŅAFA SĚNKĚSÂR xxix
the second half of the year, does not belong to Orient. 667, but
was written about the same time. Other Codices of the seven
teenth century are : Orient. 660 and 661 (dated 1654 , 1655 ) ;
Orient. 656 and 657 (dated 1681) ; Orient. 659,written by order
of King John I 'Alâf Sagad , 1667 –82 ; Orient. 666 , written
between 1662 and 1682 ; Orient. 673 and 676 , written between
1667 and 1682 ; Add. 24180 and Orient. 674, written in the second
halfof the seventeenth century ; and Orient.675 , written between
1682 and 1706 , and perhaps also Add . 16218 (Dillmann , Cat.
Brit.Mus. No. XXXIX , p. 46 ). To the eighteenth century belong
Orient. 662, 663, 664, 665, 668 , 669, and Add. 24187. Descrip
tions of these mss. will be found in Wright, Catalogue of the
Ethiopic Manuscripts in the British Museum , acquired since the
year 1847 , London , 1877, pp. 152 f.
After a careful examination of all the manuscripts of the
SĚNKĚSÂR written during the first half of the seventeenth
century, I decided to make a translation of the work from
Orient. 660 and 661. These two fine folio volumes contain the
complete Ethiopic text, and as they were written for a king
who was himself a devout follower of the teachings of the Church
of Alexandria , we may assume that neither pains nor money
were spared in the production of this copy of the SĚNKĚSÂR,
which was intended for his personal use. The two volumes
contain 339 vellum leaves measuring about 19 inches by 16
inches , and of these the texts of the SĚN KÉSÂR fill 324 folios.
Each page is filled with three columns of text which is written
in a fine bold hand ; the number of lines to the column varies
from 40 to 57, the average number being 40. The titles of the
main sections, etc . are written in red ink. Both volumes were
written by the same scribe, as the colophons on folio 1646 of
the first Part and folio 159b of the second Part shew . The
colophon on fol. 1646, col. 3 supplies the history of the making
of the Codex ; the text reads:
TRANSLATION
This is the Book of SĚNKĚSÂR which our King YÔŅANNES
(JOHN) (he began to reign in October A . M . 7160 = A .D . 1667 , and
died in July A .M . 7174 = A . D . 1682) acquired when the Holy Spirit
disposed him and made him anxious to hear the story of the spiritual
XXX INTRODUCTION

fights, and of the deaths of the fiery martyrs, and the commemora
tions of the blessed righteous men , and the narratives of watchful
angels , and the preaching of the Apostles who were sent forth , and
the prophecies of the holy Prophets, and the stories of the perfect
monks, and the messengers (or, angels ) of the Spirit.
I acquired it by the help of God , the Most High (remembering
Him who sware an oath unto them , saying, “ Whosoever writeth the
mention of their fight, and whosoever celebrateth the commemora
tion of them , I will blot out their sins, and I will share Mykingdom
with them in this world , so that they may assign to Me a commem
oration in the world which is to come ”) , so that I might find grace,
and salvation , and a place whereon to stand with those who are on
His right hand , ( viz .] he who wrote it on paper, and he who had it
written , and explained it , and he who caused it to be read , and be
who translated it into the new language, and he who hearkened
unto the voice thereofwith the ear of the Spirit, through the prayer
of His mother MARY, who is free from all blemish . And at the same
timemay Jesus Christ teach us !
And its writing took place in the time of our King FÂSÎLADAS
(June 1632- October 1667), who by the grace of God was called
Âlam Sagad,when he reigned in the 21st year, the year of mercy,
which is the year of the world 7147, MARK being the Evangelist,
and there was no Epact that year. It was begun on the day of
‘ Âreb (Friday) on the 28th day of the month of Maskaram . And
its ending took place in one year and one month , that is to say on
the 30th day of the month of Těķěmt, in the period of LUKE the
Evangelist, by means of great diligence, through the abundant
praising of God . [It is He] Who granteth the prayer of him that
hath prayed , and for him that hath made a beginning He bringeth
the conclusion of what he hath planned. But may He say unto our
King YÔŅANNES (JOHN) “ My son , since thou hast toiled toil in
thy love for Me, after thy departure [from this world ) come, thou
shalt be with Me that thou mayest sit for ever on My right hand .”
O God, Who hast completed for us the first month , in health and
in peace, do Thou likewise complete for us and shew us the end of
the last month , which is the circuit of the year. And do Thou bring
us again to another circuit of another year in happiness , without
toil and fatigue, and without sickness and fever. And moreover,
may the prayers of Thy righteous ones guard you in your lives in
this world , and may the blessings of Thy martyrs be with you for
ever and ever. Amen .
This Book of SĚNKĚSÂR, which belongeth to the King of Kings ,
' A 'ELÂF SAGAD, who is by the grace of God called John, and
Queen SABLA WANGÊ L , behold , we have given it to the Tâbôt
of our Lady MARY, the mother of God , ofGemdja Bêt that it may
be for us the salvation of soul and body. Whosoever shall steal it,
or damage it, or remove it by fraud from the church , whether he
 THE CODICES OF THE MAŞŅAFA SĚNKĚSÂR xxxi
be King, or bishop, or governor, shall be excommunicated by the
power of PETER and PAUL.

ዝመጽሐፈ ፡ስንክሳር ፡ዘአጥረዮ ፡ ንጉሥን ፡ዮሐንስ ፡ሶበ ፡አንበሮ ,

ወኣጽሐቆ ፡ መንፈስ ፡ ቅዱስ ፡ ለሰሚዓ ፡ ገድሎሙ ፡ ወዜና ፡ ሞቶሙ ፡
ለሰማዕታት ፡ መዋዕያን ፡ ወተዝከረ ፡ ጻድቃን ፡ቡሩካን ፡ ወዜና ፡ መላ
እክት ፡ ትጉሃን ፡ ወስብከተ ፡ ሐዋርያት ፡ ፍንዋን ፡ ተንቢተ ፡ ነቢያት ፡
ቅዱሰንወዜና ፡ መነኮሳት ፡ ፍጹማን ፡ ወመላእክተ ፡ መንፈሳውያን ።
አነ ፡ አጥረይክዎ ፡ በረድኤተ ፡እግዚአብሔር፡ ልዑል ፡ ዝክሮ ፡ ዘመ
ሐለ ፡ሎሙ ፡እንዘ ፡ይብል ፡ ለዘጸሐፈ ፡ስመ ፡ ገድሎሙ ፡ ወለዘይገብር ፡
ትዝካሮሙ ፡ አነ ፡ እደመሰሰ ፡ኃጣውኢሆሙ ፡ ወአስተዋረ ፡ መንግሥ
ትየ ፡ ምስሌሆሙ ፡በዝ ፡ ዓለም ፡ከመ ፡ይኵነኒ ፡ተዝከረ ፡ ወለዘይመጽእ ፡
ዓላም ፡ከመ ፡ እርክብ ፡ ሞገሰ ፡ ወመድኃኒተ ፡ ወቁመተ ፡ ምስለ ፡ እለ ፡
በየማኑ ፡ ላዘጸሐፎ ፡ በክርታስ ፡ ወለዘአጽሐፎ ፡እንዘ ፡ይደርስ ፡ለዘአን
በቦ ፡ ወተርጉሞ ፡ በልሳን ፡ ሐዲስ ፡ ወለዘሰምዓቃሎ ፡በእዝነ ፡ መንፈ
ስ ፡ በጸሎተ ፡ እሙ ፡ ማርያም ፡ ዓራቂተ ፡ ኵሉ ፡ እምባእስ ፡ ኀቡረ ፡ይምሃ
ረነ ፡ኢያሱስ ፡ ክርስቶስ ።
ወጽሕፈቴሰ ፡ኮነ ፡በዘመነ ፡ ንጉሥ ፡ፋሲለደስ ፡ ወበጸጋ ፡ እግዚአብ
ሔር ፡ዘተሰምየ ፡ዓለም ፡ሰገድ ፡ እምኣመ ፡ [fol. 1650 1] ነግሠ ፡በወ፩
ዓመት ፡ ወዓመተ ፡ ምሕረትሂ ፡በ፪፻ወ፩፫ ፡፴ወ፯ዓመተ ፡ ዓለም ፡ ወእን
ዘ ፡ወንጌላዊ ፡ ማርቆስ ፡ ወአልቦ ፡ዓበቅቴ ፡አሜሃ ፡ ወተወጥነ ፡ በዕለተ ፡
ዓርብ ፡አመ ፡፳ራሁ ፡ ወሰሙኑ ፡ ለመስከረም ፡ ወፍጻሜሁሰ ፡ኮነ ፡ በ፩ን
መት ፡ ወኣሐዪ ፡ ወርኅ ፡አመ ፡፵ሁ ፡ለጥቅምት ፡በዘመነ ፡ ሉቃስ ፡ወንግ
ላዊ ፡ በአስተሐምሞ ፡በብዙኀ ፡ ስብሐት ፡ለእግዚአብሔር ፡ዘይሁብ ፡
ጸሎቶ ፡ ለዘጸለየ ፡ ወላዘወጠነ ፡ይፌጽም ፡ ለዘሐለየ ፡ባሕቱ ፡ይበሎ ፡
ለንጉሥነ ፡ዮሐንስ ፡ ወልድየ ፡አምጣነፃመው ፡ፃማ ፡በኣፍቅሮትከ ፡
ኪያየ ፡ድኅረ ፡ ፍልሰትከ ፡ ነዓ ፡ተሀሉ ፡ ምስሌየ ከመ ፡ትንበር ፡ለዓለመ ፡
በየማንየ ።
ኦአምላክ ፡ዘአፈጸምከነ ፡ለወርኁ ፡ ቀዳሚት ፡በጥዒና ፡ ወበሰላም
ከማሁ ፡ አፈጽምነ ፡ ወኣርእየነ ፡ ፍጻሜሃ ፡ለወርኅ ፡ይኃሪት ፡ እንተ ፡
ይእቲ ፡ ምዕዋደ ፡ዓመት ፡ ወአብጽሐነ ፡ ካዕበ ፡ ኀበ ፡ካልዕ ፡ ምዕዋደ ፡
xxxi INTRODUCTION
ዓመት ፡ዳግሚት ፡በሠናይ ፡ እንበለ ፡ፃማ፡ ወድካም ፡እንበለ ፡ደዌ ፡ ወ
ሕማም ፡ ወዓዲ ፡ይዕቀብክሙ ፡በሕይወትክሙ ፡ ህየ ፡ጸሎቶሙ ፡ለጻ
ድቃንየ ፡ ወበረከቶሙ ፡ ለሰማዕታትየ ፡ የሀሉ ፡ ምስሌክሙ ፡ ለዓለም
ዓለም፡ኣሜን ።
ለዝንቱሰ ፡ መጽሐፈ ፡ስንክሳር ፡ ዘንጉሠ ፡ ነገሥት ፡ኣእላፍ ፡ሰገድ ፡
ወበጸጋ ፡ እግዚእብሔር ፡ ዘተሰምየ ፡ዮሐንስ ፡ ወንግሥትሂ ፡ ሰብለ ፣
ወንጌል ፡ነዋ ፡ወሀብነ ፡ለታቦት ፡እግዚእትነ ፡ ማርያም ፡ ወላዲተ ፡አም
ላክ ፡ዘግምዛ ፡ቤት ፡ከመ ፡ይኩነነ ፡ለመድኃኒተ ነፍስ ፡ወሥጋ ።
ዘሠረቆ ፡ወዘፈሐቆ ፡ወዘተዓገሎ ፡ከመ ፡ኢይፃእ ፡እምነ ፡ቤተ ፡ክር
ስቲያን ፡እመሂ ፡ ንጉሥ፡ወእመሂ ፡ጳጳስ ፡ ወእመሂ ፡ መኰንን ፡በሥልጣ
ነጴጥሮስ ፡ ወጳውሎስ ፡ውጉዘለይኩን ።
The name of the scribe who wrote the two volumes in 13
months was Takla Hâymânôt.
On foll. 2 and 3a of Orient. 660 is written the commemoration
(for a translation see pp . lxxii f.) of King İyâsû I, 'Adyâm
Sagad , the son of John I, who began to reign in 1682 and was
deposed in March 1706 and murdered in the following October.
At the end of the narrative are the following encomiastic lines :
ሀብተ ፡ መንፈስ ፡ቅዷስ ፡ዜና ፡ጽድቅከ ፡በከመ ፡ከሠተ ፡ሊተ ።
ውሑደ ፡አእምሮ ፡ገበርከ ፡እስመ ፡ጸሐፍኩ ፡ ንስቲተ ።
ኢያሱ ፡ ሥርግው ፡ኣልባስ ፡ደመ ፡ ግፍዕ ፡ቀጠንተ ።
በለኒ ፡በቃለ ፡ጽድቅ ፡ወአብከረኒ ፡ ብስራተ ።
እምኀብለ ፡ርስትየ ፡እሁበከ ፡ክብረ ፡ነፍስ ፡ ርስተ ።
Full details of the deeds, hymns, etc . which are found in
various parts of Orient. 660 and 661 are given by Wright
(Catalogue, Nos. CCXXXII, CCXXXIII, pp. 153 – 4 ).
 THE PUBLICATION OF THE MAŞHAFA SĚNKESAR

There is abundant evidence in Ludolf's Historia Aethiopica

that its great author was well aware that Lives of the profes
sional Ascetics and Saints and Martyrs existed in Ethiopia
(see Bk . III, chap. iv , No. 46), but no Codex of the MAŞŅAFA
SĚNKĚSÂR seems to have been known to him . The List of
the Sacred Festivals of the Ethiopian Church which he printed
in his.Commentarius (pp . 389 f.) might well have been compiled
from a manuscript of this work, but as a matter of fact it was
derived from a manuscript which contained a collection of the
Salamât, i.e . “ Salutations,” i.e. the rhymed verses which were
added to the Ethiopic translation of the Old Jacobite Synax
arium by John of Bûrles. The great Codices of the MAŞŅAFA
SĚN KĚSÂR in London , Oxford and Paris shew that Ludolf's
List is incomplete and inexact in many places, and Zotenberg's
viewlthat it was compiled from a copy of the Worm : nors @ -37:
@ gog.037. i.e. “ The [Book of] Praise of the Heavenly and the
Earthly Beings,” is undoubtedly correct.
In his Travels to discover the Source of the Nile (2nd ed ., Edin
burgh , 1805, vol. 11, p . 416 ) Bruce gives a list of the books which
were in use among the Abyssinians in his day , and of themanu
scripts which he bought or had copied and brought to England.
Among these was the “ Synaxar ” or the Flos Sanctorum " in
which ,” he says, " the miracles and lives, or lies, of their saints
are recorded at large, in four monstrous volumes in folio ,
stuffed full of fables of the most incredible kind . They have a
saint that wrestled with the devil, in shape of a serpent nine
miles long, threw him from a mountain and killed him . Another
saint, that converted the devil, who turned monk , and lived in
great holiness for forty years after his conversion , doing penance
for having tempted our Saviour upon the mountain : what be
came of him after they do not say . Again , another saint, that
never atenor drank , from hismother's womb,went to Jerusalem ,
and said mass every day at the holy sepulchre and came home
i So also Dillmann's: " Sancti autem , quiita commemorantur, cum illis,
qui in J . Ludolfi Fastis recensentur, nequaquam congruunt. Ludolfus
enim Fastos suos e salutationibus rhythmicis, ad singularum dierum
Sanctos dictis, compilavit.” (Catalogus Codd . mss. Bibl. Bodl. p . 37.)
xxxiv INTRODUCTION
at night in the form of a stork. The last I shallmention was a
saint, who, being very sick , and his stomach in disorder, took
a longing for partridges . He called upon a brace of them to
come to him , and immediately two roasted partridges came
flying, and rested upon his plate to be devoured. These stories
are circumstantially told , and vouched by unexceptionable
people , and were a grievous stumbling block to the Jesuits ,
who could not pretend their own miracles were better estab
lished, or more worthy of belief." Bruce had some slight
acquaintance with the Ethiopic language, but a perusal of the
translation given in the following pages will convince the reader
that Bruce either did not understand the texts he was trying
to read or that his interpreter translated them wrongly for
him . Be this as it may, Bruce must be forgiven his splenetic
utterances in respect of Ethiopian miracles , because he brought
to England and gave to the Bodleian Library one of the finest
Codices of the MASĦAFA SĚNKĚSÂR now known , and thereby
provided scholars with the material for discovering what the
work really contained .
The first European scholar to describe the contents of any
part of the MAŞŅAFA SĚNKĚSÂR was Dillmann , who , in his
Catalogus Codd . mss. Orientalium qui in Museo Britannico
asservantur (pp . 45 –6), gave a general account of the sections
of the work dealing with the lives of the saints who are com
memorated during the first six months of the Abyssinian year
(Maskaram to Yakâtît) as found in Add . 16218. This manu
script was acquired either by the Rev. C. W . Isenberg or the
Rev. J. L . Krapf, and was presented to the British Museum by
the British and Foreign Bible Society. Dillmann printed the
text of the title and colophon in full, but was uncertain about
the date to be assigned to it ; the general arrangement of the
texts and the character of the writing justify us in thinking
that it was written early in the second half of the seventeenth
century .
In 1848 the Oxford Press published Dillmann 's Catalogus
Codd . mss. Bibliothecae Bodleianae, and in this work the author
gave a full and detailed account of the contents of the four
large folio volumes of the MAŞĦAFA SÈNKĚSÂR which Bruce
 THE PUBLICATION OF THE MAȘŅAFA SĚNKĚSÂR XXXV

gave to the Bodleian Library (Nos. XXII -XXV , pp . 37 –68) .

The Ms. was written presumably for Tawalda Madkhan toal :
መድኅን , and the scribe 's name was Batra Mikä 'èl በትረ ፡
ሚካኤል ፡ Though the writing is in places somewhat careless
(Dillmann says minus accurate exaratus) I think the ms. was
written in the reign of Iyâsû I ( 1682 – 1706) and not in that
of Iyâsû II (1730 – 55) . The palaeographic evidence suggests the
seventeenth rather than the eighteenth century for the period
of its production .
In 1868 Dillmann provided scholars with the means for
judging the nature and character of the contents of the MA
ŞŅAFA SÉN KĚSÂR by publishing extracts from it in his valuable
Chrestomathia Aethiopica , pp . 16 –39. Section 2 of this work
contained the lives ofMelchisedek , Mark the Evangelist, Diony
sius, Patriarch of Alexandria , Macarius, Abbâ Salâmâ, Yârêd ,
the musician , and Takla Hâymânôt, edited from manuscripts
at Tübingen and Oxford . The texts of the lives of Abbâ Salâmâ
and Takla Hâymânôt he collated with the versions of them
which G . Sapeto had published in his Viaggio e Missione
Cattolica fra i Mensa i Bogos e gli Habab, Rome 1857 .
Early in the year 1895 the late Marquess of Bute, for whom
I was copying and translating Three Encomiums on St Michael
the Archangel in Coptic, and theGadla Hawâryât, or Contendings
of the Apostles, suggested that I should include in the series of
Oriental Texts which he hoped to publish an edition of the
MAŞĦAFA SĚN KÉSÂR , with an English translation . He was
a profound student of the Literature of Oriental Christianity ,
and spent a great deal of time with me in the British Museum ,
where I translated for him many passages from Coptic and
Ethiopic Mss. After carefully considering the matter Lord
Bute came to the conclusion that he would like to begin his
series of Oriental texts with the MAŞŅAFA SĚNKĚSÂR, and I
therefore began to copy the Ethiopic text from the manuscripts
in the British Museum , Oriental 660 and 661, which were
written in the middle of the seventeenth century. I had copied
more than half of the first volume (Orient. 660) when in the
summer of 1897 the Congress of Orientalists took place in
Paris. At one of the meetings M . L 'Abbé (now Mgr ) Graffin
xxxvi INTRODUCTION
brought forward a plan for the publication of the MAŞHAFA
SĚN KĚSÂR, and it was resolved that Conti Rossini, Perruchon ,
René Basset and Guidi should each undertake to edit and
translate one quarter of the work . Now the MAŞHAFA SĚN
KĚSÂ R is a very voluminous work . The two volumes of the
Codex which I was copying contain about 334 large folio leaves,
and as there are three columns of text, with an average of 40
lines to the column on each page, the columns are 2004 in
number and the lines 80, 160.1 It was impossible to say when
I could hope, single -handed, to complete such a task , for I had
only my own private time to devote to it . I therefore ceased the
copying and translation of the MASĦAFA SĚNKĚSÂR, but did
not abandon the idea of publishing an English translation of
the work at some future time.
In due course the Abbé Graffin began to publish the MAŞŅ
AFA SĚNKĚSÂR in his Patrologia Orientalis. The first part to
appear was the section for the month of Sanê, which was edited
and translated by Guidi, with the assistance of L . Desnoyers
(Tome 1, Fasc . 5 ). The second part contains the section for
themonth of Hamlê , edited and translated by Guidi (Tome VII ,
Fasc. 3). The third part contains the sections for the months of
Naḥassê and Pâguěmên , the text edited by Guidiwith a trans
lation by S . Grébaut (Tome ix , Fasc. 4 ). The fourth part
contains the sections for the months of Tâkhshâsh , ļěr and
Yakâtît , edited and translated by S . Grébaut (Tome xv ,
Fasc. 5 , 1927). The earlier fasciculi are undated . Thus at the
time of writing (Nov . 1927) nearly one half of the MAŞŅAFA
SĚNKĚSÂR remains to be published in the Abbé Graffin 's
edition . This edition, which it is to be hoped will be completed
at no distant date, will always have a special value, because it
it based upon the oldest known Codex of the MAŞĦAFA SĚN
KĚSÂR , viz. that which was formerly in the possession of
d 'Abbadie , and is now in the Bibliothèque Nationale. Further,
the text has been edited and translated by competent scholars,
and as regards excellence of typography and paper leaves
nothing to be desired .
1 The translation printed in the following pages contains over half a
million words.
 SALUTATIONS TO THE SAINTS AND MARTYRS
COMMEMORATED DURING THE MONTH OF
SANÊ (JUNE 5 - JULY 4 )
I. SANÊ
1 . Salutation to LAWENTYÔs who endured tortures in his soul
Until his body was consumed , and until his skin was rent.
After DIOCLETIAN the king was removed from the earth ,
They consecrated his church on this day
And transported his bones - pearls of price ! - therein .
2 . Salutation to JOSEPH who was called the similitude
Of the chief of the army ofGod .
All my bones sing to this wise man , the bearer of a gem ,
The storehouse of his riches , saying
“ O MARY, he is thyself."
3 . Salutation to 'ASNẾT, whose splendour is like the sun ,
And like the flower of the red rose, which cometh forth from its
leaves.
The bees who feed her ascend on the wings of the wind ,
And those who wish to inflict a wound in her
Fall down upon the ground , and perish straightway.
4 . Salutation to ĶAZMÂ and to his associates
Who sprang from the town of ȚÂ HÂ ;
Salutation to BÎFÂMÔN who fought much .
May they cleanse the untilled field of my heart so that
It may never bloom with tares and sharp thorns.
II . SANÊ
5 . I cry Salutation to the appearance of
Thebody of JOHN the Baptist and the body of ELISHA un
separated .
TÊWÔFL ÔS (THEOPHILUS) seeing
That they were able to deliver the heathen woman from the
pangs of giving birth ,
[Knowing] their miraculous power, offered to them prayer and
entreaty .
III. SANÊ
6 . Salutation to MÂRTÂ (MARTHA), sweet of memory and fame,
Who girded on sackcloth rejecting apparel of gold .
When the doorkeeper rebuked her ( saying ), “ Thou canst not
come into the sanctuary without purity,"
Hebecame the cause ofher
Conquest of the evil thought.
Xxxviij INTRODUCTION

IV . SANÊ
7. Salutation to SANûSî whose knees and hands were cut
And the soles of whose feet were hollowed out like a tree trunk .
Salutation to MARY, the lover of the pilgrim ,
Who was tortured with him , and made to suffer with him before
the throne of the governor),
And with the sorcerer also who believed in the Son .
8 . Salutation to John, the boast of ĦARKĚLI and the districts
round ,
Healer of the sick with his bones.
And Salutation to those who were with him , who fought before
him ,
And Salutation to thosewho were after him ,whose blood was shed,
The brother of his mother , BÎFÂMÔN was his name.
Salutation to ' A KRÔNYôs and to DÎM ÛNÂSYÂ , his sister,
To 'AMÔNÎ, and MÎNÂS,martyrs of God .
When the king cast the four of them into the pit of fire,
There came to deliver them from heaven [hewho was] the salva
tion of the Three [Children ],
The Angel of joy,GABRIEL, whose journeying is swift.
10 . Unto thee, ’AM ÔNYÔS, I offer Salutation ,
And also to sôFYA (SOPHIA ), who shared ( thyl pain .
For the sake of JESUS CHRIST, by His perfect will
May it be to you to rear me, an orphan ,
Thou thyself being father and she the mother.
V . SANÊ
II. Salutation to JACOB (JAMES) who appeared in the East,
Being in innocence the servant of God .
Inasmuch as he had prophesied against the Arian Emperor
Who had fled to the country from before his enemies ,
He and his soldiers with him were consumed in the fire.
12. Salutation to ABBÂ ' ĚBSÔY, whose country was BÔĦA.
Those who extracted with a knife the muscles of his hands and
his feet
When they continued their attack upon him
Submerged one half of his body in the sea
And tied the other half to a pillar, so that it might not descend
[into the water ).
13. Salutation unto thee, MACARIUS, chosen one,
Who for the sake of Christ died by drowning .
Before I myself descend into the valley of tears ,
Come, come, Keeper of all magic (or, sorcery),
For I, the sick man , desire health from thee.
 SALUTATIONS TO THE SAINTS AND MARTYRS Xxxix

VI. SANÊ
14 . Salutation to thee , THEODORE, themonk ,
Who wast tied by the hands and feet to the foot of a horse.
The head , which , having been cut off from thy trunk , sprang
Up into the air through the violence of the galloping (of the
horse]
And flew along like the wind ,God shall crown with three crowns.
15. Salutation I say to the four governors
Who satisfied the hungry with food , and gave drink to the
thirsty .
When ARIANUS came and laid waste the town of ' ĚSNÂ
They were, for CHRIST' s sake, the first to go out from among
Their people that they mightbecomemartyrs .
VII. SANÊ
16 . Salutation to 'ABASKÍRÔN who endured his trial
Up to the point that his members and his head were cut off
with a knife.
To the five soldiers (slain ] by the hand of ’ARMÂNYÔs, the
dead man ,
(For he was a stranger to the life of CHRIST), who were crowned
with him ,
And on whom diadems (literally helmets) were laid , I say
Salutation.
17. Salutation I say [unto thee , MARY]. Thy housewas opened this
day .
As ELIJAH opened the gates of the rain
[After] six months and three years,
MARY be thou pleased to open mymind which is sealed ,
So that upon memay be poured out righteousness and peace .

VIII. SANÊ
18. Salutation I say to the consecration of thy house, built
Where thy Son poured out the blessed water.
MARY, on him who prays in thy name, a name of benefit,
May there be given at all times
A beautiful gift and a perfect present.
19 . Salutation , Salutation to TĚMÂDÂ and her children ,
To 'ARMÂNôs and his mother who shared honour,
Thy image and martyrdom are written in Jerusalem and round
about it .
By the blood of their martyrdom may they bear for me the
obligation ofmy debt,
When reward cometh for sin and righteousness .
 INTRODUCTION

IX . SANÊ
20. Salutation to SAMUEL who from his childhood grew up
In the sanctuary ofGod .
As when of old SAULheld him with his hand so that he might
not flee,
[And] he rent his apparel ,
So also did God rend his (SAUL 's) reign .
21. Salutation to LÛKYÂNôs who acquired praise
When he endured the cruel torments ofmartyrdom with four
[other )men ,
When he would not offer sacrifice to the gods, preferring to
sacrifice to the Most High .
After they smashed his jaw with stones
And themomentwhen they nailed him to the cross] he delivered
up his soul.
X . SANÊ
22. Salutation to sôFYÂ and her daughters DABÂMÔN and
BASȚÂMÔN who had made a pact together
To share martyrdom with WARESNÔFÂ,
Y ÔNÂ and his mother in the city of DENFÂ .
When I am about to fallmay they encircle me (with their hands]
As the hen covereth over her young with her wings.
XI. SANÊ
23. Salutation to GALÂWDÊW ôs, who arrayed in the faith of
CHRIST
Had no liking for royal apparel.
He chose to be thrust through whilst reproving the wicked
governor,
Who (held] the sharp spear in his hand ,
Rather than to hearken to his command and obey it .
24. Salutation to the dedication of Thy Church , JESUS our Re
deemer,
Which was at Alexandria .
I lift up mine eyes unto Thee, O Lord ,
That Thou mayest give me freedom from the bondage of sin ,
Which I await for from time to time (i.e . always) .
XII. SANÊ
25. Salutation to ' A FÔMYÂ (EUPHEMIA ), who vanquished
MASTÊM Â (the Devil)
When he opposed her with lying words,
On this day, even as she wished ,
 SALUTATIONS TO THE SAINTS AND MARTYRS xli
Whilst laying the picture of MICHAEL on her forehead
She departed from suffering into eternal rest ,
26 . Salutation to MICHAEL, the merciful one,
Who ordereth the affairs ofman for his good .
At the sound of the blast of the trumpet of this angel,
Even as was His ascent into heaven in olden time
So shall take place the second coming ofGod .
27 . Salutation I say to ķÊRLÔS (CYRIL), whose
Patriarchate came by the prophecy of a righteous man .
Through the flow of the words of this teacher
Who was empty of the praise of this world , branches budded ,
[And ] his children dwelt in his teaching.
28. Salutation to LÂLÎBALÂ, the wise builder of sanctuaries
In dry stone without wet mortar
So that it might be known that to him would be judgeship and
administration , [and that he would be]
Like honey , and the joy of kings and peoples ,
On the day of his birth he was surrounded with bees.

XIII. SANÊ
29. Salutation I say to JOHN , the perfect one,
Bishop in Jerusalem .
Having rejected the greatness and honour of this world ,
And having given alms to the poor, withoutmeasure and without
stint,
At his death not a single dirham was found [in his house).
30. Salutation to GABRIEL by whose hands were fettered
Both the angels of God and the daughters of men who had
committed error together .
Because of the majesty and honour of this angel
In the country of Egypt, the doctors of the law have laid it
down
That his commemoration shall be celebrated on this day ,

XIV . SANÊ
31. Salutation to 'ABȚELMÂ and PÎL PÔS, the friends,
[ And] YÔŇANNES and ' A KRÂ from the north of Egypt.
When they stood up for martyrdom before the savage governor,
God saved them when the arrow flew
And delivered them from the fire thatwas waiting for them .
BESI
xlii INTRODUCTION

XV . SANÊ
32. Salutation to the consecration of thy house which was built in
MARYÛŢ (MAREOTIS)
By the order of themighty king.
[O ] MÎNÂS, thou hast woken up from inertness the body of
the pigi
Which the men , each contributing two kirât, brought
As an offering to thee, having purchased it by payment.

XVI. SANÊ
33. Salutation to 'ABÛNÂFER, at the time when death cameto him ,
His face being changed into a likeness of fire .
After BABNÛ DÂ had buried him inside the cave,
No other folk were to inherit the food which had been given to
him ,
For the spring of water dried up, and the palm tree fell down .
34. Salutation to you, ye many excellent ones (more in number ]
than the sand,
A company of sainted brethren who dwelt in the land of FÊŞA .
When your righteous habits stabbed his heart acutely
'ABÛNÂFER removed himself from the face of the world
So that his soulmight become a companion of the soul[s ] of the
humble .

35. Salutation to thee, blessed ZA - Î YÂS ûs, a partner in the Faith

with YEKÛNÔ - 'AMLÂK.
When thou didst drive away anxious care from the minds of
the brethren
Thou didst throw away the wax candle ,
At the same time performing the service ,
And the cup of beer remained standing in the midst1.

XVII. SANÊ
36. Salutation to Abbâ LATŞ ÛN who, through his long drawn out
suffering, was able
To bring out from punishment a man who was doomed .
Eating herbs only every third day,
Through his stern abstinence, and through the multitude of
spiritual fights which he fought,
His body became as light (or, tenuous) as the air.
1 Details of this incident are wanting .
 SALUTATIONS TO THE SAINTS AND MARTYRS xliii
37. Salutation to Abbâ PALÂMÔN. Having been led astray by
[Satan ), the lover of iniquity ,
Who produced from the infernal regions phantoms of divers
shapes and forms,
God, the Merciful and Compassionate,
Pardoned him his sin . A voice was sent
Which said , “ I have set this (i.e. the sin ) upon the head of
Satan .”
38. Salutation to Abbâ GARÎMÂ, who making manifest his power ,
And who when fashioning seed corn provided it with ears full of
grain .
From the place where this righteous man was
Through the majesty of his face and the terrifying sound of his
voice,
Stones removed themselves and trees departed in flight.
XVIII. SANÊ
39. Salutation to the Patriarch DEMYÂNôs, our father,
Who was zealous and careful for theministration of the Sacrifice.
Those men who pretended that what had taken place on the
Friday of the (Jewish ] passover [had taken place on Good
Friday) ,
He repelled and excommunicated so that they mightnot receive
the Offering (Ruerbân )
Having drunk wine the whole night before.
XIX . SANÊ
40 . Salutation to GEORGE, who had borne all testings.
Whilst they were opening his reins and excoriating his brain ,
Straightway MARY, the dove ofGalilee, appeared to him .
Salutation to his wife and friend BASYULA,
Whose striving mingled with the sweet perfume of his strife.
41. Salutation to Abbâ NÔB BESÔY ,
Which being interpreted is " refined gold .”
Where he finished his martyrdom at 'ÂYNA ŞAHAY
That he mightmountupon him as on a fine horse there came to
him
A lion fettered which had escaped from his keeper.
42. Salutation to 'ARSANÔFÎs, and PETER, his counterpart,
And to 'ASKÊRÊW Ôn, and to 'ARGÊNES, and to BÊLFeros ,
all his friends.
When fighting for Jesus Christ,
Being hungry and thirsty they were slain ,
Without eating food or supporting themselves with water.
d2
xliv INTRODUCTION
XX . SANÊ
43. Salutation to ELISHA who asked ELIJAH
For a double portion of the holy spirit when he ascended into
heaven .
Having thus obtained power which was great
He was able to raise the dead twice ,
And twice he divided the river .

XXI. SANÊ
44. Salutation to thy house which God, thy Son ,
The marvellous One, hath consecrated by His Blood .
Do thou , His mother who dost supplicate for mercy , say on my
behalf,
“ Destroy not the work of Thy hand , which Thou didst fashion
of old ,
Shall the workmen have laboured in vain ? ”
45 . Salutation to MARY. When the love forman forced her
This day whereon she made supplication for LITÔSTERÂ ,
God , her Firstborn , swore to her
That He would deliver for ever from every trial
Those who called upon her nameand celebrated her commemora
tion .
46 . Salutation to TIMOTHY in themidst of the crowds,who declared
That save Jesus Christ there was no other god .
When he paid no heed to the command of the wicked Emperor,
Having lighted a fire they boiled him in a vessel
Until his flesh melted (and became] like water.
47. Salutation to THOMAS. When after he had made to live
A woman whom they had murdered in a tavern ,
He asked her to tell him whither she was going on her journey ,
She said , “ Since thou wast with me, behold
Why dost thou question me, thy slave ? ”
48 . Salutation to thee, KERDYÂNỘs, who art inscribed
As the fourth in the number of the Fathers .
By reason of thy excellence, which was greater than that of any
ſother man ,
And baptism , and rank of the priests, rightly
Hast thou graced the blessed MARK, thestem of the Patriarchs.
XXII. SANÊ
49. Salutation I say to their holy house
Which was built for them after the trouble was overpassed .
The good sons of TÊW Ô DÂ DÂ , and the company of ķÔZM Ôs,
the martyr .
 SALUTATIONS TO THE SAINTS AND MARTYRS xlv
In the place of torture beatings could not kill them ,
Neither was the fire able to consume them .
50. Salutation I say to PAUL, who was separated
From his harlot-wife , whose form was beautiful.
He stood upright, with none to comfort him ,
Upon a stone which was made burning hot by the sun ,
Until the sick man was set free from the evil spirit.
XXIII. SANÊ
51. Salutation to SOLOMON. The food of knowledge was his
sustenance
And the possession of wisdom his possession .
As this king saith in his Song,
" In themonth of Christ get ye out and see
How the vines flourish and the pomegranate trees blossom .”
52. Salutation to NÔB , who is called the “ Confessor, "
The follower of the ten thousand martyrs whom DIOCLETIAN
slew .
His companions who were round about him proclaimed him
blessed
When they wished to wash his wounds
According to the decree made by CONSTANTINE, the right
eous man .
XXIV . SANÊ
53. Salutation I say to the seven brethren
Who , together with MOSES the Black , died by the sword of the
Barbarians.
One of them , through his fear, hid himself,
But when the angel who was carrying their crowns appeared to
him ,
His fear was turned into courage.
54 . Salutation I say to MOSES the Black ,
Who dwelt withdrawn into the recesses of the desert.
When calling to mind his own former evil deeds
On that very day he was slain by the sword of the Barbarians,
Saying, “ Without blood blood cannot be purified .”
XXV . SANÊ
55. Salutation to JUDE, the servant ofGod ,
Whose feet were pierced with a red hot spear.
Since, teaching the perfect Faith of the Gospel,
The Apostles included his Epistle with their Epistles,
His memorial is written side by side with the [memorials of
the] Apostles.
xlvi INTRODUCTION

56 . Salutation to PETER whose Ordinances and Law were good ,

Who was named governor of DABRA ZEGÂG .
Of the clear and unpolluted water of his teaching,
Which flowed over him like a river,
The young drank and the old refreshed themselves.
57 . Salutation to you , PETER and PAUL, each in his turn ,
Shining jewels in the foundations of the Church ,
Who though being two teach one Ordinance only .
Bless ye the entrance of this winter,
And grant that the fields of this country which have been sown
may be fertile.
58. Salutation to PILATE , who washed his hands
To shew that he himself was innocent of the blood of Jesus
Christ.
And Salutation to 'ABRÔ ĶLÂ (PROCLA) his wife
Who sent him a message, saying , “ Do thou no harm to Him ,
For this man is good and righteous."

XXVI. SANÊ
59. Salutation to theconsecration of thy house, O GABRIEL, equal of
the Cherubim ,
Thathouse which wasbuilded with wisdom in DABRA NAĶLÔN .
At each consecration it made (water) to flow from the wood of
the roof.
By an abundant flow abundance was proclaimed ,
And by a slight moisture only ( the coming of] scarcity wasmade
known .
60 . Salutation to JOSHUA, who served MOSES so well
That he received even a double portion of his majestic spirit .
When God wished to deliver His people by his hand,
He defeated the soldiers of the king at GABÂ’ÔN sorely ,
And upon those who fled He rained hail.

XXVII. SANÊ
61. Salutation to ħANÂNYÂ on whom came, for righteousness '
sake ,
Stoning with stones and slitting of the sides with the edge of
the sword .
According as the voice of God had spoken to him from heaven ,
He gave baptism to the Apostle PAUL
When the cord of mercy had drawn him from Judaism .
62. Salutation to Thy grave, which JOSEPH the councillor
Dug deep , themystery of the Faith having penetrated into him .
 SALUTATIONS TO THE SAINTS AND MARTYRS xlvii
O Jesus Christ, wash meand baptize mewith the Blood of Thy
piercing,
The Blood of justification , even as ĦANÂNYÂ baptized
Paul the Jew (removing] all doubt.
63 . Salutation to thee , THOMAS, who wast tortured
With mighty blows of the club sheathed with iron .
In the place wherein I am , coming without the hand (of man ?
May the stone which was fastened to thy neck
Break the head of Satan my enemy like a potter 's vessel.
64. Salutation to you , O ye companions of THOMAS,
Seven hundred men and nine women ,
Who on the day of his suffering and martyrdom
Eagerly desired to receive with him crowns of life .
Comeye, and pay me a visit from heaven .
65. Salutation I say to the glorious consecration of thy church ,
Which was builded for thee at the end of the time of persecu
tion and suffering .
O Abbâ THOMAS, by the men of BANHÛR .
Teach me the law ofhumility , O thou who didst raise up the poor .
on earth ;
For where there is pride, there also is disgrace.
XXVIII. SANÊ
66 . Salutation to THEODOSIUS, who had to bear the weight
Of suffering and exile,
Whilst teaching his children the words of the Orthodox Faith
Because he did the will of Christ.
The reward of the Apostles shall be his without any diminution
whatsoever .
67. Salutation to ABRAHAM , and to ISAAC his son ,
And to ISRAEL JACOB, one of them .
In accordance with what God promised them when Hemade a
covenant with them ,
Behold , the number of their seed is far greater than the number
of the stars,
And greater than the [number of; the sands of the sea, which is
very great.
XXIX . SANÊ
68. Salutation to Thy Nativity , O God Most High ,
Which took place ] through the only Virgin without coition
and seed .
A symbol of Thy Nativity was made known in olden time
 xlviii INTRODUCTION
When the earth put forth green things, inasmuch as Thou hadst
commanded it to produce verdure,
Without the fall of rain ,and without the outpouring of thedew .
69. Salutation to you , O ye 140 saints,
Associates of Seven martyrs, ye interdicted ones.
The sharp sword and the boiling cauldron
Which they had made ready for you before the governor,
Did not make you to be afraid , though ye saw them with your
eyes.
70 . Salutation to BÂSADÎ, and KÔSLÂs, and 'ARDÂMÂ — three.
MOSES, and ' ĚSHÊ and BÎLÂ KÂNôs, their brethren ,
And the other KÔTLÂS, who is to be added to them .
These seven interdicted ones were tortured
And died, for the sake of Christ, by the hands of drunkards.
71. Salutation to thee, O soldier BESÔY,
Whom they tied with a rope and dragged about by an ox .
I offer unto thee a sacrifice of praise , as an offering,
And to thy brother ħÔR, and to thy mother YEDRÂ ,
Who for Christ's sake suffered many tribulations.
72. Salutation to thee , O king of the country of Ethiopia ,
THEODORE, son of the Lion [of Judah ).
Not only thy mother, ŞEYÔN MOGARÂ , celebrateth this day
thy festival
With the slaughtering of sheep and oxen ,
But the clouds of heaven have rained down fish .
73 . Salutation to MARK. When his time had come to an end,
SARÂPYÔn being then in his place DABRA TÔRMÂ Kand
Reading the Holy Gospel of MATTHEW ,
When the tongue of the angel of heaven said , “ Stand still and
listen ,”
His body was lifted up in the air a height of twenty cubits .
XXX . SANÊ
74. Salutation to Thy Nativity , even as GABRIEL ordered it ,
Who had declared the Nativity of Christ six months earlier.
O JOHN, each time I read eagerly the salutation of thine effigy ,
Which is sweeter than incense and cinnamon .
Place it like a sheaf in thy bosom .
Salutation I say unto thee, O Abbâ GĚRÂN,
Who in an island did mighty deeds [of asceticism ].
When Satan deceived him under the guise of a beautiful woman ,
He beat in and broke his breast bones with a stone
Until he attained the share of all mortal beings.
 THE PATRIARCHS OF ALEXANDRIA
[See Gutschmid , Verzeichniss der Patriarchen von Alexandrien , edited
by Rühl, Bd. 11, Leipzig , 1899, pp. 395 -525 ; and Chaine, La Chrono
logie des temps Chrétiens de l' Égypte et de l'Éthiopie, Paris , 1925,p .250.]
THE JACOBITE PATRIARCHS OF ALEXANDRIA
I StMark died 632 (or 75)
2 Anianus 82 (or 83, or 94 )
3 Abilius died 95 (or 96 , or 100 )
4 Cerdon 106 (or 118 )
5 Primus 118 (or 133)
6 Justus 129 (or 144)
7 Eumenius 141 (or 142, or 154)
8 Mark 152 (or 153 , or 164 )
9 Celadion 166 (or 178 )
10 Agrippinus 178 (or 190 )
II Julian 188 (or 187, or 200 )
12 Demetrius I 230 (or 232)
13 Heraclas 246 (or 243, or 248)
14 Denis 264 (or 256 , or 270)
15 Maximus 282 (or 273)
16 Theonas 300 (or 292, or 293)
17 Peter I the martyr 310 (or 302, or 303)
18 Achillas 311 (or 303, or 304)
19 Alexander I 326 (or 328, or 344, or 327)
20 Athanasius I 373
21 Peter II » 380 (or 396 )
22 Timothy I 384 (or 402 , or 385)
23 Theophilus » 412 (or 430)
24 Cyril I 412 – 444 (or 463)
25 Dioscurus 451- 454 (or 479, or 458)
26 Timothy II 457- 477 (or 502, or 481)
27 Peter III Mongus 477 – 489 (or 508 )
28 Athanasius II died 496 (or 512)
29 John I 496- 505 (or 518)
30 John II 505 -516 (or 525 , or 517)
31 Dioscurus II 516 -518 (or 517, or 519, or 527)
32 Timothy III 518 – 536 (or 535 , or 537 , or 544)
33 Theodosius I 536_ ?
34 Peter IV 576 - 578 (or 569, or 570 )
35 Damianus 578 – 603 (or 593, or 607)
36 Anastasius 604 -616 (or 603 , or 619)
37 Andronicus 616 - 623 (or 609, or 622, or 626 )
1 In this and the following lists the dates are A .D .
 INTRODUCTION
38 Benjamin I 623 –662 (or 648, or 665 )
39 Agathon died 680 (or 666 , or 681)
40 John III died 689 (or 675 )
41 Isaac 690 -692 (or 678)
42 Simon I 693 - 700 (or 686 )
43 Alexander II 704 -729
44 Cosmas I 729 - 730 (or 716)
45 Theodore 730– 742 (or 728)
46 Michael I 743– 767 (or 752, or 765 )
47 Mînas I died 775 (or 762, or 776 )
48 John IV 776 – 799 (or 786 )
49 Mark II died 819 (or 809)
50 Jacob 819 -830 (or 828)
51 Simon II 830 (he sat 51 months) (or 831)
52 Joseph 831–849 (or 850)
53 Michael II
54 Cosmas II 851 - 858 (or 859)
55 Shenuti I 859– 880 (or 870 , or 881)
56 Michael III died 907 (or 895 , or 909)
57 Gabriel I 910 - 921 (or 920, or 930)
58 Cosmas III died 933 (or 912)
59 Macarius I 933 - 953 (or 952)
60 Theophanes 953 - 956 (or 958)
61 Mînas II 956 – 974 (or 970)
62 Ephrem 975 -978 (or 974, or 979)
63 Philotheus 979 - 1003 (or 999 , or 1003)
64 Zachariah 1004 - 1032 (or 1027 )
65 Shenuti II 1032 - 1046 (or 1044 )
66 Christodulus 1047 - 1077 (or 1075 )
67 Cyril II 1078 – 1092 (or 1090 )
68 Michael IV 1092 - 1102 (or 1100 )
69 Macarius II I102 - 1128 (or 1127)
70 Gabriel II 1131 - 1145 (or 1133 )
71. Michael V 1145 - 1146
72 John V 1146 – 1166 (or 1167)
73 Mark III 1166 - 1189
74 John VI 1189- 1216
75 Cyril III 1235 - 1243
76 Athanasius III 1250 – 1261
77 John VII 1262 - 1268 , and 1271 - 1293
78 Gabriel III 1268 - 1271
79 Theodosius II 1294 - 1300
80 John VIII 1300 - 1320
81 John IX 1320 - 1327
82 Benjamin II 1327 – 1339
83 Peter V 1340 – 1348
84 Mark IV 1348 – 1363
THE JACOBITE PATRIARCHS OF ALEXANDRIA li
85 John X 1363– 1369
86 Gabriel IV 1370 - 1378
87 Matthew I 1378 - 1408
88 Gabriel V 1409 – 1428
89 John XI 1428 – 1453
90 Matthew II 1453 - 1465
91 Gabriel VI 1466 – 1474
92 Michael VI 1477 – 1478
93 John XII 1480– 1483
94 John XIII 1484 - 1524
95 Gabriel VII 1526 – 1569
96 John XIV 1574 - 1589
97 Gabriel VIII 1590 - 1610
98 Mark V 1602– 1617
99 John XV . .. .. .
100 Matthew III John
IOI Mark VI 1646 – 1657
102 Matthew IV 1660– 1675
103 John XVI 1676 – 1718
104 Peter VI 1718 - 1726
105 John XVII 1727 – 1745
106 Mark VII 1745 - 1769
107 John XVIII 1769– 1796
108 Mark VIII 1796 – 1809
109 Peter VII 1809- 1852
IIO Cyril V 1854 - 1861
III Demetrius II 1862- 1870

THE MELCHITE PATRIARCHS OF ALEXANDRIA

I Proterius 451 - 457
2 Timothy II 460 – 475 ( 1st session )
477 – 482 (2nd session )
3 John I 482 (he sat 6 months)
4. Paul of Tabenu 537 -539
5 Zoilus 539 - 551
Ő Apollinarius 551 -570
7 John II 570 -581
8 Eulogius I 581-607
9 Theodore 607 -609
10 John III 609-617 (or 612 -617)
II George 621-631 (or 617 -625)
12 Cyrus 631 -641
13 Peter II 641-651
14 Theodore about 655
15 Peter » 680
Theophylact » 695
 INTRODUCTION
17 Onoprosopos about711
18 Eusebius
19 Cosmas I 742 –768
20 Politian 768 –813
21 Eustathius 813 –817
22 Christophorus 817 - 848
23 Sophronius I 848 - 860
24 Michael I 860 - 870
25 Michael II 870 – 903
26 Christodulus 907 - 932
27 Eutychius 933 - 940
28 Sophronius II . . . . . .
29 Isaac . . . .. .
30 Job . . . . . .
31 Elias I 968 (?)
32 Arsenius 985 (?)
33 George (or Theophilus) 1003 (? )
34 Alexander II 1059 ( ? )
35 John IV 1084 (? )
36 Eulogius II 1118 (?)
37 Cyril II (?) • . . . .
38 Sabas . . . . . ..
39 Theodosius
40 Sophronius III 1166 (?)
41 Elias II (or Eleutherus) 1186 (? )
42 Mark II 1195 (?)
43 Nicolas I 1210 – 1243 (?)
44 Gregory I 1243 – 1263 (?)
45 Nicolas II 1263 (?)
46 Athanasius III 1276 – 1308 (?)
47 Gregory II . . . . . .
Gregory III 1354 (? )
49 Niphon 1367 (?)
50 Mark III
51 Nicolas III . . . . . .
52 Gregory IV
53 Philotheus I 1439 - 1450
54 Athanasius IV . . . . . .
55 Mark IV
56 Philotheus II 1523 (3)
57 Gregory V
58 Joachim I 1561- 1564 (?)
59 Sylvester 1574 - 1584 (?)
60 Meletius Pigas 1593- 1602 (? )
61 Cyril Lucar 1602 - 1621
62 Gerasimus I 1621- 1636
63 Metrophanes 1636 – 1639
THE MELCHITE PATRIARCHS OF ALEXANDRIA liii
64 Nicephorus 1639 – 1643
65 Joannicus 1643 – 1665
66 Joachim II 1665 – 1670
67 Paesius 1675 - 1685
68 Parthenius I 1685 – 1689
69 Gerasimus II 1689– 1710
70 Samuel 1710 - 1724
71 Cosmas II 1724 - 1737
72 Matthew 1746 - 1766
73 Cyprian 1766 – 1782
74 Gerasimus III 1783– 1788
75 Parthenius II 1788 – 1805
76 Theophilus I 1805 – 1825
77 Hierotheus I 1825 - 1845
78 Artemius 1845 – 1847
79 Hierotheus II 1847– 1858
8o Callinicus 1858– 1861
81 James 1861- 1866
82 Nicanor 1866– 1870
83 Sophronius IV 1870 - 1880
 THE PATRIARCHS OF CONSTANTINOPLE
[See Krumbacher, Geschichte der Byzantinischen Litteratur, Munich ,
1897 , pp. 1148 ff.; and Chaine, La Chronologie, Paris, 1925,pp.257 ff.]
I St Andrew 34 - 36
2 Stachys 38-54
3 Onesimus 54 -68
4 Polycarp I 71- 89
5 Plutarch 89 – 105
6 Sedekion 105 -114
7 Diogenes 114 - 129
8 Eleutherius 129 - 136
9 Felix 136 - 141
10 Polycarp II 141 - 144
II Athenodorus 144 - 148
12 Euzoïos 148 – 154
13 Laurentius 154 - 166
14 Alypius 166 - 169
15 Pertinax 169 – 187
16 Olympianus 187 – 198
17 Mark I 198 – 211
18 Philadelphus 211- 214
19 Cyriacus I Cyrillianus 214 - 230
20 Castinus 230 - 237
21 Eugenius I 237 - 242
22 Titus 242- 252
23 Dometius
24 Ruphinus ) 272 (? ) - 303
25 Probus 303 – 315
26 Metrophanes (I) 315 - 325
27 Alexander 328 – 340
28 Paul I (first period) 340 – 341
29 Eusebius 341 - 342
Paul I (second period ) 342– 344
Macedonius I ( first period ) 344 - 348
Paul I (third period) 348 – 350
Macedonius I (second period) 350 - 360
31 Eudoxius 360– 369
32 Demophilus 369- 370
33 Evagrius 370– 379
34 Gregory I 379- 380
35 Maximus I 381
36 Nectarius 381 - 397
37 John I Chrysostom 26 Feb 398 – 20 June 404
He died in 407
 THE PATRIARCHS OF CONSTANTINOPLE lv

38 Arsaces 26 June 404- 11 Nov. 405

39 Atticus Mar. 405 - 10 Oct. 425
40 Sisinnius I 27 Feb . 426 - Jan . 427
41 Nestorius 10 Apr. 428 - 22 June 431
He died in 440
42 Maximianus 25 Oct. 431 – 12 Apr. 434
43 Proclus 12 Apr. 434 - 14 July 447
44 Flavianus July 447– 11 Aug. 449
45 Anatolius Sept. 449- 3 July 458
46 Gennadius I . . .458 -Sept. 471
47 Acacius 471 -489
48 Phrasitas Sept. 489- Jan. 490
49 Euphemius 490 - 496
50 Macedonius II 496– 511
51 Timothy I 511- Apr. 518
52 John II Apr. 518 - Feb . 520
53 Epiphanius 25 Feb . 520- 5 June 535
54 Anthimus I July 535 - Mar. 536
55 Menas 13 Mar. 536 - Aug . 552
56 Eutychius (first period) Aug. 552 – 12 Apr. 565
57 John III 15 Apr. 565 - 31 Aug : 577
Eutychius (second period) 3 Oct. 577 - 6 Apr. 582
58 John IV 12 Apr. 582– 2 Sept. 595
Cyriacus II 595 – 20 Oct. 606
60 Thomas I 23 Jan. 607 –20 Mar.610
61 Sergius I 18 Apr. 610 - 8 Dec. 638
62 Pyrrhus I (first period) 20 Dec . 638 – 29 Sept. 641
63 Paul II 1 Oct. 641– 27 Dec. 654
- Pyrrhus I (second period) 4 Apr. 655 – 17 May 655
64 Peter May 655 - 1 Oct. 666
65 Thomas II 17 Apr. 667– 15 Nov. 669
66 John V Nov . 669- Aug . 675
67 Constantine I 2 Sept. 675 - 9 Aug. 677
68 Theodore I (first period ) Aug. 677 -Nov . 679
69 George I Dec. 679 -Feb . 686
Theodore I (second period ) Feb . 686 - 28 Dec . 687
70 Paul III 3 Jan . 688– 21 Aug. 694
71 Callinicus [I] 30 Aug . 694 - Sept. 705
72 Cyrus Sept. 705- Jan . 712
73 John VI Jan . 712 -Aug . 715
74 Germanus I II Aug . 715 - Jan . 729
75 Anastasius Jan . 729- Sept. 752
76 Constantine II Aug : 753 – 30 Aug . 765
77 Nicetas I 16 Nov. 765 –6 Feb . 780
78 Paul IV 20 Feb . 280- 31 Aug. 784
79 Tarasius 25 Dec. 784 - 25 Feb . 806
80 Nicephorus [I] 12 Apr. 806 - Mar. 815
lyi INTRODUCTION
81 Theodotus I 1 Apr. 815 - 821
82 Anthony I (Kassimatas) 821-Apr. 832
83 John VII (Grammaticus ) 21 Apr. 832 – 842
84 Methodius I 11 Mar. 843– 14 June 847
85 Ignatius I (first period ) 847 -23 Nov . 857
Photius I (first period ) Dec. 857 -Sept. 867
Ignatius I (second period ) 13 Nov. 867 -23 Oct. 878
Photius I (second period ) Nov . 878 – 31 Aug . 886
87 Stephanus I 886 -May 893
88 Anthony II Kauleas 893 –895
89 Nicolas I (Mysticus) (first period) 895 –906
90 Euthymus I Feb . 906 - 911
Nicolas I (second period ) 911 - 15 May 923
Stephanus II Aug. 925 - July 928
92 Tryphon Dec. 928 - Aug . 931
93 Theophylact Feb . 933 –27 Feb. 936
94 Polyeuktus 3 Apr. 936– 16 Jan. 970
95 Basil I (Skamandrenus) 13 Feb . 970 - 974
[96 Anthony III 980 – 984 ]
97 Nicolas II 984 -995
98 Sisinnius II 995 - 998
99 Sergius II 999- July 1019
100 Eustathius July 1019 - Dec . 1025
101 Alexius Studites 1025 - Mar. 1043
102 Michael I (Cerullarius) 25 Mar. 1043– 8 Nov. 1058
103 Constantine III Leichudes Feb . 1059-Mar. 1063
104. John VIII Xiphilinus 1 Jan . 1064 - 2 Aug. 1075
105 Cosmas I Hierosolymites 2 Aug . 1075 - 8 May 1081
106 Eustratius Garidas 1081- July 1081
107 Nicolas III Grammaticus 1081-Mar. IIII
108 John IX Agapetus IIII- 1134
109 Leon Styppes 1134 - 14 Nov , 1143
110 Michael II Kurkuas 1143 - 1146
III Cosmas II Atticus 1146 – 26 Feb . 1147
112 Nicolas IV Muzalon Dec. 1147 –1151
113 Theodotus II 1151- 1153
114 Neophytus I 1153
115 Constantine IV 1154 - July 1156
116 Luke Chrysoberges 1156- July 1169
117 Michael III 1169– 1177
118 Chariton Eugeneiotes 1177 - 1178
119 Theodosius I (Boradiotes ) 1178 – 1183
120 Basil II Kamateros 1183- 1187
121 Nicetas II Muntanes 1187 – 1189
122 Leontius Theotokites 1190– 1191
123 Dositheus 1191-Aug. 1192
124 George II Xiphilinos 1192 - July 1199
 THE PATRIARCHS OF CONSTANTINOPLE lvii
125 John X (Kamaterus) 5 Aug. 1199 – 26 July 1206
12. Michael İV 20 Mar. 1206 – 26 Aug . 1212
127 Theodore II (Eirenicus) 28 Sept. 1213 -Feb . 1215
128 Maximus II 3 July 1215 - Dec. 1215
129 Manuel I Dec . 1215 -Sept. 1222
130 Germanus II 1222 - 1240
131 Methodius II 1240
132 Manuel II 1244 - Aug. 1255
133 Arsenius (first period) 1255 - 1260
134 Nicephorus II 1260 - 1261
Arsenius (second period) 1261-May 1267
135 Germanus III 5 June 1267 - 14 Sept. 1267
136 Joseph I (first period) 1 Jan . 1268 -May 1275
137 John XI 2 June 1275 – 26 Dec . 1282
- Joseph I (second period) 31 Dec. 1282 -Mar. 1283
138 Gregory II 1283– 1289
139 Athanasius I (first period) 14 Oct. 1289 – 16 Oct. 1293
140 John XII 1294 - 23 Aug. 1303
- Athanasius I (second period) 1303 – 1311
141 Niphon I 1311- 1314
142 John XIII 1315 - 1320
143 Gerasimus I 1320- 19 Apr. 1321
144 Isaiah 1323 - 1324
145 John (XIV) 1334 - 8 Jan . 1347
146 Isidore I 17 May 1347 - 2 Dec. 1349
147 Callistus I (first period ) 10 June 1350- 1354
148 Philotheus (first period ) 1354 – 1355
Callistus I (second period) 1355 - 1363
Philotheus (second period ) 12 Feb . 1364- 1376
149 Macarius (first period) 1376 - 1379
150 Nilus June 1379 – 1388
Anthony IV (first period ) 1389 - 1390
Macarius (second period ) Aug . 1390 - Aug. 1391
Anthony IV (second period) Aug . 1391 -May 1397
152 Callistus II 17 May 1397 -Nov. 1397
153 Matthaeus [I] 1397 – 1410
154 Euthymus II Nov . 1410 – 1416
155 Joseph II 25 May 1416 – 10 June 1439
156 Metrophanes II 10 June 1439– 4 May 1440
157 Gregory III 1443 - 1450
158 Athanasius II 1450
159 Gennadius II 1454 - Sept. 1456
160 Isidore II 1456 – 1463
161 Sophronius I 1463 - 1464
162 Joseph III 1464- 1466
163 Mark II 1466 - 1467
164 Dionysius I (first period ) 1467- 1472
BESI
lviii INTRODUCTION

165 Simeon (first period) 1472 - 1475

166 Raphael I 1475 - 1476
167 Maximus III 1476 – 1482
Simeon (second period ) 1482 – 1486
168 Niphon II (first period) 1486 – 1489
Dionysius I (second period ) 1489- 1491
169 Maximus IV 1491– 1497
Niphon II (second period ) 1497 - 1498
170 Joachim I (first period ) 1498 – 1502
Niphon II (third period ) 1502
171 Pachomius I (first period ) 1503 - 1504
- Joachim I (second period ) 1504 - 1505
Pachomius I (second period ) 1505 - 1514
172 Theoleptus [I] 1514 - 1520
173 Jeremiah I (first period ) 1520 - 1522
174 Joannicus I 1522 - 1524
– Jeremiah I (second period) 1524 - 1537
175 Dionysius II (first period ) Apr. 1537
Jeremiah I (third period ) 1537 – 1545
- Dionysius II (second period ) 1545 - 1555
176 Joasaph 1555 - Jan . 1565
177 Metrophanes III (first period) Jan. 1565 - 4 Apr. 1572
178 Jeremiah II (first period ) 5 May 1572 - 29 Nov . 1579
-- Metrophanes III (second period ) 29 Nov . 1579 - 9 Aug. 1580
Jeremiah II (second period ) Aug. 1580– 1584
179 Pachomius II 20 Mar. 1584 -27 Feb. 1585
180 Theoleptus II 27 Feb . 1585 - 1586
- Jeremiah II (third period ) 1586 – 1595
181 Mattheus II (first period ) 1595
182 Gabriel I Apr. 1596
183 Theophanes I Sept 1596 -Mar. 1597
184 Meletius Pigas 1597 – 1599
- Mattheus II (second period) 1599 –Mar. 1602
185 Neophytus II (first period) Mar. 1602 – 1603
186 Raphael II 1603 - 1607
- Neophytus II (second period ) 1607 - 1612
187 Cyril Lucar I (first period) 1612
188 Timothy II 1612 – 4 Mar. 1621
- Cyril Lucar I (second period) Mar. 1621 - 1623
189 Gregory IV 17 May 1623– 18 June 1623
190 Anthimus 18 June 1623 –Oct. 1623
– Cyril Lucar I (third period ) Oct. 1623 -May 1630
191 Isaac May 1630– 8 June 1630
– Cyril Lucar I (fourth period) July 1630– 1634
192 Cyril II (first period ) June 1633- July 1633
193 Athanasius III (first period ) Mar. 1634
- Cyril Lucar I (fifth period ) 1634 - 1635
 THE PATRIARCHS OF CONSTANTINOPLE lix

194 Cyril II (second period) 1635 – 1636

195 Neophytus III 1636 – 1637
- Cyril Lucar I (sixth period ) 1637 - 1638
Cyril II (third period ) 1638 – 1639
196 Parthenius I 1639– 1644
197 Parthenius II (first period ) 27 Sept. 1644– 16 Nov. 1646
198 Joannicus II (first period) 16 Nov . 1646 – 1648
Parthenius II (second period ) 28 Oct. 1648– 10 May 1651
Joannicus II (second period ) 11 May 1651-24 May 1652
199 Cyril III (first period ) 23 May 1652
– Athanasius III (second period ) July 1652
200 Paesius I (first period ) July 1652 - July 1653
Joannicus II (third period) July 1653- 17 Mar. 1654
Cyril III (second period ) 15 Mar. 1654-30 Mar. 1654
Paesius I (second period) Apr. 1654 - 1655
- Joannicus II (fourth period ) Mar. 1655 – 26 July 1656
201 Parthenius IIÌ 26 July 1656 - 24 Mar. 1657
202 Gabriel II 15 Apr. 1657– 30 Apr. 1657
203 Theophanes II 1657
204 Parthenius IV (first period ) I May 1657 - June 1662
205 Dionysius III 29 July 1662-21 Oct. 1665
Parthenius IV (second period) 22 Oct. 1665 -Sept. 1667
206 Climis 9 Sept. 1667 - 5 Jan . 1668
207 Methodius III 5 Jan . 1668 –Mar. 1671
Parthenius IV (third period ) Mar. 1671-Sept. 1671
208 Dionysius IV (first period ) Oct. 1671-25 July 1673
209 Gerasimus II 25 July 1673 - 1674
Parthenius IV (fourth period ) 1 Jan . 1675 - 24 Oct. 1676
Dionysius IV (second period ) 24 Oct. 1676 – 2 July 1679
210 Athanasius IV 29 July 1679– 10 Aug . 1679
211 James (first period ) 10 Aug. 1679- 31 Aug . 1683
Dionysius IV (third period ) 31 Aug . 1683 - 10 Mar. 1684
Parthenius IV (fifth period ) 10 Mar. 1684 -24 Mar 1685
James (second period) 24 Mar. 1685 – 18 Apr. 1685
Dionysius IV (fourth period ) 7 Apr. 1686 – 7 May 1686
James (third period ) 17 Oct. 1687 - 3 Mar. 1688
212 Callinicus II (first period ) 3 Mar. 1688 – 27 Nov . 1688
213 Neophytus IV 27 Nov. 1688 -Feb . 1689
- Callinicus II (second period ) Apr. 1689 -Apr. 1693
Dionysius IV (fifth period) Dec. 1693- Jan . 1694
- Callinicus II (third period ) 1694 -8 Aug . 1702
214 Gabriel III Sept. 1702 –Nov . 1707
215 Neophytus V Nov , 1707
216 Cyprian (first period ) 1708 -May 1709
217 Athanasius V May 1709- Dec . 1711
218 Cyril IV Dec. 1711 -Oct. 1713
- Cyprian (second period ) Nov. 1713 - Feb . 1714
e 2
 INTRODUCTION
219 Cosmas III Mar. 1714-Mar. 1716
220 Jeremiah III (first period) Mar. 1716 -Nov. 1726
221 Callinicus III Nov . 1726
222 Paesius II (first period ) Nov. 1726 – 1733
– Jeremiah III ( second period) Aug . 1733
223 Seraphinus I (first period ) Nov . 1733 - Feb . 1734
224 Neophytus VI (first period) 1734 - 1740
Paesius II (second period) Aug . 1740 -May 1743
Neophytus VI (second period) May 1743 -Mar. 1744
- Paesius II (third period ) Mar. 1744 -Sept. 1748
225 Cyril V (first period ) May 1748 -May 1751
- Paesius II (fourth period) May 1751-Sept. 1752
- Cyril V (second period ) Sept. 1752- Jan . 1757
226 Callinicus IV Jan . 1757- July 1757
227 Seraphinus II July 1757 -Mar. 1761
228 Joannicus III Mar. 1761 -May 1763
229 Samuel (first period) May 1763-Nov. 1768
230 Meletius II Nov. 1768 -Apr. 1769
231 Theodosius II Apr. 1769- Nov. 1773
- Samuel (second period ) Nov . 1773 - Dec . 1774
232 Sophronius II Dec . 1774 - Oct . 1780
233 Gabriel IV Oct. 1780 -May 1785
234 Procopius May 1785 - Apr. 1789
235 Neophytus VII (first period ) May 1789- Mar. 1794
236 Gerasimus III Mar. 1794 -Apr. 1797
237 Gregory V (first period ) May 1797 - Dec. 1798
— Neophytus VII (second period) Deč. 1798– June 1801
 THE POPES OF ROME
[See Z . V . Lobkowitz , Statistik der Päpste , Freiburg, 1905 ; Regesta
Pontificum Romanorum , Berlin , 1851, with continuation by Potthast ,
Berlin , 1873 ; Chaine, La Chronologie, p . 248 ; Krumbacher , Byzan
tinische Litteratur, p . 1150 ; the Encyclopaedia Britannica , Xith
edition , vol. xx , p . 722. ]
I St Peter died 67?
2 Linus 67 -692
3 Cletus (Anencletus) 79 -89 ?
4 . Clement I 89- 98 ?
5 Evaristus 98– 105 ?
6 Alexander I 105 – 115 ?
7 Sixtus I (Xystus) 115 - 125 ?
8 Telesphorus 125 - 135 ?
9 Hyginus 136 - 1402
10 Pius I 140 – 154 ?
II Anicetus 154 - 166 ?
12 Soter 166 – 174 ?
13 Eleutherus 174 - 189 ?
14 Victor I 180 - 1992
15 Zephyrinus 198 – 217?
16 Calixtus I 218 - 222
17 Urbanus I 222 – 230
18 Pontianus 230 - 235
19 Anterus 235 - 236
20 Fabianus 236 - 250
21 Cornelius 251 - 253
22 Lucius 253– 254
23 Stephanus I 254 - 257
24 Sixtus (Xystus) II 257 - 258
25 Dionysius 259– 268
26 Felix I 269 - 274
27 Eutychianus 275 - 282
28 Caius 283 – 296
29 Marcellinus 296 - 304
30 Marcellus I 308 _ 309
31 Eusebius 309- 310
32 Melchiades 311 - 314
33 Sylvester 1 314 - 335
34 Mark Jan.- July 336
35 Julius I 337 - 352
36 Liberius 352- 366
37 Damasus I 366 - 384
lxii INTRODUCTION
38 Siricius 384 - 399
39 Anastasius I 399 - 401
40 Innocentius I 401 -417
41 Zozimus 417 - 418
42 Bonifacius I 418 - 422
43 Coelestinus I 422 – 432
44 Sixtus III 432 - 440
45 Leo I 441 -461
46 Hilarius 461 - 468
47 Simplicius 468 – 483
48 Felix II 484 -492
49 Gelasius I 492 - 496
50 Anastasius II 496 – 498
51 Symmachus 498 –514
52 Hormizdas 514 -523
53 John I 523 -526
54 Felix III 526 -530
55 Bonifacius II 530- 532
56 John II 533 -535
57 Agapetus I 535 -536
58 Silverius 536 -537
59 Vigilius 537 -555
60 Pelagius I 556 - 561
61 John III 561 -574
62 Benedictus I 575 - 579
63 Pelagius II 579 - 590
64 Gregory I 590 - 604
65 Sabinianus 604 -606
66 Bonifacius III Feb .-Nov . 607
67 Bonifacius IV 608 -615
68 Deusdedit 615 -618
69 Bonifacius V 619 -625
70 Honorius I 625 -638
71 Severinus May -Aug . 640
72 John IV 640- 642
73 Theodore I 642 -649
24 Martinus I 649 -653
75 Eugenius I 654 -657
76 Vitalianus 657 -672
Adeodatus 672 -676
78 Domnus 676 - 678
79 Agathon 678 -681
8o Leo II 682 –683
81 Benedictus II 684 -685
82 John V 685 -686
83 Conon 686 -687
84 Sergius I 687 -701
 THE POPES OF ROME lxiii

85 John VI 701 - 705

86 John VII 705 –707
87 Sisinnius Jan .- Feb . 708
88 Constantinus I 708 – 715
89 Gregory II 715 - 731
90 Gregory III 731- 741
91 Zacharias 741- 752
92 Stephanus II 752–757
93 Paul I 757 -767
94 Stephanus III 768 – 772
95 Hadrianus I 772–795
96 Leo III 795 -816
97 Stephanus V (sic) 816 -817
98 Paschalis I 817 –824
99 Eugenius II 824 - 827
100 Valentinus 827
101 Gregory IV 827 - 844
102 Sergius II 844 -847
103 Leo IV 847 -855
104 Benedictus III 855 -858
105 Nicolaus I 858– 867
106 Hadrianus II 867–872
107 John VIII 872– 882
108 Martinus II 882 – 884
109 Hadrianus III 884-885
IIO Stephanus VI 885 -891
III Formosus 891 -896
112 Bonifacius VI Mar.- June 896
113 Stephanus VII 896 - 897
114 Romanus July- Nov. 897
115 Theodore II Nov. -Dec. 897
16 John IX 898 - 900
17 Benedictus IV 900 - 903
18 Leo V Aug .- Sept. 903
19 Christophorus 903 - 904
120 Sergius III 904 - 911
121 Anastasius III 911 - 913
122 Lando 913 - 914
123 John X 914 - 928
I24 Leo VỊ 928 - 929
125 Stephanus VIII 929 - 931
126 John XI 931- 936
127 Leo VII 936 - 939
128 Stephanus IX 939 - 942
129 Martinus III 942 – 946
130 Agapetus II 946 - 955
131 John XII 955– 963
Ixiv INTRODUCTION

132 Leo VIII 963-965

133 John XIII 965 - 972
134 Benedictus VI 972 – 974
135 Benedictus VII 974 -983
136 John XIV 983 - 984
137 John XV 985 - 996
138 Gregory V 996 – 999
139 Sylvester II 999 - 1003
140 John XVI June - Dec. 1003
141 John XVII 1003 - 1009
142 Sergius IV 1009 - 1012
143 Benedictus VIII 1012 - 1024
144 John XVIII 1024 - 1033
145 Benedictus IX 1033 – 1045
146 Gregory VI Mar.- Dec. 1046
147 Clement II 1046 – 1047
148 Damasus II 1047 - 1048
149 Leo IX 1048 – 1054
150 Victor II 1054 - 1057
151 Stephanus X 1057 – 1058
152 Nicolaus II 1059 - 1061
153 Alexander II 1061- 1073
154 Gregory VII 1073 – 1085
155 Victor III 1086 – 1087
156 Urbanus II 1088 - 1099
157 Paschalis II 1099 – 1118
158 Gelasius II I118 - 1119
159 Calixtus II 1119 – 1124
160 Honorius II 1124 - 1130
161 Innocentius II 1130 - 1143
162 Coelestinus II 1143 - 1144
163 Lucius II 1144 - 1145
164 Eugenius III 1145 - 1153
165 Anastasius IV 1153 - 1154
166 Hadrianus IV 1154 - 1159
167 Alexander III 1159 – 1181
168 Lucius III 1181- 1185
169 Urbanus III 1185 - 1187
170 Gregory VIII 20 Oct. - 17 Dec. 1187
171 Clement III 1187 - 1191
172 Coelestinus III 1191 - 1998
173 Innocentius III 1198 – 1216
174 Honorius III 1216 - 1227
175 Gregory IX 1227 - 1241
176 Coelestinus IV Oct. - Nov. 1241
177 Innocentius IV 1243 - 1254
178 Alexander IV 1254 - 1261
 THE POPES OF ROME
179 Urbanus IV 1261- 1264
180 Clement IV 1265 - 1268
181 Gregory X 1271 - 1276
182 Innocent V Feb .- June 1276
183 Hadrianus V July -Aug . 1276
184 John XIX 1276 – 1277
185 Nicolaus III 1277 – 1280
186 Martinus IV 1281– 1285
187 Honorius IV 1285 – 1287
188 Nicolaus IV 1288 – 1292
189 Coelestinus V July - Dec. 1294
190 Bonifacius VII 1294 – 1303
191 Benedictus X 1303 - 1304
192 Clement V 1305 - 1314
193 John XX 1316– 1334
194 Benedictus XI 1334 - 1342
195 Clement VI 1342 - 1352
196 Innocentius VI 1352 – 1362
197 Urbanus V 1362– 1370
198 Gregory XI 1370 - 1378
199 Urbanus VI 1378 – 1389
200 Clement VII 1378 - 1394
201 Bonifacius VIII 1389- 1404
202 Benedictus XII 1394 - 1409 ; 1417 - 1424
203 Innocentius VII 1404 - 1406
204 Gregory XII 1406 - 1415
205 Alexander V 1409 - 1410
206 John XXI 1410 - 1415
207 Martinus V 1417 - 1431
208 [Clement VIII 1424 - 14297
209 Eugenius IV 1431 - 1447
210 [Felix IV 1439 - 1449]
211 Nicolaus V 1447 – 1455
212 Calixtus III 1455– 1453
213 Pius II 1458 – 1464
214 Paul II 1464- 1471
215 Sixtus IV 1471- 1484
216 Innocentius VIII 1484 - 1492
217 Alexander VI 1492 – 1503
218 Pius III Sept.-Oct. 1503
219 Julius II 1503 - 1513
220 Leo X 1513 - 1521
221 Hadrianus VI 1522- 1523
222 Clement IX 1523 – 1534
223 Paul III 1534 - 1549
224 Julius III 1550 - 1555
225 Marcellus II Apr.-May 1555
lxvi INTRODUCTION

226 Paul IV 1555 - 1559

227 Pius IV 1559– 1565
228 Pius V 1566 - 1572
229 Gregory XIII 1572 – 1585
230 Sixtus V 1585 - 1590
231 Urbanus VII 15 – 27 Sept. 1590
232 Gregory XIV 1590 - 1591
233 Innocentius IX Oct. -Dec . 1591
234 Clement X 1592 – 1605
235 Leo XI 1 - 26 Apr. 1605
236 Paul V 1605 – 1621
237 Gregory XV 1621- 1622
238 Urbanus VIII 1623- 1644
239 Innocentius X 1644 - 1655
240 Alexander VII 1655 - 1667
241 Clement XI 1667- 1670
242 Clement XII 1670 - 1676
243 Innocentius XI 1676 – 1689
244 Alexander VIII 1689– 1691
245 Innocentius XII 1691- 1700
246 Clement XIII 1700 - 1721
247 Innocentius XIII 1721– 1724
248 Benedictus XIII 1724 - 1730
249 Clement XIV 1730 - 1740
250 Benedictus XIV 1740 - 1758
251 Clement XV 1758 – 1769
252 Clement XVI 1769 – 1774
253 Pius VI 1775 – 1799
 THE PATRIARCHS OF ANTIOCH
[See Acta Sanctorum , vol. IV (“ Tractatus historico- chronologicus
de Patriarchis Antiochenis ”); Lequien, Oriens Christianus, vol. II,
pp. 699-776 ; Assemânî, Bibl. Orient. vol. II, p. 321; and Chaine,
La Chronologie , p . 254 .]
I St Peter 36 - 41
2 Evodius 45 (?)
3 Ignatius died 107
4 Heron (? ) . . . . . ..
5 Cornelius (? )
6 Eros (? )
7 Theophilus died 183 (?)
8 Maximus I 191
9 Serapion 191 (?)
10 Asclepiadus 211 (?)
II Philetus 217 (?)
12 Zebinus 230 (?)
13 Babylas 238 (?) –250
14 Fabius 250 – 252
15 Demetrianus 252 (?)
16 Paul of Samosata 260 –268 (? )
17 Domnus I 268 (? )
18 Timaeus 270 (? )
19 Cyril 280 – 303
20 Tyrannus 303 – 313
21 Vitalis 314 - 320
22 Philogonus 320- 324 (?)
23 Eustathius 325 - 330
24 Paulinus of Tyre 330 (?)
25 Eulalius 331– 332
26 Euphronius 332 – 333 (?)
27 Flacillus 335 – 343
28 Stephen I 343 - 344
29 Leontius 344 - 358
30 Eudoxus 358 - 359
31 Meletius 361- 381
32 Flavian I 381-404
33 Porphyry 404 - 416
34 Alexander 416 - 417
35 Theodotus 417 - 428
36 John I 428 – 441
Domnus II 441-449
38 Maximus 449- 455
39 Basil I 456 - 458
40 Acacius 458 - 459
Ixviii INTRODUCTION
41 Martyrius 459- 470
42 Peter Fulon (first period) 470-471
43 Julian 471- 476
- Peter Fulon (second period ) 476 -477
44 John II (first period )" 477 – 478
45 Stephen II 478 - 481
46 Stephen III Herce
John II (second period )
47 Calendion 481- 485
- Peter Fulon (third period ) 485-488
THE MELCHITE PATRIARCHS OF ANTIOCH
48 Palladius 488 - 498
49 Flavian 498 –512 (died 517)
50 Paul II 519- 521
51 Euphrasius 521 -526
52 Ephrem 526- 545
53 Domnus III 545 -549
Anastasius I (first period) 559-569
55 Gregory 570 -593
– Anastasius I (second period) 593 -598
56 Anastasius II 599 -610
57 Macedonius 639-649
58 George I
59 Macarius I 681 (?)
60 Theophanes 681 (?)
61 Thomas 685 (? )
62 George II 685 – 702
63 Stephen IV 742– 744
64 Theophylact 744 –768
65 Theodoret 787 (?)
66 Job 813 – 844
67 Nicolas 847– 866
68 Stephen V 870
69 Theodosius I 870 - 890
Simeon I 892 – 907
71 Elias I 907 -934
22 Theodosius II 936 - 945
73 Theocharistos 944- 948
74 Christopher 960- 969
75 Theodore I 970 - 976
76 Agapios I 978 - 996
John III 997 - 1022
78 Nicolas II 1025 – 1030
79 Elias II 1031 - 1032
8o Theodore II 1033 – 1041
81 Basil II
THE MELCHITE PATRIARCHS OF ANTIOCH Ixix
82 Peter III 1052 – 1057
83 Theodosius III 1057 (?)
84 Emilian 1074 - 1089
85 Nicephorus 1089– 1090
86 John IV 1098 - 1100 (? )
87 . .. . . 1150 (?)
88 Athanasius II 1157 - 1171
89 Theodore III 1185 - 1196 (?)
go Simeon II 1205- 1236 (?)
91 David 1242– 1247
92 Euthymus I 1257 - 1273
93 Theodosius IV 1275 - 1284
94 Arsenius 1284 - 1290
95 Cyril II 1290 – 1308
96 Dionysius I 1309– 1316
97 Cyril III
98 Dionysius II .. .. ..
99 Sophronius
100 Ignatius II 1344 - 1358
TOI Pachomius I 1358– 1368
102 Michael I 1368 – 1375
Pachomius I 1375 – 1377
103 Mark I 1377 – 1378
- Pachomius I 1378– 1386
104 Nikon 1387 – 1395
105 Michael II 1395 – 1412
106 Pachomius II 1412
107 Joachim I 1425 ( ? )
108 Mark II 1426 (?)
109 Dorotheus I 1435 - 1451
110 . Michael III 1451 (?)
III Mark III 1456 – 1458
112 Joachim II 1458 – 1459
113 Michael IV 1470 – 1483 (? )
114 Dorotheus II 1484 - 1500 (? )
115 Michael V 1523– 1529
116 Dorotheus III 1531 (? )
117 Joachim III 1531 – 1534
118 Michael VI 1534 – 1543
119 Joachim IV 1543 - 1575
- Macarius II 1543 – 1550 (?)
120 Michael VII 1576 - 1592
- Joachim V 1581 – 1592
121 Joachim VI 1593 – 1604
122 Dorotheus IV 1601 - 1612
123 Athanasius III 1612 - 1620
124 Ignatius III 1620- 1634
Ixx INTRODUCTION
- Cyril IV 1620 - 1627
125 Euthymus II 1634
126 Euthymus III 1634 - 1647
127 Macarius III 1647 – 1672
128 Cyril V 1672
129 Neophytus 1672 – 1682 (? )
- Cyril V 1682 – 1720
- Athanasius IV 1685 – 1694
1720 - 1724
130 Sylvester 1724 - 1766
131 Philemon 1766 - 1767
132 Daniel 1767-1791
THE JACOBITE PATRIARCHS OF ANTIOCH
I Severus I 512-518 (died 538)
2 Sergius of Tella died 548
3 Paul 551 -578
4. Peter 578 - 591
5 Julian I 591-594
6 Athanasius I 595 -630
7 John I 631-648
8 Theodore 651-667
9 Severus II 668 -680
10 Athanasius II 684 -687
II Julian II 687 - 708
12 Elias 710 - 723
13 Athanasius III 723 - 740
14 John II 740 - 754
15 Isaac 755
16 Athanasius IV died 759
17 George 759
- John Callinicus
David died 789
18 Joseph died 791
19 Cyriacus 793 –817
= Abraham died 836
20 Dionysius I 818 - 845
21 John III 846– 873
- Zebinus . . . .. .
22 Ignatius I 877 –882
23 Theodosius 887 - 896
24 Dionysius II 896 - 908
25 John IV 909 - 922
26 Basil I 923 - 935
27 John V 936 – 956
John VI 956 – 958
29 Dionysius III 958– 960
THE JACOBITE PATRIARCHS OF ANTIOCH Ixxi
30 Abraham 961- 962
31 John VII 964-985
32 Athanasius V 987 - 1003
33 John VIII 1004- 1033
34 Dionysius IV 1034 - 1044
35 John IX 1049 - 1058
36 Athanasius VI 1058– 1064
37 John X 1064- 1073
38 Basil II 1074 - 1075
39 John XI 1075 - 1092
40 Dionysius V 1076 - 1078
41 John XII 1086 - 1088
42 Dionysius VI 1088 - 1099
43 Athanasius VII 1090 - 1129
44 John XIII 1130 - 1138
45 Athanasius VIII 1139 – 1166
46 Michael I 1166 – 1199
47 Athanasius IX 1199 - 1207
- Michael II 1207 – 1215
48 John XIV 1208 - 1220
49 Ignatius II 1222 - 1253
50 Dionysius VII 1253 – 1261
- John XV 1253– 1263
51 Ignatius III 1264 - 1282
52 Ignatius IV 1283 – 1292
53 Ignatius V 1293 - 1332
Ignatius VI 1332 – 1365
55 Ignatius VII
Ignatius VIII 1381– 1412
Ignatius IX 1412 – 1455
Ignatius X 1455– 1483
Ignatius XI 1484 – 1493
60 Ignatius XII 1494 - 1508
Ignatius XIII
62 Ignatius XIV 1562 (? )
63 Ignatius XV ......
64 Ignatius XVI .. ....
65 Ignatius XVII ..
66 Ignatius XVIII 1590 (? )
67 Ignatius XIX
68 Ignatius XX
69 Ignatius XXI 1622 (? )
76 Ignatius XXII 1655 - 1659
71 Ignatius XXIII 1659– 1695
72 Ignatius XXIV
73 Ignatius XXV 1702 (? )
74 Ignatius XXVI 1725 (? )
 IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER AND THE SON
AND THE HOLY GHOST, ONE GOD
COMMEMORATION OF ÎYÂSŮ I ’ADYÂM SAGAD
King of Abyssinia from 1682 to 1706
[Brit. Mus. ms. Orient. No. 660, fol. 2 –3a]
V . ȚĚŽĚMT (1)
[ fol. 2a 1 ] On this day died îyâ Sû 1, king and martyr, who was
the likeness of ABEL, whose blood was poured out through
violence. John, the righteous king of the country of Ethiopia ,
and his God -fearing Queen SABLA WANGÊL, got this (man )
îYÂSû by fasting and by prayer . And when they had gotten
this ÎvÂSŮ the martyr, they rejoiced in him with great joy ,
and they gave him to a nurse , and they reared him carefully
and well. And then when he had grown a little they taught him
the ordinances of theChurch , and all native and foreign learning.
And he became so greatly skilled as a horseman and as a
swimmer in the water that all the men who were in his retinue
of servants and attendants marvelled when they saw the great
ness of his powers. And the holy men and monks who lived in
the deserts and monasteries began to discuss with him the
words of prophecy as they by the divine grace had visions of
hidden things (i.e. mysteries). And they said unto him , “ Thou
shalt sit upon the royal throne, and thou shalt receive the royal
crown of thy father.” And when the men of HABÂR saw him ,
they became servants unto him , saying , “ O noble iyâsŮ, son
of a king , thou lord of the stadium for horses, the oil of sover
eignty of thy father JOHN is upon thy head .” And then in
the ninth year of the reign of the righteous King John, his son
JUSTUS, the righteous man , who was governor of SÂMÊN,
died . And when he died his father the King and his mother the
Queen , made a very great mourning , and all the people of his
retinue of servants and attendants , both men and women , wept
a great weeping , for he was an exceedingly just and upright
man , and they buried him in the island which is called MES
R ìÂ. And forty days after JUSTUS, the king's son , died
 COMMEMORATION OF {YÂSỨ 1. (1682– 1706) lxxiii
the king appointed îYÂSû to the governorship of SÂMÊN,
which had been in the hand of his brother, and he made him to
inherit all the furniture in his brother's house , and his stables
and horses, and all his weapons of war. And when four years
from the time when Î YÂSû had been appointed to the governor
ship of SÂMÊN had passed by , certain men who were in the habit
of making charges against men made many accusations con
cerning many matters against him to his father, and at length
he departed to the Land of the Nations (i.e . to a foreign country )
leaving behind him his servants and attendants . [fol. 2a 2 ]
And when his father and his mother heard that their son had
departed from them and had gone to a far country they sor
rowed with a great sorrow . And they sent to the holy men [and]
monksof thedeserts andmonasteries ,and instructed them to pray
the prayer that God would bring back their son to them in safety ,
and that they might meet each other (again ) face to face. Then
four months after he had departed to the Land of the Nations,
he made a pact with his father, and returned from the place
where he had gone, and came into the camp (or , palace ).
And then , when King John had reigned for fifteen years,
the time arrived when God wished to make him to rest from
the toil of this world. And King JOHN fell ill of a violent
disease when he was living in 'ARÎNGÔ and he came, suffering
as he was from his sickness, into his fort of GWÔNDAR, which
his father King FÂSÎLADAS had built. And having come into
this place he died on the fifteenth day of the month Hamle
(July 5 -August 3 ). And when he was dead all the nobles of the
Court and his wife the Queen mourned for him with a great
mourning, and they wept for him , saying, “ Our King , our
King, and our Lord , adorned with goodness ! Wherefore hath
a fleeting cloud covered the sun of thy natural body ? Where
shall we find [another ] who is like unto thee, O noble one, the
King who loved justice and accepted the person of no man ?
Would that it had been possible for us to have departed instead
of thee so that we might have become for thee a means of
redemption ! ” These and other things like unto them did they
say, and they wept and took him away with chants and dirges
and buried him in the church which is called ŞADÂ, which he
BESI
Ixxiv INTRODUCTION
built during his lifetime. And they took his son îyâsû , and
made him king, and seated him upon the royal throne of his
father. And this King i vÂSỬ during his reign judged his people
with righteousness and justice according as his father had
advised him , saying, “ Judge those who are poor among thy
people righteously, and be a salvation to the children of thy
poverty ” ; and all people, both alien and native, feared him ,
and submitted to him .
And then when he hadbeen reigning for a short timeîyâsî the
king built a beautiful church close to his palace (or, fortress)
and he brought into it a TÂBôt in the name of TAKLA HAY
MÂNÔT, the light of the world . [fol. 2a 3] And he appointed
priests thereto to recite the Offices therein and to chant the
Psalms therein by day and by night ; and he endowed them with
an estate sufficient for their maintenance, and the name thereof
was BALASÂ . And he also built on the border of the palace a
large church , and he decorated (or, furnished ) it with every
kind of beautiful adornment, and he called its name DABRA
BERHÂN. And he brought into it a TÂ Bôr in the Name of the
Holy Trinity , the Sustainers of the World . And he appointed
priests who were to carry away the minds (or, hearts) of the
people by the sweet sounds of their chanting ; and he endowed
them with estates sufficient for their maintenance. As for the
other churches which he built and furnished with every kind
of beautiful equipment, we do not know their number. If we
were to narrate the accounts of the righteousness of this King
ÎYÂSû how long would it take us to do so (i.e . think how long
it would take for us to narrate them ) ! In his days robbery and
thieves were blotted out.
And whilst he was occupied with this good work , a spiritual
thought came into his mind, and he pondered on the fleeting
character of this world, and he remembered the word of the
Gospel which said , “ What shall it profit a man if he gain the
whole world and lose his own soul” (Matt. xvi. 26) . And he said
within himself, “ How long shall I remain submerged in the sea
of sin ? From this moment I will go to Jerusalem , and when I
arrive there I will die by the tomb ofmy Lord.” And having
said these things he began to give alms to the poor and needy ,
 COMMEMORATION OF ÎYÂSŮ 1. ( 1682 – 1706 ) lxxv
and at length nothing of the wealth of his palace was left unto
him . And hemade his son chief of all his nobles and governors ,
so that he might hear in his stead the cases (which they brought
to him ]. And he gave unto him (i.e. his son ) in writing a docu
ment containing blessings and a document containing curses,
and he said unto him , “ If thou wilt hearken to my counsel,
and wilt walk in my commandments, the blessings which are
written down in this book shall dwell upon thee ; and if thou
wilt not hearmy counsel, and wilt not take heed to my precepts,
the curses which are [here written ) shall come upon thee quickly .
O my son , be wise, and understand the admonitions of thy
father ; for the curses of a father destroy the foundations and
break the bones.” And having admonished his son with these
admonitions and many others like unto them , he departed
from his house leaving his kingdom to his son . And when the
officers of the Court and all [fol. 2b 1 ] the governors who were
his friends, and his kinsfolk , heard that their lord ÎYÂSû was
departing to Jerusalem , they followed him weeping , and they
said unto him , “ Why dost thou leave thy flock to the ravening
wolves ? " And they made great lamentation before him , and
they went with him as far as the $ 3711 , and they excommuni
cated him with the word of the bishop . And when iyÂSû the
king saw the distress of the people , his heart was greatly moved ,
and he said unto them , “ Why will ye break myheart and counsel
menot to seek after the salvation of my soul? Henceforth the
command of God shall be with you. I agree to submit to your
words, and I will return and will come with you ; get ye back
and return to the Court.” And having made peace with them
he departed to the old city , and he turned back quickly and
went into the island which is called KEBRÂN, and he dwelt
there for a season. He fasted, and prayed , and began to recite
regularly the Psalms of David , and the writings (or, songs) of
the Prophets , for he knew well that the Book said , “ Recite
the Psalms" ; and he also prayed the remaining prayers which
were to be recited by day and by night. And he reduced his
body by means of many prostrations, and protracted fasts.
And by reason of the exceedingly great severity of his rule of
abstinence , a severe disease broke out in his body which
f2
 lxxvi INTRODUCTION
separated his members, and broke his bones. And he remained
there for many days, but as soon as he was recovered somewhat
from his illness, he rose up and departed from KEBRÂN, and
went into DAķ and dwelt there. And whilst he was living in
the island of DaĶ, there rose up against him certain men whom
he had rebuked in former times for the wickedness of their
deeds. And he restored the governors of the Court , and he
persuaded them with great wisdom of speech until they hid
their counsel, and made his son TAKLA HAYMÂNÔT king.
Now there were other governors (or, nobles) who were allied in
counsel with them . And he shut up in strict confinement those
who loved ivÂSû their king, because he was afraid that they
would kill them . And when King iYÂSû [fol. 2b 2 ] heard that
his nobles had acted improperly in respect of him , and had made
his son king against his will, he was exceedingly angry. And he
went forth from the island in which he was living, and he sent
forth a herald , and collected a large army, and he departed
and made war upon those who had wronged him and had
snatched away his kingdom . But God did not wish for this
thing, and Hemade that illness from which the king had suffered
aforetime to increase. And when King îyê Sû knew that his
illness had increased in him , he said , “ Blessed be God , the
Lord of Israel, Who hath fettered me with the chain of severe
illness , so that the Christians may not be destroyed by my
sword and spear; for He knoweth what is detestable and what
is good.” Then he began to curse his son , saying, “ Another
shall take thy governorship, O my son TAKLA HAYMÂNÔT,
because thou hast disregarded the word of thy father. Thy
glory shall belong to another, thy seed shall be blotted out
from the earth, and thy children shall be orphans, and thy wife
a widow . And this error shall not be done away for thy mother
who hath done this thing by means of her counsel. And as for
this writing of blessing which thou hast disregarded - having
given unto thee that which I had written, thou wouldst have
dwelt over my children who have performed my command and
fulfilled my will.” This and such like things [did îyâSû say ] :
and he took a heavy curse and laid it upon the head of his son .
Then he summoned his soldiers, and blessed them , and made
 COMMEMORATION OF IYÂSŮ 1. ( 1682 – 1706) Ixxvii
peace with them and gave them permission to depart to their
own towns (or, countries) .
Then King iy Sû went into the island of DAĶ, and he arrayed
himself in the garb of a monk , and his sickness waxed sore in
him . Now the nobles who had wronged him did not trust him ,
and they were greatly afraid , and thought that he was going
to kill them . And having assembled secretly they plotted
deeply against him — now they knew from what had happened
before that he was great in counsel, and that his wisdom could
not be fathomed by them . And they sent messengers and
brought him out from the island of Daķ and took him to an
island called TEHÊ ĶLÂ MANGÔ. And when he had arrived
there, he said , “ Blessed be God , the Lord [fol. 2b 3] of Israel,
my father , who hath brought me into this place, for in it my
soul shall go forth from my body, and this shall be my resting
place for ever.” And then he began to weep , saying, “ How
have I been repaid twofold by the hand of my son , the sorrow
which I made my father and my mother to suffer , and the
great grief wherewith they grieved .” And when the men who
were with him asked him to cease from his lamentation he said
unto them , “ Why will ye urge me when ye hear that those who
sit in the gates make chatter about me, and those who drink
wine make songs about me? From now and henceforward
death is better for me than life .” And having said this he ceased
from his lamentation , and held his peace ; and then he devoted
himself to praying to his Creator that He would deliver him
from the nets of Satan , and save him from the corruption of
the Enemy. And in each of his prayers he said , “ Havemercy
upon me, Lord , havemercy upon me, and deliver me not over
to my sin .” And he bore patiently with the craftiness and fraud
of the watchmen who kept guard over him . Then when two of
the nobles who were called HONORIUS and JACOB heard of the
strength of his counsel, and the greatness of his suffering, now
they had brought in the daughters of King îyê Sû by the ordin
ance of the Law , they swore a mighty oath to each other, and
made a covenant together. And they gathered together a large
number of soldiers and men of war, and they rose up from the
country of GUOJÂM , and came that they might bring their
lxxviii INTRODUCTION
lord îyâ sû out of the island and take him back to the throne
of his kingdom by their fighting. And when the King TAKLA
HAYMÂNÔT heard that HONORIUS and JACOB had come to
make war upon him , he feared greatly and was terrified , and
he summoned his mother and all his kinsfolk and friends. And
they counselled a counsel ofviolence - to kill King îYÂSÛ . And
they sent DARMEN and PAUL, her brothers, to his mother , to
see how thematter would happen. And having been despatched
they departed quickly by the road of the river, and they came
to the place where King îyâ Sû was, and they broughthim out
from the inside of the fortress to the people of his house. And
when he saw them [fol. 3a 1] arriving King îYÂSŮ said unto
them , “ What are ye going to do in coming hither, and what are
the commands that have been laid upon you? ” And straightway
there reached him the voice of anger of the man of blood
DARMEN, and he said unto him , “ I have come to make thee
king , and to establish thee as lord .” And King îyâsû answered
and said unto him , “ Thou hast spoken the truth. I am going
to reign in heaven , for thou art going to kill me craftily ; the
kingdom which is of earth is a fleeting thing." And whilst he
was saying these words, DARMEN smote him four times with
a burning torch, and he stabbed him with the point of his
javelin and he died . And the house wherein the king was they
set on fire, and then they went out quickly and departed by the
river road , being afraid that (some one) would kill them . Then
the servants of the king's house came and dragged him out of
the fire , and they began to weep for him , and to make lamenta
tion , saying, “ ÎyÂSŮ, İYÂSŮ, îYÂSû ourking was the clothing
of the naked . ÎYASŮ , ÎYASŮ , îYÂSû our lord was the food of
the hungry. ÎYÂSÛ , ÎYASŮ , ÎYÂSû was the quencher of the
thirst of the thirsty. ÎYÂSû was the mighty man and man of
terror, who didst slay the peoples of the Wallô and the mighty
Tûlômâ, and didst carry off their fat cattle in large numbers .
ÎYÂSÛ , thou man who didstmake men to fear ,who didst bless
the country of the black peoples of Gisâ and DÛBÔNf, and didst
kill them all, and didst carry into captivity their women and
little children and make them slaves. îyê Sû, themighty man ,
the son of DÂwit (DAVID ), thou didst slay șiLÂMÔ, the
 COMMEMORATION OF ÎYÂSû 1. ( 1682 – 1706 ) Ixxix
mighty man , the second GOLIATH RA’AYATÂwi. ÎYÂSŮ, thou
wise man , thou son of Solomon , who didst encamp in GÎBÊ
four months, and thou didst come into thy country with thine
army in peace and in safety . ÎYÂSÛ , who didst travel like the
winds on horseback when thou wast hunting elephants and
every other kind of wild beast. ivÂSỬ the righteous monk ,
the son of John the righteous. How hast thou been destroyed
by the hands of little (i.e .mean )men !” And saying these words
they continued to weep during their watch over him for four
days; and then they took him to the island which is called
MEŞRÂḥ, and with psalms and dirges they buried him in the
sepulchre of his fathers. May the blessing of the prayer of this :
ÎYÂSû be [fol. 3a 2] with his son our king îyÂSŮ , and with us
who hear [his history ) for ever and ever !
 LIST OF THE SAINTS AND MARTYRS, AND
EVENTS COMMEMORATED DURING THE MONTHS
OF MASKARAM , TĚŽĚMT AND KHĚDÂR
MASKARAM
DAY

JOB, and his washing in the TAKAZÊ (ATBARÂ).

BARTHOLOMEW the apostle.
MÊLYôs, Archbishop of Alexandria .
MÊL KÎ of CLYSMA.
RÂGUÊL the archangel.
JOHN the Baptist.
DÂSYÂ , an Egyptian soldier.
DIDYMUS and MARINA .
DIONYSIUS, President of the Council of Bishops at Alex
andria .
Earthquake in Egypt, A .D . III2 .
DIOSCURUS the martyr, the martyrs in TENSEL
YÂ ķÔtôn , and certain martyrs in Persia .
Death of 'ANBAS the Ethiopian .
Death of MOSES of SCETE.
IV Death of MACARIUS, Archbishop of Alexandria .
SIMON the anchorite, JOSHUA the son of NUN , 'ARDÂSÊ
the Archbishop , 150 martyrs in Antioch , ' ĚNTĚYÂ,
and THEODORE.
SOPHIA and her two daughters.
MÂMÂs the martyr.
King LEBNA DENGEL, DAVID II (1508 –40).
ISAIAH the prophet.
'EBNÔDÎ, BASLANTYÂ, JAMES a monk , 'ATÎmôs a
bishop, and the martyrs BÂSLÎS, 'A RÔNȚÔS, RAW
RĚWÔ, SAWLWÂS and SAWA.
VII DIOSCURUS, Archbishop of Alexandria .
Death of SEVERIANUS, Bishop of Byblos.
AGATHON, PETER, JOHN, AMMÔN, AMMÔNÂ, REBEC
CA , FÂSÎLADAS and 2,000 fellow martyrs .
DÂS,GÂGRÂ, NÂwLÂ , Bishop of Antioch , and PETER the
monk .
Birth of ħANNÂ ,mother of the Virgin .
VIII ZACHARIAS.
Death of MOSES .
DIMASIUS, LUCIANUS, JEREMIAH , ANDÊWÂ,
' Ê LYÂNôs and 'AMMÔN.
 SAINTS COMMEMORATED DURING MASKARAM lxxxi

DAY
IX PISOURA .
FÂSÎLADAS and 14 ,737 martyrs .
Miracle of MICHAEL the archangel.
Death of King YÂSÂY.
х The miracle worked by a picture of the Virgin .
Death of JUDITH .
Birth of the Virgin MARY.
MÂTRÔNYÂ the martyr.
ATHANASIA and her three children .
XI BASILIDES of Antioch .
BANAFZEZ, a Persian lady .
SÛRÉS, 'AN KÎȚrôs and MASKHADRÂ of ESNEH.
CORNELIUS.
Death of THEODORA .
BASIL , THEODORE, Bishop of Jerusalem , CAUSTUS.
XII MICHAEL the archangel.
Council of Ephesus (200 bishops).
’AFLÂħôs and his fellow martyrs, and the translation of
his body .
LÛYÊRÂS and GALANICUS.
JOACHIM and ĦANNÂ .
STEPHEN (protomartyr) .
XIII Miracle of BASIL , Bishop of Caesarea. (Story of the man
who sold himself to the devil.)
ISAAC the martyr.
XIV AGATHON Stylites.
MACARIUS the martyr, BARTHOLOMEW , 'AWĚDRA ,
NASO and DÊGANÂ.
ху . Translation of the body of STEPHEN.
PETER of DARAW .
XVI Building of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre .
Death of TOBIT.
WARKĚLA , SIMEON , MARCIANUS, 'AZYÂNôs, HALÎ,
RÔNÎKÔS, LUCIANUS, 'AZRĚMÂNÔS, PETER ,
ŅANNAH and AGATHON .
XVII Festival of the Holy Cross .
Death of THEOGNOSTA.
Death of DIONYSIUS .
LÎBÂ, CIRIANUS, JUSTIN , and TÊKÂSÊLȚĚS.
XVIII Death of EUSTATHIUS.
The Empress HELENA .
Death of HONORIUS of ŞĚGÂD.
MERCURIUS the martyr.
Festival of the Holy Cross.
lxxxii INTRODUCTION
DAY
XVIII Death of JACOB the Egyptian .
STEPHEN the priest, NICETA.
Discovery of the bones of THOMAS and ATHANASIUS .
PHILOTHEUS, NÔB , 'ABÔLÎ and 60 fellow martyrs ,
EUPHEMIA , FÎNÔMIS, SELÌÂN, ' A KALÂÊLES, and
ISAAC.
Miracle of THOMAS the apostle .
XIX Archbishop GREGORY themartyr.
Festival of the Holy Cross .
Death of CYRIACUS the dweller in the desert.
xx Death of Archbishop ATHANASIUS.
· MÂLÎDÂMÂ, ATHENE, MÂRÊMÂ, PÎLÂ , ABRAHAM the
monk, RADE' Ě , SÂDĚS, THADDEUS, EPIPHANIUS,
ARMENIUS and SIMEON .
XXI CYPRIANUS and JUSTINA.
Festival of the Virgin .
Death of TIBERIUS the apostle.
XXII COTYLUS, 'AKS û and ȚÂ ?ôs.
JULIUS of 'A ĶFĚŇÂ S .
BÂLÂN.
XXIII EUNABIUS and ANDREAS, EUSTATHIUS and his wife,
THECLA, 44 martyrs , GREGORY, ' ĚNŞÎNÂ and
BELÎNÂ, and Abbâ SALÂMÂ.
XXIV GREGORY the monk.
QUADRATUS, BÊTRĚWÂ, LATÂYN , Archbishop GAB
RIEL, THEODORE, NETROLOMES, AUSANIUS,
NESTIUS, ZÎÂNUS, JUSTUS, ' ĚLSAREY, PHRA
TUS, COSMAS and DAMIANUS.
XXV JONAH .
BARBARAH and JULIANA .
RÔ ĶA, JOHN, ANDREW , PETER and ANTONIUS.
XXVI GABRIEL ' s visit to ZACHARIAS.
Translation of the body of ’ABÔLÎ.
'AGÂTi and 10,000 martyrs of Egypt, and GEORGE.
XXVII EUSTATHIUS and his wife and two sons.
Death of THECLA.
ANTILARIUS the tax gatherer.
JOHN of DABRA ŞĚGÊ.
XXVIII 'ABADIR and IRENE,
Death of SUSANNAH .
IRENE, 'AN KUÔ MÂRYÂM , STEPHEN , HANNAH , POR
PHYRINA and LUKE the monk .
XXIX Festival of the Nativity .
 SAINTS COMMEMORATED DURING TĚŽĚMT lxxxiii
DAY

XXIX Translation of the body of St JOHN.

’ARSÎMÂ and AGATHA, and their companions.
XXX Festival of St ATHANASIUS.
Archbishop GREGORY of Armenia.
The calling of JAMES and John, the sons of ZEBEDEE .
BŪLÂ , MÂRY Û , PETER , and 'ASÔTÂRÊS.
'ABSÂdi and AARON of Galilee .
Death of SHÂLÛSŤ.

ТЁКЁмт
I ANASTASIA , CHERITON, SUSANNAH , and MARY, the
sister of LAZARUS.
II Archbishop SEVERUS, TAKLÂ SAMÂ ET, and HERI
ACUS.
III Archbishop SIMEON .
GEORGE, MACARIUS, THEOPHILUS, EUMARA, GRE
GORY, THEODORA, NINEVEH and its people and
tribes .
IV BACCHUS and SERGIUS, BÂBâ and MÂMÂ.
ANANIAS the preacher , ROMANUS, GABRA KRĖSTÔS,
JOHN the eunuch , and the consecration of the Church
of SĚNHÂR .
'ABRĚH Â and 'AŞBĚHÂ .
V Archbishop PAUL.
CYRIACUS and HANNAH .
JAMES the apostle, 'ADRÂwôs, 'AWÂRÂS, 'ALDRÂK
wÔs, and ' ENDRÔN Ôs.
VI ŅANNAH ,mother of SAMUEL.
PANTALEON .
RĚWÂK and ANTONIUS.
HABAKKU K .
DIONYSIUS, Bishop of Athens, JOSEPHUS and URI
ANUS.
ANTONIUS, Bishop of BÂNÂ.
ENOS, son of SETH .
HERMOLAUS,HERACLETUS,and BAŞALÔTÂMÎKÂ ’ ÊL.
VII BÂWLÂ of ȚAMAW , MÎNAS, ŅASÎNÂ, CYPRIAN and
JUSTINA.
VIII MEȚRÂ, BACCHUS and PELAGIA , ħÔR, BÛLÂ, SUSAN
NAH and her children , and AGATHON.
IX Archbishop LIBERIUS.
STEPHEN of Antioch .
The Eclipse of A . D . 1269.
Ixxxiv INTRODUCTION
DAY
IX Archbishop SIMEON , THOMAS the apostle , DAVID , a
King
King of Ethiopia .
x Archbishop EUMENIUS.
SOPHIA andher three children , SERGIUS, JOHN the priest.
XI JAMES, Archbishop of Antioch , death of PELAGIA ,
'ARMÂMÍ.
XII Feast of St MICHAEL.
MATTHEW the apostle , Archbishop DEMETRIUS, PETER ,
DIONYMUS, YA EĶÔB, ABÛ TEFÂ , THEODORE
and 'AMINUS.
XIII PTOLEMACHUS, ZACHARIAS the monk , ' EULÂNÂ ,
EULACIUS, THEODORE , ’ABLÂS, NITOLAUS and
'ABĚLÂ .
XIV PHILIP the disciple ,MOSES theGreat,GABRA KRĒSTÔS,
'ARAGâwî (ZA -MÎKÂ 'ÊL), TRÂ KWÂ, DAMATIUS,
’ EMRÂYÂ , and 431martyrs.
XV BÎLÂMÔN and 560 martyrs.
SALATION , 'ATRAKIUS, YARPES, ANDRONICUS, AR
MOLIUS, HERMES, HARMOKTIS, ADMANIA
and SAMATÂ, Abbâ ISAIAH, and SILAS.
XVI Archbishop AGATHON.
MACROBIUS, ' ĚBLÔ, Abbâ PETER, PÂRĚBÛ and 45 men ,
ARÔN , KARBÛ, 'ANALYŮ, PAWLÎ, MARK and
GÂDĚL.
XVII FILYAS,GREGORY, Archbishop DIOSCURUS, and STE
PHEN protomartyr.
XVIII Archbishop THEOPHILUS, ROMANUS.
JOHN, ADRÂNI, PARTÊMÂTẾwôs, HEPHAESTUS,
LUDERIUS, 'ASMÂNÎt and his 7 children .
XIX BARTHOLOMEW of the FAYYÛM and his wife .
Council of Antioch .
JOHN O DAILÂM ,SIMON , and themartyrs of AL -MAȚRÂ.
XX JOHN the short.
ELISHA the prophet.
XXI Festival of the Virgin .
Translation of the body of LAZARUS.
Archbishop JOHN, JOEL the prophet.
Deliverance of MATTHIAS by MARY the Virgin .
XXII LUKE the Evangelist, and his fellow martyrs.
XXIII Archbishop JOSEPH, DIONYSIUS of Corinth , JOSEPH of
MAN ÛF. TEN ĶĚYÂ ĶÊ, THEODOSIUS, LAOS,
TAXIS, JÔSÂB and ANDREW .
 SAINTS COMMEMORATED DURING KHĚDÂR lxxxv
DAY
XXIV ABLARIUS, SABLA MÂRYÂM .
PAUL, LONGINUS, ZAINÂ, AUSIA and CONSTANTINE.
XXV BÂLÂ ('ABÎB ).
' EBLÔY.
Consecration of the Church of St JULIUS.
Abbâ 'ABEL, and DALILÂ .
XXVI TIMON , JAMES, brother of Christ, ħÛRÂS.
PHILIP and SAW GENÂ S .
XXVII MACARIUS of KÂw .
PAUL of the Cell, JULIANUS and his fellow martyrs .
XXVIII MARCIANUS and MERCURIUS.
MAĶŞ Û ,MACARIUS, death of JAPHET, and YAM ' ATÂ .
XXIX Festival of the Nativity .
SA ĶȚĚR and his servant.
XXX ABRAHAM the anchorite .
FALÎBÛN , KAYNÂ, MARTÊS, MÂRS, ISAAC the King .
Appearance of the head of John the Baptist.
KHẺDAR
I MAXIMUS, MANFIUS, VICTORIUS, PHILIP.
Archbishop SANITIUS, Archbishop PETER.
SETENNA, 'ANESGESYÂ , Abbâ LÎBÂNÔS.
CYRIACUS of Corinth .
ATHANASIUS and IRENE.
EPIMACHUS and AZARIANUS.
JAMES and JOHN of Persia .
THOMAS of Damascus , ZACHARIAS, 'ABAY DÔ and
JOHN and their fellow martyrs, and Archbishop PETER.
Appearance of the head of LONGINUS.
TIMOTHY , Abbâ YÔHANNÎ.
Translation of the body of THEODORE, and dedication of
a church to him .
VI Archbishop FELIX .
Appearance of Christ at ķUĚSĶUÂM .
JÔSÂ , AFRÔS, ADINIUS, JUSTUS, MARTERUS, LUCI
RIUS, SUNÎNUS, BANDICORUS, EULASIUS, COR
NELIUS and 8000 (or, 17,000) martyrs of the company
of ISIDORE.
VII GEORGE the Alexandrian .
NÂHREW , MINÂS of TAMAI.
Consecration of the Church of St GEORGE at Lydda.
ZENOBIUS and ZENOBIA .
MERCURIUS and JOHN.
ixxxvi INTRODUCTION
DAY
VITI Festival of the Four Beasts.
Festival of the Archangel ÂFNÎN .
JOHN the priest.
Appearance of the Cross to CONSTANTINE .
COPRONIUS and 484 martyrs.
Archbishop ISAAC.
Council of Nicea.
SOFIA and fifty nuns.
Council of Rômê.
PAUL and his three fellow martyrs.
HANNAH , mother of the Virgin MARY.
ARCHELAUS, Abbâ ELISHA, PACHOMIUS, MÎNÂS,
URANIA .
XII Festival of St MICHAEL.
Archbishop PHILOTHEUS.
BA 'EDA MÂRYÂM , King of Ethiopia .
XIII Festival of thousands of thousands of spirits.
' ASKANÂFER and his 13 disciples .
TIMOTHY, Bishop of ESNEH.
Archbishop ZACHARIAS.
LESȚELIA , MEKRÔNÂ , MARIANA , PHILOPATOR,
'ABRÂNÎ, HONORIUS the Emperor.
XIV CANITUS of Thrace.
DANIEL, the miracle worker.
JOHN of BÎZÂN ,GÂRSES, BĂLĂȚĚN , JOHN the priest.
LAURESTUS, ANDREAS, MABRANUS, TRẤTÎNÂ,
JUSTINA .
Consecration of the Church of ĶALMÔN .
XV MÎNÂS.
Abbâ MÎNÂs the archbishop.
MACCABAEUS of ĶÂSBAR.
XVI Consecration of the Church of 'ABÛNÂ FER.
Archbishop JOHN , XYSTUS the bishop .
ȚÂȚÛS (TATIA ), DANIEL the monk .
XVII Translation of the body of JOHN CHRYSOSTOM .
ABRAHAM , ŅÂRÎK , SHENUTI, ĶĚDŮS 'AMLÂK,
WALATTA PETROS.
XVIII AȚRÂsis and Y ÔNÂ, PHILIP the apostle.
ELEUTHERUS and ENTIA .
XIX Consecration of the Church of SERGIUS and BACCHUS.
BARTHOLOMEW , THEOPHILUS and PATRICIA and
DAMÂLÎS.
XX Archbishop ANIANUS. .
 SAINTS COMMEMORATED DURING KHĚDÂR lxxxvii
DAY
XX Consecration of the Church of THEODORE.
XXI Festival of the Virgin MARY.
GREGORY the Thaumaturge , Archbishop COSMAS.
ALPHAEUS, ZACCHAEUS, ROMANUS, JOHN, THOMAS,
VICTOR, ISAAC of ESHMÛNÊN .
JOHN of ASYÛT.
Translation of the body of DEBORAH (TCHEBARÊ ).
XXII COSMAS and DAMIANUS, and 292 men and 49 women .
XXIII CORNELIUS.
OBADIAH the prophet.
Consecration of the Church of MARÎNÂ .
XXIV Festival of the Twenty - four priests .
’AZ ĶIR and 38 other martyrs.
KÂLTEW , GÂYYôs , 'ARTYÔ, DIOSCURUS.
JOSEPH of SÂNÂ.
XXV PHILOPATOR MERCURIUS, ACARIUS, ROMANUS.
SABLA WANGÊL, Queen of Ethiopia .
XXVI PELARIANUS and TÂTBÛSYÂ.
GREGORY of NYSSA .
KHÎR ÛT and martyrs of NÂGRÂN .
[ YẤsts Mô’ A, GỄLYôs, MÂYEN, MEKWAS, MARY -
ÂLES.
XXVII JAMES the “ chopped.”
TIMOTHY, PHILEMON.
'ALÂRÊ, TAKLA ĦAWÂRYÂT, CLEMENT.
XXVIII SARAPÂMÔN .
LÎĶÂNôs the priest.
XXIX Archbishop PETER.
The Birth of Christ.
The 47 ,000 martyrs in the reign of DIOCLETIAN.
CLEMENT, Archbishop of Rômê.
XXX ACACIUS, Archbishop of Constantinople.
MERCURIUS.
Consecration of the Church of COSMAS and DAMIANUS.
GABRA MASĶAL, King of Ethiopia , ANIANUS the Stylite ,
PETER
 THE BOOK OF THE SAINTS
OF THE ETHIOPIAN CHURCH

[Brit.Mus. MS. Oriental No. 660.]

[fol. 4 a 1 ] IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER AND THE

SON AND THE HOLY GHOST, ONE GOD , we begin by the
help of God and His good gift to write the MASĦAFA
SĚNKĚSÂR which is being interpreted the Collection which
our holy Fathers and Teachers of the Church compiled , namely
the honourable father Abbâ MICHAEL, Bishop of the city of
ATHRIBIS and MALIG , and the honourable father JOHN,
Bishop of the city of BÛRLES (PARALIA) : and the other holy
and honourable fathers who compiled this book from all the
histories of the contendings of angels, and prophets and apostles,
and of righteous men and martyrs, and of holy archbishops,
and monks who dwelt in the desert, so that men may com
memorate them and may read their contendings every day
from the dawn of the first day of Maskaram until the end of
the year. The compilation of this Book took place in the nine
hundred and sixty-third year of the holy martyrs (A .D . 1247).
May their prayer and blessing be with our King JOHN [ I,
1667 - 1682 ] and his wife SABLA WANGÊL for ever and ever.
Amen .

BESI
 THE FIRST MONTH - MASKARAM
(SEPT. 8 - oct. 7 )
I. MASKARAM
This blessed month of Maskaram is the first of the circle of the
years of Egypt and Ethiopia . The (first ] day and the night of
this month are equal- twelve hours. Then the day during this
month Maskaram diminisheth because this month is the first of
the circle of the years of Egypt and Ethiopia . Now it is meet
that we should make therein a great feast in all purity , because
this [fol. 4 a 2 ] day is holy and blessed , and we should remove
ourselves from evil works. And we should begin to do ] good
works and new , whereby God is pleased , even as PAUL the
apostle saith : “ Behold , every work is made new in Christ.
Behold old works have passed away, and behold new works
are known , and every work is from God ” (2 Cor. V , 17) . Thus
hath God had pleasure over us in Christ, and He hath given us
the ministration of His mercy and compassion . And ISAIAH
the prophet saith : “ The Spirit of God is upon me; therefore
hath He appointed me and sentme to preach to those who are
in captivity , and to those who are in prison , and to set them
free, and to the blind that they may see the light, and to those
who are bound that they be set free, and to preach the year
of the mercy ofGod ” (Isaiah lxi, 1, 2). And DAVID saith : “ Thou
hast blessed the crown of the year [with ]mercy , and the desert
is satisfied with dew by Thy blessing ” (Psalm lxv, II).
On this day also JOB the righteous man washed in the water
of the TAKAZÊ and was healed of all his sickness. And the
people were in the habit, when the river TAKAZÊ was full of
water, of dipping themselves in the new water, whereby they
were blessed for all the rest of the year.,

On this day died the holy Apostle BARTHOLOMEW , who was

oneofthe Twelve Apostles . To this apostle the lot fell that he was
to go to the city of EL -WÂH (the great Oasis, AL -KHÂRGAH).
He and PETER [ fol. 4a 3 ] went together to the people there,
 FIRST MONTH - MASKARAM (SEPT. 8 - OCT. 7) 3
and they preached to them , and called them to the knowledge
of God . After that they performed before them signs and great
wonders which terrified their hearts . After this PETER contrived
to go into the city , and there he sold BARTHOLOMEW to be a
slave , and BARTHOLOMEW worked in the vineyard with his
master. And when he was preparing the young plants for
planting out, they burst into flower and bore fruit immediately .
When the son of the governor of that city died , BARTHOLO
Mew the apostle raised him up from the dead . And all the
people believed, and BARTHOLOMEW strengthened them in
the knowledge of God . After this our Lord Jesus Christ com
manded him to go to the city of BARBAR (i.e. the city of
the Barbarians), and He sent to him ANDREW the apostle
with his helper to help him . And the people of that city
were exceedingly wicked , and they would not receive the
apostles who were working before them signs and wonders. And
God commanded one of the Dog -faced cannibals to submit to the
apostles, and not to resist them in anything which they ordered
him to do, and they took him with them to that city . And the
men of that city brought out wild beasts against the apostles
to eat them up, and straightway that Dog-face rose up against
those wild beasts , and rent them asunder, and he also slew a
great many of the men of that city. Because of this all the
people were afraid [ fol. 46 I] and they turned , and did homage
at the feet of the apostles , and they submitted to them , and
they entered the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ - to Him be
glory ! And he appointed priests over them , and built churches
for them , and the apostles left them praising God .
And BARTHOLOMEW the apostle departed to the cities which
were on the sea-coast, whereof the people knew not God , and
he preached unto them and converted them to the knowledge
of God . And they believed on our Lord Jesus Christ, and they
performed the works which were meet for Christ . And BAR
THOLOMEW the apostle commanded themen to be pure, and to
be remote from fornication . When AGRIPÂ the king heard of
him he was exceedingly angry with him , and he commanded
his servants to put the Apostle BARTHOLOMEW in a hair sack
and to fill the sack up with sand, and to cast him into the sea ;
1-2
 THE ETHIOPIC SYNAXARIUM

and they did so . And thus BARTHOLOMEW consummated his

martyrdom .

On this day died the holy father Abbâ MÊLYôs, Arch

bishop of the great [fol. 46 2 ] city of Alexandria , the third from
MARK the apostle and evangelist, and this abbâ archbishop
was appointed in the twelfth (? ) year of the reign of VES
PASIAN the Emperor of Rome, fifty-four years after the
Ascension of our Lord Jesus Christ . He pastured and guarded
the flock of our Lord Jesus Christ nobly, and he sat on the
episcopal throne twelve years. And he pleased God and died
in peace.

And on this day died the righteous and excellent Abbâ

MÊLKÎ. The fathers of this righteous man were among the
nobles of ĶUELZEM (KOLSÛM, i.e. CLYSMA), which city is on
the borders of Egypt; they were rich in gold and silver, and they
gave alms to the poor and needy . His father loved God ex
ceedingly , and he had no son . One day he saw the children
learning their lessons, and in their hands were tablets whereon
were written , “ Let us remember our fathers who have taught
us by their lives so that we may become children of God .
O God, make their souls (fol. 46 3] to have rest in the heavens
with the righteous and the martyrs.” And when the father of
Abbâ MÊLKî heard these words from the mouths of the children
he was very sorrowful saying, “ Woe is me, for I have no son .
Who will remember mewhen I die ? ” And he and his wife gave
themselves up with zeal to fasting, and prayer and the giving
of offerings. And God heard their petition and He gave them
two children at once, a boy and a girl; and they rejoiced greatly
in them . And the father brought them up as Christians, and
he called the boy MÊLKÎ, and his sister SEFNÂ , which is being
interpreted “ Dove." And he had them reared very carefully .
And when the boy was seven years old his father took MÊLKI
to a teacher, and he taught him all the Books of the New and
Old Testaments. And the Holy Spirit came upon him in full
measure, and he did not play with the other children or indulge
in games with them , but he read the Scriptures day and night.
 FIRST MONTH - MASKARAM (SEPT. 8 -oct. 7) 5
And when the boy was twelve years old , the parents of the
children called him and spake with him about their wish to
take a wife for him , so that they might have a memorial; but
MÊLKÎ was not pleased with this, and pretending to agree
with them he said , “ I consent to your words, and that which
ye order me to do I will do.” Now his soul wished to flee from
the world. Then Abbâ MÊLKÎ said unto his father, “ I wish to
make a festival for the children who are at school with me” ; and
his father gave him ten hundred dînârs in gold (about £500) so
that he might make a feast according to his desire, and he
ordered the servants and the waiting men to minister unto him
according to his wish . [fol. 5 a 1] Then Abbâ MÊlkimounted
his horse , and went out before his father and said unto his
serving men , “ Take ye one hundred dinārs in gold and make
haste and prepare a feast for us ; I will go alone and invitemy
companions thereto ." And his serving men hearkened to his
voice, and turned away , and he departed by himself. The
money which he had he distributed among the poor and needy,
and his horse he gave to a certain poor man , and he had nothing
left except the clothes which were on him . And as his return
was delayed his serving men sought for him , but they could
not find him , and they turned back weeping; and they told his
father and mother and they wept a bitter weeping . His sister 's
eyes by reason of her excessive weeping went blind and she
died . And Abbâ MÊLKÎ went to DABRA ȚUR , which was the
monastery of his mother's brother MÂR 'AWGÎN . And this
’AWGÎn was a righteous man and he worked many signs, and
under his authority there were seventy-two chosen monks.
And Abbâ MÊLKť prostrated himself at his feet, and he said
unto him , “ I wish to dwell under thy shadow , and I wish thee
to array me in the garb of the monk.” And Abbâ 'AWGÎN
said unto him , “ From what city comest thou ? ” And he told
him that ķUELZEM was his city, and that he was the son of
'AWGÎn 's sister ; and when 'AWGÎn heard this he rejoiced
with a great joy, and he permitted him to be a probationer for
three years , and he arrayed him in the garb of monasticism .
And he contended with such great vigour in the ascetic life
and kept such strict vigil always, that his fame was heard of
 THE ETHIOPIC SYNAXARIUM
in all the country of Persia . And when he had been a monk for
three years God gave unto him the gift of healing and he was
able to drive out devils by his word . One day whilst he was
[fol. 5 a 2 ] walking about by himself reciting the Psalms he
came to a place where there was a hollow , and in the hollow
was a fig tree, and there were a great many shepherds weeping
there. And Abbâ MÊLKî said unto them , “ Why do ye weep ? "
And they said unto him , “ The son of the governor of the city
was eating figs here , and whilst he was doing so a great snake
came out and swallowed him up , and the boy hath gone into
its belly .” And whilst they were telling him this the father of
the boy with the people of the city arrived, and their clothes
were rent and they were beating their faces; and he made en
treaty to Mâr MÊLKÎ on behalf of his son . And Mâr MÊLKI
said unto him , “ Fear not, O my son , believe in God and thou
shalt see a wonderful thing,” and he turned his face towards
the east and stretched out his hands and prayed for a long time.
And when he had finished his prayer he summoned the serpent
in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ, and commanded to cast
up the boy from inside him ; and he cast up the boy who had
suffered no pain whatsoever. And Satan , who was inside the
serpent, cried out and said , " Whither can I go from thee , O
MÊLKÎ, thou man of ĶUELZEM ? ” ; and having said these words
he dissolved himself into smoke. And when the father of the
boy saw that his son was alive he brought gold and silver to
the holy man . And MÊLKÎ refused to accept it from him , but
he said unto him , “ Let us become partners in the building of
a monastery for me.” And the father of the boy rejoiced and
he built him a monastery which contained 300 cells for the
monks, and he enclosed the building with a wall and
provided iron gates therefor. Whilst they were building the
church they found in one corner a huge stone which could not
be raised by 300 men, but by the prayer of this [fol. 5 a 3 ]
righteous man the church was built out of that stone even
as the builder wished . Then there assembled there 500 souls
and they were chosen monks. And the report of the holy
man was heard throughout the country , and the people
used to bring unto him the sick folk who were suffering
 FIRST MONTH - MASKARAM (SEPT. 8-oct. 7) 7
from sicknesses of every kind, and those who were possessed
of devils , and they were all healed of their diseases through
his prayer, and the men of Persia and Rômê were saved
through the intercession of this righteous man . And when
Satan , who is the enemy of good, saw this righteous man ,
he was jealous of him , and he went to the daughter of the King
of Rômê and drove her silly , and she cried out and said , “ There
is no healing for me except through MÊLKÎ of ķUELZEM .”
And the king her father hearkened unto her, and sent 400
men from his army out unto all directions so that they might
bring Abbâ MÊLKÎ with care to him , and he took an oath
that if they did not do so he would cut off their heads with the
sword . And the soldiers who had been sent out found the holy
man with difficulty , and they bowed down at his feet, and they
told him the king's message, and about the illness of his
daughter, (and said ,] “ Tell us what thou sayest." And Abbâ
MÊLKĩ said unto him , “ I am an old man , and I cannot travel
to Rômya .” And the soldiers said unto him , “ If thou wilt not
go with us the king hath promised to put us to death.” When
the holy man heard this he was very sorry, and he said unto
them , “ O my children , go ye your way , I and you will meet at
the gates of Rômya ” ; and when they heard his words they
departed. And at the end of the year, on the day when he knew
through the Holy Spirit that they would arrive in Rômyâ , he
prayed a prayer to God , and the Holy Spirit lifted him up and
bore him ( fol. 56 1 ] to the gates of Rômyâ. And when the envoys
found the holy man there they rejoiced greatly and they told
the king of his arrival; and the king rejoiced greatly and went
out and received him and brought him into his palace and
seated him upon his throne, and told him concerning his
daughter's sickness. And Abbâ MÊLki ordered that she
should be brought, and when they had brought her, the devil
hurled her down and rent her until they thought that she was
dead . And straightway Abbâ MÊLKÎ rose up and prayed a
long time, and he sprinkled water over her face and anointed
her with oil, and he commanded Satan in the Name of our
Lord Jesus Christ to go forth from her. And Satan went forth
from her in the form of a black man, and the holy man seized
 THE ETHIOPIC SYNAXARIUM
him , and shut him up in the house, and marked him with the
sign of the Cross so that he should not go out. And when the
king saw this , he bowed down at Abbâ mêlki' s feet, and he
brought to him many possessions for theneeds of his monastery ,
and the holy man refused them . And the king said unto him ,
“ O my father, dwell here and I will build thee a monastery ” ;
and the holy man said , “ I cannot forsake my children .” And
the holy man dwelt in Rômyâ for a few days, and healed their
demoniacs. And when he went out to return to his city, the
king rose up and set him on his way with [an escort of] soldiers,
and he came to the gates of the palace. And the holy man saw
a great mass of stone which had been hollowed out and had
been placed at the mouth of a fountain of running water , and
a stone bowl so that horses might drink out of it. And he said
unto the king, "Give me these stones for the use of my monas
tery.” And the king said unto him , “ Who will carry for thee?
the stones which twelve men could not [fol. 56 2 ] lift and
carry them outside the city. dIfhowever, thou hast the strength
( to carry them ) do thou ewhat hen tpleasest
nde tthou he plac.”e . Then
Then the
th holy
man brought the Satan forth from the place wherein he had
bound him , and he suspended the hollow stone from his neck ,
and he bound the bowl on the top of his head , and he ordered
him to go before him . When the king saw this he marvelled
exceedingly, and he turned and glorified God. And Saint
Abbâ MÊLKÎ made the Satan to come into his monastery
carrying these stones, and he ordered him to set them down at
the gates , and they are there to this day. And he shut up the
Satan in a cave and sealed him with the sign of the Cross so
that he should not go forth again and tempt men . And when
this holy man had been a monk for forty and five years , a voice
came unto him from heaven saying, “ Behold the day of thy
death hath drawn nigh , and there remains unto thee three
days only before thou shalt enter into everlasting joy.” Then
the holy man summoned his children and he commanded them
to serve God and to keep themselves away from the error of
Satan . After three days there came unto him the fathers of
the monks, Abbâ ANTONY, and Abbâ MACARIUS, and
Abbâ sînÔ DÂ , and Abbâ BESYA, and Abbâ PACHOMIUS,
 FIRST MONTH - MASKARAM (SEPT. 8 -oct. 7) 9
and they said unto him , “ Come, o our brother, and rejoice
with us in the kingdom of the heavens.” And when they had
said this unto him , his soul went forth from his body and the
angels took it up into glory singing as they went, and they
said , " He hath toiled in the world and he shall live for ever ” ;
and they brought him into [ fol. 56 3 ] the Garden of Delight.
And the archbishops, and the bishops and the priests assembled
and they buried him in the church , and innumerable signs and
wonders took place at his grave.

And on this day is celebrated the festival of RÂGUÊL, the

angel, one of the nine archangels, who informed ENOCH con
cerning the fire which burneth , and the destruction of the
world ; and he is the angel of lights. May the intercession of
this angel be with [us all].

II . MASKARAM
IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER AND THE SON
AND THE HOLY GHOST, ONE GOD
[ fol.6a I] On this day Saint JOHN the Baptist, son of
ZACHARIAS the priest, became a martyr by the hand ofHEROD
the wicked king. This John the prophet rebuked HEROD
because of HERODIAS, the wife of PHILIP, for he had married
her and taken her to be his wife , and JOHN said unto him , “ It
is not right for thee to take thy brother's wife.” And HEROD
took Saint JOHN and cast him into prison , and he kept him
there because he was afraid of him . And when his birthday
came HEROD made a feast for the nobles of his kingdom and
for themagistrates of the city ofGALILÂ (GALILEE). And his
brother 's daughter came and stood up among the festal com
pany and she danced and pleased the king, and he swore an
oath that he would give her anything which shemight ask from
him , even if it were as much as the half of his kingdom . And
she went out to her mother , and she said unto her, “ What
shall I ask the king to give me? ” And her mother said unto
her , " Ask him to give thee the head of John the Baptist
lying in a bowl.” And when HEROD heard this he was
 M
OPIC X ARIU
Io THE ETHI SYNA
exceedingly sorry, but because of his oath and also because of
those who were sitting at meat with him , and because he did
not wish to be put to shame, he straightway commanded his
servants to cut off the head of Saint John, and to give it to
the maiden . And they cut off the head of John in the prison
house and gave it to the daughter of HERODIAS in a bowl
and she gave it to her mother . And there was great consterna
tion that day, and their joy was turned to sorrow . And when
the holy head of Saint John was cut off, [fol.6a 2 ] it flew up
into the air out of the hands of the soldiers, and it cried out,
saying, “ It is not right for thee to take thy brother's wife " ; and
it is said that the head is at the present time in the country of
Arabia. And the disciples of the holy man came and took his
body and carried it away and laid it in a grave (where it lay]
until the days of Saint ATHANASIUS, Archbishop of the
city of Alexandria . And God commanded him to uncover the
body of Saint John , and Saint ATHANASIUS did so and
laid it up by him until he could build a church for it . May his
intercession be, etc.
And on this day died DÂSYÂ the soldier, a native of the city
of TÂYDÂ of Egypt. ARIANUS, [ fol. 6 a 3] the governor of
the city ofANTINOË, inflicted great tortures on this saint, and
he cut off his head with a sword, and DÂSYâ received the
crown of martyrdom in the kingdom of heaven .

And on this day also DIDYMUS and the holy woman

MARÎNÂ became martyrs.

III. MASKARAM
IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER AND THE SON
AND THE HOLY GHOST, ONE GOD
On this day the General Council of Bishops took place in
the city of Alexandria in the second year of the rule of the
glorious father Abbâ DIONYSIUS the archbishop. This
assembly took place because of certain evil men who had ap
peared in the country of Arabia , and who believed that the soul
 FIRST MONTH - MASKARAM ( SEPT. 8 - oct. 7 ) II
dieth with the body, and that on the day of the Resurrection
it shall be raised up with it. And they composed a discourse
on the wicked belief and sent it to themen who were living in
the city of Alexandria . And when the Abûna, the Archbishop
Abbâ DIONYSIUS heard this thing he was exceedingly sorry
about it, and he admonished them and commanded them to
turn from this evil affair, but they would not hearken unto
him . [fol. 66 1 ] Therefore the Council assembled to discuss
them , and he debated the matter with them , and mademanifest
their error, but they neither repented nor turned away from
their evil counsel ; and the archbishop and the whole Council
anathematized them and cursed them . And he wrote a dis
course on them wherein he said , “ the love of God for the
children is exceedingly great and mighty .” And he explained
in that discourse that the soul neither dieth , nor perisheth ,
nor decayeth , but that it abideth even as the angels abide, for
it is a spiritual thing and is immutable and incorruptible . When
it goeth forth from the body it is taken to the place for which
it is suitable . And on the day of the Resurrection , when the
trumpet soundeth , the dead bodies of men shall rise up by the
command of their Creator. And all the souls of men shall go
each into the body whereto it belongeth , and it shall rise with
it, and according to its work it will either rejoice for ever , or
suffer punishment for ever. And the two (i.e. soul and body)
will remain in the state in which they have risen for ever and
for ever and ever . May the prayer of this Council be, etc.

[fol. 66 2] And on this day also a great earthquake took

place in the country of Egypt and in all its borders, and the
church of DÂSYâ fell down at the time of the third hour of
the day. And this church was in the name of MICHAEL the
archangel. And it is said that a certain ungodly man
asked the Christians to pay tax to him , but they would not
give him anything ; and when it was evening this man came
with his followers and pulled down the church . This happened
in the ninth year of Archbishop Abbâ MACARIUS, in the
eight hundred and twenty -eighth year of the Holy Martyrs
[ A. D . 1112]. May their prayer and blessing be, etc.
 C RIUM
12 THE ETHIOPI SYNAXA
And on this day are commemorated DIOSCURUS themartyr,
ANOMAT

and Archbishop DIONYSIUS, and the martyrs who were in

TENSEL YÂĶÔTÔN , and many martyrs in Persia . May their
prayer and blessing, etc .
And on this day died Abbâ 'ANBAS (Father LION) of the
country of Ethiopia .

[fol.66 3 ] And on this day died Abbâ MÛSÊ (MOSES) of

the desert of scete.
When this man became a monk he forsook the world , and
departed into the desert, and he put himself under the yoke of
fasting and prayer until God lightened his eyes to see a garden
of olive trees and palm trees . At the beginning of each month
he took what fell of the fruit of these trees, and ate it, and the
amount of food which he was in the habit of eating was like
that of a small bird . And his apparel was made of the fibre
and bark of the palm . And the heat of summer and the cold
of winter attacked him , but in spite of these he devoted himself
to his prayer and fastings. And he had no knowledge of letters
and writing. And all the various kinds of wild animals of the
desert used to visit him , and he made friends with them and
when the time of prayer drew nigh hemade a sign to them with
his hand and they departed. And when there was a time of
want they would come and stand before him as if they wished
to speak to him , and he knew through the Holy Spirit what
they were seeking after ,and he would bring down rain for them ;
and he lived in this manner for thirty and five years . And
Satan was jealous of him , and he disguised himself and took
the form of a very aged monk , and appeared in front of the
cave of MÛSÊ (MOSES) and walked along limping. When the
holy man saw him he thoughtthathe was a dweller in the desert .
And he went to him and took him into his cave and he continued
in prayer for three days. And when the wild animals who used
to visit the holy man saw this old man , they withdrew from
him . Then that old man asked the holy man concerning his
country and his belief, and Abbâ MÛSÊ (MOSES) told him all
his work , [ fol. 7 a I] and asked the old man in return concerning
 FIRST MONTH - MASKARAM (SEPT. 8 -oct . 7) 13
his city and belief. And the old man said unto Abbâ MÛSÊ
(MOSES), “ As for me I have lived in the world and have com
mitted sin for many years , and I have begotten a daughter.
Then when I remembered the transitoriness of the world , I
came out into the desert and have lived herein for forty years.
I have remembered my daughter and I can find no one to whom
to marry her except thyself, and it is for this purpose that I
have come hither. When I die thou shalt bury me; I have
orchards and gardens and thou shalt inherit them all.” When
Abbâ MÛSÊ (MOSES) heard these words he was terrified , and
he said unto the old man, “ How can I who am a monk do this ? ”
And this old man brought unto him testimony from the Scrip
tures how ABRAHAM , and MOSES, and DAVID , though they
were righteous men , had married wives. And through this the
old man made the heart of Abbâ MÛSÊ (MOSES) to yield . And
he shewed him a beautiful palace, and in it there was a beautiful
maiden , and there came before Abbâ MÛSÊ (MOSES) a vision
wherein the old man was dead, and the holy man was weeping
over him , and was preparing his body for the tomb and then
burying him . And when he went to consort with the maiden
a mighty wind arose and he was driven backwards. When his
senses returned the palace had disappeared , and the garden ,
and the maiden , and he was forced to go back to his dwelling .
And he wished to eat a meal of the fruit of the tree from which
he ate formerly, and the fruit was bitter in his mouth . And
when famine compelled him he went forth into the desert , and
again he met Satan under the form of an aged pilgrim who was
going to Alexandria , and he was riding an ass, and was provided
with meat and drink, and he took him with him and brought
him into the city and left him there . And Satan appeared unto
him in the form of a woman who was carrying [fol. 7a 2] water.
And seeing him in the garb of the men of the desert she asked
him about himself, and he told her everything which Satan had
told him ; and she laughed at him in her heart, and she took him
to her house and gave him meat and drink. And she told him
the affair of her marriage, and how she was the daughter of a
king who was dead, and how she possessed much property.
When she saw that his heart inclined to her, she said to him
14 THE ETHI SYNA
OP IC XARI
U
also, “ I am a Jewess and we are many ” ; andMthen she seduced
him with many crafty arts until he denied his Faith. And again
she said unto him , “ Come, let us take possession ofmy property
in the place where I deposited it ” ; and she took him to an
empty desert wherein there was no water. And she took him
up to the top of a mountain , and she transformed herself before
him , and she said unto him , “ I am that Satan who leadeth
very many into error. I seduced thee from the desert , and I
enticed thee away from thy Faith . Behold , thou shalt die in
this desert, and thy soul shall go into GAHÂNAM ” (GEHENNA) ;
and having said these things he disappeared from him . And the
holy man turned to his right hand and to his left, and there was
no way to escape and no water to drink. And as the matter
pressed sorely upon him he fell down on the ground and scat
tered dust on his face and he became dizzy and wept until his
soul wished to be set free from him . And God heard his cry ,
and He sent an angel unto him to console him , and he said unto
him , “ Thy sin is remitted unto thee. In three days thou shalt
die and my servant SAMUEL, the dweller in the desert, shall
bury thee.” And straightway Abbâ SAMUEL came to him ,
and gave him peace, and comforted him , and took him with
him into the church which ’AGÂBôs the king had built in the
desert which was hidden from the eye ofman , [fol. 7 a 3] and it
was the cemetery for the company of monks. And when they
arrived there they found the company of holy men , and they
offered up the Offering, and received the Holy Mysteries. And
there being a press of people Abbâ SAMUEL departed to obtain
a blessing at the grave of the saints . And when [ Abbâ MÛSÊ
(MOSES) ] arrived there, he knelt down on his knees and died
straightway ; and Abbâ SAMUEL buried him and wrote the
history of him .
IV . MASKARAM
IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER AND THE SON
AND THE HOLY GHOST, ONE GOD
On this day died the holy father , Abbâ MACARIUS, Arch
bishop of Alexandria ; now he was the sixty -ninth archbishop
of the city . This father was an ascetic and practised strenuous
 FIRST MONTH - MASKARAM (SEPT. 8 -oct. 7) 15
self-denial from his earliest years, and he craved for the garb
ofmonasticism . Hewent up to the desert of SCETE and became
a monk in the church of Abbâ MACARIUS, and he performed
great and severe ascetic labours. He illumined his soul by
reading the Holy Scriptures and translations of (or commen
taries on ) them , and he learned the explanations of them . He
excelled in the working of righteousness, and he was appointed
priest in the desert of SCETE . And when Abbâ MICHAEL the
Archbishop , his predecessor, died , the bishops [fol. 76 1] and
many priests and doctors of the Orthodox Faith went to the
monastery of Abbâ MACARIUS, and they assembled in the
church with the senior monks of SCETE , and sat there with them
for many days debating and discussing the question of who
would best fill this honourable position . And they found that
this Abbâ MACARIUS was the best man , and they agreed
unanimously to appoint him , because very many of the holy
men of SCETE testified that he would best fill this position
because of his righteousness , and his strenuousness and self
abnegation , and devotion to the ascetic life . And they took
him and bound him with cords against his will, and he cried
out and begged them to release him , and he said unto them ,
“ I am not qualified to be raised to the dignity of archbishop ,
for my mother married two men .” Now they knew that he
said this so that they might let him go. And many came and
bore witness concerning him , shewing that his mother was a
virgin and that she had only married oneman . Then they took
him against his will, and they brought him to the city of
Alexandria , and they appointed him archbishop . Then they
brought him to MĚSR (CAIRO) and the deed of his appoint
ment was read in the church of our Lady, the holy Virgin Mary,
of Mu'allakah in the Greek, Coptic and Arabic languages. And
during the whole time in which he sat he added to his works of
righteousness daily, and he contended most strenuously . Every
day he taught the people and admonished them in the fear of
God . He gave alms and did works ofmercy [fol. 7b2] for the
poor and needy . During the whole of the period of his rule he
never took anything from the Church , on the contrary he used
to give God Most High a large portion of the dues which were
 THE ETHIOPIC SYNAXARIUM

paid to him . He sat as archbishop for twenty and seven years ,

and he pleased God and died in peace.

And on this day also are commemorated SIMON the anchorite,

and Joshua the son of NAWÊ (NUN ), the disciple of MOSES,
and ' ARDÂSÊ the archbishop, and 150 martyrs who suffered
in Antioch, and 'ĚNTĚYÂ, one of the Seventy, of the people
of 'ENSENÂ, and THEODORE the bishop , from DABRA
' ĚLDÂNû, and theologian .
V . MASKARAM
IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER AND THE SON
T
AN 10
AND THE HOLY GHOST, ONE GOD F G

On this day Saint sôFYA (SOPHIA) [fol. 76 3] and her two

daughters whose names were 'AKSÔSYÂ and BARNÂ BÂ became
martyrs ; now this woman was a pagan ('aramâwit) and her
parents worshipped idols . After this she came to the Bishop of
MANÛFÊ (i.e. MANÛF AL-'ALIÂ , or PANOUF RÊS, capital of
the province of MANÛ FÎYYAH ) and believed in Christ, and
said unto him , “ I have believed in thy God .” And after this he
taught her all the Law of the Church , and he baptized her and
her daughters in the Name of the Father and the Son and the
Holy Ghost. Thereupon they laid an accusation against her
before KALDĚYÂ Nôs (CLAUDIANUS), the governor of thecity ,
saying that she had become a Christian and had forsaken the
worship of idols. And the governor questioned her closely and
she did not deny it, and he condemned her and her daughters
to be punished severely. And she exhorted them to be patient
and said unto them , “ Be strong, my daughters , and endure like
the daughters of sôFYA (SOPHIA ), my lady ’ANGABÊNÂYT.
I am her kinswoman and ye are as her daughters PisȚis
’ALÂpis and ’AGÂpis.” And they answered and said unto
her , “ Fear thou not, we will follow thy steps " ; and when they
had said these things she kissed them devotedly . And when
the governor saw them embracing her, he ordered his men to
scourge the mother with whips in order to terrify the virgins.
Then her daughters saw an angel of God come down and hide
 FIRST MONTH - MASKARAM (SEPT. 8 - oct. 7) 17
the body of the holy woman , for the wicked men had stripped
her naked to beat her , and they rejoiced and were glad . And
whilst the men were beating their mother she never ceased to
cry out, “ I am a Christian .” Then the governor commanded
them to cut out her tongue down to the root, and they did so ,
and even after this she ceased not to cry out and to shout at
him . After this the governor commanded them to take her into
the prison , [fol. 8 a 1] and he sent his wife unto her to persuade
her ; and when she would not be persuaded he commanded
them to cut off her head with a sword , and they did so . And
a certain woman took her body and hid it in her house, and
she lighted a lamp before it and burnt incense to it. Then the
governor summoned her daughters, and threatened them so
that they might consent to obey him , but when they refused
him he cut off their heads one after the other ; and thus they
consummated their martyrdom . And that believing woman
took their bodies and laid them side by side by the body of
their mother. And many signs appeared at their graves. And
people with every kind of sickness were healed there. When
CONSTANTINE was reigning he heard the history of Saint
SÔFYÂ (SOPHIA ) and he took up her body and translated it
to Constantinople. Before [he heard ] her history his people
built a church, and wrote upon a tablet, “ This is the house of
CONSTANTINE " ; and an angel of God came down and de
stroyed it. And he wrote, “ This is the house of sôFY”
(SOPHIA), and although the workmen wanted to cut it they
left it written . One day whilst the son of the king was playing
with his friends there , the angel of God whose name was
RÚFÂ 'll appeared unto them and said unto them , " What is
the name of this house? ” And the youth said , “ I do not know ."
And the angel said unto him , “ Tell thy father to call it the
house of SÔFYÂ ” (SOPHIA ). And the youth said unto him ,
“ Wilt thou wait here until I come back ? ” and the angel said ,
“ I will.” And when his father heard this he knew that it was
an angel, and he killed his son, and said , " The angel will not
depart from that place because he must wait for the youth .”
And that angel is there to this day [fol. 8a 2 ] waiting for the
youth . The length of that church is 709 cubits, its breadth is
BESI
 18 THE ETHIOP SYNAX
ARIUM
IC
309 cubits, its pillars are in number 366 , its doors are 4 , its
altars are 8 , its pools of water are 4, and the cherubim which
are abovethemercy seat have each two wingswhich overshadow
the ark of the Law of God . And they brought here the coffer of
Saint SÔFYA (SOPHIA), and the coffers of her daughters with
greathonour and glory. And they buried that woman who had
gathered together their bodies with them . May the prayer of
these holy women be with , etc.

And on this day also Saint MÂMÂs became a martyr. His

father was called THEODOTUS and his mother was called
THEOPHILA. This man lived in the days of the reign of
YÔLYÂNÔS (JULIAN) the emperor, and his position was that
of governor of the city of 'AWLÂTÔs. The parents of this holy
man were Christians, and because of their belief in Christ he
had shut them up in prison , and the mother of this holy man
gave birth to him in prison . After his father and his mother
had died [fol. 8 a 3 ] in prison , a certain Christian woman took
the blessed child and brought him up as her own son , and she
called his name " MÂMÂS,” the interpretation of which is
“ orphan,” for he had neither father nor mother. And when he
was fifteen years old the people brought an accusation against
him before the governor saying that he was a Christian . And
they took him and beat him with rods, and they hung him up
head downwards with a heavy lump of lead tied to him , and
they cast him into the sea , but he was saved from the sea by
the might of God. And he hid himself under a cave and he
fed himself on the milk of the gamûs, (i.e . buffalo ), those great
black animals of the desert. Then the governor seized him
again and cast him into the fire, but he was saved from the
fire by the power of God. After this the governor 's men let
loose lions upon him so that they might rend him asunder ,
but by the power of God he leaped upon the back of a lion .
Then the governor tortured him , and his men dragged him on
the ground, and tore out his intestines with a three-pronged
iron fork . By this torture the blessed MÂMÂS consummated
his martyrdom , and received a crown of martyrdom in the
kingdom oftheheavens. May hisprayer and blessing be with, etc.
 FIRST MONTH - MASKARAM (SEPT. 8 - oct. 7) 19
[On this day also is commemorated LEBNA DENGEL, or
DÂwit (DAVID ) II WANAG SAGAD, King of Ethiopia from
Aug. 15, 1508, to Sept. 2, 1540.]
VI. MASKARAM
[ fol. 861] IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER AND THE
SON AND THE HOLY GHOST, ONE GOD
On this day died the great Prophet ISAIAH, the son of
’ AMôș, MANASSEH having sawn him in twain with a wood
saw . This prophet prophesied in the days of the reigns of five
kings, that is to say UZZIAH , and JOTHAM , and AHAZ, and
HEZEKIAH his son , and MANASSEH the son of HEZEKIAH .
And he prophesied to AHAZ, saying, “ A virgin shall conceive,
and she shall bear a son , and his name shall be called
'AMÂNÛÊL, the interpretation of which is, 'God with us.'
And it shall come to pass that he shall teach the nations, and
shall bring them into his kingdom and into his faith , and he
shall destroy the altars of the Jews and their priests. And
offerings of praise, bread and wine, shall be received from
priests who shall be from among the people” (Isaiah vii, 14 ff.) .
And he prophesied to HEZEKIAH and encouraged him when
SANÂKRÊM ( SENNACHERIB ) the King of Persia (sic) be
sieged Jerusalem , and informed him that God would blot him
out because of his blasphemy against Him (Isaiah xxxvi).
And thatnight God sentMICHAEL the archangel to the camp of
SANÂKRÊM (SENNACHERIB), and slew of the soldiers 180 ,000
and 5000 men , and those who remained (alive] left the camp
and fled . And when HEZEKIAH the king was sick, God com
manded him by the tongue of this prophet (fol. 86 2 ] to set his
house in order for hewas to die . And when HEZEKIAH prayed
to God , He sent unto him ISAIAH the prophet who made known
to him that God had added to his days fifteen years . And God
shewed him a sign so that he might be sure that what the
prophet had told him was true ( Isaiah xxxviii). And ISAIAH
prophesied concerning the blotting out of the children of Israel,
and he made manifest that only a few of them would believe
him . And God made rain to fall by reason of his prayer , when
2-2
20 THE ETHIOPIC SYNAXARIUM
the people obeyed . And on one occasion when he was thirsty
God made to flow the spring of water of SILOAM . And ISAIAH
prophesied also to MANASSEH the king, the son of HEZE
KIAH , who established the worship of idols, and he rebuked
him because of his evil deeds. For this reason MANASSEH the
king was wroth with him , and he sawed him in twain with a
wood saw from his head to his feet. And all the days of the
prophesying of this prophet were seventy years , and more than
that. And he prophesied in the nine hundred and thirteenth
year before the coming of Christ our Lord .
Salutation to 'EBNÔDİ.

And on this day also the holy woman [fol. 86 3 ] BASLANTYÂ

in the days of DIOCLETIAN , the emperor who denied (Christ].
This holy woman was a Christian, and when she was nine years
old the deniers of our Lord seized her and bound her hands
and her feet, and cast her into the fire ; but she was saved from
the fire by the might of God . When she was thirsty she made
a petition to God for water, and He caused water to come down
and she drank . Then she committed her soul to the hand ofGod
and cast herself into the fire, and she finished her testimony.
And on this day also are commemorated JAMES the monk ,
and 'ATÎMÔs the bishop , and BÂSlîs, and ' ARÔNȚôs, and
RAWRĚWÔ, and SAWLWÂS, and sawâ, martyrs ofGod .

VII. MASKARAM
IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER AND THE SON
AND THE HOLY GHOST, ONE GOD
On this day died the holy and blessed father Abbâ Dios
CURUS, Archbishop of Alexandria ; now he was the twenty - fifth
archbishop of that city. His death took place on the island of
GÂGRÂ after a [fol. ga I] great debate about the Orthodox
Faith at the Council which the Emperor MARCIANUS (A .D .
450 - 457), the denier of Christ, had convened and to which he
had summoned him . And when he arrived there he saw a great
assembly containing six hundred and thirty bishops. And
Saint DIOSCURUS said , “ In what is the Faith lacking that it
 FIRST MONTH - MASKARAM (SEPT. 8 -OCT. 7) 21
is necessary to gather this great assembly because of the
Faith ? ” And they said unto him , “ This assembly hath been
convened by the emperor's command .” And DIOSCURUS said
unto them , “ If this assembly hath been convened by the com
mand of our Lord Jesus Christ, to Whom be praise ! I will
remain , and I will utter with my tongue what God hath given
me to say ; but if this assembly hath been convened by the
emperor's command , let the emperor manage his assembly as
he pleaseth .” Then the blessed DIOSCURUS tore up the docu
ment wherein LĚYÔN (LEO the Great , A . D. 440 -461), Arch
bishop of Rome, had written the wicked creed wherein he had
assigned to Christ two Natures, and two Wills after His Unity.
And Saint DiOSCURUS spake by the Holy Ghost before the
assembly and shewed that our Lord Jesus Christ was One
He Who was invited to the marriage- feast in Cana of Galilee
as a man , and also He Who changed the water and made it
sweet wine, — for He is God Almighty , and He is not separated
in His works. And Abbâ CYRIL, Archbishop of the city of
Alexandria , sent forth his testimony concerning the Word , and
he said , “ The union of the Word of God with the flesh is like
the union of the spirit with the body, and like the union of fire
with iron . And if there are two different Natures, [ fol. 9a 2 ]
and they are one in their unity, similarly our Lord Christ is
one Messiah and one Lord, and one Nature, and one Will ” ;
and none of those who were gathered together at that assembly
dared to contradict him . And some among them had gathered
together at the Council of Ephesus, which had been convened
because of NESȚÛR (NESTORIUS), that infidel and enemy of
our Lord Christ. And they informed the Emperor MARCIANUS
the infidel, and the Empress BELKÂRYÂ, saying unto them ,
“ There is no one who resisteth your commands concerning the
Faith except DIOSCURUS, Archbishop of the city of Alexandria .”
And they brought DIOSCURUS to the emperor, and there were
with him the senior bishops of the city and Council, and they
debated the matter among them from morning until evening,
but Saint DIOSCURUS would not change his Orthodox belief.
And the emperor and the empress were irritated at this , and
the empress commanded them to smite Saint DIOSCURUS on
 THE ETHIOP
IC ARIUM
22 SYNAX
his mouth , and to pluck out the hair of his beard , and they did
so. Then he took the hair of his beard which they had pulled
out, and his teeth which had dropped out, and sent them to
the city of Alexandria , and he said unto the people, “ Behold,
this is the fruit of the Orthodox Faith .” And when the bishops
saw what great tribulation had fallen upon DIOSCURUS, they
became afraid for themselves lest there should come upon them
what had come upon DIOSCURUS. Therefore the bishops
came to an agreement with the Emperor MARCIANUS, the
infidel, [fol. 9a 3] and they wrote with their hands on his roll,
saying as they did so with their tongues - - may they be cut in
pieces in Sheol and declaring that Christ hath two distinct
Natures. And when DIOSCURUS returned , he sent to them
and ordered them to bring to them the roll whereon they had
written . And they sent it to him thinking that he would write
on it even as they had done. And Saint DiOSCURUS wrote
at the foot of the roll and excommunicated them all. And he
also excommunicated every one who departed from the Or
thodox Faith which our fathers the Apostles, and our holy
fathers the Three Hundred and Eighteen Orthodox bishops
who assembled in Nicea laid down. And the emperor was
wroth , and he commanded that DIOSCURUS should be banished
to the island of GÂGRÂ. And they took him there, and with him
was Abbâ MACARIUS, bishop of the city of ķÂw , and four
others fled . And those six hundred and six bishops were sitting
in Chalcedon . And when they had taken Saint DiOSCURUS
to that place, there came upon him great tribulation through
the bishop of that district, for he was a Nestorian . And he
treated him with great contempt until God performed by the
hands of Saint Abbâ dioSCURUS signs and mighty wonders,
and all [ the people] bowed down at his feet, and were subject
unto him , and they magnified his greatness. Thus God hon
oureth His chosen ones in every place . And Abbâ DIOSCURUS
said unto Abbâ MACARIUS, [fol. 9b 1] “ Thou shalt receive
the crown of martyrdom in the city of Alexandria " ; and
he sent him with certain believing pilgrims to the city of
Alexandria , and there he ended his testimony according as
DIOSCURUS prophesied concerning him . And Saint Dios
 FIRST MONTH - MASKARAM (SEPT 8 - oct. 7) 23
CURUS having ended his good fight and pleased God , departed
from this transitory world , and received the crown of his
fidelity and entered into everlasting life . He died in the island
ofGÂGRÂ, and they laid his body there.

And on this day also died the holy father Abbâ SÂwiRÔS
(SEVERIANUS), Bishop of the city of GABLÂ (BYBLOS).
The name of the father of this holy man was ’ ABLÂRYÂNÔs
(APOLLINARIS), and he studied foreign wisdom in the city of
Athens. He went to the city of Caesarea and studied [Greek ]
philosophy and literature, and he returned to Rome and studied
the doctrine of the Church , and he learned by heart [fol. 9b 2 ]
the Books of the Old and the New Testaments in a few years .
After this his parents died and they left him exceedingly great
wealth and endless possessions, and he wished to give them all to
Christ so that he might receive it back a hundredfold . He
built a great house wherein might be received travellers , and
pilgrims and strangers, and the poor, and the afflicted. And he
planted gardens and made for them storehouses whereto the
fruits of the earth might be carried , and those places which he
made for the poor and the needy are called by his name to this
day . His brother was a magistrate of that city and he laid an
accusation against him before HONORIUS, Emperor of Rome
(A . D . 395 – 423) , and said unto him , " SÂwîRÔS ( SEVERIANUS)
hath scattered all his possessions and he saith , I give it to
Christ, and I shall receive a return therefor from Him as it is
promised in the Holy Gospel.” And these words pleased the
emperor, and he rejoiced in Saint sâwîRÔS (SEVERIANUS)
and loved him exceedingly . And HONORIUS the emperor
commanded that SÂWÎRÔS (SEVERIANUS) should neither be
separated from him nor leave the royal palace , and he used to
go with him to church always and stand all night in prayer
[with him ). Moreover the righteous Emperor HONORIUS used
to practise the works of the monks in secret, and to wear next
his body a hair shirt under his royal apparel. In those days the
Archbishop of the city of Rome was Saint YÔNÂKËNDÎNÔS
(INNOCENT I? ), and it was revealed unto him by God that
SÂWÎRÔS (SEVERIANUS) should be appointed bishop over
 24 THE ETHIOP S
IC YNAXARI UM
many peoples. And he loved him [ fol. 96 37 and he honoured
him exceedingly , and he wished never to be separated from
him ; everyone loved him , and THEODOSIUS (II), Emperor of
Constantinople (A . D. 408 – 450 ), heard of his fame. And when
SÂwîRÔS (SEVERIANUS) saw that everyone honoured him ,
he was afraid that his labour would be wasted, and he wanted
to leave that place secretly . And the angel of the Lord appeared
unto him and commanded him to go to DABRA GABLÂ and
to become the father of the monastery and of many souls .
And having put on the monkish garb he went forth by night,
and with him was his disciple THEODORE. And God sent forth
a light like unto a wheel which went before him until he came
to DABRA GABLÂ . And there was there a certain righteous
man who was the abbot of that monastery , and he learned in
a vision concerning the coming of Saint SÂWÎRÔS (SEVERI
ANUS) . And he went out to him , and welcomed him and em
braced him , and told him how a vision concerning him had
appeared unto him , and he marvelled greatly. And his fame
arrived in every region , and all the people came to him , and
the number of the men who thronged to him could not be
counted . And the Emperor THEODOSIUS sent forth from him
men of position to build monasteries for Saint SÂwirôs
(SEVERIANUS). And the angel of the Lord marked out for them
the places wherein they were to build monasteries for him .
And he was the comforter of many souls, and God performed
many signs by his hands and wonders innumerable , and among
them was the wonder concerning the daughter of the governor
of GABLÂ , in whom Satan used to dwell. And Satan said to
her father, “ If thou ( fol. 10 a 1] wilt drive away SÂWÎRÔs
(SEVERIANUS) from this place I will go out of thy daughter ."
And when the father of the girl heard this word , he rose up and
went to Saint SÂWÎRÔS (SEVERIANUS), and told him what
Satan had said to him and asked him to heal his daughter.
And the holy man wrote upon a paper for him these words :
" In the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ get thee out of her ” ;
and her father took that paper and carried it to his daughter,
and straightway Satan went forth from her. And again there
were gathered together many people , the SÂMRÂwîyÂN and
 FIRST MONTH - MASKARAM (SEPT. 8 -oct. 7 ) 25
others . Now they formed a large company, and they wished to
come into the monastery of Saint sâwîRÔS (SEVERIANUS)
and to pillage it. And God brought a darkness upon them , and
they remained for three days and three nights without seeing
anything at all ; and they made supplication with many tears to
Saint SâwîRÔS (SEVERIAN US), and he dismissed them and
they departed . And when any of those monks who were under
his authority fell sick , he prayed over them and healed them ,
and he comforted them all and taught them the fear of God
until they all became like unto the angels of God . And there
was a bishop of that city whose namewas PHILOTHEUS, and he
learned from a vision of God that Saint sâwîRÔS (SEVERI
ANUS) would succeed him as bishop , and he sent letters to all
the peoples and commanded them to take Saint SÂwîRÔS
(SEVERIANUS) and to appoint him bishop, because God had
chosen him for this dignity . Then straightway the righteous
Emperors HONORIUS and ARCADIUS and their governors,
took [ fol. 10 a 2 ] Saint SÂWÎRÔS (SEVERIANUS) and appointed
him bishop of the city of GABLÂ, and he fought a great and
strenuous fight for the preservation of his flock and of the
peoples. And there was in that city a certain Jew whose name
was SEĶȚÔR , and he was very learned and boasted himself of
his knowledge of the Law of MOSES. This man came to Saint
SÂ WÎRÔS (SEVERIANUS) and disputed with him , and he would
not listen to one word which came out of the mouth of Saint
SÂwirôs (SEVERIANUS). After this God appeared unto the
holy man in a vision and informed him that the Jew would
become one of the holy and blessed people of Christ. And when
the Jew went to his house he saw during a sleep the places of
severe punishment, and it seemed as if one said unto him , " Look
upon these unbelieving Jews, thy kinsmen , and observe how
they and all those who have not believed in Christ, dwell in
severe punishment which shall be for ever. ” And on the
following day that Jew cameto Saint SÂwîRÔS (SEVERIANUS)
and fell down and did homage at his feet , and asked him to
make him a Christian . And straightway he baptized him with
Christian baptism , and his house and all the men of his city.
When all the other Jews heard that their chief had become a
26 THE ETHIOPIC SYNAXARIUM
Christian , they believed and were baptized and became Chris
tians, and they became even as those who were born in the
Christian Faith. And Saint SÂWÎRÔS (SEVERIANUS) en
treated some other men who were called NÎMÔNȚôs, now they
were magicians, to enter the Christian Faith, but they would
not hearken unto him [fol. 10 a 3 ] because they were puffed up
by their magic. Now when a man was coming to them they
would scatter dust in his face, and he would not be able to see
anything. And Saint sâwîRÔS (SEVERIANUS) entreated our
Lord Jesus Christ with tears, to bring thosemen into the Chris
tian Faith. And God brought upon those men a severe disease
which did not affect anyone among the Christians, even as He
did in the land of Egypt when He brought a plague upon
PHARAOH, and his army, and the Egyptians in the days of old .
And the magicians perceived their error , and that this disease
had come upon them because they had not hearkened to Saint
SÂwîRÔS (SEVERIANUS). And they rose up and came to
the saint and became Christians, and all that city became one
pasture . And Satan groaned and cried out like an old man
who has rent his garments, and he said , “ Behold , I am in dis
tress in every part of the world . Holy monks have filled all the
country of Egypt from one end to the other , the Archbishop
YÔNÂKÊNDÎNÔS (INNOCENT I) dwelleth in the country of
Rômê, John of the Golden Mouth dwelleth in Constantinople ,
and this place only was left unto me, and behold SÂWÎRÔS
(SEVERIANUS) hath taken it from me.” And themen of Persia
sent a despatch to the Emperors HONORIUS and ARCADIUS,
seeking to be their allies in battle, and these righteous emperors
sent the Persian dispatch to Saint SâwîRÔS (SEVERIANUS).
And when [ fol. Iob 1 ] he had read it he wrote a dispatch to the
Emperors HONORIUS and ARCADIUS to instruct them [in
his views), and he said unto them , “ If webelong to Christ, and
if our kingdom belongeth to Christ, we have no need of armour,
orspears, or troops.” And he began to remind them of the signs
which God had wrought for the righteous kings of olden time,
and how He had made them strong and how they had van
quished their enemies. And before the great fast came the
Persians being ashamed departed from them . As concerning
 FIRST MONTH - MASKARAM (SEPT. 8 -oct. 7) 27
JOHN CHRYSOSTOM . Having brought Saint SÂWÎRÔS
(SEVERIANUS) with the bishops, the holy man admonished
with great severity the Empress EUDOXIA, because of JOHN
CHRYSOSTOM , for he had done nothing whatsoever worthy of
banishment. And when the empress would not hearken unto
him , he returned to his city and wrote discourses in which he
admonished her severely , and these discourses are read in
orthodox churches unto this day . And Saint SÂWÎRÔS
(SEVERIANUS) waxed old , and his days were one hundred
years. Before his departure from the body, at the tenth [hour]
of the day the angel of God appeared unto him , and summoned
him to go forth from this world and from toil into rest. And
the holy man ordered his people to continue to keep the Law
ofGod ; then he died and delivered his soul into the hand of his
Creator. His death took place two years after JOHN CHRY
SOSTOM died , [ fol. 10b 2 ] and one year after Saint EPI
PHANIUS, Bishop of Cyprus, died (A . D . 394). When Saint
SÂwîRÔS (SEVERIANUS) was dead , they prepared his pure
body for burial as was meet, and they sang spiritual songs and
laudatory sentences and buried him in a grave.

And on this day also AGATHON , PETER, JOHN, AMMÔN ,

and AMMÔNÂ and their mother RAPÎĶÂ (REBECCA) became
holy martyrs. These holy men came from the city of ĶÔNYÂ ,
on the borders of the district of ķûs in Upper Egypt. And our
Lord Christ appeared unto them and informed them what
would happen unto them , how they would receive the crown of
martyrdom in the city of SEBRÂ which is near the city of
Alexandria, and that they would take their bodies to the city of
NiķRĚHÂ to the north of the land of Egypt. And the holy
men rejoiced at this vision , and they rose up early in the
morning and gave all their possessions to the poor. Now
AGATHON their eldest brother was a man of high position in
his city , and everyone loved him , and RAPIĶA (REBECCA) their
mother encouraged them and incited them to bear patiently
punishment for the Name of Christ. Then they came [fol. 10b 3 ]
to the city of Ķûs and confessed Christ before DIONYSIUS the
governor, who condemned them to a severe punishment; and
 IUM
28 THE ETHIOPIC SYNAXAR
he tortured their mother before them , and she bore the torture
bravely and rejoiced, and then he tortured her five sons. And
when he wasweary of torturing them they advised him to send
them to the city of Alexandria so that they might not lead
astray the people , for they were held in great affection by all,
and many men through them believed in Christ and received a
crown of martyrdom . And when they had brought the holy
men to ARMENIUS, the governor of the city of Alexandria , now
he was in the city called SÂBRÂ , and he learned about their
fight, he tortured them very severely. He hacked their bodies
with knives, he cast them into a large vessel and kindled a fire
on top of them , he threw them on to the wheel, and hung them
up head downwards. And in all these tortures our Lord Christ
supported them against death until the governor and all his
people were ashamed . Then the governor commanded his men
to cut off their heads with a sword , and to sink their bodies in
the sea . And straightway they cut off their heads with a sword ,
and they laid their bodies in a small boat so that they might
cast them into the sea. And God sent forthwith an angel to
a certain rich man of the city of NEķRÂHÂ to the north of
Egypt, on the borders of MAȘIL, and commanded him to take
the bodies of the saints. And that rich man went and gavemuch
money to the soldiers, and took the bodies of the holy saints,
[ fol. IIa I ] and he heard a voice which said , “ This is the abode
of the saints.” And he laid them in the church until the timeof
tribulation passed by, and then he revealed their existence ;
and they built a fine church and laid their bodies therein . And
God made manifest from their bones many great signs and
wonders, and recently they translated their bodies to the city
of SAMNÛȚYÂ (SAMHÛD in the province of FARSHẬT).

And on this day also FÂSÎLADAS (BASILIDES) and two

thousand (of his companions] weremartyred .
And on this day also are to be commemorated DÂS, GÂGRÂ ,
NÂWLÂ, Bishop of Antioch , and PETER the monk.
And on this day also is commemorated the birth of ĦANNÂ
the mother of our Lady.
 FIRST MONTH - MASKARAM (SEPT. 8 -oct. 7) 29
VIII. MASKARAM
IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER AND THE SON
AND THE HOLY GHOST, ONE GOD
On this day Saint ZACHARIAS the priest , the son of BERA
CHIAH, was martyred by the hand of HEROD the king . When
the angel GABRIEL announced to this priest [ fol. IIa 2 ] the
birth of John his son , he did not believe his word . Because of
this Gabriel said , “ Thou shalt be dumb until the child is born ,"
and he was dumb until the child was born ; but when he was
born , he spake and he glorified God, and he wrote and said ,
“ His name is JOHN .” And the Holy Gospel beareth testimony
concerning him ,and sheweth that he and hiswife were righteous,
and that they walked in the Law of God without blemish .
When our Lord Christ was born , and the men who were sooth
sayers came to worship Him , HEROD was troubled and feared
for his kingdom . For this reason he sent and slew all the
children of Bethlehem of Judah whose days were two years
and less than two years , and HEROD thought that among their
number he would kill Christ. And the angel of God appeared
unto JOSEPH in a dream , and he took our Lord and MARY His
mother and they came to the land of Egypt. And the mother
of JOHN took him , and went out into the fields, and fled into the
desert of sinÂ, and she dwelt there bringing up her child for
seven years . Then the mother of the boy died and left her
child alone in the desert, and there he stayed until his shewing
himself to Israel. When HEROD killed the children he thought
in his heart that John was Christ, and he sent his lictors to
seek for him with his father ZACHARIAS. And ZACHARIAS
said unto him , “ I know neither where the boy is nor hismother.”
And HEROD said unto him , [fol. 11a 3 ] “ If thou dost not bring
thy son unto me I myself will slay thee ” ;but ZACHARIAS was
not afraid ofhim . And HEROD told his soldiers to slay ZACH
ARIAS, and they slew him between the sanctuary and the
altar ; and God hid his body and his blood became like unto
stone. And when the priests and the people were coming to
prayer according to their wont, one of the priests arrived and
went into the sanctuary , and he found the blood and he heard
 30 THE ETHIOP SYNAXA
IC RIUM
a voice which cried out in the altar, saying, “ ZACHARIAS the
son of BERACHIAH hath been slain ” ; and his blood continued
to cry out until it was avenged . Now this ZACHARIAS, the
son of BERACHIAH , was not one of the twelve sons of the
prophets, for that ZACHARIAS was not killed , but died in the
country of û RÂTÎ where his body was found in a perfect
state and undecayed , and they built a church for it. As for
this holy man ZACHARIAS, [the father of John,] his body was
never found, but his blood became a witness of his slaughter.
And it is also said that when HEROD slew the children a
certain Jew said unto him , “ Behold , a son hath been born
unto ZACHARIAS even as the angel of God told him , perad
venture he is Christ.” And HEROD sent his lictors to slay the
child John . And ZACHARIAS said unto them , “ I have taken
the child to a certain place ; come ye with me and take him
from that place.” And the lictors went with him until he
brought them into the sanctuary . And he set his son JOHN
on the wing of the altar, where the angel of God [ fol. IIb 1 ]
had announced his birth ), and immediately the angel of God
snatched away the child , and carried him off to the desert
zîFÂTÂ. And when the lictors could not find the child they slew
ZACHARIAS his father. Therefore did our Lord say unto the
Jews, “ The blood ofZACHARIASwhom ye slew shall comeupon
you,” for it was the Jews who were the cause of his slaughter.
And on this day also died MOSES the prophet and righteous
man , and the head of the Prophets. This prophet laboured
with the people ofGod , and he suffered tribulation with them
until (his] death and he delivered up his soul. This man it was
who worked signs and wonders in Egypt and in the sea 'Ê RTÊRÂ
(RED SEA), and he was not well pleased to be called the
" son of Pharaoh 's daughter,” who brought him up, when his
parents had cast him into the river of Egypt because of the
decree of Pharaoh [fol. 11b 2] who commanded that all the
male children of the Hebrews should be destroyed . When the
daughter of Pharaoh the king found him she took him and
reared him as if he had been her own son . And when he was
fully forty years old he saw an Egyptian slay one of the
 FIRST MONTH - MASKARAM (SEPT. 8 -oct. 7) 31
Hebrews, and straightway he avenged the Hebrew and slew
the Egyptian . On the following day he saw two other men
fighting together , and he attempted to make peace between
them . And he who was in the wrong rose up and said unto
him , “ Dost thou wish to slay me as thou didst slay the Egyptian
yesterday ? ” And because of this MOSES fled to the land of
Midian and there he married a wife and begot two sons. When
he was eighty years old there appeared unto him a vision and a
fire in the pâţôs tree , and when he came to look and to learn
(what it was], God spake unto him from out of the tree, and
commanded him to depart to Egypt, and to bring out the
Children of Israel from there. Then God worked ten plagues with
His own hands upon the Egyptians; the first was the river
which becameblood , and the last was the slaughter of the first
born of the Egyptians. After this He brought the people out
oftheland of Egypt, and Hedivided the sea 'ÊRTĚRÂ (RED SEA)
and made them to pass through it, and He brought back the
water of the sea over their enemies, PHARAOH and his host,
and drowned them in the sea 'ÊRTĚRÂ (RED SEA). And He
brought down [fol. 11b 3 ] for them " Manâ " in the Arabian
desert forty years, and He made water to flow forth from a
rock ; all these beautiful things did MOSES the prophet perform
for them . And they used to curse him , and many times they
wished to stone him , but he was longsuffering with them , and
he prayed to God for them , and because he loved them greatly
he said unto God , “ If Thou wilt not forgive this people their
transgression, then blot outmy name from Thy book ” (Exodus
xxxii, 32). And the Book is a witness concerning him that he
spake with God five hundred [times], and the words testify
[that God talked with him ] as a man talketh with his friend.
And his face shonewith the light of the glory ofGod, and he was
obliged to veil his face so that the children of Israel might not
die when they looked upon it . When he was fully one hundred
and twenty years old God commanded him to deliver the people
over into the hand of JOSHUA, the son of nun , his disciple,
that he might shepherd them . And he called JOSHUA and com
manded him with the command of God and the Law , and he
delivered the people into his hand, and informed him that he
32 THE ETHIOPIC SYNAXAR
I UM
was to bring the people into the land of [their ) inheritance .
And after MOSES had made the Tabernacle of Witness and
everything which was in it by the command ofGod, he died in
the mountain and was buried there, and God hid his body so
that the children of Israel should not take it and worship it.
And the Book testifieth among the children of Israel there never
rose up a prophet who was like unto MOSES. [fol. 12a 1 ] When
Satan wished to uncover (or reveal) the body of MOSES,
MICHAEL the archangel rebuked him , and prevented him from
doing so , even as JUDE the apostle testifieth in the book of the
apostle (verse 9 ). And the children of Israel mourned for
MOSES three days.
And on this day also DÎMÂSYÔS (DIMASIUS) became a
martyr. This holy man was from the city of DĚRSĚBÂ on the
borders of DANȚU to the north of the land of Egypt, he loved
the Church , and the poor, and he visited the sick. And a man
who was shining with light appeared unto him and commanded
him to go and receive the crown ofmartyrdom , and he made
covenants with heaven and rejoiced greatly . And he forsook
his father and went forth from his city, and he prayed to God
to give him help during the torture for His holy Name's sake.
And he came into the city of ATHRIBIS and confessed Christ
before the governor, who tortured him severely and sent him
to LUCIANUS the governor of the city of Alexandria . And
whilst he was in the boat, our Lord Christ appeared unto him ,
and comforted him , [fol. 12 a 2] and encouraged him , and pro
mised him everlasting happiness ; and his soul rejoiced and was
exceedingly glad. And LUCIANUS tortured him very severely
and then cut off his head with a sword ; thus DIMASIUS re
ceived the crown of martyrdom in the kingdom of heaven .
And the people of his city came and took away his body, and
paid great honours to it, and through it signs and mighty
wonders took place.
And on this day also are commemorated : LUCIANUS the
martyr, ’ÊRMĚYÂS (JEREMIAH), and the nobles ’ANDÊWÂ
and ' Ê LYÂNÔS (ELIANUS ? ), and 'AMMÔN the monk.
 FIRST MONTH - MASKARAM (SEPT. 8 -oct. 7) 33

IX . MASKARAM
IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER AND THE SON
AND THE HOLY GHOST, ONE GOD
On this day the holy father Abbâ BISHÔRÂ (PISOURA),
Bishop of the city of MAȘIL (the MELEDJ of the Copts and
METELIS of theGreeks) , became a martyr. This holy man became
Bishop of the city of MAȘIL, which is beloved of God, [fol.
12 a 3 ] of the country of Egypt. When DIOCLETIAN was
reigning and was persecuting the Christians, this holy man
wished to pour out his blood for Christ 's sake. And he gathered
together all the people , and set them before the Holy Offering ,
and taught them many righteous ordinances, and after this he
informed them that he wished to pour out his blood for Christ's
sake. And they all, both great and small, wept, and said unto
him , “ What aileth thee that thou wouldst leave us ? We are
thy pupils ; we will not permit thee to depart.” And they
wished to prevent him , but they could not prevail upon him
[to stay ), and they allowed him to depart]. And he committed
them to Christ, and he embraced them , and he went out from
them , and they set him on his way weeping bitterly as they
went. And three bishops went with him , who were BASKÔS
and FENÂBÎKôs and THEODORE . And they went together
to the city of the governor, and they confessed Christ before
him , and he tortured them cruelly and multiplied their punish
ments. And when he knew that those bishops were the parents
of Christians, now the bishops were bold and endured the
tortures with great fortitude, for our Lord Christ confirmed
them , the governor ordered [his men ] to cut off the heads of
the three bishops . And they cut off their heads with a sword ,
and they received their crowns of life in the kingdom of the
heavens. And the holy body of BishÔRÂ (PISOURA) resteth to
this day in the city of NASÊL [fol. 126 1] on the other side
of the river .

And on this day FÂSÎLADAS and 14 ,730 men and 7 women

were martyred (with BASILIDES).
BEST
 34 THE ETHIOPIC SYNAXARIUM
And on this day also is commemorated the miracle which
took place in the city of FRÛMYÂ in the country of Rômê.
This man, like the people from the country of the Greeks, was
fired excessively with devilish envy of the signs and wonders
which used to appear in the church of the glorious angel
MICHAEL, the captain of the hosts of heaven . And they
wished to turn the stream of water from the Nile which flowed
through the district on to the church, so that they might
submerge it, and destroy the sacristan who had it in charge.
And straightway MICHAEL the captain of the heavenly hosts ,
the divine angel, appeared unto NÂRŢînôs, the sacristan of the
church , and he drew nigh unto him , and said unto him , “ Be
strong, and fear not.” And he smote a rock with the staff
which was in his hand, and the rock was split open like a
window , and the stream of water flowed out through it . [ fol.
12b 2 ] And those who saw this marvelled and praised God ,
and paid honour to MICHAEL the archangel. And from thatday
to this that stream of water can be seen flowing through the
rock , and not approaching in any way the church of the Arch
angel MICHAEL.

And on this day also died King YÂSây (YÛSYÂS who lived
in the eighteenth century) who finished his fight on a tree, and
pleased God .
X . MASKARAM
IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER AND THE SON
AND THE HOLY GHOST, ONE GOD
On this day was revealed the miracle of our Lady MARY in
the city of sÊDÊN YÂ when oil dropped from the tablet with
her portrait (painted ] upon it ( fol. 126 3] as if it had been
clothed with flesh . Now , it is said that LUKE the evangelist
painted this portrait. And the cause of its coming to șÊDÊNYÂ
was a certain widow whose namewas MARTHA, and who turned
her house into a habitation for pilgrims; and she loved our
Lady MARY exceedingly, and ministered unto her with all her
power. One day there lodged with her a certain righteousmonk
whose name was THEODORE, and she received him with joy .
 FIRST MONTH - MASKARAM (SEPT. 8 -oct. 7 ) 35
And on the following day when she was bidding him farewell,
she said unto him , “ Whither goest thou, O father ? ” And he
said unto her , “ I go to worship in the Sanctuary in Jerusalem .”
And she said unto him , “ Take a little money from me to buy
me a picture ofour Lady MARY, and bring it to me when thou
returnest to me" ; and he said unto her , “ I will buy [a picture]
with my own money , and bring it to thee.” And when he had
arrived in Jerusalem he knelt and prayed in the holy places ,
and he set out on his return journey without having bought the
picture. And immediately he heard a voice which said unto
him , “ Why hast thou forgotten to buy the picture? ” And
being troubled by the voice he turned back into the market
place, and found a picture of our Lady MARY , which had sweet
features and a beautiful form . Having bought it he wrapped
it up in cotton and in fine linen . And as he was travelling along
a terrible road in the desert thieves rose up against him , and
when he was wishing to take to flight, a voice came forth from
that picture which said , “ Fear not: complete thy journey ” ;
and he went on his way and none challenged him . Another
time a savage lion rose up against him and wanted to rend
him , and straightway an awful voice came forth from that
picture and drove away the lion . And when THEODORE Saw
[ fol. 13a I ] all these signs and wonders, he wanted to carry
that picture to his own city, and he did not wish to give it
to the widow . And as he was travelling by boat on another
journey , the wind rose up against him and carried him towards
Damascus. And having disembarked he went into the house
of that widow with several other pilgrims, and he did not
discover himself to her , and she did not know him . And on
the following day when he wished to go forth secretly and to
depart to his city , the gates of the house failed to work and
they remained jammed throughout the day ; in the evening the
monk returned to his abode, and when the widow saw him she
wondered. And he continued to do this for three days,returning
each evening ; he saw the gate, but when he wished to go
through it, he was unable to go on his way. Then the widow
took him and said unto him , “ O my father, what aileth thee ?
Is thine heart troubled that I see thee thus disturbed ?” And
3- 2
 M
OPI C XA RIU
36 THE ETHI SYNA
then he told her everything that had come upon him in the
matter of the picture. And straightway she brought him into
her house , and she opened the wrappings of the picture and
found that drops of sweat were falling from it; and by reason
of her joy she kissed the hands and feet of the monk. Then
she took the picture into her prayer-chamber, and laid it upon
a stand in a recess with great honours. And shemade for it a
brass grating, so that no one could touch it, and she hung
before it lamps which burned by day and by night, and outside
these she hung silken curtains. Beneath the picture she set a
marble bowl into which the drops of oil which sweated out from
it might be collected . And that monk dwelt (fol. 13a 2 ] with
the widow , and ministered to the picture of our Lady MARY
until they both died. And when the archbishop of that city
heard the report of the picture, he, and the bishops and the
priests and all the people came to the house), and when they
looked at the tablet with the picture they found that it was in
the condition of being covered with flesh ; and they marvelled
at this divine work . And having emptied out the oil from the
bowl, and divided it among themselves as a blessed thing , the
bowl filled up (again ) immediately . When they attempted to
remove the picture to another spot a great earthquake took
place, and many people died ; and the picture remaineth there
until this day.
And on this day died Judith the prophetess, who delivered
Israel from the hand of HOLOPHERNES, the evil one, through
the wisdom and counsel which she employed until at length
she cut off his head by the might ofGod which was upon her.
[ fol.13 a 3] And on this day also the birth of our holy Lady , the
Virgin MARY, took place according to what is written in the Book
of Exposition of Saint Abbâ MACARIUS of DABRA SKETE
(themonastery of SCETE) . And it is also written in the Book of
Exposition of Upper Egypt, and it is written in the Holy Scrip
tures . On the thirteenth day of the month Țâkhshâsh (Dec. 7 –
Jan . 6), the righteous woman ŅANNÂ, the mother of our
holy Lady, the Virgin MARY, conceived , and her bringing
 FIRST MONTH - MASKARAM (SEPT. 8 -oct. 7) 37
forth took place on the first day of Maskaram (Sept. 8 -Oct. 7 ).
And it is found in other books that on the seventh day of the
month of Nahasê (August), God sent the angel GABRIEL to
the righteous JOACHIM and told him , saying, “ Thy wife
ŅANNÂ shall be with child .” And immediately she had union
with her husband JOACHIM she conceived , and she brought
forth on the first day of the month Genbôt (May 6 - June 5 ) .
And it is meet that we should commemorate the festival of
the birth of our holy Lady the Virgin MARY on both of them ,
because she maketh intercession for us to her beloved Son at
all times, and behold, we will write the commemoration of her
birth on the first day of the month Genbôt. May her inter
cession be, etc.

[fol. 136 1 ] And on this day also the MÂTRÔNYÂ became a

martyr. This holy woman was a handmaiden to a Jewish
woman , and she was a Christian even as her parents were
Christians. And that Jewish woman her mistress hated (Chris
tianity ), and she wished to make her maid abandon the Christian
Religion , and to bring her over to the Jewish Faith , which she
would not embrace. For this reason she reviled MÂTRÔNYÂ
and made her service heavy upon her . One day MÂTRÔNYÂ
followed her mistress the Jewish lady until she brought her to
the Jewish synagogue, and MÂTRÔNYâ turned aside and went
into the holy church . And when her mistress asked her, saying,
“ Why didst thou not come into my synagogue? ” the holy
MÂTRÔNYÂ answered and said unto her, “ God is very remote
from thy synagogue, and how would it be seemly for me to
enter therein ? But the place which is seemly for me to enter
is the holy church , which our Lord Jesus Christ purchased
with his precious blood.” When hermistress heard these words
she was wroth with her and beat her severely, and shut her up
in a dark place wherein she remained for four days without
food and drink ; then the Jewess had her brought out from
her prison [ fol. 13b 2 ] and beat her cruelly with many, many
stripes , and once again she sent her back into the prison, where
she died. And after her death her mistress took her body, and
carried it up to the roof of her house , and according to what the
 PIC ARIUM
38 THE ETHIO SYNAX
men say who saw her, she cast it out, and it fell down by itself.
Now themistress of MÂTRÔNYÂ was afraid of the Government,
and alarmed lest they should examine her about her murder.
And the wrath of God fell upon that Jewish woman , and as
she was coming down from the roof of her house, she fell down
headlong, and died , and departed into fire for ever. And this
holy woman MÂTRÔNYÂ went to joy everlasting.

And on this day also are commemorated Saint ATHANASIA

and her three children .
XI. MASKARAM
( fol. 13 6 3 ] IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER AND THE
SON AND THE HOLY GHOST, ONE GOD
On this day FÂSÎLADAS (BASILIDES), the father of the
kings of Antioch and their counsellor, became a martyr. This
holy man was a general of the kings of Rôm , and the whole
kingdom stood by reason of his counsel ; and he had many
slaves and handmaidens. There was a certain prince in Rôm
in those days whose name was NUMERIANUS (son of the
Emperor CARUS], and he married a sister of Saint FÂSÎLADAS
(BASILIDES), a lady of high rank , the mother of THEODORE
Banâdělêwôs. And by him shebecame the mother of JUSTUS,
and CLAUDIUS, and 'ABÂDÎR. These were the sons of the
sister of Saint FÂŞILADAS (BASILIDES), who was the sister of
the mother of victor . And FÂSÎLADAS (BASILIDES) begot
by her two sons, one whose name was 'AW SÂBYÔS (EUSE
BIUS) and the other was [called ] MACARIUS. And at that
time themen of ķuĚz and Persia were at war with Rôm [about
A . D . 283], and they sent JUSTUS, the son of the king , and
’AWSÂBYÔS (EUSEBIUS), the son of FÂSÎLADAS (BASILI
DES), with their armies, and they went to the war. And
NUMERIANUS the prince went to fight against the other
[enemies ], who slew that king in that war. Thus the kingdom
of Rôm was without a king to rule it and to administer the
affairs thereof. At that time themen of Rôm gathered together
large numbers of mighty men of war from every city into their
 FIRST MONTH - MASKARAM (SEPT. 8 - oct. 7) 39
army. And among them was a certain man whose name was
'AGRIPÂDÂ , and who was a native of [fol. 14a I ] Upper
Egypt, and a goat-herd. And the Government took him and
set him over the royal horses , and he was bold in character
and a mighty man in action . And one of the daughters of
prince NUMERIANUS saw him from a window of the royal
palace , and she loved him and lusted for that ' AGRIPÂDÂ ,
and she took him and married him , and made him king, and
called him “ DIOCLETIAN.” And after a few days he forsook
the Lord God , the God of heaven , and worshipped idols. And
when FÂSÎLADAS (BASILIDES) heard this thing, he was very
sorry , and he did not return to reign in his kingdom . And
JUSTUS, the son of NUMERIANUS, and ’AWSÂBYÔS (EUSE
BIUS), the son of FÂSÎLADAS (BASILIDES), returned from the
war with great joy, for they had slain all their enemies, and had
laid waste their countries. When they arrived in the city of
Antioch and found that DIOCLETIAN , the denier of Christ,
and the worshipper of idols was king, they were exceedingly
sorry . And they drew their swords and wished to slay DIO
CLETIAN the king, and to appoint king JUSTUS, the son of
NUMERIANUS, but FÂSÎLADAS (BASILIDES) kept them from
this act. After this Saint FÂSÎLADAS (BASILIDES) gathered
together all his kinsfolk , and his soldiers , and his slaves, and
informed them that he wished to pour outhis blood for the sake
of Christ's Name; and they all said unto him , “ The death which
thou diest we also will die with thee.” And they all agreed
together [ fol. 14a 2 ] and stood before King DIOCLETIAN, who
feared them with a very great fear, for they belonged to the
kingdom (i.e . the royal family ). And HERMINIUS the father
of VICTOR advised him to banish them to the country of
Egypt, and to punish them there. And he sent them all away ,
each to a different city , namely 'ABÂDÎR , and 'IRÂ 'I,the sister
of 'AWSÂBYỘs (EUSEBIUS), and MACARIUS, the brother of
CLAUDIUS, and VICTOR. THEODORE Banâdělêwôs he hung
upon a kômôl tree, and drove one hundred and fifty -three nails
through his body, and thus THEODORE consummated his
martyrdom . FÂSÎLADAS (BASILIDES) he sent to a city of
'AFRÂĶYÂ, of Five Cities (Pentapolis ? ) to MAŞRÛS the
 M
40 THE ETHIOPIC SYNAXARIU
governor ; and when MAŞRŮS saw him hemarvelled exceedingly
why he had left his kingdom and his glory . And our Lord
Christ sent His angel and lifted him up by the spirit into heaven
and shewed him the spiritual habitation ; and his soul rejoiced
exceedingly. Of his slaves, some he set free, and some received
the crown ofmartyrdom with him ; now thenumber of the latter
was 7033. And [DIOCLETIAN ] tortured the holy man on the
rack , and they cut his body into pieces with sharpened rods of
iron ,and he died ; but our Lord Jesus Christ, to Whom be glory !
raised him up from the dead whole and uninjured . And when
all the people who dwelt there saw this, they marvelled ex
ceedingly, and they believed in our Lord Jesus Christ, to Whom
be glory ! and they cursed the governor. And the governor was
wroth with them , and he commanded his soldiers to cut [fol.
14 a 3 ] off their heads, and they cut off their heads with the
sword , and they received crowns ofmartyrdom in thekingdom
of heaven ;and thenumber of these was 5700men and 37 women .
Then they threw FÂSÎLADAS (BASILIDES) into a frying-pan
and roasted him , and he became like water, and his whole body
was melted . And the governor commanded them to dig a deep
pit on themountain top , and to bury him therein , and they did
so ; and straightway our Lord Christ , to Whom be glory ! raised
him up from the dead a second time. And FÂSÎLADAS (BASI
LIDES) came once again before the governor, and he cried out
and said , “ Be ashamed , O governor MAŞRÛS, thou infidel
king , and let thy idols be ashamed with thee ! For behold , my
Lord Jesus Christ hath raised me up from the dead , whole and
uninjured .” And when the people who were there saw this
miracle , they believed on our Lord Jesus Christ and became
martyrs, and they were in number 2300. Then the king made
Saint FÂSÎLADAS (BASILIDES) to go up upon a machine with
wheels and a saw inside it, and he inflicted severe tortures
upon him , and then he made him to lie on his liver upon an iron
bed , and had a fire lighted under him . And straightway our
Lord Jesus Christ, to Whom be glory ! appeared unto him , and
raised him up from the torture , and made him whole and un
injured . He made him a promise, and said unto him , “ O my
chosen one FÂSÎLADAS (BASILIDES),know thou that everyone
 FIRST MONTH - MASKARAM (SEPT. 8-oct. 7) 41
who shall celebrate thy commemoration , or shall give alms
to the poor for thy name's sake, or shall give [ fol. 146 1] clothing
to the naked , or shall give incense to the church for thy com
memoration , and everyone who shall celebrate thy commem
oration , whether in little or whether in much , to all these will
I give remission of sins, and I willmake their habitation to be
with me in the kingdom of heaven .” And having said this unto
him , our Lord went up into heaven in great glory . When Saint
FÂSÎLADAS (BASILIDES) heard this from our Lord he rejoiced
with great joy . Then MAȘRÛS the governor took counsel with
his advisers, and said unto them , “ What shall I do about this
man whose name is FÂSÎLADAS (BASILIDES)? I have no
other torture left which I can apply to him , and he will not turn
from his opinion .” And they counselled him and said unto
him , “ Cut off his head with the sword , and be quit of him , for
behold , all the men of the city are being corrupted through
him .” And straightway the governor commanded his men to
cut off the head of Saint FÂSÎLADAS (BASILIDES), and they
cut off his head , and he received a crown ofmartyrdom in the
kingdom of heaven in the place of the earthly kingdom which
he had cast aside and forsaken . And signs and great wonders
were made manifest through his body. Now the number of all
those who became martyrs with him was 5793. May their
blessing and prayer, etc .
[fol. 1462] And on this day also theholy woman BANAFZEZ
[literally “ violet" ], the interpretation whereof is , “ Whose odour
is sweet,” became a martyr. This holy woman was old and
very far advanced in years, and she fought her fight in the
days of SÂBÔR, King of Persia ; they carried her away bound
into captivity together with nine thousand Christians whom
they had captured. The general of the army first tortured her
very severely and then cut off her head with the sword ; and
after they had cut off her head , the blood which flowed from
her neck spurted out a very long way. And the strength of
[her ] enemies, that is to say the soldiers who dwelt there,
drooped , and the light of the sun was turned to darkness, and
the odour of a very sweet smell filled the place.
42 THE ETHIOPIC SYNAXARIUM
And on this day also three husbandmen of the city of ’ASNI
[in Upper Egypt], [ fol. 146 3] whose names were SÛRĚS and
’ ANKÎȚYôs and MASKHADRÂ, were martyred. When ARI
ANUS was returning towards the north he slew all the people
everywhere and spared no one, and at length his soldiers were
exhausted and they put back their swords into their sheaths.
And these three holy husbandmen met him on the bridge
(ferry) on their way back from the field , and they cried out and
said unto him boldly, “ We are Christians.” And when ARI
ANUS heard them , he said unto his officers , " Hear ye these
men ? Do ye wish to kill them ? ” And his soldiers said unto
him , “ We are aweary , and we have put back our swords into
their sheaths.” And when the holy men heard them they said
unto him , “ Behold , here are our digging tools ,kill uswith them .”
Then they laid their heads down on a stone, and the soldiers
hacked through their necks.

And on this day also is the commemoration of the blessed

CORNELIUS, a general and righteous man . He lived in the
days of the holy Apostles, and he fought the good fight stren
uously, and was well-pleasing unto God . And an angel appeared
unto him and commanded him to send men to invite PETER
the apostle to come to him , so that he might hear from him
what was right. And when PETER the apostle came to him ,
he told him , and all those who were with him , [ fol. 15 a 1 ] the
word of our Lord Jesus Christ ; and CORNELIUS believed , and
he and all his house were baptized ; and PETER the apostle
appointed him to the Church of Alexandria . And when he
arrived there he found [the city) filled with the worship of
idols, and he baptized many of the men thereof and baptized
them with Christian baptism . And DEMETRIUS the governor
believed , and CORNELIUS baptized him and all the people of
his house with Christian baptism . And he passed his whole
life in fighting like the Apostles , and he was the first of the
Gentiles who believed (on Christ].
And on this day also died Saint THEODORA. This holy
woman was a native of Alexandria, and she lived in the days
 FIRST MONTH - MASKARAM (SEPT. 8 -oct. 7 ) 43
of ZENO the emperor ; a strange man forced her , and also
took her handmaiden and defiled her. And straightway she
sorrowed with a bitter sorrow , and wept bitter tears. And she
put on male attire secretly , and went forth from the city of
Alexandria in the guise of a man , and she called herself
THEODORE. Then she went to a monastery of monks, and
arrayed herself in the garb of the monks, which is the garb of
angels , and all those who saw her thought that she was [ fol.
15 a 2] an eunuch . And she devoted herself to the ascetic life,
and fought a most strenuous fight, and she endured thirst,
and hunger, and the weariness of night vigil, and the standing
up by day ; and she continued to lead this life for many years .
Now a certain man committed fornication with a certain
woman , and she conceived by him and brought forth a child ;
and her parents said unto her , “ Who is it that hath defiled thy
virginity ? ” And she uttered a lie against this holy woman
THEODORA, and said , “ It is THEODORE themonk who liveth
in themonastery that hath defiled me, and I am with child by
him .” And when her parents heard these words they were
exceedingly sorry, and they took the child and carried him to
the abbot of the monastery, and said unto him , “ Take this
child , for he is the son of THEODORE the monk, thy son .”
And the abbot summoned this holy woman, and said unto
him (sic), “ Why hast thou done this abominable thing, and
brought shame and disgrace upon the whole community of
monks?” Now he did not know that it was a woman to whom
he spake. And the holy woman THEODORA said unto him ,
" I have sinned . Have mercy upon me, O my father.” And
straightway the abbot was wroth , and he gave her the child ,
and expelled her from the monastery ; and she dwelt in the
desert seven years, and the child was with her. And she en
dured many trials and tribulations caused by devils , and Satan
tortured her cruelly . After this she was received , and one
brought her into the monastery again , where she lingered a
few days and then died, and delivered her soul [fol. 15 a 3]
into the hand of God. And she received life everlasting with
all the saints, and she finished a good fight.
44 THE ETHIOPIC SYNAXARIUM
And on this day also are commemorated Saint BASIL the
martyr, THEODORE , Bishop of Jerusalem , ĶAWESȚôs
(CAUSTUS),the chief of the martyrs of the city of Alexandria,
and those who weremartyred with him .
XII. MASKARAM

IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER AND THE SON

AND THE HOLY GHOST, ONE GOD
On this day is commemorated the glorious angel MICHAEL
the archangel. On this day God, to Whom be glory ! sent him
to ISAIAH the prophet, the son of AMOS, and He had mercy
upon him , and shewed compassion unto him after He had been
wroth with him for twenty -eight years. And God commanded
him to go to HEZEKIAH the king, and to tellhim thatGod would
heal him of his sickness , and had added fifteen [fol. 15 6 1 ] years
to his days, so that he might marry and beget MANASSEH.
And on this day took place the General Council of the Saints ,
two hundred bishops, in the city of Ephesus. This was the
third of the great General Councils, and its bishops assembled
in the twentieth year of the reign of THEODOSIUS the Less,
the son of ARCADIUS, the son of THEODOSIUS the Great.
They assembled because of the error of NESTÚR (NESTORIUS)
who was Archbishop of Constantinople , and who said , “ Our
Lady , the Virgin MARY, did not give birth to God in the flesh ,
but to a mere man , and that afterwards the Son ofGod dwelt
in him , and not that He dwelt and was one with him , but that
He dwelt (in him ] according to his desire and pleasure only ;
therefore Christ had Two Natures and Two Existences.” This is
thewicked beliefofNESȚÛR (NESTORIUS) theinfidel. Because
of him these fathers , two hundred bishops, were convened ,
[fol. 156 2 ] and they debated the matter with him , and they
urged him strongly and shewed him that He Who was born of
our holy Lady MARY the Virgin ,wasGod Who had becomeman .
And they brought before him the testimony of the words of
the angel GABRIEL when he said unto our Lady MARY in
the holy Gospel of Saint LUKE (i, 28 ), " God be with thee ! He
 FIRST MONTH - MASKARAM (SEPT. 8 -oct. 7) 45
Who shall be born of thee is holy and shall be called the son of
the Most High .” And they brought before him also the words
of ISAIAH (vii, 14) the prophet in his prophecy, “ Behold a
virgin shall conceive, and she shall bear a son , and his name
shall be called Emmanuel.” And again he saith, “ There shall go
forth from JESSE a root, and he who shall arise from it shall be
the hope of the Gentiles” (Isaiah xi, 1 , 10). And moreover, our
father Saint CYRIL , Archbishop of the city of Alexandria ,
rebuked him , and admonished him , and said unto him , “ Natures
cannot be separated after they have becomeone in their unity,
on the contrary, and we believe and declare that the Word of
God that became man is One Nature only .” And NESTÚR
(NESTORIUS) the unbeliever would not believe this , and he
would not turn from his unbelief, and the whole General
Council rebuked him and threatened him that they would cut
him off from his priesthood and office unless he turned from his
evil counsel. And he would neither hearken nor accept the
words of the whole Council, and they therefore cut him off from
his priesthood , and they anathematized him , and excommuni
cated him , and drove him forth from the Council into Upper
Egypt, where he died an evil death and departed into Sheol
for ever. And these fathers, the two hundred bishops, [fol. 156
3] confirmed the belief and made known in writing the declara
tion of this Council, and they said , “ Our Lady MARY, the holy
Virgin , the God -bearer, brought forth the Word of God made
flesh .” And they drew up the CANON and laid down the LAW ,
and they signed it with their own hands, and gave it to the
faithful unto this day . And if it be said that in these days the
Nestorians do not believe in the faith of NESTORIUS, the un
believer, we reply that this is due to the fact that the Nestorians
have mingled with the Jacobites who are in Syria , and in the
country of the East generally, and that some of them have
turned from their evil counsel. And we will beseech God to
guide us in the way of salvation — to Whom be praise and glory
for ever and ever ! Amen .

Salutation to 'AFLÂÃÔs the martyr, and to those who were

martyred with him .
 C RIUM
46 THE ETHIOPI SYNAXA
And on this day also is commemorated the translation of the
bodies of Saint ’AFLÂÌÔ s themartyr and his companions in the
city of Alexandria .

[fol. 16a 1 ] And on this day also are commemorated LÛRÂS

(LÛYÊRÂS) and GALANICUS (CALANICUS) the martyrs, and
JOACHIM and ĦANNÂ, and on it a festival is held in Rômê
in honour of STEPHEN (protomartyr).

XIII. MASKARAM
IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER AND THE SON
IN THE NA E HE FATHER AND TH S

AND THE HOLY GHOST, ONE GOD

And on this day is commemorated the miracle which the
great Saint Abbâ BASIL, Bishop of Caesarea and Cappadocia ,
wrought in connection with the young man who lusted for his
master's daughter, and whose heart was inflamed with love and
desire for her. And that young man went to Satan , the enemy
of our race, by the help of an unbeliever and magician . And
that denier of Christ wrote a paper and gave it to him , and
commanded him to go to the cemetery of the 'ARAMÎYÂN
(Pagans) and to stand up by one of the graves therein at the
time of midnight, and to lift up on high his [right] hand with
that paper in it. And this vile man having received these words
from him , went and stood up among the graves of the 'ARA
MÎYÂN (Pagans) , with the paper in his hand, according as the
magician had directed him . And straightway there came to
him one of the Satans who seized his hand and brought him to
Satan, the chief of the Satans, and he took that paper out of
his hand. And Satan asked him , saying, “ Dost thou believe
on me, O young man ? And wilt thou deny [ fol. 16a 2] thy
Messiah and not turn again to Him after I have fulfilled for
thee thy desire ? ” And the poor slave answered and said unto
him , “ Yea, my lord , I will do as thou commandest me.” And
Diabolus,the crafty deceiver,said unto him , “ Write with thine
own hand on a piece of paper that thou wilt do this.” And the
young man wrote for him on the paper, and denied Christ our
God , and he believed on Satan our enemy, and he separated
 FIRST MONTH - MASKARAM (SEPT. 8 -0CT: 7) 47
himself from Christ in the body after he had been one with
Him in heart and soul. And then Satan kindled lust in the heart
of the daughter of the slave's master , and she loved the young
man exceedingly . And she could not bear to be away from him
for a moment, but she cried out boldly to her father, saying,
“ If thou wilt not give me in marriage to thy servant, then
assuredly I will kill myself.” And her father was sorrowful
and wept bitterly because of this thing, and he tried to make
her to be patient , but she could not be patient, and moreover ,
her love for the man was increasing continually in her heart.
And she overcame her father, because he was afraid that she
would kill herself, being ashamed before the people. And her
father gave her to the young man , and he received the maiden
from her father, and he took her into his house, and he satisfied
his desire of her . And after she had dwelt with him many days,
her father and her mothermultiplied their weeping and lamenta
tion for her, and her father cried out to God beseeching Him to
have compassion upon them , and to remove their sorrow . And
our Lord Jesus Christ heard their cry, and accepted their
petition , [ fol. 16a 3 ] and He made their daughter to know , and
made it clear to her that the young man whom she loved was
not a Christian . And on the one occasion during the whole of
the time which he had lived with her, when he went into the
church , she saw that he did not partake of the Holy Mysteries
and that he did notmake the sign of the life-giving Cross over
himself ;and themaiden wept, and repented and was exceedingly
sorry . And when the young man knew that his matter was
revealed unto her plainly , he said unto her, “ I have not done
any evil whatsoever.” And she answered and said unto him ,
" If thou art a Christian , and if what thou sayest is true, come
with me and we will go and enter the church together, and we
will receive the Holy Mysteries.” And having forced him he
told her of all that he had done for her sake, and how he had
gone to that magician and written that paper for him with his
own hand, and how he had denied Christ and believed on Satan ,
and had written that paper for him with his own hand , and had
given it to Satan . When themaiden heard this thing from him
she was exceedingly sorry and rebuked herself. And straightway
 UM
OP IC AX ARI
48 THE ETHI SYN
she rose up and made haste to go to that pillar and light
of the church , Saint BASIL, bishop of her city, and she told
him what had happened unto her, and she wept and did homage
at his feet, and entreated him to deliver and save her. And
Saint BASIL sent and had the young man brought to him , and
he learned from him his affair, and the young man revealed
unto him what he had done. Then Saint BASIL asked [fol. 166 1 ]
him , saying, “ Dost thou wish to return and to be a Christian
once more? ” And the young man answered and said unto him
with tears, “ Is it possible for this to happen unto me, my
lord ? ” And the saint said unto him , “ Be of good cheer , and
fear not,” and hemade the sign of the Cross over him , and he
shut him up in a chamber near him , and commanded him to
pray until the third day ; and BASIL went and prayed for him .
And after the third day BASIL visited him , and he said unto
him , “ What hath happened unto thee during the past three
days? ” And the young man made known unto him that he had
been in very great tribulation which was caused by the cries of
Satans, who shewed him the paper which he had written and
were very wroth with him . And Saint BASIL said unto him ,
" Be not afraid of them , for God will help thee, and strengthen
thee, and preserve thee.” And Saint BASIL gave him bread and
water, and took him back into the place of his confinement, and
prayed over him again . Later he visited him again , and he said
unto him , “ What hath happened unto thee ? ” And the young
man said , “ I hear their cry , but I see them not.” And again
Saint BASIL gave him bread and water, and admonished him
and rebuked him , and said unto him , “ Be not afraid ” ; then
BASIL took him back again into his place of confinement, and
went away and prayed for him . Now Saint BASIL shuthim up
in this way for three days at a time, and visited him every third
day for forty days. And when the saint visited him at the com
pletion of the forty days he asked the young man what had
happened to him . And the young man said unto him , “ O my
holy father, last night I saw thee waging war against Satan
[fol. 166 2 ] on my behalf, and thou didst vanquish him straight
way ” ; and when Saint BASIL heard these words from him he
rejoiced exceedingly. And he summoned all the monks from
 FIRST MONTH - MASKARAM (SEPT. 8 -oct. 7) 49
the monasteries , and the priests, and they prayed for that
young man all that night. On the following day he brought
the young man to the church , and the people of that city came
there also , and Saint BASIL commanded them all to lift up
their hands to heaven , and to pray and to make entreaty to
God and say , “ Have mercy upon us ” ; and they did as he com
manded them . And they continued to cry out and to say ,
“ Lord have mercy upon us," until that writing which the
young man had written with his own hand for Satan fell down ;
and it fell down in the presence of all the people. And Saint
BASIL unrolled the paper and read it before all the people , and
he blessed the young man and gave him the Holy Mysteries.
And he took the woman and blessed them together, and they
departed to their house rejoicing and exulting in their salvation ,
and in the remission of their sins. And they praised God and
ascribed thanks to Saint BASIL who by his prayer had saved
them from the error of Satan .

[fol. 166 3 ] And on this day also Abbâ ISAAC the anchorite
became a martyr.

XIV . MASKARAM

IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER AND THE SON

AND THE HOLY GHOST, ONE GOD
On this day died the holy father, Abbâ AGATHON of the
pillar . This holy man came from the city of TENIS (TANIS ,
or the Field of Zoan , i.e . ŞÂN AL - ĦAGAR ) in the north of the
land of Egypt. His parents were righteous folk , and fearers of
God , and they loved to give alms and gifts to the poor andneedy.
The thoughts of his mind tended to monasticism , and they
moved in his heart continually. The name of his father was
MAȚRÂ, and the name of his mother was MARYÂ . When he
was thirty -five years old he was appointed priest, and straight
way he devoted himself continually to the Church . And he
entreated God by day and by night to make straight for him
his departure from this world , and he departed to the desert
BESI
 UM
THE ETHIO
PIC XARI
50 SYNA
and became a monk. And the Lord Christ prepared the means
for him , and he went out from his city, and came to the city of
MAREOTIS, and thence he departed to the scETE desert.
And the angel of God [fol. 17a 1 ] appeared unto him in the
form of a monk who journeyed about with him everywhere in
the desert and brought him to the monastery of Saint Abbâ
MACARIUS in SCETE. And Saint Abbâ AGATHON came to
the holy old men Abbâ ABRAHAM and Abbâ GAʻARGI, and he
became their disciple and lived with them for three years .
After this they set him before the sanctuary and before
the abbot, Abbâ John, and they remained three days in
prayer over his garb of monasticism , and they arrayed him in
the garb of angels. From that hour he became a devotee of
God , and he fought a great fight with fasting and prayer, con
tinually, day and night; and he slept on the ground without a
mattress, and at length the skin of his body clave to his bones.
And he read continually the history of the striving of Abbâ
SIMON of the pillar (SIMON STYLITES), and he was always
envious of his striving. And hemeditated in his heart, shutting
himself up, and he took counsel with the holy fathers concerning
it , and they said this counsel is good ; and he was blessed by
them and they prayed over him . And he went out of the desert,
and came nigh unto the world, to the city of SAKÂ (i.e.
SAKHÂ, in the province of GHARBIYAH ), and he dwelt in a
little church . And the believers built him a pillar there, and he
went up on it and stood on it , and laboured strenuously in the
ascetic life for a space of fifty years. In his days there appeared
a man in whom was a filthy Satan and who led many people
astray. And that man dwelt in a church , and the people used
to throng about him to hear his doctrine, and with them they
carried branches of trees [fol. 17 a 2 ]. And Abbâ AGATHON
sent and had him brought to him , and he prayed over him , and
drove out from him the devil who used to address the people
through him . Similarly , a certain woman used to say , " MÎNÂs
the martyr holdeth converse with me." And she commanded
her followers, and they dug a pool of water in the name of Abbâ
MÎNÂs the martyr, and [pretended that] all those who bathed
therein were healed . And Saint Abbâ AGATHON prayed over
 FIRST MONTH - MASKARAM (SEPT. 8 -oct. 7) 51
that woman until he cast out from her that unclean spirit.
And Saint Abbâ AGATHON commanded the men of that city
to fill up that pool. And there was also another man who used
e ; andwho
to raise up those verwere y thand
y manmad il uswere
e devwho loosessed ooff tthe
ed to possessed he
devil, and when he beat them the devil used to leave them for
a short time; and very many of those who were possessed of
devils gathered together to him . And Saint Abbâ AGATHON
sent messages to him very often bidding him to come to him ,
and he would not obey him and neither came to him nor forsook
his error. And when the governor of that city passed by , those
who were possessed of devils cursed him , and for this reason
the governor took that man , and punished him with exceed
ingly great severity, and he died straightway during his punish
ment. And another man , a priest, fell into fornication with a
woman in the church , and polluted (or destroyed ) his portion
of it ; and the people took him and brought him to Saint Abbâ
AGATHON, and he prayed over him and God healed him . And
the holy man commanded that priest to take good heed that he
did not minister in the priesthood during all the remaining
days of his life. And the holy man AGATHON worked many
[fol. 17a 3 ] miracles , and he healed very many sick people .
And there appeared unto him in the forms of angels very many
Satans who sang unto him very sweet songs, and ascribed
blessing to him , but by the might of Christ, to Whom be praise,
he knew their guile , and he made over them the sign of the
Glorious Cross , and they fled from before him speedily . And
when God wished to make him to rest from the toil of this
world , AGATHON fell sick of a slight illness , and he delivered
up his soul into the hand of God . Now very many people used
to gather together to him , and he would teach them the way of
God and would heal them of their sicknesses through his prayers.
When they found out that he was dead they wept bitterly
because they had lost their father who was wont to comfort
them , and because they were the orphans of this glorious
father . Now all the days of the life of this holy man Abbâ
AGATHON were one hundred years . He dwelt in the world
forty years, and in the desert ten years, and he toiled in ascetic
labours and lived upon a pillar for fifty years.
4 -2
 C IUM
52 THE ETHIOPI SYNAXAR
And on this day also are commemorated MAĶÂRI (MAC
ARIUS) the martyr, and BARTHOLOMEW , and 'AWĚDRÂ , and
NÂSEN (NASO), and DÊGANÂ the priest.

[fol. 176 1] And on this day also died Abbâ DÊGANÂ the
priest.
XV. MASKARAM
IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER AND THE SON
AND THE HOLY GHOST, ONE GOD
On this day the translation of the body of Saint STEPHEN
the archdeacon and protomartyr took place. And how did the
translation take place ? It took place after very many years
had passed since his death , and more than three hundred years
after the reign of the righteous Emperor CONSTANTINE who
worshipped God nobly , and after the revelation of the Right
Faith . There was a certain man who lived in the garden
which was nigh unto the place where the body of Saint
STEPHEN was, and that garden was called the “ garden of
GAMALIEL,” and was nigh unto Jerusalem ; and the name of
that man was LUCIANUS. And Saint STEPHEN the fighter
appeared unto him several times in dreams, and said unto him ,
“ I am Stephen,” and he informed him that his body was buried
in that place ; [ fol. 176 2 ] and that man LUCIANUS went and
told the bishop of the city of Jerusalem , and when the bishop
heard this thing he rejoiced exceedingly . And he rose up
straightway and took with him two bishops, and certain men
of the church , and they came to the place wherein the body of
the saint lay, and they dug into the ground there. And a
mighty earthquake took place, and the coffin wherein was the
body of the holy man was revealed . And there ascended from
it an odour which was exceedingly sweet, and they heard the
voices of angels praising God and saying, " Glory to God in the
heavens, and peace upon earth , His good pleasure to men ."
And they praised and sang in this wise three times. And the
bishops and the priests bowed down before the coffin containing
the body of the holy man , and then they bore it away with
songs and hymns and many brightly shining lamps until they
 FIRST MONTH - MASKARAM (SEPT. 8 -oct. 7 ) 53
brought it into the citadel of Zion . And after this , a certain
man whose name was ALEXANDER, and who was a native of
Constantinople, and who lived in Jerusalem , built a beautiful
church to Saint STEPHEN , and he removed the body of Saint
STEPHEN into it . Five years after this ALEXANDER died ,
and his wife buried him by the side of the coffin of Saint
STEPHEN . And when eight years more had passed the wife of
ALEXANDER decided to go to the city of Constantinople [ fol.
176 3] and to take the body of her husband with her. And she
came to the place wherein she had buried his body by the side
of Saint STEPHEN, so that shemight take her husband's body
and bury it in the church which ALEXANDER had built in
Constantinople in honour of Saint STEPHEN. Now her hus
band's coffin was like unto the coffin containing the body of
Saint STEPHEN - and by the will of God she took the coffin
wherein was the body of Saint STEPHEN, and carried it away
to the city of Ascalon , and there she embarked with it in a ship
to go to the city of Constantinople. As they were sailing over
the sea she heard singing and many praises coming from the
coffin , and she marvelled exceedingly . And she rose up that
she might look at that coffin , and she knew that it was the coffin
wherein was the body of Saint STEPHEN, and she understood
that this had happened through the Will of God, to Whom be
praise ! She was unable to return to Jerusalem , and she gave
thanks unto God the Most High , because of what He had done
unto her. When that woman arrived in the city of Constan
tinople, she went to the emperor and made known unto him
the history of Saint STEPHEN , and how signs had taken place,
and how he had arrived at the port of the city of Constantinople .
And the emperor and the archbishop, and priests, and the
people of the city went forth and they came to the body of the
saint, and they carried it upon their heads with singing and
many hymns, and with joy and gladness until they brought it
to the royal palace. [ fol. 18 a 1 ] And both in the ship and in
the royal palace God mademanifest many signs. And they laid
the body of the holy man upon a wheeled cart drawn by two
oxen , and when they came to the place which is called Constan
tinople ,wherein the holy man wished them to lay his body, the
54 THE ETHIOPIC SYNAXARIUM
oxen stood still and would not go any further and they stood
there. And when they beat the oxen they heard a voice which
came from one of the oxen , saying, " It is meet for them to
deposit the body of Saint STEPHEN in this place .” And all those
who saw and heard this praised God , and they knew that He
Who had made the unclean she-ass of BALAAM to speak was He
Who had made to speak the oxen which were carrying the body
of Saint STEPHEN. And the emperor commanded his people
to build a beautiful church for him , and they built a beautiful
church, and they laid therein a gem , a pearl of great price, a
holy thing, that is to say the body of that holy and blessedman
STEPHEN the apostle, the archdeacon and protomartyr.

[ fol. 18 a 2] And on this day is commemorated the righteous

father , Abbâ PETER of the town of ȚARAW (DARAW in Upper
Egypt ? ). This holy man was blessed before God from his
mother's womb. When he grew up to man 's estate he was
perfect in heart , and he laboured strenuously in ascetic works,
and he served God with fasting and prayer day and night con
tinually . He never ate the food which is usually eaten by men,
but he lived upon the small quantity of grass which he found
in the desert, and because of his lack of human food he re
sembled the angels in his strife . Moreover, his food was the
repetition of the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ by night and
by day ceaselessly . And it was meet for him to walk on his feet
into the stream which is called 'ALÔN without wetting them ,
for his body had become exceedingly dry (or hard ) through the
great tribulation caused by the heaviness of the iron which he
wore on his body all the days of his life ; for he was like unto a
beast and not a man . And he pleased God with this manner of
striving, and he was healed (?) by Him .
 FIRST MONTH - MASKARAM (SEPT. 8-oct. 7) 55

XVI. MASKARAM

IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER AND THE SON

AND THE HOLY GHOST, ONE GOD
[fol. 18 a 3 ] On this day took place the consecration of the
Church , and the Sanctuary, and the grave of our Lord Jesus
Christ , to Whom be praise ! in the holy city of Jerusalem , and
of all the holy places which 'ĚLÊNI (HELENA), the empress,
laid bare . And this took place in the twentieth year of the reign
of her son coNSTANTINE, after he had gathered together the
Council of Three Hundred and Eighteen Saints in the city of
NICEA. And the blessed woman ' ĚLÊNI (HELENA) took a
large sum of his money , and she said unto her son CONSTAN
TINE, “ I wish to be blessed by God , and I will go to the holy
city of Jerusalem , and I will seek for and discover the Wood of
the life-giving Cross." And coNSTANTINE rejoiced at these
words, and he sent soldiers with her ; and he gave her much
money and apparel made of costly silks threaded with gold .
When she arrived in the city of Jerusalem , and had knelt in
prayer in certain of the holy places, she made enquiries about
the Wood of the honourable and life- giving Cross. And with
much toil and tribulation she found the Wood of the Cross, and
she praised it with great praises, and she paid unto it very great
reverence and honour. Then she commanded her men to build
the altar of the sanctuary, and [shrines at] Gôlgóthâ , and
Bethlehem , and the cave wherein our Lord Jesus Christ was
born , and the fortress of Zion , and Gethsemane wherein was
buried the body of our Lady the holy Virgin MARY , and the
Mount of Olives, and all the holy places ; and she commanded
[the builders ] to decorate them with pearl, and with gold , and
with silver. Now there was in Jerusalem a certain bishop whose
name was Abbâ MACARIUS, and he gave her counsel, [fol.
186 1 ] saying, “ Do not thus, for after a few days [foreign ]
peoples will come and will rule over this country, and they will
take possession of this place, and will lay it waste ,and will seize
whatsoever is made of gold and silver and precious stones. But
it is meet that you should build a good, strong building which
 UM
56 THE ETHIOPIC SYNAXARI
can neither be overthrown nor torn up from the foundations.
And the remainder of this money give unto the poor and the
needy.” And the Empress 'ĚLÊNÍ (HELENA) accepted his
words and delivered much money into his hand, and she com
manded all the nobles to build [ a building of this kind ), and to
obey Abbâ MACARIUS the bishop in everything which he
ordered them to do in the matter of the building. When the
Empress 'ĚLÊNI (HELENA ) returned to her son conSTAN
TINE and told him what she had done in Jerusalem , he rejoiced
exceedingly, and he sent a further large sum of money, and
overseers were appointed over the building. And the emperor
commanded them to pay the workmen and all those who served
in the work of building their wages daily at eventide without
fail, for the emperor feared lest they should suffer and lest they
should complain if their wages were not paid to them , and lest
God should be angry with him because of their complaint. And
when the building of the holy places was finished in the third
year of the reign of the righteous Emperor CONSTANTINE he
sent holy vessels and apparel made of silk and gold which was
exceedingly costly . And he sent messages to the Archbishop
of the city of Constantinople to take his bishops, and to
ATHANASIUS, the Archbishop of the city of Alexandria , to
take [fol. 186 2] the bishops of his diocese , and also to the
Archbishop of the city of Antioch , and he commanded them all
to gather together in the city of Jerusalem and to consecrate
the sanctuary and all the altars of the places which had been
built [by ' ĚLÊNI (HELENA)]. And they all assembled in the
city of Jerusalem , and they tarried there until the seventeenth
day of the month Maskaram , by which day they had conse
crated the sanctuary and all the altars of the places (i.e. shrines)
which had been built. On that day there was joy, the like of
which had never before existed . They performed the appointed
service , and they consecrated the Holy Offerings, and they
partook of the Holy Mysteries, and a great light appeared , and
many signs [were wrought] on that day, the sixteenth of
Maskaram . And they marched round into all the holy places
with the Honourable Cross, and they worshipped God therein ,
and they received the Holy Mysteries, and they adored the
 FIRST MONTH - MASKARAM (SEPT. 8 - oct. 7 ) 57
Honourable Cross and sang litanies thereto , and [then ] they
departed to their countries in peace .
And on this day also died TOBIT, the son of GABÂÊL of
the seed of 'ASÂÊL, of the tribe of NAPHTHALI, who was
carried off into captivity in the days of 'ANÊMÊSÔR (SHAL
MANESER ? ), the King of Persia (sic), he was a native [fol.
186 3 ] of TÂBÊS, on the righthand of ĶÂDÊS, which is NAPH
THALI in Galilee, which is above 'ASÊR. TOBIT walked the
path of righteousness and integrity 'all the days of his life. And
the alms were many which he made to his brethren , and to his
kinsfolk who went to the country of Persia , and all the people
who had apostatized and who offered sacrifice to Baal and the
Calf. And TOBIT went frequently to Jerusalem , and he took
thewool of his flock with him , and the tenth of his crop , and he
gave one-third to the poor. When all his brethren were taken
captives to Nineveh they ate with theGentiles , but he restrained
himself from eating because he remembered God with all his
heart. One day he found the dead body of a man in the market
place, and he rose up although fasting and brought it into a
house until the sun set, and when the sun had set he dug a hole
in the ground and buried him . That night he lay down to sleep
against the wall of his garden , and he did not know that there
were birds (nesting] in the wall. And when he uncovered his
face these birds voided warm dung into his eyes, and a smoke
went forth through his eyes and there was no man who could
give him relief. And TOBIT entreated God , saying, “ Remember
me, O Lord , and look upon mymiserable estate, and remember
not my sins nor the sins ofmy fathers , for Thou hast made us
to be led away into captivity and to be scattered . And now ,
even according as it pleaseth Thee deal with me before Thee,
and command that my earth may return so that I may dissolve
and become dust ; for it is better for me to die than to live."
And on that day the evil spirit ASMODEUS found sÂRÂ, the
daughter of RÂGUĚÊL, for [ fol. 19a I] he had married her to
seven men , and when these men approached her he slew them .
At length the handmaidens of her father reviled and abused
her, and she continued to weep and pray to God that He would
 RI UM
IC
IOP AXA
58 THE ETH SYN
save her from their abuse ; and her prayer and the prayer of
TOBIT were heard before the Majesty, praise [be unto Him ],
and rûFÂÊL [was sent to heal them both ]. And TOBIT re
membered the silver which he had committed to the care of
GABÂÊL, and he called his son TOBIAS, and he said unto him ,
“ Seek out for thyself a hireling who shall go with thee to
GABÂÊL that hemay bring back themoney which I committed
to his care before I die .” And TOBIAS found RûFÂÊL, who
was in the form of a hired servant, and he went with TOBIAS,
who named him “ AZARIAS.” And they journeyed along the
road, and they arrived in the evening atthe Tigris, and TOBIAS
went down to the river to wash , and a fish leaped outupon him .
And RûFÂÊL said unto TOBIAS, “ Seize him , and take out his
heart, and his liver, and his gall” ; and TOBIAS did as RÛFÂÊL
had commanded him . And when they arrived in the house of
RÂGUĚÊ L , SÂRÂ received them , and TOBIAS desired her, and
he spake unto her father so that he might give her to him ; and
RÂGUĚÊL said unto him ,“ I havemarried her to sevenmen ,and
all of them have died ” ; and TOBIAS said , “ The Lord 's will be
done." And when they brought TOBIAS and SÂRÂ into the
marriage-chamber, TOBIAS remembered thewords of RÛFÂÊL,
and he burned away in smoke the heart and the gall of the fish ,
and the devil fled from SÂRÂ. And he returned with her to the
house of his father, and when TOBIT had received him TOBIAS
smeared his father 's eyes with the gall of the fish . And when
TOBIT rubbed his eyes and there removed itself from his
eyes as it were smoke, and he saw his son , he rejoiced and he
prophesied concerning the sufferings of Christ , saying, " Blessed
be all those who sorrow for Thy suffering, for they shall rejoice
in Thee [fol. 19a 2 ] when they see all Thy glory.” And again
he said , “ The walls of the Jerusalem which is in the heavens
shall be built of sapphire, and emerald , and precious stones,
and its tower and its gates shall be of pure gold . And the court
thereof shall be made of beryland carbuncle and sapphire , and
all its paths shall say 'Hallelujah ." And he also prophesied
that the Israelites who were captives in Babylon should return ,
and should build Jerusalem with glorious mason 's work. And
TOBIT commanded his son TOBIAS to depart from Nineveh ,
 FIRST MONTH - MASKARAM (SEPT. 8 - oct. 7 ) 59
for he knew that the spoliation thereof which JONAH the
prophet had prophesied would take place . And he said unto
his son , " See my son that thine alms do save thee and justify
thee " ; and with these words his soul went forth into its rest
in the one hundred and fifty -eighth year ofhis age ; and TOBIAS
buried him with honour.
And on this day also are commemorated WARĶĚLÂ , and
SIMEON , and MARĶÊNÔS (MARCIANUS) [and 'AZYÂNÔS,
and ĦALI, and RÔNIĶôs], and LUCIANUS, and ’AZRĚ
MÂNỘs, and PETER, and ħANNAH, and Abbâ AGATHON who
stopped his mouth with a stone.

XVII. MASKARAM
[ fol. 19a 3] IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER AND THE
SON AND THE HOLY GHOST , ONE GOD
On this day is celebrated the festival of the HONOURABLE
CROSS of our Lord Jesus Christ , to Whom be praise ! for this
is the day on which the holy woman , the Empress HELENA,
beloved of God , mother of the righteous Emperor CONSTAN
TINE, revealed the Cross , for having cleared away the hill of
Golgotha she found ( there ] the Honourable Cross. And why
did this great hill come into being? It was because of the many
signs and wonders which were mademanifest at the holy tomb
of our Lord Jesus Christ ; for the dead were raised , and the
paralytics were healed , and the sick were made whole . And
because of these things the Jews were furiously angry , and
they sent forth a decree throughout all the country of Judea
and Jerusalem ordering that every man should cast the sweep
ings of his house, and the ashes, and offal of every kind on the
grave of our Lord Jesus Christ. And the Jews did this formore
than two hundred years, and the ashes and the offal formed a
very great heap , and they did so until the Empress HELENA
came to Jerusalem . And HELENA seized certain Jews and shut
them up in prison until they told her where the grave of our
Lord Jesus Christ was, and she forced them to remove that
hill, and the Honourable Cross was discovered. And she built
60 THE ETHIOPIC SYNAXARIU
M
[fol. 196 1 ] a beautiful church for it, and she consecrated it,
and she made a great festival in honour thereof on the seven
teenth day of Maskaram which is this day. And all the Chris
tian people came from all their countries to Jerusalem , and
they made a great festival in honour of the Honourable Cross,
similar to the festival of the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus
Christ. Now as certain Christians were journeying along the
road, there was with them a certain man , a Samaritan , whose
name was ISAAC, and there were many Samaritans with him .
And that ISAAC the Samaritan was jibing at the Christians
and reviling them and saying unto them , “ Why do ye trouble
yourselves in vain ? Why do ye go and bow down before a mere
log ofwood ? ” And among the Christians was a certain righteous
man , a priest whose name was 'ODÔKIS (EUDOXIUS), and as
they were travelling along the road some of the Christians
became thirsty, and they could not find water to drink. And
they arrived at a certain well, and they found in it foul and
bitter water , and they were suffering greatly from thirst. And
ISAAC the Samaritan began to laugh at them , and he said unto
them , “ If your faith was the True Faith this foul and bitter
water would change itself and would become sweet water."
And when 'odôkis (EUDOXIUS) the priest heard these words
from him , he becamemoved with a divine zeal, and he debated
with ISAAC the Samaritan . And ISAAC the Samaritan said
unto him , " If I saw any power in the Name of the Cross then
I myself would believe in Christ.” Then the holy man 'odôkis
(EUDOXIUS) prayed over that foul water, and it became
sweet immediately , and all the people and their animals drank
therefrom . [fol. 196 2 ] When ISAAC the Samaritan was athirst
and wished to drink of the water which was in his own water
skin , he found that it was stinking and that there were worms
in it. And he wept very bitterly , and he came to Saint 'odôkis
(EUDOXIUS) the priest, and he bowed down at his feet, and
he believed on the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ . And he
drank of that water which had become sweet, through the
prayer of the holy man 'odôkis (EUDOXIUS). Now there
was in that water such great power that it became sweet to
those who were believers and bitter to the infidels and pagan
 FIRST MONTH - MASKARAM (SEPT. 8 - oct. 7) 61
folk . And there appeared in that water a cross of light, and
they built over that water a beautiful church . When ISAAC
the Samaritan came to the city of Jerusalem , he went to the
bishop, who baptized with Christian baptism , him and all the
men of his house , and they entered the Christian faith and
became believers. Now the Honourable Cross appeared unto
them on the tenth day of Magâbît, but as they were unable to
celebrate a festival in its honour during a fast, they celebrated
its festival on the day of the consecration of the church , which
was the seventeenth day ofMaskaram , the day of its appearance
in the holy tomb.
[ fol. 1963] And on this day also the blessed THEOGNOSTA
died . The holy woman lived in the days of the righteous
Emperors HONORIUS and ARCADIUS. In those days an envoy
came with gifts from the King of India to the righteous Em
perors HONORIUS and ARCADIUS. And when the envoys of
the King of India were returning , they found this virgin THEO
GNOSTA with a book in her hand which she was reading, and
they seized her and carried her back with them to their country .
And she became the head of the harim , and she had charge of
the wives of the King of India , and of all the people of his house .
And in those days the son of the king fell sick of a grievous
sickness , and Saint THEOGNOSTA took him into her bosom
and made over him the sign of the Cross , and he recovered
straightway. And the report of this virgin was heard through
out the land by reason of the wonderful thing which took place
through her, and from that day onward she was no longer
regarded as a handmaiden but as a great lady. When the King
of India went to war there came upon him clouds, and storm
winds, and fog and darkness , and the king knowing of the
wonder which the holy woman THEOGNOSTA had wrought by
means of the Cross,made the sign of the Cross against the clouds,
and the storm winds, and the fog and the darkness, and the sun
appeared and there was [fol. 20 a 1] joy and great gladness, and
through the sign of the Cross the king vanquished his enemies.
And as soon as the king returned from the war, he bowed down
at the feet of Saint THEOGNOSTA , and asked her to give him
62 THE ETHIOPIC SYNAXARIUM
holy Christian baptism , him , and the men of his house, and all
the men of his city. And she said unto the king and unto all
those who were with him , “ It is not seemly for me to do this
thing, but send ye to the Emperor HONORIUS and ask him to
send you a priest, for I am unable to baptize anyone.” And
straightway the king sent a letter to the Emperor HONORIUS,
and told him that they had withdrawn (from Paganism ] to the
Faith of Christ, and he asked him to send to them a priest to
baptize them with Christian baptism . And HONORIUS sent
unto them a priest who was a righteous anchorite, and he
baptized them with Christian baptism , and consecrated for
them the Offering,and gave them the Holy Body and Honourable
Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. And the virgin THEOGNOSTA ,
the beloved of God , rejoiced exceedingly , and she knew that
priestly anchorite, and they each blessed the other. And she
built for him a house for the religious, and very many virgins
gathered together there , and they loved the nun 's garb of
THEOGNOSTA and became like unto her . When that priestly
anchorite had baptized them with Christian baptism , he re
turned to the Emperor HONORIUS, and related unto him how
he had baptized the men of India , and how they had entered
into the Faith of Christ. And the Emperor [fol.20 a 2 ] HONO
RIUS rejoiced exceedingly , and he commanded the Archbishop
of the city of Rômê to consecrate that anchorite bishop of the
Indians; and the archbishop consecrated him bishop , and he
returned to the Indians and they rejoiced greatly . Whilst they
were building a church they wanted pillars, but there were none
to be found ; now there was in that place a house of idols wherein
were some very fine pillars. And the virgin THEOGNOSTA
prayed to our Lord Jesus Christ with tears , and the pillars
which were in the house of idols removed themselves and came
to the church , and the believers glorified our Lord Jesus Christ,
to Whom be praise ! And those who were worshippers of idols
smashed their idols, and turned and entered the Faith of our
Lord Jesus Christ ; and there was great joy in that city. And
Saint THEOGNOSTA the virgin ended her days, and she was
well-pleasing unto God, and she died in peace in that nunnery
among the virgins.
 FIRST MONTH - MASKARAM (SEPT. 8 -oct. 7) 63
And on this day also died the holy father Abbâ DIONYSIUS,
Archbishop of the city [fol. 20 a 3 ] of Alexandria ; of the number
of the archbishops he is the fourteenth . The infidel Emperor
DECIus wished to kill this holy man , but God hid him from
him . This father was a wise and learned man , and he trans
lated many of the Books of the Church . In his days Saint
MERCURIUS became a martyr by the hand of DECIUS, the
Emperor of Rômê, and in his days also the SEVEN YOUTHS
went to sleep for three hundred and seventy and two years .
These Youths were among the sons of the elders of the city of
Ephesus, and they fled from the Emperor DECIUS when he
sought for them to make them worship idols . And in the days
of this father lived our great and holy father ANTHONY the
Egyptian , the head of the monks, who built monasteries . And
this holy father Abbâ DIONYSIUS sat as archbishop for
nineteen years, and he guarded his flock and the Gentiles in
right and in peace ; and he was well-pleasing unto God and he
died .

And on this day also are commemorated LABÎBÂ (or LÎBÂ),

and 'AKIRYÂNÔS (CIRIANUS), and JUSTIN , and TÊKÂSÊLȚĚS
(or TÊKÂLÊLȚĚS).

XVIII. MASKARAM
[fol. 206 1] IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER AND THE
SON AND THE HOLY GHOST, ONE GOD
On this day died EUSTATHIUS, a teacher of the faith and
a preacher of the Gospel. The name of the father of this holy
man was KRĖSTÔS MÔ' a ,and the name ofhis mother was SĚNA
ŅAYWAT; and they were both righteous and fearers of God,
and they walked in all His judgements. And when KRĚSTÔS
MÔ'A, after the glad tidings of an angel, begat this child he
called him MÂ AĶABA 'EGZI' Ě . When he grew up he taught
him the Psalms of DAVID and the Books of the Church . Then
he took him to themonastery of Abbâ ZACHARIAS, hismother's
brother,who when he saw him knew that the grace ofGod was
64 THE ETHIOPIC SYNAXARIUM
dwelling upon him , and he taught him all the rules ofmonas
ticism , and he arrayed him in the apparel of the angels. And
the young man fasted and prayed with such intense devotion
that the aged men of the monastery marvelled at the sternness
of his strife ; and he was girded with wisdom and knowledge.
After a short time he wasmade a deacon, and he ministered
in the church like STEPHEN the archdeacon . And our Lord
Jesus Christ appeared unto him with MICHAEL and GABRIEL,
and Heembraced him and breathed into his face the Holy Spirit.
And He said unto him , “ O my beloved EUSTATHIUS, I have
chosen thee from thy mother's womb, and have appointed
thee to become a teacher of many [fol. 206 2 ] nations from
Ethiopia toArmenia . And thou shalt preach theGospelwithout
fear and trepidation . He who heareth thee heareth Me; he who
rejecteth thee rejecteth Me." When our Lord Jesus Christ had
said this unto him He went up into heaven . And Saint EUSTA
THIUS went to the bishop and was appointed priest, and he
began to preach the faith of the Gospel. At length very many
men gathered together to him , and they becamemonks through
him and they became disciples (of him ), now the greatest of
them was Abbâ 'ABSÂDi, and he turned many from their
iniquity, and at length they forsook their evil works . And his
doctrine filled the whole earth , and in his days the honouring
of Sabbaths and days of festival was established, and he turned
not aside from the ordinances of] the Apostles, neither to the
right hand nor to the left. And he made two pilgrimages to
Jerusalem , and God made manifest through him signs and
wonders which were innumerable in opening the eyes of the
blind, and in healing the paralytics , and in casting out devils .
Then he decided that he would go to Jerusalem by the will of
God, and he gathered together his sons, and he laid upon them
the charge ofkeeping all the canon of the monks, and ofkeeping
themselves from mingling with the pagans ; and he appointed
his son 'ABSÂDÎ chief over them . And he went to Jerusalem
and kept the Sabbath as he went, and he taught the faith of
Christ. And he came to the Archbishop ’Abbâ BENYÂMi and
was blessed by him , and they conversed together on matters
of the Faith . Then [fol. 20 6 3] he went down to Jerusalem and
 FIRST MONTH - MASKARAM (SEPT. 8 - oct. 7 ) 65
was blessed in the holy places, and was baptized in the Jordan .
Thence he departed to Armenia , and having arrived at the sea
of 'IYÂRÎKÔ he asked the sailors to allow him to embark in a
ship . And when they prevented him from doing so, he cast
his head-fillet into the sea , and said a blessing over it in the
Name of the Trinity , and made over it the sign of the Cross.
Then he got up upon the fillet as upon a ship , and two angels
acted as sailors , and our Lord acted as captain , and they carried
over his sons who had no fear of the terror of the sea. And
EUSTATHIUS said unto his sons, “ Only take heed that ye do
not lay up revenge and malice in your hearts ; it seemeth to me
however that one of you is about to perish .” And before he had
finished uttering these words one of his sons dropped into the
sea and was drowned because he was treasuring revenge and
malice in his heart. And by God 's Will they crossed over the
sea and came to the country of Armenia , and he held converse
with the archbishop , and did homage to him , and was blessed
by him . When the archbishop saw him he rejoiced with ex
ceeding great joy , and he received him gladly . And our father
EUSTATHIUS continued to teach the men of Armenia the
canons of the apostles which are in the ordinance of the Sînôdôs
until they were all one brotherhood in doctrine. When the time
for his departure from this world had drawn nigh , our Lord
Jesus Christ appeared unto him , and made a covenant with
him in respect of those who should invoke his name, and those
who should celebrate his commemoration, and thosewho should
do into writing the story of his fight. And when he died the
bishops and priests prepared him for burial with great honour,
and they buried him in the church of [fol. 21 a 1] Mâr MEHNÂM
(i.e. BEHNÂM ) the martyr, and many miracles happened
through his body.
Salutation to EUSTATHIUS and to his fillet whereon he
crossed the sea .

And on this day also is commemorated Saint HELENA, the

mother of CONSTANTINE the righteous emperor. In the days
of this holy woman the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, to Whom
be praise ! was found.
BESI
 66 THE ETHIOPIC SYNAXARIUM
And on this day also died Saint Abbâ 'onÔRÊwôs (HON
ORIUS) the teacher (in the monastery) of ŞĚGÂDJ.
And on this day also Saint MERCURIUS [fol. 21a 2) became
a martyr. This holy man was a Persian jester and musician ;
originally he was a Christian . When CONSTANTINE, the son
of CONSTANTINE the Great, died, there reigned after him
JULIAN the infidel, who slew Saint MERCURIUS. Now JULIAN
was the son of CONSTANTINE ' s sister. This denier of God
worshipped idols, and he afflicted the Christian peoples griev
ously, and by his means very many became martyrs. When
he was born there were gathered together those who jested and
played music, and those who made men laugh , and this holy
man MERCURIUS was among their number. And the infidel
JULIAN ordered the holy man to shew him what the system
of Christianity was, and what they did in church . And MER
CURIUS did according to what the infidel emperor had com
manded him , and hemade a jest and mockery of all the ordin
ances of the Church . And there was very great merriment.
And when he was making a mockery of the ordinance of holy
Christian baptism , and was making the sign of the Cross over
the water in the Name of the Father and the Son and the Holy
Ghost, OneGod , the Lord illumined the heart of MERCURIUS,
and he saw the Divine Grace of God through heaven , and an
exceedingly great light enveloped him . And straightway
MERCURIUS stripped off his apparel, and went down into the
water, and was dipped in the water three times in the Name of
the Father and the Son and the Holy Ghost, One God. Then
he went up out of the water , and put on his raiment and con
fessed that he was a Christian . And the emperor was wroth
with him and he threatened him ,saying , “ Unless thou doest as
I command thee, and unless thou castest [ fol. 21 a 3] incense to
the gods, I will torture thee with the greatest severity. On the
other hand , if thou wilt hearken to my command I will give
thee very much money and I will honour thee exceedingly .”
And Saint MERCURIUS answered and said unto him , “ If
thou wert to giveme all the money in this world and the king
dom thereof, I would not deny my Lord Jesus Christ.” Then
 FIRST MONTH - MASKARAM (SEPT. 8 -oct. 7) 67
straightway the infidel emperor commanded his soldiers to cut
off his holy head, and MERCURIUS received an incorruptible
crown in the kingdom of the heavens.
And on this day it is meet that we should celebrate also the
festival of the Honourable and Life- giving Cross of our Lord
and God Jesus Christ.

And on this day also died the warrior Mâr JACOB , the
Egyptian . This holy man had righteous and believing parents,
and they gave him as a votive offering to God . When he
had finished his instruction in the school house his parents
took him into the mountains of Alexandria , and they gave
him to the Archimandrite Abbâ GABRIEL, and he made him
[ fol. 216 1 ] a monk when he was a boy twelve years of age.
When hewas twenty years of age he went forth with his teacher
into the desert in order to strive in the ascetic life . And they
found there a high tower, and at the bottom was a spring of
water, and Abbâ GABRIEL and Mâr JACOB went up to the top
of the tower; and they used to draw water from the stream and
pour it out into hollows which were like troughs in the ground,
and every day the wild animals of the desert used to come there
and drink therefrom . And the holy man Mâr JACOB used to
milk them , and make cheese from the milk , and he and his
teacher lived thereon . When Abbâ GABRIEL died , Mâr JACOB
went up to the top of the tower, and by the Will of God there
came to him twelve desert monks, and they dwelt with him in
fasting and prayer, and they lived upon themilk of the animals ,
and the want of wheat for the monastery was supplied by the
pilgrims who came from afar. One day they said , “ It is our
desire to see Abbâ MOSES the Black (i.e . the Negro ), and to
be blessed by him .” And Satan because he coveted to be loved
by them , took the form of Abbâ Moses the Black, and he
came flying on his wings and said unto them , “ Why do ye
trouble me to drag myself from mine own place, seeing that I
am an old man ?" And they said unto him , “ We wish to hear
the word of life from thy lips, and we wish thee to bless us.”
And he said unto them , “ How do ye live ? ” And they said that
5 -2
 IUM
68 THE ETHIOPIC SYNAXAR
they poured out water for the wild animals of the desert, and
that when they came to drink ,they milked them and lived upon
their milk each evening. And Satan said unto them , “ Will ye
not listen unto what I shall command you ? ” And they said
unto him , “ Yea .” [fol. 216 2 ] And Satan said unto them ,
“ Take ye not the milk of the beasts and ye shall not do violence
unto them , for ye are monks. And fast ye forty days at a time,
and do not pray the Psalmsof DAVID , for DAVID took the wife
of URIAH by violence and slew him .” And he addressed a very
large number of profitless exhortations to them so that he might
ensnare them by his wiles, and they received his words imagining
that they were the words of Abbâ MOSES the Black . Then the
Holy Ghost made Mâr JACOB to understand that his words
were the teaching of Satan , and he commanded his disciples
to consecrate the Offering on the first day of the week , and
afterwards he shewed his sons that the words that had been
said to them were of Satan . And Satan came unto him again
disguised as the Archbishop of Alexandria , and there were
bishops with him , and when he came he cursed them and
anathematized them , saying, “ Why are ye living here without
my permission ? ” And Saint Abbâ JACOB saw the extent of
his power with his disciples , and he made a prayer, and straight
way Satan disappeared and his counsel did not remain . Some
times Satan came unto him in the form of a serpent, and some
times in the form of a king, and sometimes in the forms of
beautiful virgins, and sometimes he took the forms of eagles
and ravens who tore (his ] face with their claws. And he was
tempted for seven years. Then when God saw his weariness
and his prayer, He sent lightning from heaven , and it rentSatan
in pieces, and scattered him like smoke. And Satan cried out,
saying, “ Woe is me by reason of thee, O JACOB , for thy prayer
hath burned me up .” And then God commanded [fol. 216 3 ]
Mâr JACOB to go to the monastery of 'ABDÎn , and he told his
sons this , and having laid upon them the charge that they were
to dwell in the tower, he departed alone to the shore of
' ÎYÂRÎKÔ . And as there was no ship there, he blessed a wave
of the sea, and he embarked upon it, and travelled upon it
as upon dry land until he crossed the sea and arrived at TARSÊ S .
 FIRST MONTH - MASKARAM (SEPT. 8 -oct. 7)
TRST MONTH MASKARA
69
And as he passed through a market-place in the city , he found
a wounded man with worms devouring him . And the holy man
said unto him , " What is thy name?” And the man said unto
him , “ My name is ' ANTHONY '; my father gave memoney for
the physicians, and they have not healed me.” And Mâr
JACOB saw that the man was grieving because of his disease,
and he made a prayer, and laid his hands on every part of his
body, and said unto him , “ In the Nameof our Lord Jesus Christ
be made whole ," and straightway the man was healed. And
forthwith ANTHONY followed him and became his disciple .
Then the holy man and his disciple went on their way, and when
they arrived at the city of 'ÂMID they found the son of King
ANESTUS mad , and he was beating his head on the stones,
and no one could restrain him . And Mâr JACOB commanded
his disciple ANTHONY to seize him , and to bring him to him ;
and when he arrived hemade over him the sign of the Honour
able Cross, and he commanded Satan in the Name of our Lord
Jesus Christ to go forth from him . And Satan went forth from
him in the form of a black slave , and the young man recovered
and followed the holy man ; and when his father and the people
saw him they rejoiced with very great joy. Now the king
wished to give Mâr JACOB much money , but the holy man
refused it and would not take it . And by the commandment of
God he departed with Abbâ [ fol. 22 a 1] BARSÂBÔ, a teacher of
the monastery of the city of 'ABDÎn , and as he was travelling
on the road ANTHONY fell sick of the smallpox , and on the
third day he died . And when Mâr JACOB came to a city , the
name of which is ’AWĚR SÂ , he found that the son of the
governor was sick , and through the prayer of the holy man
Mâr JACOB he recovered . When his father saw that he had
recovered he rejoiced with very great joy, and he handed him
over to the holy man to be his disciple until the day of his
death ; now the nameof the youngman was FĚĶÛR (VICTOR ? ).
And when they drew nigh unto the monastery of BARSÂBÔ,
the monks welcomed them and brought them in with much
singing. Now there was built by the side of this city a certain
temple, and the King of Persia , who was called SÂMÊR , used
to come there every year and celebrate a festival in honour of
70 THE ETHIOPIC SYNAXARIUM
his idols. And Mâr JACOB said unto the monks, “ Behold, we
have heard that the King of Persia hath come, let us go to
him and shed our blood for the sake of the Name of Christ, to
Whom be praise !” And whilst the monkswere considering this
advice the soldiers of the king arrived in the monastery, and
they saw that themonks were wearing black apparel, and they
said unto them , “ What are ye? Which of the gods do yewor
ship ? " And the holy men said , “ We worship the Lord Jesus
Christ, the Son of the Living God ,Who camedown from heaven ,
and becameman through the Holy Ghost by MARY the holy
Virgin , to Him do we bow down and Him do we worship.”
When the soldiers heard them they carried them away to the
king, and when they arrived before the king they confessed the
faith [ fol. 22 a 2 ] of our Lord Jesus Christ. And the king en
quired what their country was, and Abbâ BARSÂBÔ said , “ I
and my brethren are Romans," and Saint Abbâ JACOB saith ,
“ I am by myself ; I am an Egyptian.” When the king
heard his words he commanded his soldiers to remove JACOB
against his will, for he did not wish to kill him because he had
a treaty with the men of Egypt. And the king ordered his
soldiers to beat the monks, and they beat them until their
blood flowed from their bodies like water, and he then had them
cast into the prison house (where ) the angel of the Lord healed
them ; on the following day when the soldiers found them alive,
the king [promised to ] bestow many gifts upon them . But when
they treated his word with contempt he commanded his soldiers
to torture them by crushing their feet into [iron ] boots, and by
beating them , and drawing out their front teeth , and grinders ,
and by drawing out of the nails of the hands and feet , and by
cutting off their noses, and lips, and ears ; this they did for a
period of six days ; but our Lord Jesus Christ gave them strength
[to endure). On the eighth day he commanded the soldiers to
cut off their heads, and Mâr BARSÂBỘ addressed them , and
after he had exhorted them , he delivered them one by one
into the hand of the swordsman , and ten monks were crowned .
And the captain of the horse of the king on seeing the crowning
of the saints stripped off his apparel and confessed our Lord
Jesus Christ, and his head also did they cut off with the sword .
 FIRST MONTH - MASKARAM (SEPT. 8 -oct. 7) 71
After the sons of Mâr BARSÂBÔ were dead he himself stretched
out his neck , and said unto the swordsman , “ Finish what thou
hast been commanded (to do]," and straightway he gave him
his neck . And themartyrdomsof the saints were finished on the
twenty- [ fol. 22 a 3 ] eighth day of the month Nahasê (Aug. 4
Sept. 3). Then the king ordered his soldiers to burn their bodies
with fire, but the earth opened her mouth and covered them .
And the king being ashamed wanted to depart to his own
country . Thereupon Mâr JACOB prayed to God and He rained
upon him fire [mingled ) with black clouds, and hail and snow ,
and he and all his soldiers perished , and not one of them re
mained [alive). When the men on the frontiers heard this they
all went out and took their horses and all their goods, and they
carried them to Mâr JACOB and said unto him , “ Take all
these goods for thy needs,” but he refused to do so , and com
manded them to build a little church over the grave of the
holy martyrs; [and they did so ] and there it remaineth unto
this day. One day there was a plague (or smallpox ) in a certain
city, and the people sent to Mâr JACOB asking him to help
them by his prayers; and when Mâr JACOB heard of the plague
he was very sorry . And having taken the censer he went into the
church , and he prayed a long time, and having gone forth from
the church he said unto the messengers, " Be not afraid , neither
grieve ye ; depart ye in peace.” When the messengers arrived
they found the city in a healthy state , and they praised the
God of Saint JACOB. And there was a certain maiden who
came with her father to [ fol. 226 1 ] the holy man , and she
lusted for the holy disciple whose name we have mentioned ,
and she wanted to cast him down in sin . When he refused her
she became with child by a certain servant of her father, and
she acted craftily in thematter. When her father heard of this
he set out to kill Mâr JACOB and his disciple , and as he was
going along the road to do so ) lightning fell upon him and
blinded his eyes. After a few days his daughter brought forth
her child , and she carried the child to Saint Mâr JACOB in the
midst of the congregation. And Mâr JACOB said unto the child ,
“ In the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ I command thee to
declare the name of thy father.” And the child said , “ My
72 THE ETHIOPIC SYNAXARIUM
father is so-and - so , the servant of my mother's father ” ; and
when the people heard this they marvelled and praised God.
When the time of Mâr JACOB' s departure from the world
drew nigh, he commanded his disciple DANIEL, saying, “ Be
hold my departure draweth nigh . When I am dead bury me
with Mâr BARSÂBỘ and his sons.” Three days after this he
died in peace , and the angels took his soul up into Jerusalem .
Salutation to JACOB the strenuous ascetic !
Salutation to JACOB the priest !
[fol. 22b 2] And on this day also are commemorated Saint
STEPHEN the priest, and NICETA the martyr.
And on this day also were found the bones of THOMAS and
of Archbishop ATHANASIUS ; and on this day are commem
orated our father the admirable PHILOTHEUS (the Thauma
turge], and Abbâ NÔB the anchorite, and the martyrs who were
with 'ABÔLÎ- forty men and twenty women .

And on this day also are commemorated 'Ê FÔMYÂ (EU

PHEMIA ? ) the martyr, and Abbâ Finômis, and SELÌÂN ,
and 'AKALÂÊLES, and ISAAC.
And on this day also took place the miracle which THOMAS
the apostle wrought when he went to preach the Gospel in the
country of India. Now he was afraid , and he said , “ How can
I go to India , the country of which I know not? ” Then our
Lord Jesus Christ appeared unto him and said unto him ,
" Fear thou not, for My grace is with thee .” And whilst he was
with our Lord there came a merchant from India . And our
Lord said unto him , " What dost thou want? ” And the merchant
said , “ I want a [fol. 22b 3] carpenter.” And our Lord said unto
him , " Take this My servant, for he is a carpenter " ; and he
sold him for three lěţra of silver. And he wrote a paper which
testified , saying, “ I have sold my servant, the son of JOSEPH
the carpenter,to 'ABÊNÊs,a merchantofGÔNÂ ” ; and THOMAS' S
[new ] master took him to the city of the king. When they drew
nigh unto the city they heard [the sound of] organs and pipes,
and they said , “ What is this ? ” And the people said unto them ,
 FIRST MONTH - MASKARAM (SEPT. 8 -oct. 7 ) 73
" The king hasmade a marriage-feast for his daughter, and he
has ordered that whosoever doth not come to the wedding shall
be punished.” And 'ABÊNÊs and THOMAS went into the room
of the feast, and while the guests ate and drank THOMAS the
apostle ate nothing at all. And there he found a Hebrew singing
maiden who was singing songs in the Hebrew language. And
whilst the apostle was praying in the Hebrew language one of
those who were at the feast struck him ; and the apostle said ,
" I see a hand with the dogs tearing at it ” ; and the singing
woman alone heard him because he spake in the Hebrew lan
guage. And the man who smote THOMAS went down to the
lake (or well) to draw water, and a lion sprang out and slew
him and left him lying in pieces . And a dog seized the
right hand and carried it in among the people at the feast, and
one said unto THOMAS, “ Who is dead ?” And he said unto
them , “ This is the hand of him who struck one who serveth .”
When the singing maiden heard this, she cast away her tam
bourine and went and sat at the feet of the apostle , and she
said , “ I heard thee say unto him , ' The dogs shall tear the hand
which smote me." " When the people heard this some believed
and some did not. When the king heard this he said unto
THOMAS, “ Come and pray over my daughter, for this day [ fol.
23a 1] have I given her in marriage.” And when the apostle
had entered the marriage-chamber he prayed to the Lord in
the form of THOMAS, on behalf of the bride and bridegroom ,
and admonished them with the words of faith , and they be
lieved the words of the apostle, and abandoned their marriage .

XIX . MASKARAM

IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER AND THE SON

AND THE HOLY GHOST, ONE GOD
On this day is commemorated Saint GREGORY, Archbishop
of the country of Armenia , who became a martyr without the
shedding of his blood. This man established himself in the
country of Armenia in the days of DĚRȚÂ DĚs the king. Now
that king was an infidel, and when he came into his temple to
offer up incense to the gods, he summoned GREGORY to offer
 UM
OPIC XARI
74 THE ETHI SYNA

up incense to his gods likewise ; but GREGORY would not obey

the king's command , and he tortured him with exceedingly
severe tortures, and had him burned with fire. After this he
cast him into a pit naked , and he lived therein for fifteen years.
And there was a certain old woman a widow , near the king's
palace, and she saw a vision wherein one said unto her, “ Make
bread regularly , and cast it into the pit wherein the holy man
is.” And the old woman continued to act in this wise , [fol. 23a
2 ] and she cast bread into the pit until the fifteen years were
ended. In those days that king killed the virgins, namely
Saint 'ARSÎMÂ, and the virgins who were with her, and their
bodies were thrown out upon the mountain . And Satan made
himself master of King DĚRȚÂDĚs, and the Lord changed his
appearance, and he became like unto a wild boar, and Satan
also made himself master of very many of the royal officers,
and there was very great sorrow in the royal house. And the
king 's sister saw a vision one night wherein it seemed that a
man said unto her, “ Unless ye bring up GREGORY out of
the pit thou wilt never be able to cure him (i.e. the king)."
And straightway they went unto the pit and brought Saint
GREGORY out therefrom , and he healed the king forthwith and
all those who were in his house . And he made the bodies of the
virgins ready for burial, and laid them in a beautiful tomb.
Now the whole history of him is written in the section for the
fifteenth day of Țâkhshash , which is the day whereon he died .

And on this day also is celebrated the festival of the Holy

and Honourable Cross, for then it was found the people made
a festival for three days with joy and gladness. Similarly it is
meet that we ourselves should celebrate a festival of com
memoration in its honour [fol. 23a 3 ] with great joy , for in it
there is the joy of our salvation from our enemy Satan , and
praise to our Lord Jesus Christ .
Salutation to the Tree of Life, the bed of the Son of MARY !
Salutation to the Tree of Life which was sprinkled with the
Divine Blood !

And on this day also died ĶIRĶôs (CYRIACUS),thedweller in

 FIRST MONTH - MASKARAM (SEPT. 8 -oct. 7) 75
the desert. This holyman lived in the days of Abbâ BENYÂMI,
and he fled from the Emperor MARCIANUS, the evil one, and
established himself as an anchorite on the top of a high moun
tain . He lived in a cave wherein wild animals lived, and he
begged his food from God . And God commanded a she-buffalo
to go to him every third day, and he drank milk from her ; and
he lived in this manner for ten years. And Satan , the accursed
one, having become jealous of his strenuous ascetic labours,
began to tempt him in all the ways and means which he hath .
At one time he would come to him in the form of a black
man to terrify him , and at another he would come to him in the
form of a company of soldiers, who threatened him with dire
threats. And horsemen seized him , and bound him with fetters,
and beat him with whips, and dragged him along the road by
his feet. When [fol. 236 I ] he knew that these men were Satans
hemade the sign of the Cross over himself, and they disappeared
from before him . Once when he was kneeling down at night
praying, a thing which was like unto a huge serpent coiled itself
about his neck and wished to shoot venom into his face, and
again he entreated the help of God Who sent His angel and
delivered him . When the time for his death drew nigh , he went
to the father Archbishop Abbâ BENYÂMÎ, and told him every
thing, and he sent to him three archbishops to undertake the
preparation of his body for burial. When they had gone into
his cave they found him very ill, and at the moment when his
spirit went forth from his body they saw great and indescribable
splendour; and then they buried him in his abode.

XX . MASKARAM

IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER AND THE SON

AND THE HOLY GHOST, ONE GOD
On this day died the holy father Abbâ ATHANASIUS, the
twenty -eighth
ER Archbishop of therch city of Alexandriaa .
biT the [fsteward
l the was
alfather ol.236 2] he schurch
of tthe he cicity
pu ooff tthe ri This.
ty ooff AAlexandria
When PETER [ fol. 236 2 ] the archbishop, his predecessor, died,
all the bishops, and the governors (or nobles ), and the elders ,
and the people , with one consent agreed to appoint Saint
 IC AR IUM
IOP NAX
76 THE ETH SY
ATHANASIUS archbishop, for the holiness of his life was pro
verbial, and he contended splendidly in the way of God , and
the Holy Spirit dwelt in him . And they took him against his
will and appointed him archbishop, and he protected the flock
of our Lord Jesus Christ well and carefully against the wolves
of Diabolus, who are wicked Satans, by means of his admoni
tions, and teachings and prayers. He sat as archbishop seven
years, and he was well-pleasing to God , and he died in peace.

And on this day also the holy virgin MÂLÎDÂMÂ became a

martyr.

And on this day also are commemorated the virgin ATHENE,

and MÂRÊNÂ, and PiLÂ, and ABRAHAM the monk, and
RADE' Ě , and SÂDĚs, and THADDEUS, and EPIPHANIUS,
[fol. 236 3 ] and the righteousman 'ARMÂNYÔS (ARMENIUS),
and SIMEON, the head of the bishops of Jerusalem , the martyr.

XXI. MASKARAM
IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER AND THE SON
AND THE HOLY GHOST, ONE GOD
On this day the holy and honourable CYPRIANUS and the
virgin JUSTINA becamemartyrs. This holy man CYPRIANUS
was at one time a magician , and an infidel, and a teacher of
sorcery in a city of the West, and in knowledge of magic he
excelled every other man in the city of the West. And because
of his excessive impudence, and his arrogance, and his infidelity ,
and his sorcery, he rose up and went to the city of Antioch in
order that he might find out whether there existed among the
people of that city any other kind of magic; if there was , and
if it was superior to his own knowledge , he intended to learn it,
and if there was not he intended to triumph over them through
his knowledge of sorcery. When he arrived in the city of Antioch
the report of him was heard therein , and a certain young man ,
the son of one of the elders of the city of Antioch , heard of him .
Now the young man lusted for a certain Christian virgin who
was called JUSTINA, whom he had seen going to church ; and
his heart was hot like the fire which blazeth because of his
 FIRST MONTH - MASKARAM (SEPT. 8 - OCT. 7 ) 77
longing and his love for her. And he was unable to obtain her
either by the gift of money, or by the threat of death , or by
the operation of sorcery . When the young man heard of
the arrival of Saint [fol. 24a 1 ] CYPRIANUS in the city of
Antioch , and knew that he was reported to be superior to
every man in Antioch through his sorcery , straightway he went
to him , and told him about the sorrow in his heart, caused by
the virgin JUSTINA, and how he longed for her, and how he
loved her exceedingly , but could not obtain possession of her.
And Saint CYPRIANUS promised him , saying, “ Fear thou not,
I will fulfil for thee all thy desire.” And he directed against
her all the works of his sorcery, but failed to obtain possession
of her. Every timewhen he sent against her any of the powers
of Satan , he found her praying, and they were unable to stand
before her, and they were powerless to fight against her. When
CYPRIANUS was tired and was unable to gain the mastery
over her, he called the Satans, and said unto them , “ If ye
are not able to bring JUSTINA the virgin to me, I shall turn
and become a Christian .” And the chief of the Satans meditated
and thought out one device whereby he might seduce her, and
that was by making one of his Satans to disguise himself and
to take the form of JUSTINA, and then to make him to appear
to CYPRIANUS as if he were shewing him JUSTINA. And that
Satan did as Satan hismaster commanded him , and he hastened
and made him known to CYPRIANUS. And he said unto him ,
“ Behold JUSTINA is coming to thee " ; and CYPRIANUS
rejoiced exceedingly, and he imagined that it was true, and he
sat down and waited. And behold , Satan disguised as JUSTINA
came unto him , and CYPRIANUS rejoiced , and rose up straight
way to embrace her by reason of his great joy in her, and he
said unto her, “ Good is thy coming, O JUSTINA, queen of
women .” And as soon as he had uttered her name only, [fol.
24a 2 ] that Satan who had disguised himself as JUSTINA
melted away and disappeared like smoke, and there was a
foetid smell [there). And CYPRIANUS knew that this thing
was a debased and deceitful trick of Satan ; and if Satan did
not dare to stand before her face, and could not endure the
mention of her name, how could he have the power to seduce
her ? And CYPRIANUS rose up straightway and burnt and
 M
IC XA RIU
IOP YNA
28 THE ETH S
destroyed his books ofmagic , and was baptized with Christian
baptism by the Archbishop of Antioch . Then he became a
monk , and after a few days he was made a deacon , and a little
later a priest. And when he had grown old in doing good works
and in the doctrine of the Church, he became fit to be bishop
of the city of ĶERȚÂGĚNÁ (CARTHAGE ?) in the country of
the West. And he took Saint JUSTINA and made her the
abbess of a house of virgins. When a General Council of the
saints assembled in the city of . . . this holy man was one of
those who were assembled there. And after many days DECIUS
the infidel emperor heard of CYPRIANUS and JUSTINA, and
he had them brought before him , and he demanded from them
a denial of Christ, and he endeavoured to make them worship
idols. When they would not obey his command, he tortured
them with very great severity . After this he ordered his soldiers
to cut off their heads with the sword , and they cut off their
heads and CYPRIANUS and JUSTINA received incorruptible
crowns ofmartyrdom in the kingdom of heaven .

[ fol. 24a 3] And on this day it is meet for us to celebrate a

festival of commemoration of our Lady, the holy Virgin MARY.
[ A note in the Bodleian ms. says that this festival must be kept
on the 21st of every month of the year.]

And on this day also there took place the death of Saint
TIBERIUS the apostle, one of the Seventy -two disciples.

XXII. MASKARAM
IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER AND THE SON
AND THE HOLY GHOST, ONE GOD
On this day the Saints KÔTÔ LÔS (COTYLUS) and his
brother (sic) ’AKSỬ became martyrs. These holy men were
the sons of SAPOR, King of Persia, and [fol. 246 1] they had a
companion whose name was ȚÂȚôs. Now SAPOR, King of
Persia , worshipped fire and the sun , and he afflicted and tor
tured many believing men , and no man throughout his country
dared to mention the Name of Christ. And his son KÔTÔLÔS
 FIRST MONTH - MASKARAM (SEPT. 8 -oct. 7) 79
(COTYLUS) had a friend whose name was ļÂȚôs, and he was
governor of the country of the MAYDÂSWIYÂN ; and certain
people laid an information against him before SAPOR the king,
and told him that he was a Christian . And the king sent to
him a certain noble whose name was ? ÛMÂGER to find out
whether that which was said about ȚÂȚôs was true or not,
and he commanded that noble , if he found that ȚÂȚôs was
a Christian , to inflict heavy punishment upon him . When
KÔTÔLÔS (COTYLUS), the son of the King of Persia , heard these
words, he rose up and went to that country where his friend
ȚÂȚÔS was. When the noble arrived in that country and found
that ȚÂȚôswas a Christian , even as the king had been informed ,
straightway he ordered his men to make an oven red -hot and
to roast him to death in it. And Saint ȚÂȚôs made the sign
of the Cross over his face against the fire, and the fire died
down and was extinguished . When KÔTÔLÔS (COTYLUS), the
son of the king , saw this miracle , he marvelled exceedingly ,
and he said to ȚÂȚôs his friend, “ How didst thou learn this
magic , O my brother ? ” And țâțôs answered and said unto
him , “ This is notmagic , O my brother, but it is through faith
in our Lord Jesus Christ that signs and wonders like this are
performed .” And KÔTÔLÔS (COTYLUS) answered and said
unto him , “ If [fol. 246 2] I believed in Christ, should I be able
to do this ? ” And ȚÂȚôs said unto him , “ Yea, thou wouldst
not be able to do this only , but something even more that this ” ;
and straightway KÔTÔLÔS (COTYLUS) believed on our Lord
Jesus Christ . And they lighted a fire and made it to burn until
the flames thereof reached a great height, and KÔTÔLÔS
(COTYLUS) drew nigh unto the fire, and he made the sign of
the Cross over it, and the fire turned backwards a distance of
twelve cubits. And that noble wrote his despatch and sent it
to SAPOR the king, and in it he informed him what had hap
pened to ȚÂȚôs and to KÔTÔLÔS (COTYLUS), the son of the
King of Persia . And the king sent messengers and had them
brought to him , and his men cut off the head of ȚÂȚôs with
the sword, and he received the crown of martyrdom in the
kingdom of heaven . His son KÔTÔLÔS (COTYLUS) he tortured
with great severity, and he delivered him over to another
noble who was to torture him , and when this noble had tortured
80 THE ETHIOPIC SYNAXARIUM
him cruelly he shut him up in prison . And 'AKSû his sister
cameunto him in the prison house, for the king had sent her a
message that she must persuade him to return to his former
relations with him . And Saint KÔTÔLÔS (COTYLUS) admon
ished his sister, and he taught her the Right Faith ,and straight
way she turned from her error, and believed on our Lord Jesus
Christ. Then KÔTÔLÔS (COTYLUS) sent his sister to a certain
priest and he baptized her secretly with Christian baptism , and
she returned to her father the king and said unto him , “ It
would be a good thing for thee if there happened to thee what
hath happened to me and tomy brother KÔTÔLÔS (COTYLUS) .
For there is no God but Jesus Christ,the Son of the Living God,
[fol. 24b 3 ] Who hath made the heavens, and the earth , and
the sea, and all that is therein .” And when the king her father
heard these words from her he was exceedingly wroth with her ,
and he commanded his men to torture her very severely, and
they did so until she yielded up her soul unto the hand of the
Lord, and she received the crown ofmartyrdom in the kingdom
of heaven . And he tied her brother Saint KÔTÔLÔs (COTYLUS)
to the tails of horses and he made him to run behind them over
the mountains until he yielded up his soul into the hand of
His Creator. Then he had his body cut into three parts, and
his men cast them out on the tops of the hills so that the birds
of heaven might consume them . Thus Saint KÔTÔLÔS (COTY
LUS) finished his strife, and received the crown of martyrdom
in the kingdom of heaven . When the king's soldiers had de
parted the Lord commanded the priests and the holy deacons
to take the bodies of the martyrs , and they went by night and
took the bodies of the saints, and they found that they had
become as white as snow . And they prepared them for burial
with honour, and they laid them in a beautiful tomb until the
end of the days of persecution . After the days of the persecution
they built a beautiful church for them , and laid the bodies of
the saints therein , and through them very many signs and
wonders were wrought.

[fol. 25 a 1 ] On this day also Saint JULIUS became a martyr.

This holy man came from the city of 'AķFĚÌÂS, and our Lord
 FIRST MONTH - MASKARAM (SEPT. 8 - Oct. 7) 81
set him up to care for the bodies of the holy martyrs, and to
write the history of their contendings and to prepare their
bodies for burial, and to despatch each body to its native city .
And the Lord brought blindness into the hearts of the governors,
and they never held converse with Saint JULIUS about any
matter whatsoever , and they never forced him to worship idols,
for the Lord protected him for the sake of His servants the
martyrs. And there were three hundred men who knew how to
write, and they used to write the histories of the contendings
of the holy martyrs. And JULIUS used to minister to the holy
martyrs, and dress their wounds with healing medicines with
his own hand, and the martyrs used to bless him and declare
unto him , saying, “ Thou art as if thou hadst poured out thine
own blood for the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ, and thou
shalt be reckoned among the number of the martyrs.” When
the days of the reign of DIOCLETIAN the infidel emperor were
ended, CONSTANTINE the righteous emperor reigned . And
our Lord Christ wished to place and to associate Saint JULIUS
with the number of the holy martyrs and all the righteous
saints . And our Lord Christ commanded Saint JULIUS to go
to the city of GAMNÛ DÎ in the northern part of the country of
Egypt, to ARMENIUS the governor, and to confess before him
his belief on the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ. And Saint
JULIUS went, as our [fol. 25 a 2 ] Lord Jesus Christ had com
manded him , to ARMENIUS the governor, and he confessed
before him that he believed on the Name of our Lord Jesus
Christ ; and the governor tortured him many times, and God
raised him up whole and unharmed . Then Saint JULIUS
prayed to God and entreated Him to let the earth open her
mouth and swallow up the idols. And straightway the earth
opened her mouth and swallowed up the seventy idols, and their
one hundred and forty priests . Now the governor had com
manded his men to bring Saint JULIUS to him so that he
might bow down to the idols ; and straightway they and their
priests were destroyed and they went down into Sheol for ever .
And very many of the people who were there when they saw
this miracle marvelled exceedingly , and they believed on our
Lord Jesus Christ and becamemartyrs. When ARMENIUS the
BESI
 82 THE ETHIOPIC SYNAXARIUM
governor saw that his gods and their priests were destroyed , he
believed on our Lord Jesus Christ , and went with Saint JULIUS
to the governor of Athribis and confessed before him his
belief on the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ. And the governor
of Athribis tortured Saint JULIUS with very great severity,
but our Lord Christ raised him up safely and unharmed ;
JULIUS died thrice , and our Lord Jesus Christ raised him up
from the dead thrice. One day there was to be a festival in
honour ofthe idols, and the people were decorating the temple
with all kinds ofornaments and lamps, and with palm branches ,
and branches of other trees, [fol. 25 a 3 ] and they closed the
gates of the temple ; and the people expected to come on the
following day and to celebrate the festival. And Saint JULIUS
entreated God to blot out their idols, and straightway God
sent an angel who smashed the heads of the idols, and blackened
their faces with charcoal and ashes, and burnt up all the palm
branches, and destroyed all the other decorations of the temple .
On the following day when the people dressed in apparel of
great price came to do according to their custom , and saw how
their idols had been destroyed, they recognized the impotence
of their idols, and they conversed among themselves and said ,
“ If our idols are not able to save themselves, how will they
have the power to save us? ” And straightway the governor of
Athribis believed on our Lord Jesus Christ, and very many
men , the number whereof could not be counted , did the same.
From this place also Saint JULIUS departed to the city of
ȚÛWÂ, and with him were the governor of the city ofGAMNÛDI
and the governor of the city of Athribis. And Saint JULIUS
spake unto ISKANDER the governor of Țûwâ, and said unto
him , “ Finish my strife for me, and command thy men to cut
off my head and let me receive the crown of martyrdom , and
depart to my Lord Jesus Christ .” And ISKANDER said unto
him , “ I will not torture thee, and I will do nothing evil unto
thee whatsoever.” And Saint JULIUS commanded his five
hundred slaves to sharpen their swords, and to rise up against
ISKANDER. And they said [unto him ), “ If thou dost not com
mand [his soldiers] to cut off the heads [fol. 256 1 ] of all of us,
so that we may become martyrs of Christ, we will kill thee.”
 FIRST MONTH - MASKARAM (SEPT. 8 -oct. 7) 83
Then JULIUS commanded an unclean spirit to ride ISKANDER,
and straightway the unclean spirit did so , and ISKANDER
wrote a decree ordering his servants to cut off the heads of the
slaves of JULIUS with the sword . And straightway the soldiers
cut off the heads of all the saints, that is to say, of Saint JULIUS,
and Saint TheoDORE his son , and Saint IONIAS (DIONY
SIUS ?) his brother, and his five hundred slaves, and the
governor of GAMNÛDI, and the governor of Athribis , and a
great many [other] people . Now the number of those who
becamemartyrs on the day of the martyrdom of Saint JULIUS
was fifteen hundred , and they all received their crownsofmartyr
dom in the kingdom of heaven . And they took the bodies of
Saint JULIUS and his son and his brother , and carried them
to the city of Alexandria , for there he used to live , although he
was born in the city of 'AķFĚħâs, and they laid them in a
beautiful tomb. Afterwards they built over them a beautiful
church wherein many signs and wonders took place.
Three salutations to JULIUS, THEODORE and IONIAS
(DIONYSIUS ?) .
And on this day is commemorated BÂLÂN .

XXIII. MASKARAM
[ fol. 256 2 ] IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER AND THE
SON AND THE HOLY GHOST, ONE GOD
On this day the righteous Saints EUNABIUS and ANDREAS
became martyrs. These holy men were sons of elders of the
city of ZALDÂ, and from their youth up they were friends in
good counsel, and they went and became monks in one of the
monasteries of a city in Syria. Afterwards they went to the
holy and honourable Abbâ MACARIUS and they became his
disciples , and they dwelt with him , and were in submission to
him , and they followed his counsel, and they continued to
devote themselves to a life of prayer for three years, and they
fasted and prayed by day and by night continually, in love
and humility . And the report of their fair strife and of their
strenuous ascetic labours was heard [everywhere ), and the
6 -2
84 THE ETHIOPIC SYNAXARIUM

people chose EUNABIUS and made him a bishop, and AN

DREAS they made a priest, and they protected the flock of
Christ well and carefully. And they fought a great fight, and
they afflicted their souls and bodies with toil and tribulation,
and they continued to do so for some years . [fol. 256 3 ] And
JULIAN, the infidel emperor, heard the report of them , and he
sent messengers and had them brought to him , and he com
manded them to deny Christ, and to enter the foul and wicked
faith, that is to say, the worship of idols ; and they would not
obey his command , and they cursed him and they cursed his
filthy idols. And JULIAN was wroth with them , and he tor
tured them severely and broke their bodies up each into several
pieces; and they yielded up their souls into the hand of God ,
and they received their crowns of martyrdom in the kingdom
of the heavens, as a reward for their monastic life , and for their
fair worship , and for their strenuous fighting and their stern
asceticism , and for the shedding of their blood , and for their
faith in our Lord Jesus Christ .
And on this day also EUSTATHIUS and his son and his wife
becamemartyrs.

Salutation to EUSTATHIUS who saw our Lord Jesus Christ

between the horns of a stag.

[ fol. 26a I ] And on this day also are commemorated THECLA

the virgin , the bride of Christ, and forty - fourmartyrs, and the
admirable GREGORY [the Thaumaturge], and 'ĚNŞÎNÂ, and
BELÎNÂ , and Abbâ SALÂMÂ the lamp of the world .

XXIV . MASKARAM
IN THE
IN THE NAME
NAME OF THE FATHER AND THE SON
AND THE HOLY GHOST, ONE GOD
On this day died the holy father ,Abbâ Gregory themonk.
This holy and blessed man was a native of Upper Egypt, and
his parents were holy and righteous Christians, and they were
exceedingly rich , and their possessions were very great. And
 FIRST MONTH — MASKARAM (SEPT. 8-oct. 7) 85
they taught their son every kind of sacred and profane learning,
and then they taught him the doctrine of wisdom and the art
of speaking, and the Books of the Holy Church . Next they
sent him to Father ISAAC, bishop of their city, and he laid his
hand upon him and made him a reader; then they required
from him that he should marry a wife, but this thing he refused
[ to do ). After this they brought him to the bishop , and he
appointed him a full deacon . And GREGORY used to go con
tinually [fol. 26 a 2 ] to Abbâ PACHOMIUS, and learn from him
the way ofGod , and he took very much money from his parents
and brought it to the holy father Abbâ PACHOMIUS. And he
made many petitions unto him , beseeching him to give this
money to those who built monasteries, but Saint Abbâ PACHO
MIUS devoted it to the building of a church , and a lodging for
the monks and for his own meetings. And after this he re
nounced the whole world , and all the goods and possessions
thereof, and he went to Abbâ PACHOMIUS, who arrayed him
in the garb of the monastic life . And GREGORY dwelt with
him , and laboured both in soul and body , and he fought a
great fight with fasting and prayer, in lowliness, and humility
and submission , and gentleness and love. Even the fornicators
when they saw him learned from his appearance and example
the fear ofGod , and they forsook their evil deeds and repented ,
and became men of clean lives. And he dwelt with Abbâ
PACHOMIUS for thirteen years. When Saint Abbâ MACARIUS
came to Abbâ PACHOMIUS, and dwelt with him for a few days
(now he wanted to return to the desert of SCETE), this holy
man GREGORY entreated Saint Abbâ PACHOMIUS, saying ,
“ O my father, permit me to go with Saint Abbâ MACARIUS
to the desert of scete ," and he commanded him to go with
him , and Saint GREGORY went with Saint Abbâ MACARIUS,
and he dwelt with him for many years. Then he asked Saint
Abbâ MACARIUS to allow him to live the life of an anchorite
in the desert for a little ; and he said , “ Do what thou wishest.”
And he departed into the mountain and dug out a small cave
for himself, and he dwelt [ fol. 26a 3 ] there for seven years.
And he used to come to Saint Abbâ MACARIUS twice each
year , once at the time of the festival of the birth of the Glorious
 THE ETHIOP
IC ARIUM
86 SYNAX
One, and once on the day of the festival of the resurrection of
our Lord Jesus Christ ; and he partook of the Holy Mysteries
[on each occasion ] and returned to his cave. And Abbâ MA
CARIUS questioned him about all his work each year, and he
revealed unto him everything which he saw , and Abbâ MA
CARIUS used to lay down for him the ascetic labours of the
monastic life which he had to perform . When he had completed
two and twenty years of strife God wished to give him rest
from this world . And He sent to him an angel who said unto
him , “ After three days thou shalt depart from this fleeting
world , and shalt enter everlasting life .” And Saint GREGORY
called the old men of the desert of SCETE , and embraced them ,
and asked them to remember him , and they also asked him to
remember them before God ; and after three days he died and
went into everlasting life .
And on this day also died Saint BĚDRÂȚôs (QUADRATUS),
one of the two and seventy disciples whom our Lord Jesus
Christ chose. This holy apostle was one of the sons of the
elders of Athens, and he was one of their learned nobles ; he
believed on our Lord Jesus Christ, to Whom be praise ! and
served Him . And having received the grace of the Holy [fol.
26b 1] Spirit, the Paraclete, on the day of the festival of Pente
cost, he departed into many cities, and preached the Holy
and Life-giving Gospel. And he went into the city of MAGNIS
and preached the Holy Gospel therein , and he illumined the
hearts of the men of that city with the Faith of our Lord Jesus
Christ, and he baptized them with Christian baptism . And he
taught them the life -giving commandments of the Gospel,
and he appointed priests and deacons for them . Then he went
forth from them and entered the city of Athens and preached
therein ; and they stoned him and tortured him very severely .
After they had tortured him they cast him into the fire, and he
yielded up his soul, and received the crown of martyrdom in
the kingdom of heaven .

And on this day also are commemorated BÊTRĚWÂ and

LATÂYn the martyrs, and the death of GABRIEL the arch
 FIRST MONTH - MASKARAM (SEPT. 8 -oct. 7 ) 87
bishop, and THEODORE, and NETROLOMES, and the strife
of Saint EUSANIUS (AUSANIUS), and NESTIUS, and ziÂNUS,
and JUSTUS, and his brother 'ĚLSAREY, and FRATUS
(PHRATUS), and COSMAS, and DAMIANUS.

XXV . MASKARAM
[ fol. 266 2 ] IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER AND THE
SON AND THE HOLY GHOST, ONE GOD
On this day died the great and righteous prophet JONAH.
This holy man was the son of the widow of BÊTH- SARÂPTÂ
of Sidon whom ELIJAH the prophet raised from the dead .
And he followed ELIJAH the prophet and ministered unto him ,
and he toiled with him and he was held to be worthy of the
grace of prophecy by his command to him . And God, blessed
and exalted be His name ! said unto him , “ Get thee to the city
of Nineveh , and preach unto the people thereof, and tell them ,
'after three days your city shall be overthrown."" And when
God said this unto him JONAH pondered in his heart , and said ,
" If God wished to destroy them He would not have com
manded me to go and preach unto them . If I go and preach
unto them , and say unto them , ‘God wisheth to destroy you ,'
I am afraid that God , Who is merciful, will have mercy upon
them , and that I shall be unto them as a lying prophet, and that
they will never listen to my preaching at all. Now especially I
am afraid that they will kill me if I am sent unto them with a
false message from God , I will arise and flee and I will not go to
that city, and I will not preach to them .” O my brethren , is
there any man whatsoever who hath the power to flee from
God, the Most High ? If the heart of this prophet of the
prophets of the children of Israel was thus, how could their
hearts be to the people ? Now , I think that God , blessed be
His Name! by the operation of His wisdom worked in such a
way that [fol. 26b 3 ] this prophet fled so that there might be
made manifest the miracle of his remaining in the belly of the
whale for three days and three nights , and then going forth
from him whole and uninjured . Now this was a sign of the
remaining of our Lord Christ in the grave for three days and
 UM
THE ETHIO
PIC XARI
88 SYNA
three nights, and of His rising from the dead unchanged. And
the Prophet JONAH rose up and fled. Now he wanted to go to
the city of TARSUS, but when he had embarked in a ship and
they had put out to sea a little way, stormy winds, and the
waves and the billows of the sea, rose up against them , and they
were within a very little of sinking into the sea , and being
drowned . And God put understanding into the heart of the
captain , and he said unto those who had embarked on the
ship , “ Cast lots among yourselves so that we may know be
cause of whom it is that this tribulation hath come upon us ” ;
and when they had cast lots among themselves the lot fell
upon JONAH the prophet. And the captain said unto him ,
" What hast thou done that through thee such an affliction
should come upon us? ” And JONAH said unto them , “ Cast
me into the sea and ye shall be saved .” And the captain and
the crew entreated God , saying , “ O God , demand Thou not
from us the blood of this man ” ; and they took him and cast
him into the sea , and a great whale swallowed him . And he
remained in the belly of the whale for three days and three
nights , and then the whale cast him up on the sea -shore. And
JONAH rose up straightway and came into the city of Nineveh ,
and he preached unto the people thereof even as God the Most
High had commanded him , and he said unto them , “ Know ye
that [fol. 27a 1 ] three days from this day, your city shall be
overthrown, and ye shall all be destroyed ” ; and he went round
about the city of Nineveh for a space of three days. When the
men of Nineveh heard the preaching of JONAH the prophet
they were exceedingly afraid , and they believed on God and
they repented and fasted and put on sackcloth made of hair,
both rich and poor. And the preaching of JONAH reached the
King of Nineveh , and he came down from his throne, and took
the royal crown off his head, and he put on sackcloth made of
hair and sat in the ashes. Then the king commanded that a
herald should go round about proclaiming thus : “ The king
hath commanded that his nobles, and all the people , great and
small, and women and children , and sheep and oxen and goats
shall fast, and that they shall neither eat nor drink any water
whatsoever, and they shall put on sackcloth made of hair ;
 FIRST MONTH - MASKARAM (SEPT. 8 -oct. 7) 89
and similarly , even the beasts shall not eat grass. And let all
men forsake their evil works, that is to say, oppression , and
fornication , and lying, and theft, and fraud , and blasphemy, in
order that God may , peradventure, have mercy upon you, and
remove His wrath from you .” And straightway all the people
repented, and they fasted , and begged for mercy from God ,
blessed be His Name ! and God had mercy on them . And the
prophet JONAH was sad with a very great sadness , and he
said , " O God, take my life, for death is more preferable to me
than life .” And JONAH went outside the city and sat down
there and fell asleep. And God commanded a root of the cu
cumber plant, and it sprouted and grew into a large plant, and
it had offshoots and it became very leafy , and very high , and
it cast its shadow over JONAH ashe was sleeping. And JONAH
woke up from his sleep [fol. 27 a 2 ] and saw the cucumber plant,
and he rejoiced with great joy. And on the following day God
brought slumber upon JONAH , and he fell asleep, and God
commanded a worm to gnaw the cucumber plant, and the root
thereof was cut through ; and God commanded a wind -storm
and it withered the cucumber plant, and the sun scorched
JONAH ' s head , and he woke from his dream . When he saw
that the cucumber plant had withered he was exceedingly
sorry , and he demanded for himself death . And God said unto
JONAH, " Art thou exceedingly sorry that the cucumber plant
hath withered ? ” And JONAH said , “ Yea, O Lord , I am ex
ceedingly sorry, even unto death .” And God said unto him ,
“ If thou art sorry for a cucumber plant which thou didst
neither sow nor plant, and for which thou hast in no way
laboured , but which flourished in a day , and withered in a day,
why should I not spare Nineveh , the great city wherein dwell
more than ten hundred thousand men who know not their right
hands from their left hands, besides very many beasts ? For I
am the Merciful and the Compassionate God Who sheweth
mercy upon every one who turneth from his sins and repenteth .”
And JONAH rose up and returned to the land of Israel and he
died there . And the prophecy of JONAH (was made] two
hundred years andmorebefore theadventofour Lord Jesus Christ,
and he prophesied in the days of 'AMôș the king and his son
90 THE ETHIOPIC SYNAXARIUM
' ÔZYÂN . And all the days of his life were one hundred years ;
seventy years as a prophet,and thirty years before he prophesied .
[fol. 27a 3] Salutation to JONAH who slept in the belly of
the whale.

Salutation to BARBARAH , and to JULIANA, who appeared

to two men when they came to steal the book containing her
history , and slew one and blinded the other. [ This paragraph
is wanting in the Bodleian ms.)

Salutation to those who are saturated with the Law and the
Gospel. [This paragraph is wanting in the Bodleian ms.]

And on this day also are commemorated RÔķÂ (or FôķÂ),

and John, and ANDREW , and PETER, and ANTONIUS.

XXVI. MASKARAM
IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER AND THE SON
AND THE HOLY GHOST, ONE GOD
On this day God sent the angel GABRIEL to ZACHARIAS
the priest, the son [fol. 27b 1 ] of BARACHIAS, and told him
concerning John the Baptist, his son . Now ZACHARIAS was
a righteous man , and he was exceedingly old , and his period for
begetting children had passed ; moreover, his wife ELISABETH
was childless, and her period for conceiving and bringing forth
children was passed. And ZACHARIAS was praying and be
seeching God continually to give him a child, for the sake of the
children of Israelwho reviled him because a son had not been born
unto him , and they treated him with ignominy and contempt,
and because of it they said unto him , “ He hath lost the blessing
which God promised to give to our father ADAM , ‘ Be fruitful
and multiply , and fill the earth ”” ; therefore he entreated God
to give him a son . And God, blessed be His Name! had com
passion upon him , and He hearkened unto his petition , and He
sent the angel GABRIEL unto him , and the angel told him about
 FIRST MONTH - MASKARAM (SEPT. 8 -oct. 7 ) 91
the birth of John his son . And this angel came to ZACHARIAS
when he was standing and praying in the sanctuary , even as
the Holy Gospel saith. And he preached to him the great
prophet John, that he should precede Christ, and that he should
prepare for Him His way, even as it is said concerning the
prophet, that he shall become a preacher before Him . Now
ZACHARIAS knew his own weakness, and how far advanced
his days were, and his old age, and that his wife was barren ,
and for this reason he contradicted the angel and said unto
him , “ How can this thing possibly happen to me, seeing that
I have become old , and am a very aged man , and my wife is
barren , and she also is very old , and her days [for childbearing ]
are passed .” And the angel rebuked him , and told him , saying,
“ I am sent [fol. 27b2] unto thee from God to speak to thee and
to tell thee this thing, and it is not seemly for thee to doubt;
but thou shalt be dumb until this thing shall be fulfilled in its
appointed time.” And ZACHARIAS was dumb until John,
the preparer of the way of the Lord, was born. When they
were circumcizing the child they asked his father and said unto
him , “ What shall he be called ? ” and he wrote upon tablets
saying, " His name is JOHN.” And straightway his mouth and
his tongue were opened , and he spake and praised God
blessed be His Name ! And ZACHARIAS prophesied concerning
his son that he should becomea prophet and should go before
the face of the Messiah of God , and he prophesied concerning
our Lord Jesus Christ .
Salutation to ELISABETH .

And on this day also is commemorated the translation of the

body of ’ABÔLÎ (or 'ÔBÔLÎ) the martyr, the son of JUSTUS.
Salutation to the translation of the body of ’ABÔLÎ (or ' Ô BÔLÎ).

[fol. 276 3 ] And on this day also are commemorated ten

thousand martyrs and ’AGÂTÎ of Egypt, and our father ,
GEORGE the martyr.
 THE ETHIOPIC SYNAXARIUM

XXVII. MASKARAM

IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER AND THE SON

AND THE HOLY GHOST, ONE GOD
On this day EUSTATHIUS and his two sons and his wife
becamemartyrs . This man was one of the chief generals of the
Imperial Army of Rômê, and he knew not God. His own
original name was ķidôs, and he gave alms in abundance,
and expended much charity on the poor and needy, and God
did not wish that his toil should be in vain . And EUSTATHIUS
was in the desert hunting wild animals, and one day there
appeared unto him the figure of a cross between the horns of a
stag , and the cross reached up to the clouds. And EUSTATHIUS
chased the stag into the mountains, and he pursued it that he
might kill it . And the Lord spake unto him from between
the horns of the stag , and told him His Name, and He com
manded him to go with his sons and his wife to the bishop of
that city, and be baptized with Christian baptism . And our
Lord Jesus Christ informed him that poverty should comeupon
him speedily. When EUSTATHIUS heard these words, he went
down from the mountain , and departed to the bishop, and he
and his wife and his sons were baptized with Christian baptism ;
and he abandoned his former name and called himself “ EUS
TATHIUS.” And straightway all his property disappeared ,
and his slaves, and [ fol. 28 a 1 ] his handmaidens, and his horses ;
and he took his wife and his sons, and he went forth from the
city of Rômê and embarked in a ship . Now he took with him
neither money to pay for their passage, nor anything else which
he could give the captain [in its stead ). When they arrived in
port the captain took his wife instead of passage money , and
EUSTATHIUS took his two sons and departed . And he came to
another stream which he had to cross , and he took up one of his
sons on his back to take him over the river, and he passed over ;
and he returned to his other son to carry him across the river,
but he found him not, because a wolf had seized him . Now a
lion had seized and carried off his other son . And EUSTATHIUS
sorrowed with a very great sorrow because of the loss of his
wife and his two sons, but God, great in counsel, in Whom there
 FIRST MONTH - MASKARAM (SEPT. 8 -oct. 7) 93
is power, protected both of them unharmed. And EUSTA
THIUS went on to a certain city, and he became a guard of the
village and remained one for many days. After those days the
Emperor of Rômê died, and there reigned in his stead another
emperor who enquired for EUSTATHIUs and found him not.
And he sentmessengers out into all the district to seek for him ,
and one of thosemessengerswhohad been sent outby the emperor
to seek for EUSTATHIUS cameto the village wherein he dwelt.
And the two men recognized each other, and they embraced ,
and the messenger carried EUSTATHIUS to the emperor in
great honour. When EUSTATHIUS arrived the emperor
honoured him exceedingly, and appointed him to the position
in which he was formerly. And the emperor commanded that
two men should be recruited from every city for use in war.
Now the two sons of EUSTATHIUS were brought up in the same
city , neither knowing the other. One day , when the two sons
of EUSTATHIUS, who had been placed [fol. 28 a 2 ] in that city,
were talking together, they discovered that they were brothers ;
and then [the messengers ] took them to the city of Romê and
God was pleased to set them in the house of business of their
father who did not know them . As concerning their mother
whom the pagan captain of the ship seized , God protected her
and delivered her uninjured from his hand ; now she was a
keeper of the gardens of the city of Rômê. And the two young
men came to the village where their mother was, and whilst
they were holding converse together, the younger brother
spake, and their mother recognized that they were her sons,
and she embraced them , and rejoiced in them , and they rejoiced
in her exceedingly . And the three of them met together and
they went to EUSTATHIUS and informed him what had hap
pened to them , and he knew that the woman was his wife ,
and that the youngmen were his sons, and they embraced each
other and rejoiced together greatly . Thus they were all gathered
together (again ) in one place, even as God had promised them .
And they dwelt together, and whilst marvelling they praised
God, blessed be His Name ! because He had done good things
for them . After this the emperor who loved EUSTATHIUS
died , and there reigned another emperor who worshipped idols ;
94 THE ETHIOPIC SYNAXARIUM
and he summoned EUSTATHIUS and his wife and his sons,
and had them brought unto him . And he said unto them ,
“ Cast incense to my gods.” And the holy men said , “ We will
not worship idols, [fol. 28 a 3] and we will not bow down to
them , for we bow down to our Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of
the Living God.” And straightway the emperor was wroth
with them , and he commanded his soldiers to torture them ,
and they tortured them very severely , but God raised them up
whole and unharmed . Then he commanded his soldiers to cast
them into a brazen cauldron , and (when ) they had done so he
commanded to light a fire on top of them , and thus they de
livered their souls into the hand of God , and they received
crowns of martyrdom from our Lord Jesus Christ .

And on this day also died the holy woman ȚÊ ĶL Â (THECLA )

who was a martyr without the shedding of blood . This holy
woman had parents who were rich and honourable Mace
donians, and they brought her up strictly according to the
custom of their country ; now they worshipped idols . When
PAUL arrived in the country ofMacedonia , he began to preach
in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ , saying, “ Blessed are
those who are poor for righteousness ' sake, for theirs is the
kingdom of heaven . Blessed are those who mourn here,for they
shall rejoice . Blessed [fol. 286 1 ] are those who are persecuted
for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven .
Blessed are those who have a wife and who are as if they had
not one, for they shall inherit everlasting life ” — these and such
like words. When Saint THECLA heard these words, she re
mained in the upper floor of her house and only came down for
food and drink . And her mother said unto her, “ Why dost
thou not come down from the upper floor of thy house, and
why dost thou not eat? ” And she came down from the upper
floor of her house , and went to PAUL secretly , and she bribed
the doorkeeper of her house with her hair -comb of gold not to
talk about her [leaving the house ]. When PAUL saw her he
received her gladly and taught her the Faith of Christ. On the
following day when her mother came to PAUL she found
THECLA sitting with him , and she went to the governor and
 FIRST MONTH - MASKARAM (SEPT. 8 - Oct. 7 ) 95
reported to him that her daughter was a Christian . And the
governor commanded his soldiers to bring THECLA with PAUL,
and when they had brought her he was wroth with PAUL and
ordered them to cast him into the fire ; (and they did so ] but
God delivered him . And the governor commanded them to
cast THECLA into the fire , and all the children of the city
assembled to look upon her torture . And without the use of
force on the part of the soldiers she threw herself into the flames
after having made over herself the sign of the Cross ; and she
went forth from the midst of the fire , which had not touched
her. And she went to PAUL, and shaved off her hair, and
girded herself with a belt and followed PAUL. When another
governor heard this he seized her and pressed her to abandon
the Christian Faith , and when she refused he cast her into a
den of lions and bears, and [fol. 286 2] these animals bowed
down before her and licked the dust off her feet. When the
governor and those who were with him saw that life was hers ,
they believed and were baptized in the Name of the Father and
the Son and the Holy Ghost. And THECLA continued to follow
PAUL, and to preach in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ;
and having worked many miracles she died in peace.

On this day also died Saint ANTILARIUS. This holy man

was an officer of the tax-gatherers, and he had no mercy on
anyone. One day certain poor folk were sitting in the sun ,
and they began to mention the names of the charitable and the
avaricious, and they mentioned the name of ANTILARIUS as
that of a man who had never bestowed any alms on any one of
them . And one of the poor said , “ What will ye give me if I
succeed in drawing a gift from him ? ” And they promised to
give him something. And theneedy man went to ANTILARIUS
and begged for alms from him , and ANTILARIUS wanted to
throw a stone at him in great wrath , but as he had no stone he
threw at him the piece of bread -crust which was left in his
hand . And taking this the beggar went to his companions, and
told them that he had received alms from ANTILARIUS. And
ANTILARIUS had a dream , and in it he saw himself at the
Judgement, [fol. 286 3 ] and certain black men were disputing
 UM
PIC XARI
96 THE ETHIO SYNA
concerning him , and there were other men there who were
white ; now their faces were austere, and they said , “ We cannot
find attributed to him any almsexcept the piece of bread -crust ” ;
and when the speaker cast the bread into the scales it balanced
exactly all his sins. When he awoke from his sleep he distributed
all his possessions among the poor and he departed to Jerusalem
where he sold himself for three dinârs, and (he gave away) in
alms the price of his sale , and he lived and served like a slave .
And when the slaves of his lord caused him sorrow , a shining
man appeared unto him , and said unto him , “ Sorrow not, for
I have received the price of thy sale ,and behold it is here in my
hand.” When certain men who had come from his city revealed
what he had done, he fled secretly and came to the gates of
the city , the keeper of which was deaf and dumb. When
ANTILARIUS said unto him , “ Open the gates to me,” there
went forth from his mouth something which was like unto fire,
and the ears of the gate-keeper were opened , and he spake with
his mouth, and he opened the gates to ANTILARIUS who went
forth into the desert and died there. When the people missed
him , the gate-keeper told them all that had happened , and they
marvelled at his holiness and at his admirable behaviour.
And on this day also died Abbâ John of DABRA ŞĚGÊ.
This holy man by means of excessive fastings, and prayers ,
and vigil made his body emaciated, and he became like a
dried clod of earth . One day when certain men poured over
him a cupful of water, because of the excessive dryness of his
skin he left only unabsorbed a very small portion of it.

XXVIII. MASKARAM

[fol. 29 a I ] IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER AND THE

SON AND THE HOLY GHOST, ONE GOD
On this day Saint 'ABÂDÎR and his sister 'IRÂ ' I (IRENE ?)
became martyrs. This holy man was a son of the brother of
BASILIDES, commander -in -chief of the royal army of Antioch .
Now 'ABÂDÎR succeeded his father as commander-in -chief,
and he had a mansion wherein he used to pray. And our Lord
 FIRST MONTH - MASKARAM (SEPT. 8 - oct. 7) 97
Jesus Christ appeared unto him at midnight, and He said unto
him , “ Rise up, and take thy sister 'ÎRÂ ' I (IRENE ?) and get
thee into the land of Egypt so that thou mayest receive a crown
ofmartyrdom . And I will command a certain man whose name
is SAMUEL to take care about your bodies, and he shall prepare
them for burial” ; and He gave him a benediction and went up
into heaven with great glory. And our Lord Jesus Christ ap
peared unto his sister 'IRÂ 'I (IRENE ?) also, and He said unto
her , “ Hearken unto the voice of thy brother, and do not trans
gress his command.” When she woke from her sleep she
trembled exceedingly, and she went to her brother and told
him how our Lord Jesus Christ had appeared unto her, and how
He had spoken unto her, and she rejoiced exceedingly ; and she
agreed with her brother not to transgress that command . And
they swore to each other that they would go to the land of
Egypt, and that they would pour out their blood for the Name
of our Lord Jesus Christ , to Whom be praise ! When the
mother of the blessed 'ABÂDÎR knew this thing, she rent her
garments, she and her handmaidens, and they came to 'ABÂDÎR
and wept before him , and she adjured him not to become a
martyr. And he swore unto her that he would not [fol. 29 a 2 ]
speak to DIOCLETIAN concerning martyrdom , and her heart
became quiet, and she ceased from sorrow , and she did not
think that he would go to another place to become a martyr.
And Saint 'ABÂDÎR changed his apparel that night, and he
went forth from his house , and he drew water secretly for those
who were shut up in the prison house , until the dawn came.
And he commanded the keeper of the gates of the city not to
tell this matter to anyone whatsoever, and he said unto him ,
“ If thou revealest this matter to anyone I will cut off your
head with the sword .” After this [our Lord Christ ] appeared
unto him again , and He commanded him to go to Egypt and
to become a martyr ; and straightway Saint 'ABÂdir rose up,
and took his sister 'ÎRÂ ' I (IRENE ? ) and they departed to the
land of Egypt, and they arrived in the city of Alexandria . And
some of the soldiers knew him , and they said unto him , “ Thou
art our Lord 'ABÂDÎR, the commander-in -chief.” And ’ABÂDÎR
smiled and said unto them , “ Many people tell me this , and I
BESI
 OP IC XA RIUM
98 THE ETHI SYNA

say unto them , I am not 'ABÂDÎR, but only someone like unto
him .” And again in another place some soldiers recognized him ,
and they said unto him , “ Thou art 'ABÂDÎR," and 'ABÂDÎR
said unto them , “ I certainly am not 'ABÂDÎR.” Then they
went forth from the city of Alexandria and came to the city
of GREAT MĚSR (GRAND CAIRO), and they found Saint
'ABKARAZÛN there , and 'ABÂDÎR knew 'ABKARAZÛN and
blessed him . Then he came to the city of ESHMÛNÊN , and
foregathered with SAMUEL the deacon . And on the following
day SAMUEL went with them to the city of ' ĚNŞĚNÂ, and they
confessed our Lord Jesus Christ before ARIANUS, governor of
ANTINOË, [fol. 29 a 3 ] and he tortured them severely . And
the holy man 'ABÂDÎR prayed and entreated God to strengthen
his faith and the faith of his sister 'ÎRÂ ' I (IRENE ?) during the
torturing. And God took the soul of his sister ' iRÂ ' I (IRENE ? )
and carried it to the Jerusalem which is in the heavens, and she
saw the habitation of the martyrs and of the righteous; then
He brought her soul back into her body. When the governor
was tired of torturing them , he commanded his soldiers to cut
off their heads with the sword. And before they cut off their
heads ARIANUS the governor said unto Saint 'ABÂDÎR , “ I
adjure thee by thy God to inform me whom thou art, and what
is thy name, and whence comest thou .” And 'ABÂDÎR said
unto him , “ Swear unto me that thou wilt not change the decree
which thou hast decreed in respect of cutting off my head ” ;
and the governor swore unto him even as the holy man had
said . And the holy man answered and said unto him , “ I am
'ABÂdir, the commander-in - chief of the army.” And ARI
ANUS the governor cried out, saying, “ Woe is me, O my lord ,
it is meet that I should die before thee. Why didst thou not
make me to know that thou wast my lord , instead of hiding
thyself from me and permitting me to go so far as to condemn
thee to all these severe tortures ? " And Saint 'ABÂDÎR an
swered and said unto him , “ Fear not, for thou art about to
receive a crown ofmartyrdom . The emperor will seek for me
and will not find me, and he will hear that thou hast killed me,
and he will punish thee with very great severity, and thou wilt
die for the sake of theName of our Lord Jesus Christ. And now ,
 FIRST MONTH - MASKARAM (SEPT. 8 -OCT. 7 ) 99
make speed to finish our martyrdoms.” And straightway the
governor commanded his soldiers to cut off the heads of 'ABÂ
Dir and his sister, and they cut off their heads; and the saints
[fol. 29 6 1 ] received crowns of martyrdom in the kingdom of
the heavens. And [the believers) spread out fine apparel, and
wrapped up their bodies therein , and SAMUEL the deacon
took them and laid them in his house until the days of the
persecution were ended ; and he built a fine church for them ,
and many signs and wonders took place through their bodies.
Three salutations to 'ABÂDÎR and his sister.

And on this day also died sôsn (SUSANNAH ). The father

of this holy woman was CHELCIAS (HELKIAH ), and she was the
wife of JOACHIM , a Jewish nobleman , and one of those who
had been carried away captive into Babylon ; and all his kins
men used to come to him to judge their causes. Now sôsNÂ
(SUSANNAH) was exceedingly beautiful and she feared God ,
and her righteous parents taught their daughter the Law of
MOSES. And she had a [fol. 296 2 ] fruit-garden (or orchard )
which belonged to her husband, and she used to go at noon and
walk about therein . And in those days there appeared two
Rabbans who were hypocrites, such as God spake of [when He
said ] " Sin went forth from Babylon through hypocritical
Rabbans who said , Let us protect the people " ; and these men
frequented the house of JOACHIM . When they saw sôSNÂ
(SUSANNAH ) walking in the garden they lusted for her, and
their hearts went astray and they turned their eyes perversely
to her, and they remembered not the judgement ofGod . Both
loved her and both wished to lie with her, but neither told to
the other what was in his heart, for they were afraid to declare
their lust. And they waited the whole day long to find her,
and one of them acting craftily towards his fellow said , “ Let
us go to our houses for it is the time of evening." And they
passed out [of the garden ) and separated from each other, and
then they met again , and they looked at each other and told
each other of their desire, and they agreed together upon a time
when each would find her [alone), and then they waited for her .
And on a day according to her wont, she came with two of her
7 -2
100 THE ETHIOPIC SYNAXARIUM
handmaidens, and she wished to bathe in the garden because
she was heated and there was no one in the garden . Now the
two old men had hidden themselves and they were awaiting her.
And she said unto her handmaidens, “ Let them bring to me
the oil and the soap wherewith to wash myself, and let them
shut the doors .” And when her handmaidens were departed,
the two Rabbans rose up, and seized her, and they said unto
her, “ We wish to lie with thee, and if thou refusest we will be
witnesses against thee that we found a man with thee.” And
SÔSNÂ (SUSANNAH )wept, and said , “ I am in affliction in every
way: If I do (what ye want] I shall die , and if I do not [fol.
296 3 ] I cannot be saved. It is better formeto fall into thehand
of God than to sin before Him .” And sôsn (SUSANNAH)
uttered a cry at the top of her voice , and the Rabbans cried
out at her, and one of them ran and opened the doors of the
garden . When the cries were heard by the members of her
house they all ran out and cameby way of a side door, and they
saw what had happened . And when the Rabbans had told
them this matter, all the servants of her house were ashamed ,
for such a thing had never been heard in connection with
SÔSNÂ (SUSANNAH). On the following day all the people
gathered together to JOACHIM , and these two Rabbans came
with their hearts of violence , and they declared before all the
people, laying their hands upon her head as they did so , “ We
were walking alone in the garden , and this woman came with
two of her handmaidens, and they shut the doors of the garden ;
and she sent her handmaidens away , and there came out a
young man from the place in which he had hidden , and lay with
her. And when we ran after him we could not catch him ,
for the door was open and he had gone out; we seized sôsNÂ
(SUSANNAH ), but when we asked her she would not tell us his
name.” And the bystanders believed them because they were
Rabbans of the people. And sôsn (SUSANNAH) who was
weeping, and whose heart trusted in God, looked up to heaven ,
and cried out with a loud voice, saying , “ O God of the world ,
Thou knowest that they have laid false information against me,
and I , behold , I must die , although I have not committed [ the
sin ).” And God heard her petition , and whilst they were
 FIRST MONTH - MASKARAM (SEPT. 8 - oct. 7 ) IOI
carrying her away to kill her , the Spirit ofGod moved a certain
young man called DANIEL, and he cried out, saying, " I am
innocent of this woman 's blood .” And they said unto him ,
“ What is the meaning of these words ? ” And he said unto
them , “ Are ye fools that ye condemn a daughter of Israel to
death [fol. 30 a I ]withoutmaking any investigation (of the charge
against her]? ” And when the council had come back unto the
synagogue, they had the two Rabbans brought, and set each
at a distance from the other . And DANIEL said unto one of
them , “ By what kind of a tree didst thou see her ? " and he
said " under a sakinôn tree,” and the other Rabban said “ under
a pěrwôn tree.” And DANIEL condemned them by their own
words, and the people blessed God Who had saved sôsNÂ
(SUSANNAH ), the daughter of CHELCIAS (HELKIAH ); and
they slew those two Rabbans according to the Law of MOSES.

And on this day also are commemorated ’ ÊRÂNÎ (IRENE)

the martyr, and 'ANĶUÔ MÂRYÂM , and STEPHEN his son ,
and ŅANNAH , and PORPHYRINA, and LUKE the monk .

XXIX . MASKARAM

IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER AND THE SON

AND THE HOLY GHOST, ONE GOD
[ fol. 30 a 2 ] On this day iscommemorated the festivalofthe birth
of our Lord Redeemer Jesus Christ by MARY, the Holy Virgin .
Salutation to the birth of the FLOWER, Jesus Christ.

And on this day also took place the translation of the body
of Saint John the evangelist and apostle , the proclaimer of
the Deity.
Salutation to the translation of the body of Saint John the
evangelist.
And on this day also becamemartyrs theholy virgin 'ARŞÎMÂ,
and AGATHA, and the two virgins who followed them , and
many men ; and the number of them all was two and seventy
souls. Now when DIOCLETIAN the infidel was reigning he
102 THE ETHIOPIC SYNAXARIUM
sought out a maiden of beautiful appearance to marry her.
And he commanded certain painters to depart into every
country , and to choose for him a maiden of beautiful form and
appearance, and they were to paint a picture of her on a tablet
for him , and shew him all her limbs and her movements. [ fol.
30 a 3 ] When those painters arrived in the city of Rômê they
discovered a certain nunnery, and they found therein this
virgin ’ARSÎMÂ ; and there was in the nunnery none like unto
her in her appearance, and there was none who resembled her.
And the painters painted a portrait of her and sent it to the
Emperor DIOCLETIAN . When the emperor saw her portrait
he rejoiced exceedingly. And he sent to the kings and governors
and bade them come to him for the marriage. When the virgins
knew this thing , they wept, and they rose up and went forth
from that nunnery entreating God to help them , and to keep
them in their virginity ; and they came to the country of
Armenia , and entered the royal city of DERȚÂDĚs the king.
And they dwelt in a certain village camp of nomads in a plain ,
and their numberwas five and seventy men and women , besides
the nine and thirty virgins. And they dwelt in great tribulation,
and they could not find food, and one of them made a . . .and
used to feed them by means of the work thereof. When dio
CLETIAN sought after ’ARSÎMÂ he found her not, and he
heard that she was in the country of Armenia , and he informed
DĚRȚÂDĚs concerning the matter of 'ARSÎMÂ, and he said
unto the governor of Armenia , " Take care of her and send her
to me.” When the virgins heard these words they hid them
selves in another city, but certain men went and gave informa
tion to the king about them , and DĚRȚÂDĚs commanded his
soldiers to bring the virgin ’ARSÎMÂ to him with great honour;
and when she did not wish to go to him , they dragged her and
forced her to come to him . When DĚRȚÂDĚS saw the beauty
of the holy woman [fol. 306 1 ] he wanted to defile her virginity ,
but he was not able to do so . And he brought her mother
AGATHA to her to persuade her to be submissive to the king 's
command. And when her mother came to her she besought
her to endure patiently , and she comforted her, and she ex
horted her, and told her and taught her that she must not
 FIRST MONTH - MASKARAM (SEPT. 8 - OCT. 7 ) 103
forsake her true Bridegroom , who is the Lord Jesus Christ,
the Son of the Living God, and that she must not defile her
virginity with a filthy pagan and a stranger. When DĚR
ȚÂDĚs heard that she had persuaded her daughter to endure
patiently , he commanded his soldiers to break the teeth of
AGATHA her mother. And God gave to the holy woman
’ARSÎMÂ power and strength over DĚRȚÂDĚS, the king, and
she hurled him backwards, and dragged him along. Now
DÉRȚÂDĖS was well known in battle , for he was exceedingly
strong, and the king was put to shamehaving been vanquished
by the virgin ’ARSÎMÂ ; and he commanded his soldiers to cut
off the head of Saint 'ARSÎMÂ. And the soldiers came and
dragged her away with ropes, and they cut off her head, and
tore out her tongue, and put out her eyes, and they cut off her
limbs and hacked her body to pieces. When the king awoke
from his fall, and his senses returned to him , he repented the
killing of Saint ’ARSÎMÂ ; and when he knew that she was dead
he commanded his soldiers to slay all the (other) virgins. And
the soldiers came and bored holes in the soles of their feet, and
they flayed them , and cast them out to the beasts). Now there
was one of them who was sick and was lying on her bed, and
she cried out to the soldiers and they came to her, and cut off
her head with one blow . Thus they all received crowns of
martyrdom in the kingdom of the heavens. [ fol. 306 2 ] And
they slew all the men who had come with them from the city
of Rômê, and the number thereof was two and seventy souls ;
and their bodies were cast out into the desert. After the death
of these martyrs a certain devil took possession of the king, and
he continued to punish him until Saint GREGORY came to him ,
and prayed over him , and he was healed of his pain imme
diately, and he believed in Christ. And they took the bodies of
the holy martyrs, and laid them in a holy place until the days
of the persecution were ended ; and a beautiful church was
(then ) built for them , and signs and great wonders took place
through them .
Salutation to 'ARSÎMÂ.

Salutation to John the Baptist.

 104 THE ETHIOPIC SYNAXARIUM

XXX . MASKARAM

[ fol. 306 3 ] IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER AND THE

SON AND THE HOLY GHOST, ONE GOD
On this day is celebrated the festival of the great com
memoration which our Lord and Redeemer Jesus Christ made
for the holy and honourable Abbâ 'ATNÂTÊwộs (ATHAN
ASIUS) the apostle , Archbishop of the city of Alexandria . Now
at that time the emperor was CONSTANTINE the Less , son of
CONSTANTINE the Great, who denied the One Son , and
separated the Godhead of His Father; and he believed in the
faith of ARIUS,the accursed one, and supported his views. And
the emperor sent a certain man whose name was GÊRGÊWÓs
to the country of Egypt, and he gave him five hundred horse
men ; and he wrote for him a letter [to take) with him author
izing him to become Archbishop of Alexandria , and the head
of all the country of Egypt, and of all archbishops and bishops.
And he ordered GÊRGÊWÔs to support the faith of ARIUS,
and to slay all those who believed in Christ, and those who
were obedient unto Him . When GÊRGÊwôs, the accursed ,
had arrived in the city of Alexandria he preached his infidelity ,
but only a very few of the men of Alexandria accepted his
words and his polluted preaching. Therefore he killed all the
believing men of the city of Alexandria , that is to say a large
and innumerable collection of people ; and Saint 'ATNÂTÊ WÔs
(ATHANASIUS) filed and hid himself for a period of six years .
At the end of this time he came forth and went to the city of
Constantinople , to the Emperor CONSTANTINE the Less, who
denied the Son of God , Whose Name be blessed ! And he said
unto him , “ Either restore me to my see , [fol. 31a I] or slay me
and letmereceive the crown of life of martyrdom .” When the
emperor heard these words from him he commanded his soldiers
to place the archbishop in a small boat, and to supply him
neither with bread nor water, nor with a captain for the boat,
and to drive him forth to sea . Now the emperor thought within
himself that Saint 'ATNÂTÊwôs (ATHANASIUS)would die at
sea , either through the foundering of his boat or through hunger
 FIRST MONTH - MASKARAM (SEPT. 8 - oct. 7 ) 105
and thirst ; and the emperor was afraid of him , and [he did
this] so that the saint might not rebuke him for his denial of
Christ . And the soldiers did to him according as the emperor
had commanded . Now although the emperor had not given
him bread and water, behold the saint had with him the bread
of God which was from heaven , and the water of life which
flowed down from Him . And although he had no captain in the
ship with him , behold , he had with him in the ship He Who
directeth the heaven and the earth by His Word . And the
boat wherein Saint 'ATNÂTÊwÔs (ATHANASIUS) was seated
travelled along smoothly and in peace , and the angels bore it
along on their wings, and on the third day he arrived in the
city of Alexandria . When the believing folk heard that their
good shepherd had arrived , they went out to meet him and
they welcomed him with lighted lamps , and songs of joy and
instruments of music , and they praised God and brought him
into the church ; and GÊRGÊWÔs the infidel and those who
were with him went forth therefrom . And on that day Saint
’ATNÂTÊwÔs (ATHANASIUS)made a great festival to God
blessed be His Name! and it was then as now , and they cele
brated the festival regularly . Praise be unto God Who [ fol.
312 2 ] honoureth His chosen one with this honour.

And on this day also they commemorate Saint GREGORY,

Archbishop of the country of Armenia .
And on this day also took place the calling of JAMES and
JOHN, the sons of ZEBEDEE, and on it the martyrs Abbâ
BÛLÂ (PAWLE ), and MÂRYŮ , and BĚTRŮS (PETER ), and
'ASÔTÂRÊs [are commemorated ].

Salutation to the great teachers of DABRA MÂRYÂM ,

'ABSÂdi and 'ARÔN (AARON ?) of Galilee. [ This paragraph is
wanting in the Bodleian ms.]

And on this day also died Abbâ SHÂL û Sî. This holy man was
an athlete, and pretended to bemad , [ fol. 31 a 3 ] and his fasting
and his praying were in secret, and before men he neither
 M
106 THE ETHIOPIC SYNAXARIU
prayed nor fasted. Each morning he used to prepare for him
self a small amount of food made of herbs of the desert, and at
eventide he ate nothing with the brethren. Now the archi
mandrite was Abbâ ISAAC. And all the monks used tomarvel
at him , but Abbâ ISAAC did not wish him to continue this
habit so that he might not cause himself to fall sick . One day
there was about to be a festival in the monastery , and Abbâ
ISAAC said unto the monks, " Watch him this day and see
that he doth not eat before he receiveth the Offering.” When
the time for themealarrived Abbâ shÂLŪSÎ wished to separate
himself from them , and the monks prevented him from doing
so ; and he cried out and said unto them , “ Let me alone, that
I may not die of hunger , and that my transgression may not
be on your heads.” And when they would not pay any heed to
his cry, he brought out his skull-cap and beat the wall of the
church with it , saying, “ MARY,myLady , deliver me from these
monks.” And the wall split asunder , and he passed out through
the opening, and then the wall joined itself together again and
became as it was before it split open . And when those who
were assembled there saw this wonder they cried out, saying ,
“ Kîryâlâysôn ” (Kyrie eleëson ) three hundred times. And they
found the skull- cap that had been thrown out, and they placed
it in the church with great honour, and it remained there and
worked miracles and healed the sick . When the archbishop
heard about it he wished to take away the skull-cap so that he
might be blessed thereby, and each time he took it away it
returned to the monastery. Now this happened three times.
And this monk after many days like this day died in the desert .
 THE SECOND MONTH - TĚKÉMT
(Oct. 8 - NOV . 6 )

I. TĚŽĚMT
IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER AND THE SON
AND THE HOLY GHOST, ONE GOD
[fol. 32a 1 ] On this day the holy woman ANASTASIA be
came a martyr. This woman was a fighter; she was a native of
Rômê and her parents were Christians. They brought her up
in all honour, and trained her in a manner befitting her noble
rank , and they taught her everything which was beneficial for
her soul and body, and also the doctrine of the Church. When
she arrived at woman 's estate her parents wanted to give her
in marriage, but she did not desire this thing, for from her
youth up she had craved for the garb of the ascetic life ; and
she chose the spiritual fight which is the garb of the holy
ascetic life . And she entered one of the nunneries where virgins
were received in the city of Rômê, and she put on the nun's
garb, which is the garb of angels . And she made her body to
toil with the labour of constant prayer , and with strenuous
contending, and with hunger, and with thirst, and with cutting
out from her heart and soul every thought concerning this
world . In those days she used to fast the whole of every second
day throughout the whole year. And during the great fast of
the Forty Days she did not eat except on the first Sabbath
(Saturday ) and on the first day of the week (Sunday ) after the
mid -day prayer. In those days her food was dry bread and
salt, and during all the days of her life as a nun she never ate
any food which had been cooked by fire. Now there was

the festival in the nunnery approached. On that day the

abbess took certain virgins from the nunnery , and among them
was this virgin ANASTASIA , and they went to [fol. 32a 2]
celebrate the festival in the neighbouring nunnery. As they
were going along the road this holy virgin saw some soldiers of
108 THE ETHIOPIC SYNAXARIUM
the Emperor DECIUS, and with them were certain Christians
whom they were dragging along. And her heart became in
flamed with spiritual love, and she cursed them , saying, “ O
men of sluggish hearts , and infidels, why do ye act thus towards
those whom God hath created in His own form and image, and
for whom Hehath given Himself ? ” Having said these words the
soldiers were wroth with her, and they seized her, and brought
her before the governor. And the governor asked her, saying,
“ Is it true that thou art a Christian , and that thou worshippest
Him that was crucified ? ” And she confessed Christ before the
governor and did not deny Him . Then the governor tortured
her with severe tortures ; he heaped fire on her body , and then
he hung her up head downwards, and had a fire lighted under
her ; but although she was suffering great torture she did not
turn from her faith . And after this the governor commanded
his soldiers to cut off her head with the sword ; and those who
were there marvelled at the fortitude of her soul. And she
prayed a long prayer , and she stretched out her head to the
sword , and they cut off the head of Saint ANASTASIA , and she
received a crown ofmartyrdom in the kingdom of the heavens.

[fol. 32a 3 ] And on this day also are commemorated Saint

HARIȚÂN (CHERITON ), and SUSANNAH the virgin , and
MARY the sister of LAZARUS.

II . TĚŽĚMT
IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER AND THE SON
AND THE HOLY GHOST, ONE GOD
On this day the great Saint Abbâ SEVERUS, Archbishop of
Antioch , came to the country of Egypt; now this took place
in the days of the Emperor EUSTATHIUS, who was a wicked
emperor. And the empress was a woman holding the right
Faith , and she loved Abbâ SEVERUS, and she placed in him
very great confidence ; but the emperor did not turn from his
evil counsel and he wanted to kill Abbâ SEVERUS. When the
God -loving empress knew that the king wished to kill Abbâ
 SECOND MONTH - ȚĚŽĚMT (OCT. 8 - Nov . 6 ) 109
SEVERUS secretly , she besought the holy man to save himself,
but he did not want to go away, and he said unto her, “ I am
ready to die for the sake of my Lord Jesus Christ.” And the
empress urged him with many fervent entreaties , and certain
God -loving brethren entreated him also, and he went forth
from that city ; and certain of the brethren who were with him
fled to Lower Egypt. When the emperor had sought for him
and had found him not, he sent soldiers to seek him out and to
bring him to him . And God hid him [fol. 326 1 ] from them ,
and they found him not, and yet he was nigh unto them , and
he walked about in their midst and they did not see him when
he was in that place wherein the soldiers of the emperor lived .
When Abbâ SEVERUS came to Egypt he went about secretly
from place to place and from monastery to monastery, and
God wrought by him great signs and wonders . One day he
arrived in the desert of SCETE , and he entered into the church
of Saint Abbâ MACARIUS in the guise of a travelling monk ,
and at that moment the priest was offering the incense of
sacrifice at the altar, and he was censing the people . Afterwards
he read the Book of the Gospel, and then he lifted off the
covering and looked for the Offering on the paten , but It was
hidden from him and he could not find it. And he wept, and
turned towards the congregation, and said unto them , “ O my
brethren , I know not whether this thing hath happened because
of some sin of mine, or because of some sin of yours, but I
cannot find the Offering on the paten , and It is hidden from
me” ; and the people wept because of this. And straightway
the angel of the Lord appeared unto the priest, and said unto
him , “ This hath not happened because of thy sin , and this
Offering hath not disappeared because of the sin of the people ,
but because thou hast acted stupidly , for thou hast dared to
offer up incense and our Offering whilst the Archbishop Abbâ
SEVERUS is standing outside [the sanctuary ] in a corner of
the church .” And the priest said unto the angel, “ Where is
he ? ” And the angel pointed with his hand towards him , and
he knew Abbâ SEVERUS by the grace of the Holy Spirit.
When the priest came to him [fol. 326 2 ] Abbâ SEVERUS
commanded him to finish the service of the Offering. After
IIO
THE ETHIOPIC SYNAXARIUM
this the priest brought Abbâ SEVERUS to the sanctuary with
great honour. And when the priest had gone up to the altar
he found the Offering on the paten as before, and the priests
marvelled and praised God . After this Abbâ SEVERUS went
forth from that place and came to the city of seŅA, and he
dwelt there with a certain rich man who was a lover of God ,
and whose name was DOROTHEUS; and he lived with him
until he died on the twenty - fourth day of the month of
YAKÂTit (Feb . 5 -March 6).
And on this day are commemorated TAKL SAM‘ET and
HERIACUS (CYRIACUS ?).

III. TĚŽĚMT
IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER AND THE SON
AND THE HOLY GHOST, ONE GOD
On this day died the holy father Abbâ SIMEON, the fifty
first archbishop of the city of Alexandria . This father was the
son of one of the elders of the city of Alexandria , and his
parents were Orthodox Christians. [ fol. 326 3 ] From his earliest
childhood he sucked the milk of the Orthodox Faith , and he
learned the doctrine of the Church . And he determined within
himself to assumethe monastic garb , and he went out from the
city of Alexandria and departed to the desert of scETE, and
he became a monk in themonastery of Abbâ JACOB, who was
archbishop before him . And he dwelt with him many days,
and he made his body to be emaciated through the strenuous
ness of his ascetic exercises, and by his excessive contendings.
And when Abbâ MACARIUS, the second of the name, was
appointed archbishop, he received from Abbâ JACOB (the
story of] his bold strife, and of the strenuousness of his ascetic
practices , and he dwelt with him until Abbâ JACOB his father
died . And he chose many priests , and the bishops and priests
and deacons assembled together, and all the elders , and Divine
Love moved them , and they made this holy father Abbâ
SIMEON archbishop because they saw the excellences of his
 SECOND MONTH - ȚĚĶĚMT (Oct. 8 -Nov. 6) III
natural disposition and character . When they saw that he had
dwelt with the two archbishops who preceded him , they seized
him , and they made him archbishop on the throne of Saint
MARK, apostle and evangelist. In administering his see he
followed the Divine path , and he was well-pleasing unto God ,
and he protected his people in the keeping of the Law of the
Right Faith . During the days of his rule the Church was quiet
and at peace. And this father fell sick of a grievous disease in
his foot, and he entreated God to give him rest from the pain
thereof; he only remained in his office for five months and a
half, and he died in peace.
And on this day the new Saint GEORGE became a martyr.
And on this day also are commemorated NINEVEH and its
people and its tribes, and MACARIUS, and THEOPHILUS,
and EUMARÂ , and GREGORY, bishop of Armenia , and Saint
THEODORA, the daughter of the Emperor ARCADIUS, the
son of THEODOSIUS the Great.

IV . ȚĚĶĚMT
[fol. 33a I ] IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER AND THE
SON AND THE HOLY GHOST, ONE GOD
On this day Saint BACCHUS and his companion Saint
SERGIUS becamemartyrs by the hands of the wicked ANTIO
CHUS [governor of Syria ). Now this took place when the
Emperor MAXIMIANUS seized these saints , and tortured them
with severe tortures after he had cast off their belts, for they
were soldiers. After this he sent them to the country of Syria ,
to ANTIOCHUS the governor, who shut Saint BACCHUS and
Saint SERGIUS up in prison . And he commanded his soldiers
to hang him up and to hack him with knives, and to hang
stones about his neck , and to cast him into the River Euphrates ;
and they did to him according as the king commanded . And
God [ fol. 33a 2 ] protected the body of Saint BACCHUS, and
brought it (through] the sea to the coast. And there were near
him two anchorites and ascetics, the name of the one being
MÂMÂ, and that of the other BÂBÂ, and unto those brethren
II2 THE ETHIOPIC SYNAXARIUM
the angel of the Lord appeared and commanded them to go
and carry away the body of Saint BACCHUS. And they went
according as the angel of the Lord commanded them , and they
found the body of Saint BACCHUS, and by the side of it were
a lion and wolves protecting it . And [these animals ) which
were wont to eat only the flesh ofmen and animals had sat by
it for one day and one night, and they had been commanded
by God Most High to protect the body of Saint BACCHUS.
And these holy men took up the body of the saint with great
honour, and they sang hymns before it until they came to their
cave where they buried it.
Salutation to BACCHUS, and BÂBÂ, and MÂMÂ.
And on this day Saint ANANIAS, the preacher , one of the
two and seventy disciples, became [a martyr). This holy man
was Bishop of Damascus, and it was he who baptized the
Apostle PAUL, our Lord having appeared to him on the road
to Damascus, and it was he whom the Apostles appointed
bishop , and who was sent by them to the city of Damascus.
He had at first dwelt and preached ( fol. 33a 3 ] in the house of
GABRIEL. And he healed very many sick people , and converted
many to the Faith of our Lord Jesus Christ. After he had
baptized PAUL the apostle LUCIANUS the governor seized
him and flogged him with leather whips until his blood flowed
down to the ground . And they beat his temples with iron rods,
and they burnt his breast with torches of fire. After this they
took him outside the city, and the governor ordered his soldiers
to stone him , and they stoned him , and he delivered up his
soul into the hand ofGod .

And on this day also are commemorated the righteous saints

ROMANUS, and GABRA KRĒSTôs, and John the eunuch ,
and the consecration of the church of SĚNÌÂR.
Salutation to GABRA KRĒSTÔS.

And on this day also is commemorated the death of the

kings 'ABRĚHÂ and 'AŞBĚŅA who reigned together over
’AKSÛM in Ethiopia . [fol. 336 1 ] Salutation to the same.
 SECOND MONTH - ȚĚĶĚMT (Oct. 8 -NOV . 6) II3

V . TĚŽĚMT
IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER AND THE SON
AND THE HOLY GHOST, ONE GOD
On this day died the holy father Abbâ PAUL, Archbishop of
Constantinople. This holy man was a disciple of Abbâ ALEX
ANDER, Archbishop of Constantinople , his predecessor, and
when Abbâ ALEXANDER died this father was appointed in
his stead . When he had taken his seat on the archiepiscopal
throne, he excommunicated the Arians and expelled them from
Constantinople and from the whole district. When the Emperor
CONSTANTINE died , his son CONSTANTINE reigned over
Constantinople , and his brother reigned over the city of Rome ;
now this CONSTANTINE loved ARIUS, and he believed his
polluted belief. When the emperor heard that Saint Abbâ
PAUL had excommunicated the Arians, and had exiled them
from the city of Constantinople, he was exceedingly sorry, and
he said unto Saint PAUL, " Henceforward let the Arians alone,
and excommunicate them not.” And the archbishop did not
obey his words, and therefore CONSTANTINE was wroth with
him , and he exiled him from the city of Alexandria (sic ), just as
he had exiled Abbâ ATHANASIUS from the city of Alexandria
before him . And the two archbishops PAUL and ATHANASIUS
foregathered in the city of Rômê with [fol. 336 2] Saint Abbâ
JULIUS, the Archbishop of the city of Rômê, who accorded
them a splendid and a loving reception . And he wrote for
them a letter to the Emperor CONSTANTINE, and he said
concerning them , “ They are learned, and righteous and ortho
dox men , and it is meet for thee to receive them and to honour
them .” When the Archbishops Abbâ PAUL and Abbâ ATHAN
ASIUS had arrived in the city of Constantinople, and the
emperor had read the letter of the Archbishop of the city of
Rômê, he was afraid of them , and he received them and placed
them in their offices, and waited to deal with them for a few
days, and after this he exiled them . And they returned to the
city of Rômê, to the Archbishop Abbâ JULIUS, and they told
him how CONSTANTINE had treated them , and how he had
BESI
114 THE ETHIOPIC SYNAXARIUM
exiled them a second time. And JULIUS took them and brought
them to the Emperor ĶUĚNSĚȚA (CONSTANS), the brother of
CONSTANTINE, and told him how his brother had treated
them . And ĶUĚNSĚȚA (CONSTANS) wrote a letter to his
brother, and commanded him to receive them , and he said unto
him , “ If thou dost not receive them there will be no peace
betwixt thee and me, henceforward.” And the archbishop also
wrote unto him a second letter, and CONSTANTINE accepted
the letter of his brother ķUĚNSĚȚÂ (CONSTANS) and the
letter of the archbishop , and he set the two archbishops in
their offices. When certain men slew the Emperor ķUĚNSĚȚÂ
(CONSTANS) in the city of Rômê, his brother CONSTANTINE
turned , and he exiled Saint PAUL to the country of Armenia ,
and shut him up in prison there for a few days. Then the
Emperor CONSTANTINE sent a letter to one of the followers
[ fol. 336 3 ] of ARIUS, and he said unto him , “ Kill PAUL in
the prison house." And that man who was an infidel came to
the holy man by night, and strangled him , and he died in
peace ; and all the days of his life were forty years .
And on this day died Saint CYRIACUS the martyr and
ŅANNAH his mother ; now he was condemned to death by
ELIANUS (the Emperor JULIAN according to the Bodleian
MS.) because he was a bishop. When he confessed Christ
ELIANUS commanded his soldiers to cut off his right hand,
saying , “ This is thy hand wherewith thou writest, and where
with thou dost prevent men from worshipping idols ” ; and
Saint CYRIACUS said , “ Thou hast done well, Othou dog
lacking understanding.” When ELIANUS heard this he com
manded his soldiers to boil some lead and to pour it into his
mouth , and he made them lay him upon a red -hot iron bed .
And they strewed over him red -hot burning coals, and they
rubbed salted fat into him , and they beat his belly and his back
with rods until his bones broke. And the righteousman endured
these tortures patiently , and he prayed in the Hebrew tongue ,
saying. [Here follows a transcript into Ethiopic letters of
fifteen words in which the saint beseeches ADÔNÂI, the God
of Death,to keep death from him .] Then ELIANUScommanded
 SECOND MONTH - ȚĚŽĚMT (Oct. 8 -Nov. 6 ) 115
them to release him , and he lay him down in the prison house .
And ELIANUS made them bring (ŅANNAH ] the mother of
CYRIACUS, and he commanded them to suspend her by her
hair, and to scrape her with shards for three hours . And he
also commanded them to burn [fol. 34a I] her body with fiery
torches, and whilst praying she delivered up her soul. Then
ELIANUS commanded them to bring Saint CYRIACUS, and
to cast him into a large pit wherein were serpents and vipers,
butnone of them injured him . And when 'ADMÔN (ADMONIUS),
whom ħANNAH had saved for Christ , saw this he cursed the
king and reviled his gods ; and forthwith ELIANUS com
manded them to cut off his head with the sword . And the holy
man stretched out his neck , saying, " O God of CYRIACUS,
receive my soul” ; and he finished his martyrdom . And ELI
ANUS commanded his soldiers to cast Saint CYRIACUS into a
vessel of boiling oil, and he also commanded them to drive a
spear through his breast, and thus he ended his testimony and
died in peace on the day of the Sabbath .
Salutation to CYRIACUS,who informed the Empress HELENA
concerning the place where the Cross was to be found ; the
knowledge of this place he had obtained from his father.
Salutation to ĦANNAH the martyr, and salutation to
'ADMÔN (ADMONIUS) .

And on this day are commemorated JAMES the apostle ,

the son of ALPHAEUS, and 'ADRÂwÔs, and 'AWÂRÂS, and
'ALDRÂKwÔs the martyrs , and 'ENDRÔNÔs ('ADRÔNỘs ?) .

VI. TĚŽĚMT
[ fol. 34 a 2 ] IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER AND THE
SON AND THE HOLY GHOST, ONE GOD
On this day died the holy and righteous woman ĦANNAH,
the prophetess , the mother of SAMUEL the prophet. This
holy woman was of the tribe of LEVI, and ELKANAH , the son
of TARŅEM (JEROHAM ) married her , now he had another wife
whose name was PĚNÂNÂ (PENINNAH ), but șANNAH could
notbear children because she was barren . And PENINNAH was
8 -2
116 THE ETHIOPIC SYNAXARIUM
always reviling ħANNAH because of her failure to have children ,
and because she was barren . And ħANNAH wept and would
neither eat nor drink, and ELKANAH her husband tried to
comfort her, but she would not receive comfort from him . And
she went up into the house of God in the days of Elithe priest,
and prayed and wept before God, and vowed a vow to God ,
saying, " O God, if Thou wilt give me a son , I will dedicate
him to Thee .” And Eli the priest was watching her as she
stood praying, and making supplication silently , for she was
praying in her heart ; and ELi the priest thought that she was
drunk with wine, and he was wroth with her, and he rebuked
her and said unto her, “ Why dost thou drink wine, and come
hither to the house of God ? ” And she said unto him , “ I have
not been drinking wine at all, I am suffering, but in my heart,
because I have no son .” And Eli the priest comforted her,
and blessed her, saying, “ Go in peace ; the God of Israel shall
grant thee thy petition ” ; and she believed his word , and she
went to her husband, and she conceived and brought forth a
son , and she called his name “ SAMUEL, ” which is, being
interpreted , [ fol. 34 a 3] “ God hath heard me.” And when she
had taken him from the breasts , she took him up to the house
of the Lord , even as she had vowed , and she brought him to
ELI the priest, and made him to know that she was the woman
who had prayed to God and entreated Him to give her a son .
And she said , “ Behold , God hath heard my petition and hath
given me this son ; and behold , I have brought him to God so
that he may minister in His house all the days of his life.”
Then she praised God in that well-known hymn of praise,
which is the third of the hymns that are written at the end of
the Psalms of DAVID the prophet. And she lived after this
and was well-pleasing unto God , and she died in peace.
Salutation to ĦANNAH.
And on this day died Saint Abbâ PANTALEON of the cell.
This holy man was the son of noble folk , who were among the
great ones of Rômê, and who sat on the right hand of the
emperor. When his mother had weaned him she took him to a
monastery where he grew up in wisdom and exhortation , and
 SECOND MONTH - ȚĚĶĚMT (OCT. 8 -NOV. 6 ) 117
fasting and prayer. Then he travelled to the country of Ethiopia
with Nine Saints in the days of 'AL 'ÂMÊDâ the king, the son
of SAL'ÂDÂB the king, and they lived in BẾT ĶAȚIN . Then
they separated , and Abbâ PANTALEON went up to the top of
a [fol. 346 1] little mountain , and he made himself a cellwhich
was five cubits long, and two cubits wide, and three cubits
deep ; its roof was a single stone, and it had no door, but only
a small opening. And he stood on his feet for a period of five
and forty years , without sitting down, and without lying down
to sleep. He ate and drank so little that his skin cleaved to his
bones , and his eyelashes were worn away by his tears. And he
continued to work innumerable miracles in healing the sick
and in opening the eyes of the blind. One day he planted a tree
at dawn and by the time the evening came it had grown very
tall, and had dried up, and his disciple had prepared (? ) it and
burned it, and tied up the charcoal in his garment and taken
it for the censer. When KÂLÊ B was going forth to wage war
against another king , he came to Abbâ PANTALEON and
embraced his cell, and told him his trouble . And Abbâ PANTA
LEON said , “ Go in peace, for God is able to do all things, and
He shall give thee victory over thy enemy” ; and to return safely
and in peace. When KÂLÊB the king had come to the country
of SÂBÂ, he made war on the people thereof, and he slew them
all and conquered them , and there were not left any who were
not scattered like leaves. And all those who saw Saint Abbâ
PANTALEON testified concerning him , saying , " We saw Abbâ
PANTALEON standing with us in the battle , and he was over
throwing our enemies.” When KÂLÊB the king returned ,
having conquered the King of Judah , he forsook his kingdom ,
and became a monk with PANTALEON. When Saint Abba
PANTALEON had finished his strife , our Lord Jesus Christ
came to him and made a covenant with him concerning him
that should call upon his name, [ fol. 346 2 ] and celebrate his
commemoration , and write an account of his contending ; and
He said unto him , “ It is now sufficient for thee ; go to thy rest.”
And straightway his bones broke and he died in peace and was
buried in his cell.
Salutation to PANTALEON as the perfect man .
118 THE ETHIOPIC SYNAXARIUM
Salutation, twofold , to PANTALEON who caused the death
of 5050 warriors in the battle.
Salutation to PANTALEON in his cell.

And on this day also the saints RĚWÂķ and ANTONIUS,

Bishop of BÂNÂ, becamemartyrs. Salutation to the same.

And on this day also is commemorated HABAKKUK the

prophet, the interpretation of which name is “ Teacher.” This
holy man was of the tribe of SIMEON . JOSEPH begat yỘSÂ
FEȚ. He saw [ fol. 346 3 ] and prophesied before the Captivity
that the King of Babylon and his soldiers would surround
Jerusalem and destroy the Temple ; and he wept much
and groaned greatly because thereof. When NEBUCHAD
NEZZAR the King of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged
it , this righteous man fled to the country of MĚSȚÎRÂ KÎNÂ,
and he departed seeking for the land of ISHMAEL. And when
the captives returned from the city of the Chaldeans, that is
to say, those who had gone thither from the city of Jerusalem
and from Egypt, this righteous man was living in his own
habitation , and was ministering unto those who were gathering
in the harvest from the fields. When he had taken food to
carry to the reapers, he spake unto the men of his house, saying ,
“ I am obliged to go to a city which is afar, but I will return
speedily . If I tarry , take some food for the reapers and carry it
to them .” And as he was going along having with him the food
which he was to carry to the reapers, straightway the angel of
God seized him by the hair of his head , whilst the food was still
with him , and brought him to the cave of the city of Babylon
wherein DANIEL the prophet lived , now he was lying down
before the lions, and HABAKKUK brought the food to him and
he ate. Then the angel took him by his hand and brought him
back to the land of Israel, and straightway he stood up by the
side of the reapers who were still eating their meal. And he
never told any man what had happened to him . He thought
that the people would return speedily from the city of Babylon ,
but he died and was buried in the tomb of his fathers many
years before the return of the people . This prophet prophesied
 SECOND MONTH - ȚĚŽĚMT (OCT. 8- Nov. 6) 119
to the men of the country of Judah , saying, “ Ye will most
certainly see the Gentiles despoiling the sanctuary,” and it
came to pass even as he said . And he also prophesied and said
unto them , “ Ye shall afterwards see the glory ofGod ." And he
also prophesied and said , “ The sanctuary shall be rooted up,
and shall be given unto an alien people.” [fol. 35 a I] And he said ,
“ The covenant of the altar shall be rentand shall be split up into
small fragments ,and the top of two pillars shall be carried away,
and none shall know whither they have gone. And the angel
must take them into the place wherein is planted the wood of
the Cross of their Lord, so that God may be known in the
desert , and He shall judge those who war against them , the
Serpent of olden time.” And everything has been fulfilled even
as he prophesied. [See Habakkuk ii, iii.]
And on this day also Saint DIONYSIUS, Bishop of the city
of Athens, became a martyr. This holy man was a native of
Athens, and he excelled all the men thereof in honour (or glory ),
and in understanding, and in wisdom , and in learning ; now
he was one of the counsellors in the Council of learned judges
in the city of Athens. PAUL the apostle taught him , and
baptized him with Christian baptism , and made him Bishop of
the city of Athens. And he composed many discourses, and
among these was one for the eve of the Sabbath (Friday ) which
treated of the Crucifixion of our Lord Jesus Christ. One day
this holy man [ fol. 35 a 2] was sitting in the House of Wisdom
of the city of Athens (now it was the day whereon the learned
were to hold a meeting therein ), and he was sitting upon the
throne of state, for he was the chief of all the wise men, and
the other wise men were assembling , and at the moment of
noon the sun became dark , and the earth quaked , and all the
people were terrified and feared greatly . And they asked Saint
DIONYSIUS and said unto him , " Master ,make us to know what
hath happened in the world .” And he took up a book about
the world of nature, and he looked at the balance in his mind
and understanding, and he enquired concerning the rising of
the sun , and the moon , and the stars, and he found that they
were all in a settled state, and that they had not moved from
120 THE ETHIOPIC SYNAXARIUM
their courses. Similarly he looked at the great sea and saw that
it was surrounding all the ends of the world , and he found that
it too was in a state of peace and quietness. Then he took up
an astrolabe and looked into it, and behold God , 'EL-MAKNÛN,
that is to say, the “ Hidden ,” the Creator of the heavens and
the earth , came down from the heavens upon earth . And His
own people rose up against Him , and crucified Him . And
straightway he rent his garments and sorrowed with a great
sorrow . And the councillors and the wise and learned noblemen
asked him to reveal unto them what had appeared unto him
in respect of the darkness which had taken place at noon , and
concerning the earthquake; and he told them everything which
had taken place ; and when they heard this they feared with
a great fear. And he commanded his disciple JOSEPHUS to
write down everything which had happened during that hour,
and the name of that day, and the name of that month , and
the name of that year; and JOSEPHUSwrote down everything
which happened according to the command of DIONYSIUS.
And he also wrote upon all the gates of their idols ( fol. 35 a 3 ]
which were in their houses , “ God 'EL -MAKNÛN, that is to say,
the 'Hidden ,' hath come down from heaven .” After fourteen
years the Apostle PAUL came to the city of Athens, and he
preached therein , by the help of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Son
of the Living Godblessed be His Name! [And he preached
how He came down) from heaven , and His Incarnation by our
Lady Saint MARY the Virgin , and His Passion , and His Cruci
fixion , and His Resurrection , and His Ascension into heaven ,
and His second coming to judge the living and the dead . When
the men of Athens heard the preaching of Saint PAUL the
apostle, they marvelled exceedingly and they ran and told
Saint DIONYSIUS about it. And they said unto him , “ A
certain man came into our city this day, and preached unto us
a new god whom we do not know , and whom our fathers before
us did not know .” And DIONYSIUS sent a messenger who
brought the Apostle PAUL to him , and he said unto him , “ Who
is this new god whom thou hast preached in our city ? ” And the
Apostle PAUL answered and said unto him , “ Whilst Iwas passing
through the open spaces of your city I found written upon the
 SECOND MONTH - TĚŽĚMT (OCT. 8 -Nov. 6)
D MONTH 121
121
doors of the houses of your idols the words,‘God 'EL-MAKNÛN ,'
that is to say , the ‘ Hidden God ,' hath comedown from heaven ;
this is He of Whom I have preached unto you .” And straight
way Saint DIONYSIUS commanded his disciple (JOSEPHUS]
to bring unto him that document which he had written fourteen
years ago ; and he brought it to him . And DIONYSIUS asked
the Apostle PAUL, saying , “ When was the sign of Him Whom
thou preachest [made known]? ” And Saint PAUL the apostle
answered and said unto him , “ On Friday , in the month of
Adâr, which is the seventeenth [fol. 356 1 ] day of the month
Magâbît (Mar. 7 - April 5 ), at noon , our Lord Jesus Christ was
killed, and the sun became dark , and the earth quaked at that
moment.” When they heard this they all believed on our
Lord Jesus Christ, and they bowed down at the feet of the
Apostle PAUL, and he baptized them with Christian baptism ,
and he made Saint DIONYSIUS bishop over them . Now this
Saint DIONYSIUS is he who translated the Ordinances of the
Church. After this he went to the borders of the West (Mo
rocco ?) in the days of the Apostles, and he performed many
signs and wonders. And the Emperor DOMITIAN, the infidel ,
seized him and inflicted severe tortures upon him , and then he
cut off his holy head with the sword ; and DIONYSIUS received
the crown of martyrdom in the kingdom of heaven . After they
had cut off his head he walked two stadia holding his head in
his hands. And the emperor DOMITIAN also cut off the heads
of JOSEPHUS and URIANUS, the disciples of Saint DIONY
SIUS.
Salutation to DIONYSIUS, the friend of ' ĚNȚÔNÂ (AN
TONIUS), Bishop of the city of BÂNÂ.
Salutation to JOSEPHUS and URIANUS.

[fol. 356 2 ] On this day also 'ĚNȚÔ NÂ (ANTONIUS), Bishop

of the city of BÂNÂ, became a martyr. [This paragraph is
wanting in the Bodleian Ms. ]

And on this day also is commemorated Enos, the son of

SETH, who was the first to call upon God. He lived 190 years
and begat CAINAN ; and all the days of his life were 620 years,
122 THE ETHIOPIC SYNAXARIUM

and he died at the beginning of the Sabbath . [This paragraph

is wanting in the Bodleian Ms. ]
Salutation to HERMOLAUS the priest, and to his brother
HERACLETUS, and to his brother RÔ MÊ (? ) the bishop , and to
PANTALEON who, when he prayed whilst the king was cutting
off their heads, caused an earthquake.
Salutation to father BAŞALÔTÂ MÎKÂ ’ÊL, the blood of
whose body was found to be liquid when it was translated to a
second tomb .
VII. TĚŽĚMT
IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER AND THE SON
AND THE HOLY GHOST, ONE GOD
On this day died the holy father Abbâ BÂWLÂ (PAWLI)
of the city of ȚAMAW . This holy man became a monk and a
fighter in his early years, and he dwelt in DABRA 'ĚNŞĚNÂ
[near ASNÂ ] in Upper Egypt, and his disciple EZEKIEL was
with him , and this man became a witness to the excellences of
his master , and to his ascetic combats. This holy man Abbâ
BÂWLÂ (PAWLI) contended strenuously [fol. 356 3] because of
his love for Christ, and he killed himself seven times. The first
time he hung himself upon a tree head downwards, and he
remained hanging there for forty days and forty nights until
his blood flowed from his nose, and he yielded up his soul.
And God raised him up from death by His power. [ The second
time) he cast himself into the waves of the sea , thinking that
the large fish and the tiger- fish would assuredly devour him .
Now the tiger-fish would not touch him at all, and he remained
submerged in the water for many years and he died . And our
Lord Jesus Christ raised him up from the dead a second time.
The third time he cast himself into the sand and died , and our
Lord raised him up . The fourth time he threw himself down
from the top of a high hill and rolled down it , and the side of
the hill was covered with stones as sharp as knives, and they
pierced his temples and every part of his body, and he died
straightway ; and EZEKIEL his disciple wept over him , and
our Lord Jesus Christ came and comforted him . The fifth time
 SECOND MONTH — ȚĚĶĚMT (Oct. 8 -NOV. 6) 123
he threw himself from the top of a high tree on to a large stone
which was as sharp as a sword, and he was split up into two
pieces and died ; and the Lord raised him up (again ). The sixth
time he tied his head to his feet and he remained in this position
for forty days and forty nights, and died ; and the Lord sent
unto him an angel who raised him up and comforted him . In
this manner this holy man tortured himself six times and died
six times, and each time he died our Lord raised him up. The
seventh time he stretched out his legs over a [fol. 36a I ] deep
well, and stood there for forty days and forty nights and died
there. And our Lord Jesus Christ appeared unto him , and
raised him up from the dead , and strengthened him , and said
unto him , “ O my beloved BÂWLÂ (PAWLI), hast thou not
toiled enough and killed thyself often enough ? ” And BÂWLÂ
(PAWLI) said unto Him , “ Leave me, O my Lord , to toil for
Thy holy name's sake, even as Thou Thyself hast toiled for
the race of the children of men . Thou art God , and the Son of
God , and Thou didst die for our sins ; as for uswe are notworthy
that Thou shouldst toil for us ” ; and our Lord comforted him ,
and strengthened him , and went up into heaven . When the
holy father Abbâ BĚSÔY went to DABRA 'ĚNŞĚNÂ, he met
Abbâ BÂWLÂ (PAWLI). And our Lord Jesus Christ appeared
unto BÂwlI (sic) (PAWLI) and said unto him , “ Thy body
shall be with the body of Abbâ BĚSÔY " ; and when Saint Abbâ
BÂWLÂ (PAWLI) died , they placed his body with that of Abbâ
BĚSÔ Y , even as our Lord Jesus Christ had told him . When
they wanted to carry the body of Saint Abbâ BĚSÔy to
DABRA SCETE, that is to say DABRA ABBÂ MACARIUS,
they took the body and laid it in a ship , and left behind the
body ofAbbâ BÂWLI (PAWLI). And the shipstood still andwould
notmove, butwhen they took the body ofAbbâ BÂWLI (PAWLI)
and laid it with that ofAbbâ BĚSÔy in the ship , straightway the
shipmoved and brought them to DABRA SCETE,where the body
of Saint BÂWLI (PAWLI) and the body of Abbâ BĚSỐ Y remain
until this day in the Church of Abbâ [fol. 36 a 2 ] BĚSÔY.

And on this day also minâs, and ĦASINÂ [and CYPRIAN ,

and JUSTINA] becamemartyrs.
124 THE ETHIOPIC SYNAXARIUM

VIII. TĚŽĚMT
IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER AND THE SON
AND THE HOLY GHOST, ONE GOD
On this day Saint MEȚRÂ the old man became a martyr,
and many others were martyred with him . This saint was a
native of Alexandria , and he was a believing Christian . When
DECIUS the infidel reigned he established the worship of
idols , and afflicted all Christian people , and his Edict came to
the city of Alexandria , and he afflicted all the people thereof
and poured out their blood . And Saint MEȚRÂ was accused of
being a Christian before the governor, and the governor had
Saint MEȚRÂ brought before him , and he held the matter to
be serious. And Saint MEȚrâ confessed our Lord Jesus Christ,
and proclaimed that He was God, in truth, and that He pro
ceeded from the True God. And the governor said unto him ,
“ Worship (fol. 36a 3 ] the gods and the idols, and I will give
thee much money ” ; and Saint MEȚRÂ did not trust his promise
greatly , and he said unto him , “ May thy promise and thy money
go with thee into Sheol ! ” And the governor was wroth with
him , and he said unto him , “ I will punish thee with great
severity ” ; but the saint was not afraid of his tortures, and he
did not turn from his good counsel. On the contrary he said
unto him , “ I worship my Lord Jesus Christ, the Creator of the
heavens and the earth , and how could it be right for me to
forsake Him and to worship idols which are made of stones
and woods? They see not, and hear not, and smell not, and
walk not. ” And the governor was wroth with him , and he com
manded his soldiers to beat him very severely . Then he hung
him up by his arms, and the soldiers slit his face and his temples
with dry reeds, but our Lord Jesus Christ healed his wounds,
and raised him up whole and unharmed . When the governor
was tired of torturing him he commanded his soldiers to cut
off his head , and they cut off his head with a sword outside the
city, and he received the crown ofmartyrdom in the kingdom of
heaven ; and many people suffered martyrdom at the same
time. Salutation to MEȚRÂ .
 SECOND MONTH - TĚŽĚMT (OCT. 8 - Nov. 6 ) 125
And on this day Saint BACCHUS and Saint PELAGIA
becamemartyrs.

[fol. 36b 1] And on this day also is commemorated Abbâ

ķôr the martyr.

And on this day also are commemorated Abbâ BÚLÂ, and

SUSANNAH, and her children the martyrs in the city of ŞĚM
WÂħ , and Saint AGATHON the anchorite. Salutation to the
brothers of SUSANNAH, and to ưÔR , and to AGATHON.

IX . TĚŽĚMT
IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER AND THE SON
AND THE HOLY GHOST, ONE GOD
On this day died the holy father Abbâ LIWÂRYÔS (LIBER
IUS), Archbishop of the city of Rômê. This holy man was
righteous, and excellent, and pure, and a monk from his earliest
years, and he grew old in the Ordinances of the Church, in which
he was learned ; and he fulfilled all the Law and Doctrines of
the Church . And the people chose him and appointed him Arch
bishop of the city of Rômê, [andhesat]on the throneof PETER the
apostle . And having sat on the throne of PETER the apostle ,
the chief of the Apostles, he followed a righteous course and
was well- pleasing unto God , the Most High . And he taught the
people at all times, and he admonished those who transgressed
the commandments of God , and turned them into [fol. 366 2 ]
the way of God . When CONSTANTINE the Less was dead the
wicked JULIAN reigned after him , and this wicked JULIAN
denied Christ and afflicted the Christian people. And he pro
mised (i.e. threatened ) Saint BASIL, saying, “ I am going to
lay waste the churches of the Christians and destroy them ,"
but God destroyed JULIAN the infidel through the prayer of
Saint BASIL. It was then that God sent the honourable Saint
MERCURIUS, themartyr, and he destroyed that serpent. Now
Saint BASIL stood before a picture of Saint MERCURIUS, and
he said unto him , “ This infidel told me that he would destroy
the churches, therefore I beseech thee to kill him in the war" ;
126 THE ETHIOPIC SYNAXARIUM
and Saint Mercurius in the picture nodded his head as if to
say, “ Yea , [I will].” This JULIAN the infidel was the son of
the sister of his father CONSTANTINE, and he opened the
temples of the idols and afflicted the Christian people , and
tortured very many of them . And this Saint LÎWÂRYÔS
(LIBERIUS) came from the city of Rômêto the city of Caesarea ,
and he visited Saint BASIL, and the two agreed together to
go to the city of Antioch , and they visited JULIAN the infidel
and turned him from his apostasy and error. Now these two
men had known him from their youth, when they were fellow
learners in school with him ; and they rose up and journeyed
and arrived in the city of Antioch where the Emperor JULIAN
was. And having stood up before him they wanted to speak to
him ( fol. 366 3] and to turn him from his error. And he said
unto them , in mockery of our Lord Jesus Christ, “ Where did
ye leave the son of the carpenter ? ” And Saint BASIL answered
and said unto him , “ We left Him making a coffin for thee, and
when thou art dead they will bury thee therein in hell.” And
JULIAN was wroth with them , and he commanded his soldiers
to shut them up in prison ; and they shut Saint BASIL and
Saint LÎWÂRYÔS (LIBERIUS) up in prison . And Saint
LÎWÂRYÔS (LIBERIUS) saw a vision in his sleep, and in it he
was in prison , and Saint MERCURIUS said unto him , “ Verily
I will not permit this infidel to utter blasphemies against my
God .” And Saint LÎWÂRYÔS (LIBERIUS) woke from his sleep
and told Saint BASIL of the vision which he had seen ; and
Saint BASIL had also seen the same vision . Afterwards came
the news of the killing of JULIAN the infidel, and after him
wÔMÂNYÔS (JOVIANUS?) reigned, and he believed on our
Lord Jesus Christ. And he brought the saints out of prison,
and they departed, each of them , to his see. Now it was Saint
MERCURIUS who killed JULIAN the infidel at the entreaty of
Saint BASIL. And Saint LiwÂRYÔS (LIBERIUS) departed to
the city of Rômê, and he debated fiercely with the followers of
ARIUS, and he excommunicated them and exiled them from
his see. And he followed a righteous course, and was well
pleasing unto God, and he died in peace, after ruling his see
for six years. Salutation to LiwÂRYÔS (LIBERIUS).
 SECOND MONTH - PĚŽĚMT (Oct. 8 - Nov . 6 ) 127
[fol. 37 a 1] And on this day died Abbâ ATHANASIUS,Arch
bishop of Antioch. This (holy man ) was a monk , an anchorite ,
and one who served the Lord his God strenuously, and he was
sincere and humble and perfect in all good works. And all the
bishops came to him to make him archbishop, and they sent
to the MAPHRIAN (i.e. the head of the Jacobite Church ), the
Bishop of the city of SELEUCIA, saying, “ Behold , our father
the archbishop, Abbâ MICHAEL , is dead, come quickly and
speedily so that we may appoint an archbishop. We have
chosen a righteous man who is suitable for this holy office , and
we are all waiting for thee, for there is none save thee who can
appoint him , according to the Ordinances of our Fathers.”
And having waited for the arrivalof the MAPHRIAN , the bishop ,
now they had waited for a period of fifty days, they appointed
Abbâ ATHANASIUS, and they departed each to his seat. And
the MAPHRIAN came according as the bishops sent to him ,
and when he arrived at the city of ‘ÂMID (DIARBAKR ) on the
frontiers of Syria , he met the bishops of Antioch , and they told
him that having waited for his arrival ( fifty days) they had
appointed an archbishop . When the MAPHRIAN heard this
he was exceedingly wroth and said , “ Is it thus that ye violate
the law which is between us and you ? ” Having thus said he
anathematized everyone who should mention the name of
Abbâ ATHANASIUS, whether at the service of the Offering
or at the beginning of incense ; having thus spoken he returned
to his city . When ATHANASIUS heard this thing he was
exceedingly sorry , and he said unto his disciple , “ O my son ,
[ fol. 37 a 2 ] be obedient unto me, and do what I say unto thee
so thatmy soulmay be blessed , I am going afar off for one year,
and if my people seek for me tell them , 'He is in his cell ’ ; and
do thou command them with my voice, bind and loose ” ; and
his disciple said unto him , “ I will.” And Abbâ ATHANASIUS
arrayed himself in poor raiment, and he travelled on foot until
he came to the city of SELEUCIA, and he knocked at the gates
of the bishop , and the gate-keeper said unto him , “ What dost
thou want? ” And ATHANASIUS said unto him , “ I wish to
receive the blessing ofmy father the bishop.” When the gate
keeper had told the bishop he brought in Abbâ ATHANASIUS,
 UM
128 THE ETHIOPIC SYNAXARI
and the bishop said unto him , “ Whence art thou ? " And he
said unto him , “ I have come from the country of Syria , lacking
daily bread and raiment, so that I may die under the shadow
of thy prayer.” And the bishop said unto him , “ Art thou a
priest or a deacon ? ” And he said , “ Neither.” Then thebishop
called the steward and commanded him to place him with the
monks. And Abbâ ATHANASIUS performed every kind of
household work , even to the drawing of water, and the carrying
away of the dung of the horses and the mules, and the lighting
of the fire , and rising very early in the morning and baking the
bread , and there was no kind of work for the brethren which
he did not perform . When he had finished the work in the
bishop's house he used to go to the houses of the monks, and
draw water for them , and light fires, and clean the houses, and
at length the brethren loved him dearly and regarded him as a
heavenly angel, and then they entreated the bishop to make
him a deacon . And on the first day of the week the bishop went
into the church and called Abbâ ATHANASIus in order that
he might appoint him a deacon , but ATHANASIUS wept
bitterly and said unto him , “ Leave me, Father, I am a poor
man , and I am not fit for this grade.” When the bishop seized
him with vigour, ATHANASIUS said unto him , “ Forgive me,
Father, for I am a deacon , but [fol. 37 a 3 ] on account ofmymany
sins I have abandoned ministration .” When the bishop heard
this hemarvelled at his patient endurance ; and for six months
ATHANASIUS continued to perform the duties of a deacon .
When the bishop saw his great intelligence (or knowledge) he
wished to appoint him to the work of a priest . And the first day
of the week the bishop came into the church , and he called
ATHANASIUS and said unto him , “ The Holy Ghost hath
called thee this day ; I am going to appoint thee a priest."
When Abbâ ATHANASIUS heard him , he fell down at the feet
of the Father in tears , and he entreated him to let him alone.
When he knew that the bishop would not excuse him , he said
unto him , “ Have mercy upon me; I am a priest.” When the
father and the monks heard this they rejoiced in him and
honoured him exceedingly. When the bishop saw the wisdom
of his words and the zealousness of his ministration, he wished
 SECOND MONTH - ȚĚĶĚMT (OCT. 8 - NOV. 6 ) 129
to make him bishop of a city the bishop whereof was dead .
And he summoned the archbishops, and the bishops, and the
priests, and the deacons, and the monks, in order that they
might appoint him on the first day of the week. And he called
Abbâ ATHANASIUS and said unto him , “ This day God hath
called thee to the grade of the episcopate of such and such a
see. " And when ATHANASIUS knew that he would not excuse
him , he wept bitterly and told them that he was ATHANASIUS
Archbishop of Antioch , and he related to them the history of
his coming in secret. When the father heard these words from
him he put off his crown and fell down upon the earth and
became as one dead for a long time. Having raised himself up ,
he cried out to the bishops and the people, and said unto them ,
“ O my brethren , tellme what I shall do , for at this moment I
am afraid that fire will come down from heaven and con
sumeme, and that the [ fol. 376 1] earth will open her mouth
and swallow me up . Is it a desirable thing that ATHANASIUS
Archbishop of Antioch should serve for a whole year in drawing
water and in clearing away the dung of horses like a slave ? ”
When the bishops and the people heard these words they bowed
low before him and kissed his hands and his feet. Then the
bishop commanded the bishops to bring fine apparel of the
priesthood , and the cross and the staff of the priesthood, and
they seated him upon the throne, and the bishops carried him
and his throne upon their shoulders , and they brought him
into the church , and they carried him round about it thrice,
saying, “ Aksěyos, Aksěyös, Aksěyos,” that is to say, “ He is
worthy, He is worthy, He is worthy. " Then he put on the
vestments for the consecration of the Offering, and he conse
crated the Offering , and administered it to them and he blessed
their city. How great was the joy of the Persians ! And on the
following day the father brought a mule, and everything which
was necessary for the journey , and he mounted Abbâ ATHAN
ASIUS upon it, and he departed to the city of Antioch with
archbishop and bishops who travelled on foot. And Abbâ
ATHANASIUS said unto the MAPHRIAN, “ Do thou mount
and let us travel together.” And the MAPHRIAN said unto
him , “ Far be it from me, O Lord ! Inasmuch as thou didst
BESI
130 THE ETHIOPIC SYNAXARIUM
come on thy feet to my city I will go on my feet to thy city.”
When the Bishops of Antioch heard that the Archbishop Abbâ
ATHANASIUS had arrived , they welcomed him and the MA
PHRIAN ,the Bishop of SELEUCIA, and they restored ATHAN
ASIUS to his throne and they rejoiced with great joy . Then
they set on their way the metropolitans and bishops, and they
returned to their city in peace. And this father lived a beautiful
life , and he tended his flock with righteousness and integrity,
and he died in peace. Amen . Salutation to ATHANASIUS,
[fol. 376 2 ] Archbishop of Antioch .

And on this day also died STEPHEN protomartyr (sic),the son

of NIKOMION and brother of BASILIDES. This blessed man
STEPHEN belonged to an honourable family , and his parents
were among the nobles of Antioch ; they were exceedingly rich
in gold , and silver , and glorious apparel, and their slaves and
handmaidens were innumerable. And NIKOMION loved Christ
exceedingly , and he gave alms to the poor and needy, and he
was beloved by all men . And having begotten this holy man ,
he had him brought up carefully, and he taughthim the Psalms
of DAVID , and the Books of the Old and New Testaments,
and finally he was filled with the knowledge of the Holy Ghost .
He learned to ride the horse , to hurl the spear, and to draw the
bow with VICTOR and CLAUDIUS in the house of Saint
BASILIDES, whose brother's son he was, and because of this
he was called the son of BASILIDES. All his kinsfolk were
fearers of God , and they walked in all His commandments and
judgements, and among them was none whose heart was not
warmed by the flame of the love of Christ , and there was none
who turned from His way either to the right hand or to the left.
When God saw the strength of their love for Him , He wished
to make them to inherit His kingdom and His righteousness,
which He hath prepared for them before the world was created .
Then Satan brought a man, a certain swineherd from the land
of Egypt, and he belonged to men who occupy themselves with
devices for war, and his name was ’AGRIPÂDÂ, ( fol. 376 3 ]
and from his earliest youth the spirit of Satan dwelt in him .
When he came to Antioch they made him master of the horse ,
 SECOND MONTH - ȚĚĶĚMT (OCT. 8 -Nov. 6) . 131
and when the King of Antioch died the throne was empty.
One day when the daughter of the king was walking about on
the roof of her house, she saw him leaping about with his horse
whilst the musicians played music on their instruments. There
upon she lusted for him , and she married him , and finally she
caused him to be made king , and she called him DIOCLETIAN .
And O what violence , and O what wickednesses were committed
in his days after he had denied Christ ! He worshipped idols
and killed everyone who believed on Christ. He was an eater
of the flesh of men , and a drinker of [human ] blood , like the
wild animals . He seized and scattered all the chosen people of
the kingdom like ramswho have no shepherd . Some of them
were killed by means of stakes driven through them , and some
of them he drove into exile , even to districts in Egypt, and they
were fettered with iron chains, and gags were in their mouths.
At length the whole country of Antioch was filled with weeping
and lamentation , a man mourning for his wife, and a wife for
her husband , a father mourning for his son or a son for his
father, or brother for brother and friend for friend. At length
the whole earth was filled with the blood of the saints, and their
bodies were cast out into the streets of the city, and there was
none to bury them except the watchmen of the city , to whom
bribes had to be given secretly to bury them . And this Saint
STEPHEN continued in prayer to God by day and by night
that He would give him a crown of martyrdom . Now as a
beginning to his iniquity DIOCLETIAN wrote an Edict which
he sent into every part of his dominions, saying, “ I DIOCLE
TIAN the Emperor, [fol. 38 a 1 ] Lord of the World , hereby
command that in every country of my dominions they close
the churches, and open the houses of idols (i.e. temples), and
worship my gods, for it is they who have given me victory in
battle . Whosoever shall not worship them and bow down before
them , his house shall be plundered
kin o and
punstlaid
norwaste,
small and
ble heo shall
hi
be punished with every kindd off punishment; none sshallf bes
spared , neither rich nor poor, nor great nor small.” Then the
emperor assembled all his soldiers and all the nobles of his
kingdom , and he commanded that this Edict should be pro
claimed before the multitude. When Saint STEPHEN had
9 -2
132 THE ETHIOPIC SYNAXARIUM
heard the foul Edict his whole body burned with the fire of
zeal, and he accounted DIOCLETIAN as nothing, and poured
out blasphemies upon him , and he was greatly moved in his
spirit and said, “ What is this new act of violence which thou
hast made manifest, o king, in this city , by writing this un
clean and accursed Edict of APOLLO (? )? For our Lord Jesus
Christ shall defend everyone who believeth on Him .” Then
Saint STEPHEN waxed strong and bold and he leaped upon
the soldier who had the filthy Edict in his hand, and tore it out
of it, now the emperor and all his nobles were looking on at
him , and STEPHEN tore the Edict in pieces. And the emperor
said unto him , “ O STEPHEN, what hast thou done? Dost
thou wish to bring destruction upon thyself ? ” Then the em
peror drew the sword which he had in his hand, and he hacked
him down the middle, and he became two parts. And the head
of Saint STEPHEN remained for a long time before the em
peror, and it reviled him and told [ fol. 38 a 2 ] him what would
come upon him in the later time, and how he would receive
alms in the gates of Antioch , and how his eyes would be made
wholly blind, and how after this he would be destroyed . And
the head cried out with a loud voice and repeated the names of
all the saints of the city of Antioch who becamemartyrs . And
the story of the head of Saint STEPHEN was heard in all the
cities of Antioch, and many multitudes of people gathered
together to see the head which reviled the emperor and told
him of his ruin . When the emperor saw that the head of the
saint spoke of his destruction before the assembled multitude
he was greatly ashamed, and he commanded his soldiers to
take it away, and whilst they were doing so it continued to
talk and would not be silent; and when they buried it in the
earth it still uttered many words. And this head remained
buried in the earth for three days, and all the people heard it
talking to the emperor and reviling him , even as the head of
John the Baptist reviled HEROD in days of old ; for HEROD
and DIOCLETIAN were alike in nature and disposition . HEROD
was led astray through fornication, and the drinking of wine,
and at length he killed the Prophet John greater than whom
there was none born of woman . Through the murder of the
 SECOND MONTH - ȚĚĶĚMT (Oct. 8 -Nov. 6 ) 133
righteous man he acquired disgrace, and as for his wife , the
earth swallowed her up ; her daughter perished and he himself
bred wormsin his body,and he putrefied and he died in shame,
wishing to hide his fornication . The head of Saint John
reviled HEROD boldly , and the head of Saint STEPHEN reviled
DIOCLETIAN , who was wishing to prove boldly the greatness
of his idols and their gods, and proclaimed boldly that there
were devils in his gods. And the head prophesied to him that
his kingdom should be broken and his eyes blinded , [ fol. 38 a 3 ]
and that he should receive alms in the gates of the city, and
that he should die in disgrace. When DIOCLETIAN saw that
the head of Saint STEPHEN would not keep silent, he ordered
them to cast it into a lead box and to seal the mouth thereof,
and to throw it into the sea by night ; and by this act the
martyrdom of Saint STEPHEN was finished . Then the angel
of God came down from heaven , and brought out the box of
lead and laid it on the sea - shore. Whilst his mother was search
ing for his body by the Will ofGod she came to the place where
the box of lead was, and she took it from there and laid it up
in her house until the days of persecution were passed ; and
she lighted a lamp at his grave which burned by day and by
night. After the days of persecution were passed she built a
fine church for him , and innumerable signs and miracles were
wrought therein . Salutation to STEPHEN, the son of BASI
LIDES.

And on this day also, in the nine hundred and eighty -fifth
year of the holy martyrs [ (A . D . 1269) the Bodleian Ms. has
A .M . 388], in the reign of ixÔB KHÊR, and in the days when
Abbâ CYRIL held office, a stupendous and marvellous thing
happened in the world , which terrified those who beheld it,
and those who heard thereof on that day. The sun became dark ,
and it became darker and darker until the day was like night,
and the stars [fol. 386 1 ] appeared , and men lighted lamps.
And they feared with a great fear , and they cried out to God ,
and praised Him with all their hearts, and they begged for
His compassion and mercy, which He promised them , and He
multiplied His mercy on them . And He removed fear from
134 THE ETHIOPIC SYNAXARIUM
them , and the light re-appeared, and the sun came forth ac
cording to its custom , and it lighted up the whole world , and
men extinguished their lamps. And the period of the darkness
of the sun was one hour, that is to say, from the half of the
eighth hour to the half of the ninth . And additional praise
must be given to God because He did not hasten to harm men
for their sins, but He made haste to shew His compassion and
longsuffering towards them ; and praise be also to our Lord
Jesus Christ for ever and ever. Amen .

And on this day also is commemorated Abbâ SIMEON the

archbishop (or bishop).

And on this day also THOMAS [the apostle began ] to work

[like an artisan ), and to preach in the country of India where
unto he went with 'ABNÊs the merchant. And 'ABNÊS went
to salute GUENDEFÔR the king, and he told him concerning
THOMAS the carpenter whom he had brought with him . And
the king rejoiced and said unto him , " What is thy trade? ”
And the apostle said , “ I am a carpenter and an architect.
And I can make walls of houses, and beds, and scales, and
wheels ( carts? ), and ships, and oars, and royal palaces.” And
the king rejoiced , and he took THOMAS to a place where he
was going to build a palace, and he said unto him , “ When wilt
thou have builded [the house ]? ” And the apostle said , “ After
two months, [I will begin on ] the new moon of the month
Khědâr (Nov. 7 -Dec. 6 ), and I will finish [fol. 386 2 ] in the
month Mîyâzyâ ” (April 6 -May 5 ). And the king marvelled and
said unto him , “ Every house is builded in the summer, then
how can this house be builded in the winter ? ” Then the king
gave him much money both for himself and for those who
were to work with him , and having taken it, he gave it to the
poor and needy, saying, " I give what belongs to a king to
[another] king.” Then the king sent his minister to the apostle
to learn if the palace was finished , and the apostle said unto
him , “ Thy palace is finished, but there remaineth the roof to
put on .” And the king sent him money a second time, and he
said unto him , “ Finish quickly .” Then when the king came
 SECOND MONTH - ȚĚŽĚMT (Oct. 8 - Nov. 6 ) 135
and asked for the palace which THOMAS had built, the apostle
said unto him , “ No palace hath been built; there are only
the alms given to the poor of thy goods.” And the king was
wroth , and he shut the apostle and the merchant up in prison
until he could think out in what way he should kill them . That
night GÂDÔn the king's brother fell sick and died , and the
angels shewed him the palace which THOMAS had built for
GUENDEFÔR his brother. He said unto them , “ Who is this
palace for ? ” And the angels said unto him , “ This is for the
king , and the Apostle THOMAS who is in the prison house
hath built it for him .” When his soul returned to him GÂDÔN
told his brother this , and then they all vied with each other,
and they went to the prison house and brought out the apostle
and the merchant. And they believed on our Lord Christ,
and were all baptized , both men and women , in the Name of
the Father and the Son and the Holy Ghost, and they received
His Holy Body and His Honourable Blood. Then THOMAS
laid his hands upon them , and gave them the benediction ,
and departed from them .
[ fol. 386 3 ] Salutation to India and salutation to the Merciful
One.

[On this day is commemorated DAVID King of Ethiopia ,

who was called the “ fan of the wicked and the wall of adamant.” ]

X . TĚŽĚMT
IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER AND THE SON
AND THE HOLY GHOST, ONE GOD
On this day died the pure and holy virgin EUNOMIUS
(EUMENIUS), who was the seventh Archbishop of the city of
Alexandria from MARK the apostle. Saint ABREMIUS ap
pointed this holy man deacon and he served the office of deacon
for ten years . When JUSTUS was appointed archbishop and
he saw the virtues of this holy man , and the orthodoxy of his
faith , and his knowledge, he appointed him priest, and he
commanded him to teach the believers of the holy church of
136 THE ETHIOPIC SYNAXARIUM
Alexandria the Ordinances of the Church . When JustUs died
this father was appointed archbishop, and he handed over the
work of the churches and the teaching of the believers to
Father MARCIANUS. And he debated continually with the
wicked men and pagans, and he turned sinners from their
errors, and shewed them plainly the Divinity of our Lord Jesus
Christ , and he said unto them , “ He is equal with His Father
and with the Holy Spirit, One God .” He continued in his
office for thirteen years , and he died on the twentieth day of
the month Țěķěmt, in the sixth year of the [fol. 39 a I] reign of
the Emperor ANTONIUS.
And in his days Saint SOPHIA and her three children became
martyrs. Salutation to EUNOMIUS (E UMENIUS).

And on this day also SERGIUS, the companion of BAC

CHUS, became a martyr. This holy man was from sĚRGÂTIÂ ,
[and] from the palace of the Emperor MAXIMIANUS. And
after the emperor had punished them he sent them to ANTI
OCHUS, a governor in the country of Syria , and he tortured
Saint BACCHUS, and he beat him so severely that he yielded
up his spirit . And he commanded his soldiers to cast his body
into the River Euphrates, butGod protected it and brought it
to the river bank . And God sent to it a lion and a wolf, and they
protected it until God commanded certain saints who lived
there, and they went and fetched the body of Saint BACCHUS
and brought and laid it by them . And Saint SERGIUS sor
rowed and wept because of it , and he saw a vision by night in
which he seemed to see his brother BACCHUS in a beautiful
palace, and he himself was shining brightly ; and the soul of
SERGIUS was comforted by reason of the vision which he had
seen . And after this the governor commanded bis soldiers to
drive long iron pegs into the feet of Saint SERGIUS, and he
sent him to the city of RÛŞÂFÂ in charge of horsemen , and he
had to run by their side, and when they galloped his blood
flowed down upon the ground . [fol. 39 a 2 ] And he met on the
road a certain woman who was a virgin , and he drank water
from her , and she felt compassion for him , and she pitied his
youth and his fine form . And he said unto her, “ Come thou ,
 SECOND MONTH - - ȚĚĶĚMT (OCT. 8 -Nov . 6 ) 137
follow me to the city of RÜŞÂFÂ so that thou mayest take my
body ” ; and the virgin followed him to the city of RÜŞÂFÂ.
And the governor commanded , saying, “ If SERGIUS will not
obey my command and offer up sacrifice to my gods, the soldiers
shall cut off his head with the sword.” And they cut off his
head with the sword which was in the governor's hand. Now
the governor did not wish them to cut off the head of Saint
SERGIUS, because he was a friend of the holy man , and it was
through him that he had obtained his office. And that virgin
drew nigh to Saint SERGIUS having some hair cloth with her,
and she received in it the precious blood which flowed from the
neck of the saint. And she took care of his body until the end
of the days of the persecution , and then they built a fine church
in the city of RÜŞÂFÂ, and fifteen bishops consecrated it and
they laid his body therein . And very many miracles and great
wonders took place through it, and that church subsisteth to
this day. And the body of Saint SERGIUS resteth in it, and
there distilleth from it in the marble sarcophagus a perfumed
oil the odour of which is exceedingly sweet, and it healeth
people who are sick with any kind of sickness. Salutation to
SERGIUS.

[ fol. 39 a 3 ] And on this day also died John the priest, and
fighter. When his head was shaved , because of his excessive
righteousness , they did not soak i.e. soften ) it with water. His
father was Abbâ GABRA NÂZRÂwi of ĶAWÂT. Salutation
to John the priest.

XI. TĚŽĚMT
IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER AND THE SON
AND THE HOLY GHOST, ONE GOD
On this day died the holy father, Abbâ JAMES, Archbishop
of the city of Antioch . Great tribulation fell upon this holy
man , and (the emperor] exiled him because of the orthodoxy
of his faith , and he remained in exile many days. Then the
men of the city of Antioch sent and brought him back , and he
lived there for a few days; and then the men of ARIUS drove
138 THE ETHIOPIC SYNAXARIUM
him forth again , and he remained during the second period of
exile seven years; and he died in peace . Salutation to JAMES,
the Lamp of Antioch .

[fol. 396 1] And on this day also died Saint PELAGIA. This
holy woman was a native of the city of Antioch , and her
parents were infidels, and together with a corrupt faith she
acquired a corrupt manner of life ; and this fell out thus. She
used to live in a playhouse, and she played a tambourine and
sang and danced , and laughed and joked , and amused the
people . And a certain holy man , a bishop whose name was
PAUL, found her, and he rebuked her, and reminded her of the
fire ofGAHÂNAM (GEHENNA) and everlasting punishment. And
his reproof entered her heart and she believed on ourLord Christ
through him , and she confessed to him everything which she
had done, and he encouraged her, and taught her not to despair
through repentance , and the mercy of God . Then he baptized
her with Christian baptism in the Name of the Father and the
Son and the Holy Spirit, and she was illumined by the grace
of the Holy Spirit by baptism . And she entered into penitence
with a firm heart and a pure mind, and she made her body to
endure toil and she brought it low ; then she dressed herself in
the garb of a man , and she went into Jerusalem , and worshipped
in all the churches. And she returned to Abbâ ALEXANDER,
Archbishop of the city of Jerusalem , and he sent her to one of
the houses of virgins which are outside Jerusalem . And she
dwelt therein , and she put on the garb of the nun , and she
strove strenuously in the ascetic life for a period of forty years,
and she was well-pleasing to God , and she died in peace.
Salutation to PELAGIA .

[ fol. 396 2 ] And on this day also took place the contending
of ’ARMÂMI. [ This paragraph is wanting in the Bodleian Ms. ]
 SEC
SECOND MONTH – TĚŽĚMT (OCT. 8 -Nov. 6) 139
XII. TĚŽĚMT
IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER AND THE SON
AND THE HOLY GHOST, ONE GOD
On this day is celebrated the commemorative feast of the
glorious angel, MICHAEL the archangel. On this day God sent
MICHAEL to SAMUEL the prophet whilst he was in the sanc
tuary, and commanded him to go to the house of JESSE , the
father of DAVID , in Bethlehem to anoint his son DAVID king
over the children of Israel. And SAMUEL went to JESSE , and
he said unto him , “ Bring hither all thy sons " ; and JESSE
brought them [all] with the exception of DAVID , who was
tending the sheep in the fields. When SAMUEL raised the horn
of oil of kings over the heads of the sons of JESSE , ſhe saw that]
God was not pleased with them . And SAMUEL said unto
JESSE, " Doth there not remain unto thee some other son ? ”
And JESSE said unto him , “ There remaineth the youth , the
youngest of them , who is herding the sheep in the fields.” And
SAMUEL said unto him , “ Bring him hither ” ; and JESSE
brought him . And straightway SAMUEL took up the horn of
oil of kings, and anointed him , and God was pleased with him ,
and he reigned over the children of Israel. And on this day also
God sent [fol. 396 3 ] Saint MICHAEL the archangel to DAVID
the prophet, and he helped him and gave him strength to slay
GOLIATH, the giant of the Philistines, and deliver the children
of Israel. For this reason the doctors of the Church have com
manded and ordained that the people shall keep a festival in
honour of Saint MICHAEL on the twenty -second day of this
month . Salutation to Saint MICHAEL.
And on this day Saint MATTHEW the apostle and evangelist,
one of the Twelve Apostles , became a martyr, after he had
preached in the cities of the priests , and converted them to the
knowledge of God. Now it happened that when he wished to
go into the city of priests , he found a certain young man who
said unto him , “ Thou wilt not be able to go into this city unless
thou shavest off the hair of thy head and thy beard , and
carriest palm branches in thy hand.” And he did even as the
140 THE ETHIOPIC SYNAXARIUM
young man commanded him , and as he was sorrowing because
of this, straightway our Lord Jesus Christ appeared unto him
under a form which he knew , that is to say, the form of the
young man who had spoken unto him ; and He encouraged and
consoled him and then disappeared from him . When Saint
MATTHEW had entered into the city, hemade himself unseen by
the people , like one of the priests. And he went to the temple of
APOLLO , and found the high priest, and talked with him [fol.
40 a I ] concerning the gods, and Saint MATTHEW made him to
know that they were not gods ; and he wrought miracles and
wonders before him , and light rose upon them , and a table
came down to them from heaven . When HERMES the priest
saw this wonderful thing he said unto Saint MATTHEW , “ What
is the name of your god ? ” And he said , “ The Name of my
God is Christ," and straightway HERMES the priest believed
on our Lord Jesus Christ, and many people believed with him .
When the king of this city heard this thing he commanded his
soldiers to burn them in the fire. And at the moment the son
of the king died , and Saint MATTHEW made supplication to
our Lord Christ, and he raised the king's son from the dead ;
and straightway the king and all the men of the city believed .
Then Saint MATTHEW appointed a bishop and priests over
them , and he built a church for them , and he went forth from
the city to the cities which were outside, and he converted them
and brought them to the knowledge of God . Before this Saint
THOMAS had been to the City of the Blessed , and he saw our
Lord coming to them at all times, having with Him the souls
of babes, which were in number eighteen thousand. And on
the first day of every feast our Lord Christ cometh to them ,
and with Him are His angels. And these blessed ones are they
to whom simẬs the desert priest went, and he was witness of
their strifes, and of their marvellous works. After this Saint
[fol. 40 a 2 ] MATTHEW the apostle and evangelist went to the
city of Jerusalem , and the land of Judah, and he wrote his
Gospel in the Hebrew language. Then he went to the city
which is outside, and he found therein a certain man who was
in prison ; now Saint MATTHEW used to visit those who were
shut up in prison . And theman had to pay back to his lord the
 SECOND MONTH - ȚĚŽĚMT (OCT. 8 - Nov . 6 ) 141
money which he had given him to trade therewith , together
with a profit thereon , but he dropped it into the sea and lost
it. And Saint MATTHEW the apostle said unto that man ,
" Go thou to such and such a place, and what thou findest
therein take, and give to thy lord .” And theman went and he
found a bag full of gold , and he took it and gave it to his master
and was saved . And the story of Saint MATTHEW ' s [act] was
heard throughout the city, and many men believed on our
Lord Jesus Christ. When JUSTUS the governor of that city
heard that many men believed on our Lord Christ, he was ex
ceedingly wroth , and he ordered his soldiers to cut off the head
of Saint MATTHEW , and to cast his body to the fowls of the
air . And they cut off his head with a sword , and certain be
lieving men came and took his holy body and laid it in a holy
place. Salutation to MATTHEW whose voice compelled the
deep to restore from its depths to a certain man the gold which
had sunk in it.

[fol. 40 a 3 ] And on this day also died the holy father, the
pure virgin , the fighter of lusts, the vanquisher of natural
appetites, Abbâ DEMETRIUS the twelfth Archbishop of the
city of Alexandria . This holy man was a man of the people
(i.e. of lowly origin ) and he knew not letters, and he used to
work in a vineyard . His parents gave him a wife in his youth ,
and he lived with her until he was appointed archbishop
forty -eight years. Both husband and wife remained virgins,
and no one knew about them except God , Who knoweth souls
and hearts . When the time drew nigh for the death of Saint
JULIAN the archbishop , the predecessor of DEMETRIUS, the
angel of the Lord appeared unto this holy man and told him
that DEMETRIUS was to be archbishop after him . And he
gave him a sign concerning him , and said unto him , “ To
morrow a man shall come unto thee having a cluster of grapes
with him ; seize him and pray over him , and appoint him
archbishop ,” When Saint JULIAN woke up from his sleep ,
he told the bishops and the priests who lived with him what
he had seen , and what the angel of the Lord had said unto him
concerning DEMETRIUS the archbishop. When the morning
 142 THE ETHIOPIC SYNAXARIUM
had come this Saint DeMETRIUS, the archbishop , found in
the vineyard a cluster of grapes which had ripened before their
time, and he took it to Abbâ JULIAN the archbishop, so that
he might be blessed by him . And Saint JULIAN took him by
the hand, and said unto the [fol. 406 1 ] bishops and priests,
“ This is he who shall be archbishop after me." And they prayed
over him , and they took him and bound him until Abbâ JULIAN
died , whereupon they finished the prayers over him and made
him archbishop . And he was full of heavenly grace, and he
was versed in many kinds of learning, and he knew by heart
all the Books of the Church and the interpretations thereof,
and he read many abstruse works . It was he who regulated
the reckoning of the Epacts , for the Christians used to keep
the festival of the Baptism , and on the following day [began ]
the fast of Forty Days. And at the octave of His Passion they
celebrated the festival of the Passion of our Lord by itself, and
this they did from the days of the Apostles until the days of
this father. And this father proclaimed the reckoning of the
Epactby the Holy Spirit , and he regulated the reckoning of the
Holy Fast. And he sent out letters [concerning it ] to the Arch
bishops of the city of Rômê, and of the city of Ephesus, and of
the city of Antioch, and of the city of Jerusalem , and they
rejoiced thereat, and they ordered [the Holy Fast ] even as it
is at this day. And God was with this Father DEMETRIUS
because of his sincerity (or purity). He used always to look
for our Lord Jesus Christ at the time of the consecration of the
Offering as he was administering the Holy Mysteries to those
who were meet for them ; and he drove away sinners, and said
unto them , “ Go ye and repent, and afterwards come and ye
shall receive the Holy Mysteries ; ye shall not receive them
whilst ye are in sin so that ye may not go into GAHÂNAM
(GEHENNA).” And Saint DEMETRIUS [fol. 406 2 ] used to
reveal their sins to the people , those which they committed in
secret, and he would rebuke each one of them for the sins which
they committed. Because of this believers were afraid of him ,
and themembers of his congregation did not commit sin because
of their exceedingly great fear of him , and because they did
not wish him to put them to shame before the congregation .
 SECOND MONTH - ȚĚŽĚMT (Oct. 8 -Nov. 6 ) 143
And some of the people whom he used to rebuke for their sins
would say among themselves, “ This man is married , and his
wife is with him at this present, why should he rebuke us
especially ? None but a virgin should be appointed to the
throne of MARK the evangelist.” One night an angel of the
Lord came to him and said unto him , “ DEMETRIUS, permit
not thyself only to do as thou pleasest , and permit not thy
neighbour to be destroyed . Remember that our Lord Christ
saith in the Holy Gospel, ‘ The good shepherd giveth his life
for his flock.'” And DEMETRIUS said unto him , “ What is it
that thou wouldst say unto me,my lord ? ” And the angel said
unto him , " Reveal the mystery which is between thyself and
thy wife to the people.” On the following day the festival of
Pentecost was celebrated, and this holy Father DEMETRIUS
consecrated the Offering, and he commanded the archdeacons
to tell the priests and all the people who were there that they
were not to leave the church , but to stay together therein ;
and the archdeacons did as the archbishop had commanded .
When the priests and the people were assembled he com
manded that much wood should be brought and that a fire
should bemade of it, and [when ] [fol. 406 3] they had done so ,
this abbâ archbishop rose and stood up in the midst of the
burning fire whilst all the people were looking on . And he
prayed for a long time, and then he spread out his garment and
took some of the fire with his hand and placed it in it. Then
he called his wife , and she came unto him , and he said unto
her, “ Spread out thy woollen head-cloth,” and he cast some
red-hot charcoal into it, and then he said unto her, “ Stand up
that we may pray .” And the red -hot charcoal continued to
burn in the woollen head -cloth , and the cloth was not burned ;
and they remained in this position and prayed for a long time.
After this the priests and the people asked him , saying, “ We
require thy holiness , O our father, to make us know what this
mystery is .” And he said unto them , “ I have not done this
seeking for the vain praise of this world , but behold , I have
lived with this woman for eight and forty years, until this day.
Now this woman whom thou seest was the daughter of my
father's brother . Her relatives died and they left her, then a
144 THE ETHIOPI SYNAXA
C RIUM
little girl in my father's house, and I was brought up with her.
When I was fifteen years of age my father gave her unto me in
marriage. When we entered themarriage- chamber in our house ,
she said unto me, ' Why have they given me in marriage to
thee , seeing that I am thy sister ? ' And I said unto her, 'Dost
thou wish us to live together in one house , and never to separate
from each other, and to preserve our virginity undefiled , and
that there shall be nothing between us? ' And she said , ' Yea.'
And I have lived with her in one place for eight and forty years ,
and we have lain in the same bed on one bedstead. And the
Lord God Who [fol. 41a I ] is judge between us, and Who
knoweth what is hidden and the thoughts of hearts , He knoweth
that I have never known her as a woman , and on her part she
doth not know me as a man , but we have passed all these days
just lying side by side. When we lift ourselves up we see as it
were a face which resembleth that of an eagle in our bed ,
between me and between her. And he layeth his left wing over
her and his right wing over me, and this he doeth from the time
we lie down until the morning , and then he disappeareth .
Now do not think , O Christian people , that I have revealed
this matter unto you because I am seeking the praise which
men desire in this world , but God hath commanded me to
reveal unto you this mystery, for He wisheth what is good for
all men — the Christ, the Redeemer of all the world .” And in
the days of this father certain evil men appeared whose names
were ĶALÊMÔs, and 'AGÂNỘs, and others with them , and they
wrote a lying book ; and DEMETRIUS anathematized them and
excommunicated them . And during the days of his office he
taught and encouraged the Christian people , and all believers,
every day regularly . When he was grown old and feeble they
used to carry him on a litter , and set him down in the church ,
and he taught the people all day long from sunrise to sunset,
and all the people pressed eagerly to hear his doctrine. And all
the days of his life were one hundred and five (six ? ) years.
Of these were fifteen during which he was unmarried , and
eight and forty years passed before [fol. 41a 2 ] he was appointed
archbishop, and he held the office of archbishop for three and
forty years; and he died in peace. Salutation to DEMETRIUS.
 SECOND MONTH - ȚĚŽĚMT (OCT. 8 - Nov . 6 ) 145
And on this day also are commemorated the righteous men
PETER, and DIONYMUS (or DIYÔNÂs), and the strife of
YÂ'EĶÔB, and ABŮ ȚEFÂ, and THEODORE, and ’AMINUS
(AMÂNUS) .

XIII . TĚŽĚMT
IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER AND THE SON
AND THE HOLY GHOST, ONE GOD
On this day Saint PTOLEMACHUS and his brethren became
martyrs.
Salutation to PTOLEMACHUS and his brethren .
Salutation to PAUL, the new Tawrâsî.

And on this day also died the [fol. 41 a 3 ] holy father Abbâ
ZACHARIAS the monk. The name of the father of this holy
man was 'AĶÂRYÔs. And 'aķÂRYÔs wished for the garb of
the monk , and when he told his wife this thought, she agreed
with what he said unto her . And he had two children, one boy
and one little girl. And 'AĶÂRYôs left the children with their
mother , and he went to the desert of SCETE, and he became a
monk there under the direction of a certain holy old man who
was a monk . After a few days there was a great famine in the
city , and his wife took the two children and came to the desert
of SCETE to their father 'AĶÂRYÔs, and she told him of the
tribulation which had come upon her through the famine.
And she said unto her two children , “ Go to your father," and
the two children wandered about for a little , and the girl
returned to hermother. And 'AķÂRYÔs said unto her, “ Behold ,
God hath done what is right, and hath divided the two children
between us ; take thou the girl and I will take the boy .” And
the woman took her daughter and departed , and 'AKÂRYÔS
took his son , who was this father ZACHARIAS, and brought
him to the holy old men , and they prayed over him , and they
prophesied that he would become a perfect monk. And Zach
ARIAS was brought up with every kind of good work in the
desert of SCETE, and with every kind of virtue and righteous
work . And his form was exceedingly handsome, and there
BESI 10
146 THE ETHIOPIC SYNAXARIUM

were many murmurings in the desert because of him , and the

monks said among themselves, “ How is it possible for such
an exceedingly handsome young man to dwell in the desert
[ fol. 416 1 ] of SCETE among monks? ” And when ZACHARIAS
heard that the monks were murmuring because of him , he
departed to the lake of DABRA NÂȚRÛN , which is like unto
salt . And none of the people knew him , and he stripped off his
apparel, and plunged his body into the lake, and he remained
under the salt water for many hours. And his body swelled
and became discoloured , and his flesh became full of sores
like unto that of a man who is sick . Then he went forth from
the lake and put on his apparel and came to his father 'AĶÂR
Yôs; and when his father saw him he did not know him , but
after a few days he recognized him and knew that he was his
son . And he asked him and said unto him , “ What is it that hath
changed thy appearance ? ” And he told him everything that
had happened and how he had submerged himself in the lake
of NÂȚRÛN, which is ḥambô (salt). And when the First Day of
the week came, he went to the church to receive the Holy
Mysteries with the brethren . And God shewed to Abbâ ISI
DORE, priest of SCETE, what Abbâ ZACHARIAS had done,
and when Abbâ ZACHARIAS came to Abbâ ISIDORE to re
ceive the Offering he looked at him and marvelled at him , and
he said unto the monks, " ZACHARIAS received the Offering
on the last First Day of the week like every other man , and now
he hath become an angel ofGod .” And when the other monks
knew what ZACHARIAS had done they marvelled exceedingly ,
and they ascribed blessing and praise to him . And this Father
ZACHARIAS possessed together with other excellences the
virtue of humility, [ fol. 416 2 ] and his humility was so perfect
that his father spake of it to the monks, and said unto them ,
“ I have laboured greatly, but I have never attained to the
rule of this my son ZACHARIAS.” This ZACHARIAS lived a
strenuous life and strove exceedingly for five and forty years ;
now when he came to the desert of SCETE he was seven years
of age. And all the days of his life were two and fifty years,
and he was well-pleasing unto God and he died in peace.
Salutation to ZACHARIAS.
 SECOND MONTH - ŢĚĶĚMT (OCT. 8 - NOV. 6) 147
And on this day also are commemorated 'EULÂNÂ, and
EULACIUS (EULOCHIUS ?), and THEODORE, and ’ABLAS
and his brethren , and NITOLAUS, and 'ABÊLÂ .

XIV . ȚĚĶĚMT
IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER AND THE SON
AND THE HOLY GHOST, ONE GOD
On this day died the holy Apostle PHILIP who was one of
the seventy -two disciples. This holy man was a native of the
city of Caesarea of the Philistines, and when our Lord Jesus
Christ passed through the city of Caesarea He taught therein .
And when the holy man [fol. 416 3 ] heard His doctrine, he
believed in Him , and submitted to His commands, and followed
Him straightway . And of those who followed Him our Lord
chose seventy-two disciples, and sent them out to preach , and
to heal the sick, and this man was among their number ; and
He chose [also] Twelve Apostles, [and ] of their number were
the seven deacons whom He appointed for them . And this
holy man preached in the cities of Samaria and baptized [men
therein ] with Christian baptism . And he baptized Simon the
magician , who perished when he wished to buy with money
the gift of the Holy Spirit. And the angel of the Lord appeared
unto this disciple PHILIP , and he commanded him to go by
the way of the country of GÂZÛ. And he rose up and went
there, and he found the eunuch , the steward of HENDAKÊ
(CANDACE), the Queen of Ethiopia , and he was reading in the
Book of Isaiah the Prophet. And the words which he was
reading said , “ Like a sheep he came to his slaughter, and like
a sheep that bleateth not before him that will shear him "
(Isaiah liii. 7) ; and this disciple PHILIP explained to him the
meaning of the words which he was reading. And he said unto
him , “ This is a prophecy concerning our Lord Jesus Christ,
Who suffered of His own free will for the salvation of men."
And the eunuch believed through PHILIP the disciple, and he
asked him to baptize him , and Philip did so . After he had
baptized him the angel of the Lord carried PHILIP the disciple
to the city of ’AZDÂD (ASHDOD ) and he preached therein .
10 - 2
148 THE ETHIOPIC SYNAXARIUM
And he departed to Asia , and there he preached the Gospel,
and there were four [fol. 42a I ] sons who preached with him .
And having converted many of the Jews and Samaritans, and
other peoples, and brought them into the Faith of our Lord
Jesus Christ , he died in peace .
Salutation to PHILIP and to his four sons who prophesied .

And on this day also died the holy Father MOSES, the man
of God . This holy man was a native of the city of Rômê; his
father's name was EUPHEMIANUS, and his mother 's name
was AGLAIAS. And they were exceedingly rich, and their
possessionswere very many, and their slaves weremorenumerous
than those of any others of their family , and they were arrayed
in rich apparel which was embroidered in gold , and they wore
girdles of gold . And they feared God and performed His com
mandments, and they fasted every day until the ninth hour,
and they only ate once in the day , and then it was with the
poor and the needy . And they had no children , and they used
to entreat God the Most High to give them a son , blessed and
good, who should do God's good pleasure . And God heard
their petition and gave them a son who was very handsome in
person, and the grace ofGod was upon him . And they rejoiced
in him with a great joy, and they made a great festival for the
poor and needy, and they multiplied their well-doing. And
they called that [fol. 42 a 2 ] son MOSES, which being inter
preted is “ man of God ” ; for God heard their petition for him .
And they brought him up very piously , and they taught him
all kinds of learning and spiritual wisdom . When the child
had grown up, his father EUPHEMIANUS said unto his wife
AGLAIAS, “ Behold our son MOSES hath arrived at man 's
estate, and it is meet that we should give him in marriage to
a wife .” And his mother rejoiced at these words, and they
betrothed him to a daughter of one of the nobles of the city
of RÔMÊ (BYZANTIUM ),whose person was exceedingly beauti
ful. And they made a great feast to celebrate his marriage,
and they decorated the church of God , that is to say HAGIA
SOFIA in the city of RÔMÊ (BYZANTIUM ). And they made
MOSES to stand with his wife before the Tabernacle, and they
 SECOND MONTH — ȚĚĶĚMT (OCT. 8 - NOV . 6 ) 149
crowned him with the holy crown of matrimony, and they
received the Holy Mysteries and they came to their house in
peace . And EUPHEMIANUS said unto his friend, " Tell the
bridegroom to come into the marriage -chamber to his bride,
and let him rejoice in her after the manner of all men.” When
Moses the man of God heard this word , he came into the
marriage-chamber, and he saw the maiden , and he marvelled
at her person exceedingly , and he praised God , and blessed
Him , and he thought within himself, saying, " Will not all this
beauty of person pass away and decay and become dust? ”
And he entreated God to guide him into the path of the king
dom of the heavens. And he said unto the maiden , " Peace be
unto thee, O my sister , thou noble maiden ! ” And he stripped
himself of his glorious apparel and gave it unto her, and said
unto her, “ Have me in remembrance ( fol. 42 a 3 ], O my noble
sister , until wemeet again before our Lord Jesus Christ.” And
having said this unto her he went forth from her and he de
parted by road until he came to a city which is on the sea-shore.
And he went into the city , and sold all his raiment, and gave
the price thereof to the poor and needy, and he dressed himself
in rags like the beggars and he went from one place to another
begging bread and eating it, until he came to the city of RÔÌÂ
(EDESSA). And he went into the church in the city wherein
is the picture of our Lord Jesus Christ which our Lord sent
unto EUGYÂNôs, the King of RôÌâ (EDESSA ), and he prayed
before the picture of our Lady MARY and was blessed by her.
And he gave thanks unto God , the Most High , and he went
out of the church and sat down with the poor and needy,
and he lived upon the bread of charity. He fasted always until
the evening, and he prayed by day and by night, and wept
without ceasing. When his father and his mother came into
the marriage-chamber, and did not find their son MOSES, their
joy was changed to sorrow . Then EUPHEMIANUS called his
servants , and gave them much gold, and he said unto them ,
" Go ye into every city and country, two of you into each city,
and give alms to the poor from that gold for the sake ofmy son
MOSES.” And two of his father 's servants came to MOSES,
and gave him alms with the (other) beggars. Now Saint
150 THE ETHIOPIC SYNAXARIUM

MOSES knew these servants , but they did not know him , and
he said , [ fol. 426 1] “ I give thanks unto Thee , O my Lord God,
that Thou hast esteemed me fit for this great honour, that is
for me to receive alms from the hands of my father's servants
for the love of Thy Name.” Now his father's servants con
tinued to go round about through many cities for many days
[seeking him ). After they had returned to EUPHEMIANUS
their lord, the father of Saint MOSES, the man of God , they
said unto him , “ We have come into every city and we have
not found thy son .” And Saint MOSES, the man of God , was
fasting two days at a time, and then three days at a time, until
at length he did not eat at all except on the First Day of the
week . After this our Lady MARY appeared unto one of the
righteous elders among the priests of that church , and she said
unto him , “ Go outside the church , and say unto thatman who
is standing by the pillar, 'Come, O man of God ,' and bring him
into the sanctuary for his fasting, and his prayer, and his
righteousness have ascended like the sweet- smelling incense
into heaven .” And on the following day that priest came to
him at the moment when they were offering up the Offering
upon the altar, and asked him to come into the sanctuary . And
MOSES wept and entreated him , saying, “ Forgive me, O my
father ! I am a sinner, and I am not worthy to stand in the holy
place.” And the priest said unto him , “ O man ofGod , come
into the sanctuary, for I am sent unto thee" ; and he told him
how our Holy Lady the Virgin MARY had appeared unto him ,
and how she had spoken unto him concerning him . And MOSES
[fol. 425 2 ] said unto him , “ I am a sinfulman , and the greatest
sinner in all the world .” After this he rose up to go to the city
of TARSÊS (TARSHISH ), which is the city of PAUL the apostle,
and he said , “ I will dwell herein until the day of my death ."
Then he thought in his heart and said , “ Verily this is the Will
of our Lord Jesus Christ ; the Name of the Lord is living. I will
not hide myself from any man , and I will not separate myself
from the gates of my father 's house, for who is there among the
people here who will know me? ” So he went to his father's
house . And as he was going along he saw his father and very
many men following him , and MOSES, the man of God , went
 SECOND MONTH - ȚĚŽĚMT (OCT. 8- NOV. 6) 151
and laid hold of the bridle of his father's horse as he was sitting
on it, and he said unto him , “ O good and blessed man , may
God forgive thee thy sins, and grant thee the petition of thy
heart. Know now that I am a [fol. 426 3 ] pilgrim and a stranger,
if thou wishest to feed me with the broken meats of thy table ,
God the Merciful will magnify thy reward , if thou wilt have
mercy upon my poverty and my wandering .” When EUPHE
MIANUS heard these words he thought of the wandering of his
son MOSES, theman ofGod, and tears burst from his eyes and
he groaned within himself. And he took MOSES with him into
the house, and he commanded his servants to give him a seat
before the door of the house, and they did for him even as he
had commanded, and he commanded one of his slaves to serve
him . And MOSES, the man of God , said unto that slave, “ I
entreat thee, O my brother, to bring me food and drink only
on the First Day of the week , and then only bring me a part of
a loaf of bread and a cup of water, after I have received the
Holy Mysteries.” And he continued to lead this life of self
abnegation and strife for a period of twelve years, sitting at the
door of his father's house. And God wished to remove him
from the toil of this world , and our Lord Jesus Christ appeared
unto him , and said unto him , “ Blessed art thou , O MOSES,
My chosen one, for thou hast done My good pleasure , and thou
hast loved sorrow far more than joy , and thou hast forsaken
riches and sought after poverty. I, even I, say unto thee, that
everyone who hath called upon thy name, or hath celebrated
thy commemoration , or hath fed the hungry on the day of thy
commemoration , or hath given the thirsty to drink , or hath
clothed the naked , or hath written the book of thy strife , I will
reward them with a splendid reward in the [fol. 43 a 1 ) kingdom
of the heavens; and in this world I will protect them from all
evil, and I will not permit them to lack any good thing. And
now , O my beloved MOSES, thou man of God, after four days
I will take thy soul from thy body, and I will set thee with the
souls of the righteous, and of the prophets, and apostles, and
martyrs.” And having said these wordsHe gave him " peace ,”
and went up into heaven . When the holy man saw this vision
he rejoiced and was exceedingly glad . And he said unto that
152 THE ETHIOPIC SYNAXARIUM
slave who ministered unto him , “ Bring hither to me paper and
ink , and henceforward thou wilt have rest from labour for me” ;
and the slave marvelled at his words and brought him the paper
and ink. And MOSES, the man of God , wrote the full history
of his strife, from the beginning even unto the end thereof. On
the fourth day he took the paper which he had written in his
hand , and he died on the First Day of the week , and his soul
went up into the heavens, and the angels and the righteous,
and the martyrs, and the prophets , and the apostles welcomed
it, saying, “ Hallelujah ! Redeemer our God ” ; and they came
into the heavens. And all the people were gathered together
in the church at the time of the consecration (of the Offering),
and they heard a voice above the altar crying out, and saying,
“ Blessed are the good servants who have performed the com
mandments and the ordinances of their Lord, for they are in
joy for ever.” When the archbishops, and priests, and deacons,
and bishops, and all the people heard this voice, great fear,
and severe quaking fell upon them until the end of the consecra
tion : [ fol. 43a 2 ] and nons, and all the priests into them And
tion ; [fol. 43 a 2] and they received the Holy Mysteries.
afterwards the archbishops, and all the priests, and the people
entreated our Lord Jesus Christ to reveal unto them th this
is
mystery . And straightway a voice was heard which said ,
“ Rejoice with MOSES, theman ofGod , in the house of EUPHE
MIANUS, for behold , he hath delivered up his soul into the hand
of God .” And when the archbishop heard this, he called
EUPHEMIANUS and said unto him , “ This great joy which
dwelt in thy house ; Why didst thou not inform me about him
so that we might have visited him during his life and been
blessed by him .” And EUPHEMIANUS answered and said
unto him , “ Thy holy prayer is certain . Thou must know , O
holy father, that I did not know that the like of this man existed
in my house." And straightway the archbishops, and the
priests , and all the people went to the house of EUPHEMIANUS,
and they found MOSES, the man of God , where he died with
the paper in his hand . And the archbishop took the paper
out of his hand, and he read it before all the people until
he came to his name which was MOSES, the man of God, the
son of EUPHEMIANUS and his mother AGLAIAS. When his
 SECOND MONTH - ȚĚĶĚMT (OCT. 8 - Nov. 6) 153
father and his mother heard this they wept bitterly . Then the
archbishop wrapped him in silk cloths, and they took him
and carried him into the church and laid him in the sanctuary
until all the people and the priests had been blessed by him .
And immediately very many sick people came, the deaf and
the blind, and they all received a blessing [fol. 43a 3] from his
holy body, and they were all healed of their sicknesses . When
the people became very many his father was afraid that they
would overturn the body of the saint from his bier, and he
commanded his servants to scatter money among the people .
And the servants scattered much gold in order that they might
leave the body of the saint, but they would not go after the
gold , and no man ever returned afterwards to the gold . After
this they laid the body of the saint in the great church of the
Apostles PETER and PAUL. And many miracles took place
through his body, the blind were made to see, and the dumb
became able to speak , and the sick were healed , and the lame
walked, and the deaf heard , and the lepers were cleansed, and
from those who were possessed of devils the devils went out.
[Salutation to] MOSES, whose name is written on a pillar of
gold in the Jerusalem of the heavens.

And on this day also died Saint GABRA KRĚSTÔs, the son
of THEODOSIUS, Emperor of Constantinia . Now THEO
DOSIUS was a God -loving man and one who feared God , and
his wife was a good and God -fearing woman , and her namewas
MARKIZÂ (MARCHESA) ; and they were sorrowful because
they had no son . And they went to Jerusalem , and they made
vows, and they made supplication to God , and He heard them
and gave them a son , and they called his name 'ABD AL
MASÎụ, that is to say, GABRA KRĚSTÔs. And they taught
him every kind of learning on the earth , and there was nothing
which he did not learn . [ fol. 436 1 ] Afterwards they married
him to a princess of Rômê, and they brought to him the bride,
and they performed for him all the ceremonies which are wont
to be performed for the bridegroom and bride. And at mid
night GABRA KRĚSTôs took the bride by the hand , and they
made a covenant together, and then they recited the prayer of
154 THE ETHIOPIC SYNAXARIUM

belief — “ We believe in one God ” — to the end thereof. Then

he stripped off himself the marriage-garments, and dressed
himself in coarse apparel, and he went to the bride and kissed
her head , and he bade her farewell, saying unto her, “ God be
with thee, and deliver thee from every evil work of Satan .”
And she wept and said unto him , “ Whither goest thou ? And
to whom wilt thou leaveme?” And he said unto her, " I leave
thee to God , and I am going to follow Christ, for my father's
kingdom is a transitory thing. Remember thou thine oath ” ;
and straightway she was silent and remembered her oath. And
he went forth by night whilst those who belonged to the
marriage-chamber were sleeping, and he came to the sea -shore
where he found certain men who were about to sail, and they
took him with them . And when his father and his mother
went into the marriage-chamber, and found only the bride and
not the bridegroom , they said unto her, “ Where is our son ? ”
And she said unto them , “ He came in to me in the night, and
made me swear an oath , and made a covenant with me, and he
kissed my head , and went away from me, and I have passed the
night weeping .” When they heard her words, they fell down
upon the ground , on their faces, and they groaned , and uttered
loud cries of grief and lamentation . And the Emperor THEO
DOSIUS sent out five hundred of his servants to seek his son ,
and he gave them much gold to distribute [fol. 43b 2 ] among
the poor in alms. Now GABRA KRĒSTÔs arrived in the
country of Armenia after a journey of one year. And there was
a church built in the name of our Lady MARY, and he lived
there for five years fasting and keeping vigil. And two envoys,
servants of his father, arrived there , and they searched for him
but were unable to hear any news of him ; and they gave alms
to the poor, and GABRA KRĚSTÔs himself received some of
them . After he had dwelt there for five and twenty years , our
holy Lady the Virgin MARY appeared unto a certain priest,
and she said unto him , “ Take the man ofGod with thee, and
let his habitation be inside [the church]” ;and he did as she had
commanded him . And GABRA KRĒSTÔs said , “ My Lady,
why dost thou reveal my secret ? ” And he bade farewell to
her picture (or image) and he departed by night and came to
 SECOND MONTH — ȚĚŽĚMT (Oct. 8 -Nov. 6 ) 155
the sea-shore , where he found a ship in which he embarked .
Now he wished to depart to another country , but by the Will
of God he arrived at his father's city , and he dwelt there for
fifteen years and no man recognized him . And his father's
servants used to make sport of him ; but Saint GABRA KRĚS
TÔs said , “ [ O God ] punish not my father's servants for their
offence, but take me to Thyself ” ; and thus saying he died , and
they buried him with honour. As they were burying him they
found a paper grasped tightly in his hand and they were unable
to remove it, and they prayed together to the God of heaven ;
andwhen they had prayed the paperwas released from his hand ,
and they read it, and they knew that he was their son. Then
they wept bitterly, and they buried him , and his tomb became
a place where the sick [fol. 436 3 ] were healed, and where the
blind (were made to see], and where many miracles were
wrought, and where countless acts of grace were performed .
Salutation to GABRA KRĚSTÔs, whose sores the dogs licked
in the courtyard of his father's house.

And on this day also is commemorated our holy Father

'ARAGÂwî, who is surnamed ZA -MÎKÂÊL. This holy man
became a guide to the servants of God on the road . And he
went up to theholy DABRA DÂMô holding the tail of a serpent,
and there he fought countless noble fights. And God graciously
made a covenant with him concerning the man who should call
upon his name, and the man who should celebrate his com
memoration , and then he was hidden from the face of death
by the grace of God . He established among his children the
Rules for the Monastic Life , which he had learned in the house
of his father PACHOMIUS. Salutation to ZA -MÎKÂÊL who
was surnamed " 'ARAGÂwi."

And on this day also are commemorated TRÂKWÂ the

martyr, and those who were with him , and DAMATIUS, and
’EMRÂYn the martyr, and the four hundred and thirty- [ fol.
44a I ] one martyrs who were with her .
 PIC ARIUM
156 THE ETHIO SYNAX

XV . TĚŽĚMT
IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER AND THE SON
AND THE HOLY GHOST, ONE GOD
On this day the holy and honourable BÎLÂMÔN became a
martyr. This holy man was a native of Nicomedia ; his father
worshipped idols and his mother was a Christian . They taught
him philosophy and he was well educated, and he passed under
the care of a certain priest whose name was 'ARMALUS (HAR
MALUS ? ), and he taught him the true Faith of our Lord Jesus
Christ and he baptized him with Christian baptism . And he
fought a strenuous fight, and God wrought by his hand great
miracles and wonders . And there came unto him a certain
blind man so that he might work by his skill some salvation
for his eyes, and Saint BÎLÂMÔN made the sign of the Cross
over the eyes of the blind man , saying, “ In the Name of the
Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit," and his eyes were
relieved straightway, and he could see with them as in former
times, and he was healed. When the king heard the story of
the blindman whowas healed of his sickness, hehad him brought
into his presence, and he said unto him , “ Who was it that
healed thine eyes?” And he said unto the king, " Saint BÎLÂ
MÔN healed me by laying his hand upon my eyes, and making
the sign of the Cross, and saying , 'In the Name of the Father
and the Son and the [fol. 44 a 2 ] Holy Spirit,' and straightway
I saw the light." And the man who had been blind and had
been healed cried out before the king and said boldly , “ I am a
Christian .” And the king ordered his soldiers to cut off the head
of the blind man who had been healed, and straightway they
cut off his head with the sword , and he received the crown of
martyrdom in the kingdom of heaven . Then the king sent and
had Saint BILÂMÔN brought to him , and enquired of him
concerning his Faith, and he confessed boldly before him and
said unto him , “ I am a Christian .” And the king tried to seduce
him by means of much persuasion , and he promised him very
many things, but the saint had no desire for any of the things
which he promised him . Then was the king wroth with him ,
 SECOND MONTH - ȚĚĶĚMT (OCT. 8 - NOV . 6 ) 157
and ſhe cried out] with a loud voice , saying, " If thou wilt not
hearken unto my voice I will inflict upon thee severe torture."
And Saint BÎLÂMÔn answered and said unto him , “ I am not
afraid of thy torture.” And straightway the king tortured him
with severe tortures for many days, by applying one torture
at a time, by beating , by suspension (i.e . crucifixion ), by casting
him into the sea, and into the fire. Whilst he was suffering
these great tortures our Lord Jesus Christ appeared unto him
in the form of 'ARMALUS (HARMALUS ?) the priest who
baptized him , and he heard His voice, which was full of joy ,
saying, “ O My chosen one BiLÂMÔN, I have made ready for
thee and the heavenly joy which is for ever. ” When the king's
soldiers heard this word of joy , they believed on our Lord Jesus
Christ, to Whom be praise and blessing ! And they drew nigh
unto the king, and they cried out, saying , “ We believe on our
Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Living [fol. 44 a 3] God .”
And straightway the king commanded his soldiers to cut off
their heads with the sword , and they did so , and at the same
time they cut off the head of Saint BÎLÂMÔN , and they all
received the crown of martyrdom in the kingdom of the
heavens.

Salutation to 'Asķir , and CYRIACUS.

Salutation to silÂs the disciple of PAUL.
Twofold salutation to the Apostles of the Father.

And on this day also five hundred and sixty people who
formed the company of Saint PANTALEON becamemartyrs.
And on this day also died SALATION , and 'ATRAKIUS, and
Abbã YARPES (IPHRASIUS ? ), and ANDRONICUS, and
ARMOLIUS (HERMOLIUS ? ), and HERMES, and HARMOKTIS,
and the holy women ADMANIA and ŞAMATÂ , and Father
ISAIAH, and SILAS the disciple of PAUL.
 M
O PIC X ARIU
158 THE ETHI SYNA

XVI. TĚŽĚMT
[ fol. 446 1 ] IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER AND THE
SON AND THE HOLY GHOST, ONE GOD
On this day died the holy father, Abbâ AGATHON, the
thirty-ninth Archbishop of the city of Alexandria . And they
chose this father to be archbishop, and they took him and
bound him , and they appointed him Archbishop of the city of
Alexandria, when Abbâ BENJAMIN , the archbishop who pre
ceded him , died. And great tribulation came because of the
Orthodox Faith . In his days there was a certain man whose
name was THEODOSIUS, a Melchite , and he went and came
to the city of Damascus, to King YAZÊ D , and he gave him
presents and much money , and YAZÊ D appointed him governor
of Alexandria , and the North , and Mareotis. When he came
to the city of Alexandria he afflicted our father Archbishop
AGATHON , and he levied tax upon him , and he took from
[each of his disciples thirty -six gold dinârs. And he compelled
AGATHON to give him money for the service of the emperor's
ships each year, and the archbishop gave seven hundred gold
dînârs each year. Now because of the evil of this man THEO
DOSIUS, his fellow Melchite did not associate with him , for he
hated him because of the evil which he did to the Archbishop
Abbâ AGATHON . And our father the archbishop was not able
to go out of his cell until God had destroyed that evil man .
And in the days of this father the building of the holy church
[fol. 446 2 ] of the blessed Abbâ MACARIUS was completed.
One night the angel of the Lord appeared unto this father, and
he made known to him that in the country of the FAYYÛM
there was a certain righteous monk whose name was JOHN,
and he belonged to the church of Saint Abbâ MACARIUS.
And the angel commanded him to send and bring him to him
so that he might help him in admonishing the people and in
teaching them ; and the angel said also unto him , “ He shall be
archbishop after thee.” And straightway Abbâ AGATHON
sent and brought the monk, and he delivered to him the work
of the churches , and the ordering and teaching and admonishing
 SECOND MONTH — ȚĚĶĚMT (Oct. 8 -Nov . 6) 159
of the people. And this Father AGATHON died through over
work , and he held his office for fully nineteen years and he died
in peace. Salutation to Abbâ AGATHON.

And on this day also are commemorated Saint Abbâ MA

CROBIUS, and Saint Abbâ ' ĚBLÔ (or APOLLO), and Saint
Abbâ Peter the disciple of Abbâ ISAIAH the anchorite .
Salutation to MACROBIUS, 'ĚBLÔ, and PETER.

[fol. 446 3] And on this day also are commemorated PÂRĚBÛ,

and the five and forty righteous men of EL- DĚRĶÊ, and
ARÔN (AARON ) the fighter , and ĶARBŮ, and 'ANALYŮ, and
Abbâ PAWLI, and MARK, and GÂDĚL.

XVII. TĚŽĚMT
IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER AND THE SON
AND THE HOLY GHOST, ONE GOD
On this day died FILIAS (or filYÂs) themartyr, bishop of
the country of TAMIAS, in the days of ĶUĚLĶUĚLIANUS.
They brought Saint FILIAS in before the company of the
governors, and ĶUĚLĶUĚLIANUS said unto him , “ Sacrifice
to the gods ” ; and FILIAS said , “ I will not offer up sacrifice
except to God , and to Him alone.” ĶUĚLĶUĚLIANUS said ,
“ What kind of sacrifice doth God wish ? ” And FILIAS an
swered and said, “ A pure heart and righteous judgement, and
the word which is true ; such are the sacrifices wherewith God
is well pleased .” ĶUĚLĶUĚLIANUS said , “ Did not PAUL
sacrifice ? ” and FILIAS said , " God forbid ! ” ĶUĚLĶUĚLI
ANUS said unto him , “ Did not MOSES sacrifice? ” And FILIAS
said , “ Unto the Jews only was the command given that they
should sacrifice in Jerusalem .” ĶUĚLĶUĚLIANUS said , “ Dost
thou strive on behalf of the soul or the body? ” And FILIAS
said , “ On behalf of soul and body.” ĶUĚLĶUĚLIANUS said ,
[ fol. 45 a 1] “ Will this body rise? ” and FILIAS said , " Yea."
ĶUĚLĶUĚLIANUS said , “ Hast thou no love for wife or
brethren ? ” And FILIAS said , “ The love ofGod is greater than
every other love ." ĶUĚLĶUĚLIANUS said , “ Who is God ? ”
 160 THE ETHIOPIC SYNAXARIUM
FILIAS raised his hand to heaven , and said , “ God is He Who
made the heavens and the earth and everything which is there
in ," and he told him the story of His Birth, and His Crucifixion ,
and His Death , and His Resurrection and Ascension . ĶUĚL
ĶUĚLIANUS said , “ Can a god be crucified ? ” And FILIAS
said , “ Because of love for us He came into the world , and
redeemed us by His Passion .” KVĚLĶUĚLIANUS said, “ Dost
thou not know that I would honour thee, and that I do not
wish to harm thee, for I know concerning the abundance of thy
wealth, and the honour of thy family . Now , sacrifice thou to
the gods so that thoų mayest not die an evil death .” And
FILIAS said , “ If thou dost wish to give me pleasure, give the
order formy torturing and slaughter " ; and ĶUĚLĶUĚLIANUS
gave the order for him to be killed . As they were taking him
away his brother came with the magnates of the city , and he
besought him with many entreaties, grasping at his feet and
kissing his hands as he did so , to submit to the governor and to
offer up sacrifice. And FILIAS cursed them , saying, " Leave
me, O ye who would lead me into error, I am going to bear the
Cross of my God.” And when he arrived at the place where
he was to receive his doom , he stretched out his hands towards
the East, and he prayed unto our Lord Jesus Christ for a long
time. And he committed himself to his people , and bade them
farewell in peace, and then he was crowned . Salutation to
FILIAS, who feared not the governor.

[fol. 45 a 2] And on this day also is commemorated Saint

GREGORY, the brother of the blessed BASIL.
And on this day also died Saint DIOSCURUS, the thirty
first Archbishop of the city of Alexandria , who was appointed
after Abbâ John . This father was gentle in disposition , and
his knowledge was glorious, and his work was good , and he
was perfect in his days, but his family did not resemble him ,
and he was appointed archbishop by the Holy Ghost. And he
wrote a General Epistle and sent it to the holy father and
doctor of the Church, Abbâ SEVERUS, Archbishop of the city
of Antioch ; and he wrote in that Epistle the Orthodox Faith
 SECOND MONTH - ȚĚŽĚMT (Oct. 8 - NOV . 6 ) 161
of the Holy Three Who are equal in Godhead. Then he went
on to speak about the Incarnation of the Son of God , and he
said , “ The Word of God took a body, perfect in all its opera
tions, with a rational and understanding soul from our holy
Lady the Virgin MARY. And He became therein One Son ,
and One Person , in inseparable unity , and He did not become
two, but One, for the Holy Three were One God, before the
Incarnation of the Son , and after the Incarnation of the Son
there came not upon Him any addition to His Incarnation .”
When his Epistle reached Saint Abbâ SEVERUS, and he had
read it , he rejoiced and [ fol. 45 a 3] was glad therein with an
exceedingly great gladness. And he preached about it before
the people of the city of Antioch , and they all rejoiced therein .
Then Saint Abbâ SEVERUS wrote to him , and accepted his
Epistle, saying, in his letter, " I give thanks unto God Who
hath chosen thee for this glorious and orthodox Christian
office,” and he commanded him not to turn aside from it
neither to the right hand nor to the left , and that all his words
and works should be performed according to the Orthodox Faith
which our holy fathers had formulated , that is to say the
Three Hundred and Eighteen bishops who assembled in Nicea,
and according to what they had commanded in the Canon and
the Law . And then he said in his letter, “ Teach thy people
continually, so that they may be strong in the Orthodox Faith ,
and let them discuss this matter very much.” And when the
letter of Abbâ SEVERUS reached DIOSCURUS, he rejoiced
therein greatly , and he commanded that it should be read
from the pulpit. And this father taught the people continually ,
and read to them the Holy Scriptures, and commanded all the
priests in the cities to shepherd their flocks, and to protect the
sheep which had been committed to their charge. Having
ended his good course , and pleased God , he died in peace.
Salutation to DIOSCURUS the writer.

[fol. 456 1] And on this day also died stephen, archdeacon

and protomartyr. Salutation to STEPHEN .

BESI II
 162 THE ETHIO
THE ETHIOPIC SYNAXARIUM

XVIII. TĚŽĚMT
IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER AND THE SON
AND THE HOLY GHOST, ONE GOD
On this day died the holy father, THEOPHILUS, the twenty
third Archbishop of the city of Alexandria . He was appointed
in the sixth year of the reign of THEODOSIUS the Great. In
his days lived John of the Golden Mouth (CHRYSOSTOM ),
of the city of Antioch , who translated the Gospel of John, the
son of ZEBEDEE, and he also translated the Book of PAUL
the apostle. He was appointed Archbishop of the city of Con
stantinia , when the days of this father were twenty-eight years,
and he died in exile. And in the days of this father there lived
also EPIPHANIUS, Bishop of Cyprus; and in his days also died
Abbâ CYRIL, Bishop of Jerusalem ; and in his days also rose
up (i.e. awoke) the SEVEN CHILDREN after they had been
asleep for three hundred and seventy -two years . And this
[fol. 45b 2 ] holy father was a disciple of ATHANASIUS, the
apostolic Archbishop of the city of Alexandria , and this Saint
THEOPHILUS was brought up in the cell of Saint ATHAN
ASIUS, and he learned from him all spiritual doctrine . When
Abbâ TIMOTHY the archbishop died , this father was appointed
in his place. And he was prudent, and observant, and he
learned the Books of the Church by heart, and he understood
the interpretation of the same. During the days of his office
he wrote great discourses , and many works of exhortation con
cerning love (i.e. charity), and concerning mercy, and concerning
the keeping back of a man from receiving the Divine Mysteries
before he repenteth of his sins, and concerning the Resurrection
and the punishment which is prepared for sinners , and other
treatises which tend to edification . And Saint Abbâ CYRIL
was the son of the sister of this father, and he brought him up
most carefully and piously . And he sent him to Abbâ SERA
PION so that he might instruct him carefully and thoroughly
in spiritual matters, and father Abbâ SERAPION taught him
every kind of spiritual learning, and he learned by heart all
the Books of the Church . When his education was complete
 SECOND MONTH - ȚĚŽĚMT (Oct. 8 - Nov . 6 ) 163
Abbâ THEOPHILUS sent and brought him to his cell. And he
used to make him read before him continually books concerning
the people . When this father Abbâ THEOPHILUS was with
Abbâ ATHANASIUS, he one day saw him lifting up his eyes to
a hill, now he was [ standing] before his cell, and he heard him
say, “ If I find good days I will clear away this hill, and I will
build on the site thereof a church to Saint John the Baptist
and [fol. 456 3 ] ELIAS the prophet.” And when this Father
Abbâ THEOPHILUS was appointed Archbishop of Alexandria
he remembered that hill concerning which he heard Abbâ
ATHANASIUS speak , and determined that he would do and
carry out what he had heard Abbâ ATHANASIUS say he would
do . And in those days there was in the city of Rômê a certain
woman who was exceedingly rich ; now her husband was dead ,
and he had left her much property , and she had two sons.
And she took her two sons, and the money which she had with
her, and a picture of the angel RÛFÂÊL (RAPHAEL), and she
departed from the city of Rômê to the city of Alexandria . And
when she heard Abbâ THEOPHILUS speaking about that hill,
straightway she becamemoved by the zeal of the Spirit , and
she spent much money and cleared away that hill, and there
appeared underneath it a coffer which was covered over with a
slab of stonewhereon were written (or engraved ) three characters
which were e Oe. As soon as THEOPHILUS saw them he knew
their mystery through the Holy Spirit , and he said , “ Behold,
the time hath arrived wherein this coffer should be brought to
light, for thethree characters upon it are O O O , and behold ,they
were gathered together at the same time. One o standeth for
THEOS, that is God ; the second o standeth for the Emperor
THEODOSIUS, and the third standeth for THEOPHILUS the
archbishop, that is to say a holy three (? ).” And having said
this he opened the coffer and found written inside it the date
according to the Era of King ALEXANDER , the son ofPHILIP,
the Macedonian , and it was seven hundred years, [fol. 46 a 1 ]
from the time when they closed [the coffer]. And the Arch
bishop Abbâ THEOPHILUS sent to the Emperor THEO
DOSIUS the Less, the son of the Emperor ARCADIUS, the son
of THEODOSIUS the Great, and he informed him about the
II - 2
164 THE ETHIOPIC SYNAXARIUM
coffer, and how he had opened it, and he said , “ Come,that thou
mayest see it.” And the emperor came to the city of Alex
andria , and he looked at the coffer , and he gave half of the
treasure inside it to the blessed THEOPHILUS, and a half of
it he placed in a ship and took to the city of Constantinia . And
the blessed THEOPHILUS built churches with the gold which
the emperor had given him . And he began to build first of all
a church in the names of John the Baptist and Saint ELIJAH ,
and he translated their bodies and laid them in it , and this
church is well known to this day in DÊMÂS. And at that time
he also built a church in the name of our holy Lady the
Virgin MARY, by the hands of the Melchites in the east of the
city. And thirdly , he built a church in the name of the angel
RÛFÂÊL (RAPHAEL) in DASỆT, and he built seven other
churches; and then he appointed the sons of that widow
bishops. When the emperor saw the love of the archbishop for
building churches , he gave him all the houses of idols which
were in the whole country of Egypt, and THEOPHILUS pulled
them down and built on their sites churches and lodging houses
for strangers and pilgrims, and he endowed them with land and
other property . And having followed in this good course of
action , and pleased God, he departed to God [fol. 46 a 2 ] and
went to his rest from the toil of this world, after sitting upon
the throne of MARK the evangelist eight and twenty years .
When this father administered Christian baptism he used to
see a rod of light before him making the sign of the Cross over
the place of baptism . And this father and the Emperor THEO
DOSIUS were cutting wood , and each of the two saw a vision on
the same nightwherein it seemed that one of them was to become
emperor and the other archbishop ; and it cameto pass to them
even as they had seen in the vision . In the first year wherein
this father was made archbishop, the Emperor THEODOSIUS
commanded that each of them should write down their belief
in books, and that they should bring them to the emperor,
and they did as he had commanded and brought the books to
the emperor. When they had drawn nigh unto him , the
emperor rose up and prayed , and then he laid the books on the
altar. And God revealed unto him that there was nothing in
 SECOND MONTH — ȚĚĶĚMT (Oct. 8 - Nov. 6 ) 165
them about the Orthodox Faith except that they said and
believed that " the Son with the Father and with the Holy
Spirit is One God .” And the emperor commanded (his servants]
to cast forth all the bookswherein evil belief and words of doubt
(or hypocritical words) were written , and the emperor expelled
all those who were in doubt about their belief from his kingdom .
And JOHN of the Mouth of Gold multiplied his reading in the
Books of 'AW GÂRYÔS (ABGARUS) , and this father THEO
PHILUS sent a message to EPIPHANIUS, Bishop of Cyprus,
and to all his own bishops, ordering them to anathematize
the Books of 'AWGÂRYÔS (ABGARUS), and they anathema
tized them [ fol. 46 a 3] even as did THEOPHILUS the arch
bishop. When John of the Mouth of Gold heard that Abbâ
THEOPHILUS the Archbishop of the city of Alexandria had
anathematized the Books of 'AWGÂRYÔS (ABGARUS), he
abandoned them and never read them again . And [he died ]
the seven hundred and twenty -first year of King Alexander,
the Two -horned (A. D . 410 ). Salutation to THEOPHILUS who
was worthy to sit upon the throne of MARK the evangelist.

And on this day also died ROMANUS the martyr in the days
of ASCLEPIANUS, the governor who persecuted the Christians.
This ROMANUS had been a monk from his earliest years, and
he devoted himself strenuously to fasting and prayer. When he
heard that the governor was persecuting the Christians, he
came into the church , and he gathered together the priests and
the deacons, and admonished them in the Faith of Christ, and
strengthened them with his own confidence. When ASCLE
PIANUS heard this he commanded that ROMANUS should be
summoned , and when ROMANUS stood before him , he said
unto him , “ Is it true that thou art the son of FĚYŮM ? ”
ROMANUS said unto him , “ What doth glory of kin profit me?
My glory is Jesus Christ.” When ASCLEPIANUS heard this
he commanded his soldiers to hand him up and to scrape his
limbs piecemeal [and they did so ], and when the governor saw
his patient endurance, he commanded them to slit his cheeks
so that he might not be able [fol. 466 1] to talk . And RO
MANUS said , “ Behold, my God hath uncovered my mouth so
166 THE ETHIOPIC SYNAXARIUM
that I may admonish thy madness. If thou wouldst know the
truth of the matter, command thy servants to bring hither a
child , and he will tell us whether it is right for us to worship
God or the gods.” And the governor commanded them to bring
a little child , and he said unto him , “ Tell me is it right for us
to worship God or the gods.” And the child said , “ It is right
for us to worship God Who created all the world with oneword ” ;
and having heard him the governor commanded them to hang
up the child . When they had hung up the child his mother
came to look at him , and the child said unto his mother, " Give
me water, for I am thirsty .” And his mother said unto him ,
“ Nay, O my son , thou must not drink water (here ), but go to
the water of life .” When the governor heard her wordshe com
manded them to cut off the head of the child ; [and they did so),
and hismother cameand took away his body. And the governor
commanded them to cut out the tongue of ROMANUS at its
roots so that he might not be able to argue with him . And
ROMANUS having received by the grace of God a tongue of the
Spirit , he wrote with his blood , saying , “ Blessed are those who
do not deny our Lord , for the Son will confess them before His
Father. ” When ASCLEPIANUS heard this he imagined that
the tongue of ROMANUS had not been cut out, and he called to
the prefect, and said unto him , “ Why didst thou not cut out
his tongue at its roots? ” And the soldier said , “ Command
them to bring the soldiers and I will cut out his tongue before
thee, and thou shalt say if he speaketh .” And straightway
they brought the soldiers and they cut out his tongue, and he
died forthwith. When the governor saw him he commanded
the soldiers to bring him into the prison house, and there they
hanged (or strangled ) him ; thus he finished his martyrdom .
[ fol. 466 2 ] Salutation to ROMANUS themartyr.

And on this day also are commemorated John the martyr,

and 'ADRÂNÎ, and ’ARTÊMÂTÊwôs, and HEPHAESTUS, and
LUDERIUS, and 'ASMÂNIT, and his seven children .
 SECOND MONTH - ȚĚŽĚMT (OCT. 8 - Nov. 6) 167
XIX . TĚŽĚMT
IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER AND THE SON
AND THE HOLY GHOST, ONE GOD
On this day died Saint BARTHOLOMEW and his wife . These
saints were natives of the country of FAYYÛM, to the west of
Egypt, and they were accused before the governor of being
Christians. And the governor sent and had them brought to
him , and he questioned them about their belief and they con
fessed our Lord Christ before him . And he commanded his
soldiers to dig a deep pit and to throw the two into it, and to
cast stones in on them ; and the soldiers did as the governor had
commanded them , and BARTHOLOMEW and his wife finished
their strife ; and received crowns of martyrdom in the kingdom
of the heavens. Salutation to BARTHOLOMEW and his wife
who were buried alive (in the days of the Emperor DIOCLE
TIAN ].

[fol. 4663] On this day also theholyGeneralCouncil assembled

in the church of the city of Antioch because of PAUL of SAMO
SATA. This wretched man was a native of the city of SÂMÎDÂT,
and wasmade Archbishop of Antioch . And Satan sowed bad seed
in his heart, and he used to believe that Christ was a mere man
whom God created, and thatGod chose Him so that by Him
He might redeem the children of men , and that the source of
Christ was MARY entirely , and that His Godhead was not one
with His manhood , but that it descended upon Him , and that
He dwelt therein by the Will ofGod, One Nature ; and he would
confess neither the Son nor the Holy Spirit. And this Council
assembled in the city of Antioch because of him , and this
assembling took place in the reign of the Emperor VALERIUS,
when DIONYSIUS was Archbishop of the city of Alexandria ,
and DIONYSIUSwas Archbishop of the city of Rômê; and this
Council assembled before the Council of Nicea five and forty
years. Now Abbâ DIONYSIUS, Archbishop of the city of
Alexandria , was old , and he was not able to come with them
into the Council, but he wrote a letter to the Council, saying,
168 THE ETHIOPIC SYNAXARIUM
“ Christ is the Word of God , and is His Son , and is equal with
Him in Godhead and Nature. And the Trinity ( containeth ]
Three distinct Persons, and one God and one Lord . And One
(Person ) of the Trinity, that is [fol. 47 a 1 ] to say, the Son ,
became incarnate in the substance of a complete man , and
there was with Him One Nature.” Then DIONYSIUS testified
concerning these things and adduced many testimonies from
the Old and New Testaments . And DIONYSIUS sent this
letter with two priests , from the Council of the congregation ,
and those two priests and thirteen bishops assembled and they
debated the matter with PAUL the infidel. And they read out
before him the letter of DIONYSIUS, and they rebuked him
with the words of PAUL the apostle , who said, “ Christ is the
Word of God , and He is His Son , and the splendour of His
glory , and the likeness of His glory, and the Substance of God
head.” But he would not accept their words, and he would
not turn from his infidelity, and they cut him off, and anathe
matized him and excommunicated him , and they excommuni
cated all those who believed his words, and drove them from
their thrones. And the Council formulated Canons, and they
are in the hands of the believers who perform their Laws and
Precepts . Salutation to the two priests and thirteen bishops.

On this day also died Saint John of DAILÂM . The parents

of this holy man belonged to the nobles of the city ; his
father's name was ABRAHAM , and his mother's name was
SÂRÂ, and they continued to pray fervently [fol. 47 a 2] for
many days because they had no children. One day two monks
came to visit him , and they sojourned in his house, and they
said unto him , “ O ABRAHAM , hast thou no children ? ” And
he said unto them with tears, " O my fathers, I have not gotten
a son. And now I have grown old , and as formy wife her days
are past” ; when the monks heard this they prayed over them ,
and blessed them and departed . After a few days SÂRÂ, the
wife of ABRAHAM , conceived and she brought forth a child of
joy, and ABRAHAM called his name John. When fourteen
years had passed , and when the boy had finished all his in
struction in the Books of the Church , those two samemonks
 SECOND MONTH - ȚĚĶĚMT (oct. 8 - NOV. 6 ) 169
came into the school, andwhen John saw them he asked them
to take him away with them . And they said , “ We are afraid
of thy father and we cannot take thee.” Whilst those monks
were departing to their abode JOHN prayed to God that He
would direct the path which he had chosen , and he went out
of the school and followed the monks, and whilst wishing to
overtake them he came to a great river which he was afraid ( to
try ) to cross by himself. Whilst he was there certain Arabs
came with their camels, and John asked them to take him
across the river, and they took him over with them ; and by the
Will of God he arrived in the monastery of these monks. Now
the name of one of these monks was Abbâ Simon, and when he
saw JOHN he knew him , and he received him , and made him
his disciple ; and Abbâ Simon had two other disciples besides
John, but he loved john more than them . When [fol. 47 a 3]
Abbâ SIMON knew that his departure was nigh , he said unto
his children , “ O my children , I will tell you what God hath
shewn me in respect of what shall happen unto you after my
death . One of you a hyaena shall seize, another of you shall
be scattered in the earth, and ofmy third disciple the report
shall go forth into all the world .” Then the old man looked in
the face of John, and he said unto him , “ Be strong, O my son ,
for the love of Christ, for He hath chosen thee to be a father
unto many ” ; and thus saying the old man died . After three
days one disciple went out into the world and married a wife ,
and where the second went is not known. And Saint John
was sorrowful in his soul and he said, “ I will go down and see
what hath happened tomy companion.” As he was going down
a company of soldiers of DAILÂM met him , and they made him
prisoner, and fettered him with two beautiful women, one on
his right hand and one on his left . Whilst they were journeying
along the road the men of DAILÂM lacked water both for them
selves and for their beasts. And Saint John said unto them ,
“ Masters, if I make water to spring forth for you will ye let me
go ? ” And they said unto him , “ Yea.” Then Saint John knelt
upon the ground in the Name of the Father and the Son and
the Holy Ghost, and water gushed out upon them and they
drank. And Saint John said unto them , “ Perform to me what
170 THE ETHIOPIC SYNAXARIUM
ye have covenanted ,” and they said , “ We will not let thee go ;
who shall we find like unto thee? ” So they brought him to
their city . And in those days a heavy plague descended upon
DAILÂM , and the master of Saint John died , and his children ,
and all the men of his house , and there remained only his
wife and her daughter. And the wife of Saint John 's master
thought [fol. 47 6 1] that he was a magician, and she shut up
Saint John in his room , and set fire to the house so that she
might burn him alive, but God delivered him . When the men
of DAILÂM saw this they all believed through him , and they
were baptized , men and women . Then John departed thence
by another road. When he found that the men there worshipped
trees, he exhorted them to turn from iniquity , and when they
refused to do so he came by night among their trees , and prayed
to God, and taking an axe [in his hand ], he said , “ In the Name
of the Father and the Son and the Holy Ghost I will cut you
down ” ; and straightway one thousand trees fell down at one
stroke of the axe. When the men of the city saw this they
believed , and were baptized together with their women and
children . And once again he went to another city, and he found
that the people there were worshippers in fire -temples. When
JOHN rebuked them , they were wroth , and they cast him into
the fire three times, but he came forth unharmed . And he
turned their water into blood , and they lacked water to drink ,
and they all believed in the God of Saint John , and forty
thousand men were baptized . Then he built a church and per
formed countless signs and wonders , and he died in the country
of DĚRʻĚYÂN . Salutation to JOHN of DAILÂM .
Salutation to Abbâ Simon, who was [fol. 476 2 ] enveloped
by the Holy Ghost.
And on this day also are commemorated the righteous men
of AL-MAȚRÂ , who were slain with violence by the hands of
evil men . [The Bodleian ms. says they were slain by King
YEMRÂHA.]
Salutation to the Guide of the year.
 SECOND MONTH - ȚĚĶĚMT (OCT. 8 - Nov. 6 ) 171

XX . TĚŽĚMT
IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER AND THE SON
AND THE HOLY GHOST, ONE GOD
On this day died the great father of light, Abbâ John the
Short (Kolobos). This holy man was a native of the city
which is called TÂNSÂ and is in Upper Egypt, and he had one
brother. His parents were righteous people , and they feared
God ; they were not rich in the goods and possessions of this
world , but they were rich in good works. When this holy man
was eighteen years of age, the grace of God moved him to go
to the desert of SCETE, which [name] being interpreted means,
“ Balance of hearts.” And he wished to put on the garb of the
beings of the spirit and of angels, that is to say, the garb of the
monk . And he found a certain tried and strong old man , whose
name was Abbâ BÂMÔY, [fol. 476 3 ] of the city of SĚHÂ,
dwelling in SCETE , and Saint John bowed low before him and
entreated him that he might dwell with him in sceTE. And
Saint Abbâ BÂM Ôy wished to try him , and he said unto him ,
“ O my son, it is not right for thee to live here , for this is a very
hard desert, and those who dwell therein have to work with
their hands, and they can only feed themselves by hard toil.
And also over and above this there are very many fasts to
be kept, and many prayers, both by day and by night, to be
said , and a man must sleep on the bare ground naked without
a bed (or cushion ), and there is very great hardship in this
desert. Nay, my son , go back into the world and live a life of
comfort and ease like unto that of all other men .” And Abbâ
JOHN said unto him , “ O my father, for God 's sake do not turn
me back for I have come to be under thy authority and under
the shadow of thy prayer. And if thou wilt accept me I
believe that God will make thy heart well-disposed towards
me.” Now Saint Abbâ BÂMÔY was wont never to do anything
hastily , and he entreated God concerning Abbâ John so that
Hemight reveal to him His works. And the angel of the Lord
appeared and said unto him , “ God saith unto thee; accept
this brother, for he shall become a chosen vessel.” And when
172 THE ETHIOPIC SYNAXARIUM
Abbâ BÂMÔy heard these words from the angel of God, he
brought Abbâ John into the church , and he shaved off the hair
of his head. Then he laid out the garb of the monk , and he
stood and prayed over it for three days and three nights. Then
the angel of the Lord appeared, and made the sign of the Cross
[fol. 48 a 1] over the raiment of monkhood, and Abbâ BÂMÔY
put it upon Abbâ John . And Abbâ John devoted himself
with the greatest zeal and diligence to the splendid works of
the ascetic life. One day Abbâ BÂMÔy wished to try him , and
he sent Abbâ John away from him , saying, “ I cannot live
with thee ” ; and Abbâ JOHN stood for seven days outside the
gates of the monastery, and every day Abbâ BÂMÔY went out
to Abbâ John, and smote him with a stick, and Abbâ JOHN
bowed down before him and said , “ Forgive me, O my father.”
On the seventh day the old man Abbâ BÂMÔy went forth to
go to the church, and he saw seven angels , and they had with
them seven crowns which they were placing on the head of
Abbâ John. And straightway Abbâ BÂMÔy took Abbâ JOHN
and brought him into his cell, and from that day onward
he was held by him in honour and reverence. One day Abbâ
BÂMÔY found a piece of dry wood and he gave it to Abbâ
John and he said unto him , “ Take this wood and plant it in
the ground , and water it until it sprouteth and bringeth forth
fruit." And Abbâ John obeyed Abbâ BÂMÔY, and he took
that piece of wood, and planted it, and watered it each day
twice; now the water was far off, a distance of twelve stadia .
And after three years that piece of wood sprouted, and grew
into a large tree , and bore fruit , and the old man Abbâ BÂMỘY
took some of the fruit thereof and carried it to all the aged
monks, and he said unto them , “ Take ye and eat of the fruit
of obedience and humility.” When themonks saw this miracle
they marvelled exceedingly, and they praised God Who giveth
[ fol. 48 a 2] this virtue unto those who make themselves subject
to His teachers. And Abbâ BÂMÔ y fell sick of a very severe
sickness, and he continued to suffer from this sickness for
eighteen years, and though Abbâ John ministered unto him
[all this time] he never once said unto him , “ Thou hast done
well,” for the old man Abbâ BÂMÔ y had grown very old , and
 SECOND MONTH - ȚĚŽĚMT (Oct. 8 -Nov. 6 ) 173
he used to try him exceedingly . And God tried him with such
a severe sickness until at length he became like a piece of dry
wood , so that he might become a chosen offering unto God .
When Abbâ BÂMÔY was about to die, he gathered together
the aged monks, and he seized the hand of Abbâ John and
gave it unto them , saying , “ Take him , and take care of this
man , for he is an angel and not a man .” Then he said unto
Abbâ John, “ After I am dead I will live in the place wherein
thou didst plant the tree which sprouted and bore fruit, for
thou in that place didst become a holy and acceptable sacrifice
before God . And many men shall be saved by thy hand , and
thy memorial shall be there in that place before God for ever.”
When Abbâ BÂMÔY had said this unto him , he opened his
mouth and delivered up his soul into the hand of God . After
this Abbâ JOHN departed to that place (where the tree was]
according as the old man Abbâ BÂMÔ y had told him . And he
strove boldly in the working of righteousness , for his name was
exalted exceedingly ; and after this he was appointed abbot
over his church . And whilst the archbishop was laying his hand
upon him at the time of his appointment, a voice came from
heaven , and all the people heard it, saying, “ Axios, Axios,
[Axios ), ” [ fol. 48 a 3 ] that is to say , “ He is worthy, He is worthy,
He is worthy." And every time when Saint Abbâ JOHN con
secrated the Offering, he would watch for those who were
worthy to partake and those who were not worthy. Now Abbâ
THEOPHILUS, the archbishop , built a church to the Three
Holy Children in the city of Alexandria , and he wished to bring
thereto the bodies of the Three Children from the city of
Babylon . And he asked Saint Abbâ John to go to the city of
Babylon , and to bring the bodies of the Three Children from
the city of Babylon , and after many requests Abbâ JOHN went
forth on behalf of the archbishop . And a cloud straightway
carried him away and brought him to the city of Babylon, and
he saw that city , and the rivers and the palaces thereof, and
he saw the bodies of the saints, the Three Children , and the
body of King NEBUCHADNEZZAR lying in their tombs. And
Saint Abbâ John bowed low , and embraced the bodies of the
saints with tears, and he cried out, saying, " O my holy fathers,
 174 THE ETHIOPIC SYNAXARIUM
bless me! ” And straightway he heard a voice from their bodies,
saying, “ The God of Israel hath blessed thee.” When Abbâ
JOHN had heard this voice he was filled with the Holy Spirit,
and rejoiced in the spiritual blessing. And he said unto them
(i.e. the bodies ), “ O my fathers, ye martyrs of Christ God, I
tell you that our father the archbishop, Abbâ THEOPHILUS,
has built a church in your names in the city of Alexandria , and
he hath sent me unto you and he beseecheth you and your
holy bodies to come and dwell in your church , so that there
may be healing and salvation unto all those who believe in
Christ [fol. 486 1 ] in all the country of Egypt.” And the saints
answered with one voice and said unto him , “ God shall give
thee the reward of thy labour in the life everlasting ! But tell
the archbishops that God hath commanded [us] not to remove
our bodies from this place until the day of the Resurrection .
Nevertheless because of his contendings, and his labour, and
his perfect faith , let them suspend lamps in the church (which
he hath built ), and let the servants put oil and wicks of flax
therein , only do not let them light the lamps, on the night of
the day of the consecration of the church , whilst all the people
and the priests are assembled therein , and we ourselves will come
and we willmake manifest the power ofGod and their blessing.”
And Saint Abbâ John bowed low , and went forth from their
presence rejoicing in God . When he had departed a short dis
tance from them , a cloud took him up and brought him to the
outskirts of the city of Alexandria , and he came in to the arch
bishop and told him what the saints had said ; and the arch
bishop did even as the saints had told him . And when midnight
had come on the night of the day of the consecration of the
church , the Three Holy Children appeared in the church sur
rounded by brilliant light, and they lighted all the lamps, and
they sent forth from themselves an exceedingly sweet odour.
After this Abbâ John returned to sСETE , and he contended
in the working of righteousness by night and by day. One day
a certain monk came into the cave of Abbâ John , and he found
him lying down, and the angels ofGod were waving their wings
over him , and each of them was saying to the other, “ Let me
lay my wing upon him .” After this the [ fol. 486 2 ] pagan
 SECOND MONTH -- ȚĚŽĚMT (Oct. 8 - NOV. 6) 175
Barbarians came to the desert of SCETE to plunder the houses
of the monks, and to slay the monks. After this Saint Abbâ
JOHN went to the monastery of Saint Abbâ ANTHONY in the
desert of ĶUELZEM [by the Red Sea ), not that he was afraid
of death , but he said , “ I go that a pagan may not come and
kill me, and go to Sheol because ofme; I do not wish to be in a
state of ease and for that pagan to suffer punishment on my
account. For hemight testify against me before the Lord God ,
though he is my brother in nature , and form , and likeness.”
And Abbâ JOHN dwelt by the side of a village, and God brought
him from it a certain man who was a believer, and he ministered
unto him until the time of his death . When God wished to give
him rest from the labour of this world , He sent unto him His
righteous saints, Abbâ ANTHONY, and Abbâ MACARIUS, and
Abbâ PACHOMIUS, to comfort him and to inform him con
cerning his departure, and there was with them Abbâ BÂMÔY,
his spiritual father. And they comforted him and said unto
him , " Be strong in the Lord , and rejoice in the everlasting joy
which God hath prepared . Be thou ready, for we will come to
thee at dawn on the First Day of the week , and we will take
thee with us into everlasting life,even asGod hath commanded " ;
and they blessed him and disappeared . On the day of the Eve
of the Sabbath Saint Abbâ JOHN sent his attendant to the
village, for he was sick with a little sickness . And when it was
the time of cock - crow on the night of the holy First Day of the
week , behold there came unto him many hosts of angels, and
all [ fol. 486 3 ] the company of the saints, and when he saw
them he rejoiced and bowed low and delivered up his soul into
the hand of God . And the holy angels received the soul of the
blessed Abbâ John, and they took it up with them into heaven .
And at that moment his attendant came, and he saw his soul
as they were carrying it up into heaven , and the holy angels
were surrounding it, and were singing before it. And before all
these , as it was shining brightly like the sun, one sang and
praised the blessed man Abbâ John. And he stood still for
the space of an hour as he marvelled at what he saw . And
straightway the angel of the Lord came unto him and told him
the names of each one of the saints, and pointing with his
176 THE ETHIOPIC SYNAXARIUM
finger at the saints he said unto (the attendant of] Abbâ JOHN ,
“ This is Abbâ PACHOMIUS, this is Abbâ MACARIUS, this is
Abbâ BÂMÔY, and this is Abba So -and -so .” And the attendant
said unto the angel, “ Who is this in front of them who is shining
like the sun ? ” And the angel said unto him , “ This is Abbâ
ANTHONY, the father of all the monks.” When the attendant
cameto the cell he found Abbâ John on his knees, and he wept
over him with a greatweeping. And hemade haste and went to
the village, and told themen how that the saint was dead. Then
the brethren came and made him ready for burial, and they
bore away his body with great honour, and when they had
brought him into the village, great wonders and miracles hap
pened through his body . And then his sons, the monks, came
and took up his body and they carried it to the desert of
SCETE and laid it in the church thereof, and it became a haven
for everyone who took refuge therein . [fol. 49a 1 ] Salutation
to Abbâ John.
And on this day also died Saint ELISHA the prophet, whose
name being interpreted is “ Saviour, protector and king.” This
holy man was a native of a village the name of which was
BE ' Ê LÂMôn, of the tribe of ISSACHAR, and he prophesied
many prophecies concerning the children of Israel. And he
also prophesied , saying, “ God shall comedown upon the earth
and shall walk with men .” And he gave a sign of this , saying,
“ The sun shall set in sÊ LÔ M (SILO), and one of its two halves
shall be separated from the other, and twelve oak trees shall
be useful to the Lord, and submissive to the holy God, Who
shall come down upon the earth , and by it the whole earth
shall be saved .” When he finished his prophecy he died in
peace and was buried in his own land. Salutation to ELISHA
the prophet who made the bitter water sweet and raised the
axe out of the water by means of a splinter of wood .
 SECOND MONTH - TÉĶĚMT (Oct. 8 -Nov. 6 ) 177

XXI. TĚŽĚMT
IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER AND THE SON
AND THE HOLY GHOST, ONE GOD
[ fol. 49a 2 ] On this day is celebrated a festival of commem
oration of our holy Lady the Virgin MARY . Salutation to
thee, O MARY, on whom the Sun of righteousness rose. Saluta
tion unto thee, O garden of stacte and cassia .
And on this day also is commemorated the translation of the
body of Saint LAZARUS, whom our Lord raised from the dead .
And one of the Christian emperors, having heard the history
of the saint whilst he was in the island of Cyprus, translated
his body to the city of Constantinia . When they wanted to
translate it (the workmen ) found the saint's body buried under
the earth and laid in a stone sarcophagus. And there was cut
upon it in [letters of] gold the following : “ This is the body of
Saint LAZARUS, the friend of our Lord Jesus Christ, whom He
raised from the dead, after (he had lain ) in the grave four days.”
When they found the body they rejoiced with great joy, and
they carried it to Constantinia , and the priests went out and
received it with great honour, and with psalms, and hymns,
and prayers, and incense ; and they laid it in the sanctuary
until they could build a church for it, [fol. 49a 3 ] and translated
the body thither. And they made a great festival in honour
thereof on this day. Salutation to the emperor who translated
the body of LAZARUS to Antioch (sic) from Cyprus.
And on this day also died the holy father Abbâ John, Arch
bishop of the holy city of Jerusalem in the days of the God
loving King DAVID , (A . D . 1411 - 1413) the (grand ]son of the King
SAYF 'AR 'ÂD. Now this father was the son of Christian parents
who feared God , and they belonged to the city of MĚSR (CAIRO) ;
and they reared the holy man (piously ) and called him John .
When he grew up they taught him Christian doctrine, and when
he was fit to serve in the grade of deacon he was appointed a
deacon . And having performed the duties of a deacon well and
BESI 12
178 THE ETHIOP
IC ARIUM
SYNAX
carefully , and was fit for the grade of priest, he was appointed
priest . And he devoted himself strenuously to fasting and to
prayer, and above all he gave himself to the fear of God and to
the love of pilgrims; thereupon he became fit for the grade of
apostleship . By the Will of God he was appointed bishop in
the holy city of Jerusalem , and he fought a good fight therein ,
and he taught the people in humility and in the fear of God .
And they loved him exceedingly because of his holiness, and his
goodly figure, and his open countenance which was as that of
an angel of God. After he had been seated on his throne [ fol.
496 1] for a few years, Satan brought a trial upon him and
removed him from his people and from his city. And this was
in the days when Abbâ MARK was archbishop of Alexandria .
And the King of MĚSR (CAIRO) , a Hanafite, forced him to
send an embassy to the King of Ethiopia , who was in sub
mission to him , concerning the Muslims who dwelt under his
rule . Now there was in his days a king whose name was SAYF
'ARʻÂD, and hewas also named CONSTANTINUS, and he slew
many of the Muslims who rebelled against him , and some of
them he drove out of his country and they went to the King of
MĚSR (CAIRO) and took refuge with him . And they said , “ The
King of Ethiopia hath made an end of the Muslims; some of
them he hath slain , and someof them he hath made Christians.”
When the King of MĚSR (CAIRO) heard these words, his zeal
for his religion rose up , and he compelled the archbishop to
despatch elders to [Ethiopia ), and he told him that he held him
as hostage for the obedience of the King of Ethiopia and the
safety of the other Muslims who were in his kingdom . And our
father the archbishop and his bishops agreed with the Govern
ment of MĚSR (CAIRO) concerning those who were to be sent
to the King of Ethiopia , and they chose those fathers, those
shining stars ,because of their holiness, and learning, and wisdom ,
that is to say the honourable father Abbâ JOHN, and the
learned and prudent father Abbâ CYRIL, Bishop of 'AKHNAS,
and he forced them to go to the King of Ethiopia against their
will. When they came to the frontier of Ethiopia , the God
loving King SAYF 'ARʻÂD, [fol. 496 2 ] may God rest his soul!
Amen , heard concerning them , and he rejoiced with exceeding
 SECOND MONTH - ȚĚĶĚMT (Oct. 8 -Nov. 6) 179
great joy ; and he sent his soldiers to them with presents and
mules to receive them , and when they had come to the king he
paid them exceedingly great honour. And after they had read
to him the letter of our father the archbishop , they wished to
return to their thrones, and to their peoples, and to their
churches, but the lord king prevented them from departing
because he loved their holiness , and because he loved their
persons, and their priestly service, and their faces which were
full of grace , for they were like unto (those of] the angels ofGod ,
and they shone like the sun ; and the lord king loved them with
a great love because of their holiness and their prayers . After a
short time God wished , in His mercy , to remove this father
Abbâ John from the labour of this transitory world , and He
brought upon him a slight illness, and he died at a good old age,
now his work was well-pleasing unto God , in the eleven hundred
and sixth year of the Era of the Righteous Martyrs ( A. D . 1390 ).

And on this day died the great [prophet ] Joel. This right
eous man prophesied in the days of 'ABYÂ (ABIJAH ) the son
of JEROBOAM , the son of Solomon the king. He taught the
people, and admonished them , and prophesied concerning the
dwelling of God in Zion , and concerning His Passion , and
concerning the descent of the Holy Spirit , the Paraclete, upon
the holy Apostles on the day [fol. 496 3 ] of the festival of
Pentecost. And he revealed that they would prophesy , their
daughters, and their sons, and their old men , and their young
men , and the women who dwelt with them . “ And if there be
a prophet who prophesieth , I will pour out My Spirit upon
all men ” ( Joel ii. 28 ) ; and I will not pour except [on ] the
Apostles. Now of this passage there are two interpretations:
I , Because the holy Apostles were perfect in working righteous
ness he called them “ men ,” for he who is not perfect among
men in doing the good pleasure ofGod is not called a “ man ” ;
II, From the Apostles the Holy Spirit was poured out upon all
the believing saints from the time of their preaching to the day
of the Resurrection . And this prophet prophesied also con
cerning the going forth of the Law of the Gospel from Zion ,
when he said , “ A stream of water shall flow forth from the
I2 - 2
180 THE ETHIOPIC SYNAXARIUM
house of God, and it shall water the valley of Shittim ” (Joel
iii. 18). And he made known that after the coming of our Lord
Jesus Christ war should break out on the earth , and he spake
also concerning the day of the Resurrection . And he said ,
“ The sun shall become dark , and the moon shall become like
blood , and the light of the stars shall be hidden ” (Joel ii. 31).
Now this prophet prophesied more than a thousand years before
the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ . This righteous man
belonged to the tribe of REUBEN , and he arrived at a good old
age, and he pleased God and died in peace , and was buried in
the fields. [fol. 50 a I] Salutation to JOEL the prophet , the son
of BÂTÛ ÊL, whose tongue was sharper than a razor.
And on this day our Lady MARY wrought a miracle and
delivered MATTHIAS from the prison house .

XXII. TĚŽĚMT
IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER AND THE SON
AND THE HOLY GHOST, ONE GOD
On this day Saint Luke the evangelist, the physician ,
became a martyr. This holy man was one of the number of
the seventy -two disciples whom the Holy Gospel mentioneth ;
he ministered to the Apostles PETER and PAUL and he wrote
the histories of them . After the death of PETER and PAUL,
LUKE preached in the country of Rômê. And those who wor
shipped idols came to an agreement with the Jews, and they
stood up before the Emperor NERO and they cried out con
cerning LUKE the disciple , and they made accusations against
him ; and said , “ He bringeth very manymen under his teaching
by means of his sorcery ” ; and the Emperor NERO commanded
that they should bring LUKE before him . And when the
apostle knew that he was about to depart from this world , he
found an old man who was a fisherman , and he gave him the
books and the volumes which were with him , and he said unto
him , " Take good care of these books, for they will be of benefit
to thee, [fol. 50 a 2 ] and will make thee to arrive on the road.
 SECOND MONTH - ȚĚŽĚMT (OCT. 8 - Nov . 6 ) 181
of God .” And when he had come to NERO , Emperor of Rômê,
he stood up before him . And the emperor said unto him , " How
much longer wilt thou lead men into error by thy sorcery ? ”
And Saint LUKE answered and said unto him , “ I am not a
magician , but an Apostle of our Lord Christ, the Son of the
Living God .” And the emperor commanded [his soldiers] to
cut off his right hand, saying, " I cut off this hand which wrote
books” ; and straightway they cut off his hand . And Saint
LUKE said unto him , “ Verily we do not fear the death of this
world , but behold thou shalt at this moment see the power of
my God Jesus Christ, to Whom be praise !” And the saint
reached out his left hand, and took up in it the right hand which
had been cut off, and made it to cleave to its proper place, and
it remained there firmly and became like unto the other ; then
he separated it from the wrist and it remained thus. And those
who were there marvelled, and the chief officer, and his wife
and very manymen believed in our Lord Christ; and they were
in number two hundred and seven and seventy souls . And
the emperor commanded his soldiers to cut off their heads, and
the head of Saint LUKE the apostle, and the soldiers cut them
off and the saints received crowns ofmartyrdom in the king
dom of the heavens. And they placed the body of Saint LUKE
the apostle in a hair sack , and they cast it into the sea, and by
the Will of God the waves of the sea brought it to an island ,
and a certain man who was a believer found it , and he gave it
honourable burial. This holy man wrote his Gospel [fol. 50 a 3 ]
for THEOPHILUS, who was a Gentile, and he also wrote for
him the " Acts of the Apostles.” Salutation to EUKE whose
tongue was true, and who wrote the Divine Gospel .
Salutation to the company of martyrs who died with Saint
LUKE.
Salutation to the old man SILAS, who received Saint LUKE' S
books and preserved them in purity .
 182 THE ETHIOPIC SYNAXARIUM

XXIII. TĚŽĚMT
IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER AND THE SON
AND THE HOLY GHOST, ONE GOD
On this day died Saint Abbâ JOSEPH , the fifty -second
Archbishop of Alexandria . This man was the son of one of the
elders of the city of MANÛ F , and he had very many possessions.
When his parents died and left him an orphan a certain God
fearing man brought him up, and when he arrived at man 's
estate he took his goods and gave them to the poor and the
beggars . Then he went up into the desert of SCETE, to the
monastery of Saint Abbâ MACARIUS, and he became a monk
under the direction of a certain holy old man . When Abbâ
MARK the second was appointed archbishop, and he heard
that the natural disposition and intelligence of this Saint Abbâ
JOSEPH [fol. 506 1 ] were good , he sent and had him brought
unto him , and established him in his house. After many days
Abbâ JOSEPH asked Abbâ MARK the archbishop, saying,
“ Let me depart to the desert of scETE ," and straightway
Abbâ MARK made him a priest and sent him away to the
desert of scETE . And he remained there many years, until
the holy father Abbâ SIMON the archbishop died , and the
country of Egypt remained without an archbishop for many
years. After the death of Abbâ JACOB, the bishops made an
agreement with a certain scribe in the king's house, who had
married and whose wife had died , now he had never been a
monk, and the bishops took bribes from him , and they made
an agreementwith one-half of themen of the city of Alexandria ,
to appoint that scribe archbishop . And all the bishops rose up
against him , and they said unto him , “ This scheme which thou
hast planned is not good , but bad, for the holy Canon saith
that all those who shall either take or receive bribes in respect
of appointments to the priesthood, are to be excommunicated .
And more especially shall it be so in this case , for this man hath
married twice, and he is wholly unsuited for the office of arch
bishop ; and besides, up to the present none but a virgin hath
been appointed to sit on the throne of MARK the evangelist .”
 SECOND MONTH - ȚĚĶĚMT (Oct. 8 - Nov . 6 ) 183
And these men then joined with them in this good counsel,
and they rose up and came into the church , and prayed to God
and entreated Him to make clear unto them who was the best
man for this office. And straightway God heard their petition ,
and He made them to remember this Abbâ JOSEPH, and they
sent a letter ordering the monks to bring him from the desert
of scETE. And those [ fol. 506 2 ] who had been sent prayed
unto God and said , “ We beseech Thee to reveal the matter
unto us clearly ; if Thou hast chosen this father Abbâ JOSEPH
to be the archbishop ,give us the following sign , that is to say, let
us find the door ofhis cell open .” And when they came to his cell
they found the dooropen ,and they found Abbâ JOHN (JOSEPH ? )
bidding farewell to a certain monk, and he was wishing to go
into his cell and to shut his door. When he saw them he em
braced them with a holy embrace, and received them with joy ,
and brought them into his house. When they came into his
house they seized him and bound him , saying, “ He is worthy ,
He is worthy, Abbâ Joseph is worthy of the archiepiscopate.”
And he cried out and wept, and he said unto them , “ I have
committed very many sins, far more than any other man ” ;
but they would not accept this excuse from him , but they took
him to the city of Alexandria and appointed him archbishop .
Having taken his seat upon the throne of MARK the apostle ,
he thought about the Church exceedingly , and with what re
mained of his own stipend he bought plots of ground which
had been dedicated to pious works, and endowed the churches
with them . And he taught the people at all times, and he never
neglected any one of them . Now , Satan was jealous of him ,
and he schemed schemes and brought sorrow upon him , and
the immediate cause was that the Bishop of the city of TÊNÊS
(TANIS), and the Bishop of the city of MĚSR (CAIRO), behaved
wrongly towards the people and oppressed them in the matter
of dues and afflicted them , and Abbâ JOSEPH said unto them ,
“ Forbear and do not afflict them .” And on several occasions
he had entreated them to look upon their flocks with the eye
of mercy, but they would not accept his behests , and they set
them aside. And these [fol. 506 3 ] holy bishops having afflicted
their people [to excess ], all the people came to the Archbishop
184 THE ETHIOPIC SYNAXARIUM
Abbâ JOSEPH , and they all cried out before him , and said unto
him , " If thou wilt not remove these bishops from over us we
shall embrace another Faith.” And Abbâ JOSEPH fought very ,
very hard to make peace between them , but he was not able to
do so . Then he brought all the bishops from all the land of
Egypt, and when they were assembled , he told them how these
two bishops had afflicted their people. And the archbishop
sent and had those two bishops brought before him , and he
wished to make peace between them and their people ; but they
would listen neither to his commands nor to those of his brother
bishops. And straightway the archbishop said unto them before
all the bishops, “ I am innocent of your sins," and the bishops
were witnesses against the two bishops that they had trans
gressed the command of the Archbishop Abbâ JOSEPH . And
they all wrote with their own hands to this effect; “ It is meet
for these two bishops to be cut off from their sees ” ; and straight
way the archbishop cut them off from their sees. And when
he had cut them off from their sees, these two bishops went to
the King of Egypt,andmade false accusationsagainst this father
Abbâ John (JOSEPH ? ) before him ,and theking sent hisbrother
and a company of soldiers to bring the archbishop to him .
When he had come to him the king's brother drew his sword
and wanted to kill him , and when he was about to smite the
archbishop with the sword, God thrust aside the hand of that
nobleman , [fol. 512 I] and his sword struck a pillar, and broke,
and he was furiously angry . And another man drew his dagger
and drove it into the side of the archbishop with all his might,
and his apparel and his girdle were cut through , but the dagger
did not enter the flesh of the archbishop . Then that nobleman
knew that the archbishop was a righteousman, and that there
was in him divine grace which would preserve him from every
evil, and from murder. And he brought him to the king his
brother with great honour, and he told him what he had done
to the archbishop, and how he had been smitten twice with the
sword and had escaped unhurt. When the king heard this he
marvelled, and he was afraid of the archbishop and paid him
honour, and then he asked him questions about the two bishops
who had made accusations against him before him . And the
 SECOND MONTH - ȚĚŽĚMT (Oct. 8 - Nov . 6 ) 185
archbishop told him what had happened in the matter of the
bishops, and he proved to him that the accusations which they
had made against him were falsehoods. And the king knew that
those bishops were liars, and evilmen , and accursed oppressors ,
and straightway he commanded [his soldiers) to slay them .
And the archbishop said unto him , “ Our Lord Christ in the
Holy Gospel commanded us to do good in return for evil. These
bishops made false accusations against me, but behold , God
hath established it in thy heart that I am innocent of the false
charges which they laid against me to thee ; I therefore beseech
thee to have mercy upon them , and to forgive them for God's
sake.” When the king saw the pity of the archbishop, he mar
velled exceedingly, and he paid him honour, and he had mercy
upon those two bishops for his sake. And he wrote for him an
authorization [ fol. 51 2 ] and gave it to him , and in it he
ordered : “ Neither officials nor bishops shall resist the arch
bishop, and they shall not disobey his command, and whatso
ever he is pleased to do in his see he shall do , whether it be to
remove a man from his office or to appoint a new one.” And
in the days of this father the King of Ethiopia senthim a letter,
saying, “ I do homage to the throne of MARK the evangelist ,
whereon to sit thou art worthy, and by his grace my kingdom
hath waxed strong. I beseech thee to have compassion upon
me and to send unto us as bishop Abbâ John. There are
certain men of our city who have gone astray from the light of
the throne of Saint MARK the evangelist , and who have set
their feet on the road which is full of thorns, and they have
driven out Abbâ John our bishop. Because of this great
tribulation hath come upon our land and all our men are dying
of the plague, and our beasts and cattle have perished , and God
hath restrained the heavens so that they cannot rain upon our
land, and our enemies have risen up against us and have con
quered us, because we have not obeyed the commandments of
God . And now , O holy ABÛNA, have mercy upon us and upon
our folly . Send us our Bishop John so that he may entreat
God , and pray for us, and deliver us from this tribulation
through thy prayer and his own. And Iwill inform thee, O my
father, what hath been the cause of this. I thy son was blessed
186 THE ETHIOPIC SYNAXARIUM
by my father Abbâ John the bishop, and he bade me farewell
as he set me on my way with my soldiers, and he blessed me
and then returned and dwelt in his diocese . And we departed
to the war, and we continued to fight for very many days, [fol.
512 3 ] and our enemies conquered us, and they destroyed our
soldiers, and we took to flight and returned to our own country,
and we missed Abbâ John our bishop . And I enquired for
him , and they told me that my wife , the queen, had driven
him into exile because certain evil men had counselled her to
do so , even as Queen EUDOXIA had in days of old driven
JOHN of the Golden Mouth (CHRYSOSTOM ) into exile, and
that they had appointed another bishop who was their choice ;
they have transgressed the command of the holy Canon , and
therefore our country is destroyed. And now have pity upon us
and send Abbâ John to pray for us.” Now when they drove
that bishop out of Ethiopia he went and dwelt in the monastery
wherein he had become a monk , and that was the monastery of
Saint Abbâ MOSES of the desert of SCETE. When Abbâ
JOSEPH the archbishop had read the letter of the King of
Ethiopia, he rejoiced exceedingly because of his confidence,
and he sent quickly to the desert of SCETE and brought back
Abbâ JOHN , and he comforted him , and encouraged him , and
sent brave men with him to the country of Ethiopia. As soon
as he arrived , the plague ceased , and rain fell from heaven ,
and the king rejoiced with very great joy at his arrival; and
this father rebuked the wicked sinners and converted them to
the Orthodox Faith . And he likewise encouraged all Christian
people in the right and good Faith which they had received
from their fathers. And he used to interpret for them obscure
passages in the Holy Scriptures , and declare their meaning
unto them , and he preserved them by his teachings and prayers.
And God made manifest through [fol. 516 1 ] this holy father
JOSEPH great signs and wonders, and having finished his good
and divine fight, and pleased God , he died in peace, having sat
upon the throne of MARK the evangelist nineteen years. He
lived the life of a monk for nine and thirty years , and he had
lived ten years before he adopted the life of a monk ; and all
the days of his life were eight and sixty years .
 SECOND MONTH - ȚĚĶĚMT (Oct. 8 - Nov . 6 ) 187
And on this day also Saint DIONYSIUS, Bishop of the city
of Corinth , became a martyr in the days of DIOCLETIAN and
MAXIMIANUS, the wicked emperors . They condemned this
holy man to be tortured very severely , and when they were
tired of torturing him they cut off his head with a sword , and
he received the crown of martyrdom in the kingdom of the
heavens.
Salutation to Archbishop JOSEPH of the city of MANŮF,
unto whom was given the knowledge of Letters. Salutation to
DIONYSIUS the Bishop of Corinth whose head was cut off.

And on this day also [are commemorated ] the deaths of

ȚENķĚYÂĶÊ (or TAYÂNĂÊ ), and THEODOSIUS, and LAOS
(TALÂwÔs), and TAXIS, and JÔ SÂB (or joSEPH ), and the
strife of ANDREW , themartyrs.

XXIV. TĚŽĚMT
[fol.516 2 ] IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER AND THE
SON AND THE HOLY GHOST, ONE GOD
On this day died the fighter Abbâ ABLARIUS (HILARIUS ?)
the monk and anchorite. This holy man was a native of the
city of GÂZÂ, and his parents were pagans, and they taught
him all the various kinds of learning of the Greeks, and their
philosophy, and he was very far superior in knowledge to many
of his companions, and wisdom had a dwelling place in his
soul. And he wished to make himself very strong in the learning
of foreign peoples, but there was no one in his city who could
teach him that learning, and who could fulfil for him all that
he desired. And he rose up and went to the city of Alexandria ,
and he went into the place where all the doctors sat, and he
learned from them many kinds of learning. And a divine zeal
moved within him to learn the doctrine of the Church , and he
enquired for the Books of the Church , and certain men gave
them to him , and he read them and understood them . And
Abbâ ISKANDER, Archbishop of the city of Alexandria , re
vealed and explained to him the meaning of what was obscure
in the Books, and he made him to understand the belief on
188 THE ETHIOPIC SYNAXARIUM
our Lord Jesus Christ. And ISKANDER baptized him with
Christian baptism , and he fought a great fight, and he became a
monk and devoted himself diligently to the path of the monastic
life . Then he went to Saint Abbã ANTHONY, and he dwelt
with him for many days, learning from him the path of right
eousness. When he heard that his parents according to the
flesh were dead , he went to his city, and took the goods which
his parents had left him , and gave them to the poor and needy ,
and to the women who were with child . Then he entered one
[ fol. 516 3 ] of themonasteries in the country of Syria, and he
fought a great fight, and he devoted himself strenuously to
fasting, and prayer , and bowings, and vigils, and he used to fast
for six days and six nights at a time, and he used to feed himself
on the grass of the desert. And his heart shone brightly , and
God gave him the gift of prophecy and of working signs and
wonders . After this he dwelt in that samemonastery for many
years , and it was in that monastery that EPIPHANIUS became
a monk . And the abbot received this Saint ABLARIUS (HIL
ARIUS ?) and he taught him the rule of the ascetic life and
the Law of the Church , and he prophesied of him that he would
become the Bishop of Cyprus, which came to pass even as he
had prophesied. Now the days of this father were eighty years ;
ten years he lived in the house of his father, and seven years in
the city of Alexandria, and for three and sixty years he led the
life of a monk and fought a great fight. And he pleased God
and died at a good old age. And Saint John of the Golden
Mouth praised this holy man , and Saint BASIL in his writings
also praised him . Salutation to ABLARIUS (HILARIUS ? ) who
drank sea water and ate grass .

Salutation to ȘABLA MARYÂM , who was famed for her

fasting and self-abnegation .

[ fol. 52a I] And on this day also Saint PAUL and his com
panion (LONGINUS], and the holy woman ZAINÂ became
martyrs . Salutation to PAUL, LONGINUS, and ZAINÂ.
And on this day also are commemorated EUSIA (AUSIA),
and CONSTANTINE.
 SECOND MONTH - TĚŽĚMT (OCT. 8-Nov. 6) 189
XXV. TĚŽĚMT
IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER AND THE SON
AND THE HOLY GHOST, ONE GOD
On this day died Abbâ BÛLÂ , who was surnamed 'ABÎB.
The name of the father of this holy man was ABRAHAM , and
that of his mother was ĦARÎK , and they were natives of the
country of Rôm , and came from the borders of LẬPf ; and since
there was a persecution in the days of the Emperor MAXIM
IANUS they continued to fly from city to city . As they lacked
a son they entreated God , with fasting and prayer, to give them
a son. And the angel of the Lord appeared unto them in a
dream , and gave them a vine cluster which was full of grapes,
and when the blessed woman conceived , a large tree which
was near their house blossomed , and on the leaves thereof were
written in the language of Rôm the following words : “ BÛLÂ ,
servant of God , and the saint of the God of JACOB, [fol. 52 a 2]
Who dwelleth in Zion .” And when the child was born they left
him for some time without making him a Christian . Then our
Lady MARY appeared unto the Archbishop of Rômê, and com
manded him to go to the house of ABRAHAM and baptize the
child ; and when he arrived there he made him a Christian and
called his name " BÛ LÂ.” When the father and the mother of
the child heard [this] they marvelled because he had called the
child by that name without their having told him the name.
When the archbishop had prayed , bread for the Offering and
a cup of wine came down from heaven , and he consecrated
them and administered unto them the Holy Mysteries. When
the boy was one year old he spoke plainly and said , “ One is
the Holy Father , One is the Holy Son , One is the Holy Ghost.”
After a little [ time] his father and his mother died , on the
sixteenth day of the month of Khědâr (Nov .- Dec.). When the
boy was ten years of age there arrived a wicked governor who
ordered [the people ] to worship idols, and when Abbâ BÛ LÂ
heard about it, he went to the governor and cursed his filthy
idols. When the governor saw the small stature of the boy he
marvelled greatly . And he commanded [his soldiers ] to drive
nails into him , and to scrape his body, and to strip off his skin ,
 190 THE ETHIOPIC SYNAXARIUM
and to saw off his hands and his feet, and to beat his back with
whips, and to cast him on the wheel among the sharp knives
and spikes , and to drag him along the road of the city ; (and
they did so ]. And Saint MICHAEL came and saved him ,and
healed him . Then BÛ LÂ went to another wicked governor and
reviled him , [fol. 52a 3] and the governor was wroth with him
and cut off his head with the sword , and he was crowned on the
eighteenth day of the month Mîyâzyâ (April-May). And Saint
MICHAEL camedown from heaven and raised him up unharmed ,
and he took him into the desert, and he arrayed him in the garb
of the monk , and put upon him a mark in appearance like the
sign of the Cross, and he said unto him , “ God hath commanded
thee to be a companion of the Saints .” And Abbâ BÛLÂ went
up into a dry (i.e . withered ) tree, and he dwelt therein fighting
incessantly, and whensoever he remembered the Crucifixion of
our Lord Jesus Christ and His Passion , he always cast himself
down from the top of the tree. One day having cast himself
down Satan was strong to kill him , and he died, but our Re
deemer came straightway and raised him up, and he said unto
him , “ Thy name shall not be 'BÛLÂ ' only , but "'ABÎBHÂ,'
for thou shalt becomemany fathers.” And BÛLÂ loved Christ
more and more, and he was always beating his face, and cutting
his flesh with knives, every member of him , and he beat his
back with seven hundred stripes; through these acts he died
three times and our Redeemer raised him up again . And on
each occasion He shewed him how he had been born of a virgin ,
and on other days He shewed him how he was seized by the
Jews and His Passion . And for this reason BÛ LÂ lived without
eating and without drinking for two and forty years, and he
never lay on his side for six and sixty years. And he also kept
his head fixed for twelve years and six months, until his brains
perished . One day when he saw the Passion of our Lord , he
placed a sword upright before him [fol. 526 1 ] and then fell
upon it and died . And our Lady MARY came with angels to
the place where his body was, and she said unto him , “ Peace
be unto thee, O my beloved ” ; and his body spake and said unto
her, " Peace be unto thee, O Queen of the world .” And she
laid her hands upon his body and healed him . And when his
 SECOND MONTH - TĚŽĚMT (Oct. 8 -Nov. 6) 191
days nwere ended , and it was time for him to depart from this
aime ,tour
rworld d heJesus
. AnLord was seChrist ems of vani
t with gappeared llo hihim
unto aving inin His
m hhaving
hands shining crowns setwith gems of variouskinds,and shining
raiment. And He said unto him , “ Comeunto Me, O My beloved
'ABIB, so that thou mayest enjoy never -ending pleasure. I
swear unto thee by Myself that whosoever calleth upon thy
name I will forgive him his sins. And whosoever commemorateth
thee, or sheweth mercy on the poor, or clotheth the naked , or
feedeth the hungry , or giveth drink to the thirsty man , or
buildeth a shrine for thee, or writeth the story of thy strife, or
readeth it or heareth it , I will forgive his sins even to the tenth
generation ." Having said this Hekissed his mouth , and bearing
him upon His breast carried him up into the air . And when he
heard the praise of the angels, his soul tore itself away from his
body, and entered the heavenly Jerusalem . Salutation to 'ABÎB .
Salutation to the twelve [fol. 52b 2 ] handmaidens, and to
the three and forty men , and to the three hundred and sixty
women , who under the influence of 'ABÎB became martyrs .

And on this day also died Abbâ 'EBLÔY (APOLLO ?) , who

was like the angels. The name of the father of this holy man
Abbâ 'EBLÔY (APOLLO ?) was 'AMÔNÊ, and he was a native
of the city of AKHMÎm ; the name of his mother was MÛSYÂ.
And both of them were righteous before God , and they walked
in His way ; and they were very charitable towards pilgrims
and strangers. Now they had no son at all. And his mother
MÛSYÂ saw a vision one night, and she saw in it a shining man
who had with him a tree , and he planted the tree in her
took root
house, and itit took root and r, " Whosoeand
an heblossomed shaolyfruit
ver bore man. tAnd
ook
the shining being said unto her , “ Whosoever shall eat of this
tree shall live for ever.” And the mother of theholy man took
some of the fruit thereof and ate it, and it was sweet in her
mouth , and she said in her heart, “ Shall I, I wonder, have
fruit.” When she awoke from her sleep she told her husband
what she had seen . And he told her that he had seen
in his vision what his wife had seen in her vision , and they
praised God many times. And they added to their works
of righteousness and to their strivings, and they fasted for two
 THE ETHIOPI SYN AXARIUM
192 THE ETHIOPIC SYNAXARIUM
days at a time and their food was bread and salt. When the
mother of the holy man Abbâ ' EBLÔY (APOLLO ? ) conceived,
she prayed many prayers and vanquished enemies. And every
night she prostrated herself to the ground one thousand times,
and every day five hundred times for a period of nine months,
until she brought forth her son ; and she called him “ ' EBLÔY
(APOLLO ?).” After this she added to her works of goodness
and righteousness . When [fol. 526 3 ] Abbâ 'EBLÔY (APOLLO ?)
arrived at man 's estate he wished to assume the garb of the
monk , and he continued to feel this wish until he found the
means of gratifying it. Now he had a friend whose name was
'ABÎB , and taking him with him they went forth by night, and
they departed and becamemonks in one of the monasteries of
Upper Egypt; and they devoted themselves to the ascetic life
and fought strenuously. After a few days 'ABÎB died , on the
twenty-fifth day of themonth Țēķěmt (Oct.-Nov .). Thereupon
Saint Abbâ 'EBLÔY (APOLLO ? ) departed to the monastery of
'ABLÛG , and many men were gathered together (there ), and
he taught them the fear of God and right worship . And on
the day of the death of Abbâ 'ABÎB, whilst they were
performing the service of commemoration, Abbâ 'EBLÔ Y
(APOLLO ? ) said unto them , “ O brethren , whosoever shall
pray this day in the name of Abbâ 'ABÎB God will forgive him
his sin , even as Christ promised him with this promise, in the
following words: ‘ O My chosen one 'ABÎB, whosoever shall
pray one prayer on the day of thy commemoration (now Saint
'ABÎB , had said to God , Forgive me allmy sin ), I will forgive
him his sin for Thy Name's sake.'” And it came to pass in
that hour that one of the monks died , and whilst they were
standing and were burying him , one of the brethren who were
monks felt doubts about what Abbâ ' EBLÔY (APOLLO ? ) said .
And straightway that dead man rose up, and he began to speak
and to say unto them , “ Why do ye doubt the words of Abbâ
' EBLÔY (APOLLO ?) ? God did covenant this covenant with
our father Abbâ 'ABÎB on the day of his commemoration " ;
when the dead man had said these words he turned and lay
down again . And the brethren , the monks, marvelled and
praised God. Now Abbâ 'EBLÔY (APOLLO ?) lived very many
 SECOND MONTH - TĚŽĚMT (OCT. 8 - Nov. 6 ) 193
years, [fol. 53 a 1] and he built many monasteries , and had
many children ; and in his days lived Abbâ MACARIUS the
Great. When Abbâ MACARIUS heard the report of him he
rejoiced therein exceedingly , and he wrote to him letters com
forting him and his sons, the monks, and encouraging him to
continue in the work which was well-pleasing to God. Now
whilst Abbâ MACARIUS was writing those letters in the desert
of SCETE, Abbâ 'EBLÔY (APOLLO ?), being in Upper Egypt,
knew by the Holy Spirit that he was doing so . And he said unto
the monkswho were round abouthim , speaking unto them with
the voice of God, “ Be silent, O my brethren , for behold Abbâ
MACARIUS is writing to us a letter of encouragement.” Having
spoken these words in this manner, behold , straightway a
certain monk came having with him the letter of Abbâ MA
CARIUS. And the monks went out and they received him with
joy, and he read the letter before all the monks with joy and
they rejoiced with a great joy . This holy man Abbâ 'EBLÔY
(APOLLO ?) went to the holy father Abbâ AMMONIUS, and
he saw that holy woman , whose namewas YAWÂHÎT, dwelling
with him . And Christ having wished to give him rest from the
labour of this world , he died straightway in peace on the fifth
day of the month of Yakâtît (Feb . -March ). Now we have
written the history of Abbâ 'EBLÔY (APOLLO ?) side by side
with that of his friend Abbâ 'ABÎB.

And on this day also took place the consecration of the

church of Saint JULIUS the martyr, of the city of 'AKPÂÌÔS
(ACFAHA). Now the saint became a martyr in the city [ fol.
53a 2 ] of ȚĚwâ, according to what is written in the account of
his strife. And this took place after the destruction of DIO
CLETIAN the infidel, when coNSTANTINE was reigning, and
a few days before he was baptized with Christian baptism . And
when he had been baptized the horn of the Christian kingdom
was exalted , and churches were built in the names of the holy
martyrs whom the infidel emperors had slain . When the
Emperor CONSTANTINE heard the report of this holy man
JULIUS, and how God had raised him up and preserved him
so that he might care for the bodies of the holy martyrs, both
BESI
194 THE ETHIOPIC SYNAXARIUM
him and his servants, and carry their bodies and bury them ,
and write the history of their strifes, and how he became a
martyr afterwards, he praised [God ] for this holy man , for his
fight was good . And the emperor sent very much money to
Egypt, and he commanded [the people] to build a fine church
in his honour, and to carry his body thither and to lay it
therein ; and they built a fine church in his honour even as the
emperor commanded , and they translated the body of Saint
JULIUS and laid it therein . And the Archbishop of Alexandria
and his bishops consecrated it, and celebrated a festival even
as do we this day. And many great signs and wonders were
wrought by the body of Saint JULIUS. Salutation to the
consecration of thy church , O JULIUS.
[ fol. 53a 3 ] And on this day also are commemorated Abbâ
'ABEL and DALILÂ (DELILAH), the virgin .

XXVI. TĚŽĚMT
IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER AND THE SON
AND THE HOLY GHOST, ONE GOD
On this day died Saint Timon , apostle and martyr. Our
Lord chose this disciple and he was of thenumber of the Seventy
two disciples whom He chose and made known and sent forth ;
and He gave them power to heal the sick and to cast out
Satans. And this holy man received the heavenly gift and the
divine grace , and with it he healed the sick , and the Satans
submitted unto him ; and he ministered unto our Lord Jesus
Christ as long as He dwelt in the body upon earth . After our
Lord had ascended into heaven this holy man ministered unto
the apostles continually , and until the gift of the Holy Spirit
descended upon him and upon them on the day of the feast of
Pentecost. After this the apostles elected him into the number
of the seventy deacons whom they appointed ; and the Book is
a witness concerning them that they were filled with the Holy
Spirit and wisdom . After he had served the office of deacon for
a few days, the apostles appointed him a priest, and then they
laid hands upon him and appointed him Bishop in the city of
 SECOND MONTH – TĚŽĚMT (Oct. 8 - NOV . 6 ) 195
BĚSRÂ of theWest, of the country of BĚLKÂ. And he preached
the Faith of our Lord [fol. 536 1] Jesus Christ therein , and he
baptized very many Greeks and Jews. When the governor of
the city heard this he seized Saint TIMON , and tortured him
severely and burnt him in the fire , and he received the crown of
martyrdom in the kingdom of the heavens. Salutation to Timon .

And on this day also are commemorated Saint JAMES, the

brother of our Lord , and ŅŪRÂs the martyr.

And on this day also died PHILIP and SAWGENÂS.

XXVII. TĚĶĚMT
IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER AND THE SON
AND THE HOLY GHOST, ONE GOD
On this day died the holy and blessed father Abbâ MA
CARIUS, Bishop of the city of ķÂw . In this holy man were
fulfilled the words of DAVID the prophet, saying, " Blessed is
the man who hath not walked in the counsel of the ungodly ,
who hath not stood in the way of sinners , and who hath not
sat in the seat of the scoffers, but whose pleasure is in the Law
of God, and in that Law he doth meditate (or speak) day and
night” (Psalm i). This holy man kept the commandment of
God, [fol. 536 2 ] and he traded with his] talent and gained
profit thereby. How many were the signs and great wonders
which God wroughtby the hands of this holy man ! Concerning
him it is said that when he was in the city of ĶÂw , every time
he took his seat upon the throne to teach the people he would
weep continuously. And one of his disciples whom he loved
exceedingly adjured him , saying, “ Why dost thou weep con
tinuously ,my father? ” And because of his disciple's adjuration
he answered and said , “ I weep when I see the sins of the people
and the evil of their works ; even as oil is seen upon glass.”
And on another occasion he saw our Lord Christ sitting upon
the altar, and the angels bringing unto Him the works of each
and every man . And he heard a voice which said, “ Bishop ,
13-2
196 THE ETHIOPIC SYNAXARIUM
why dost thou keep thyself invisible to the people ? Why dost
thou not rebuke them and teach them ? ” And the bishop said ,
“ My Lord, they will not acceptmy words.” And He said unto
him , “ It is meet for a bishop to admonish the people and to
teach them ; and if they will not receive his words then their
blood be upon their own heads." For this reason the holy man
was always weeping. Then this father ] was summoned to go
with Saint Abbâ DIOSCURUS to the Council which had been
assembled by the Emperor MARCIANUS. And when he arrived
at the royal palace the guard would not allow him to enter
because of his mean attire, and the soldiers told Abbâ DIOS
CURUS, who said unto them , “ Bring him in , for he is a bishop .”
When he had gone in and had heard their words concerning
our Lord [fol. 536 3 ) in their evil faith, how they separated His
Godhead and assigned to Him Two Natures , this holy man be
came wroth with them , and he cursed the Emperor MARCI
ANUs in the Council. And he spake to the emperor fearlessly ,
for he had delivered himself over to death for the True Faith ;
and [the emperor] exiled him and diOSCURUS to the island of
GÂGRÂ. And from this place DIOSCURUS sent him with a
certain believing man to the city of Alexandria , and he prophe
sied to him , saying, “ Needs must that thou shalt receive the
crown of martyrdom .” When Saint Abbâ MACARIUS had
arrived in the city of Alexandria , there reached him at this
time a letter from the infidel Emperor MARCIANUS, and with
it was a roll containing a copy of the wicked creed , which
assigned to Christ Two Natures . Now MARCIANUS, the infidel
emperor, had commanded his envoy and said unto him , “ He
who shall first write [his name) on this roll, and doth believe
our belief, make him Archbishop of the city of Alexandria ."
And there was in the city of Alexandria a certain man , an
infidel, a high priest, whose name was ’ABRÔTÂRÎ, and he
took that filthy roll and wished to write [his name] first on it .
And Saint Abbâ MACARIUS said unto 'ABRÔTÂRI, “ Re
member the word which Abbâ DIOSCURUS spake unto thee
when he went from the city of Alexandria , saying, ' Thou shalt
have dominion over the Church after me' " ; and 'ABRÔTÂRÎ
remembered that word and did not wish to write [his name] on
 SECOND MONTH - ȚĚĶĚMT (Oct. 8 - Nov . 6 ) 197
that filthy roll. And the envoy of the emperor made known to
him that Bishop [fol. 540 I] Abbâ MACARIUS did not believe
in the faith of the Emperor MARCIANUS, and that he would
not write [his name) on that filthy roll. When the emperor
heard this, he rose up in wrath , and he sent and had Saint Abbâ
MACARIUS beaten on his members secretly , and straightway
Abbâ MACARIUS died , and received the crown of martyrdom
in the kingdom of heaven . And believers carried away the
saint's body , and they placed it with the bodies of Saint JOHN
the Baptist and ELISHA the prophet. Now Saint Abbâ
MACARIUS had seen a vision wherein these saints , John and
ELISHA, had said unto him , “ Thy body shall be with ours.”
And the body of Saint Abbâ MACARIUS was with the bodies
of Abbâ MACARIUS the Great, and Abbâ MACARIUS the
Alexandrian in the monastery of SCETE. And this father
MACARIUS went to Christ Whom he loved , and crowned him
self with the crown of endurance . Many salutations to MA
CARIUS, who hated false belief. When the wife of the governor
laid her hand on the face of this holy man she was cleansed of
her leprosy and made whole .
On this day also are commemorated PAUL of the Cell, and
JULIANUS and his companions who becamemartyrs.

XXVIII. TĚŽĚMT
[ fol. 54a 2 ] IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER AND THE
SON AND THE HOLY GHOST, ONE GOD
On this day the great saints MARCIANUS and MERCURIUS
becamemartyrs . These holy men were disciples of Saint PAUL
the martyr, Archbishop of the city of Constantinia . When the
Emperor CONSTANTINE , the son of CONSTANTINE theGreat,
reigned , the belief of the infidel ARIUS waxed strong and he
made himself the enemy of Abbâ PAUL, Archbishop of the city
of Constantinia , and he banished him to the country of Armenia ,
and strangled him and killed him there. And saints MARCI
ANUS and MERCURIUS wrote jointly on the day of the death
198 THE ETHIOPIC SYNAXARIUM
of Saint PAUL, and cursed the emperor , and they said of him
that he believed the faith of Arius the infidel, and they
anathematized ARIUS and the emperor. And a certain wicked
man went and made accusations against them to the emperor,
and said unto him , “ They have cursed thee and they have
cursed ARIUS.” Now the emperor was dwelling in a certain
village, and he sent and had the saints brought to him , and he
commanded [his soldiers ] to slay them with the sword, and
they slew them and buried them where they had been slain ,
and their bodies remained in that place until the days of JOHN
of the Golden Mouth . And when John heard the history of
them he sent and brought their honourable bodies into the city
of Constantinia ; and he built a beautiful church for them , and
he translated their bodies and laid them in it, and the people
made a great feast as at this day . Salutation to MARCIANUS
and MERCURIUS, [fol. 54a 3 ] disciples of PAUL the archbishop .
And on this day also are commemorated Abbâ MAĶŞÛ (or
MAĶDû), and MACARIUS, and the death of JAPHET the son
of NOAH, whom his father blessed , saying , “ God shall make
broad the land of JAPHET."
And on this day also died Saint Abbâ YAM 'ATÂ , who was
one of the Nine Saints. Salutation to YAM 'ATÂ, whose body
was buried in a rock on the top of a mountain .

Salutation to ABRAHAM , who separated himself from the

Gentiles, and to JACOB, and to ISAAC. [ This paragraph is not
in the Bodleian Ms.]

XXIX . TĚŽĚMT
IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER AND THE SON
AND THE HOLY GHOST, ONE GOD
On this day is celebrated the festival of the BIRTH of our
Lord and Redeemer Jesus Christ, by the Lady of us all, the
holy two-fold virgin MARY, the [fol. 546 1] God-bearer, for
ever and ever , Amen . Salutation to thy birth O Flower who
blossomed without water.
 SECOND MONTH - ȚĚŽĚMT (Oct. 8 - Nov. 6 ) 199
And on this day also the great Saint DEMETRIUS
ETRIT became аa
martyr. This holy man lived in the days of MAXIMIANUS
the infidel, and he was a native of the city of Thessalonica ; he
was a Christian , and he learned various kinds of learning, but
he held in more esteem than all of them the doctrine of the
Church, the holy Orthodox Faith . And he taught and preached
continually in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ, and he con
verted many pagans, and brought them into the Faith of our
Lord Jesus Christ . And certain men made accusations against
Saint DEMETRIUS to the infidel emperor,who commanded [his
soldiers] to bring him to him . And there came to the place
where the emperor was a man who was strong in his body, and
thick in his bones , and who vanquished every man by his
strength , and he was a skilled fighting man and no one was able
to vanquish him . And the emperor loved this man exceedingly ,
and boasted of his superiority over every other man , and said ,
“ I will give much money to the man who shall vanquish him ” ;
but there was no man who was able to do so. At that moment
there rose up from among those who were there a certain man ,
a Christian , whose name was BASTIUS, and he came to Saint
DEMETRIUS and asked him to pray for him , and to make the
sign of the Cross with his hand on his body. And Saint DEME
TRIUS prayed over him , [ fol. 546 2 ] and hemade upon the body
of thatman the sign of the Cross , which maketh invincible him
that believed thereon . And that man went to the emperor and
asked him to let him fightwith that fighter ofwhom the emperor
boasted . And the emperor commanded that BASTIUS should
fight with him , and he thought that the mighty man would
vanquish him just as he had vanquished every other man .
When BASTIUS joined in fight with thatmighty man , he van
quished him and threw him on the ground , and the emperor
was very sorry for this and was ashamed , and he marvelled ,
and said , “ By whatmeans did BASTIUS Vanquish thatmighty
man ? ” And the emperor asked his soldiers concerning this, and
they told him that the holy man DEMETRIUS had prayed over
him and had made the sign of the Cross upon his body. When
the emperor heard this he was exceedingly wroth with Saint
DEMETRIUS, and he commanded his soldiers to beat him until
200 THE ETHIOPIC SYNAXARIUM
he offered incense to the gods, and worshipped them , and they
did as he commanded . And when DEMETRIUS would not obey
his command the emperor commanded the soldiers to thrust
at him with spears until he died . And the soldiers told DEME
TRIUS about this command, and they thought that he would
deny and abandon the Faith of Christ, and worship idols. And
Saint DEMETRIUS said unto them , “ Do whatsoever ye please ,
for I will neither offer incense to nor worship the filthy gods ;
I will worship only our Lord Jesus Christ], the Son of the
Living God, Who is God in truth .” And straightway the soldiers
drove spears into him until he died , and he delivered up his
pure soul into the hands of Christ. And when they threw out
the body of the saint certain believing Christians took it and
laid it in a sarcophagus in their house , [ fol. 546 3] and it re
mained hidden among them until the end of the days of perse
cution . And God revealed it to the Christians, who brought out
his body, which was with them , and they built a great church
for him in the city of Thessalonica, and they laid the body of
the saint therein , and to this day it worketh great signs and
miracles. And each day there distilleth from it oil and unguent
having an exceedingly sweet odour, and when those who are
sick anoint themselves therewith in firm faith they become
healed , especially on the day of his commemoration . On that
day he distilleth the unguent in a larger quantity than on any
other day, and it drippeth from the walls of the church and the
pillars thereof, and the people collect it and pour it into their
scent bottles. And this sign shall continue, and shall be found
to exist until the end of the world ; now the priests and the
righteous men who have seen this wonderful thing testify
concerning the truth thereof). Salutation to DEMETRIUS
who was stabbed to death with spears.
Salutation to SAĶȚĚR the martyr, the friend of Mâr DEME
TRIUS (?) , and salutation to his servant who was cut to pieces
after him .
 SECOND MONTH – TĚŽĚMT (Oct. 8-Nov. 6) 201
XXX . TĚŽĚMT
[ fol. 55 a I ] IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER AND THE
SON AND THE HOLY GHOST, ONE GOD
On this day died the holy father, the fighter who prayed
always, ABRAHAM the anchorite. This holy man was a native
of the city of MANUF, and his parents feared God, and served
Christ , and they were exceedingly rich in the possessions of this
world . When he had grown to man 's estate , this holy man
wished to put on the garb of the ascetic life. And he departed
to the city of AKHMÎM in Upper Egypt, and he came to the
saint and great man Abbâ PACHOMIUS, who arrayed him in
the garb of the monk, and he subjected his body to strenuous
work and continuous ascetic practices, and he fought incessantly
and served God . And he dwelt with Abbâ PACHOMIUS in his
own company for three and twenty years, and then Saint
ABRAHAM asked Abbâ PACHOMIUS to allow him to dwell by
himself in a cell (or cave) ; and Abbâ PACHOMIUs having com
manded , ABRAHAM departed and went into a cell, and he
made with his own hands curved hooks wherewith men caught
fish . And our Lord Jesus Christ brought unto him a certain
layman who used to take what his hands made and go and buy
for him dried beans, which he would carry to him , and what
was left of the payment for his handiwork he gave to the poor
and needy . The food of this holy man ABRAHAM each day in
the evening was a handful of beans soaked in water with a little
salt thrown upon them ; and he dwelt in this cell and lived this
life of self-abnegation for thirteen years . And the apparel which
he used to put on was that in which he went forth from the
monastery , and it was worn out in these days, [ fol. 55 a 2 ] for
he had had it a very long time, and he covered his body with
rags. After [each ] two or three years he used to go up to the
brethren the monks, and partake of the Holy Mysteries and
then return to his cell. At the beginning of his dwelling in the
cell the Satans used to come to him and terrify him , and make
him hear voices, and they made themselves like [beings of] the
underworld ; and ABRAHAM used to drive them away just as a
202 THE ETHIOPIC SYNAXARIUM

man driveth away dogs. When his death drew nigh he sent
that layman to themonastery of Saint Abbâ PACHOMIUS,and
he summoned Saint THEODORE his disciple, and when he came
to him [he bowed down ) at his feet, and he embraced him and
asked him to remember him and to pray over him . Then Saint
ABRAHAM rose up and prayed with Saint THEODORE and he
lay down with his face to the east , and he delivered up his soul
into the hand ofGod . And Saint THEODORE sent to the mon
astery , and the monks came and carried his body thereto , and
they all prayed over him and were blessed by him , and they
laid him with the bodies of the saints. Salutation to ABRAHAM
who dressed in rags and ate beans soaked in water .
And on this day also are commemorated FÂLÎBÛN , and
KAYNÂ , and the appearance [ fol. 55 a 3 ] of the head of JOHN
the Baptist, and MARTÊS (MARTHA), and Mârs (MARY ? ),
and ISAAC [the king). Salutation to ISAAC the king.
Here endeth the blessed month of ļěkěmt by the good
pleasure of God Most High , and by the Will of His Son Jesus
Christ, and by the help of our holy Lady, the two- fold Virgin ,
MARY, the God-bearer. May the blessing of her prayers and
the gift of her help , and the mercy of her beloved Son be with
our King JOHN, and with the Queen SABLA WANGÊL, and
with his scribe WALDA HÂYMÂNÔT, and may God have
mercy upon us in the kingdom of the heavens, with all the
martyrs, for ever and ever ! Amen and Amen .
 THE THIRD MONTH - KHĚDÂR (ħĚDÂR)
(NOV. 7 - DEC. 6 )
IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER AND THE SON
AND THE HOLY GHOST, ONE GOD
[ fol. 56 a I ] Month of KHÉDÂR the blessed . In this month
the length of the (first] day is ten hours , and then it diminisheth .
I. KHĚDÂR
On this day the fighters and saints MAXIMUS, and MAN
FIUS, and VICTORIUS, and PHILIP [of Africa, became
martyrs ). These holy fighters were natives of the country of
PHRYGIA, and they were brethren in the Holy Spirit though
not according to the flesh , and they gathered together and be
came companions for the sake of the love of Christ . And in the
days of DECIUS, the infidel emperor, the SEVEN CHILDREN
fled and hid themselves in a cave in the top of a mountain . And
when these fighters [and ] martyrs MAXIMUS and his com
panions saw the infidel emperor denying Christ , and torturing
the Christians, they rose up and gathered themselves together ,
and they agreed together with one consent that they would
declare publicly their faith . And they drew nigh unto that
infidel emperor, and they cried out, saying, “ We are Christians
openly , and we believe on Christ, the Son of the Living God ,
and we bow down before Him and we serve Him ." When that
infidel heard these words he was wroth with them , and he com
manded [the soldiers ] to beat them ; and they beat them very
severely for a long time with whips made of leather. And they
beat them again with iron rods which had been made red -hot
in the fire , and then they rubbed their wounds with bits of rag
made of hair which had been soaked in vinegar and salt. When
they would not obey his commands, and were not afraid of his
tortures, and would not turn from their good counsel, the
emperor waxed exceedingly wroth , and he commanded the
soldiers to torture them very severely, and the soldiers ] did
unto them even as [fol. 56 a 2] he commanded. And when
204 THE ETHIOPIC SYNAXARIUM
those who were there saw the patient endurance of the holy
martyrs, many of them believed on our Lord Jesus Christ.
Then straightway the emperor commanded the soldiers to cut
off their heads, and to hack each of them in twain with a single
blow of their swords, and thereupon they all received crowns
of martyrdom in the kingdom of the heavens. Salutation to
MAXIMUS and his brethren .

II. KHĚDÂR
IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER AND THE SON
AND THE HOLY GHOST, ONE GOD
On this day died Abbâ SANITIUS, the sixty- third Arch
bishop of the city of Alexandria . This father used to teach the
people , and he sat for fifteen years and died in peace.

And on this day also died the holy father Abbâ PETER, the
twenty -seventh Archbishop of the city of Alexandria , who was
appointed after Saint TIMOTHY. After God had chosen this
holy father for the office of archbishop , and he had taken his
seat upon the [ fol. 56 a 3 ] Apostolic Throne, AKKAEUS (AKA
KIOS), Archbishop of the city of Constantinia (471-489), wrote
to him a letter wherein he spake and confessed the Holy
Trinity, One God , according to the Faith of Saints CYRIL and
DIOSCURUS, and he also spake clearly in it, saying, “ It is not
right to separate His Divine Nature from His Incarnation , and
after their union the benefit of the union must not be cut off.”
And Abbâ PETER wrote an answer to his letter wherein he
accepted [what he had said) concerning the True Faith , and he
sent the letter to him with three learned bishops . When they
came to the Archbishop of the city of Constantinia he accepted
those bishops and the letter which they had with them , and he
associated them with him in the consecration of the Offering,
and in the Offering; and he read the letter before the people
who believed his word . Then AKKAEUS (AKAKIOS) wrote a
second letter and sent it to Abbâ PETER wherein were explana
tions of many passages from the Holy Scriptures; and Abbâ
PETER assembled the bishops who were under his authority ,
 THIRD MONTH - KHĚDÂR (ÞĚDÂR ) (NOV. 7 - DEC. 6 ) 205
and he read that letter before them , and rejoiced exceedingly,
and they admired the words and the explanations therein , and
they believed in their participation with him in the True Faith .
And there came upon this father great tribulation which was
caused by the Jews, and evil men , and pagans, because of the
Faith , and they drove him from his archiepiscopal throne ; but
after a few days he returned to the throne of his office. And he
used to teach his flock continually, and strengthen them [fol.
566 I) in the True Faith . When he was far away from them in
exile he used to teach them to be strong by his letters, and when
he was with them he used to teach them by his words; and he
sat upon his throne for ten years , and died in peace . Salutation
to the blessed SANITIUS and to his great companion .

And on this day also are commemorated SATÊNWÂ (SET

ENNA), the prophetess of Alexandria , and Saint 'ANESGESYÂ
(ANASTASIA ), and Abbâ LiBÂNÔs.

III. KHĒDÂR
IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER AND THE SON
AND THE HOLY GHOST, ONE GOD
On this day died the great Saint CYRIACUS. This holy
man was born in the city of Corinth , and his parents were
Orthodox Christians, and they taught him the doctrine of the
Orthodox Church. They brought him to Abbâ PETER, Bishop
of the city of Corinth , and he prayed over him and appointed
him a reader ; now he was the son of this father's brother. And
he used to read the Scriptures continually, and enquire into
the meaning of phrases, and ordinances of the Law of the
Church , and he was superior [fol. 566 2 ] to many in his learning
and wisdom . And the bishop commanded him not to abandon
the reading of the Scriptures, and CYRIACUS used to read
continually to the people in church and in the bishop 's house ;
and the bishop rejoiced in his reading of the Scriptures. When
the days of CYRIACUS were eighteen years, his parents asked
him to take unto himself a wife, but he did not want to do this .
After this he begged his parents to allow him to depart to a
 IUM
206 THE ETHIOPIC SYNAXAR
monastery, and they permitted him , and he was always going
to the monasteries and returning to his parents. And having
visited the monasteries very often [at length he wished ] to
assume the holy garb of the monk. And he departed to holy
Jerusalem , and he visited Saint Abbâ CYRIL, Bishop of
Jerusalem , and he told him his mind in respect of the life of the
monk . And CYRIL said unto him , " Thou hast wrought a good
work , and thou hast loved [it ] ” ; and he prophesied of him
that he would become a great father, and that he would fight
a great fight, and that the souls of many would shine through
him . And Abbâ CYRIL the bishop blessed him and sent him
away to the honourable father Abbâ ROMANUS, father of the
monks of Palestine. And this father accepted him , and rejoiced
in him , and he arrayed him in the garb of the monk , and he
gave him one of the old men of that monastery to admonish
him , and to teach him the Rule of the monks, and to make him
to know the artifices and crafts of Satan . And this saint gave
himself wholly to fasting, and prayer, and bowings to the
ground , and vigils, and severe labours both by night and by
day, in patient endurance, and the deepest abasement, and
humility . And God bestowed upon him the gift of healing ,
[ fol. 566 3 ] and he used to heal all the sick people who came
unto him ; and the report of him , and of his virtues and of his
holiness was noised everywhere. When the holy father Abbâ
CYRIL, Bishop of Jerusalem , went to the holy Council of One
Hundred and Fifty Bishops who were gathered together in the
city of Constantinia because of MACEDONIUS, the enemy of
the Holy Ghost, he took this holy man with him . And CYRIA
CUs opposed the arguments of MACEDONIUS, the infidel, and
he vanquished him by the word (or voice) of the Holy Spirit
which dwelt in him . And having grown old and attained to a
good age, and pleased God, he died in peace ; and after his
death God mademanifest great signs and miracles through his
body, one of which was the following . Now his body hath re
mained in one of themonasteries of the city of Jerusalem from
the time of his death until the present day, and it hath not
suffered any corruption . All those who go to the city of Jeru
salem and look upon his body, think that he died only a few
 THIRD MONTH - KHĚDÂR (ħĚDÂR) (NOV . 7 -DEC. 6 ) 207
days ago, whereas he has been dead for a period of six hundred
years. Now , he lived in the days of THEODOSIUS the Great,
the father of ARCADIUS and HONORIUS. Salutation to
CYRIACUS.

Salutation to HABAKKUK the prophet. (Omitted in the

Bodleian ms.]

[ fol.57a1] And on this day also died SaintATHANASIUS and

his sister IRENE after MAXIMIANUS had tortured them with
very severe tortures. And having wearied in torturing them
he cast them into a pit naked, and the soldiers shut the door of
the pit on them and they died therein . Salutation to ATHAN
ASIUS and IRENE.

IV . KHĚDÂR
IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER AND THE SON
AND THE HOLY GHOST, ONE GOD
On this day Saints EPIMACHUS and AZARIANUS became
martyrs . These men were from Rômê, and certain men accused
them before a governor who had been appointed by MAXI
MIANUS of being believers in Christ . When they had come
before him he questioned them about their Faith, and they
confessed that they were Christians, and then they abused the
governor because he had forsaken the God Who created the
heavens and the earth and all that therein is , and because he
worshipped idols which were the work of men 's hands, and
which could neither see nor hear, and wherein dwelt Satan ( fol.
57 a 2 ] and led men astray . And the governor marvelled at
their audacity and commanded the soldiers to cut off their
heads, and [the saints] received crowns of martyrdom in the
kingdom of heaven . Salutation to EPIMACHUS and to
AZARIANUS.

And on this day also JAMES and John , Bishops of the

country of Persia , becamemartyrs by the hand of SAPOR, the
son of pĚRMÁZ (HORMIZD) the King of Persia . The king
 M
208 THE ETHIOPIC SYNAXARIU
ordered them to worship the sun and the moon and the fire,
and to offer sacrifice to them , and when they would not obey
his order , he commanded the soldiers to torture them severely ,
and they did so . And whilst [the saints) were undergoing the
torture, they were teaching the multitude, and strengthening
them in the Faith of our Lord Jesus Christ. When the king
saw the boldness of their hearts , and their patience under the
torture, and that they would not turn from their Faith , and
would not cease from the teaching of the people, he commanded
the soldiers to cast them into the fire, and they did so . And
having delivered up their souls into the hand of our Lord Jesus
Christ they received crowns ofmartyrdom with all the saints.
Salutation to JAMES and John, [ fol. 57 a 3 ] Bishops of the
country of Persia .

And on this day also Saint THOMAS, Bishop of the city of

Damascus, became a martyr by the hand of an Arab king who
was a Muslim . When the Muslims were reigning in the country
of Syria and in the country of Egypt, this holy man held a
debate with one of their learned men , and he vanquished him ,
and forced him and compelled him [to admit ] that our Lord
Christ was God , the Creator of the heavens and the earth,
and of all that therein is. The Muslim having been worsted in
argument went to the governor, his fellow - countryman , and
made an accusation to him against THOMAS, saying, “ This
Christian hath cursed our religion .” And the governor had this
holy man brought, and he asked him , saying, “ Is it true that
thou hast cursed our religion even as this man saith of thee ? ”
And the holy man said unto him , “ No curse hath ever gone
forth from my mouth , but I have forced him [to admit] that
Christ is God in truth , and that after the Law of Christ there
cometh no other Law .” And the governor said unto him , “ The
Law which I myself hold , is it from God or not? ” And the
saint said unto him , “ It is not from God.” When he had said
these words the governor was wroth with him , and he com
manded the soldiers to cut off the head of the holy man with
the sword ; and they cut off his holy head, and he received the
crown ofmartyrdom in the kingdom of the heavens.
 THIRD MONTH - KHĚDÂR (NĚDÂR) (NOV. 7 -DEC. 6) 209
[fol. 576 I) Salutation to THOMAS, the companion of ZACH
ARIAS the teacher, Bishop of Damascus.

And on this day also is commemorated the great father

ZACHARIAS.

And on this day also are commemorated Abbâ 'ABAYDÔ

(ABAIDUS) the perfect monk , who rejected the life of this
world , and Abbâ John his disciple , and a company ofmartyrs,
and PETER, Archbishop of Alexandria . Salutation to 'ABAYDÔ
(ABAIDUS) and to John.

V . KHĚDÂR
IN
IN THE NAME
THE NAME OF THE FATHER
TA
AND THE
MA
ER AND
T
THE SON
SON
AND THE HOLY GHOST, ONE GOD
On this day appeared the head of Saint LONGINUS, master
of the spear, who pierced the side of our Lord Jesus Christ ,
when He was hanging on the wood of the Cross. Now the
Emperor TIBERIUS CAESAR sent ( soldiers ] to the country of
Cappadocia , [ fol. 576 2 ] and they cut off the head of Saint
LONGINUSon the twenty -third day of the month Hamlê (July
Aug.). And the head of the holy man and his body were cast
out on the ground , and the soldier who had come from the
emperor to cut off his head took it and carried the head away
with him to Jerusalem and gave it to PILATE the Pontinian .
And PILATE the governor shewed the head to the Jews, who
rejoiced and were glad at his death . And PILATE commanded
his soldiers to bury the head of the holy man in a certain hill
which was outside the city of Jerusalem , and they went and
buried the head there. And after many days there (came) a
certain woman from the country of Cappadocia , and she had
become a believer through Saint LONGINUS when he preached
in the country of Cappadocia ; and when they cut off his head
with a sword she was standing by looking on and weeping.
Now by the Will of God the eyes of the woman became blind ,
and she took her son and departed to Jerusalem so that she
might be blessed [through visiting] the holy places, and to
BESI
210 THE ETHIOPIC SYNAXARIUM

pray and prostrate herself to the ground in them and at the

tomb of our Lord Jesus Christ, that peradventure her eyes
might be opened. When she came to Jerusalem her son died ,
and her sorrow was increased by the death of her son, and by
her blindness, and by the impossibility of her returning to her
native country . And she wept bitterly , and as she was weeping
she fell asleep in her sorrow , and in her sleep she saw Saint
LONGINUS, and with him was her son who was dead , and he
said unto her, “ Go to such and such a place and takemy head
from there.” When she awoke from her sleep she enquired
concerning that place, and certain men brought her to it , and
when [fol. 576 3 ] she dug there a sweet odour which was ex
ceedingly fragrant rose up to her . When she came to the place
where the head of the saint was a great light was revealed to
her, and straightway her eyes were opened and she saw clearly ,
and she praised God. And she removed the head of the saint,
and laid scented unguent upon it , and she placed it by the body
of her son . And she departed to her own country glorifying
God and praising Saint LONGINUS. Salutation to LONGINUS
who was crowned in Rôm .

And on this day also are commemorated TIMOTHY the

martyr; and the translation of the body of Saint THEODORE
the martyr, a captain of soldiers of the city of sĚTB, in the
province of ASYûȚ in Upper Egypt ; and the dedication of a
church to him wherein great signs and wonders took place
through his body ; and Abbâ rôŅANNI. Salutation to TIM
OTHY the martyr. Salutation to YÔŅANNÎ, who was a com
panion of those who travelled to the country of the healthy
ones. Salutation to the translation of thy body , O THEODORE,
who when God wished to destroy the earth with a flood , didst
command the sea , and its waters withdrew .
 THIRD MONTH - KHĚDÂR (ŅĚDÂR) (NOV. 7 - DEC. 6 ) 211

VI. KHĚDÂR
[ fol. 58 a I ] IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER AND THE
SON AND THE HOLY GHOST, ONE GOD
On this day died the holy father Felix , Archbishop of the
city of Rôm . The parents of this holy man were Christians,
and they taught him all the doctrine of the Church , and ANAS
TASIUS, Archbishop of the city of Rôm ,made him a deacon .
When JUSTUS was appointed Archbishop of the city of Rôm ,
he perceived the intelligence and good disposition of this man ,
and his fair righteousness, and he made him a priest. When
DIONYSIUS, Archbishop of the city of Rôm , died , now he lived
in the days of THEONASIUS, Archbishop of the city of Alex
andria , they chose Saint FELIX to be Archbishop of the city of
Rôm , and by the Will of God hewas appointed, and he guarded
and protected the flock of Christ well. After the death of
TÛRES ( sic) CAESAR, THEODORE CAESAR reigned , and he
made those who believed in Christ to suffer great tribulation ,
and he tortured them with exceedingly cruel tortures, and very
many of them suffered martyrdom at his hands. Through him
very great tribulation and sorrow came upon this father , and
he [fol. 58 a 2 ) entreated God concerning it , and God destroyed
the emperor in the second year of his reign . When DIOCLE
TIAN the infidel reigned he afflicted the Christians and tortured
them , and this father Abbâ FELIX prayed to God that he
might not live to see the tortures of the Christians, and he died
in the early days of the year in which DIOCLETIAN ascended
the throne. All the days which this father sat upon the Apostolic
throne were five years and a half. He composed discourses
and admonitions and exhortations, and in some of these he
discussed excommunication and the Orthodox Faith ; these are
exceedingly good works and are profitable to Christians. Salu
tation to FELIX who was chosen for the archiepiscopate, the
interpreter of the New and the Old Testaments.

And on this day also our Lord and Redeemer Jesus Christ and
His disciples were gathered together on MOUNT ĶUĚSĶUÂM ,
14 - 2
212 THE ETHIOPIC SYNAXARIUM

and He consecrated His Tabernacle and Church, and performed

the consecration of the Offering with His disciples on that day.
This was the first consecration (of the Offering] on MOUNT
ĶUĚSĶUÂM , according to what [ fol. 58 a 3] Saint THEOPHILUS
and Saint CYRIL , Archbishop of the city of Alexandria , testify
concerning this matter. Salutation to those who have taken
refuge at thy feet , O MOUNT ĶUĚSĶUÂM , namely to MARY
and her Child CHRIST.

Salutation, salutation to Jôs , son of JOSEPH.

And on this day also are commemorated AFRÔs, and ADI
NIUS (?) , and JUSTUS, and MARTERUS, and LUCIRIUS
(LUCINIUS), and SUNÎNUS, and BANDICORUS (LABAN
DICORUS), and EULASIUS, and CORNELIUS, and eight
thousand (or seventeen thousand) martyrs of the congregation
of ISIDORE .

VII. KHĚDÂR
IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER AND THE SON
AND THE HOLY GHOST, ONE GOD
On this day Saint GEORGE the Great, the Alexandrian ,
became a martyr. The father of this holy man was a foreigner,
and he was of themen of Alexandria , and he had no son . And
the festival of the dedication of the church of Saint GEORGE
the Martyr in the city of Lydda arrived , now it was celebrated
on the seventh day of Khědâr, and he entreated Saint GEORGE
to intercede on his behalf with God so that He might give him
a son ; and God accepted his intercession , and gave him a son ,
and he called his name GEORGE. And themother of this holy
man was the sister of ARMENIUS, governor of the city of
Alexandria , and when his parents died , he lived with [fol.
586 1] his mother's brother; and his days were fifteen years.
And GEORGE loved the poor exceedingly , and he was merciful
and kindly and he loved the Church. Now ARMENIUS had
an only daughter, and [one day] she went out with her friends
to divert herself, and she found a monastery outside the city
 THIRD MONTH - KHĚDÂR (ħĚ DÂR ) (NOV . 7 -DEC. 6 ) 213
of Alexandria wherein the monks were gathered together, and
they were singing sweet hymns. And the sound of their hymns
and their praises came and penetrated the heart of themaiden ,
and she began to ask GEORGE, the son of her father' s sister, to
tell her themeaning of the words of the hymns which themonks
were singing. And as he was explaining to her the meaning of
the hymns and making her to understand them , he told her of
the punishment which would come upon sinners , and of the
peace and joy which would come upon the righteous and the
virtuous. When she returned to her father ARMENIUS she
confessed our Lord Jesus Christ before him . And ARMENIUS
began to persuade her, and he said unto her, “ O my daughter,
do not this thing ” ; but she would neither listen to his words
norobey him ; andhe commanded thesoldiers to cut offherhead ,
and they cut it off with the sword , and she received the crown
ofmartyrdom in the kingdom of the heavens. And certain men
told the governor, saying, “ It is GEORGE, thy sister's son , who
hath led astray thy daughter .” And the governor seized Saint
GEORGE, and after he had tortured him very severely he sent
him to the city of 'ĚNŞĚNÂ, where they tortured him very
severely, and afterwards cut off his holy head with a sword ;
and GEORGE received the crown of martyrdom in the kingdom
of the heavens. Now there was there a certain deacon whose
name was SAMUEL, and he took his holy body [fol. 586 2 ]
and carried it to the city of MANÛF. And when the wife of
ARMENIUS, the brother of the mother of Saint GEORGE,
knew that GEORGE had become a martyr, she sent and took
his body and placed it with the body of her daughter in the city
of Alexandria . Salutation to GEORGE .

On this day also the holy man Abbâ NÂHRĚW became a

martyr. This holy man (came) from the district of the Fayyûm
in the country of Egypt, and he feared God exceedingly . And
when he heard the stories about the martyrs, he went to the
city of Alexandria , and wished to die for the sake of the Name
of our Lord Jesus Christ. And [our Lord] said unto him in a
vision , “ Needs must that thou go and die in the city ofAntioch ."
And he pondered in his heart and said , “ How can I possibly
214 THE ETHIOPIC SYNAXARIUM
get there? ” And he sought out a ship in which he could embark .
And God sent unto him the angel MICHAEL who carried him
on his wings from the city of Alexandria , and brought him to
the city of Antioch, and set him down near DIOCLETIAN ;
and NÂHRĚW confessed the Living God. And the emperor
asked him his name, and the name of his city, and NÂHRĚW
told him that he was from the country of Egypt, and the
emperor wondered about [themanner of] his coming. And the
emperor tried to persuade him [to deny Christ ),and he promised
him that he would give him much money, and costly raiment,
if he would submit to him [fol. 586 3] and offer sacrifice to his
idols, but he would not hearken to what he said unto him . And
the emperor spake a second time, saying , “ I will torture thee
with very severe tortures,” but NÂHRĖW was neither afraid
of him nor did he obey his command . And' the emperor com
manded his soldiers to torture him with many different kinds
of tortures . On the first occasion he drove savage lions to attack
him , on the second he burnt him in the fire , on the third he
tortured him on the wheel, and on the fourth he boiled him in
a large cauldron . When the emperor was tired of torturing him
he commanded his soldiers to cut off his head , and they cut it
off and he received the crown of martyrdom in the kingdom of
the heavens. And it came to pass that instead ofbeing martyred
in Antioch, all the martyrs who ought to have been martyred
in the city of Antioch , were martyred in the land of Egypt;
and similarly this holy man Abbâ NÂHRĚW , who was from
the country of Egypt, and should have been martyred in Egypt,
received the crown of martyrdom in the city of Antioch .
At that time Saint JULIAN dwelt in Antioch , and he took
the body of NÂHRĚw the martyr and sent it away in charge
of two of his servants to his country with great honour.
Salutation to the man who was borne on the wings of
MICHAEL

And on this day also died Abbâ MÎNÂS, Bishop of the city
of TAMAI. This holy man was from the city of GAMNÛDI
and he was the only child of his father. His parents were God
fearing folk , and they laboured in the works [fol. 59a 1] of the
 THIRD MONTH - KHĚDÂR (ħĚDÂR) (NOV. 7 -DEC. 6 ) 215
monks in respect of their fasts, and prayers, and their devotion
to the ascetic life , and their fightings, and at length the report
of them was heard by all men , and by all the fathers. And they
made their son to marry a wife against his will. And when the
bridegroom came into his marriage-chamber with the maiden
who called herself his wife , hemade an agreement with her that
they were to keep their bodies pure and that they were not to
pollute them and their virginity ; and they fought a great fight.
Then Saint MÎNÂs wanted to assume the garb of the monk ,
and he said unto his wife, “ It is undesirable for us to do the
works of the ascetic life whilst we are still living in the world .”
Now they used to wear sackcloth made of hair beneath their
apparel, and they used to stand up all night long keeping vigil ,
and praying, and reading the Books of God . After this she
embraced him and bade him farewell, and he departed to the
monastery of Abbâ ANTHONY, wishing, by so doing , to be far
away from his parents , for they were seeking him everywhere,
and they had with them an order from the emperor bidding
him to return to his wife ; but God protected him and they did
not find him at all. And Saint MinÂs dwelt in the monastery
of ANTHONY for many days, and he devoted himself to ascetic
labours and fought strenuously . Now there was there with
him living like a monk Abbâ MICHAEL, Archbishop of the city
of Alexandria . After this he left the monastery of Saint Abbâ
ANIHONY, and he departed to the monastery of Saint Abbâ
MACARIUS of SCETE . In their days lived the two bright stars,
Abbâ ABRAHAM and Abbâ GAÂRGÎ, and Saint [fol. 59 a 2 ]
Abbâ MÎNÂS was a beloved son unto them , and he dwelt with
them in their cell. And hemultiplied his labours in the angelic
toil of the ascetic life , and he learned their doctrine, and the
way in which they fought, and in his fightings and piety he
excelled many of the fathers, and Abbâ ABRAHAM and Abbâ
GA'ÂRGÎ, and other fathers marvelled at him . And Satan was
jealous of him , and he beat him with a great beating internally ,
and helay prostrate on the ground for twomonths; butafter this
our Lord Jesus Christ raised him up whole and unharmed , and
he roared like a lion against Satan . After this our Lord Jesus
Christ summoned him to become a bishop, and the envoys of
 216 THE ETHIOPIC SYNAXARIUM
the archbishop came to him ; and he was exceedingly sorrowful
and he wept because of his separation from the desert of
SCETE. And the holy fathers said unto him , “ Be not sorrowful,
for this is from God ” ; and he bowed to the Will ofGod, and he
departed with the envoys of the archbishop, and the archbishop
made him Bishop of the city of TAMAI. Now God gave him
the gift of healing the sick , and all those who were sick used to
come to him , and he would pray to God for them and they
were healed straightway. And God also gave him the gift of
the knowledge of hidden things, and he knew what was in the
minds of men . All the bishops whose sees were in the districts
near him used to come to him from all parts, and take counsel
with him , and accept his advice, and bow to his decisions; and
the laity also used to come [fol. 59a 3] to him from all parts of
the country to hear his wise doctrine. He was the father of
four archbishops, and he laid his hand upon them when they
were enthroned ; now these were, ISKANDER, and COSMAS,
and THEODORE, and MICHAEL, Archbishop of the city of
Alexandria . When our Lord Christ wished him to depart from
this transitory world this father knew by the Holy Spirit the
day of his departure. And he sentmessengers and they brought
all the people who were in his diocese, and he commanded them
to be strong in the Orthodox Faith, and to keep the precepts
of the Holy Gospel. Then he committed them to their True
Shepherd , our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, and he departed
from this transitory world , and came to Christ aWhom he loved .
the dep
pla of cand her the departure from them
ndmourned
And all the peoplecewept and
fat who protected them upon
a father
of their goodi shepherd
earth in the place of God , and they buried him in a fitting
manner, and laid him in the place where he had directed he should
be laid . Salutation to MINÂS, Bishop of the city of TAMAI.

And on this day also was consecrated the church of the holy
and honourable, the great one among martyrs ,GEORGE of the
city of Lydda. And God wrought therein [fol. 596 1] signs and
great wonders which made the hearts of men to rejoice, and at
length the history [of the holy man ] and his wonderful acts
were heard on sea and on land . When the Emperor DIOCLE
 THIRD MONTH -- KHĚDÂR (ħĚDÂR ) (NOV. 7 - DEC . 6 ) 217
TIAN, the infidel, heard the report of the church of Saint
GEORGE, and the signs and great wonders which took place
therein , he sent a captain whose namewas EUKHEIUS together
with a large company of soldiers to destroy the church . And
that captain came there with arrogance, and he went up into
the tower wherein was the image (or picture) of Saint GEORGE,
and he began to scoff at the church , and at Saint GEORGE.
And he had a staff in his hand , and he struck with it the lamp
which was burning before the picture (or image) of Saint
GEORGE, and he broke it, and straightway a fragment of the
glass fell from it and dropped on the head of the infidel with
out his knowledge. And fear and great trembling fell upon him ,
and his head became filled with fever, and he fell and lay
prostrate on the ground. And his companions took him up to
carry him to their own country , for they knew well that all
this which had come upon him was caused by Saint GEORGE
themighty and victoriousmartyr; and whilst they were carrying
him on the road that captain died in disgrace and misery , and
the soldiers took him up and cast him into the sea. When
DIOCLETIAN , the infidel emperor, heard this thing he was
furiously angry , and he determined in his heart to go himself
and destroy the church of Mâr Saint GEORGE ; but God bore
no longer with him , and He smote him swiftly and made his
eyes blind. And the men in the palace rose up against him ,
[ fol. 596 2] and God removed him from his kingdom , and made
the righteousman CONSTANTINE emperor ; and he opened the
churches and closed the houses of idols, and all the ends of the
world rejoiced . And the churches rejoiced , and the church
of the holy and honourable star of the morning, GEORGE ,
rejoiced and was exceedingly glad . Salutation to GEORGE the
martyr. .

And on this day also Saints ZENOBIUS and his mother

ZENOBIA becamemartyrs. These saints were from the city of
TABÂIS, and they were elders therein , and certain men accused
them of being Christians before the emperor. And the emperor
commanded his soldiers to bring them to him , and [when they
had done so ] he said unto them , “ What is the object of your
218 THE ETHIOPIC SYNAXARIUM
worship , and where is your country ? ” And they said unto him ,
" We believe in Christ, and our city is TABÂIS.” And the
emperor said unto them , “ Sacrifice ye to the gods” ; and the
saints said unto him , “ We sacrifice to our God Jesus Christ
and not to devils.” And the emperor was wroth with them ,
and he commanded his soldiers to strip off their apparel, and
to hang them up by the hair of their heads, and to beat them
with rods; and the saints prayed to God , and straightway
their fetters were unloosed. And the people saw the saints
putting on garments of light, and the governor carrying ( fol.
596 3 ] his throne and following them , and when they saw this
they cried out, saying, " Holy , Holy , Holy , God of Hosts, our
Lord Jesus Christ.” And the governor marvelled and said ,
“ The God of the Christians is great." Then the governor was
wroth and he commanded his soldiers to hang them up on two
crosses, so that each could see the other, [and they did so ,] and
straightway a cloud came from heaven , and enveloped them ,
and gave them mannâ . On the following day the governor
found them teaching the word of God, and when the people
saw them they cried out with one voice, saying, " We believe
that the God of the Christians is great.” And the governor also
commanded his soldiers to maketwo seats and to fasten in them
in an upright position two iron stakes, and to cast them into a
red -hot oven ; butGod delivered them , and the governor found
them teaching the people as they were sitting upon those seats.
When the governor saw this he was filled with fury , and he
commanded his servants to dig a pit twenty cubits deep , and
twenty cubits broad, and to light a fire therein and to cast
them into it ; butwhen the saints prayed to God the fire was
extinguished , and every part of the pit became like a place
swept and garnished. And the governor called the keeper of
the bath , who was carrying a vessel full of water. When the
people saw this sign they gave thanks unto God , saying, “ A
miracle [worked by ] God for His saints.” When the governor
failed to make them submit, he commanded his soldiers to slay
them , and to take care of their bodies until the following day
so that they might burn them with fire [ fol. 60 a 1] and scatter
their ashes to the winds. And when they killed them there were
 THIRD MONTH - KHĚDÂR (ĶĚDÂR ) (NOV. 7 - DEC. 6 ) 219
crashes of thunder , and lightnings, and torrents of rain , and
there died through that thunderstorm fifty- four men . During
the night the believers stole the bodies of the saints and buried
them , and on the following day when the governor searched
for their bodies , everyone told him that a miracle had taken
place ; and the governor believed and became a Christian .
Salutation to ZENOBIA and to her first-born son ZENOBIUS.
Salutation to the multitude of martyrs who suffered with
ZENOBIUS and ZENOBIA whilst the heavens thundered and
lightened.

And on this day also died Saint MERCURIUS and his brother
JOHN. These saints were the children of Christian and God
fearing men , and the nameof the elder of them was SHANÂY,
but when he adopted the garb of the monk they called him
" MERCURIUS.” The name of the younger was ABÛ FÂRZ,
and him , when he adopted the garb of a monk , they called
“ JOHN .” When these saints arrived at man 's estate they
departed to the monastery of Saint THEODORE the general,
and they dwelt (there) under the direction of a righteous old
man who served God . [fol. 60 a 2 ] And they obeyed him and
did work of every kind, and they ministered to the work of the
brethren , and they did whatsoever was required in themonas
tery, and they endured the cold of winter and the days of
summer, and they used to gather in very many of the fruits of
the earth , and take them to the monastery . They acquired no
possessions whatsoever in the world , and they were remote
from all the appetites of the world for meat, and drink, and
riches; and they used to fast two and three days at a time. And
they also learned to read and to write Coptic and Arabic without
a teacher, and they fulfilled all the demands of the Rule of the
ascetic life . Whilst they were living thus one day the angel
of the Lord came and told them that they would attain to
the fight of martyrdom ; and then they became strong by the
Holy Spirit , and they rose up in glad haste and rejoiced . Then
they came into their own city, where accusations against them
were made to the governor of the city , and he had them taken
to the governor of BEHNESÂ . And that governor asked them
220 THE ETHIOPIC SYNAXARIUM
questionsand said unto them , “ Is it true that ye are idolators ? ”
And the saints said unto him , “ We confess openly that we are
Christians, and we have no other God except Jesus Christ .”
When the governor heard this he was filled with wrath , and he
ordered his soldiers to throw chains about their necks and to
march them round about the whole city ; (and they did so,) and
then they shut them up in the prison house. Whilst they were
there the angel of the Lord visited them many times, and when
they had been in prison five months the governor had them
brought out and set before him , and he said unto them , “ Aban
don your Faith " ; and they refused. And the governor [tried
to ) [ fol. 60 a 3] frighten them and said unto them , “ I will burn
your bodies,” but they were not frightened by his words, and
when the governor saw the firmness of their minds, he sent
them back into prison . After many days there came another
governor, and he wished to save them and to set them at
liberty, and straightway certain men reviled him and said unto
him , “ If thou dost not kill them we will accuse thee to the
emperor.” So against his will he commanded his soldiers to
light a fire, and they were summoned to come, but he only
did this to frighten them for he wanted to imprison them , and
then he cast them into the prison house . And he commanded
his soldiers to bring them out again , and to frighten them with
fierce swords, but the hearts of the holy men did not quail,
and they were unable to alter their words. Then , fearing the
people , the governor commanded his soldiers to cut off their
heads. They cut off the head of John first, and his head leaped
up from his body, and there went forth from it a voice like unto
a shout of joy, and it was so loud that all the people who heard
it wondered ; then they cut off the head of Saint MERCURIUS,
and thus they finished their holy martyrdom . And they cast
their bodies into the fire , and straightway the fire was ex
tinguished, and it did not touch their bodies , and their raiment
was not scorched. When the governor saw this he commanded
them to keep guard over their bodies so that the Christians
might not steal them . And on the following day when they
looked they found a fountain of water under the place where
they had cast their bodies, and afterwards many signs and
 THIRD MONTH - KHĚDÂR (ħĚDÂR) (NOV. 7 - DEC. 6 ) 221
miracles were made manifest through it. Salutation to MER
CURIUS, whose body the fire would not burn . [fol.606 1 ]
Salutation to John, from whose head after it had been cut off
a voice was heard .

VIII. KHĚDÂR
. IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER AND THE SON
AND THE HOLY GHOST, ONE GOD
On this day is celebrated the festival of the FOUR BEASTS,
who have no bodies, and which are the Wheels of God that
bear His Divine Throne according to the testimony concerning
them by John the evangelist in his Vision , who saith , “ I saw
a throne in heaven , and He Who sat thereon was brighter than
the sun , and more brilliant than the lightning. And I saw in
the midst four beasts, full of eyes ; the first had the likeness
of the face of a lion , the second had the likeness of the face of
a bull, the third had the likeness of the face of a man , and the
fourth had the likeness of the face of an eagle ; and each of
them had six wings. And they cried out by day and by night,
saying, Holy , Holy , Holy , God of Hosts . All the heavens and
the earth are filled with the holiness of Thy glory ” (Rev. iv , 6 ) .
And Isaiah the prophet also saith , “ I saw the Lord of Hosts
sitting upon a high throne, and the whole place was filled with
His glory . [ fol. 606 2 ] Seraphim and Cherubim surrounded
Him , and His awe and majesty were exceedingly great. Each
of these had six wings ; with two of their wings they covered
their faces, with two of their wings they covered their feet, and
with two of their wings they did fly in the greatest glory by
day and by night, saying, Holy , Holy , Holy, Lord God of
Hosts. All the heavens and the earth are filled with the holi
ness of Thy glory ” (Isaiah vi, 2). And DAVID the prophet
saith , “ He rode upon the Cherubim and did fly ” (Psalm xviii,
10), and he also saith , " He Who sitteth upon the Cherubim
maketh the earth to quake.” And EZEKIEL saith concerning
these wheels, “ I saw a wind blow from heaven , and in it there
was a cloud surrounded by fire , and brightness, and lightning,
and four beasts supported Him . Each face (or person ) had six
222 THE ETHIOPIC SYNAXARIUM
wings, and they went before them . And the first beast had the
likeness of the face of a man , and they ceased not to praise God
by day and by night, and they said , Holy , Holy, Holy , Lord
God of Hosts, all the heavens and the earth are filled with the
holiness of Thy glory " (Ezekiel i). And John the evangelist
saith , “ I heard a voice saying, Hallelujah ! Salvation and
power and blessing to our God . And the four beasts and the
four and twenty elders of heaven worshipped God , saying,
Hallelujah ! God the sustainer of the universe is king (Rev . xix ,
4 ). After this I heard a voice saying, Praise our God with harp
and psalms; Hallelujah ! And I heard the voice of a multitude
of peoples like unto the thunder, saying, God , [ fol. 606 3 ] the
sustainer of the universe , is king .” And many of the Books of
the Old and the New Testaments testify concerning the honour
of these FOUR BEASTS which God hath set near Him to make
supplication on behalf of all creation . He with the man 's form
maketh supplication on behalf of the children of men , he with
the lion 's form maketh supplication on behalf of the beasts, he
with the bull' s form maketh supplication on behalf of the cattle ,
and he with the eagle 's form maketh supplication on behalf of
the birds. Now these beasts are very much nearer God than all
the other powers of heaven . For this reason the doctors of the
Church have confirmed the commemoration of them , and have
built churches to them in every place, even as at this day ,
because they make supplication for the race ofman . Salutation
to the FOUR BEASTS and to the horses of the Cherubim .
And on this day also is commemorated the festival of ÂFNIN
the archangel, one of the nine and ninety archangels, who
together with SÛRÂFÊL guard the throne of glory . Of him
ENOch saith that he goeth round that house; and [fol. 61 a I ]
SÛRÂFÊL, and KÎR Û BÊL, and ÂFNÎN , “ These are the [angels]
who never sleep, and who guard the throne of His glory ."
Salutation to this Trinity of Angels who guard the throne of
God .

And on this day also is commemorated John the high priest ,

and on this day the CROSS appeared unto CONSTANTINE.
 THIRD MONTH - KHĚDÂR (NĚ DÂR) (Nov. 7 -DEC. 6) 223
THIRD

And on this day also died Saint ķEFRENYÂ (COPRONIUS).

This holy man was a pagan , and the son of a nobleman . One
day there arrived in his city a monk from the monastery of
Abbâ PACHOMIUS, whose name was MERCURIUS, and he
foretold that ĶEFRENYÂ (COPRONIUS) would become a
Christian . And after a few days ĶEFRENYâ (COPRONIUS)
assembled his soldiers , and set out for the land of Egypt, to
take prisoners and to destroy monasteries and religious houses.
When he arrived at the monastery of Abbâ PACHOMIUS the
abbot went forth to him , and said unto him , " What dost thou
want? ” And ĶEFRENYÀ (COPRONIUS) said unto him , “ I
want the abbot," and the abbot said , “ I am he.” When
ĶEFRENYÂ (COPRONIUS) heard this he took the abbot aside
privately , and asked him [fol.61a 2 ) if he would array him in
the garb of the monk. When the abbot heard him he said , “ I
will.” And when the soldiers had returned to their city and
ĶEFRENYÂ (COPRONIUS) was left by himself, he arrayed him
in the garb of the monk, and ĶEFRENYÂ (COPRONIUS)
devoted himself to fasting and prayer. And Satan was envious
of him , and he stirred up against him the rulers of the city until
they wished to attack themonastery, saying, “ There is a royal
son (i. e. prince) here who hath destroyed our city ; if we take
him by the help ofGod we will kill the calumniator.” And this
holy man continued to fast for a week at a time, and he ate
nothing except bitter lupins. In those days a wild beast of the
desert ravaged the [lands of the] monastery and killed all the
cattle of the monks. And Abbâ ĶEFRENYÀ (COPRONIUS)
went to him , and laid hold of him by his ear like a sheep, and
tied him up with a cord , and he lived [there) twelve years and
died . And Saint ķEFRENYÂ (COPRONIUS) went to Jerusalem ,
led by an angel of God , and he arrived there in one night; and
he saw there greatmysteries and was blessed by the holy places,
and he returned to his habitation and died in peace . Salutation
to ķEFRENYÂ (COPRONIUS) , the son of a pagan , who bound
in fetters a wild beast that slew the cattle .

And on this day also four hundred and eighty -four souls who
belonged to the company of ISIDORE becamemartyrs.
 224 THE ETHIOPIC SYNAXARIUM

IX . KhĚDÂR
IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER AND THE SON
NE
AND THE HOLY GHOST, ONE GOD
[fol.61 a 3 ] On this day died the holy father Abbâ ISAAC ,
the forty-first Archbishop of Alexandria . This father was one
of the men of the city of BÛRLÈS (BORLOs), and his parents
were exceedingly rich , and they feared God . After very many
days they begot this holy man , and they rejoiced over him with
very great joy. And having brought him to the bishop that he
might lay his hand upon him , and baptize him with Christian
baptism , the bishop saw upon his head at the time of baptism
a cross of light. And the bishop took his hand and laid it upon
his head , and he prophesied concerning him , saying, “ This boy
shall be set over the Church ofGod ” ; and the bishop said unto
his father, “ Take care of this boy , for he shall be a chosen vessel
of God .” And when the boy had grown a little he taught him
to read and to write, and he learned spiritual doctrine, and he
used to read the histories of the saints . And he left his parents
and departed to the monastery of Abbâ MACARIUS, and he
became a monk under the direction of father Abbâ ZACHARIAS
the abbot. Now the angel of the Lord had informed the abbot
of the coming of this holy man , and the abbot received him and
rejoiced in him . One day the righteous man saw him in the
church, and he prophesied concerning him , saying, “ Needs
must that this ISAAC shall be set [fol. 616 I over the Church
of Christ.” And in those days Abbâ John the archbishop was
seeking for a learned man to be his disciple and his scribe, and
the honourable father Abbâ ISAAC was recommended to him ;
and the archbishop sent for him and had him brought to him ,
and he gave him a roll whereon to write . And Abbâ ISAAC
made mistakes in his writing wittingly and wrote badly in order
that the archbishop might send him away and that he might
be free to go to the desert of SCETE, for he hated the pomp
of this world of men . And when the Archbishop Abbâ JOHN
knew that ISAAC had made mistakes and written badly pur
posely so that he might dismiss him , Saint Abbâ John said
 THIRD MONTH - KHĚDÂR (ħĚDÂR) (NOV . 7 -DEC. 6 ) 225
unto him ,“ Thou hast written well, and I shallnot let thee go
from here .” When Abbâ ISAAC knew that the archbishop
would not let him go, he displayed to him all his learning and
all his wisdom , and he wrote as beautifully as he could, and the
archbishop rejoiced in him exceedingly ; and after a few days
he returned to the desert of SCETE . When the death of the
Archbishop Abbâ John drew nigh, he asked our Lord Jesus
Christ to tell him whom he should appoint to be archbishop in
his stead after him . And He said unto him in a vision , “ Thy
disciple ISAAC shall protect this office after thee " ; and Saint
Abbâ John commanded the people, and told them that his
disciple ISAAC was to beappointed archbishop after him . When
Abbâ John was dead they seized this Saint Abbâ ISAAC, and
enthroned him Archbishop over the city of Alexandria . And
he made the Church to shine in his days , and he restored many
churches, and especially [fol. 616 2] the church of MARK the
evangelist and apostle , and the archbishop 's house . And great
tribulation and many trials cameupon this holy father, and he
sat upon the throne of MARK the evangelist three years and a
half. And it is written in the history of the fight of this holy
father that he commanded that he was not to be enthroned
archbishop except on the First Day of the week . Salutation
to ISAAC on whom the bishop saw a cross of light when he
dipped his hand in the water to baptize him .

And on this day also the Three Hundred and Eighteen fathers
and bishops assembled in the city of Nicea in the days of
CONSTANTINE the righteous man , among them being four
archbishops , namely , Abbâ ALEXANDER, Archbishop of the
city of Alexandria , and YÛNÂKENDINÔS (INNOCENT), Arch
bishop of the city of Rômê, sÔL PETER (sic), Archbishop of
the city of Constantinia , and the Archbishop of the city of
Antioch. And the cause of their assembling was ARIUS, who
was priest of the men of Alexandria and had fallen into error.
He said : “ The Son is a created being in all His Person .” These
saints were honourable fathers and fighters, and some of them
had, like the apostles , raised the dead, and healed the sick ,
and worked great signs and wonders. Some of them had
BESI
226 THE ETHIOPIC SYNAXARIUM
suffered tortures for the sake of [fol. 616 3] the Orthodox Faith
of Christ , some of them had suffered torture and had their eyes
dug out, of someof them the torturers had cut off their hands
and their feet, of some the torturers had smashed their teeth ,
and of some they had torn out the nails and scraped their
bodies. Among those who had suffered tortures there was a
certain bishop of the city of MAR 'ÂSH whose name was
THOMAS. Him certain vile and evil men cast into prison for
two (? ) years, where they tortured him mercilessly . Each
year they had cutoff from him one of his limbs, and they had cut
off his hands and his feet, and smashed his teeth, both those in
front and those in the sides of his jaws, and his nose and lips had
been cut off, and his body was as black as the ashes of a fire .
Many people thought that he was dead , and had performed
memorial services for him as for the martyrs and apostles.
When these fathers and bishops arrived in the city of Nicea,
CONSTANTINE the emperor prepared for them a large and
spacious hall, and he placed therein thrones whereon the holy
fathers and bishops could sit , and he set therein his own throne
which was smaller than (any one of theirs. And he began with
THOMAS, Bishop of the city of MARʻÂSH, and he bowed low
before him , and embraced every part of him , including the
[places of] the members which had been cut off his body.
Then he gave to the fathers and bishops his royal sceptre,
and his sword, and his ring, and he said unto them , “ Behold ,
I have this day given you power over the priesthood and over
the kingdom . According to what ye wish let [every man ]
remain , provided that he is orthodox ; he who is not orthodox
separate from your flock ; and ye shall formulate the Canon
and [fol. 62 a 1 ] the Law .” And our Lord Jesus Christ tarried
among them , and there were many [of them ] whose hearts
were illumined by the Holy Spirit. And certain men counted
the thrones whereon sitters were seated and they found them
to be in number three hundred and nineteen , and they counted
the fathers and bishops and found them to be in number three
hundred and eighteen . And they formulated a Canon for the
priests, and for the laity, and for the emperors, and for the
countries, and for pilgrims, and for those who sold , and for
 THIRD MONTH - KHĚDÂR (ạĚ DÂR) (NOV . 7 - DEC. 6 ) 227
those who bought, and they made ordinances for every matter.
Then they proclaimed the Orthodox Faith , and they made
known that the Son was the equal of the Father in Godhead,
and they excommunicated ARIUS and him that believed in
his filthy belief. This is the Orthodox Faith which they for
mulated , saying, “ Webelieve in OneGod, the Lord , the Father,
the Sustainer of Creation , Maker of heaven and of earth ,
and of all things visible and invisible. And we believe in One
Lord Jesus Christ, the Only Son of the Father, Whose being
was with Him before the world was created , Light Who pro
ceedeth from Light, God Who proceedeth from God in truth ,
Who was begotten and notmade, Who is equalwith the Father
in Godhead , in Whom is everything that is, and without Whom
there would be nothing whatsoever which is in heaven and upon
earth , Who for the sake of us men and for our salvation came
down from heaven , and was made man by the Holy Ghost of
MARY, the holy Virgin . He becameman , and was crucified for
our sakes in the days of PONTIUS PÊNTÊNÂwi (i.e . the
Pontinian ). He suffered and died and was buried and rose
[fol. 62 a 2 ] from the dead on the third day , as it is written in
the Holy Scriptures. He ascended in glory into heaven , and sat
down at the right hand of His Father. He shall come again in
glory . He shall judge the living and the dead , and there shall
be no end to His kingdom .” After this, when one hundred and
fifty bishops were assembled in the city of Constantinia , they
formulated the remainder of the Orthodox Faith , saying, “ And
we believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord the Vivifier, Who sprang
from the Father. Weworship Him and we praise Him , with the
Father and the Son , Who spake by the prophets” - to the end
of the [words of] the Faith. And they excommunicated anyone
who should add anything to it or take anything away from it.
And they commanded that every priest should recite it, and
all the laity, both old and young, men and women , slaves and
handmaidens. And they were to recite it at the time of the
night prayer, and at the time of the day prayer, and at the
timeof the consecration of the Offering, and they were to teach
it to all the people . And the fathers and bishops made ordin
ances of every kind for the Church and the Orthodox Faith .
15 - 2
 M
228 THE ETHIOPIC SYNAXARIU

They established the light of the Faith and then they departed
to their own countries.

X . KHĚDÂR
IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER AND THE SON
AND THE HOLY GHOST, ONE GOD
On this day fifty nuns, who were pure and holy virgins,
together [fol.62 a 3 ) with their mother SOFIA , becamemartyrs .
These pure and holy women came from widely separated cities
and districts, and they were gathered together by divine and
spiritual love, and the desire to assume the garb of the ascetic
life, which is the garb of the angels. They dwelt in one of the
houses for virgins which were in the city of RÔŇÂ (EDESSA ),
and they had as superior the holy Abbess SOFIA who was filled
with every kind of grace and with wisdom . And she trained
them so perfectly in the duties and exercises of the spiritual
life that they became like angels upon earth , and they fasted
and prayed continually, and read the histories of the spiritual
fightings of the monks. Among them were some who had
dwelt in the nunnery for seven years, and some of them were
novices. The infidel Emperor JULIAN passed by their house
in the city of RÔŇA (EDESSA ) on his way to make war on
SAPOR, the son of SAPOR, the King of Persia, for he had heard
that SAPOR was coming to make war upon him . And JULIAN
having gone against him and come back , he went to that
nunnery wherein the virgins lived , and he asked [an officer )
what the building was. And [the officer) said unto him , “ This
is a nunnery ,” and JULIAN commanded his soldiers to go into
that nunnery , and to kill everyone in it, and to carry off all
the goods which were therein . And the soldiers of the infidel
emperor went into the nunnery, and they beat the virgins with
whips and cut off their heads with swords, and they plundered
everything which was there. And because of this thing the
Lord took vengeance upon him with the vengeance of His
wrath , that is to say, Saint MERCURIUS the martyr speared
him with his spear whilst he was engaged in fighting, [fol.
62b 1 ] and he cast him down from his horse, and killed him .
 THIRD MONTH - KHĚDÂR (ạĚ DÂR) (NOV. 7 -DEC. 6 ) 229
And JULIAN died an evil death , and he departed to the Sheol
which is for ever. And these holy virgins went into everlasting
joy, and inherited the kingdom of heaven . Salutation to the
virgins whose blood MERCURIUS avenged .

And on this day also a General Council of the Saints took

place in the days of VICTOR, Archbishop of the city of Rômê,
and in the days of DEMETRIUS, Archbishop of the city of
Alexandria . Now the cause for the assembling of this Council
was this : Christian people were baptized on the festival of
baptism , on the twenty-first day of themonth Țěr (Jan .- Feb.),
and from the following day they fasted until the twenty -second
day of the month Yakâtît (Feb . -March ), that is to say, for
forty days, and then they ate. And after thirty days they began ,
on the twenty -third day of Magâbît (March -April), and kept
the Octave of the Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the
festival of His Resurrection , for the Crucifixion of our Lord
took place on the twenty-ninth day of Magâbît. After DEME
TRIUS,Archbishop of the city ofAlexandria , had been enthroned ,
God illumined the heart of a certain artisan , who knew not
how to read or to write , with Divine grace, and he learned all
the Laws of the Church , and he knew them by heart, and
[fol. 62b 2 ] he interpreted them . Then by the Holy Spirit he
compiled a table for reckoning the Epact, wherefrom men
might know (the days of] the Fast, and the Resurrection ; and
he wrote in the Coptic and Greek (Rôm ) tongues . Then he
made a copy of this table of Epacts and sent it to VICTOR,
Archbishop of the city of Rômê, who read it and found it good .
And he also sent a copy to MAXIMUS, Archbishop of Antioch ,
and he sent a copy to father Abbâ AGAPIUS, Archbishop of
the city of Jerusalem . When the circulation of the Epacts
reached Abbâ VICTOR, Archbishop of the city of Rômê, he
read it and found it good and rejoiced therein exceedingly .
And he sent and gathered together a large assembly containing
fourteen bishops of his diocese,.and many learned priests, and
he read to them the calculation of the Epacts, and they found
it very good , and they rejoiced in it , and accepted it , and they
wrote many copies of it and sent them into all countries. And
230 THE ETHIOPIC SYNAXARIUM
the Holy Fast and the Festival of Easter have been regulated
by that calculation from that day to this . And they departed
to their countries praising the Father and the Son and the Holy
Ghost , to Whom be glory and honour. Salutation to DEME
TRIUS and to the priests who made haste to assemble in order
to make rules for times for keeping Lent and Easter .
[On this day PAUL and his three companions became
martyrs.]
Salutation to GABRA MARYÂM . [Omitted in the Bodleian
MS. ]

XI. KHĚDÂR

[ fol. 62 b 3 ] IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER AND THE

SON AND THE HOLY GHOST, ONE GOD
On this day died the pure and righteous woman ĦANNAH ,
the mother of our Lady , the holy Virgin MARY, the God
bearer. This holy woman was a native of the city of Jerusalem ,
and she was the daughter of MÂȚÂT, the son of LEVI, the son
of MÊLKÎ, of the sons of AARON the priest, and of the tribe of
LEVI. MÂȚÂT had three children , and the name of the eldest
was MARY ; the name of the second was SOFIA, and the name
of the third was ĦANNAH. And MARY married and brought
forth SALÔMÊ, the midwife who received our Lady MARY
when she brought forth Christ our God . And SOFIA married
and brought forth ELISABETH , the mother of John the
Baptist, and this holy woman șANNAH married the righteous
man JOACHIM , who was of the tribe of JUDAH , and she brought
forth our Lady MARY. Our Lady MARY and SALÔMÊ and
ELISABETH were sisters. Now the history of the strife of this
holy woman ĦANNAH we know of nothing whatsoever which
we can record , but we know and we are convinced that she was
[fol. 63a 1] the most honoured of women because she was held
to be worthy to become the mother of the mother of God in
the flesh . And had she not possessed many virtues, and great
righteousness, which was superior to the righteousness of every
other woman, she would never have been worthy of this act
 THIRD MONTH - KHĚDÂR (ĶĚDÂR) (NOV . 7 -DEC. 6 ) 231
of grace. Now this righteous woman was barren , and she used
to pray and to entreat God continually to give her children ,
and God gave her a beautiful daughter , one to be revered, and
she and all her people rejoiced, that is to say our Lady MARY.
Therefore it is meet for us to honour her , and to celebrate a
festival to her, because of the exalted gift which God gave her.
Salutation to thee O ŤANNAH , thou ladder of the prayers of
the righteous.

And on this day also are commemorated Saint ARCHELAUS

the martyr , and ELISHA the abbot, and Saint PACHOMIUS,
and minâs the martyr, and his mother URANIA . Salutation
to ARCHELAUS, ELISHA, and PACHOMIUS. [ fol.63 a 2 ]
Salutation to MÎNÂs a saint of the Church. Salutation to
URANIA whose apparel they stripped off and then they beat
her on her back and belly .

XII. KHĚDÂR
IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER AND THE SON
AND THE HOLY GHOST, ONE GOD
On this day is celebrated the festival of the honoured angel ,
MICHAEL the archangel, the head of the hosts of heaven , the
angel who is merciful to the children of men , who standeth at
all times before the great throne of God speaking on behalf of
the children ofmen . JOSHUA the son of Nun saw him in great
glory like unto that of a general of the king's army, and he was
frightened at him and fell down and made obeisance unto him ,
and said unto him , “ O my lord, art thou on our side or on the
side of the enemy? ” And MICHAEL said unto him , “ I am the
tenth of the Chiefs of the mighty armies of heaven , and this
day I will give AMALEK into thy hand, and I will make thee
king in the city of Jericho.” This angel it was who was with
all the saints and martyrs, and he made them strong and
enabled them to endure patiently until they finished their
strife , (and it is meet] that festivals of commemoration should
be held , and gifts offered in his name on the twelfth day of each
month , for he beseecheth God for the fruits of the earth , and
232 THE ETHIOPIC SYNAXARIUM
the descent of the rains, and the flooding of the) rivers, and
for good souls so that God may make perfect all of them in
integrity . Now , there was a certain God - fearing man whose
name was DOROTHEUS, and (he had a ] wife whose name was
THEOPISTÂ, and they [fol. 63a 3 ] were wont to make festivals
of commemoration for the honoured angel MICHAEL. And all
the money of these righteous folk came to an end, and they
had nothing wherewith to celebrate the commemoration of
the honoured MICHAEL. And because they were exceedingly
sorrowful about this they took their apparel to sell so that they
might make a feast. And MICHAEL the archangel appeared
unto DOROTHEUS and commanded him to go to a sheep
master and to take from him a sheep worth one- third of a
dinâr. And he was also to go to a fisherman and to take from
him a fish worth one-third of a dinâr, and he was not to slit the
belly thereof except inside the house. And he was also to go to
a flour merchant, and to take from him as much flour as he
wanted . And the angel said , “ Do this, and do not sell thy
raiment ” ; and DOROTHEUS did as the angel commanded him .
And he summoned all the people according to his custom , and
he made a feast in honour of the angel MICHAEL. When he
had gone into his store-chamber to see if, peradventure, he
could find a jar of wine for the Offering , he found the interior
of his chamber filled with wine, and much flour ; and DORO
THEUS was frightened and he marvelled exceedingly . When
he had ministered unto all the company, and they had finished
the feast , and all the people had departed to their houses, the
honoured angel appeared unto the blessed DOROTHEUS in
the garb wherein he had appeared unto him before, and com
manded him to cut open the belly of the fish . When he had cut
open the belly of the fish he found therein three hundred
dinârs of gold , and three third parts of a dinâr. And the arch
angel MICHAEL said unto DOROTHEUS and his wife , " Set
aside these three third parts of a dinar for the sheep, the fish ,
and the flour, and these three hundred dinars [fol. 636 1) shall
be for your own needs. God hath remembered you and the
alms and oblations which ye have been wont to make, and hath
rewarded you for the same here in this world , and at the last
 THIRD MONTH - KHĚDÂR (ħĚDÂR ) (NOV . 7 -DEC. 6 ) 233
day Hewill make you to inherit the kingdom of heaven .” And
as they were frightened at this matter he said unto them , “ I
am MICHAEL the archangel who hath delivered you from all
your tribulation , and it is I who have loved your alms and
oblations, and have taken them up to God. Henceforward ye
shall lack no good thing whatsoever in this world .” And they
prostrated themselves before him , and he disappeared and
went up into heaven. And the angel MICHAEL worked so
many miracles that they are innumerable . Salutation to thee,
O merciful angel MICHAEL whom I have feared from my
youth up ; hideme under thy prayers at dawn and at eve.

And on this day also died the holy father PHILOTHEUS,

the sixty -third Archbishop of the city of Alexandria . In the
days of his archiepiscopate the King of Ethiopia sent a letter
to GEORGE, King of NÔBÂ, and he said unto him : “ God is
wroth with us because of what the kings who were before us
have done. For they transgressed the commandment of God ,
concerning Abbâ PETER, the bishop, whom they drove out of
his diocese, and they appointed in his stead minâs the liar,
in the [fol. 636 2 ] days of cOSMAS the archbishop ; and,
behold , six archbishops have (not ) appointed a bishop to our
country. And because of this our country is destroyed , and all
our men and beasts have perished through famine and plague.
Our enemies have risen up against us and have carried away
captive many men from our country and have plundered our
cities. The rain hath been withheld and it falleth not, and the
earth will not give her fruit, and our enemies have burnt our
cities, and plundered the churches, and driven us from place to
place. I beseech thee to shew friendship to me in this trouble,
for God 's sake, and for the sake of the Orthodox Faith . And
do thou write a letter to our father the Archbishop Abbâ
PHILOTHEUS of Egypt, and entreat him for God 's sake to
absolve us, and to open up our country , and to pray for us so
that God may remove from us and from our country the tribu
lation and trial which have come upon us, and may have com
passion upon us and may appoint us a bishop , and may send
him to us according to what was always done for our fathers,
234 THE ETHIOPIC SYNAXARIUM

so that the bishop may pray to God on our behalf to remove

His wrath from us . And this which I am saying unto thee I
say, O my brother king, because I fear (that if a bishop be not
sent] the Christian Faith will perish from among us. And
behold , from that time unto this day six archbishops have been
enthroned , and they have neither remembered our country nor
appointed us a bishop. And we have become like unto sheep
which have been turned out, and have no shepherd . Our
bishops, and priests, and kings have died , and our churches
have been pulled down ; but we acknowledge that this tribula
tion hath comeupon us rightly in return for what we did to our
Bishop Abbâ PETER.” And when the letter of the King of
Ethiopia came to King GEORGE [fol. 636 3 ] in NÔBÂ, and he
had read it, he was exceedingly sorry that trials and tribulation
had come upon the country of Ethiopia . And straightway
GEORGE,King of NÔBÂ,wrote a letter and sent it to Archbishop
Abbâ PHILOTHeus, and in it described to him all the trials
and tribulation which had come upon the country of Ethiopia,
and he besought him to have compassion upon the Christian
people of the country of Ethiopia and to appoint them a bishop .
When the archbishop heard this he sent straightway to the
desert of SCETE, to a certain righteous monk, and thatmonk ,
whose name was Abbâ DANIEL, came forthwith to him from
the monastery of Abbâ MACARIUS, and he appointed him
bishop of the Ethiopians and sent him to them . And when
Abbâ DANIEL arrived in Ethiopia the people received him
with great honour, and he removed the wrath [of God ] from
them , and he made them to conquer their enemies who had
rebelled against them in times past. And all his work was right
during the days of this Archbishop, Abbâ PHILOTHEUS, and
he made manifest many signs and wonders. Salutation to
PHILOTHEUS the apostle.
Salutation to 'ADMÂS. [Omitted in the Bodleian Ms.]
[On this day died BA ’EDA MÂRYÂM I, King of Ethiopia ,
who died on Nov . 8 , A. D . 1478 .]
 THIRD MONTH - KHĚDÂR (ÞĚDÂR) (NOV . 7 - DEC. 6 ) 235

XIII. KHĚDÂR
[fol. 640 I ] IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER AND THE
SON AND THE HOLY GHOST, ONE GOD
The doctors of the Law command us on this day to make a
feast in honour of the thousands of thousands of spirit beings
who have no bodies, and who make intercession for all the
world , and of whom ENOCH speaketh , saying, “ I was in the
waters, and the winds and the clouds carried me up and brought
me into a house which was built with a tongue of fire, and I saw
there thousands of thousands." And he also saith , “ I saw the
children of the angels standing upon flames of fire and their
apparelwas as white as snow .” And JACOB saith,“ I saw in the
mount of Bethel a ladder on the earth which reached even to the
heavens, and the angels of God were ascending and descending
on it." And JACOB also saith , when he returned from Syria , “ I
saw hosts of angels. " And MOSES saith , " Arrange the people
each (tribe) on its own border, and the number of each was as
the angels of God.” And moses also saith , “ God came from
Sinai, He appeared unto me in Seir , and with Him were His
angels.” And DAVID saith, “ Who maketh His angels spirits,
and those who minister unto Him a flame of fire.” And he also
saith , “ The chariots of God are thousands, and the tens of
thousands who rejoice.” ELIJAH also saw the chariots of fire
and the horses of fire surrounding him like a wall. And DANIEL
saith, “ And the Ancient of Days sat, and His apparel was as
white as snow , and the hair of His head was as wool. His
throne was a blazing fire, and the wheels thereof were red -hot
coals, and a river [fol. 64 a 2 ] of fire flowed out therefrom .
Thousands of thousands ministered unto Him , and tens of
thousands stood before Him ." And LUKE saith , “ Suddenly
there came with that angel multitudes of the hosts of heaven ,
and they praised God, saying,Glory [be] to God in the heavens,
and peace upon earth , [and ] His goodwill to the children of
men . Then the angels passed from them , and went up into
the heavens.” And MATTHEW saith , “ And behold , angels
came and ministered unto Him .” And he also saith, “ Then
 IC ARIUM
236 THE ETHIOP SYNAX
shall the Son of man come in His glory, and all His angels with
Him ." And John saith in the words of Jesus Christ, “ Verily ,
verily , I say unto you , ye would see the heavens opening,and the
angels of God ascending and descending to the Son of man .”
And JUDAH saith , " Behold , God shall comewith His thousands
of saints.” And the heads of the Church have enumerated the
various kinds of angels thus: Angels, Archangels , Lords, Do
minions , Powers, Thrones and Principalities. Salutation to
the tens of thousands of tens of thousands of angels and to the
Cherubim and to the Seraphim .

And on this day also died Saint 'ASKANÂFER , the chief of

the thirteen [fol. 64a 3] thieves who became Christians of his
Faith . This ’ASKANÂFER was one of the nobles of Rômê, and
he gave alms to the poor and needy. Now , in those days there
was a gang of thirteen robbers who destroyed the travellers
whom they found on the road. When they heard the story of
'ASKANÂFER, and that he succoured the monks, they went to
him to kill him by an ambush , and to take his money. Then
they dressed themselves in the garb of monks, and stood by
the gate of his courtyard , and when 'ASKANÂFER saw them
he thought that they were the Twelve Apostles, and that one
of them was Christ. And he bowed low before them , and took
them into his house, and he brought a table of food to them ,
and then he washed their feet, and he sprinkled the water on
his son who was paralysed , and had been ill for five and thirty
years, and he was healed immediately. When the thieves saw
this they were greatly frightened . And 'ASKANÂFER said
unto them , “ Tell me, O my fathers , which of you is Christ ?
Shew Him to me that I may worship Him ." And when the
men of the city heard that the son of the nobleman was healed ,
they came to him , and they bowed low before the thieves ),
and they said unto them , “ O saints of God , bless us and heal
our sick folk .” Then the thieves took our their daggers and gave
them to the nobleman, [and their chief] said unto him , “ Take
these knives so that thou mayest kill us even as we wished to
kill thee.” And 'ASKANÂFER said unto them , “ Ye say this
that ye may abase yourselves.” And they said unto him , “ God
 THIRD MONTH - KHĚDÂR (ạĚDÂR) (NOV. 7 - DEC. 6 ) 237
would have trodden us in the dust ifwe could not have boasted
ourselves of thy prayer" ; and after they had spoken thus they
embraced him . And each of them [ fol. 646 1] took a few lentils
in a bag, and they departed ( on a journey) of twenty - five days ,
and they sowed the lentils in the sand, and at the time of
sunset they ate three (sic) lentils. And they lived thus for
thirty years, and then the ARAMI (i.e. desert robbers) came
and killed them . Salutation to 'ASKANÂFER who raised a
paralytic from his couch and healed him . Salutation also to
the thieves who fought a fight for thirty years as the result of
seeing this miracle .
And on this day also died the holy father Abbâ TIMOTHY,
Bishop of the city of Ě NŞENĀ. This holy man was righteous
and chaste from his youth , and he fought a great fight in working
righteousness. And the governor of the city seized him because
of his faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, and because he taught
his own True Faith to men , and he tortured him with severe
tortures formany days, and he shut him up in the prison house,
and he tortured him continually during a period of three years .
And there were with him in the prison house many saints who
were bound in fetters for the Faith . And that infidel governor
had them brought out of the prison house, and he tortured them ,
and he poured out their holy blood until at length only a very
few prisoners remained in the prison house, and among these
was this holy man TIMOTHY. At that time God blotted
out the Emperor DIOCLETIAN , the infidel, and the God
loving Emperor [ fol. 646 2] CONSTANTINE reigned. And an
Edict came from him into every country ordering that those
who were believers on Christ should be brought out of the
prisons, and they brought out from the prison house this holy
man among those who were released . And this holy man de
parted to his house, and he gathered together the monks and
the priests who were in his diocese, and he made a long prayer
(which lasted ] from evening to daybreak wherein he entreated
God for the salvation of the soul of that governor who had
tortured him , and he prayed thus : “ O Lord , have mercy upon
that governor, for it is he who hath brought me great good ,
 C RIUM
238 THE ETHIOPI SYNAXA
and who hath been the means of bringing menigh unto Thee,
O my Lord . In the samemanner , O Lord, do Thou work upon
him so that hemay believe in Thee, and may come to Thee .”
And the people marvelled at the simplicity (or innocency) of
heart of this father, and they told the governor, saying, " Abbâ
TIMOTHY is praying to God for thee that He may have mercy
upon thee, and may deliver thy soul.” When the governor
heard this thing he marvelled exceedingly , and he said , “ I
should have thought that he would curse me rather because of
the punishments which I have inflicted upon him , but instead
of that he prayeth for mercy for me. In the Faith of these men
there is some divine mystery.” Then the governor sent and
had this holy man Abbâ TIMOTHY brought to him , and he
obtained from him knowledge of the Law of the Christians,
and this father revealed to him the causes of the Incarnation
of the Son of God , and how the prophets spake concerning
Him in the beginning ,many years ago , and how their prophecies
were fulfilled , and how the matter concerning Him is written
in the Holy Gospel. And the governor believed on our Lord
and Redeemer [fol.646 3] Jesus Christ through this holy man ,
and he baptized him with holy Christian baptism . And the
governor forsook his office, and became a monk, and was
numbered among the folk of this father. And during the re
mainder of his days this father continued to teach his flock at
all times, and to confirm them in the Orthodox Faith , and he
died in the peace ofGod . Salutation to TIMOTHY.

And on this day died the holy father ZACHARIAS, the

sixty -fourth Archbishop of the city of Alexandria . He was a
native of the city of Alexandria , and was a priest therein , and
he was steward of all the property of the Church . And he was
chaste in his striving, and a virgin in body, and gentle in dis
position , and an old man in his days. When Archbishop
PHILOTHEUS died , the bishops assembled in order to elect
with the counsel of God theman who was fit for this office . And
as they were all gathered together in the church of Saint MARK,
the evangelist and apostle , and discussing together who was the
most suitable man for this office ,behold ,they heard thata certain
 THIRD MONTH - KHĚDÂR (ĶĚDÂR ) (NOV. 7 -DEC. 6 ) 239
man had obtained from the emperor a letter by bribery , and
that he had with him slaves and soldiers from the emperor who
were going to appoint him archbishop against the [fol. 65 a 1]
wishes of the bishops. And the bishops were sorry that an
archbishop should be appointed by bribery, and by the trans
gression of the Canon and commandment of the Apostles, and
they prayed continually and entreated God , the Glorious and
Most High , to appoint him whom they had chosen . And as
they were praying to God behold this father came down the
stairs of the roof of the church , and he had in his hand a vessel
of acid (vinegar ? ), and as he was coming down his foot slipped ,
and he fell from the top of the roof-stairs to the bottom .
And he lifted himself up still holding in his hand the vessel
which was unbroken , and the acid was unspilled. When the
bishops and the priests saw this they marvelled exceedingly .
And the people of the city of Alexandria enquired concerning
this holy man Abbâ ZACHARIAS, and they talked about his
virtues and his righteousness, and all the men of the city of
Alexandria agreed with the bishops about the appointment of
this holy man as archbishop , and they enthroned him . And
during the days of his rule great tribulation came upon him ,
and he sorrowed greatly through the King of Egypt, ĦAKAM ,
that is to say the governor. In those days there came unto him
a certain monk from the monastery of Abbâ MACARIUS, and
he said unto him , “ Makemea bishop .” And Abbâ ZACHARIAS
said unto him , “ Have patience, O my son , and do not transgress
the command of the Canon of the Apostles, but return to thy
monastery, and fight for the salvation of thy soul, and God's
Will shall be done.” When the monk heard these words he
became full of rage, and Satan entered into his heart, and he
went [ fol. 65 a 2 ] to the King of Egypt, that is to say the gover
nor, and made to him false accusations against Saint Abbâ
ZACHARIAS. And the king seized the holy man and shut him
up in prison , and then he cast him to the lions so that they
might rend him , but the lions would not go near him at all .
And the king was wroth with the keeper of the lions, and he
thought that he had taken a bribe from the archbishop . Then
the king starved the lions, and took some of the blood of an ox
 240 THE ETHIOPIC SYNAXARIUM
and smeared the archbishop therewith , and threw him to the
lions to eat; but they would not go near him at all ; and the
king marvelled at this thing, and he took the archbishop from
among the lions. Then he shut him up in prison for three
months, and he was always saying unto him , “ If thou dost not
forsake the Christian Faith , and if thou dost not enter my own
Faith , I will punish thee, and will kill thee with the sword , and
will cast thee again to the lions, and if I do not that I will cast
thee into the fire.” But Saint Abbâ ZACHARIAS was strong in
the True Faith , and he was not in any way afraid of him . Then
the king made him many promises, and said unto him , “ If
thou wilt hearken unto my command, and wilt enter my
Faith , I will give thee much money, and I will appoint thee
judge over every judge.” But he did not listen to him in the
least degree , and he did not turn aside from the least of the
good works which he was wont to do, and he answered and said
unto him , " If thou wert to give me all the kingdom of this
world , I would not forsake the True Faith .” After this the king
shut him up in prison for a few days, and then he released him
from the prison house . And when Saint ZACHARIAS came forth
from the prison house he departed to the desert of SCETE, and
very many bishops went with him through [fol. 65 a 3] fear of
the governor. And in those days the king commanded [his
people ] to destroy all the churches in the countries under his
dominion . And he made very many Christians to forsake their
Faith after he had tortured them with very severe tortures ;
and the Christian peoples lived in this state of tribulation for
nine years , and during this period of nine years [the Muslims]
destroyed the churches. At the end of nine years Christ had
compassion on his people , and He turned away his wrath from
them , and He removed from them all this tribulation . And the
king, that is to say, governor, commanded [the Christians] to
build churches everywhere in the countries under his dominion ,
and he gave back to them all the goods and money which he
had taken from them , and the lands which were endowments
of the Church ; and all the churches were built, or rebuilt and
restored with more than their former splendour. And this
father Abbâ ZACHARIAS built many churches, and the king ,
 THIRD MONTH - KHĚDÂR (ħĚDÂR) (NOV. 7 - DEC . 6 ) 241
that is to say, governor, commanded the Christians to blow a
trumpet in the churches, and to rejoice at their times of prayer
and when they celebrated the Holy Eucharist. And the Chris
tians lived in great happiness under the right observance of
the Law of the Church and of believers , and this father con
tinued to build and to endow churches for twelve years . One
day a bishop whose name was MERCURIUS came to him , and
his body was leprous. And Abbâ ZACHARIAS said unto him
gently and with kindliness of heart , “ O my brother , Abbâ
MERCURIUS, I will help thee because of this disease [fol.
656 I ] which hath come upon thee. And thou knowest that
God said unto MOSES, “ Thou shalt accept the person of no
man in respect of right judgement. The priesthood is not
fitting for thee whilst this disease is upon thee , unless God shall
remove this disease from thee, for the Book calleth it unclean .”
And MERCURIUS the bishop wept and said unto him , “ O my
father, help me by thy prayer ” ; and he went away from him ,
and departed and went into the church of our Lady, the holy
Virgin MARY ,which was in his diocese, and he stood up before
the picture of our Lady MARY, and he wept, and prayed and
entreated and made supplication to her to cleanse him from
this disease. And he did this from the morning of the Second
Day until the ninth hour of the Fourth Day of the week ; he
invoked [the Virgin ) and he prayed by day and by night. And
at the ninth hour, being aweary , he rested his head against the
wall whereon was the image of our Lady MARY, and he saw
the hand of the image rubbing his body . And he awoke straight
way, and he found that his body was cleansed of the leprosy,
and he rejoiced with a great joy ; and he praised our Lord Jesus
Christ, and gave thanks to our Lady, the holy Virgin MARY.
And straightway his disciple came to him , and he said unto
him , " Come, O my son , and look at my body, for behold our
Lady MARY hath healed me of my disease by her prayers , and
it befitteth me to stay in this place for three days in order to
thank my Lord Christ for the gracious gift which He hath
bestowed upon me.” Then he ate a little bread, and ( fol. 656 2 ]
drank a little water , and he remained in that church until the
beginning of the Sabbath . Then he rose up and went to the
BESI 16
242 THE ETHIOPIC SYNAXARIUM
THE ETHOPICS XARIUM

Archbishop Abbâ ZACHARIAS when he was in the church on

the First Day of the week and informed him of what had
happened to him , and he said unto him , “ It hath all happened
through thy prayer.” And Saint Abbâ ZACHARIAS answered
and said unto him , “God hath looked upon thy pure heart
and thy humility, and hath cleansed thee from thy disease ,
and hath received thy prayer, and thy tears. And now it is
meet for thee to consecrate the Holy Mysteries, and to ad
minister them to us so that we may be blessed by the grace
which thou hast received. " And when the Holy Eucharist had
been administered , all those who were in the church were
blessed thereby, and they marvelled exceedingly at thismiracle,
and they glorified God the Worker of wonders. On another
occasion a certain deacon came to Saint Abbâ ZACHARIAS
the archbishop, and he bowed down before him weeping abund
antly, and he kissed his feet and said unto him , " Have com
passion upon me, O my lord, for I have gone astray and have
fallen intosin ,and straightway allmybodyhath becomeleprous.”
And Abbâ ZACHARIAS said unto him , “ O my son , art thou
able to persevere in fasting before our Lord Jesus Christ ? ”
And the deacon said unto him , “ Yea , O my father, command
me to do whatsoever thou wishest, and I will do (it).” And
straightway the archbishop brought him into a dark chamber ,
by him , and he stood there and turned his face to the east, and
he said unto the deacon , “ O my son , pray to God, and entreat
Him with tears by day and by night without ceasing, and
repent, and return not to [thy) sins.” And after three [fol.
6563] days and three nights Abbâ ZACHARIAS gave him a little
bread by measure and a little water, and Abbâ ZACHARIAS
ate and drank in the samemanner. And after fifteen days Abbâ
ZACHARIAS visited him and said unto him , “ Be not afraid ."
And after one month was ended Abbâ ZACHARIAS visited him ,
and uncovered his body, and he saw that the leprosy was
diminishing on his body ; and he said unto him , “ Be not afraid .”
And after four days he visited him again , and he found that his
body was free from leprosy, and he washed him with water
and anointed him with oil. And he prayed over him and said
unto him , “ O my son , know thyself. Behold , thou art healed
 THIRD MONTH - KHĚDÂR (ħĚDÂR ) (NOV . 7 -DEC. 6 ) 243
of thy disease; commit sin no more.” And the archbishop sent
him away to his house rejoicing and praising God . And God
wrought very many signs and wonders by the hand of this
Saint, Archbishop Abbâ ZACHARIAS. Now he [lived ] in the
sixth hundred and ninety-first year of the Holy Martyrs (i.e.
A .D . 975). He sat as archbishop eight and twenty years ; of that
period he passed seven years in rest and peace , nine years in
tribulation , and twelve years in joy and in building churches .
And he departed to God and died in peace, and entered into the
kingdom of heaven . Salutation to Abbâ ZACHARIAS who
succeeded PHILOTHEUS, and whom the lions refused to eat.

[ fol. 66 a 1 ] And on this day also are commemorated LES

ȚELIA , and MEKRÔNÂ, and MARIANA, and PHILOPATOR ,
and 'ABRÂNÎ, and the Emperor HONORIUS.

XIV . KHĚDÂR
IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER AND THE SON
AND THE HOLY GHOST, ONE GOD
On this day died the holy father CANITUS, that is to say
MARCIUS (MARTIANUS), Bishop of the country of Thrace.
This holy man was a native of the city of SÔRPEIA, and his
parents were Christians; he was an ascetic , and a fighter, and
he was gentle and good. He persecuted the followers of ARIUS
continually, and he rebuked them , and cursed them , and called
them “ infidels ” ; because of this and through them a very great
tribulation came upon him . And they used to lie in wait for
him in the market-places, and when he passed they seized him
on many occasions, and punished him and beat him , and very
often they dragged him about through the city by his feet.
And he fled from them to a city which was afar off, and he came
to the shore of the Red Sea and he dwelt there in a cave for
many years , and he lived upon what grew out of the ground .
And when the history of him was noised abroad , and his spiritual
contendings and his excellence, God chose him to be a bishop.
When he had been made Bishop of the country of Thrace , he
adopted in his diocese the course of life which was followed by
16 - 2
244 THE ETHIOPIC SYNAXARIUM
the Apostles , and he was superior to many men in love (or
charity) and mercy, and God made manifest through him many
miracles. Once when he was passing by he saw a dead man
whom a wicked man [ fol. 66 a 2 ] had seized (for debt] ; he was
an obstinate and a stupid man by nature, and he would not
allow the kinsfolk of the dead to bury the body, saying, “ He
oweth me four hundred dinars of gold , and they shall not bury
him unless they give me this (sum ofmoney).” And this holy
man entreated him , and rebuked him seriously , and said unto
him , “ Release this dead body so that [his kinsfolk ] may bury
him ” ; and the man would not hearken unto him . And the
holy man prayed and entreated God , and he raised up the dead
man , and rebuked the man who had seized him , before the
people , saying, “ Why dost thou utter lies over him and hast
no fear of God ?” Then he prayed to God and that avaricious
man died, and he who had been dead went alive to his house ,
and he lived for many years after this. And this holy man
finished his good course , and he pleased God , and he died in
peace. Salutation to MARCIUS (MARTIANUS), who was full
of grace and goodness , and who raised a man from the dead.

And on this day also died Abbâ DANIEL, who worked

miracles for the King of Persia , and made him to believe on the
Name of Jesus Christ . Now the cause of his believing was this :
The King of Persia was sick of a grievous sickness in his belly ,
and the physicians who dealt in magic could not heal him ; and
the King of Persia had a very wise magician , but he was unable
to heal him . And [fol. 66 a 3 ] when the king wished to kill the
magician because of his failure to heal him , themagician spake
unto him with cunning words, saying, “ O king, seek out a child ,
and let his mother bind him with fetters , and let his father cut
his throat and bring to thee his heart, and when thou hast
eaten it thou wilt recover.” Now the magician said this because
he believed that the king would be afraid to do this thing,
but the king gave one thousand dinârs in gold to the captain
of his guard and told him to go and search in the city for
such a child and to buy him . Now there were in the city
two poor people , a man and his wife , and they had a little
 THIRD MONTH - KHĚDÂR (ạĚDÂR) (NOV . 7 -DEC. 6 ) 245
son , and when they heard the voice of the herald , the love of
SO

money led them astray, and weeping they took their son to the
king ; and the child said , “ I have confidence in God Who
created me, and Hewill save me." Then his mother bound him
with fetters , and his father drew his knife to cut the throat of
his son before the king and his nobles, and the child lifted up
his eyes to heaven and he spake with his lips but uttered no
sound. And God put compassion into the heart of the king ,
and he commanded [the father] to release the boy and to bring
him to him . And the king said, " What didst thou say when
thou didst lift thine eyes up to heaven ? ” And the boy said , “ O
my lord , if a man is oppressed his father and his mother ought
to deliver him , and if the mother is serious the king and his
nobles ought to deliver him . As for me, seeing that there was
no salvation forme from all of you, I prayed to God Who created
me.” When the king heard his words of instruction he gave
him one thousand dinârs of gold . And because of this God
wished to have compassion on the king , and He sent unto him
DANIEL to heal him , [fol. 666 1 ] and when DANIEL came to
him he worked many miracles, and the king believed on the
Name of Jesus Christ. And DANIEL baptized him and all his
men with Christian baptism , and the king was cured of his
disease . Then Abbâ DANIEL departed to his own city , and he
continued to strive strenuously , and he died in peace . Saluta
tion to DANIEL the monk who healed the King of Persia .

And on this day also died Abbâ John of the monastery of

rainday
BIZAN. And on hethis andaredatcommemorated GARSES aand
at rebuked the GÂRSES nd
BĂLĂȚĚN . Salutation to him that rebuked the foolish peoples
by withholding the rain and dew for a period of three years ,
that is to say, to John the priest.

And on this day also are commemorated LAURESTUS, and

ANDREAS, and the consecration of the church of the monastery
of ĶALMÔN ,and MABRANUS, and TRẤTINÂ, and JUSTINA (? ) .
246 THE ETHIOPIC SYNAXARIUM

XV . KHĚDÂR
IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER AND THE SON
AND THE HOLY GHOST, ONE GOD
[ fol. 66b 2 ] On this day Saint MinÂs became a martyr ;
now the interpretation of his name is " believing " and " faith
ful.” The father of this holy man was a native of the city of
NÂKİYôs and his namewas EUDOXIUS,and he was a governor
and a nobleman . And his brother was envious of him , and he
made accusations against his brother EUDOXIUS to the king;
and the king sent him to 'AFRÂĶYÂ (PHRYGIA ? ) and made
him governor over that country ; and the men of that country
rejoiced in him , for he was a merciful man, and he feared God .
Now the mother of Saint Minâs had no son . One day she
went into the church on the festival of our Lady , the holy
Virgin MARY, and she saw the children of the church wearing
beautiful apparel and going into the church. And she moaned
and wept before the image (or picture ) of our Lady, the holy
Virgin MARY, and she entreated her to pray on her behalf to
God so that He might give her a son ; and a voice came forth
from the image of our Lady , the holy Virgin MARY , saying ,
" Amen ." And straightway that woman went to her house and
she told her husband about the voice which she had heard from
the image of our Lady MARY, and her husband said unto her,
" God 's Will be done !” And after a certain number of days
God gave unto her this holy son , and she called his name
" MÎNÂS,” according to the word which she had heard from
the image of the Virgin MARY. And when the child had grown
up a little , [his father ] taught him the Scriptures and the doc
trine of the spirit. And when he was eleven years old his father
died at a good old age, [fol. 666 3 ] and three years later his
mother died. And Saint MÎNÂs remained by himself, fasting
and praying, and because of the greatness of the affection
which the governors of the city had for his father and for him
self, he did abandon the worship of Christ. And when dio
CLETIAN had denied Christ, he commanded all men to worship
idols, and verymany suffered martyrdom for the sakeof ourLord
 THIRD MONTH - KHĚDÂR (ħĚDÂR ) (NOV. 7 - DEC. 6 ) 247
Jesus Christ. Then minâs abandoned the place where he lived
and departed to the desert, and he dwelt there very many days
and fought a great fight there. One day he saw the heavens
open and the martyrs crowned with beautiful crowns, and he
heard a voice which said , " He who toileth for the Name of our
Lord Jesus Christ shall receive this crown.” And he returned
to the city and believed on the Name of Jesus Christ. And
many men knowing that he belonged to a noble and honourable
family tried to dissuade him from this , and the governor also
promised him honours and many other things, but he would
neither obey his behest nor turn from his own good counsel.
Then straightway the governor commanded his soldiers to
torture him with severe tortures, and when he was tired of
torturing him he commanded them to cut off his head with the
sword ; and they cut off his head straightway, and he received
the crown of martyrdom in the kingdom of the heavens ; and
very many men heard of his martyrdom for the sake of the
Name of our Lord Jesus Christ. And the governor commanded
his soldiers to cast the body of the holy man into the fire, (and
they did so,] but certain believing men took his body out of
the fire ; now the flames had neither scorched it nor burnt it
and no harm whatsoever had befallen it. And they swathed it
in beautiful grave clothes and laid it in a certain place [fol.
67 a I] until the days of persecution were ended . In those days
the men of the district of MAREOTIS wished to collect an
army from PENTAPOLIS, and they took the body of Saint
MÎNÂs with them so that it might be a help unto them , and
might protect them on the way. And when they were in the
ship , and the body of Saint MÎNâs was with them , beasts
came up out of the sea with faces like the faces of serpents and
necks like the necks of camels , and they stretched out their
necks towards the body of the saint and licked it ; and the
crew of the ship were afraid with a great fear. And fire went
forth from the body of the saint, and burned the faces of the
beasts. And having arrived at the city of Alexandria and the
men having finished their work , they wished to return to their
country , and they sought to take the body of Saint Minas
with them . Having lifted it upon a camel, the camel would
 C IUM
248 THE ETHIOPI SYNAXAR
not get up from his place ; and when they had lifted it on to a
second camel, that camel also would not get up, and although
they beat it with many stripes it would not move at all. Then
they knew that this was the Will ofGod, and they built a shrine
over him , and buried him therein and departed . And God
wished to reveal the body of Saint minâs. Now there was in
that desert a certain shepherd , and one day a sheep that was
sick of a disease and had running sores went into the shrine,
and slipped down into the water of the well which was by the
side of the shrine, and having rolled about in it the sheep was
healed straightway. When the shepherd saw this thing and this
miracle, he marvelled exceedingly and was frightened . And
he used to take somedust from the shrine, and wet it with water,
and smear it over the sheep when they were sick , and straight
way they were healed thereby. And [fol.67 a 2 ] he used to do
this always, and he healed all the sick persons who came to
him by this thing. And the Emperor CONSTANTINE heard
of the report of this — now he had an only daughter who was
sick through running sores — and he sent her to this place, but
she could not strip herself naked because there were men there.
And the princess asked the shepherd what he did when he healed
the sick sheep , and the shepherd told her what he did. And
she took dust from that place, and moistened it with water
from that well, and she smeared her whole body therewith ,
and she slept that night in the shrine. And Saint MÎNAS
appeared and said unto her, “ When thou risest up in the morn
ing, dig , and thou shalt find my body ” ; and straightway she
was healed of her disease. And when she rose up (and found
that] she was healed of her disease , she commanded [her
servants] to dig in that place , and straightway she found the
body of Saint MÎNÂS. And she rejoiced with an exceeding
great joy, and she sent [a letter ] to her father, and told him of
this matter, and the emperor built a church over his body .
And a beautiful church was built in his honour in the days of
ARCADIUS and HONORIUS, the righteous emperors, and they
commanded the people to build a great city there . And a great
city was built there, as the righteous emperors commanded ,
and they laid the body of Saint minâs in the church , and
 THIRD MONTH - KHĚDÂR (ħĚDÂR) (NOV . 7 -DEC . 6 ) 249
miracles and great wonders took place through his body. And
sick people of all nations used to come into that church , and
they were healed , and signs and wonders used to appear in that
church . And Satan was envious, and he stirred up certain
wicked men and they pulled down (fol. 67 a 3 ] the church, and
the city was plundered , and they removed the body of Saint
Minâs. And they built another church for him there, and laid
his body therein , and signs and wonders took place therein
which were far greater than those which had taken place in the
former church. Salutation to thee , O MÎNÂS, officer and noble
man , for whom thy mother prayed to the image of the Virgin
MARY.

And on this day also died the holy father Abbâ minâs the
Second , the sixty - first Archbishop of the city of Alexandria .
The parents of this holy man made him marry a wife when he
was young , against his will, but he did not wish to transgress
the command of his parents, and he fulfilled all the duty of
marriage according to the Law of the Church , and the whole
of this matter was to him as a dream . When they brought him
with his wife into themarriage-chamber, he sat down and talked
to her , saying, “ O my sister, what shall it profit a man if he
gain the whole world and lose his own soul? The world passeth
away and the lust thereof passeth away , but, as it is written ,
'He who doeth the Will of God shall endure for ever.' Come
now , let us make a covenant of God , and let us preserve our
bodies and our virginity in purity.” And his wife accepted his
words and she agreed with him that they should keep their
bodies in purity . Then he left her and went to the desert of
SCETE , and he became a monk in the monastery of Abbâ
MACARIUS, and he dwelt there for many years as [fol. 676 1]
an ascetic and fighter. When the archbishop his predecessor
died , they took Abbâ MÎNÂs against his will, and made him
archbishop ; and he sat on the throne of MARK the evangelist
for eighteen years, and he protected his flock rightly and justly
and he died in peace. Salutation to MÎNÂs the Second who
renounced the world and regarded it as a shadow and as a
thirst during which a man drinketh as in a dream .
250 THE ETHIOPIC SYNAXARIUM
Salutation to thee, VICTOR, in whose admonitionsthe children
rejoiced. [Wanting in the Bodleian Ms. ]

And on this day beginneth the preaching of the fasting

service of ŞOMA GÊNÂ, for the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ,
which the Jacobite Christians established .

Salutation to the House ofPACHOMIUSwhich was consecrated

by the holy father TIMOTHY. [Wanting in the Bodleian Ms.]
And on this day also died the holy MACCABAEUS of ĶÂS
BAR, who fought until he fed with his body the birds [fol.
676 2 ] of heaven .

XVI. KHĚDÂR
IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER AND THE SON
AND THE HOLY GHOST, ONE GOD
On this day was consecrated the church of the blessed Saint
’ABÛNÂFER , the dweller in the desert, (which is built] outside
the city of MĚSR (CAIRO) . Salutation to the consecration of
thy house outside the city of MĚSR (CAIRO), which thou
protectest from heat and from cold by the hair of thy head
and thy flowing beard .

And on this day also died the holy father, Abbâ John, the
forty -eighth Archbishop of the city of Alexandria . This father
was from the country of CYPRUS, and he was exceedingly rich ,
and he lived in the city of Alexandria ; and his father was
governor of the city and he had married a wife and begotten
children . After this his wife died and his children , and forth
with he gave all his possessions to the poor and needy. And he
became a monk and he fought strenuously and became an
ascetic, and he multiplied greatly his ascetic labours. And he
pleased God by his works, and his faith , and the beauty of his
singing, and his righteousness, and his excellence. And all the
bishops of the country of Egypt agreed together, and they took
him against his will [fol. 676 3] and they made him Archbishop
 THIRD MONTH - KHĚDÂR (ŅĚDÂR) (NOV . 7 -DEC. 6 ) 251
of the city of Alexandria , and he took his seat upon the throne
of MARK the evangelist. And he read the Holy Gospel and his
light appeared in the manner wherein he fulfilled the duties of
his position and his office , and he worked many miracles and
wonders . And he used to give to the poor and needy each day
regularly whatsoever they lacked , and because of this Abbâ
JOHN, Archbishop of the city of Alexandria , used to be called
" the merciful.” And the Jews and pagans held him in great
reverence , and they feared him and honoured him , even as it
is written in the history of his strife ; and he shepherded his
flock wisely and well, and he pleased God , and he died in peace.
Salutation to Archbishop KÎRÎ, who was called “ JOHN, the
merciful. "

And on this day also Saint xvstus the bishop became a

martyr by the hand of MAXIMUS the governor, who tortured
the holy man with severe tortures and then cut off his head
with the sword . And XYSTUS received the crown ofmartyrdom
in the kingdom of the heavens. Salutation to XYSTUS the
martyr.

And on this day also Saint ȚÂȚUS (TATIA ) became a martyr

[ fol. 68 a 1) in the city of Rômê, under ALEXANDER the
governor. Having had her brought before him he said unto
her, “ Sacrifice to my gods ” ; and she said , “ I will only sacrifice
to Jesus Christ, my God.” And the governor commanded (his
soldiers] to strip off the veil of her face, and when he saw her
he marvelled at her beauty. Her eyes were like the stars of
the heavens, her figure was like the palm , and her beauty was
like that of the rose ; and there was none who could be com
pared with her at that time. When the emperor saw her his
heart was carried away by love for her, and he said unto her,
" Obey me. Offer sacrifice to the great god APOLLO , and I
will make thee mistress of the palace.” And Saint ȚÂȚŪS
(TATIA ) said unto him , “ I am the bride of Jesus Christ, and I
will worship none but He. Permit me to go into the shrines of
thy gods for I would see their power" ; and the governor took
her into the house of his gods. And when Saint ȚÂȚŮS (TATIA )
252 THE ETHIOPIC SYNAXARIUM
had gone in she prayed and entreated God to destroy the idols,
and straightway there was an earthquake, and the idols fell
down from their thrones , and APOLLO, their greatest idol, fell
down and was broken in pieces, and many of the priests of the
temple died . And the foul spirit who was in APOLLO cried
out, saying, “ What hast thou to do with me, O holy woman of
God ? Behold thou hast broken in pieces my abode, and thou
hast cast me out from it.” When the emperor saw this he
commanded his soldiers to throw her down on her face and to
beat her with whips until the blood flowed from her body, now
her blood was as white as milk , and they beat her until their
muscles were tired . And the angels of God inflicted pains on
those who were beating her, [ fol. 68 a 2 ] but their torturing
affected Saint ȚÂȚUS (TATIA) in no way. And the emperor
also commanded the soldiers to give her to a famished lion , but
when the lion came to her he crouched at her feet and licked
them ; and a voice came from heaven , saying, “ Rejoice, O pure
one, for I am with thee.” And when the emperor saw that
there was noway of touching her he commanded the soldiers to
cut off her head with the sword, and the soldiers did so , and she
finished her fight. And the Bishop of Rômê came by night, and
he wrapped her body up in costly cloths, and laid it in a chest
inlaid with gold and silver, and innumerable miracles took
place through her body . Salutation to ȚÂȚUS (TATIA), perfect
within and without, the dust at whose feet the lion licked .

And on this day also are commemorated DANIEL the monk ,

and the Emperor HONORIUS. This Abbâ DANIEL was a
fighter in the desert of SCETE , in the monastery of Abbâ
MACARIUS, and he lived for forty years and a half without
tasting bread, or fish , or honey, or oil, for he ate nothing except
herbs and water. And after he had done this for (many ) days ,
a boastful idea came to him , and he said in his heart, “ Who is
there among the dwellers in the desert of SCETE that can fast
as long as I do ? ” When God saw the pride of his heart He sent
unto him a shining angel who said unto him , “ Why, O DANIEL ,
dost thou boast thyself thus arrogantly , which is not good ?
Our Lord [fol. 68 a 3 ] Jesus Christ desireth not pride but lowli
 THIRD MONTH - KHĚDÂR (ħĚDÂR ) (NOV. 7 -DEC. 6 ) 253
ness, and fear, and trembling." And DANIEL said unto the
angel, “ Tell me, my lord, if there is anyone better than myself
so that I may go and see him and I will confess to my God that
I have sinned .” And the angel said unto him , “ HONORIUS,
Emperor of Rômê (Constantinia ), is a pure and holy man ,
and a fearer of God , he shall be thy companion in the kingdom
of the heavens. ” When Abbâ DANIEL heard this he bowed
and knelt down on the ground, and threw dust on his head,
and he asked God to bring him to the city of Rômê in His
wisdom and power and to shew him the emperor. And whilst
he was praying thus a cloud cameby the command of God and
brought him to the gates of Constantinia , and he found there a
servant of the Emperor HONORIUS. When the servant saw
Abbâ DANIEL, hewas blessed by him , and hesaid unto him , “ O
my father ,what is thy wish ? For what hast thou comehither? ”
And Abbâ DANIEL said unto him , “ If thou art able to lead
me to one of the nobles of the city so that he may take me to
the emperor, [do so ].” And the servant said unto him , “ If
I myself could take thee to the emperor wouldst thou come? ”
And Abbâ DANIEL said unto him , “ If thou hast power to
bring me to him God be blessed.” And the servant said unto
him , “ O my father, what wouldst thou do with the sight of an
earthly and mortal emperor ? Would it not be better for thee to
see the kingdom of the heavens? ” And Abbâ DANIEL said
unto him , “ If my God had not commanded me I should not
have come hither.” And the servant said unto him , “ Wait, O
my father, until I buy whatmymaster requireth ” ; and straight
way he bought bread , and salt , and vegetables, and vinegar.
And the servant took him to the place where HONORIUS was
with a fellow monk, whose name was EULOGIUS, [fol. 686 1]
according to his custom . After HONORIUS returned from the
place of [ giving] judgement, he put on sackcloth and clean
raiment and sat down . And the servant leaving Abbâ DANIEL
outside the door went in , and when HONORIUS saw him he
said unto him , " Art thou mad that thou makest Abbâ DANIEL
to stand outside the door? ” And HONORIUS went out with
his companion , and he received Abbâ DANIEL, and bowed down
at his feet, and they saluted each other with greetings of peace,
254 THE ETHIOPIC SYNAXARIUM
and they went into the chamber and sat down ; and at the ninth
hour the servant brought them food to eat, and they rose up
and prayed . Now Abbâ DANIEL was afraid to eat bread lest
he should fall ill, and he said unto HONORIUS and his com
panion , “ O my lords, murmur not against me because I do not
eat bread ; it is not through pride that I refrain but through fear
of sickness.” Then they gave him a few herbs and he ate
according to his wont. When they had finished the prayer of
the table Honorius enquired of Abbâ DANIEL about his
coming. And Abbâ DANIEL said unto him , “ If thou art able
I wish thee to bring me to the Emperor, for I have come [to
see him ) at the command of Christ.” And on the following day
HONORIUS put on royal apparel which bewitched the sight,
and he sat upon his throne, and he made [his servant] bring in
Abbâ DANIEL. And when DANIEL saw the emperor he was
afraid and trembled , and the servant seeing his fear took him
from there and brought him to his abode. When the judging
was ended HONORIUS threw off his (royal] apparel, and put on
the garb of themonk , and went back to his dwelling . And when
Abbâ DANIEL saw him , he said , “ Why didst thou not take me
to the king , so that I might tell him what is in my heart and
return to my place? ” And HONORIUS said unto him , “ Why
didst thou come? ” And Abbâ DANIEL said unto him , “ Thy
servant brought me” ; and when HONORIUS heard this he
marvelled and said unto him , “ I am HONORIUS whom men
call [fol.686 2 ] ' Emperor of the Earth ,' and thou hast seen me
sitting on my transitory throne.” When Abbâ DANIEL heard
neitheand
this hhe
this erbowed life . at hhis
e all hisdown ad feet, r hoadjured
ur of hihim
s to tell him the
story of all his life . And the Emperor HONORIUS told him
that for forty years he had neither eaten food nor worn raiment
which he had not earned by the labour of his hands, that is to
say the weaving of palm fibre, that what was left of his daily
food he gave to the poor, that his food was bread, and herbs,
and vinegar and salt, that he never cursed any man, that he
never craved for the goods of any man , and that he had kept
himself a virgin . When Abbâ DANIEL heard this he said unto
him , “ Forgive me for boasting myself over thee " ; and Abbâ
DANIEL departed to his place sorrowfully , and in tears. After
 THIRD MONTH - KHĚDÂR (ħĚDÂR ) (NOV . 7 -DEC. 6) 255
two months had passed HONORIUS and his teacher EULO
GIUS agreed together, and he departed from the palace, and
God sent an angel who carried him to Abbâ DANIEL, and they
finished their strife and they both died on the same day ; and
EULOGIUS and his disciple also died on that day. Salutation
to HONORIUS and to Abbâ DANIEL his companion . Saluta
tion to EULOGIUS and to his servant who dwell together in
heaven .

XVII. KHĚDÂR
[ fol. 686 3 ] IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER AND THE
SON AND THE HOLY GHOST, ONE GOD
On this day is commemorated the translation of the body of
the saint who is honoured in all the ends of the world , JOHN
the Mouth of Gold , Archbishop of the city of Constantinia .
Now Saint JOHN excommunicated the Empress EUDOXIA
because of the property of a widow which she had taken from
her by violence. And the empress made an excuse for herself,
saying, “ Kings have always been in the habit, if when they
have been going about among estates they have seen any
property which they wanted , of taking it , and giving the owner
the value thereof, and I will give this widow the value of her
estate ” ; now the widow did not wish to part with her estate.
For this reason Saint JOHN excommunicated the Empress
EUDOXIA , and he forbade her to enter the church , because
she had not obeyed his command and let the property of the
widow alone. And Satan came upon her, and she swelled with
pride, and became furiously angry, and she gathered together
to her the bishops whom Saint JOHN had excommunicated
because of their evil works and wicked faith . And they con
spired together against him , and the empress drove him into
exile to the island of the mountains 'ADRÂKES. After a few
years (days ? ) he returned to his office, and then the bishops
gathered together and drove him into exile in the country of
Armenia ; and from there (he went] to a far city in the desert
where he died. When THEODOSIUS the Less, the son of
ARCADIUS, reigned, he sent messengers and had the body of
 C IUM
256 THE ETHIOPI SYNAXAR
Saint John the Mouth of Gold brought to the city of Con
stantinia with great honour, and much singing, [fol. 69 a 1 ]
and music , five and thirty years after he was exiled , and it
arrived on the twenty-second day of themonth Genbôt (May
June), according to what is said in the second volume of the
Coptic Synopsis, and on the twenty- second day of the month
Yakâtît (Feb.-March ), according to the Greek books. And it is
said that they laid the body in a coffer of afrâș stone, that is
to say, marble , in the sanctuary, and great signs and wonders
were made manifest through his body. Salutation to the trans
lation of thy body, O John the Mouth ofGold .
Now the Book of the Exposition of Alexandria , and the
Exposition which Abbâ John, Bishop of the city of ĶEFT,
wrote , and the Exposition of the Melchites agree together in
stating that the death of John the Mouth of Gold took place
on the seventeenth day of the month Khědâr. The Exposition
of the Jacobites saith that he died on the fourteenth day of the
month Elûl, that is to say, the seventeenth day of the month
of Maskaram , and that, because of the festival of the Cross
they changed it to the seventeenth day of Khědâr. The old
books record that his death took place on the twelfth day of
the month Genbót, but I think that it was the carrying of his
body up to the city of Constantinia which took place on that
day , and behold it is [here) written on the seventeenth day of
the month of Khědâr.

[ fol. 69a 2 ] And on this day also are commemorated the

blessed ABRAHAM and his wife ¥ÂRÎK , and the righteousmen
[who suffered martyrdom in the desert of] wÂșiF, and Abbà
Sinô Dâ (SHENUTI) the abbot. Salutation to ABRAHAM , and
his wife ħÂRÎK , and their child ķĚDŮS ’AMLÂK. Salutation
to the martyr of the desert of wâșik. Salutation to Abbâ
SÎNÔ DÂ the abbot. [And on this day is commemorated
WALATTA PETROS the Ethiopian woman . ]
 THIRD MONTH - KHĚDÂR (ħĚDÂR) (NOV . 7 -DEC . 6 ) 257

XVIII. KHZDAR
IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER AND THE SON
AND THE HOLY GHOST, ONE GOD
On this day the holy virgins AȚRÂSÎs and YÔNÂ became
martyrs. This Saint AȚRÂsis was the daughter of King
ISKANDRIANUS who worshipped idols ; and he made her a
palace, and he established her therein by herself so that she
might never see a man . And she used to think about the end
of [fol.69 a 3 ] this world , and she asked God by day and by
night to teach her the path of righteousness and integrity.
And she saw a vision one night and it was as if one said unto
her, “ Send to the virgin YÔNÂ, the daughter of PHILAS
PHERON and she shall teach thee the way ofGod.” When she
awoke from her dream her soul rejoiced and she sent a message
to the virgin YÔNÂ who made haste to come unto her; and
AȚRÂsis embraced her, and bowed down at her feet, and she
entreated her to teach her and make manifest to her the path
of God . And YÔNÂ the virgin told her the reason why the Son
of God became a man , and she began to tell her [the history of
the world ] from the time when God created our father ADAM ,
and how He expelled him from the Garden ; and she told her
about the days of NOAH , and how the water of the Flood came
and destroyed all mankind , and how only eight men were left
(alive], and how the earth was renewed once more, and how
men worshipped idols, and how God appeared to our father
ABRAHAM , and how the Israelites went out from Egypt, and
how the prophets proclaimed the coming of the Son of God ,
and how Satan wasmaster of the world through the worship of
idols , and how the Son of God came down from heaven , and
took flesh of MARY so that Hemight save the children of men
from the dominion of Satan . And yÔNÂ the virgin told her
and made her to know about heavenly grace , and the kingdom
which is for ever , which God giveth unto those who labour for
His holy Name's sake. When AȚRÂsis the virgin heard the
words of yÔNÂ she rejoiced exceedingly ; and the words of
YÔNÂ the virgin were [ fol. 696 1] unto her sweeter than honey
BESI
17
258 THE ETHIOPIC SYNAXARIUM
and sugar, and straightway she believed on God. And the two
virgins lived together and they fasted and they prayed by day
and by night; and the king, the father of AȚRÂSÎS, knew
nothing of this matter. One day they saw our Lord Jesus
Christ, and His mother MARY the pure and holy Virgin , and
she took the two virgins and brought them to her Son as an
offering , and He blessed them . And the king, the father of
AȚRÂSÎs, departed to fight a battle, and when he came back
he came to his daughter and said unto her ,“ Come,my daughter,
cast incense to the god APOLLO before thou comest to thy
marriage (?)." And AȚRÂsis the virgin said unto her father,
“ Why dost thou forsake the God of heaven and worship foul
idols? Turn , O my father, to theGod Who created thee and in
Whose hand is thy soul and body.” When the king her father
heard these words, the like of which he had never heard from
her before, he marvelled , and asked what had come to his
daughter and what had changed her mind . And [his servants]
told him , “ It is YÔNÂ the virgin , the daughter of PHILAS
PHERON , who hath corrupted thy daughter's heart.” And the
king commanded [his soldiers] to burn them in the fire, and
they dragged them out arrayed as they were in costly raiment
wherein gold and silver were woven in cunning devices, and
they did not strip them naked because they were daughters of
kings. And there were many of their slaves , and their hand
maidens, both small and great, who wept for them , and the
men of the city also wept and were sorry for those virgins, and
they begged them to submit to the king so that he might not
kill them ; but they would not turn from their good counsel,
and their divine love. And straightway [fol. 696 2 ] the soldiers
dug pits in the ground and they lighted fires therein and the
flames thereof rose to a great height. And the two virgins
took each other's hand and they cast themselves into the fire ,and
the people saw them standing up in the fire with their faces
turned towards the east, and they were praying, and after that
they died . Now the fire was unto them as cool water. And
certain believing men took away their bodies , and their coun
tenances were unchanged, and their apparel was unscorched ,
and the fire had not touched the hair of their head ; and they
 THIRD MONTH - KHĚDÂR (ħĚDÂR) (NOV . 7 -DEC. 6 ) 259
laid them in a good place with great honouruntilthe end of the
days of persecution. And they built a fine church and laid
their bodies therein , and great signs and wonders were wrought
there through them . Salutation to the virgins AȚRÂsis and
YÔNÂ who died in the fire holding each other's hand.

And on this day also died PHILIP the apostle , one of the
Twelve Apostles. Now the lot fell upon this apostle to go to
the country of 'AFRÂķYÂ (PHRYGIA ), and all the region
round about, and he preached to the people thereof the Name
of our Lord Jesus Christ, our God and Redeemer ; and he worked
miracles there which astonished the hearts (ofmen ). And when
PETER and PHILIP drew nigh to the city a certain man in
whom was an evil spirit received them , and he cried out, saying,
“ O Apostles of Christ, I will not let you go into the city .” And
PETER knew that ſhe was possessed of] a spirit of devils, [ fol.
696 3 ] and then and there he rebuked him , and Satan went out
of him , and the man was healed and he followed the apostles
into the city. Now there was above the gate of the city an
exceedingly high pillar, and when they came to that gate
PETER entreated God , saying, " I beseech Thee, O my Lord
Jesus Christ, that this gate, and this high pillar and the things
which are on it may fall down upon the earth in such a manner
that thehand of a man may touch them .” And at that moment
the gate , and the pillar, and the things which were on it fell
down upon the earth , and they appeared to be like the face of
the earth . And PETER said unto the man from whom the foul
spirit had gone forth, “ Go up and cry out,” and he cried out,
saying, “ Apostle of Christ, I will cry out as thou commandest
me.” And similarly he commanded him to speak with his
mouth so that awe might fall upon the men of that city . And
that man went up from the ground upon the pillar which had
stood over the gate, and PETER said unto him , “ In the Name
of my Lord Jesus Christ let it be raised up,” and at that very
moment the gate raised itself up, and the pillar which was upon
it, and the doors resumed the place which they had formerly.
And the man cried out with a loud voice, saying, “ O men who
live in this city, assemble ye in the place where are the
17- 2
 260 THE ETHIOPIC SYNAXARIUM
Apostles of Christ , our Lord, that they may bless you and may
entreat Him to forgive you your sins.” And whilst the man
was standing upon the top of the pillar and saying these words,
there was an earthquake and lightning, and the men of the
city were frightened , and they feared exceedingly , and they
went into the houses, and caverns, and islands (sic ), and [fol.
70 a 1] the lightning pursued them wherever they went; and
many men , and women also , died of fright at the noise of the
thunder and the lightnings. And because of this groups of
people came to the apostles , and they looked at them , their
hands being stretched out, and they made supplication to God ,
and they fell on the ground and bowed low before them ,
saying, “ O servants of God , we beseech thee to have mercy
upon us .” And the apostles made entreaty to God on their
behalf, and the thunder ceased and there was nomore lightning ;
and they all believed on our Lord Jesus Christ, and the apostles
brought them to the knowledge of God , and after this they
made them to enter the True Faith . And [PHILIP ] went out
side the city and turned the people to the knowledge of God ,
but those who did not believe on the Lord Jesus Christ took
counsel together against PHILIP so that they might seize him
and kill him . Now they enjoyed the favour of the king, and he
would not allow them to enter into their alien city . When
PHILIP came to them they rose up against him , and seized
him , and shut him up in prison . And he used to laugh before
them , and say unto them , “ Why do ye go away from ever
lasting life, and why do ye not think about the salvation of
your souls ? ” And they rose up against him , and seized him ,
and shut him up in prisonpen;dand Wthey
ondertortured
tor ue him with severe
tortures, and they suspended ed him of Godsand he
head tdownwards,
delivered up his soul whilst still under torture . And when they
wanted to burn his body in the fire, an angel ofGod snatched
it out of their hands whilst they stood looking at him , and he
carried it to a place outside the city of Jerusalem . And when
they saw this great miracle they all cried out [fol. 70 a 2 ] with
a loud voice, saying, “ One is the Lord God of Saint PHILIP
the apostle .” And they were sorry and repented that they had
tortured him , and they entreated God by day and by night
 THIRD MONTH - KHĚDÂR (NĚDÂR) (NOV. 7 -DEC. 6) 261
THIRD ONTH - DEC

until the body of Saint PHILIP returned . And when they saw
it they rejoiced exceedingly , and they came back to the Faith
of our Lord Christ, and through the body of PHILIP God made
LEU
manifest signs and miracles. Salutation to PHILIP and ELEU
THERUS.

And on this day also ELEUTHERUS, and his mother ENTIA ,

who belonged to a noble family of the city of Rômê, became
martyrs . This holy man was brought up by a God- fearing
bishop whose name was ANICETUS. When he was sixteen
years of age he was made a deacon , when he was eighteen he
was made a priest, and at the age of twenty years he was made
bishop of the country of ’ÊLÊRÎķôs. In those days ANDRI
ANUS the emperor came to the city of Rômê, and when he
heard about ELEUTHERUS he commanded PÎLķĚS to bring
him to him ; and PilĶĚS found him in the church teaching
the Word of God. When PilĶĚS heard the Faith of ELEU
THERUS, he believed and was baptized in the Name of Jesus
Christ. When he had brought ELEUTHERUS TO ANDRIANUS
the emperor, he said unto him , “ Offer sacrifice [ fol. 70 a 3 ] to
the gods. Thou art a free man , why dost thou worship a man
who was crucified ? ” And ELEUTHERUS said , “ My freedom
is the Cross of Jesus Christ, Who is the Creator of the heavens
and of the earth.” When the emperor heard this he com
manded [his soldiers ) to throw him into a red -hot oven and to
shut him in ; and they did so , and straightway the fiery oven
was cooled ; and (they threw him on the wheel, and] the wheel
was broken. When the emperor saw this hemarvelled greatly ,
and not knowing what to do he commanded the soldiers to
throw him into prison . And a raven brought him food from the
Garden (i.e . Paradise ) and he ate and was satisfied . And when
ILLYRICUS (? ) the governor saw him , he believed in the God
of Saint ELEUTHERUS, and they cut off his head with a sword.
And ANDRIANUS commanded his soldiers to bring small
horses, and to harness them to a chariot , and they tied ELEU
THERUS to the middle of the chariot, and they dragged him
about until his limbs were cut to pieces . And straightway an
angel ofGod came down and released him from his fetters , and
262 THE ETHIOPIC SYNAXARIUM
he took him into a high place, and he sat down with the wild
beasts glorifying God. And straightway ANDRIANUS ordered
his soldiers to hunt down the wild beasts that were in the
mountain in which they had found ELEUTHERUS, and they
took ELEUTHERUS to ANDRIANUS the emperor. When they
had brought him to him the emperor commanded them to give
him to the lions, and when the lions came they licked the
moisture from his face and feet; and all the men of Rômê
wondered . Now the lions had slain fifty hundred pagans. When
the emperor saw this he was filled with wrath , and he com
manded two soldiers to spear him [and they did so ]. And his
mother ENTIA also — after they had tortured her greatly , they
speared her with him , and whilst she was embracing the neck
of her son they delivered up their souls to God. [fol. 706 I ]
Salutation to ELEUTHERUS.

XIX . KHĚDÂR
IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER AND THE SON
AND THE HOLY GHOST, ONE GOD
On this day took place the consecration of the church of
Saint SERGIUS and Saint BACCHUS in the city of RÛŞÂFÂ.
Now , Saint SERGIUS having been martyred in the city of
RÛŞÂFÂ certain believing men took his body and prepared it
for burial [and kept it ] with them , and they lighted lamps
before it ; and it remained hidden with them until the end of
the days of persecution when they brought it out and built a
fine church for it. And there gathered together about him in
the church fifteen bishops, and they consecrated it on this day ,
and many signs and wonders took place through it. And when
they removed his body and laid it in the church there flowed
forth from it scented unguent, the perfume whereof was ex
ceedingly sweet, and it healed all the sick folk who received
some of it in faith and in True Faith ; and to this day a sweet
odour floweth forth from his body. Salutation to the bishops
who consecrated the shrine of SERGIUS.

[ fol. 706 2 ] And on this day also is the beginning of the

 THIRD MONTH - KHĚDÂR (ụĚDÂR) (NOV. 7 -DEC. 6 ) 263
fasting service of the birth of our Lord and Redeemer
Jesus Christ for all the Christians of Rômå and 'AFRANGI
(EUROPE ? ), and Syria and Armenia , with the exception of
the men of Egypt and Ethiopia and NÔBÂ .

And on this day also is commemorated Saint BARTHOLO

MEw theapostle, one of the Twelve Apostles. And his preaching
took place in the country of AL -KHÂRGAH (the GREAT
OASIS), and at length he turned many to the knowledge of
God . His martyrdom took place on the first day ofMaskaram .
Salutation to the fighting apostle who was tied up in a hair
sack and cast into the sea .

And on this day also became martyrs Saints THEOPHILUS,

and his wife PATRICIA, and their son DAMÂLÎS. This holy
man was brought up in the fear of God and in the service of
Christ. And certain men went and told 'ANTÎHÎPÔTÔs, the
governor, that he was a Christian , and the governor, who was
in the temple of JUPITER, ordered his soldiers to bring him to
him . When they had brought him the governor said unto him ,
“ Whence art thou ? What is thy faith ? ” And THEOPHILUS
said unto him , “ I am a Christian and I believe on my Lord
Jesus Christ.” And the governor said unto him , “ Offer sacrifice
[fol. 706 3 ] to the gods so that thou mayest not die an evil
death " ; and THEOPHILUS said unto him , “ I will only sacrifice
to my Lord Jesus Christ.” And the governor commanded his
soldiers to hang him up and to scrape his body until his bowels
appeared , ſand they did so,] but he was protected and did not
suffer. Then the governor ordered them to light a fire and to
cast him into it, (and they did so,] but when the saint had
prayed in the midst of the fire, the fire was scattered and
the saint came forth from it untouched thereby. And the
governor seeing this ordered them to cast him into prison and
to keep him under very strict restraint so that he might die of
hunger, [and they did so . ] Eight days after this his wife
PATRICIA came to him carrying her boy , and she encouraged
him to become a martyr and to die for the Name of Christ.
And the governor went into the prison house to enquire if
264 THE ETHIOPIC SYNAXARIUM

anyone had given any food to Saint THEOPHILUS. When he

opened the door of the prison house the sweet smell of incense
met him , and he found Saint THEOPHILUS sitting upon a
cushion which had been spread out, and three angels were with
him , and they were eating milk and honey . When the governor
saw this he was terrified and withdrew . On the following day
the governor commanded the soldiers to bring THEOPHILUS
to him , and he went, his wife accompanying him . And the
governor said unto him , " Sacrifice to the god JUPITER.”
And THEOPHILUS said unto him , “ I will only sacrifice to my
Lord Jesus Christ .” And the governor commanded the soldiers
to throw him to the lions, (and they did so ,) and the lions
rushed at him and kissed his feet, but in doing this by the Will
of God they wounded him slightly , and he delivered up his
soul to God. And Saint PATRICIA took his body and put it
into a chest, and the governor ordered his soldiers to take her
into the amphitheatre [ fol. 712 1] and to give her to the lions,
[and they did so .] When the boy DAMÂLis saw this he laughed ,
and said , “ I believe in the Father and the Son and the Holy
Ghost ” ; now the child spake being only five months old , and
he was crowned by the lion. Salutation to THEOPHILUS and
his wife PATRICIA , and Salutation to their son DAMÂLIS,
who though ignorant of the names of his father and mother
shed his blood for Christ.

XX . KHĚDÂR
IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER AND THE SON
AND THE HOLY GHOST, ONE GOD
On this day died the holy father ANIANUS, Archbishop of
the city of Alexandria , the second from MARK the evangelist.
This holy man was a native of Alexandria and his parents were
infidel pagans, and his trade was that of a sandalmaker. When
Saint MARK the evangelist and apostle came into the city of
Alexandria , by the Will and wisdom of God he struck his foot
against a stone and broke the latchet of his sandals, and he
gave the sandal to this Saint ANIANUS to sew for him . And
when he took the sandal to sew it, he thrust his awl into it, and
 THIRD MONTH - KHĚDÂR (ħĚDÂR ) (NOV. 7 -DEC. 6 ) 265
it passed right through it and pierced his finger ; and he said
in the Greek tongue, “ Îstâôs (Eis Theos),” which being in
terpreted is “ One God .” When Saint MARK the evangelist
heard him mention the Name of God , he took up some dust
from the ground and spat spittle upon it , and laid it [fol. 71 2 ]
upon the finger of ANIANUS and healed it immediately ; and
ANIANUS marvelled at this, and he took Saint MARK and
brought him into his house, and he asked him about his name
and Faith , and from what place hehad come. Then Saint MARK
began to tell him from the Old and the New Testaments con
cerning the Godhead of our Lord Christ , and His wisdom , and
His being mademan , and His Death and Resurrection , and the
working of miracles in His holy Name. And he illumined the
heart of Saint ANIANUS, and he believed in the Lord Christ ,
and the men of his house also, and they were baptized in the
Name of our Lord Jesus Christ ; and the Divine Grace of the
Holy Spirit came down upon them . And they became devoted
hearers of the doctrine of Saint MARK the apostle , and ANI
ANUS learned all the doctrine of the Church , and her ordinances
and her Law . When Saint MARK the apostle wished to go to
PENTAPOLIS to preach, he laid his hand upon the head of
Saint ANIANUS and made him Archbishop of the city of
Alexandria. And he used to preach to the men thereof, and
baptize them secretly , and help the believers and strengthen
them in the True Faith . And he set apart his own house for a
church , and it is said , that this church, which is outside the
city of Alexandria on the west, was known to Saint GEORGE
the martyr. And this Saint ANIANUS sat upon the throne of
MARK the evangelist twelve years , and he died in peace. Salu
tation to ANIANUS who protected his [ fol. 71a 3] flock against
the jaws of the ravening wolf, and received the reward of the
shepherd in heaven .

And on this day also took place the consecration of the

church of Saint THEODORE the general. Salutation to the
consecration of thy church , O Saint THEODORE the martyr !
Save me even as thou didst save the son of the Hebrew (? )
woman .
266 THE ETHIOPIC SYNAXARIUM

XXI. KHZDAR
IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER AND THE SON
ANT OD
AND THE HOLY GHOST, ONE
THE HOLY GH NE G
GOD
On this day is commemorated the festival of our Lady, the
holy Virgin MARY . Salutation to thee , O Our Lady MARY.
And on this day also died SaintGREGORY, the worker of signs
and wonders. This holy man came from the country of Rômê,
and from his earliest years he was taught philosophy and the
True Faith. He was a true Christian, and he remembered the
end of this world , and the never-ending abidingness of the
kingdom of the heavens, and he devoted all his mind to the
salvation of his soul. And the bishop of that city asked him to
help him in the work of his episcopate, but he did not wish for
this for he used to flee from the praises ofmen ; after this he fled
to the desert where he fought a good fight. [ fol. 716 I ]When the
bishop of that city died [the priests] tried to make him bishop ,
but they could not find him ;and when the people were gathered
together , and GREGORY, the preacher of Divinity, was with
them , a voice cameunto them , saying, “ Seek for GREGORY, the
dweller in the desert , and set him over you .” And they sought
for him but found him not, and they continued [to seek for him ]
for many days. And whilst they were seeking for him in the
desert and mountains, he was nigh unto them though they
knew it not. And when they found him not they all with one
accord agreed and took a Book of the Gospels and set it over
them , and this Book which they set over them they named
" GREGORY, the preacher of Godhead .” And the angel of the
Lord appeared unto this Saint GREGORY, and said unto him ,
“ Rise up and get thee gone, for they have made thee bishop
over them ; and refuse not this thing , for it is from God.” And
he was unable to resist the Divine command, and he descended
from the mountain , and went to them , and they went forth to
meet him with great honour, and they carried out his enthrone
ment. And God mademanifest through him signs and wonders
innumerable, and because of this he was called “ GREGORY,
 THIRD MONTH - KHĚDÂR (ÞĚDÂR) (NOV. 7 -DEC. 6) 267
the worker of signs and miracles,” because of the multitude of
his signs and wonders . Now there was a certain small lake
wherein two brethren used to catch many fish, which they sold
formuch money, and they disputed between themselves about
the lake, each one [fol. 716 2 ] saying, “ This lake belongeth to
me only .” When they were unable to agree about it they came
to Bishop GREGORY to make a decision about that lake for
them , and he decided that they should divide the lake between
them . And when they refused to agree together as he com
manded them , and they would not do as the saint told them ,
but each continued to say, “ I will take it for myself,” straight
way Saint GEORGE asked God concerning that lake. And
the earth swallowed up the lake, and the water becamedry land ,
and it remaineth so to this day . And the report of the signs
and wonders which he used to work was heard in all the earth ;
and having finished his good fight he died in peace [and de
parted ] from this fleeting world and entered into everlasting
joy . Salutation to GREGORY whose odour is sweeter than
cinnamon, and who dried up a lake aboutwhich two brethren
quarrelled .

And on this day also died the holy father Abbâ COSMAS,
the fifty -first Archbishop of the city of Alexandria . On this
holy man came tribulation and much sorrow , and in his days
great tribulation came upon the Christians. And about that
time also the King of the Muslims put them to shame, for he
commanded that the Christians [ fol. 716 3 ] and the Jews
should not wear white apparel, and that they should distinguish
themselves by wearing apparel the colour of indigo. And in
the days of this holy father many signs and wonders appeared ,
and among them was the wonder of the figure of our holy Lady
the Virgin MARY which was in the church of Saint SEVERUS
in the desert of SCETE ; this figure opened itself down on one
side, and from it much blood flowed . And there were many
figures [of the Virgin ) in the country of Egypt from the eyes
of which tears flowed in abundance , and those who have
understanding and wisdom will know that this took place
because of the tribulation , and trials and sorrow which came
268 THE ETHIOPIC SYNAXARIUM
upon the bishops and the believers. And after this God gave
good days in the place of those days which were bad. And this
father taught the believers continually , and he strengthened
them in the True Faith ; and he sat upon the throne of MARK
for seven years and five months . He died on the twenty- first
day ofthemonth ofKhědâr in the five hundred and seventy - fifth
year of the martyrs ( A .D . 859), and he was buried in a cave
near DÔNÔSÔR. Salutation to thy upright episcopacy, thou
on account of whose sorrow the figure of the Virgin shed tears.

And on this day also are commemorated the holy martyrs

ALPHAEUS, and ZACCHAEUS, and ROMANUS, and John ,
and THOMAS, and VICTOR, and ISAAC from the city of
ESHMÛNÊN. [ fol. 72 a I ] Salutation to you , O ye bright stars
of ESHMÛNÊN.

And on this day also died Abbâ John of the city of ASYÛ ?.
The parents of this holy man were glassmakers, and when this
saint was born they brought him up under good admonitions
and teaching ; after he grew up they taught him the craft of
the carpenter , and after a few days, when his father and his
mother were dead, he departed to the saints Abbâ ISIDORE
and Abbâ BAYMAN and adopted the garb of the monk ; and
he devoted himself so strenuously to fasting and prayer that
his name was heard of in remote monasteries. Then the angel
of the Lord appeared unto him and commanded him to go to
his own country and to teach the people thereof the way of
righteousness. Now he never left his cell except to receive the
Offering. And one day two holy old men came to him , Abbâ
ABZEL and Abbâ BĚSÔY , and before they had come near him
he cried out from a distance , saying, " Peace to your visit, O
my fathers , and he addressed them by their names though he
knew them not. And they marvelled greatly . And Saint
SinÔ DÂ (SHENUTI), the pillar of Egypt, used to visit him
often and embrace him . When the wicked pagans attacked
the land of Egypt and war broke out, the Emperor THEO
DOSIUS sent the governor of Egypt who marched against
them . And he sent to Saint John and took his cross , and
 THIRD MONTH - KHÉDÂR (ħĚDÂR ) (NOV. 7 - DEC. 6 ) 269
[fol. 72 a 2] the saint said unto the governor, " Fear not. Thou
shalt conquer, ” and so it came to pass according to his word .
And war broke out a second time against THEODOSIUS, and
he sent (to enquire of] Saint John [how it would end , and the
saint said unto him ), “ Be not sad. Thou shalt conquer ,” and
the Emperor MAXIMIANUS conquered them i.e. the enemy).
One day the Emperor THEODOSIUS commanded [his soldiers ]
to kill the men of ASYûȚ and to plunder their city because of
the great work of foulness which they had done. Now the
angel ofGod made Abbâ John to know this before the governor
arrived . When the men of the city heard of the emperor's
command they went up the mountain to Abbâ JOHN [and he
said unto them ), “ Be not sad , for God will save you .” When the
governor arrived , he came into the cell of this holy man John
in order to be blessed by him , and Abbâ John told the governor
everything which the emperor had commanded ; and when the
governor heard this he was amazed and he prostrated himself
before his holiness. And the governor had a son who was
eighteen years old and who was possessed by the spirit of a
devil, and he asked the holy man to heal him . And the holy
man prayed over some oil and water, and having anointed him
therewith he was healed straightway. Then the saint asked
the governor to write to the emperor, and to abandon the
slaughter of the men of ASYÚ ?, and the governor wrote a letter
to him and gave it to Abbâ JOHN. And having taken the letter
and gone into his cell, he prayed , and a cloud of light came and
it took up Abbâ John and brought him to the emperor, and
when the emperor had a table prepared Saint John threw the
letter upon it. And the emperor took it and read it, and he
found that it was the letter which the governor had written
for Father John . And having lifted up his eyes he saw a cloud
of light above him , and he was terrified . [fol. 72 a 3] Then he
wrote a letter to the governor in his own handwriting and under
his own secret sign , ſtelling him ] to abandon the destruction
of the city through the prayer ofAbbâ John . And the emperor
threw his letter on the cloud , and those who were assembled
there saw a hand receive it, and it went inside the cloud ; and
during that night the saint returned to the mountain ; and on
270 THE ETHIOPIC SYNAXARIUM
the following day he gave the letter with the emperor's seal
upon it to the governor. When the governor saw it he was
amazed , and he praised God for the saving of the city , and he
departed to his own country . And the fame of Saint JOHN
being noised abroad a certain noble lady, a kinswoman of the
emperor, went to him to be healed of her disease, and by his
prayer she was healed . Then the Emperor THEODOSIUS died
and the wicked MARCIAN reigned , and he brought tribulation
upon our father DIOSCURUS. And Abbâ JOHN sent him a
letter abusing him and cursing him because he had changed the
Faith , and after a few days God killed him . When Abbâ JOHN
was one hundred and twenty -five years old he knew that his
[ time of] rest had come, and as he was praying to God he fell
forward on his face on the ground, and delivered up his soul
into the hand of his Creator. And innumerable signs and won
ders appeared at his grave. Salutation to JOHN who was
arrayed in holiness .

[fol. 726 1] And on this day took place the translation of the
body of Saint DEBORAH, who is also called " TCHEBARÊ,”
of the city of DALBAT; her story is written in the book of her
strife.

XXII. KHĚDÂR
IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER AND THE SON
AND THE HOLY GHOST, ONE GOD
On this day became martyrs COSMAS, and DAMIANUS,
and their brethren 'ANTÎMÔS (ARITHIMUS), and LONDIUS
(LEONTIUS ?), and ABRANIUS,and theirmother THEODATA .
These saints were natives of the city of DEYÔMÂ, in the
country of Arabia , and came from the temple (?) which was
built in the Name of the Son of God . Their mother was a woman
who feared God , and she was compassionate and gave large
gifts to the pilgrims. After the death of their father this widow
brought them up and taught them the fear of God . Now
COSMAS and DAMIANUS having learned practical philosophy
(i.e .medicine) used to heal all those who were sick without fees
 THIRD MONTH - KHĚDÂR (ụĚDÂR) (NOV . 7 -DEC. 6 ) 271
and without gifts , and especially those who were poor ; and
their three brothers departed to the desert and becamemonks.
Now DIOCLETIAN denied Christ because of [the son of] the
King of ĶUEZ (KHUZISTÂN ? ),whom he had committed for safe
keeping to a bishop whose name was GÂGYÔS. Abbâ GÂGYÔs
took an oath to the Emperor DIOCLETIAN that the son of the
King of ķUEZ (KHUZISTÂN ?) had died in his house, and that
he had buried him with his own hands, (whereas the bishop
had connived at the prince's escape.] For this reason DIO
CLETIAN worshipped foul and brutish idols, and commanded
all the people [ fol. 726 2 ] who were in his kingdom to worship
idols . And certain men accused coSMAS and DAMIANUS of
preaching in the Name of Christ in every city, and of ordering
the people not to worship idols. And diOCLETIAN sent letters
commanding his soldiers to bring them to him , and they did
so , and they handed them over to LÂSIUS the governor of the
city , who tortured them severely with fire, and beat them
cruelly with whips. Then he asked them questions about their
three brothers, and when he knew the place where they were
he sentmen and they brought them and their mother also with
them . Then he commanded the soldiers to torture the five of
them on the wheel, and they did as he commanded . And after
this they cast them into a red -hot fiery furnace, and they
remained therein for three days and three nights and were
unharmed . And they also cast them into the blazing furnace of
the baths, and burned them upon [a red -hot] iron bed , but in
spite of all these tortures they were not able to overcome them ,
and God raised them up whole and unharmed . When the
governor was weary of torturing them , he handed them over to
the emperor who also tortured them cruelly . And their mother
encouraged them to endure, and she comforted them and
she cursed the emperor to his face and his filthy idols. And
straightway the emperor commanded the soldiers to cut off
her head with the sword , and they cut off her head, and she
received the crown ofmartyrdom in thekingdom of theheavens.
And her body was cast out on the earth and no man dared to
bury it. Then COSMAS cried out, saying, “ O men of this city ,
[fol. 725 3 ] is there not among you one man who hath in him
272 THE ETHIOPIC SYNAXARIUM
sufficient mercy to hide the body of this poor old widow and
bury it ? ” And straightway VICTOR, the son of ROMANUS,
came, and he was bold enough to take her body and prepare it
for the grave and bury it. When the emperor heard that
VICTOR had buried her body he was wroth and he commanded
his soldiers to drive him into exile in the land of Egypt where
he received the crown of martyrdom . And as concerning
COSMAS and DAMIANUS and their brethren the emperor com
manded his soldiers to cut off their heads with the sword , ( and
they did so ,) and they received crowns of martyrdom and life
everlasting in the kingdom of the heavens. After the days of
persecution were ended a church was built for them , and God
mademanifest many signs and wonders [through their bodies ].
Salutation to the children of THEODATA, who are to be
praised .
And on this day also became martyrs two hundred and
ninety-two men , and nine and forty women who were com
panions of Saint COSMAS. Salutation to these martyrs.

XXIII. KHỄDAR
[fol. 73 a I ] IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER AND THE
SON AND THE HOLY GHOST, ONE GOD
On this day died the great Saint CORNELIUS. This holy
man was the captain of one hundred men in Caesarea of Pales
tine and he worshipped the stars. And when he heard the
preaching of the apostles and saw the signs and wonders which
God wroughtby their hands, not one of which other men could
do, and not one ofwhich the godswhom they worshipped could
do, his heart fell into despair and doubt concerning the gods
whom he worshipped . And straightway he abandoned the
worship of idols, and he fasted and he prayed by day and
by night. And when he prayed he said also, " O God , since
I am terrified at Thy knowledge, have mercy upon me, and
guide me into Thy way.” And he gave alms to the poor con
tinually , and love towards all men was in his heart, and God
 THIRD MONTH - KHĚDÂR (ÞĚDÂR) (NOV. 7 - DEC. 6 ) 273
had compassion upon him , and sent to him an angel who com
forted him and told him that his prayers and his alms had
ascended before God and had been accepted by Him . And the
angel of the Lord commanded him to send to the city of
JOPPA , and to summon PETER the apostle from the house of
SIMON the sewer, so that he might have mercy upon him and
shew him the way of God ; and he sent and brought him . And
when PETER the apostle came to him CORNELIUS bowed
down before him at his feet, and PETER the apostle raised
him up, [fol. 73 a 2] and said unto him , “ I am a man even as
thou art.” And PETER found with him many of the people ,
and he instructed them and said unto them , “ The Law of the
Tôrâh (Pentateuch ) prohibiteth us from mingling with the
uncircumcised, but God hath shewn me in a vision and hath
made me to know that it is not desirable for me to say who I
am among men and that any man is unclean . For this reason
I came to you when ye called me; what do ye want? ” And
CORNELIUS answered and said unto him , “ Three days ago I
was praying at the time of the ninth hour, and behold a man
stood before me in white apparel, and he shone brightly. And
he commanded me to call thee and behold thou hast come and
we are all before thee to listen to whatsoever thou commandest,
and what thou shalt command us to do from God.” And
PETER the apostle opened his mouth , and told him about
Christ, and he informed him concerning the mystery of the
working of His wisdom , and His being made man, and His
Crucifixion and His Resurrection , and His Ascension into
heaven , and the working of miracles in His Name. And COR
NELIUS believed on our Lord Jesus Christ, and all his men ,
and his slaves, and many of the people who were with him ,
and they were baptized in the Name of the Father and the Son
and the Holy Ghost. And straightway theHoly Spirit descended
upon them , according to the testimony concerning this matter
in the Book of the Acts of the Apostles. Then CORNELIUS
abandoned his business and rank in this world , and PETER
gave him the position of a servant of Christ, and appointed
him Bishop of the city of Alexandria . And CORNELIUS went
there and preached in the Name of our Lord [ fol. 73a 3] Jesus
i BESI
274 THE ETHIOPIC SYNAXARIUM
Christ , and he shewed their error to those who worshipped
idols, and he illumined their hearts with the knowledge of God ,
and he strengthened their hearts by working signs and miracles
before them . And having baptized DEMETRIUS, the governor,
he baptized all the men of the city ; and he died in peace and
received a crown like the apostles who preached . Salutation
to CORNELIUS, one of the Seventy-[two] disciples.
And on this day also died OBADIAH the prophet, whose
name being interpreted is " servant of God," and " he giveth
thanks to God .” This righteous man was a native of the city
of SÛSEM (SHECHEM ? ) in the district of BÊ T -KHĚRŮM
(BÊ TH -EPHRAIM ? ). He was the disciple of ELIJAH the
prophet, and he endured many trials which came upon him ,
and he was saved from them (?) by patient endurance. He
was the captain of the third fifty whom ELIJAH the prophet
spared , and he went down and departed with him to AHAZ
the king. After this he forsook the service of the king in the
country and prophesied ; and when he died he was buried with
his fathers in peace. Salutation to OBADIAH who was clothed
with the spirit of knowledge.

And on this day also was consecrated the church of MARÎNÂ.

[ This paragraph is wanting in the Bodleian ms.]

XXIV . KHĚDÂR
[ fol. 736 1 ] IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER AND THE
SON AND THE HOLY GHOST, ONE GOD
On this day is commemorated the festival of the FOUR
AND TWENTY PRIESTS of heaven , who are round about the
throne of God, who are priests indeed , and who are beings of
the spirit and have no bodies. They are exalted above all the
saints and the spiritual hosts. They are saints with God and
they make intercession on behalf of the race of men , and they
bring unto Him the prayers of the saints like incense in the
censers which they have in their hands. And alms and obla
tions cannot ascend to God except through them even as
 THIRD MONTH - KHĚDÂR (ħĚDÂR ) (NOV . 7 - DEC. 6 ) 275
Saint John the evangelist saith in the Vision of the Apocalypse ,
" I saw the place of Four and Twenty Elders round about
Him , and they were sitting on four and twenty thrones; and
on their heads were four and twenty crowns, and in their hands
were four and twenty censers containing sweet -smelling in
cense, which is the prayers of the saints who dwell upon earth ,
and which they make to rise up before God , the Sustainer of
the Universe.” And he also saith , “ And I heard Four Beasts
praising and saying, Holy, Holy, Holy , Lord [God ] of Hosts ,
the heavens and the [fol. 736 2 ] earth are filled full of the
holiness of Thy glory . And straightway the four and twenty
priests of heaven fell down with their faces to the ground, and
they took off their crowns, and they said unto Him , Glory,
and honour, and thanks are fitting for Thee. And when a com
mand went forth from God they fell down again with their
faces to the ground, saying, Glory, and power, and judgement,
and righteousness belong to our God ” (Rev . iv and v ). And
because the doctors of the Church have found statements about
these Four and Twenty Priests of heaven in the Holy Scrip
tures, and have seen stories told of them by the Apostles and
in their Canon , saying that they are nigh unto God, they have
ordered and ruled , saying, “ The name of him that celebrateth
their commemoration shall be revealed upon earth . And they
shall entreat God on his behalf to forgive him all his sins."
Therefore the doctors of the Church tell the people to honour
the festival of the commemoration of the Four and Twenty
Priests of heaven . Salutation to you , O priests of the Law .
And on this day 'azĶir, the priest of NÂGRÂN , and eight
and thirty men who were with him becamemartyrs in the days
of the kingdom of SARÂBħÊL, the King of ħÂMÎR. And he
commanded his soldiers to bring 'azĶir to him , and they
brought him into the prison house [fol. 736 3 ] and shut the
door on him , and he commanded the keepers of the prison that
no man was to be taken in to him . And when Saint 'AzĶIR
had prayed , the doors of the prison house were opened, and
fifty men came in , and hemade a cistern of water there, and he
baptized them therein in the Name of the Father and the Son
18 - 2
 IC ARIUM
276 THE ETHIOP SYNAX
and the Holy Ghost. When SARÂBỊÊL the king heard this he
commanded his soldiers to bring 'AzĶir out of the prison house
and to take him to another place ; and the holy man met a
man whose name was CYRIACUS, who said unto him , “ Good
news for thee , O ’AZĶIR ; they are taking thee to martyrdom .”
When the king's guards heard this they bound CYRIACUS
with 'AzĶir in fetters . And on the road they met two men ,
and they said unto him , “ Baptize us for Christ's sake” ; and
’AZĶIR prayed to God, and water sprang up in the desert , and
he baptized the two men and CYRIACUS. When they reached
the desert the guards and their beasts lacked water, and they
besought Saint 'AzĶir to entreat God on their behalf because
they were short of water. And 'Azķir prayed to God and
straightway a cloud came and poured down rain into the water
holes to the depth of the hand, and seven hundredmen and their
beasts drank of that water and were satisfied . And they
brought 'AzĶIR to the King of ħÂMÎR, and he said unto him ,
" What is this new doctrine which thou hast brought into my
country ? ” And Saint 'AzĶIR said unto him , “ It is not a new
doctrine, but one which the prophets have preached in the
Book of the Law , and it hath been heard that the King of the
Jews was crucified in the Christian Faith.” And one of the
Rabbânât rose up and said unto the king, “ O my lord , com
mand [thy soldiers ] to take him into the city , and let them
upon [[fol.
hang him upon 744 B1]rdaintree,
fol. 74a his woburn
g to and hun"g; .and
rd inhimtheyalive
the king commanded according to his words. And when they
had brought 'AzĶir to the city of NÂGRÂN they hung him
upon a tree and lighted a fire [under him ]. And when Saint
'AzĶir had prayed, his fetters were loosed and he went forth
alive from the fire . And the Jews said also , “ Come, let us stone
him ” ; and the greater number of the Jews killed him by
stoning, and the rest took swords and cut off his head . Thus
Saint ’AZĶIR finished his martyrdom and departed to ever
lasting life . Salutation to 'AzĶİR.

And on this day also are commemorated ĶALTEW (CLAU

DIUS ? ), and GÂYYÔs, and 'ARTYÔ ('ASTARYÔS), and dios
CURUS the martyr, who died on this day .
 THIRD MONTH - KHĚDÂR (ỊĚDÂR) (NOV. 7 -DEC. 6) 277
THIRD

And on this day also died Abbâ vôsỆF (JOSEPH) of the

city of ŞÂNÂ. The parents of this holy man were rich in faith ,
and they had no son except yôsẾF (JOSEPH) ; and they brought
him up very carefully and piously , and they taught him the
Books of the Church . Now his form and appearance resembled
those of JOSEPH, the son of [ fol. 74a 2] JACOB. When he had
grown up there entered into his heart the remembrance of
death and the transitoriness of the world , and he went into a
monastery and became a monk , and a fighter in the spirit; he
devoted himself to fasting and to prayer, and he shut himself
in his cell, and never went out except on the day of the Sabbath ,
at the time of the Offering. And the report of him was noised
abroad , and the men of 'ADYÂM came to him to receive his
blessing. And his father and his mother had no news of him ,
and they continued to make supplication to God that He
would enable them to find him ; and when they heard the
report of him they went to him so that he might pray for the
discovery of their son . When they came to him he knew them ,
but they did not know him , and after the men had removed
themselves he made himself known unto them , and com
manded them to tell no man ; and he comforted them and sent
them away in peace. And God bestowed upon him the power
to work signs and wonders, and at length Satan was envious of
him . And he went to the governor of the city and told him that
this holy man had much money, and the governor sent soldiers
who bound the holy man in fetters and brought him to the
prison house . On the following day when they looked for him
they found the fetters thrown about on the ground ; and the
governor was terrified and bowed down at his feet and did
reverence to him and sent him into his own house. After much
strenuous fighting he died in peace , and signs and wonders
which were innumerable appeared at his grave.
 UM
278 THE ETHIO
PIC XARI
SYNA

XXV . KHĚDÂR

[ fol. 74 a 3 ] IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER AND

THE SON AND THE HOLY GHOST, ONE GOD
On this day became a martyr PHILOPATOR (which is being
interpreted " lover of the Father " ) MERCURIUS, and this name
also being interpreted is “ servant of Jesus Christ. ” This holy
man was a native of the city of 'ASLÊTÉS, which was also the
city ofhis father, and of his grandfather who were born therein ,
and he was brought up in the city of Rômê. Now the occupation
of his father, and grandfather, and his kinsmen was that of
hunters of wild beasts. Oneday they went out hunting, according
to their custom , and they found two men with the faces of dogs,
and they ate his grandfather, and they also wanted to eat his
father ,but the angel of the Lord prevented them from doing so .
And the angelsaid unto them , “ Touch him not, for from him shall
go forth good fruit. " Then the angel of the Lord surrounded
them with fire, and being in tribulation, the two Dog -faces came
to the father of Saint MERCURIUS, and they bowed low before
him . And straightway God changed their (savage) nature to
one of gentleness , and they became like sheep and went with
him to the city . And after he had begotten the holy man
MERCURIUS, and called his name “ PHILOPATOR ,” the Dog
faces lived with them for many days, and then they became
Christians; now the ancestors of the holy man had been in days
of old pagans. And when they received the gift of Christian
baptism , they called the father of the holy man " NOAH,” and
his mother “ TÂBÔT,” and PHILOPATOR " MERCURIUS.” And
the Dog- faces, according to what the angel of the Lord said
unto them when he appeared unto them , were in subjection to
the holy man MERCURIUS, and his father . And when the
king heard the story of the Dog-faces (fol. 746 I) and how God
had changed their savage natures, [he ordered his soldiers to
bring in wild beasts] before the king, and the Dog -faces de
stroyed all the wild beasts which the king brought before them .
When the king saw this he was afraid of them exceedingly , and
he asked the father of Saint MERCURIUS to entreat God to
 THIRD MONTH - KHĚDÂR (ķĚDÂR ) (NOV. 7 - DEC. 6 ) 279
remove from them their savage nature, and to make them to
possess the nature of men ; and he asked God , and God changed
their nature and they became like men . Then the king took
the holy father MERCURIUS and appointed him governor and
captain of the army, and these Dog-faces were subject unto
him , and all the people were afraid of them . After this a
certain wicked king rose up and he wished to make war upon
another king, and the king sent his soldiers to entice those
Dog-faces and to bring them to him . And that wicked king
who wished to make war on the king of the city wherein the
father of Saint MERCURIUS lived , enticed them . And straight
way he was angry with the Dog -faces, and he punished one of
them , who became a martyr thereby, and the other fled . When
the father of Saint MERCURIUS returned to the city he sought
for his son and his mother and found them not. Now the king
having heard that the father of Saint MERCURIUS was killed
in battle , decided to take the mother of Saint MERCURIUS
and marry her. And one of the soldiers of the king knowing
what the king intended to do, went and told the mother of
Saint MERCURIUS what the king had decided concerning her.
When she heard this she asked him to take [her ] out secretly ,
and she [fol. 746 2 ] went out with her son the blessed MER
CURIUS. And his father having sought for his wife and his
son , and found them not, knew not in the least what had become
of them . And the king was afraid because he thought that the
Dog-faces lived with him , and that he would become angry
and would turn them loose , and they would destroy all the city .
And the king commanded his servants not to tell him that he
intended to marry his wife. After this war broke out against
the king, and the father of Saint MERCURIUS went out to
fight, and the king took him prisoner. Now by the Will ofGod
the King of Rômêwas a Christian . And when he knew that the
father of Saint MERCURIUS was a Christian , he spared him
and did not kill him , and hemade him governor of all the city
of the MARDÔSÂwĚYÂN . And by the Will of God Saint
MERCURIUS and hismother were in the city ofRômê,andwhen
his father came into the church the mother of Saint MER
CURIUS saw him and knew that he was her husband. One day
280 THE ETHIOPIC SYNAXARIUM
when they were sitting in the guest house the father of MER
CURIUS and his soldiers rode out, and themother of the blessed
MERCURIUS dressed her son in the fine raimentwhich he used
to wear in the royal city , and commanded him to go and mount
the horse of the governor, that is to say of his father. And
having mounted the governor's horse, the soldiers seized him
and brought him before the governor, that is to say his father,
who did not know that he was his son , and he was angry with
him . And themother of MERCURIUS cameto her husband , now
he did not know that she was his wife , and she said unto him ,
“ Weare strangers , [fol. 746 3 ] and when I knew that thou wast
a stranger I thought thatmy son might be with thee " ; and when
he asked her questions and enquired concerning her journey she
told him that she was his wife. And straightway he knew her
and he knew his son MERCURIUS, and he placed [him ) in the
church , and they lived there together. When the father and
mother of Saint MERCURIUS died , the king took him andmade
him governor of the city of the MARDÔ SÂWĚYÂN in his
father 's stead ; and the one Dog -face that had remained with
him up to the time he was appointed governor, used to go forth
with MERCURIUs in battle . When they wanted to fight God
used to restore to the Dog-face his original savage nature, and
there was none who could stand before him . And there were
given to this Saint MERCURIUS power, and great strength ,
and he wasmore renowned and more exalted than all the other
officers of the kingdom . Now the Emperor of Rômê in those
days was called DECIUS and he worshipped idols. And his
enemies the Barbarians rose up against him , and he assembled
his armies and went forth to fight against them ; and they were
as many as the sand of the sea, and the emperor was dismayed
and was afraid . And Saint MERCURIUS said unto him , “ Fear
not, for God shall assuredly destroy our enemies and bring
them into our hand.” Now MERCURIUS saw before him in the
battle the angel of the Lord, and he had a drawn sword in his
hand, and he said unto him , “ Conquer and fear not, O MER
CURIUS.” And after this a shining man in white apparel
appeared unto him , and hehad in his hand a drawn sword which
he gave to MERCURIUS, saying , “ When thou hast overcome
 THIRD MONTH - KHĚDÂR (ħĚDÂR) (NOV. 7 -DEC. 6 ) 281
thine enemies remember the Lord [fol. 75 a 1 ] thy God.” And
straightway MERCURIUS conquered his enemies and returned
in great joy . Then the angel of the Lord appeared , and said
unto him , “ Why hast thou forgotten and hast not remembered
the Name of the Lord thy God ? ” And the period of the war
being ended the Emperor DECIUS wanted to offer up incense
to the gods on behalf of himself and his army. And Saint
MERCURIUS tarried behind, and did not go forth with the
emperor to the festival in the temple . And a certain man in
formed the Emperor DECIUS and said unto him , “ Saint
MERCURIUS hath not come with thy army, and he hath not
associated himself with the offering of incense to the gods.”
And the emperor sent straightway and had MERCURIUS
brought to him , and hemarvelled at him , the love for him having
forsaken his heart. And the emperor said unto him , “ Why hast
thou forgotten thy love for me and hast not come with me to
offer incense to the gods? ” And straightway Saint MER
CURIUS cast his girdle and his military attire down before the
Emperor DECIUS, and he said unto him , “ I will not deny my
Lord Jesus Christ, and I will not bow down to filthy idols.” And
when the Emperor DECIUS heard this he was exceedingly
wroth , and he commanded his soldiers to beat him with rods
made of green palm wood , and with ox -hide whips ; and they
did as the emperor commanded . And straightway the emperor
was afraid lest the people of the city should rise up against
him , and he bound him in irons and sent him to Caesarea in
Cappadocia , and he commanded the soldiers there to torture
him severely and to cut off his head with the sword. And they
tortured him there, even as the emperor commanded, and they
cut off his head with the sword , and he finished his fight and
received the crown of martyrdom in the kingdom of heaven .
[fol. 75 a 2 ] And after he had received an incorruptible and
heavenly crown, and had entered into life everlasting, churches
were built to him in all the ends of the earth , and God made
manifest in them signs and great wonders. And some of his
miracles took place when JULIAN, who denied our Lord Jesus
Christ, was reigning, and in the days of Saint BASIL , Bishop of
the country of Caesarea and Cappadocia , even as it is written in
282 THE ETHIOPIC SYNAXARIUM

one of the works of Saint BASIL. Now JULIAN the infidel

had inflicted very great tribulation upon those who believed in
our Lord Jesus Christ, and he was wroth with Saint BASIL
and shut him up in prison , and he multiplied his works against
the believers. And Saint BASIL gathered together the believers
and he prayed and made entreaty unto God concerning JULIAN
the infidel, and he made intercession with Saint MERCURIUS.
And God heard his prayer and sent His great and holy martyr
MERCURIUS, and he came riding upon a horse and he speared
JULIAN the infidel with his spear in his head , and the emperor
died an evil death during the war in the land of Persia . And
when Saint BASIL had seen this vision in the picture of Saint
MERCURIUS he rejoiced with very great joy. And he cameinto
the place wherein was the body of the great martyr Saint
MERCURIUS, and whilst he was sitting down there and thinking
about what he had seen , straightway the sword and the spear
of Saint MERCURIUS returned to their places, and from them
there dropped so much blood [fol. 75 a 3 ] that the whole space
beneath the picture of Saint MERCURIUS was full of it. And
straightway Saint BASIL cried out and said , “ O martyr of
Christ, to Whom be glory ! hast thou indeed killed JULIAN
the enemy of righteousness ? ” And Saint MERCURIUS in the
picture bowed his head before the face of Saint BASIL asmuch
as to say, “ Yea, I have killed him .” And Saint BASIL multi
plied his praises ofGod, and he paid Him honour and gave thanks
unto Him . And Saint MERCURIUS wrought verymany signs
and wonders. And there was a certain young Muslim who was
a son of one of the officers of the city of MĚSR (CAIRO), and he
was learned in the Law of the Muslims and in their books. And
one day he passed along the river bank and met a certain man
who had been originally a Muslim but had since been baptized
with Christian baptism . Then one of the king 's guards seized
him , and he made ready a deep pit and lighted a great fire
therein in order that he might burn him in it ; and many men
gathered together to see him [burnt). And that young Muslim
drew nigh unto the martyr whom the royal guard had seized,
and he said unto him , “ O infidel, why dost thou run to enter
into Sheol? At thine end thou wilt sit in the fire ofGahannam ,
 THIRD MONTH - KHĚDÂR (ħĚDÂR ) (NOV. 7 -DEC. 6) 283
because thou dost attribute a Son to God , and dost confess
Three Persons. Hearken unto me and abandon thy blasphemy
and thine abominable words.” And the Christian answered
and said unto him , “ We Christians are not infidels , but we
worship One God , and He is Father, and Son , and Holy Ghost.
The Son is not alien to God His Father, [fol. 756 1] for He is
His Word. Likewise the Holy Spirit, themystery of our Faith ,
is wonderful, and is hidden from you , because your heart is
not able to bear Him , and thy heart at this moment is dark
and the light of the Faith illumineth it not. But I can see that
after a few days the light shall draw nigh unto thee, and that
the light of Christ shall shine in thine heart. And thou shalt
fight spiritually even as do I for His Name, and thou shalt feel
the same pain which I am now suffering.” When the Muslim
heard his words he was exceedingly wroth with him , and he
put off his sandals from his feet and buffeted the face and
mouth and head of the Christian and punished him severely ,
and he said unto him , “ What thou sayest shall never happen
to me, O thou infidel.” And the blessed man answered and said
unto him , “ Needs must that thou remember what I say unto
thee. " And straightway they cut off his head with the sword ,
and they threw his body into the pit of fire, and the flames of
that fire mounted upwards and became like a great wall. And
the body of the Christian remained in that fire three days and
three nights, and the royal guard watched him by day and by
night, and afterwards they found the body and it was tried like
gold and the fire had not touched it at all ; and they told this to
the king, and he commanded the soldiers to bury the body .
And the young Muslim went into his house being sorrowful,
and he neither ate nor drank . And his father, and mother, and
brethren gathered about him , and they said unto him , “ What
hath happened to thee ? Why dost thou neither eat nor drink ? ”
And he told them what the martyr of our Lord Jesus Christ
had said unto him , and they comforted him , and they said
unto him , “ Put aside the word which this erring man [fol.
756 2 ] spake unto thee, and dismiss his prediction from thy
heart ” ; but he was in no wise comforted. And in those days
that young Muslim saw many Muslims, and they were wishing
 284 THE ETHIOPIC SYNAXARIUM
to go to the tomb of their lying prophet, and he said unto his
father, “ I should like to go with them ” ; and his father rejoiced
exceedingly at these words, and he gave him one hundred
dinârs, and committed him to the care of his friend , and the
young man departed. And as the young man was journeying
with his friend, he saw a vision one night, and it seemed that
an aged monk , shining with light, stood up by his side, and that
he said unto him , “ Come, follow me that thou mayest be
saved ” ; and the monk appeared again on the second night,
and again on the third night, and each time he spake unto him
asabove. When they had finished their business ,having arrived
at their destination , they turned back , and journeyed for a
period of six days in the desert. And as they were travelling
by night the young man got down from his camel because of a
bodily need , and his companions left him and departed ; and
he remained by himself lost in the desert, and he wept, being
afraid lest the wild beasts should eat him . Then he remembered
the church of Saint MERCURIUS the martyr in the city of
MĚSR (CAIRO), which was near his father's house, and he said
in his heart, “ Every man makes vows to him , and he fulfils for
them everything which they ask him .” And straightway the
young man said , as he wept, “ O MERCURIUS, martyr of
Christ , if thou wilt deliver me from the wild beasts vf the desert,
and wilt bring me out safe from the desert, I will become a
Christian ." And having said this , behold there came unto him
a young man riding upon a horse , and his appearance was ex
ceedingly goodly , and he was wearing glorious apparel, and his
loins were girt with a girdle [fol. 75 b 3] of gold, and he stood
before him and said unto him , “ Whence comest thou ? Why art
thou alone and lost in this desert ? ” And he said unto him ,
“ I got down ( from my camel] because of a bodily need , and
they left me and departed .” And the man on the horse said
unto him , “ Come, get up behind me on this horse ," and he
mounted the horse with him , and the horse flew through the
air , and brought them quickly to the church of MERCURIUS
the martyr in the city of MĚSR (CAIRO). And the doors of the
church flew open to him , and he went in with him on the horse,
and he brought him to the martyrium of the sanctuary, and
 THIRD MONTH - KHĚDÂR (ụĚDÂR) (NOV. 7 -DEC. 6) 285
then disappeared from him and was no more seen . And the
young Muslim stood up in the church frightened , and he said
in his heart, “ Is this one of the churches of the Christians? ”
And he saw the lamps burning before the picture [of the saint),
and this seemed to him to be a dream , and he said , “ Am I not
still sitting down in the desert? ” And he remained in the sanc
tuary until the dawn . And the steward of the church cameand
found him standing in the sanctuary , and he thought that he
was a thief, and the steward wanted to cry out, but the young
Muslim made a sign to him with his hand, and he said unto him ,
“ Come to me" ; and the steward went to him . And the young
man said unto him , “ What is this place ? ” And the steward
said unto him , “ This is the church of Saint MERCURIUS of
MĚSR (CAIRO).” And the young man said unto him , “ Is this
the city of MĚSR (CAIRO )? ” And the steward said unto him ,
“ Yea,” and he added , “ It seemeth that thou art too stupefied
to talk to me ; but now , O my brother, makeme to know what
hath happened to thee.” Then straightway courage returned to
the young man, and he said unto him , “ How can I help being
stupefied ? seeing that during the past night I was in such and
such a desert. And I have no knowledge whatsoever of how I
came here ; only God [fol. 76a 1 ] knoweth .” When the steward
heard the name of that desert he marvelled , and said unto the
young man , “ Did I not say rightly that thou art stupefied,
and that thou dost not know what thou art saying ? The
journey from that desert to this place occupieth twelve days.
Verily thou art a thief, and it is themight of the blessed martyr
MERCURIUS which hath seized thee and bound thee here
without ropes and fettering irons. This MERCURIUS the
blessed martyr forsook the glory of this world and thrust it
away , and the infidels tortured him with severe tortures for
the Name of Christ, and the martyr died and God received him
into His kingdom , and churches are built in his name every
where ; and in them the saint praiseth God , and maketh inter
cession for all men . And for all those who commit themselves
to him in prayer he maketh intercession , and he maketh mani
fest miracles.” And the young man said unto the steward ,
“ What are his form and features like ? ” and the steward said
286 THE ETHIOPIC SYNAXARIUM

unto him , “ He resembleth thee in stature " ; and then he shewed

him the picture of the saint. When the young man saw the
picture of Saint MERCURIUS the martyr, he said unto the
steward, “ Verily this is the holy man who appeared unto me
in the desert, and who bore me on his horse, and brought me
hither. And behold , this is the girdle of gold wherewith I saw
his loins girt." And he said unto the steward, “ Behold , I tell
thee that I am a Muslim , I belong to this city , and the name of
my father is RAGÂ, the judge ; this miracle is sufficient to make
me become a Christian . And now hide me, and do not reveal
my business to any man . And also bring me an aged [fol.
76 a 2] priest that he may teach me the way of God , and may
strengthen me in the True Faith , and may bring me.. . . ” And
the steward put him in a place by himself, and brought to him
a priest, even as he said , and the priest baptized him with
Christian baptism , and brought to him the Booksof the Church
and the Gospel; and he remained thus. And about onemonth
after this those men who had journeyed to MECCA arrived, and
all the Muslims who were their kinsmen went out to meet
them . And the judge, the father of the young man, met the
friend , who wept bitterly, and he told the judge how his son
had stayed behind in the desert, and how they had left him
and come on . When his father heard this he rent his garments ,
and his brethren and the young men also rent their garments,
and they sat down and mourned for three days. After this a
certain Muslim woman saw the young man who had become a
Christian coming out of the church of Saint MERCURIUS.
And a Muslim (sic) went and told his father and his brethren
[ this], and said unto them , “ If it were not that your son died
in the desert on theMECCA road, I should be inclined to say that
the young man whom I saw this day by the church of Saint
MERCURIUS the martyr was he ; he was wearing the white
apparel which the monks wear, and in truth he was like your
son .” When the father and mother and brethren of the young
man heard this they rose up, and went (there ) and found him ,
and they seized him , and said unto him , “ What hast thou done?
And why hast thou putme to shameamong the Muslim nobles ? ”
And he said unto them , “ I am [fol. 76a 3 ] a Christian , and I
 THIRD MONTH - KHĚDÂR (ạĚDÂR) (NOV. 7 - DEC . 6 ) 287
believe in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Living God, the
Most High ; blessed be His Name!" Immediately he had said
this they punished him very severely , and they cast him into
a dark pit, and he remained there for seven days and seven
nights without food and drink, and they poured urine upon him
and cast the filth from their houses on him . And his mother
wept over him day and night, and by reason of her excessive
weeping they drove away the young man , and he departed to
the desert of scETE, and he dwelt in the desert of Abbâ
MACARIUS for a period of two years, and he fought a strenuous
fight, and devoted himself to the ascetic life. After this a
certain monk said unto him , “ Would it not be profitable to
thee without [delay] to go to the city of MĚSR (CAIRO) and
proclaim thy Faith openly ? ” And he rose up and went to
MĚSR (CAIRO), and his father seized him and took him to
King ĦAKEM , who is called “ Governor " (i.e. Khalîfah ), and
he said unto him , “ Our son hath forsaken the Muslim faith ,
and hath entered the Christian Faith .” And the Khalifah said
unto the young man , “ Is this true what they say about thee? ”
And he told the Khalîfah what had happened to him in MECCA ,
and how Saint MERCURIUS had appeared unto him , and how
he had seated him with himself on his horse, and how he had
brought him into his shrine in the twinkling of an eye and had
taken him into the church of MĚSR (CAIRO), and how he had
seen the picture of the saint in the church , and how he knew
that it was he who had appeared unto him in the desert. And
when ĦAKEM the Khalîfah , the infidel, heard this he spake
many words and he feared with a great fear. And he said unto
the young man , [fol. 766 1 ] “ What dost thou want? ” And he
said unto him , “ I ask thee to give me authority to build a
church in the name of Saint MERCURIUS the martyr " ; and
the Khalifah gave him authority to build a church there in the
name of MICHAEL the archangel, and he built a second church
- in the name of MERCURIUS themartyr, and great signs and
wonders took place therein . And he composed two books, one
on the Grace of God and the gift of the Holy Spirit, and the
other on the True Faith . And he vanquished in debate the
wicked, and the pagans, and the Muslims, and he pleased God
 288 THE ETHIOPIC SYNAXARIUM
and died in peace .Now thenameof this youngman was “ JOHN ,"
which was given to him when they baptized him . All this took
place through the prayer of Saint MERCURIUS the martyr,
and the multitude of his miracles. Salutation to MERCURIUS
of Rômê, who rode a black horse.

And on this day also are commemorated ACARIUS and

ROMANUS.

[And on this day died SABLA WANGÊL, Queen of Ethiopia.]

XXVI. KHĚDÂR
IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER AND THE SON
AND THE HOLY GHOST, ONE GOD
On this day Saint PELARIANUS (or BALARYÂNÔs, i.e.
VALERIANUS) and his sister TÂTBÛSYÂ became martyrs.
This [ fol. 766 2 ) holy man PELARIANUS was a native ofRômê,
and his parents were infidels. They married him to a maiden
who was the daughter of one of the rich nobles of Rôme, and
the nameof thatmaiden 'was KÎLķĚYÂ, and she was a Christian
and worshipped the Lord Christ. And when he went to her in
the marriage-chamber he loved her dearly, and as soon as she
saw that he loved her dearly she began to reveal to him the
Faith of Christ , and he believed through her, and was baptized
with Christian baptism . And when he shone brightly and be
came strong in the Divine Grace he taught his sister TÂT
BŮSYÂ, and she was baptized with Christian baptism . And
Saint PELARIANUS fought a great spiritual fight, and at
length the angels would come and visit him always, and they
would reveal unto him everything which he wanted ( to know ),
and they would teach him concerning hidden things before
they came to pass. When DIOCLETIAN the infidel reigned he
inflicted persecution upon the Christians, and tortured them ,
and he slew many of them and they became martyrs. Now
this holy man and his sister used to go round and take up the
bodies of the martyrs and prepare them for burial, and bury
them . And a certain evil man having learned concerning them
 THIRD MONTH - KHĚDÂR (ħĚDÂR ) (NOV. 7 - DEC. 6 ) 289
went and accused them to MASIUS, the emperor's friend , and
the emperor commanded his soldiers to bring them to him .
When they arrived they stood up and he questioned them con
cerning their Faith , and they confessed that they were Christians
and did not deny it. And he promised them very many things
if they would deny our Lord [ fol. 766 3 ] JesusChrist ,and worship
idols, but they would not listen to his commands, and they did
not want his promised gifts. And the emperor loved them and
he said unto them , “ If ye will not hearken unto me, and will
not sacrifice to my gods, I will torture you with very many
kinds of torture” ; and they were not afraid of his tortures.
When the governor saw their endurance and fortitude, he
delivered them over to the headsman to cut off their heads.
Andwhen they had cutoff their heads, those who were standing
there saw shining angels meeting their souls with great joy .
When the governor saw this he believed in our Lord Christ.
And the emperor shut the governor up in prison for three days,
and on the fourth day he had him brought out from the prison
house and ordered the headsman to cut off his head ; and (he
did so ] and the saint received the crown of martyrdom in the
kingdom of the heavens with PELARIANUS, and his wife
KÎLĶĚYÂ, and his sister TÂTBÛSYÂ. Salutation to PELARI
ANUS who buried the bodies of the martyrs, and to his wife
KİLĶĚYÂ and his sister TÂTBÛSYÂ.

And on this day also is commemorated GREGORY , Bishop

of the island of nûsis (NYSSA). Salutation to GREGORY ,
Bishop of the city ( sic ) of NÛSIS (NYSSA) .

[fol. 77 a 1 ] And on this day also the men of NÂGRÂN and

Saint KHÍRŰt their father were martyred in the fifth year of
the reign of the Emperor JUSTINUS, when Abbâ John was
Archbishop of Jerusalem , and Abbâ TIMOTHY was Archbishop
of Alexandria , and Abbâ TIMOTHY was Archbishop of Con
stantinia, and EUPHRASIUS was Archbishop of Antioch, and
KÂLÊB the righteous was King of Ethiopia . And in those days
there reigned in SÂBÂ a Jew whose name was PHINEHAS, and
he was an infidel and a man of iniquity , and one who shed the
BESI 19
290 THE ETHIOPIC SYNAXARIUM
blood of men . In ancient times the country of SÂBÂ was under
the rule of the Kings of Ethiopia , and the Roman Emperors
VESPASIAN and Titus having driven out the Jewssubsequently
inherited it. And by the side of the country of SÂBÂ was a
very great city wherein lived very many believers andmen who
confessed Jesus Christ. And there came that Jewish king to
destroy the holy and Christ-loving city , and to plunder the
houses of the Christians. When he came to the city he saw the
sign of the Cross all round on the walls thereof, and upon the
gates and ramparts thereof were standing large numbers of
mighty men of war, and the heart of the Jewish king was filled
with rage. And he wished to go into the city but was unable
to find any means of so doing, because God had strengthened
it, but he slew the slaves who were working the ground, and
whom he found outside the city , and he carried off their children
into captivity , and gave them over to forced labours. And
that Jew who was as foul as Diabolus, the Adversary, sent a
message to the men (in the city ] saying, “ I swear unto you by
the Name of the Lord God , and by the Tôrâh , and by the
prophets, that I do not wish to do [fol. 77 a 2 ] you any harm ,
and I do not wish to ill- treat any man of this city , and I do not
wish to shed one drop of blood . But I want to see the buildings
of the city, and the broad spaces thereof, and the market
places ” ; and the people of the city believed his word . Then
KHÍRŰT, the son of KÂʻAB, said , “ Do not believe the word of
this infidel Jew , for he is a man of iniquity, and do not open the
gates " ; and the people refused to listen to him and they opened
the gates . As soon as the Jew had entered the city he com
manded [his men ] first of all to plunder the goods of the men
of the city, and to light a fire so large that its flame reached
unto heaven . Then he commanded them to bring to him Abbâ
PAUL, Bishop of the city, and when they told him that he was
dead , he made them bring the bishop 's bones out of the grave
and had them burned in the fire . Then he assembled the priests,
and the deacons, and the monks, and the widows and those
who were being taught, who passed day and night in reading
the Holy Scriptures. [All] these he cast into the fire , and they
were in number four hundred and twenty-six souls . Now he
 THIRD MONTH - KAĚDÂR (ạĚDÂR) (NOV . 7 -DEC. 6 ) 291
wanted to frighten the Christians by this act. Then he com
manded his men to put a collar round the neck of Saint
KHÍRÛT, and to load his hands and feet with fetters ; and he
fettered also all the nobles and chief men of the city . And he
commanded a crier to go through all the city , crying , “ Whosoever
will not deny Christ shall die an evil death.” When the holy
Christians heard this they cried out, saying, " Far be it from us !
We will not do this thing. We will not deny Christ our God ;
in Whom we have believed , and in Whose Name we have been
baptized.” When that filthy Jew heard this he killed men and
women , young men and maidens, [ fol. 77 a 3] and babes and
old men , in all four thousand four hundred and fifty -two souls .
And as for the remaining women he commanded his soldiers to
cut off their heads with the sword ; now they were in number
two hundred and twenty -seven souls. And then he seized Saint
DEMÂÌÂ, the daughter of RÂBEʻA, the wife of Saint KHÍRŰT.
Now this woman was very beautiful, as were her two daughters,
and the sun had never touched them exceptwhen they sat in
the verandah of their house . And they stood before the ( Jew ]
king, and he was unable to persuade them by means of his
crafty promises to deny their Faith ; and when they refused he
commanded his soldiers to strip off their veils, and the women
of the city wept for them . And one of her two daughters, the
younger , a maiden of twelve winters, spat in the face of the king ;
and a soldier who saw her drew his sword and cut off her head
and the head of her sister. Then the filthy Jew commanded his
soldiers to make Saint DEM ì to drink the blood of her
daughters , and as she tasted it she said , " I thank Thee, O my
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God , that Thou hast made
Thine handmaiden taste the blood of the Offering of her
daughters.” And the king commanded them to cut off her head
with the sword , and she finished her martyrdom there. Then
the king commanded them to bring to him Saint KHÎRÊT,
and those who were with him in the prison house ; and they
were in number three hundred and forty men . And the Jew
tried to force Saint KHÍRÚT to abandon his Faith , but the
saint answered and said , " Eight and seventy years have I
served my Lord Jesus Christ, and I have come to the fourth
19 - 2
292 THE ETHIOPIC SYNAXARIUM
generation . And this day I shall rejoice if I become a martyr
[ fol. 776 1 ] and if I die for His holy Name. I did tell the people
not to put any confidence in thine oath , and that thou wast a
liar, but they would not believe my words. Moreover, it is
the good pleasure of Christ that hath brought me into this
fight.” When the Jew king heard this he was furiously angry ,
and he commanded his soldiers to take him into the valley and
to cut off his head there. When Saint KhiRÛT heard this he
prayed to God to strengthen the empire of Rôm and the
kingdom of Ethiopia so that they might destroy the kingdom
of the filthy Jew . And he blessed the people and embraced
them , and then the soldiers cut off the heads of the saints. And
there was there a certain woman who was a Christian , and she
had a child of five winters, and she took some of the blood of
the saints and smeared herself and her son therewith . And
when the soldiers saw this they carried them bound to the king,
and he threw the woman into the fire, but the Jew took the
boy and he said unto him , “ Dost thou love me or Him that is
called Christ? ” And the boy said , “ I love Christ, and I am
the slave of Him only ; let me go that I may depart to my
mother.” And when the Jew held him fast the child bit his
foot, and the king snatched him up and cast him into the fire
and he became a martyr. And they also brought a woman who
was carrying a child ten months old , and his mother said unto
him , “ I cannot give thee to this fire ” ; and the child said unto
her, “ O my mother, let us depart quickly into everlasting life ;
we shall only see this fire to-day," and they cast the woman into
the fire with her son . And [the king] saw his soldiers fighting
against the Christians and destroying them , some by means of
fire, and others with the edge of the sword until at length all
[ fol. 776 2 ] companions of the Jews were exhausted . Then there
appeared in the heavens a fire which filled the whole sky for
forty days and forty nights. And when the Jew king had entered
into his city he sent messengers unto the (neighbouring] kings
boasting of his valour. When JUSTINUS, Emperor of Rômê,
heard this, he sent a letter to TIMOTHY, Archbishop of Alex
andria , calling upon him to send instructions to KÂLÊ B, King
of Ethiopia , to make war on that Jew , and to avenge the blood
 THIRD MONTH - KHĚDÂR (ŅĚDÂR) (NOV. 7-DEC. 6) 293
of the people of NÂGRÂN . When KÂLÊB , the King of Ethiopia ,
heard this, he departed into the country of the Jew king with
many soldiers, and many ships, having received the blessing of
Abbâ PANTALEON of the Cell. Having arrived in the
country he destroyed all the city of the King of SÂBÂ , and he
left nothing therein , neither man nor beast. And he rebuilt
the city of NÂGRÂN, and established the commemoration of
the martyrs thereof. And he sent glad tidings to JUSTINUS,
It STARS OF Make thanks unto Christop,and there
Emperor of Rômê, and to TIMOTHY, the Archbishop, and there
was great joy, and they gave thanks unto Christ. Salutation
to the bright STARS OF NÂGRÂN who have illumined all the
world .

And on this day also died Saint ÎYASŮS MÔ’ a , and on it

GÊLYÔs, and MÂYEN, and MEKWÂ S, and MÂRYÂLES are
commemorated . [ fol. 776 3] Salutation to ÎYASŮS MÔ 'A , who
for forty years never slept on his side.

XXVII. KHĚDÂR
IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER AND THE SON
AND THE HOLY GHOST, ONE GOD
On this day Saint JAMES the “ chopped ” became a martyr.
This holy man was one of the soldiers of SAKRÂD , the son of
SÂPÔR (SAPOR), King of Persia , and he was a friend of the
prince, who loved him exceedingly , and took counsel with him
about all his affairs ; and for this reason his heart inclined to
wards Saint JAMES, and he made him worship the sun and
fire. When his mother and his wife and his sister heard that
he had become one with the king in his acts and in his faith ,
they wrote to him a letter, saying , “ Why hast thou forsaken
the Faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, and dost worship natural
objects which have been created , that is to say, the sun , and
the moon , and fire ? Know that if thou dost continue to hold
the faith of the King of Persia , we shall become strangers to
thee.” When he had read their letter he wept bitterly, and he
said , “ If I continue to be of this opinion I shall become a
19- 3
294 THE ETHIOPIC SYNAXARIU
M
stranger to my mother, and to my household and kinsfolk .
But, however , how can I approach my Lord Jesus Christ ? ”
And he began to read Christian books, and he wept and forsook
the service of the king. And certain men told the king and
spake unto him , saying, “ Behold thy friend JAMES hath for
saken thy service, and thy love, and the [fol. 78 a 1 ] worship
of the gods.” And the king sent a messenger to bring him to
him , and when he had come he set him before the king, and the
king said unto him , “ Why hast thou forsaken my service ? ” And
Saint JAMES said unto him , “ Our Lord Christ saith in the
Gospel, ' Whosoever confesseth Mebefore men ,him will I confess
before my Father Who is in heaven . Whosoever denieth Me
before the face of men , him will I deny before the angels of
God ' (Matthew x , 32). Therefore have I left thy service, and
thy love, and the worship of thy gods, and I worship my Lord
Jesus Christ, the Son of the Living God , the Creator of the
heavens, and the earth, and the sun , and the moon , and the
stars, and the seas.” When the king heard this he was ex
ceedingly wroth , and he commanded his guards to beat him
very severely , and they did so until his blood ran down on the
ground like water; but he could not turn from his good counsel.
And the king commanded them to cut off his members with
knives, and they cut off the ten fingers of his hands and the
ten toes of his feet, and his arms. And they cut him up into
thirty -two separate pieces, and as each piece was chopped off,
he sang and glorified God , saying, " O God of the Christians,
my Lord and King Jesus Christ , receive Thou the branches
of the tree according to the greatness of Thy compassion .
When the master of the vineyard pruneth the vines he
leaveth slips behind him , and these sprout in the month of
Nêsân , that is to say Mîyâzyâ (April -May), and the vine
putteth forth [new ] roots and spreadeth abroad.” When
only the head , and breast, and loins of the holy man were left,
and he knew he was nigh to the giving up of his soul, at that
moment he prayed to God for the world , [fol. 78 a 2 ] and for
the people therein , and that He would teach them and have
compassion upon them . And he said , “ There is left to me
neither limb nor hand which I can lift up to Thee, O Lord ;
 THIRD MONTH - KHĚDÂR (ħĚDÂR ) (NOV . 7 -DEC. 6 ) 295
behold my limbs have been cast away before me, O Lord receive
my soul.” And straightway our Lord Jesus Christ appeared
unto him and comforted him , and strengthened him , and im
mediately his soulitrejoiced and od was
he hsoul
delivered up this Saintglad.
in tofhe thekinguardsmade
ab one asAnd
Lue hhaste, nbefore
te , aand he
d tocut off
his head with a sharp sword, and Saint JAMES received the
crown of martyrdom in the kingdom of the heavens, and he
departed to the habitation of light, to Christ Who loved him .
And certain God -fearing men took his body and made it ready
for burial and wrapped it in costly cloths, and they laid it in
a pure place . When his mother and his wife and his sister heard
that he had become a martyr they rejoiced with great joy, and
they came to the place where his body was, and they embraced
it and wept over it, and laid splendid cloths over it and sweet
scents and unguents. When the days of Saints HONORIUS
and ARCADIUS and other kings arrived, they built in his
honour churches, and monasteries and nunneries . When the
King of Persia heard the report of those monasteries , and the
stories of the martyrs and their bodies, and what great signs
and wonders had appeared through them in every place, he
commanded his soldiers to burn the martyrs' bodies in every
place with fire, and not to allow anything of them to remain in
the country of his dominion . And certain believing men came
and carried away the body of the saint, and they carried it
and brought it to Jerusalem , and deposited it there. And then
they brought it to PETER, Bishop of the city of [fol. 78 a 3 ]
RÔŅÂ (EDESSA ), and it remained with him until MARCIANUS
reigned , and then Saint PETER took it and brought it to the
country of Egypt, and deposited it in the city of BEHENSA ,
where it remained for a few days with certain brethren . And
whilst these men were praying at mid -day , and the body of
Saint JAMES was in their midst, straightway Saint JAMES
appeared with many of the martyrs of Persia , arrayed in
Persian apparel; and they sang with them , and they blessed
them , and then they disappeared. And before they disappeared
from their sight Saint JAMES said unto them , “ My body shall
stay here even as God commandeth.” After this Saint PETER
the bishop wished to return to his own country, and he took
 M
296 THE ETHIOPIC SYNAXARIU
the body of Saint JAMES with him , and he carried it to the
sea and laid it in a ship , but the voice of Saint JAMES went
round about, saying, “ My body shall stay here .” And straight
way the body of Saint JAMES was snatched out of their hands,
and returned to the place wherein it had been , even as God
commanded ; and great signs and wonders took place through
the body of Saint JAMES. Salutation to Saint JAMES who
was cut up into thirty -two pieces.
And on this day also Saint TIMOTHY, a native of BANÌÔR ,
became a martyr. [fol. 786 1 ] This holy man was a fearer of
God from his youth , and he devoted himself to fasting and
prayer. He had a wife whose name was MÔRÂ, the daughter
of his father's brother, and she was very beautiful, and she
gave him pleasure by all her works and they lived together for
many days in love and happiness . Whilst they were living in
this state of quietness the Imperial Edict of the wicked dio
CLETIAN went forth into all the countries of his Empire
ordering the heathen temples to be opened and the churches
to be closed . When Saint TIMOTHY heard this he rejoiced
exceedingly , for he had been waiting for this time, and he told
going toto do
his wife what hewass going cay;eand Godsaid
d to she us C'shrWill
to ,Pe“ sGod ist anbeo
done.” Then he rose up and prayed to God to prosper his way ,
and as he was sleeping that night our Lord Jesus Christ ap
peared unto him , and He said , “ Peace be unto thee, O My
beloved TIMOTHY , behold I have numbered thee among the
number of the righteous. Rise up now , and take thy wife , and
go to the city of BEHENSÂ, and confess the Name of Christ
before all the people who worship idols.” When he awoke he
told his wife what he had seen , and she told him that she had
dreamed even so . Then they rose up together and came to
QUILQUILIANUS,the governor, and they found him celebrating
a festival with singers and dancers who were performing before
him . Then the soldiers seized TIMOTHY and set him before
him , and his wife was following him . And the governor spake
unto him with gentle and persuasive words and tried to make
him worship idols, but the saint reviled him and his foul faith ;
therefore [fol. 786 2 ] was the governor angry and he commanded
 THIRD MONTH - KHÉDÂR (ỊĚDÂR) (NOV. 7 -DEC. 6) 297
them to cast him into prison . After a few days the governor
had him and his wife brought out and beaten with whips until
their blood ran down on the ground like water ; and his wife
finished her strife under this torture. And Saint TIMOTHY he
treated with gentleness because he wished to make him agree
to worship idols . And when he refused to do so the governor
had the saint's body smeared with oil and grease, and cast him
into a red -hot fiery furnace. And whilst the holy man was in
the fire GABRIEL, an angel of God , came down to him from
heaven , and delivered him from this torture. Then the governor
cast the saint into the prison house a second time, where he
wrought many signs and wonders. One day whilst he was
praying there our Lord Jesus Christ came to him , and made a
covenant with him and gave him peace . And on the following
day the governor had him brought out of the prison house,
and they took him to the city of ZANŅUS, and they cut off his
holy head . Thereupon an earthquake took place, and the air
was filled with angels, and the men of the city came and pre
pared him for burial in a splendid manner and buried him .
When the time of persecution had passed they built a church
for him , and consecrated it on the seven and twentieth day of
the month Sanê (June- July ), and they laid his holy body in it.
Salutation to TIMOTHY and to his wife MÔRÂ.

[ fol. 786 3 ] And on this day also is commemorated Saint

PHILEMON the apostle , who was one of the Seventy-two
disciples. Salutation to thy tongue with its eloquent words
and pleasant speech , thou father of the city (or country) of
LYDIA .

And on this day also are commemorated 'ALʻÂRÊ, and Abbâ

TAKLA ĦAWÂRYÂT of GABRÉMÂ, and CLEMENT the martyr
of ’ ENDABERGÔY of REBÔTCH (or ZARBATCH ). Salutation
to TAKLA ĦAWÂRYÂT.
 UM
298 THE ETHIOPIC SYNAXARI

XXVIII. KHĚDÂR

IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER AND THE SON

AND THE HOLY GHOST, ONE GOD
On this day Saint SARAPÂMÔN (or SARABÂMÔN ), Bishop
of the city of NAKİYộs (or LÛĶYÔ s), became a martyr. This
holy man was a kinsman of Stephen, of the tribe of LEVI,
from the city of Jerusalem . His father's name was ABRAHAM ,
and he was the son of LEVI, the son of JOSEPH , brother of
SIMON , and brother of the mother of STEPHEN , and at the
time of his birth he called his name SIMON . When his father
died he wished to become a Christian . And the angel of the
Lord appeared unto him and commanded him go to Abbâ
JOHN, bishop of the city, and he went to him and the bishop
revealed to him [ fol. 79 a 1] the mystery of Christ our God
becoming man. And it is not said that he baptized him with
Christian baptism in the city of Jerusalem , because of the fear
of the Jews, his kinsmen . Now the bishop of the city was
pondering what he should do about him , and our Lady MARY
appeared unto him and told him to depart to the city of Alex
andria , to the Archbishop Abbâ THEONAS. And as he was
going thither, the angel of the Lord in the form of a man drew
nigh unto him , and he journeyed with him to the city of Alex
andria ; now the angel of the Lord was in the form of a prince,
and he informed the archbishop about SARAPÂMÔn. When
he had come to him the archbishop taught him the path of
God, and he baptized him with holy Christian baptism . Then
SARAPÂMÔN became a monk in the monastery of Abbâ
SEVERUS, which is outside the city of Alexandria . When the
Archbishop THEONAS died , and Abbâ PETER was appointed
to succeed him , he sent and brought this holy man SARA
PÂMÔn to him , to help him in the work of the archiepiscopate.
After this he appointed him Bishop of the city of NÂķYÂNÔs
(sic), and the churches rejoiced in him greatly ,and God wrought
very many signs and wonders by his hands. And nigh unto his
city there were idols which certain of the people therein used
to worship , and he used to ask God to destroy them . And God
 THIRD MONTH - KHĚDÂR (ŅĚDÂR) (NOV. 7 -DEC. 6) 299
accepted his petition , for the earth swallowed them up and the
waters of the sea rose up over them and covered them ; and
through his prayer God destroyed the idols that were in his
diocese, and He crushed the blasphemy of SIBELLIUS who
made the Father and the Son , and [fol. 79 a 2 ] the Holy Spirit
one Person (or Substance). And when DIOCLETIAN denied
Christ certain people told him , saying, “ SARAPÂMÔN is de
stroying the worship of the idols which are the king 's gods” ;
and having heard very many complaints he commanded his
soldiers to bring SARAPÂMÔn to him , and they did so . When
Saint SARAPÂMÔN arrived in the city of Alexandria with the
messengers of the emperor, Abbâ PETER the archbishop came
to him , and there were many clergy with him , and embraced
him , and he saw his face as it were the face of an angel of God .
And when he came to the Emperor DIOCLETIAN had him
tortured with various tortures, and our Lord Jesus Christ
raised him up sound and whole , and uninjured and without
suffering ; and many people believed because of him . Now the
emperor was afraid to add to his tortures lest the multitudes
should believe through him . And he sent him away into Upper
Egypt, to ARIANUS, the governor of ANTINOË, so that he
might torture him there and cut off his head with the sword .
Now at that time ARIANUS was governor of the city of Alex
andria . And ARIANUS took Saint SARAPÂMÔn with him in
a ship to go to Upper Egypt, and when the ship reached NÂķYÔS
( sic) his city, it ran aground and it was impossible to remove
it from where it stood . And ARIANUS had Saint SARA
PÂMÔN brought up from inside the ship , and carried him to the
north of the city , and they cut off his head with the sword ,
and he received the crown of martyrdom in the kingdom of
the heavens. And the people took his body with great honour,
and carried it to the church and laid it therein , and through it
very many signs and miracles were wrought there. [ fol. 79 a 3 ]
Salutation to SARAPÂMÔN before whom the lions bowed when
they saw thy face which was the image of that of the Creator.

And on this day is commemorated Abbâ LiķÂNôs the

priest, who fought a spiritual fight in the monastery of ĶUO
300 THE ETHIOPIC SYNAXARIUM
NÂŞĚL, in the country of Ethiopia . Salutation to Abbâ
LÎĶÂNÔs, from whose fingers burning lamps shot forth .

Salutation to ABRAHAM the faithful man , and to ISAAC

the offering, and to JACOB who anointed the stone with oil,
in whose bosoms live the righteous, like dates on the palm tree
and clusters of grapes on the vine. [This paragraph is omitted
in the Bodleian Ms.]

XXIX . KHĒDÂR
IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER, AND THE SON
AND THE HOLY GHOST, ONE GOD
On this day became a martyr Saint PETER, the seventeenth
Archbishop of the city of Alexandria ; and he was the last of
the martyrs . [fol. 796 1] The father of this holy man was the
high priest of the city of Alexandria , and his name was THEO
DORE ; the name of his mother was SOPHIA . And they were
fearers of God and they had no children at all. And on the
fifth day of themonth Hamlê (July -Aug.), the day of the festival
of PETER and PAUL the apostles, themother of the holy man
saw many Christians with their children , and they wore festal
apparel with decorations, and they were going to church ; and
she was exceedingly sorrowful. And she went into the church
and stood up before the altar of the saint, and she besought
our Lord Christ with many tears to give her a son . And that
night PETER and PAUL the apostles appeared unto her, and
they said unto her, “ Behold God hath accepted thy petition ,
and He will assuredly give thee a son , and thou shalt call his
name'PETER '" ; and they commanded her to go to the Arch
bishop THEONAS that the people might pray for her. And
after certain days she brought forth this holy man , and she
called his name “ PETER.” When his days were seven years
she gave him to the archbishop even as (HANNAH gave]
SAMUEL the prophet to ELI, and he became to him like a
beloved son ; and the archbishop made him a reader, and after
that he made him a deacon , and after that hemade him a priest.
And he used to help the archbishop in all his divers good works
 THIRD MONTH - KHĚDÂR (ķĚDÂR ) (NOV. 7 - DEC. 6 ) 301
and in his administration of the churches. When Abbâ THEO
NAS was dying he commanded the bishops and priests to
appoint Abbâ PETER archbishop in his place, and they ap
pointed him Archbishop of the city of Alexandria ; and when
he was appointed all the people and all the churches rejoiced .
[fol. 796 2 ] And it came to pass in the days of DIOCLETIAN ,
the infidel emperor, that there lived in the city of Alexandria a
certain judge who was of the same opinion as the emperor, and
who worshipped idols with him , and he had two sons. And his
wife was a Christian , but she was unable to have her sons
baptized with Christian baptism in the city of ANTIOCH, and
she therefore took them and embarked on a ship in order to
come to Alexandria . As they were journeying over the sea, a
violent storm rose up against them , and she was afraid that her
two sons would die without baptism . And she cut her breasts ,
and made the sign of the Cross with her blood which she
smeared over the foreheads of her sons and she dipped them in
the sea three times in the Name of the Father and the Son
and the Holy Ghost. Then a great calm came, and they were
saved from drowning and arrived in the city of Alexandria.
And she brought her sons to the Archbishop Abbâ PETER SO
that he might baptize them with Christian baptism , together
with the sons of the men of Alexandria . And when the arch
bishop wished to immerse her boys, the water congealed and
became as hard as a stone; and he tried to immerse them three
times , and each time the water became like a stone. And the
archbishop marvelled and asked her what had happened , and
she related to him how a wind storm had risen up at sea, and
how she had cut her breasts, and how she had signed the fore
heads of her sons with the sign of the Cross with her blood , and
how she had immersed them in the sea three times in the Name
of the Father and the Son and the Holy Ghost. When the arch
bishop heard this he marvelled exceedingly and praised God ,
saying, [fol. 796 3 ] “ Thus saith the Church ; as one is baptism
even so one is the Church.” And in the days of this father
Archbishop Abbâ PETER one ARIUS, a heretic , rose up, and
the saint rebuked him but he would not hearken to his words;
and having rebuked him many times and ARIUS having refused
 302 THE ETHIOPIC SYNAXARIUM

to turn from his wicked opinion , Abbâ PETER anathematized

him and excommunicated him . And when the Emperor DIO
CLETIAN heard the report of this Saint PETER, and that he
was teaching the multitudes everywhere not to worship the
gods, he sent messengers to him to seize Saint PETER and to
shut him up in prison . And when the men of the city knew this
straightway they took their weapons of war with them and
they came to the prison house to fight the messengers of the
emperor. And when Saint PETER saw that there was going to
be a great tumult on his account, he wished to yield up his
soul to death for his people , and he wanted to be released from
this world and to be with Christ . And he made all the people
come to him , and he comforted them and commended them to
be strong in the True Faith . When ARIUS knew that the
blessed PETER was departing to God and leaving him under
the ban of excommunication , he went to the great high priests,
and told them to beseech the blessed PETER on his behalf, so
that he might release him from the ban of excommunication ;
but when the chief priests entreated the blessed PETER on
behalf of ARIUS, he added to the ban of excommunication
which he had laid upon him . And he said unto them , “ I have
seen a vision this night, and behold our Lord Jesus Christ
was standing with His rent raiment in His hand , and He was
covering His Body with His raiment. And I said unto Him ,
My Lord, [fol. 800 1 ] 'Who hath rent Thy raiment? ' And He
said unto me, ‘ARIUS hath rent My raiment; he separated Me
from My Father. Beware of him .' ” Then Saint PETER com
manded ’ARKÎLÂS (ARCHELAUS) and ALEXANDER, and said
unto them , “ Ye will have to appoint an archbishop after me;
beware of ARIUS, and have no fellowship with him in the work
of the priesthood , and release him not from the ban of excom
munication , for he is the enemy of Christ. And thou ’ARKÎLÂS
(ARCHELAUS) shalt be archbishop after me and before ALEX
ANDER , and thou shalt meet ARIUS and shalt die speedily .”
After this the blessed PETER took counsel with themessengers
of the emperor (sic) in secret that they might bring him out
from the inside of the prison house , and they dug opposite to
it and took him out and finished the emperor's command . And
 THIRD MONTH - KHĚDÂR (NĚDÂR) (NOV. 7 -DEC. 6) 303
THIRD

they did as he commanded them , and they took him and

brought him outside the city, [to the place] where was the grave
of the blessed MARK the evangelist. [ The text of this passage
is corrupt. ] And Saint PETER prayed and committed his
people to the care of God, and he prayed again , saying, “ O my
Lord Christ, let the shedding of my blood be the end of the
worship of idols, and may they be brought to nought and
perish throughout the world .” And a voice came from heaven ,
saying, " Amen ! It shall be according as thou sayest ” ; and a
certain virgin who was near that place heard these words.
And Saint PETER said unto the soldiers of the emperor, “ Finish
what ye have been commanded to do " ; and straightway they
cut off his holy head with the sword and he received the crown
of martyrdom in the kingdom of the heavens. And his body
stood upright for a space of two hours. And the people made
haste [ fol. 80 a 2 ] and went out from the city , for they were
by the prison house and they did not know what had become
of the saint until one told them what had happened . And they
took the body of their shepherd and their chief and made it
ready for burial, and they brought it to the city and took it into
the church , and laid it upon his seat on which no one had ever
once seen him sit , even as he told them . And when they asked
him , saying, " Why dost thou not sit upon thy throne? ” he
answered and said unto them , “ I see the power of God sitting
upon it, and therefore I do not dare to sit upon it.” Then they
finished making him ready for the grave, and they laid his body
with the bodies of the chosen saints, the archbishops. And he
sat upon the throne of MARK the evangelist fourteen years,
and he was appointed archbishop in the tenth year of the reign
of DIOCLETIAN . And many signs and mighty wonders took
place through his body. Salutation to PETER, the preacher of
the Faith , the counterpart of PAUL.
And on this day also is commemorated the Birth of our
Lord and God and Redeemer, Jesus Christ , of the holy two- fold
Virgin MARY, Our Lady. [fol. 80 a 3 ] Salutation to Thy Birth,
O Thou Who didst shew to PETER Thy raiment which ARIUS
had rent.
304 THE ETHIOPIC SYNAXARIUM
And on this day also are commemorated the forty-seven
thousand martyrs who suffered in the time of the Emperor
DIOCLETIAN . Salutation to the righteous men who fought
against DIOCLETIAN. [This paragraph is wanting in the
Bodleian Ms.]

And on this day also became a martyr the great Saint

CLEMENT, Archbishop of the city of Rômê. This holy man was
a royal kinsman , and was the son of CAUSTUS, the captain of
the army of the Emperor of Rômê; his excellent and honourable
parents taught him all the various kinds of learning and the
philosophy of the Greeks. And when PETER the apostle
preached in Rômê the preaching of the Gospel, CAUSTUS the
father of CLEMENT believed through this holy man that our
Lord Jesus Christ was truly (God) , and he gave all his goods to
the poor and needy . And when his father went to the emperor
he remained many days, and the brother of the holy man
CAUSTUS thought that he would marry his wife . When the
mother of the holy man knew this, she took CLEMENT and
his younger brother and embarked on a ship , to go to ATHENS,
and to have her sons taught philosophy and learning [fol. 806 1]
until their father returned from the emperor. And straight
way a violent storm rose up against them , and the ship was
smashed , and one after another clung to one of the timbers ,
and the waves of the sea washed this holy CLEMENT to the
city of Alexandria , where he remained a few days. And God
called PETER the apostle and said unto him , “ Get thee to the
city of Alexandria so that thou mayest find the servants who
are fit for mercy .” And when PETER the apostle came to the
city of Alexandria , and preached the preaching of the Gospel
therein , no man in the city of Alexandria believed except this
holy man CLEMENT. When , however , he heard the preaching
of PETER the apostle he believed on our Lord Jesus Christ,
and PETER baptized him with Christian baptism , and ex
plained to him the Godhead of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the
riches and glory of those who worship Him , and how signs
and wonders are wrought [in His Name]. And from that
day CLEMENT followed PETER the apostle , and he became
 THIRD MONTH - KHĚDÂR (ĶĚDÂR) (NOV . 7 -DEC. 6 ) 305
his disciple , and he wrote the “ Contendings of the Apostles,"
and what happened to them with infidelkings. Then he preached
in many cities , and the apostles gave unto him the Books of
the Canon to proclaim , and then he was appointed Archbishop
of the city of Rômê. And he preached therein , and converted
very many of the people thereof to the knowledge of God . And
the Emperor TRAJAN , the infidel, heard of him , and he sent
his guards to seize him and bring him before him , and the
emperor said unto him , “ Worship the idols and deny Christ.”
And when Clement would not hearken unto his command he
sent him away to a certain city [ fol. 806 2 ] to be tortured , for
he was afraid of the men of the city of his kinsfolk , and he did
not want to torture him where he was lest the people should
rise up against him . So he sent him away to the governor of
that city and ordered him to torture him with many tortures.
And that governor hung round the neck of the holy man
CLEMENT a heavy iron implement with four feet (anchor ? )
which is placed in ships, and he cast him into the sea . And he
delivered up his soul into the hand of God , and he received the
crown of martyrdom like the apostles who preached. And it
came to pass that when a full year had passed he was seen
in the sea , and the body of Saint CLEMENT appeared , and he
was preaching in the depths of the sea just as if he were alive.
And the people came and were blessed by him , and they wished
to carry him off, and they brought a splendid stone coffer, and
laid him in it , and they wished to take him up and bring him
out of the sea, but they were unable to move him from his
place. And they knew that he was unwilling to come out of
the sea and they left him there, and departed . And each year,
on the day of his festival, an opening appeareth in the box
above his body, and the people come and are blessed by him .
And many believing men who have seen this have described
and written down accounts of some of his miracles, such as the
following. One year certain men came to be blessed by him ,
and when they went forth from him they forgot a little child
who was behind the coffer of Saint CLEMENT. This happened
by the Will of our Lord Jesus Christ , so that He might reveal
their work to His saints and friends, and the grace which they
 C IU M
306 THE ETHIOPI SYNAXAR
receive from Him . And when they had gathered together
above the sea, they sought for the father [of the child ) and found
him not. And they thought that he was dead and that the
beasts which are in the sea had devoured him , [fol. 80b 3] and
they wept for him , and they celebrated his commemoration ,
and they consecrated the Offering and offered up incense
according to their custom . And when the second year had
arrived and the time had come for the sea to open itself again ,
certain men who came according to their custom , found the
child alive and standing up by the side of the coffer of CLE
MENT. And they asked him ,saying, " How didst thou exist and
on what didst thou live? ” And he said unto them , “ Saint
CLEMENT gave me food to eat and drink , and God preserved
me from the wild beasts of the sea.” And when they heard
this they marvelled exceedingly and they praised God Who is
to be praised and glorified above all His saints and martyrs
who have contended for His holy Name's sake. Salutation to
CLEMENT the author of the “ Contendings of the Apostles.”

XXX . KHĚDÂR
IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER AND THE SON
AND THE HOLY GHOST, ONE GOD
On this day died ACACIUS, Archbishop of the city of Con
stantinia . This holy man was learned , and excellent, and good,
and he translated books of theology , and he was appointed
priest in the church of the city of Constantinia . Now a General
Council was held in the city of CHALCEDON , [ fol. 812 ] and
this father was not pleased with all that took place thereat.
When they searched for him to come because of his knowledge,
he made a pretence to them that he was sick . When he heard
of the tribulation which they had inflicted upon Saint Dios
CURUS, Archbishop of the city of Alexandria ,he was exceedingly
sorry , and he began to curse their Council before his companions,
and friends, and the principal military officers of the Govern
ment whom he knew to be orthodox, and whose works he knew
to be good . And he said , “ I thank God that I did not mix
 THIRD MONTH - KHÉDÂR (ŅĚ DÂR) (NOV. 7-DEC. 6 ) 307
myself up with these evil members of the Council.” When
ANATOLIUS, Archbishop of the city of Constantinia , died , the
members of the Government, and the military officers and the
believers chose this father ACACIUS to be Archbishop of
Constantinia , because they knew that he was orthodox . And
they appointed him archbishop because they had hope in him
and thought that he would be able to remove from the Church
division and enmity . When he was appointed he found the
disease of division and enmity therein , and he strove diligently
and in every way possible to remove it , but could not do so in
the least degree ; only God Himself could do it. And he thought
in his heart and said, “ It will be best for me to save myself.”
First of all he sent a letter to Abbâ PETER, Archbishop of the
city of Alexandria , confessing therein to him the True Faith of
the Holy Trinity, which he had learned and received from the
divine fathers Abbâ CYRIL and Abbâ DIOSCURUS; and then
he continued to write very many letters asking him to support
him in priestly fellowship . [fol. 81 a 2 ] When Peter received his
letters he wrote a letter of acceptance and [another] letter
dealing with general matters, and sent them off in charge of
three bishops. And the bishops came to the city of Constantinia
secretly , and they gathered together to this father ACACIUS,
and they gave him the letter of Abbâ PETER ; and ACACIUS
treated them with great honour, and received the letters from
them with great joy . And he read the letter before his friends,
and the orthodox nobles of the city, and they all confessed with
him the True Faith as it was written in the letter of Saint Abbâ
PETER . Then he wrote a letter with his own hand before them
accepting (the Faith )ofAbbâ DIOSCURUS and Abbâ TIMOTHY,
and Abbâ PETER , and he confessed that they were of the True
Faith , and he excommunicated all those who were opposed to
them . Then he took the three bishops and carried them away
with him to a certain monastery which was outside the city of
Constantinia , and he prepared the Eucharist and they took
part with him in the Liturgy and in the Offering, and they took
from him the letter which he had written and they were blessed
by him and he by them , and then he set them on their way and
bade them farewell in peace. When they came to Abbâ PETER
308 THE ETHIOPIC SYNAXARIUM
they told him everything which had happened , and also how
they had taken part together with Abbâ ACACIUS in the
Liturgy and the Offering, and how he had accepted his letter;
and he preached in his name at the time of the Offering and the
consecrations and the prayers. And the report of him was
heard by the Bishop of Rômê, and he drove Abbâ ACACIUS
from the throne of Constantinia, and he died in exile, being
strong in the [fol. 81a 3 ] True Faith. Salutation to ACACIUS,
the successor of ANATOLIUS.

And on this day also are commemorated MERCURIUS the

martyr, and the consecration of the church of COSMAS and
DAMIANUS, and their brethren , and the death of GABRA
MASKAL, King of Ethiopia , the Orthodox [died A .D . 1344 ).
Salutation to GABRA MASKAL, who hath passed to the city
of light. Salutation to GABRA MASKAL who rejoiced in the
power of God .
And on this day also ANIANUS of ÂMID [the Stylite), and
PETER became [martyrs).
[ fol. 816 17 Here endeth what shall be read during the blessed
month of Khědâr. [Here follows in the Bodleian Ms. the
following :...God , the Most High . Who is to be praised . Blessed
be His Name. Praise to Him [is due) from us. May there be
to us mercy from Him . For every eye awaiteth Him . It is He
Who beginneth , it is He Who finisheth . Everything is ruled
by Him . Let us worship Him . And He is our help for ever
and ever , Amen and Amen ; so be it, so be it !]

End of Volume I.

CAMBRIDGE : PRINTED BY W . LEWIS , M . A . , AT THE UNIVERSITY PRESS