W300

PS 083

W300

«Concerning the same»

[John, an elder of the Skopelos Monastery]

At Leptê Akra malign spirits prevented a ship from being launched, by magic. Abba John of Skopelos was called and, by prayer and the triple sign of the cross, he loosed the magic.

W301

PS 084

W301

«The life and death of an anchorite

of the same monastery, a servant of God»

An unnamed anchorite of Skopelos monastery, a life-long grazer, died, unknonw to the brothers. He appeared to Julian the higoumen asking for a decent burial. They sought him in vain, for brush and snow had concealed the entrance to his cave. Then came a deer which began pawing the ground. There they found the body, intact; it was brought down the mountain (called "The Deer") and decently buried.

PS 085 = W222

PS 086 = W223

W302

PS 087

W302

«The finding of the corpse of the anchorite John the humble»

Two elders living in the world at Rossos told how the remains of an anchorite were revealed by fire on a mountain top every day for three months. When search was made, no sign of fire was found, but the uncorrupt body of the anchorite who had been dead for seven years was found. It was brought down and buried in the church.

W303

PS 088

W303

«The life of Abba Thomas, the steward of a community

near Apameia and the miracle of his corpse after he died»

Abba Thomas of Apameia died at Daphne and was buried in a stranger's grave. Next day they buried a woman on top of him, but the earth spewed her up. This happened twice, and then they realised that Abba Thomas would not lie with a woman on top of him, so they went in procession and brought him into Daphne and laid him in a cemetary where there were many martyrs' relics; a little chapel was erected over him.

cf W074 W075

PS 089 - 091 = W224 - W226

W304

PS 092a

W304

«The life of Brother George the Cappadocian»

Abba George the Archimandrite told John and Sophronios about George the Cappadocian who worked at Phasaelis: how once when they had hidden the brush from him, he swept out the oven with his own garment, which suffered no harm; and how once when he was herding swine in Pharsaelis, he chased off two lions with his club.

W305

PS 092b

W305

«The finding of the body of Peter

the Solitary of the holy Jordan»

The same narrator said that when a new church of Saint Kêrykos was being built, an ascetic appeared to Higoumen George (the builder) and asked if he was to be put out of the church for all the pains he had endured; he claimed to be Peter the Grazer. Search was made and the remains found in the foundations were set in a fine monument in a chapel.

PS 093 = W227

W306

PS 094

W306

«The life of Abba Julian the Bishop of Bostra»

Julian, the bishop of Bostra, was the object of an attempted poisoning, a servant having been corrupted. Being aware of this but not wanting to embarass the man, Julian assembled all his household and said: "If you think you can kill the humble Julian with poison, watch this." He made the sign of the cross three times over the cup and praying the threefold Name, he drank it down and was apparently unharmed.

PS 097 = W228 = BHG 1322zc

W307

PS 099

W307

«The life of Anthony, an elder at the Monastery of Skopelos»

Some Saracens once set upon _Iαvθoς [Lat. Anthony] with their swords. Fixing the nearest one with his eye and praying fervently, _Iαvθoς saw the ground open and swallow up the Saracen.

PS 100 = W229

PS 101 = W022 = BHG 1450jk

W308

PS 102

W308

«The story of Sophronios the Sophist

about what happened to him on the road»

When Sophronios the Sophist was about to make his final profession, he said he was met by a chorus of maidens proclaiming: "Welcome Sophronios; Sophronios has been crowned."

W309

PS 105a BHG 1440w

W309

Christophori coenobitae visio et pænitentia

«The life of a holy elder named Christopher, a Roman»

At Alexandria Abba Theodoulos at Saint Sophia by the lighthouse said that at Saint Theodosios' monastery he met Christopher the Roman who would nightly go to the cave where the holy fathers lay and perform one hundred prostrations on each step. This he did for ten years, then he had a vision of many lamps, some lit, some not lit. Two men in tunics [chlamides] explained that these were the lamps of the fathers."Will my lamp be lit ?" asked Christopher. They said: "Pray." So he withdrew to Sinaï until a voice summoned him back to his community, where he died soon after telling his story.

W310

PS 105b

W310

The same Theodoulos said that Christopher the Roman saw a man standing in the entrance of the anteroom of the Chapel of the Holy Cross [τo_ μεσαυλίoυ τo_ _γίoυ σταυρo_,] hesitating, and with two crows flying in his face. Knowing these to be demons, Christopher asked the man why he hesitated: it was because he was torn between worshipping there and elsewhere. Christopher took him by the hand and led him in; the crows disappeared.

W311

PS 106

W311

«Abba Theodore's story of the Syrian monk, Severian»

The same Theodoulos said that at the hostel near the lighthouse, between the churches of Holy Wisdom and Saint Faustus, there was a hostel where he encoutered a Syrian ascetic who was revealed to be of the Severan persuasion by a dove, plucked, blackened and disgusting as though it had been in the kitchen, circling round his head.

W312

PS 107 BHG 696e

W312

narratione de sanato leone

«The life of Abba Gerasimos»

Abba Gerasimos befriended a lion by removing a thorn from its paw. The animal was given charge of the ass which fetched water and when the ass was stolen, Gerasimos thought Jordanes (the lion) had eaten it. In punishment, the lion was obliged to fetch water. A soldier took pity on the lion and gave three pieces of gold to buy another ass. Then one day Jordanes found and brought back the ass, plus three camels (taken from the Saracens who had stolen it.) The inconsolable Jordanes died on his master's grave.

cf W037

W313

PS 108 Huber 7

W313

«The life of a virgin priest and of his wife, also a virgin»

In Samos there was an estate eight miles form the city whose very holy priest had un mariage blanc. Falsely accused, he was imprisoned by his bishop but, as Sunday approached, there came a handsome youth who sent him home to celebrate the liturgy. Learning where he was, the bishop left things as they were until next morning, by which time the handsome youth had returned the priest to his cell. The bishop realised it was an angel; he sent the priest home and silenced his accusers.

cf W338

W314

PS 112 BHG 1445wb

W314

de Leone monacho Cappadoce

«The life and death of Leo, a Cappadocian monk»

There was a Cappadocian who kept saying: "I will reign." When the barbarians took three sick monks prisoner and the bishop could only find eight of the twenty-four pieces of gold required to ransome them, this (fit) monk gave himself to make up the difference; thus indeed did he reign.

W315

PS 114 Huber 8

W315

-- "Danielis (=Scetensis?) infamia 51"

«The life of Abba Daniel, the Egyptian»

Abba Daniel the Egyptian got a young man's wife pregnant by praying for her, but some alleged he did it in the normal way. When the child was born, in the presence of his accusers, Daniel asked it: "Who is your father ?" and it pointed to the young man. It was twenty two days old at the time.

cf W922 W220 W423 W949 W967+art cit

W316

PS 116

W316

«The brother who was falsely accused of taking a piece of gold»

Abba Andrew of Messenia said another abba once accused him of stealing a piece of gold he had in fact misplaced. When Andrew's own mentor questioned him, he went and sold his pallion, giving the piece of gold he got for it to the elder, with penitence. Meanwhile the missing coin had been found, but Andrew insisted on the one he had gained being accepted.

W317

PS 118

W317

«The life of Menas the Deacon, a monk of Rhaïthou»

Menas the deacon had forsaken the monastic estate, but on a visit to Symeon the Stylite, he was urged to go back to Raïthou and be forgiven. He did, and was well received. That he had also received divine forgiveness was signalled by the fact that, one Sunday, as he went forth with the sacred elements, one of his eyes suddenly came out.

W318

PS 119

W318

«The demon disguised as a monk

which came at the call of an elder at Rhaïthou»

A demon disguised as a monk was detected because, when he was bidden to pray, he would only say: "now and for ever . . .&c.," never: "Glory be to the Father &c."

W319

PS 123

W319

«The life of Abba Zosimos the Cilician»

When Zosimos the Cilician was a young man he encountered an elder who knew his name and who wanted to send him away; because two days before there had appeared to him one who said that Zosimos was coming, he who was destined to be the bishop of Egyptian Babylon (which he later was.) Zosimos waited, and soon the elder greeted him as one sent to bury him. He had been in the desert forty five years and now his face was as fire. He died and was buried by Zosimos, who went his way two days later.

W320

PS 124

W320

«A story of the same [elder]»

Zosimos and his disciple John were staying near two anchorites. John was bitten by a snake and died immediately, bleeding from every member. The anchorites summoned him back to life, caught the snake and cut in two. They sent Zosimos off on his way to become bishop.

W321

PS 125 BHG 1445kb

W321

de Sergio bordonario et leone

«The beautiful deed of Abba Sergios the anchorite»

Abba Sergios was sent to work with pack-animals; a lion barred their way. He offered the beast a morsel to eat and prayed it to get out of the way, which it did.

cf W022

W322

PS 127a

W322

«The life of Abba George of the holy mountain of Sinaï»

Narrated by Amma Damiana the lady recluse [ hesychastria:]

George of Sinaï greatly wished to receive communion at the Holy Sepulchre on Holy Saturday. He remained in his cell when the others went to church, and found himself at the Sepulchre; he received communion and was asked to stay for dinner by the bishop, but he immediately found himself back in his cell. The bishop wrote questioning his failure to appear and requesting his presence. Everybody attested that he was too old and never could or did go out. He said that the bishop and he would meet at the judgement seat within six months, and within that time both died.

W323

PS 127b

W323

« -- and of another person, one from Phrygian Galatia»

Narrated by Amma Damiana the lady recluse [hesychastria:]

At SS. Cosmas and Damian an old lady from Phrygia-Galatia used to come giving everybody she met two small coins. I went there once with a lady who was a cousin both of the Emperor Maurice and of me and I warned her to accept the money and give it to the poor. The old woman (in her eighties) came and gave to the imperial person saying: "Take, eat," so she sent her boy to buy some lupin seeds, which were sweeter than honey when she tasted them.

W324

PS 128b BHG 876v, w

W324

visio de Chrysostomi gloria in caelis

« -- concerning the blessed John Chrysostom»

Athanasios of Saint Sabas' said of his great-uncle, Bishop Adelphios, that when John Chrysostom was in exile at Coucouson, he stayed at their home. After his death, Adelphios very much wanted to know in what conditions John was now. He had a vision of a place filled with light and glory. There were many patriarchs, and their names were being announced, but not John's. When he asked why, he was told that he was where no mortal eyes could see him: there where the divine throne is located.

W325

PS 129

W325

«The life of a stylite»

Two grazers were firm friends and they often visited a stylite, always together. Once one came alone, but the stylite would not open up to him. Then they came again together, but he would not admit the one who came alone. "God turns him away, so how can I receive him ?" he said; and after two days, the first grazer died.

W326

PS 130

W326

«Admonitions of Abba Athanasios and his wondrous vision»

Abba Athanasios wanted to know the difference between those who struggle and those who do not. An elder came and summoned him to follow. They came to a place of light where the gate of heaven was located; they could hear the singing within, and a voice which said: "Nobody is admitted here who lives negligently."

cf W958 (same story, different persons.)

W327

PS 131 132

W327

«The life of Abba Zacchaios of Holy Sion»

Abba Zachaeos in Jerusalem told Procopios that his two sons were safe in Caesarea, even though a plague was raging there -- which would cease in two days. And a person in Caesarea had it revealed to him that Zachaeos had been granted this knowledge.

W328

PS 133

W328

«Concerning the same <elder>»

A Saracen told how he was immobilised for two days when he attempted to slay a monk on the Mountain of Saint Anthony, and was released when he asked the monk to intercede with his God for him.

W329

PS 134

W329

«The life of Theodore the anchorite»

An anchorite wanted a copy of the New Testament. Abba John approached Abba Peter who offered him one written on parchment, gratis, since it was for an anchorite; its value was three pieces of gold. He sent that much money with the book so the man could buy another, if this one were unsatisfactory. The anchorite was troubled at not paying for the book. He came to Abba John who clothed his nakedness, then he worked on the reservoir which the Patriarch John* of Jerusalem was constructing, for five pholeis a day, until he had three pieces of gold: which Peter reluctantly accepted.

*John II, 386-417; John III, 516-524; John III, 516-524.

W330

PS 135

W330

«Five virgins who wanted to leave the monastery

and were possessed by demons»

Five virgins who wished to leave their convent and find husbands were suddenly possessed by demons when they asked for their [lay] clothes, which made them change their minds.

W331

PS 136

W331

«The love of Abba Sisinios for a Saracen woman»

A (christian) Saracen woman came to an anchorite tempting him to πoρvεία because she was hungry. He gave her food instead.

W332

PS 139

W332

«Abba Sergios' prophecy concerning Gregory,

higoumen of the Monastery of Pharan»

Sergios the Armenian took Gregory the higoumen of Pharan to see Sergios the anchorite, who washed his feet and spoke to him all day, then sent him on his way the next day. When the Armenian who was his disciple confessed surprise that Sergios had washed the feet of Gregory, alone, of all those who visited him, the anchorite replied: it was as a future patriarch that he received the man, for he had seen him girt with the omophorion and bearing the gospels. Six years later, Gregory became bishop of Theoupolis [=Antioch, 570-593.]

cf W076 W104

W333

PS 143 BHG 1445jb Huber 30

W333

de David ex latrone monacho

«David, the robber-chief, who later became a monk»

David the arch-brigand became a monk, threatening destruction of the monastery if he were not accepted. He was very diligent; an angel appeared announcing his forgiveness. This he was reluctant to believe, so the angel said he would be struck dumb like the incredulous Zachariah. He complained that this would have made sense when he was uttering bad things, but not now that he had learnt to sing the praises of God. He was allowed to regain his voice at times of divine worship.

W334

PS 145

W334

«The life of the blessed Gennadios, Patriarch

of Constantinople, and of his reader, Charisios»

The Patriarch Gennadios of Constantinople [458-471] had a wicked cleric, Charisios, who resisted all admonitions, indulging in murder and sorcery. The patriarch sent the lector of the same church in which Charisios served into the martyrion to say: "Saint Eleutherios, your officer sins too much. Either set him to rights, or cut him off." Next day Charisios was found dead.

W335

PS 146 BHG 1440km

W335

de Eulogio Alexandrino et ecclesia Juliani

«The vision of Eulogios, Patriarch of Alexandria»

Eulogios, Pope of Alexandria [581-608,] thought he saw the archdeacon Julian coming to him unnanounced by night, but in the morning it was clear that Julian had not left his house all night. The pope took this event to be a reminder from the martyr, Julian, that it was high time for his martyrion to be rebuilt; this was now attended to.

W336

PS 147 BHG 982d Huber 24

W336

de tomo ad Flavianum

«The wondrous correction of a letter

written by the blessed Roman pontiff to Flavian»

Eulogios, the Pope of Alexandria [581-608,] was told by Gregory, Archdeacon of Rome, that when Pope Leo [440-461] had written his letter to Flavian, Patriarch of Constantinople [446-449,] concerning Eutyches, he placed it in the tomb of Saint Peter. Forty days later, it was found to have been ammended by the Apostle's hand.

W337

PS 148 BHG 982e Huber 23

W337

visio Theodori episcopi

«The vision of Theodore, Bishop of Darna,

concerning the same most blessed Leo»

Theodore, the syncellos of Eulogios, Pope of Alexandria [581-608,] had a vision three times of Leo, Pope of Rome [440-461,] asking to be presented to Eulogios -- in order to thank him for his support with Flavian, Patriarch of Constaninople, concerning his letter about Eutyches.

PS 149 = W230

W338

PS 150 BHG 1440kn

W338

de Agapeto papa et episcopo iniuste carcerato

«The life and holiness of the Bishop of Romilla»

The Bishop of Rumelli was accused before Pope Agapetos [535-536] of eating from the paten, and was imprisoned at Rome. The pope had a dream of one who said no-one would communicate that Sunday unless the imprisoned bishop celebrate, which he was invited to do. But he repeated the anaphora four times; because, he said, he had not seen the usual _πιφoίτησις of the Holy Spirit. One of the deacons holding a fan was sent out and then everybody saw the παρoυσία of the Holy Spirit.

cf W313 W793

W339

PS 154

W339

«The life of Theodore who lived in the world, a man of God»

A layman explained to some monks that he accepted the abuse of a cruel master in this world in order to inherit the kingdom in the next, and that he had kept himself pure from woman [καθαρ_ς _π_ γυvαικός] for the same reason.

W340

PS 155

W340

«Abba Jordanes' story of the Saracens who killed each other»

An abba met three Saracens with a twenty-year old prisoner whom they refused to exchange, either for the abba or for money, claiming that he was vowed to the priest as a sacrifice. The abba prayed and the Saracens became possessed of demons; they fell on each other with their swords. The abba took the youth, who became his disciple, but died after seven years.

W341

PS 157

W341

«The story of two monks of the Syrians' monastery at Soubiba

about a dog who showed a brother the way»

A dog - at the command of an abba - showed a monk the way (which he did not know) to another monastery.

W342

PS 158

W342

«An ass in the service of a monastery, called Mardes»

There were anchorites who had a garden some distance away from where they lived, and in which one of them worked. When they wanted vegetables, they harnessed the ass and told it to get some for them. It would go and knock at the garden gate with its head and, when loaded, return to the brothers, six miles away.

W343

PS 160

W343

«How a demon appeared to an elder in the form of a very black boy»

A demon appeared to a monk in his cell in the form of a Saracen youth wearing μαζάριov {?} trying to distract him with dancing, and then telling him he made mistakes when reciting the psalms. It was put to flight when the monk made an act of obeisance to God.

PS 162 = W231

W344

PS 163

W344

«The life of Abba Paul the Greek»

Paul the Helladic would feed a lion weekly on condition that it hurt neither man nor beast. Once it came with a bloody mouth; Paul was going to send it away and feed it no more because it had broken the contract, but it would not go away. So he gave it three lashes with a triple cord and [presumably] continued as before.

W345

PS 165

W345

«The life of a robber named Cyriacos»

A notorious brigand, Cyriacos "the wolf," led a band which included Jews and Samaritans. Once, when their chief was away, they fell on some Christians returning from baptising their children at Jerusalem. The men fled, the women were siezed [and violated,] the neophytes flung to the ground. Cyriacos met the fleeing men and brought them back. He beheaded the perpetrators of this outrage and restored the children to their fathers. He was later arrested, but he was released after ten years. This he attributed to having saved the neophytes.

[It may be implied that he became not only tame, but a monk too.]

W346

PS 166

W346

«The life of a robber who became a monk

and was later beheaded in lay clothes»

A robber bacame a monk and spent nine years living uprightly in a community. Then he came to the abba who clothed him asking to receive back his lay-clothes. He explained: there was a child he had killed for no reason at all, and this child kept appearing to him, saying: "Why did you kill me ?" He gave himself up and was beheaded next day.

W347

PS 167

W347

«The life and death of Abba Poemên, the solitary»

An abba said that, though he was naked, the cold did not trouble him at night because a lion came and slept with him. But he knew that he would end up being eaten by beasts: this as a punishment for having once allowed the dogs (when he was a shepherd) to tear a stranger to pieces. Three years later he was eaten by beasts.

W348

PS 170 BHG 1442t

W348

de vetula in spelunco

«The life of a holy woman who died in the wilderness»

Some monks discovered the still-warm corpse of a brother (who turned out to have been a sister) in a cave.

cf W886 W879 W009 W354 W926; see also Bessarion 4 in A/B

W349

PS 173

W349

«The wondrous deed of Theodore the anchorite

who made fresh water at sea by his prayer»

Theodore the eunuch had to go to Constantinople. The ship was delayed and the fresh water ran out. When everybody on board was in great distress from thirst, he prayed and made the sign of the cross over the sea, then bade the sailors draw up what they wanted: it was fresh water.

cf W708

W350

PS 174

W350

«The deed of a religious ship-master

who prayed to the Lord for rain»

A ship from Constantinople to the Holy Land had a scribe and his family on board who wasted water until there was no more. Great distress arose, the scribe threatening to kill the captain. Gregory the anchorite urged them rather to pray. The captain especially fasted and prayed; and, suddenly, he raised a shout of praise. Fleeces were set out and soon it was raining enough to satisfy all needs. The cloud and rain accompanied the ship, but it did not rain beyond the ship.

W351

PS 175 BHG 1322z

W351

de Zenone imperatore

«A story about the Emperor Zeno who was much given to almsgiving»

A woman whose daughter had been wronged by the Emperor Zeno [474-491] was always imprecating the Mother of God to avenge her. The Mother of God appeared to her and said she would like to oblige her, but "his right hand prevents me," for he was a man of great acts of mercy, i.e. a great alms-giver [_v γ_ρ _λεήμωv πάvυ.]

W352

PS 176 BHG 1317k

W352

de baptismo in arena

«The beautiful story of Abba Andrew about

ten travellers, of whom one was a Hebrew»

In his youth, Abba Andrew fled to Palestine with nine others, one of whom was a jew. When their water ran out as they were crossing the desert, this man became so sick that he could go no further. Prior to abandonning him, they baptised him in sand, at which he revived and they all went on to Ascalon, where there was a great debate as to whether the baptism was valid. Finally he was [re-] baptised in the Jordan.

W353

PS 177

W353

«The bad death of an Egyptian monk who

wanted to occupy the cell of Evagrios, the heretic»

A brother was warned not to install himself in a certain place on account of a very dangerous demon there which had led Evagrios into error. He insisted, nevertheless. He survived to come to church the first Sunday, but by the second, he had hanged himself.

PS 178 = W232

W354

PS 179 BHG 1440kj

W354

monialis in deserto degit ne scandalo sit

«The life of a Lady Religious [sanctimonialis

feminae] who was from the Holy City»

A virgin fled to the desert rather that cause a youth who loved her to fall into sin; she had only a few beans in a basket. Eighteen years later, she met an abba and told him the food had sufficed and the goodness of God had sheltered her; nor had she seen any man until him, that very day.

cf W886 W879 W009 W348 W926 W509

W355

PS 180 BHG 1076rb

W355

de lampade coram imagine B.V.M.

«The life of John the Anchorite

who lived in a cave on the Socho estate»

A monk who travelled a great deal to various shrines had an icon of the Mother of God accompanied by a lamp which, at the prayers of the Mother of God, never went out, even when he was away for six months at a time.

W356

PS 181

W356

«Concerning the same»

John the anchorite once met a large lion in a narrow way where they could not pass each other. The lion forced a place for itself in the hedge to one side and waited for John to pass.

W357

PS 183

W357

«The wondrous deed of David, the Egyptian»

David of Scêtê and others worked as hired hands at harvest time. Once he rested at noon, at which the farmer complained. But it was to let the heat pass, which was causing the grain to fall from the ears. The farmer insisted that work continue, even if all the grain burned. "And is that what you want ?" asked David -- whereupon the entire field burst into flames, and only stopped burning when the farmer asked other elders to intercede with David to offer a prayer.

W358

PS 184 (a and b)

W358

«The life of Abba John the Eunuch

and of a young man who resolved never to drink

and of another elder greatly given to prayer»

Abba John the eunuch was so charitable, feeding all kinds of animals, that he was destitute . He borrowed a piece of gold for a farmer in need, and had to repay it to the higoumen by earning one keration (plus food and drink) for thirty prostrations.

A monk who refused to drink but was burning with fever was saved from dehydration by a doctor who bade him sit in a bath of tepid water.

PS 185 = W004

W359

PS 186 BHG 1442q Huber 31

W359

de uxore quae virum liberavit

«The life of Moschos, the Merchant of Tyre»

Moschos the merchant picked up a woman in Tyre to sleep with, but she wept and lamented that her husband was in prison for debt, so he let her go untouched with five pounds of gold. He then fell foul of the emperor and was in prison at Constantinople. Three times the woman appeared to him in a dream promising help, then he was brought before the emperor, pardoned and restored: the woman was at the emperor's side. She appeared to him once more to assure him that it was because of his kindness to her that she has done him this favour.

cf W165, W716

W360

PS 188

W360

«The life of two brother who were Syrian money-dealers»

Of two brothers who were bankers at Constantinople, the younger one went to Syria on business. The other, three times, had a vision of an elder saying the younger brother had fornicated with the tavern-keeper's wife. He summoned the younger man back to the capital and learned that nothing of the sort had happened. All he could think of was having communicated with some Severan monks on the family estate. The elder brother realised that this was the meaning of the visions.

W361

PS 189 BHG 1442r Huber 32

W361

de alia uxore fideli

«The life of a woman who remained faithful to her husband,

a merchant, and how God helped them both»

A man in prison for debt was visited by his very beautiful wife. A potentate saw her and promised to secure the man's release in return for one night in bed with his wife. She said her husband must decide, citing St. Paul; he declined the offer. A robber awaiting execution in the same prison was so impressed by the integrity of the couple that he revealed to them where his treasure was hidden. The wife went and recovered it; she was thus able to redeem her husband.

W362

PS 192 BHG 721b

W362

de monacho excommunicato

«The story of a monk of the monastery of the godly pope Gregory

, and of how he was absolved of excommunication after death»

Pope Gregory suspended a monk for securing a shirt for three pieces of gold, and the monk died suspended. The pope wrote a prayer and gave it to one of the archdeacons [sic] who read it over the dead brother. That night the higoumen had a vision of the dead brother saying he had been as though in prison, but now was free.

cf W040

W363

PS 193 BHG 2037 Huber 33

W363

de Apollinario pat. Alexandriæ

«The wondrous deed of charity by the holy Abba Apollinarios

, Patriarch of Alexandria, for a rich young man reduced to penury»

A young man of wealthy parents lost all. The Patriarch of Alexandria forged a receipt for five hundred pounds of gold owing to the man's father, who had been dead for ten years. The patriarch feigned reluctance when the receipt was presented, but paid up -- asking only that interest not be charged.

PS 194 = W877

PS 195 = W049

W364

PS 196 BHG 1318x

W364

de pueris missam simulantibus

«The miracle which happened to the boys of Apameia

who recited the prayer of consecration in a game»

Children at play pretended to celebrate the eucharist; the "celebrant" knew the anaphora by heart; when he had said it, fire descended from heaven, destroying the gifts and the altar (a rock.) The children fell speechless to the ground where they were found by their parents. The bishop and clergy, learning of this, came next day and found evidence of the fire; a monastery was built there.

cf W487 W488

W365

PS 199 BHG 1448cd

W365

de missa haereticorum more celebrata

«The story of a simple elder who used to

see angels when he offered the eucharist»

A priest-monk of great simplicity used to see angels to left and to right when celebrating the eucharist. But he had learnt the prayer from heretics. When a deacon tried to correct him, the angels said he should listen. "But why did you not correct me ?" he asked "Because God has ordained that man should be corrected by man."

W366

PS 200 BHG 1450uc

W366

de aurifice integerrimo

«How a young goldsmith became the adopted

son of a man of patrician rank»

A youth apprenticed to a goldsmith was given gold from which to make a cross. He added some gold paid for with his own wages. Thinking the youth had adulterated the metal when the cross was weighed, the client learned the truth: that the youth wanted to add his own two mites to this important gift to Christ. He therefore adopted the boy as his son and heir.

W367

PS 201

W367

«The life of a most noble man of Constantinople

whose father, when he was dying,

left him the Lord Jesus Christ as his guardian»

A father gave the son this choice: should he leave his extensive possessions to him, or to Christ ? The son chose the latter; he was then orphaned and impoverished. A rich couple with only one daughter sought to provide her with a good, rather than a rich, husband. The mother went to pray, resolved to take the first man who came in as her son-in-law. In came the son mentioned above and was wilingly accepted by the girl's parents, especially when they realised whose son he was.

W368

PS 203

W368

«The story of a jeweller who, by a wise

decision, saved his life at sea»

A rich man travelling by ship with considerable treasure learnt that the sailors were plotting to get rid of him and seize his goods. He had everything of value gathered up and thrown into the sea, thus saving his life.

W369

PS 204

W369

«How a religious woman who feared God

restrained a monk from lascivious desire»

A monk bitten by a snake went to receive treatment. He would have had an affair with his nurse, but she dissuaded him.

W370

PS 205 BHG 1445w N052

W370

de monacho et vidua casta

«Concerning another wise woman who, by judicious advice,

turned aside a monk who was harassing her»

A monk was staying with a secular who had a daughter, with whom he sought to have relations [n.b. the girl is a young widow in N052] She managed to dissuade him by first assuring him that she was willing to do whatever God put it into his mind to do whilst he was praying; and then by telling him that she was having her period and the odour was unendurable. He came to his senses and both rejoiced.

PS 207 = W003

PS 210 = W028

W371

PS 211

W371

«Concerning an elder of great virtues who got

a brother who had stolen things from him out of prison»

A brother took the property of an elder in his absence. The elder became aware of this but kept silent. Others discovered the theft and imprisoned the brother. Learning of his confinement (but not the reason for it) the elder went to relieve the brother's discomfort, whereupon the brother confessed all, and his release was obtained by the elder.

W372

PS 212 Zosimi abbatis Alloquia X PG 78:1693C

W372

«Of two brothers who exercised marvellous

patience in dealing with robbers

Two fathers were discussing the apophthegmata which one of them was very fond of reading and from which he reaped all virtue [_ξ α_τ¢ v _καρπώσατo π_σαv _ρετήv.] One apophthegm (W027, or W409) was particularly appreciated. It inspired the father once, when he was robbed, to pray the thieves also to take the three pieces of gold he had hidden; but they did not repent and restore the goods, as in the apophthegm.

cf W428

W373

PS 214, 215

W373

«The miracle of the baptismal font in the City of Coeana,» and

«Another miracle: of the baptistry of the village of Cedrebat»

There were two miraculous fonts which filled and emptied themselves automatically, one at Epiphany, the other at Pentecost.

W374

PS 197, from Rufinus, HE 1.14

W374

«Rufinus' anecdote of Saint Athanasios

and other boys who were with him»

Bishop Alexander of Alexandria observed children at play and realised that they were simulating a baptism, the "celebrant" being the future Saint Athansios. The children were reproved, but those they had baptised were considered to have been well and truly baptised.

----end of PS ----

GREGORY PP. DIALOGUES

W375

Greg. Dial. 1.4.20,21

W375

The Tomb of Equitius

A box of wheat placed upon the tomb of Equitius was removed far by a sudden storm which left everything else in place. And then some Lombards invading that place and about to kill the monks were (at the appeal of one monk to Saint Equitius) siezed by an unclean spirit [immundus spiritus,] cast to the ground and tormented for some time. This was a salutary lesson to them not to trouble sacred places.

W376

Greg. Dial. 1.5.2

W376

Lamps that burned water

Constantius, sacristan of Saint Stephen the Martyr's church at Ancona, found he had no oil for the lamps. He filled them instead with blessed water and the lamps throught the church burned as though oil were in them.

W377

Greg. Dial. 1.7. 1-3

W377

The miracles of Nonnosus

Nonnosus, by his prayers, moved a rock which it would have taken fifty pairs of oxen to move; this to provide a garden on a mountain side for the monks. Another time, when he was cleaning the glass lamps of the oratory, one fell and smashed into a thousand pieces. By prayer he reunited them into one whole glass again.

W378

Greg. Dial. 1.7.5-6

W378

A miraculous supply of oil

A monastery ran out of oil. As the harvest was near, the higoumen proposed to send brothers to help peasants gather the harvest, and so to earn some oil, but Nonnosus opposed this, lest they should lose their souls whilst in pursuit of money for oil [dum lucra olei quærerent, animarum damna paterentur.] He had them press what few olives there were on the monastery trees and then he prayed over the little oil which came out of them. A few drops were placed in each oil-vessel and next morning these vessels were found to be full.

cf W079 W841

W379

Greg. Dial. 1.8.1-4

W379

Anastasios

Anastasios said seven other monks, then another a little later, were called from the summit above by name and they all died, the eighth one somewhat later. Whilst Anastasios still lived, one very close to him begged that he not survive Anastasios by more than seven days: which he did not.

W380

Greg. Dial. 1.9.1-4

W380

A miraculous supply of wine

Boniface was Bishop of Ferentis, a church so poor that its sole source of revenue was one vine. This was once badly damaged by hail. Boniface had all the vessels prepared for the grape-harvest. He himself collected the few remaining grapes and had a small boy tread them out. Then he called the poor and filled their vessels with what came out. The rest he poured, a little at a time, into each of the monastic vessels, which were set under his personal seal for three days. They were then found to be overflowing with wine. .

cf W378 and refs. (oil); W914 is only other ref. to wine

W381

Greg. Dial. 1.9.8-9

W381

A precocious entertainer punished

When Boniface was about to eat with Fortunatus, a man with a monkey and cymbals came to the door. "He is dead" said Fortunatus, because he sounded his cymbals before grace was said. They fed him, but as he went out, a stone fell on his head and killed him. But next morning he was fit and well again.

W382

Greg. Dial. 1.9.10-13

W382

How the Mother of God repaid a gift to the poor

Constantius, nephew of Boniface and a priest, sold his house for twelve pieces of gold. Boniface broke into his safe and gave the money to the poor. When Constantius demanded his gold pieces, Boniface went in prayer to the Mother of God, holding out his mantle. In its folds he found twelve newly-minted pieces of gold. These he gave to Constantius, telling him he would not be the next bishop (and he was not.)

W383

Greg. Dial. 1.9.14-15

W383

A miraculous supply of wine

Boniface once gave two Goths a small wooden barrel [vas ligneum] of wine, from which they drank "like Goths" [ut Gothi] all the way to Ravenna and back, plus for a few days while they were there. The supply of wine was not augmented: it was self-generating [vinum non augeretur sed nasceretur.]

Boniface also once rid a garden of caterpillars by adjuring them in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.

W384

Greg. Dial. 1.9.16-18

W384

Boniface's youthful "pranks"

Boniface as a youth would distress his mother by giving away his clothes, by giving away grain and then restoring it by prayer; and [once] by having a fox which had taken one of her chickens bring it back again, whereupon the fox dropped dead.

W385

Greg. Dial. 1.10.1-5

W385

A bride with an evil spirit healed by Fortunatus

The daughter-in-law of a grande dame, having enjoyed her new husband in the night, went with he mother-in-law to the dedication of Saint Sebastian's chapel in the morning. But when the saint's relics entered the chapel, an evil spirit [spiritus malignus] invaded the girl. The priest tried (in vain) to set matters right by covering her with the altar-cloth. They led her away to magicians who immersed her in the river, but their incantations only expelled one demon to permit the entry of legion. The parents took her to Bishop Fortunatus who received her as his guest. After some days of prayer he restored her to her parents safe and sound [sanam atque incolumen.]

W386

Greg. Dial. 1.10.6-9

W386

Concerning Bishop Fortunatus

An unclean spirit expelled by Bishop Fortunatus, disguised itself as a pilgrim and walked about, saying: "Oh, that Bishop Fortunatus; he has chased away a poor pilgrim." A man who was warming himself together with his wife and child, invited him in. The spirit threw the child on the coals and it died. (This was because the father was ready to hear ill of the bishop.)

Fortunatus once restored a man's sight by the sign of the cross, and once he calmed the savage horse of a soldier. He refused then to accept it as a gift, but agreed to buy it at fair market price, on the axiom that one does not pay for a miracle.

W387

Greg. Dial. 1.10.12-15

W387

Bishop Fortunatus and two small boys

The Goths had taken away two small boys from near Todi. Bishop Fortunatus twice offered to redeem them and was refused. The children were put on a horse by the Gothic chieftain and sent off with his men. Then he followed, but at Saint Peter's church in Todi his horse fell and he broke his thigh. He sent for the deacon and handed over the boys. Bishop Fortunatus sent the deacon back with blessed water which immediately and completely restored the chieftain's fracture.

W388

Greg. Dial. 1.10.17-18

W388

How Bishop Fortunatus resusscitated a dead man

Marcellus of Todi (who had two sisters) died on the eve of Holy Saturday. At first Bishop Fortunatus refused the sisters' request to raise Marcellus, but before dawn on Easter Day he went with two deacons and softly called the corpse by name. Marcellus awoke; he told how yesterday two came and took him from the body in bonum locum, whilst today one came saying: "Take him back, for Bishop Fortunatus has come to his home."

W389

Greg. Dial. 1.11

W389

A loaf signed by faith

Once when they had forgotten to make the customary sign of the cross on a loaf baking in the cinders, Martyrius made the sign over the cinders. There was a noise like the breaking of a vessel, and when the loaf came out baked, it bore the sign of the cross made by faith, not by contact [quam non contactus sed fides fecerat.]

W390

Greg. Dial. 1.12.1-3

W390

Another dead man resusscitated

At Interorina there was a priest named Severus at the church of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Once when he was summoned to attend a dying man, he finished pruning his vine before going, and the man died. As the priest wept before the corpse, it revived. The man told how fearful [taetri] men with insupportable fire issuing from their mouths and nostrils, took him; and how these were then stopped by a fine-looking youth [pulchrae visionis iuvenis] who said: "Take him back, for Severus is weeping." Thus, the man gained seven days for repentance; on the eighth day he died in peace and joy.

W391

Greg. Dial. 2.4.2-3

W391

How Benedict corrected a monk

Benedict saw a little black boy [quidam puerulus niger] which drew a monk by the fringe of his garment away from prayer. The monk was cured by a blow of Benedict's staff.

W392

Greg. Dial. 2.24.1-2

W392

A young monk who died absent without leave

A young monk [puerulus] left the monastery without a blessing - to go see his parents, at whose home he died. They buried him, but the earth rejected the corpse, once and twice. When Benedict was told of this by the parents, he gave them eucharistic bread and told them to place it on the corpse's chest and bury it again. There was no further rejection.

cf W040 and refs

W393

Greg. Dial. 2.23.2-5

W393

Two religious ladies of questionable virtue

Two noble religious living in their own house, women of unsatisfactory language and habits, failed to mend their ways even when threatened with excommunication [by Benedict] if they did not. They died and were buried in church. When the deacon called for all but the communicants to withdraw, their nurse [sic] saw them rise from their tombs and leave. She told this to Benedict who gave her an offering to present ot the Lord in propitiation; after that they were no more seen to leave the church at the time of communion.

cf W040 and refs

W394

Greg. Dial. 3.1

W394

How Paulinus of Nola became a slave and was freed

Paulinus, Bishop of Nola [409-431,] exhausted funds by redeeming captives taken in Africa by the Vandals. Then a widow came to him begging for the redemption of her son. Paulinus offered himself in the son's stead and was accepted by the Vandal king's son-in-law, who set him to gardening. He was very good at it and supplied his master's table well. One day he announced to his master that the king would soon die; and the king agreed that this was true, for in a nightmare he had seen himself before a tribunal -- of which the gardener was a member. Under much questioning, the gardener admitted to being the Bishop of Nola, at which the son-in-law was deeply ashamed and offered to send him back with whatever gift he requested. He asked only for the captives from Nola, and these were sent back with him, in a ship full of grain.

W395

Greg. Dial. 33.7

W395

Andrew of Fundi, the nun and the jew

Andrew, Bishop of Fundi, had a nun in his home and was tempted. A Jew, benighted on the way to Fundi, slept in a temple, first making the sign of the cross. Suddenly many evil spirits were there. Their chief sat in the midst and the demons gave accounts of their evil deeds. One claimed so to have demoralised Bishop Andrew that he had tapped the nun on the rear. The demons could not touch the Jew on account of the sign of the cross. Next day he went and confronted the bishop, who confessed. And when he learned how the Jew had learned of his faults, he catechised and baptised him.

cf. Cassian, Conf. 8.16

----{ Alphabetikon }----