E04902: Evagrius Scholasticus in his Ecclesiastical History recounts the miraculous protection of Rusafa/Sergiopolis (north-east Syria) by *Sergios (soldier and martyr of Rusafa, S00023) during the Persian siege of 542. Written in Greek at Antioch (Syria), 593/594.

Evagrius Scholasticus, Ecclesiastical History, 4.28

Λελέξεται δὲ καὶ ὃ κατὰ τὴν Σεργιουπολιτῶν ἄλλοτε ὑπὸ Χοσρόου γέγονεν, ἐπεὶ καὶ ἀξιόλογόν ἐστιν καὶ πρέπον ὄντως μνήμῃ ἐς ἀεὶ διασωζομένῃ. Ἐπέστη καὶ ταύτῃ ὁ Χοσρόης, ἐκπολιορκεῖν αὐτὴν ἐπειγόμενος. Ὡς δ’ οὖν τῶν τειχῶν ἀπεπειρᾶτο, τὰ περὶ τῆς σωτηρίας τῆς πόλεως πρὸς ἑκατέρων ἐλαλεῖτο· καὶ συμβαίνουσιν ὥστε τὰ ἱερὰ κειμήλια λύτρα τῇ πόλει γενέσθαι· ἐν οἷς καθειστήκει καὶ σταυρὸς ὑπὸ Ἰουστινιανοῦ καὶ Θεοδώρας πεμφθείς. Ὡς δ’ οὖν ἀπεκομίσθη ταῦτα, τοῦ ἱερέως ὁ Χοσρόης καὶ τῶν σὺν αὐτῷ πεμφθέντων Περσῶν ἀνεπύθετο μή τι ἕτερον εἴη. Τῶν δέ τις οὐκ εἰωθότων ἀληθίζεσθαί φησι πρὸς τὸν Χοσρόην καὶ ἕτερα εἶναι κειμήλια, ἅπερ πρὸς τῶν πολιτῶν ἀπεκρύβη εὐαρίθμων ὄντων. Ὑπελέλειπτο δὲ χρυσοῦ μὲν ἢ ἀργύρου κειμήλιον τῶν ἐπιφερομένων οὐδέν, ἑτέρας δὲ προὐργιαιτέρας ὕλης καὶ θεῷ καθάπαξ ἀνεχούσης, τὰ πανάγια λείψανα Σεργίου τοῦ ἀθλοφόρου μάρτυρος, ἔν τινι τῶν ἐπιμήκων σορῶν κείμενα ἐξ ἀργυρίου ἠμφιεσμένῃ. Ἐπειδὴ δὲ τούτοις πεισθεὶς ὁ Χοσρόης τῇ πόλει τὸν ὅλον ἐπαφῆκε στρατόν, ἐξαπίνης ἀνὰ τὸν περίβολον ἀσπὶς ἀνεφάνη μυρία, ὑπερμαχοῦσα τῆς πόλεως· ὅπερ οἱ πεμφθέντες πρὸς Χοσρόου θεασάμενοι ἐπανῆκον, τό τε πλῆθος θαυμάζοντες τήν τε ἐξόπλισιν διηγούμενοι. Ὡς δὲ καὶ πάλιν πυθόμενος ἔμαθεν ὁ Χοσρόης ὀλίγους τῇ πόλει κομιδῆ ἐναπομεῖναι, ἐξώρους τε καὶ ἀώρους, τῆς σφριγώσης ἡλικίας ἐκποδὼν γενομένης, ἔγνω τοῦ μάρτυρος εἶναι τὸ θαῦμα· καὶ δείσας καὶ τὴν Χριστιανῶν πίστιν ἀγάμενος, ἀπῆρε πρὸς τὰ οἰκεῖα. Ὃν καί φασιν ἐν ταῖς τελευταίαις ἀναπνοαῖς τῆς θείας ἀξιωθῆναι παλιγγενεσίας.

‘We shall also recount what was done by Chosroes on another occasion against Sergiopolis, since it is both remarkable and truly preserved in perpetual memory. Chosroes attacked this city too, eager to sack it. As he was assaulting the walls, the two parties negotiated the sparing of the town, and they agreed that the sacred treasures should be given as ransom for the city; these included a cross which had been sent by Justinian and Theodora. When these things were delivered, Chosroes asked the priest and the Persians who had been sent with him whether there was anything else. One of those who are not in the habit of telling the truth said to Chosroes that there were other treasures as well, which had been hidden away by the townspeople who were not numerous. Now, none of the portable offerings of gold or silver had been left back, but there was one very important object which belonged to God once and for ever, namely the all-holy relics of the victorious martyr Sergios which lay in one of the oblong coffins, covered in silver. When Chosroes, believing this, released his whole army against the city, suddenly myriads of shields appeared on the circuit wall, defending the city. On seeing this, those sent by Chosroes turned back, marvelling at their number and extolling their armament. Now, as Chosroes enquired and found that only few people had been left in the city, and those either too old or too young, for those of age fit for fighting had departed, he realised that the prodigy was from the martyr. Thus, in awe and amazement for the Christian faith, he returned home. They say that at his final breath he indeed was honoured with the sacred rebirth.’

Text: Bidez, Parmentier 2014.
Translation: E. Rizos.