E05397: The Miracles of Saint Thekla recounts how *Thekla (follower of the Apostle Paul, S00092) saved the city of Iconium (central Asia Minor) from an enemy attack, by causing many to be killed or captured in battle. Next the author will talk of miracles to individuals, starting with those to people of high rank. Written in Greek at Seleucia ad Calycadnum (southern Asia Minor) in the 470s.

Miracles of Saint Thekla, 6

Ἀλλ’ οὐ περὶ ταύτην μὲν ἡ παρθένος τοιαύτη γεγένηται, ὡς ἂν καὶ πρόμαχος αὐτῆς καὶ πολιοῦχος καὶ μήτηρ καὶ διδάσκαλος, ὀλίγωρος δὲ περὶ τὰς ἄλλας ἐστὶ τῶν πόλεων, ἥ γε καὶ τὸ Ἰκόνιον, τὴν οὕτως εἰς αὐτὴν ἐξυβρίσασαν πόλιν καὶ τὸ κακῶν ἔσχατον πῦρ κατ’ αὐτῆς ἀναψαμένην, ἐπὶ ὁμοίοις κινδύνοις γεγονυῖαν διέσωσε, δραμοῦσά τε ἐντεῦθεν καὶ κατὰ χεῖρα συμπλακεῖσα τοῖς ἐπελθοῦσι τῶν πολεμίων καὶ ἀναιροῦσα καὶ παίουσα καὶ κονιορτῷ
τὰς ὄψεις καταπάττουσα, ὥστε πᾶν τὸ ἐν ποσὶν ἠχλυῶσθαί τε καὶ ζόφου πεπληρῶσθαι, ὃ πολλοὺς μὲν ἀναιρεθῆναι παρεσκεύασε, πολλῷ δ’ αὖ πλείους καὶ ἁλῶναι, πάντας δὲ ὑφ’ ἑνὶ γενέσθαι καὶ κινδύνῳ καὶ ὀλέθρῳ, ὡς μηδ’ ἄγγελον ἀπονέεσθαι, ἔφη τις ἂν ὁμηρίζων.

'One cannot claim, however, that the virgin [Thekla] has become such a defender, protector, mother and teacher for our city [Seleucia ad Calycadnum in Asia Minor], but holds little regard for other cities. She even saved Ikonion [in Asia Minor, modern Konya in Turkey], which had fallen into similar dangers, although this is the city that had so mistreated her and even, as the worst of its misdeeds, lit a fire under her. Rushing from here, she seized the attacking enemies in her hands, killed them, smote them, and sprinkled their eyes with dust, so that everything at their feet was obscured and filled with darkness. This darkness allowed the destruction of many, and the capture of many more, and all of them suffered a single danger and calamity, to the degree that not even a messenger could get away, as one might say with Homer.'

Then the narrator explains that he mentioned first the miracles which are most celebrated and which affected entire cities, and announces that he will now proceed to miracles which happened at various times to individual men and women, starting with those that happened to the more honourable amongst people, of whom the very top rank is that of bishops and priests. He also says that the beneficiaries of the miracles considered these the most important and the only good things in their lives.

καὶ μάλιστα τοὺς ἐν τοῖς βασιλείοις διαλάμψαντας, ἐν ᾧ πιστεύουσιν ἐνδοξότεροι δι’ αὐτῆς γεγενῆσθαι. καὶ τοὺς νῦν
δὲ καὶ τοὺς μετέπειτα ζημιώσομεν, εἰ ἀγνοίᾳ τῶν προλαβόντων περί τινας ἀγαθῶν ἀργότεροι φανεῖεν αὐτοὶ περὶ τὰς ὁμοίας αἰτήσεις.

'This is true especially for those who distinguished themselves at the palace, inasmuch as they believe their esteemed positions have come to them through Thekla). And we would cause harm to those living now and those to come, if through ignorance of those benefits received by some they might show themselves more negligent in asking for similar benefits.'

Text: Dagron 1978. Translation: Johnson 2012. Summary: J. Doroszewska.