E07449: The late 4th to 6th century collection of Miracles of *Menas (soldier martyr of Egypt, S00073), ascribed to Timothy of Alexandria, recounts the miraculous reclaiming by the saint of a camel which had been promised to him as a gift by a man who neglected his vow. Written in Greek in Alexandria.

Timothy of Alexandria, Miracles of Menas (CPG 2527, BHG 1256-1269)

Miracle 9. The camel (BHG 1265)

Summary:

This story concerns the unnamed son of a personal friend of the saint, Porphyrios from the city of Panephaiat (Menas’ hometown). Porphyrios’ son has a barren camel, and asks for the saint’s help that she might give birth, promising to offer him the first offspring she would produce. The camel gives birth three times, but the man neglects his vow. The saint comes on horseback, followed by a great cloud which encompasses all four camels (the mother and little ones) and takes them to the shrine. When their owner finds that they have disappeared, he realises the cause of his misfortune. The saint appears and reveals to him that he has come to claim what belonged to him, and has spared him from punishment for the sake of his gratitude to his father, Porphyrios. The man visits the shrine and finds his four camels there. He decides to dedicate all his belongings to the saint and spends the rest of his life at the shrine, where he is appointed herdsman of all the camels belonging to the shrine.

Text: Pomialovskii 1900.
Summary: E. Rizos.