E07453: The late 4th to 6th century collection of Miracles of *Menas (soldier martyr of Egypt, S00073), ascribed to Timothy of Alexandria, recounts the miraculous punishment of a poor man who kept stealing pigs from the shrine's sty. Written in Greek in Alexandria.

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

Miracle 13. The man who stole pigs (BHG 1269)

Summary:

A poor pagan man called Pastamon frequently steals the best pigs from the shrine. The saint appears to him and asks him to stop, because there are also other poor people who need to be fed. Pastamon defies the warning and steals another pig which he slaughters, intending to salt the meat. Yet the meat is suddenly transformed into stone and the man is infuriated and vows to keep stealing. The saint appears in a dream and threatens him again, but Pastamon wakes up determined to steal the best pig of the saint’s sty. He sneaks in early in the morning, but is immediately paralysed, and stays there like a log, till the herdsmen find him. They take him to the shrine, where he confesses his sins and remains there as a penitent for the rest of his life.

Text: Pomialovskii 1900.
Summary: E. Rizos.