File(s) not publicly available
E07694: Sophronius of Jerusalem, in his Miracles of the Saints Cyrus and John, recounts how *Kyros and Ioannes/Cyrus and John (physician and soldier, martyrs of Egypt, S00406) punished two thieves who appropriated offerings dedicated to them at their sanctuary at Menouthis (near Alexandria, Lower Egypt). Written in Greek in Alexandria, 610/615.
online resource
posted on 2019-07-10, 00:00 authored by juliaSophronius of Jerusalem, The Miracles of Saints Cyrus and John, 49
Summary:
There was a certain Egyptian, Piamoth, who was an 'atherophage' [gruel-eater]. Such people, with their coarse nature, do not differ much from wild beasts. There was also another man, Georgios, from the village of Metellis in the neighbourhood of the city of Sais. Coming from different parts, they both set off on the road to the sanctuary of the martyrs to venerate them. On their way, each of them met two different women, coming from different parts as well, both of whom were also heading to the sanctuary. The women were bearing offerings that they had promised to the saints. Since, as they said, they could not offer them themselves, because there were obstacles to their further travel to the sanctuary, they asked the men to offer the sacrifices in their name, as this was an obligation, not a gift. And the one handed to Piamoth two trimessia [gold coins of the value of a third of a solidus], the other Georgios gave a pig.
Both men accepted the request and took the offerings, because they were thieves and they reckoned on profit. They intended to keep for themselves what they had been given, in the hope that the saints would not learn about it. Thus they arrived at the sanctuary, presented themselves at prayer, and left without offering to the martyrs what they had received.
The saints awaited until both men reached their homes and then severely punished them. They struck Piamoth with a very painful paralysis, whereas into Georgios, who had devoured the pig himself, they introduced a very malicious demon. Both men very quickly understood who were the authors of their misery, and confessed their sins. They begged them for mercy and forgiveness, and promised to become better in the future.
The martyrs let Piamoth suffer for six months. Then they released him in the following way. He was sleeping on his bed when he seemed to see the saints approaching, and asking if he wanted to obtain healing. Since he nodded, they commanded him to give back the two trimessia. He immediately returned the money and offered it to the saints, and he was delivered from his sickness.
As for Georgios, the martyrs decided that he did not merit deliverance from the demon and kept him in their sanctuary for some time until he learnt a lesson. They commanded him to clean their sanctuary two times a day, having his eyes directed toward the ground like the pig that he had taken. At last, he recalled his fault and repented of it.
Text: Fernández Marcos 1976, lightly modified in the light of Gascou 2007 Summary: J. Doroszewska
Summary:
There was a certain Egyptian, Piamoth, who was an 'atherophage' [gruel-eater]. Such people, with their coarse nature, do not differ much from wild beasts. There was also another man, Georgios, from the village of Metellis in the neighbourhood of the city of Sais. Coming from different parts, they both set off on the road to the sanctuary of the martyrs to venerate them. On their way, each of them met two different women, coming from different parts as well, both of whom were also heading to the sanctuary. The women were bearing offerings that they had promised to the saints. Since, as they said, they could not offer them themselves, because there were obstacles to their further travel to the sanctuary, they asked the men to offer the sacrifices in their name, as this was an obligation, not a gift. And the one handed to Piamoth two trimessia [gold coins of the value of a third of a solidus], the other Georgios gave a pig.
Both men accepted the request and took the offerings, because they were thieves and they reckoned on profit. They intended to keep for themselves what they had been given, in the hope that the saints would not learn about it. Thus they arrived at the sanctuary, presented themselves at prayer, and left without offering to the martyrs what they had received.
The saints awaited until both men reached their homes and then severely punished them. They struck Piamoth with a very painful paralysis, whereas into Georgios, who had devoured the pig himself, they introduced a very malicious demon. Both men very quickly understood who were the authors of their misery, and confessed their sins. They begged them for mercy and forgiveness, and promised to become better in the future.
The martyrs let Piamoth suffer for six months. Then they released him in the following way. He was sleeping on his bed when he seemed to see the saints approaching, and asking if he wanted to obtain healing. Since he nodded, they commanded him to give back the two trimessia. He immediately returned the money and offered it to the saints, and he was delivered from his sickness.
As for Georgios, the martyrs decided that he did not merit deliverance from the demon and kept him in their sanctuary for some time until he learnt a lesson. They commanded him to clean their sanctuary two times a day, having his eyes directed toward the ground like the pig that he had taken. At last, he recalled his fault and repented of it.
Text: Fernández Marcos 1976, lightly modified in the light of Gascou 2007 Summary: J. Doroszewska