الصفحة الرئيسية
آخر المشاركات
-
-
-
الذكاء الأصطناغي يثبت كفاءة في تشخيص الأضطرابات النفسية
- الأحدث: امل محمد عبد الصادق
-
-
-
-
-
-
المواضيع الجديدة للصفحة الرئيسية
سيرة القديس العظيم الشهيد إسحق الدفراوي من المخطوطات الأصلية نقلاً عن النص القبطي
يُحتفل بعيد استشهاده في 6 بشنس الموافق 14 مايو، بينما يقع عيد تكريس كنيسته في السادس من شهر طوبة، الموافق لـ 14-15 يناير.
الترجمة :
استشهاد قديس وشهيد ربنا يسوع المسيح، ابا اسحق الدفراوي 11، في مقاطعة باناو 12، والذي تم في اليوم السادس من شهر بشنس 13 (الموافق ليوم 14 مايو)، بسلام الله، آمين.
ارتكب الإمبراطور دقلديانوس في أيامه أفعالًا محرمة الفعل ، إذ صنع أصنامًا وعبدها، وترك إله السماء 14. إلى جانب ذلك، أصدر مرسومًا 15 يقول فيه: «أنا، الإمبراطور دقلديانوس، آمر العالم أجمع أن يقدموا الذبائح للآلهة؛ ومن لا يطيع هذا المرسوم، يُعذب عذابًا شديدًا، وبعد ذلك يُنهب بيته، ويُسلب كل ما يملك». وأعطى الأمر إلى القائد كولكيانوس، الذي حمله إلى الإسكندرية، حيث أمر الجموع بتقديم الذبائح. ثم واصل رحلته واتجه جنوباً نحو مصر، ودخل الى (منطقة يدعى اسمها) توبه (أو طوا) 16 ونزل في الميناء.
كان في قرية "دفرا"، الواقعة في إقليم "باناو"، شابٌ حكيمٌ يُدعى اسحق ؛ كان في الخامسة والعشرين من عمره، فائقَ الجمال، وكان يعبد الله ليلاً ونهاراً. فتراءى له ملاك الرب بينما كان نائماً في الحقل خلف كوخه، وأيقظه قائلاً: "السلام عليك يا أبا اسحق ، يا حامل الله؛ لماذا تنامُ والجهادُ قد اتسع نطاقُه؟" |78 ثم أراه إكليلاً وقال له: "تشجّع، فهذا الإكليلُ لك، ولا تُهمل خلاصَك. قُم واذهب إلى حاكم "تاوبة"، واعترف بالمسيح، لكي تموتَ من أجل اسمه القدوس وتدخلَ ملكوتَه الأبدي". ولما قال الملاكُ ذلك، فارقه ومضى.
عندما أشرق النهار على الأرض، قام اسحق ودخل منزله، وحيّا أباه وأمه قائلاً: "سلامي لكما يا والديّ". فسألاه: "إلى أين أنت ذاهب؟" فأجابهما: "أنا ذاهب إلى الحاكم لأموت من أجل اسم ربي يسوع المسيح، الذي صلبوه في عهد بيلاطس البنطي؛ فمن الخير لي أن أموت عن هذا العالم لأحيا في ملكوت الله". غير أنهما أمسكا به وقالا: "لن ندعك تذهب يا ولدنا الحبيب لتلقى ميتةً شنيعة".
عند منتصف الليل، تراءى له ملاك الرب، فأضاء البيت كله بنور ساطع. وقال له الملاك: "السلام عليك يا أبا اسحق ، وليكن الرب معك"؛ فأجابه الرجل المبارك: "ولتكن نعمتك معي". ثم أخرجه من قريته ومن بيته قائلاً: "اصبر لتنال الإكليل الذي لا يفنى، فإني أقول لك: إن إكليلك وعرشك في السماء. لا تخف، فسأكون معك حتى تتمم شهادتك؛ إذ ستعاني آلاماً كثيرة من أجل اسم المسيح، ولكن تشجع، فسآتي لإعانتك". وبعد أن قال هذا، صعد الملاك إلى السماء. حينئذٍ، نهض المبارك أبا اسحق بقوة المسيح، وانطلق ماشياً إلى "توبة"، حيث وجد الوالي في الحمام، فوقف أمام الباب. وإذا بجندي اسمه ديونيسيوس يخرج إليه ويسأله: "ما حاجتك؟" فأجاب الرجل النبيل: "أريد مقابلة الوالي". فرد الجندي: "وما شأنك بالوالي؟" فأجابه القديس: "أنا مسيحي". فقال له ديونيسيوس: "وما علاقتك بهذا الأمر؟ هل تريد أن تموت ميتة شنيعة؟" فأجاب الرجل المبارك: "إن موت هذا العالم ليس موتاً بالنسبة لي، بل هو حياة في العالم الآتي". وبينما كان يتحدث مع ديونيسيوس، خرج الوالي من الحمام؛ فلما رآه النبيل أبا اسحق ، هتف قائلاً: "أنا مسيحي". فنظر إليه الوالي "كولكيانوس" وقال: "هل تعرف ما هو المسيحي؟" فأجاب القديس: "أعرف أنني عبد للرب يسوع المسيح". فقال له الوالي: "إن أطعتني تحيا، وإن لم تطعني فستموت ميتة شنيعة". فأجاب القديس أبا اسحق قائلاً: "مكتوب في الإنجيل المقدس: لا تخافوا من الذين يقتلون الجسد ولكنهم لا يستطيعون قتل النفس، بل خافوا بالأحرى ممن يقدر أن يهلك النفس والجسد في جهنم النار". فقال له الوالي: "أين كُتب هذا الكلام؟" فأجابه الرجل القديس: "إنه مكتوب في الأناجيل". وعاد الوالي وسأله: "هل أنت القارئ؟" فقال الرجل القديس: "لا". ثم سأله الوالي: "من أين جئت؟" فأجاب الرجل القديس: "أنا رجل من دفرا، في إقليم باناو". وقال الوالي لديونيسيوس: "انظر إن كنت تستطيع إقناعه ريثما أذهب إلى تانياتي (دمياط حاليا) وأعود"؛ فصعد إلى سفينة ومضى إلى تانياتي.
عندئذٍ، أخذ ديونيسيوس الرجلَ القديسَ إلى منزله وقال له: "اسمعني، وقَدِّمِ الذبيحةَ للآلهة؛ فلي ابنةٌ وحيدةٌ سأزوجها لك. وسأجعل الحاكمَ يمنحك منصباً في الجيش لتنال التكريم. ما شأنك وهذا الاسم، اسم يسوع؟" فأجابه القديس قائلاً: "بصلوات القديسين، لو منحتني مُلكَ دقلديانوس بأسره، لما أنكرتُ ربي يسوع المسيح، ابنَ الله الحي". فلما أدرك ديونيسيوس أنه لن يستجيب له، كفَّ عن محاورته وأمر بحبسه، مكتفياً بتزويده بالخبز والماء كقوتٍ يوميٍ له.
وحدث ذات يوم أن خرج الرجل القديس، فإذا برجل أعمى جالس يستجدي. فقال له ديونيسيوس: "اذهب والتمس من رجل الله أن يضع يده على عينيك فتبصر"؛ فصرخ الرجل في الحال قائلاً: "يا رجل الله، أعنّي لكي أُبصر". فقال له المبارك: "إن ربنا يسوع لم يقل لأحد ’أبصِر‘، بل قال: ’ليكن لك بحسب إيمانك‘". ثم وضع يديه على عينيه وقال: "باسم الرب يسوع المسيح، أَبصِر". فأبصر في الحال وصرخ قائلاً: "إله المسيحيين واحد، وهو إله أبا إسحق". وإذ بامرأة تصرخ قائلة: "يا سيد (يا رب) ارحمني وأعنّي، فأنا وابني فقيران". فقال لها الرجل المبارك: "أي آلهة تعبدين؟" فأجابت: "أعبد زيوس وهيرميس"؛ فقال القديس: "أنتِ فقيرة، وآلهتكِ فقيرة أيضاً. فإن أصغيتِ إليّ، تحل عليكِ بركة الله: اذهبي واعبدي المسيح، فتكون بركته معكِ أيضاً".
أقام إسحق المبارك في منزل ديونيسيوس الجندي حتى عاد الحاكم من الجنوب. ولما وصل، سأل ديونيسيوس: "هل أقنع ذلك المسيحي نفسه بتقديم الذبيحة؟"
فأجاب قائلاً: "لتُحرق أنت وأصنامك المدنّسة معك؛ فمن الآن فصاعداً سأعبد الرب يسوع المسيح، ابن الله الحي، والروح القدس". عندئذٍ قال له الوالي: "لا شأن لي بك، بل سأرسلك إلى قائدك العسكري". فقال له ديونيسيوس: "حيٌّ هو إله أبا إسحق، إنك لن تأكل ولن تشرب حتى تصدر الحكم عليّ، لكي أنال إكليل المسيح في ملكوته".
وعندما همَّ الوالي بالعودة إلى منزله، تأخرت مركبته فتعذر عليه الذهاب لتناول طعام العشاء. فقال لديونيسيوس: "أرِني سحرك اليوم!" فأجابه: "لستُ ساحراً، بل أنا خادمٌ ليسوع المسيح". حينئذٍ دوّن الوالي حكمه الذي جاء فيه: "آمرُ بقطع رأس ديونيسيوس -الجندي العاصي لأوامر الأباطرة- بحد السيف". فاقتادوه إلى غرب المدينة، إلى موقع المسرح، وهناك قُطِع رأسه؛ فنال إكليل الشهادة في اليوم الخامس من شهر "بشنس" (الموافق ل 13 مايو)، بسلام الله. آمين.
ثم قال الوالي لأبا إسحق: "هوذا الجندي قد مات بسببك؛ وسآخذك معي إلى بيشاتي 17 لأحاكمك بالطريقة نفسها"؛ فأخذه معه على متن السفينة وجاء به إلى بيشاتي. وفي الغد، حين جلس الوالي على كرسي الحكم، أمر بإحضار المبارك أبا إسحق للمثول أمامه. "ولما أحضروه، قال له: 'اسمع مني وقدم ذبيحة للآلهة كي تنجو من عذابات كثيرة، فإني أشعر بأسىً شديدٍ عليك'. فأجابه القديس: 'إن كنت قد أسفتَ عليّ بالأمس، فلا تشفق عليّ اليوم'. غير أن الوالي أمر بتعليقه على الهنبازين ليُعذَّب. حينئذٍ رشم القديس علامة الصليب قائلاً: 'باسم الآب والابن والروح القدس، أعنّي أيها المخلص الصالح'؛ فانشطر الهنبازين إلى نصفين في الحال. ولما رأى الجنود تلك الأعجوبة، هتفوا قائلين: 'واحد هو إله المسيحيين فقط ، إله أبا إسحق'. ثم أمر الوالي بوضعه على سرير حديدي 18 وتسخينه حتى يحترق جسده تماماً، وبصب الكبريت والقار في حلقه. وفي تلك الأثناء، قال الوالي لإسحق: 'اسمع مني ولا تمت هذه الميتة الشنيعة'. فأجابه الرجل المبارك: 'بقوة المسيح أستطيع احتمال أي عذاب تود إنزاله بي'. فقال الوالي: 'خذوه إلى السجن حتى أنظر فيما سأفعله به'؛ فأخذوه واقتادوه إلى السجن. وفي الغد، وبينما كان الوالي جالساً على كرسي القضاء، وصل القائد أريانوس إلى المدينة وتبادلا التحية. ثم قال كولكيانوس لأريانوس: 'هنا مسيحيٌ عجزتُ عن إجباره على تقديم الذبائح لآلهة الإمبراطور'. فقال له أريانوس: 'أرِني إياه'. ولما أحضروا القديس، قال له أريانوس: 'أأنت الساحر القادم من دفرا، الذي يزدري آلهة الإمبراطور؟'. فأجابه الرجل المبارك: 'لستُ ساحراً، بل أنا أنتمي للآب والابن والروح القدس'. فقال أريانوس لكولكيانوس: 'أرسله إليّ وسأؤدبه'. حينئذٍ قال كولكيانوس للقديس إسحق: 'بما أنك لم تسمع لي، فها أنا أنفيك'؛ وأرسله بعيداً مع أريانوس، الذي أبحر نحو الجنوب.
فألقوا الرجل المبارك في جوف السفينة، وإذا بالمخلص يتراءى له هناك. فلما رآه الرجل المبارك، ارتمى أمامه وسجد له قائلاً: "اذكرني يا رب، وثبّتني حتى أُتمّ مسيرتي". فقال له الرب: "لا تخف، فلن أتخلى عنك -ولا عن أمثالك- أبداً حتى ترثوا الملكوت". وبعد أن قال له ذلك، منحه السلام وصعد إلى السماء. فصلى المبارك أبا إسحق إلى الله قائلاً: "يا الله، يا من صوّرتني في بطن أمي، أعنّي في كل مكان أذهب إليه، ولا تبتعد عني، لئلا يقول الوثنيون: أين إلههم؟"
وبينما كان يتحدث بهذه الكلمات، كان بحارة السفينة يصغون إليه ويقولون فيما بينهم: "هذا رجلٌ من عند الله". وعندما فتح أحد البحارة باب عنبر السفينة وقال له: "سلامٌ لك!"، أجابه الرجل المبارك: "سلامٌ لك يا أخي الطيب؛ اصنع معي معروفاً وأعطني قليلاً من الماء". فأحضر البحارُ وعاءً للرجل القديس، فشرب منه ثم قال للبحار: "ليشملكَ الله برحمته في يوم الدينونة العظيمة". فأخذ البحار الوعاء -وكان قد بقي فيه قليلٌ من الماء- وسكبه مازحاً على بحارٍ آخر كان يعاني من علةٍ في عينه؛ ففتحت العينُ فوراً وعادت سليمةً وكأنها لم تكن مريضةً قط. حينئذٍ مجّد البحارُ الذي نال الشفاءَ اللهَ، الذي يصنع وحده العجائب والأمور العظيمة. وفي مرةٍ أخرى، أحضروا له خبزاً ليأكل، فقال لهم الرجل المبارك: "ليبارككم إلهي، ولكنني لن آكل حتى أُتمّ مسيرتي؛ وحينها سآكل الخبز في ملكوت السماوات مع ربي يسوع المسيح".
وفي نهاية اليوم السادس عشر، وصل إلى الميناء، فأدخلوه إلى المدينة التي أظهر أهلها كرم ضيافةٍ فائقاً؛ وهناك وجد فيلوكسينوس وأبا سورين في السجن، فحيّاهما.19 فقالا له: "تشجّع أيها الأخ الحبيب، فقد نلنا نعمةً بلقائك"؛ وقال المبارك أبا سورين: "ليمنحنا الرب الإله القوة لنثبت في اسمه القدوس حتى نُتمّ جهادنا". فقال المبارك أبا إسحق: "اذكروني أيها الآباء، فأنا لستُ سوى صغير لا أعرف شيئاً"؛ فأجابه فيلوكسينوس: "تشجّع يا أخي، فسيستمع الحاكم إليك قبلنا، وستنال إكليل استشهادك؛ واذكرنا [حين تكون] في بيت الله".
وفي منتصف الليل، صلى الرجل القديس؛ ففتح أبا إسحق فاه وبارك الله قائلاً: "أباركك يا الله في حياتي، وأسبحك ما دمتُ حياً؛ ولتَصْعَدْ صلواتي أمامك كبخورٍ زكيّ: احفظني في ظل جناحيك، ونجّني باسمك القدوس، فلك المجد إلى الأبد". وفي الغد، جلس أريانوس الوالي على كرسي القضاء وأمر قائلاً: "أحضروا إليّ الساحر القادم من دفرا". فذهب الجلادون إلى السجن [لإحضاره]. وحينئذٍ قال المبارك أبا إسحق للقديسين: "تضرعوا إلى الله أن يمنحني القوة". فأجابوه قائلين: "إن إلهنا الذي نعبده ليلاً ونهاراً سيمنحك القوة حتى تُتِمَّ سعيَك".
ولما أمثلوه أمام الوالي، قال له عبر مترجم: "ألم تقنع نفسك بعد بتقديم الذبائح للآلهة المجيدة -التي أصدر الأباطرة مراسيم بشأنها- كي تنجو من العذاب؟" فأجاب القديس أبا إسحق: "لقد أخبرتك مراراً وتكراراً أنني لن أقدم ذبائح لآلهتك؛ ولقد أخبرتك أيضاً أن العالم بأسره سيزول ويهلك، أما مجد إلهي فسيبقى إلى الأبد". فلما سمع الوالي ذلك استشاط غضباً، وأمر بضرب فم القديس بقضيب من حديد حتى تكسرت أسنانه واقتلعت. ثم قاسى الرجل القديس آلاماً مبرحة جراء صنوف التعذيب هذه: فقد شقوا أجزاءً مختلفة من جسده بسكاكين حديدية، وسكبوا الخل والحمض (ربما المقصود بالحمض هو الجير أو اللملح) على جراحه، واقتلعوا أظافر يديه وقدميه واحداً تلو الآخر ووضعوا رماداً ساخناً (أو جيراً) مكانها، كما أحضروا أسياخاً حديدية محمّاة في النار وغرسوها في أذنيه حتى وصلت الحرارة إلى رأسه؛ ومع ذلك، فقد احتمل القديس كل هذه الأمور بصبر وجلد عظيمين 20 . حينئذٍ، تعجب الجمع الغفير والوالي نفسه. والتفت أريانوس الوالي إلى أبا إسحق -ذلك الرجل الشجاع- وقال له: "حقاً، لقد أظهرت سحرك اليوم". فقال القديس: "ألا ترى أيها الأحمق أن ربي يسوع قد جاء مراراً وتكراراً لينقذني من مكائدك وعذابك؟" فقال له أريانوس: "حقاً، لا شيء يمكن أن ينجيك من كل هذا إلا السحر الذي تمارسه باسم يسوع الذي تؤمن به. ولكن، وحياة الآلهة -بأبولو وأرتميس أم الآلهة- سأقطع جسدك إرباً إرباً حتى أرى (أعرف) ما إذا كان سحرك قادراً على تخليصك من بين يديّ". ثم سأله الوالي: "ما اسمك؟" فأجاب القديس: "الاسم الذي أطلقه عليّ والداي بالجسد -وفقاً لعادات العالم- هو إسحق، أما الاسم الذي أحيا به كإنسان حر فهو مسيحي". فقال له الحاكم: "يا إسحق، لن تجديك كلمات الجنون هذه نفعاً؛ فأصغِ إليّ وقرِّب ذبيحةً للآلهة". فأجابه الرجل القديس: "إنني عاقل ولستُ مجنوناً، ولكن لو أصغيتُ إليك، لأصبحتُ مجنوناً حقاً".
فأمر الوالي بأن يُنقل الهنبازين وأن يُعذَّب حتى تندلق أحشاؤه. فقال له الوالي: "قدِّم ذبيحةً لأُخلي سبيلك". فأجابه الرجل المبارك: "في مقدورك أن تُنزل بجسدي شتى أنواع العذاب، أما روحي ونفسي فلا سلطان لك عليهما". حينئذٍ أمر الوالي قائلاً: "أحضروا زيتاً وشمعاً وكبريتاً، وضعوها في قِدرٍ وأوقدوا النار تحتها حتى تغلي؛ ثم صُبُّوا بعضاً منها في حلقه، واسكبوا الباقي على سائر جسده"؛ ففعلوا ذلك. ولما رأى الرجل القديس القِدر، قال: "يا رب يسوع المسيح، أعنِّي؛ وكما أرسلتَ ملاكك ونجَّيتَ القديسين الثلاثة من أتون نار الملك نبوخذنصّر، نجِّني أنا أيضاً يا رب يسوع المسيح، لئلا يقول الوالي: أين إلهه؟". وبعد أن قال هذا، رسم علامة الصليب ثلاث مرات، قائلاً: "باسم الآب والابن والروح القدس". ثم دخل في القِدر (المرجل او القيزان) وصلَّى قائلاً: "تعالَ إليَّ يا ربي يسوع المسيح، ولا تبتعد عني". وإذا بالملاك ميخائيل ينزل فوراً من السماء ويُبرِّد القِدر، جاعلاً إياها كالماء البارد.
فلما رأى أهل المدينة ما حدث، أرادوا رجم الوالي وصرخوا قائلين: "إما أن تطلق سراحه أو تصدر حكماً عليه". فأمر الوالي بنقله إلى السفينة وحمله إلى "توبه"؛ وفي معرض الحكم عليه كتب ما يلي: "بما أن هذا الرجل، إسحق الذي من دفرا في إقليم باناو (مدينة بنها في مصر حاليا)، يرغب في الموت من أجل اسم يسوع، فإنني آمر بقطع رأسه بحد السيف"؛ ثم طوى الورقة وقام عن كرسي القضاء.
عندما وصل أعوان الشر، اقتادوا الرجل القديس وقد كُمِّم فمه. وحين أتوا به إلى مدينة "توبه"، خرجت المدينة بأسرها لاستقباله، وذهلوا لحسن محياه وللمجد الذي كان يحيط به. وبينما كانوا يهمّون بقطع رأسه، قال القديس أبا إسحق للجنود الذين يمسكون به: "ليطل الله في أعماركم يا إخوتي، وأمهلوني قليلاً من الوقت لأصلي لإلهي قبل أن تقتلوني". فابتعد الجلادون عن المبارك أبا إسحق، وإذ وجّه وجهه نحو الشرق، فتح فاه وصلّى قائلاً: يا ملائكة النور، قفوا معي في هذا اليوم؛ ويا رؤساء ملائكة النور، قفوا معي في هذا اليوم؛ ويا سيرافيم النور، قفوا معي في هذا اليوم؛ ويا خدام النور، قفوا معي في هذا اليوم. هلمَّ إليَّ في هذا اليوم أيها الرب يسوع المسيح، وامنحني القوة؛ عسى أن أكون مستحقاً لسماع صوتك قبل مماتي، فيتعزى قلبي بطلب ما فيه منك. وبينما كان القديس أبا إسحق يتلفظ بهذه الكلمات، إذ بالرب يسوع المسيح -راكباً مركبةً من نور- قد أقبل من السماء، تحيط به ألوف الملائكة يسبحونه. وإذ أوقف المركبة فوق المكان الذي كان فيه الرجل القديس، نادى الرب بصوتٍ عظيمٍ قائلاً: "تعال إليَّ يا حبيبي إسحق، وسأمنحك أجور تعويضك لأجل الآلام التي تكبدتها من أجل اسمي. وسأمنحك كل إلتماس ترغب في تقديمه، لأن أبي هو معطي بسرور. فلما سمع القديس أبا إسحق المخلّصَ يقول له هذا الكلام، تشجّع قلبه وخاطبه قائلاً: "اسمعني أيها الرب إلهي، وأفرِح قلبي [بمنحي] ما سأطلبه من يدك؛ فأنت تعلم يا الله أن مدينتي صغيرة، ولئلا يقوم عليها عدو، أرسل رئيس الملائكة ميخائيل لمساعدتهم ومنحهم القوة لهزيمتهم. إذا أتى رجل خاطئ إلى جسدي وصلى إليك، فاغفر له خطيئته قبل غروب شمس ذلك اليوم. ثم قال له الرب: يا حبيبي، كما تشاء فليكن. فقال له القديس أبا إسحق: أتوسل إليك أيضًا من أجل من سيضع جسدي في تابوت (أو يكفنه)، أن تستر جسده وقت حاجته فلا يصير عريانا؛ وأسألك أيضًا أن تكتب اسم من سيكتب [قصة] استشهادي، وينشرني (أي ينشر اسمي وسيرة استشهادي) في سفر الحياة؛ وأن تجعل قلب من سيسمي ابنه طواعية باسمي سعيدًا بفرح (وترضيه)؛ وأن تعطي جزءًا من التقدمة الدائمة لمن يقدم قربانًا على (أو عند) قبري. ولما قال القديس أبا إسحق هذا، أجابه المخلص بصوتٍ وديعٍ قائلاً: "الحق أقول لك: كل ما طلبته باسمي سأمنحك إياه، والأشياء التي لم تذكرها سأمنحك إياها أيضاً. وها أنا أُقيم ميخائيل، رئيس الملائكة، في الموضع الذي سيُوضع فيه جسدك، ليخدمك في كل ما يطلبه منك الناس من أجل الشفاء". وبعد ذلك، التفت المبارك أبا إسحق إلى الجلادين وقال لهم: "تعالوا ونفذوا ما أُمرتم به". فجاءوا ووضعوا اللجام في فمه، ثم وضعوا رأسه على حجرٍ كبيرٍ ومددوا عنقه وقطعوا رأسه المقدس بالسيف. حينئذٍ، اهتز المكان الذي قُطع فيه رأسه يميناً وشمالاً ثلاث مرات، وساد الخوف والاضطراب في المدينة. وجرى دمٌ ولبنٌ من جسد الرجل المبارك؛ فخرج كثيرون ممن سمعوا بذلك ليروا تلك الأعجوبة التي حدثت. وعندما أخذ العميان والعرج والصم والبكم من ذلك الدم واللبن الخارج من جسد الرجل المبارك ووضعوه على أعضائهم المصابة، شُفوا جميعاً في الحال: فأبصر الأعمى، ومشى الأعرج، وسمع الأصم، وتكلم الأبكم. هكذا أكمل القديس أبا إسحق جهاد استشهاده في اليوم السادس من شهر "بشنس"، وانتقل إلى من أحبه، ربنا يسوع المسيح، ونال إكليله الذي لا يفنى في ملكوت السماوات.
وبعد ذلك، أحضر كبير أعيان المدينة ثوباً من نسيج "البِيسوس" (الكتان الفاخر) ولفّ به رأس [الشهيد]؛ ثم أحضر ثوباً آخر من الكتان الناعم ودفن فيه جسد المبارك أبا إسحق. وكنتُ أنا - خريستوفورس، الخاطئ وقريب الرجل القديس - برفقته منذ البداية، وقد دوّنتُ سيرته؛ فلم أضف إليها شيئاً ولم أنقص منها شيئاً. وحين رأيتُ أنه لا يوجد أحد معي هناك لنقل [الجسد]، طلبتُ المساعدة من كبير الأعيان، فمنحني عربةً ذات أربع عجلات ووضع عشرةً من خدمه في عوني. وضعتُ الجسد على العربة ونقلته إلى مرفأ قريته، لكنني لم أجد قارباً لنقله عبر النهر. فأمر الله الخيول (؟) فسارت فوق المياه وكأنها تسير على اليابسة. وعندما سمع أهل المدينة بذلك، خرجوا جميعاً -صغاراً وكباراً- لاستقبال الجسد، وحملوه إلى الكنيسة بكل إكرام ومجد، مبتهجين ومسبّحين الله الذي يصنع العجائب وحده.
وبعد ذلك، قمتُ أنا خريستوفورس بهدم منزله الكائن شمال الكنيسة قُبيل نهاية الشهر الثامن، وشيَّدتُ مصلىً للقديس وأتممتُ بناءه. ثم أرسلنا في طلب الأسقف فكرَّسه في اليوم السادس من شهر "طوبة"؛ وجرت فيه أعمالٌ عظيمة وعجائبُ باهرة، وهم مجَّدوا ربنا يسوع المسيح وجميع قديسيه؛ الذي يليق به - مع الآب والروح المحيي والمساوي له في الجوهر - كلُّ المجد والجلال والعبادة، الآن وكل أوان وإلى دهر الداهرين. آمين.
جاء في خاتمة المخطوطة ما يلي:-----
باسم الآب والابن والروح القدس، الثالوث الكامل المتساوي في الجوهر في لاهوت واحد: هذا هو إلهنا، ونحن المسيحيين نسبحه ونمجده. يا من قبلتَ تقدمة هابيل الصديق، وذبيحة أبينا نوح، وقربان أبينا إبراهيم، وفلسي الأرملة، وصدقات كرنيليوس؛ تقبَّل هذه التقدمة من عبدك أبي، الأب "ستاوروس"، الراهب في دير أبينا البار العظيم "يوحنا" (ابن تيمانشوبي-بيهووت). لقد تكبَّد عناءً كبيراً في إعداد هذا الكتاب المقدس، وقدمه للكنيسة المقدسة المكرسة باسم إيليا النبي العظيم، لكي يقرأ فيه هو ومن يأتي بعده. وأرجو من كل من يقرأ فيه أن يقول: "ليشمل الرب يسوع المسيح هذا الأب برحمته في أمور هذا العالم؛ وعندما يفارق الجسد، فليسترح في حضن أبينا البطريرك إبراهيم، مع إسحق ويعقوب وإيليا النبي، في ملكوت السماوات". فمن يقول "آمين"، فليكن مباركاً. آمين، آمين، تسعة وتسعون مرة.
في السنة 915 من تقويم الشهداء (أي عام 1199 ميلادية)، في عهد أبينا البطريرك "أبا يوحنا"، رئيس أساقفة الإسكندرية، وربنا يسوع المسيح ملكٌ علينا. آمين.21
الهوامش
11. 5 تيفري (Tiphre) أو ديفري (Dephri): قرية في مقاطعة الغربية (Garbjah)، ضمن إقليم "بوسيريس" (Busirite nome) في الدلتا. انظر: كواترمير (Quatremère)، "Mémoires" (مذكرات)، المجلد الأول، ص 107؛ وشامبليون (Champollion)، "L'Egypte sous les Pharaons" (مصر في عهد الفراعنة)، المجلد الثاني، ص 183.
12. 6 اسم لمدينة وإقليم في الدلتا؛ وتُعرف أيضاً باسم "بانا" (Bana)، وهي "بنها" (Benha) المذكورة عند نيبور (Niebuhr) في كتابه "Voyage in Arabia" (رحلة في الجزيرة العربية)، المجلد الأول، ص 64. انظر: كواترمير، "Mémoires"، المجلد الأول، ص 105-107؛ وشامبليون، "L'Egypte sous les Pharaons"، المجلد الثاني، ص 181-183.
13. 7 يبدأ هذا الشهر في السادس والعشرين من شهر أبريل.
14. 1 ذُكر في موضع آخر أنه صنع سبعين تمثالاً من الذهب - خمسة وثلاثين تمثالاً ذكراً ومثلها للإناث - وأطلق عليها أسماء الآلهة، بدءاً بأبولو وزيوس وديانا. زويغا (Zoega)، "Cat. Copt." (فهرس المخطوطات القبطية). المخطوطات (MSS.)، ص 32؛ مخطوطة الفاتيكان، ص 66.
15. 2 ربما كان هذا هو مرسومه الثاني ضد المسيحيين، وصدر في عام 303 ميلادية.
16. 3 [قبطي] أو "تابا" (Taba)، وهي مدينة تقع بالقرب من [قبطي]، جنوب الإسكندرية في مصر السفلى؛ وهي المدينة التي ذكرها بطليموس باسم [قبطي]، وذكرها إسطيفانوس البيزنطي باسم [قبطي]. وفي "دليل رحلات أنطونينوس" (Itinerary of Antoninus)، تقع المدينة بين "سينو" (Cyno) و"أندرو" (Andro)، حيث تبعد ثلاثين ميلاً عن الأولى واثني عشر ميلاً عن الثانية. وكان حاكمها أو واليها في عهد الشهيد إسحق هو "كولكيانوس" (Culcianus). انظر: كواترمير (Quatremère)، "مذكرات" (Mémoires)، المجلد الأول، ص 350؛ وشامبوليون (Champ.)، "مصر في عهد الفراعنة" (L'Égypte sous les Pharaons)، المجلد الثاني، ص 175؛ ودليل أنطونينوس (Anton. Itin.) طبعة ويسلينج (Wessel.)، ص 153.
17. 2 "نيسين" (Nicin) باللاتينية، وهي حاضرة إقليم "بروسوبيتس" (Prosopites nome)، وتقع على الضفة اليمنى للفرع الغربي لنهر النيل، باتجاه رشيد. وقد استشهد اثنان من أساقفتها، وهما "سارابامين" (Sarapamen) و"ماكروبيوس" (Macrobius)، في عهد دقلديانوس. انظر: كواترمير، "مذكرات"، المجلد الأول، ص 420؛ والمجلد الثاني، ص 162؛ ولو كوين (Le Quien)، "الشرق المسيحي" (Oriens Christianus)، المجلد الثاني، ص 523؛ وشامبوليون، "مصر في عهد الفراعنة"، المجلد الثاني، ص 162.
18. 1 غالباً ما كان يُسكب الزيت على النار المشتعلة تحت السرير لزيادة تعذيب الضحية. انظر " Praefat. De Miraculis،" الصفحات من الثامن والأربعين إلى التاسع عشر.
19. 3 في استشهاد القديسين أبادير وإيرائي يقال إن القديس إسحق الدفراوي كان في سجن أنطينو(انصنا) مع القديسين بفنوتي وشامول وسمعان الطبشوي وسيسينيوس وثيؤدوروس وموسى فيلوثاوس ومكاريوس ومكسيموس وآخرين كثيرين. انظر Hyvernat, Les Actes des Martyrs de l'Egypte, p. 100
20. 1 للحصول على قائمة بالأهوال التي تعرض لها الشهداء، انظر "Praefat. De Miraculis،" ص 1xiii-lxxxviii.
21. 1 كان بطريرك الإسكندرية الأول، المدعو يوحنا، رئيساً للكنيسة لمدة ثماني أو تسع سنوات 498-507 م. - انظر
Le Quien: 'Oriens. Christ.,' vol. ii., pp. 423-425; Eusebius Renaudot: 'Historia Patriarcharum Alexandrinorum Jacobitarum.' Paris, 1713, pp. 125, 126.
The Life and martyrdom of Saint Isaac of Tiphre translated from coptic text to english
The feast of his martyrdom is on May 14th. The Feast of the Consecration of His Church falls on the 6th of Tobi, corresponding to January 14–15.
Translation.
The martyrdom of the holy martyr of our Lord Jesus Christ, Father Isaac of Tiphre,11 in the nome of Panau,12 which was consummated on the sixth day of the month Pashons 13 (Corresponding to May 14) in the peace of God, Amen.
The emperor Diocletian in his days did things which it was unlawful for him to do, for he made idols and worshipped them, and forsook the God of heaven.14 Besides this he wrote an edict 15 saying, "I, the Emperor Diocletian, command that the whole world shall offer sacrifice to the gods; whosoever shall not obey this decree, him shall they torture with horrible pains, and afterwards they shall spoil his house, and carry away all that he hath." And he gave the order to Culcianus the general, who carried it to Alexandria, where he made the multitude to offer sacrifice; and journeying on again he came towards the south to Egypt, and entering into Taubah 16 he landed at the harbour.
Now there was in the village of Tiphre, in the nome of Panau, a prudent young man whose name was Isaac; he was twenty-five years of age, and was very beautiful, and he served God by day and by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared unto him while he was asleep in the field behind his hut (or 'the reapers'?) and woke him up, saying, Hail, Father Isaac, the God-bearing (or God-borne) man, why sleepest thou when the contest is spreading? And he showed him a crown, and said, Be strong, this crown is thine, neglect not thy salvation. Arise, get thee to the governor of Taubah, and confess Christ, that thou mayest die for His holy name, and come into His everlasting kingdom; and when the angel had said these things, he departed from him.
When the daylight had spread over the earth, Isaac arose and came into his house, and greeting his father and mother, said, I salute you, my parents; and they said, Whither goest thou? He says to them, I am going to the governor to die for the name of my Lord Jesus Christ, Whom they crucified under Pontius Pilate; it is good for me to die to this world, that I may live in the kingdom of God; but they laid hold on him, saying, We will not send thee away, O beloved child, to die a horrible death.
At midnight the angel of the Lord appeared unto him, and the whole house became exceedingly bright. And the angel said to him, Hail, Father Isaac, God be with thee; and the blessed man replied, Thy grace be with me. And he led him out from his village and his house, saying, Endure, that thou mayest receive the incorruptible crown, for I say unto thee, thy crown and thy throne are in heaven. Fear not, I will be with thee, until thou endest thy martyrdom, for thou shalt suffer many pains for the name of the Christ; but be of good cheer, I will come to succour thee. And having said these things, the angel went upwards into heaven. Then the blessed Father Isaac arose in the strength of Christ, and departed on foot to Taubah, where he found the governor in the bath, and he stood before the door. And, behold, there came out to him a soldier, whose name was Dionysius, and he said to him, What dost thou need? Says the noble one, I want the governor. |79 The soldier replied, What is thy business with the governor? And the holy man answered, I am a Christian. Dionysius says to him, What hast thou to do with this matter? dost thou wish to die a horrible death? The blessed man answered, The death of this world is not death to me, but life in the world to come. Now while he was speaking with Dionysius, the governor came out from the bath; and when the noble Father Isaac saw him, he cried out, saying, I am a Christian. Then Culcianus the governor looked at him, and said, Knowest thou what a Christian is? The holy man answered, I know that I am a servant of the Lord Jesus Christ. And the governor spake to him, saying, If thou listenest to me, thou shalt live; but if thou dost not listen to me, thou shalt die a horrible death. The holy Father Isaac answered, saying, It is written in the Holy Gospel, "fear not them that are able to kill your body, but are not able to kill your soul; but fear rather Him that is able to destroy the soul and the body in the Gehenna of fire." Says the governor to him, Where are these things written? And the holy man made answer to him, "They are written in the Gospels." And again the governor spake to him, Art thou the reader? Says the holy man, No. Then the governor asked him, Whence comest thou? The holy man replied, I am a man of Tiphre, in the nome of Panau. And the governor said to Dionysius, See if thou canst persuade him while I go to Taniati and return; and having gone up into a ship, he came to Taniati.
Then Dionysius took the holy man into his house, and said to him, Listen to me, offer sacrifice to the gods; I have one only child, a daughter, and her will I give to thee to wife. I will also cause the governor to give thee a post in the army, and thou wilt receive honour. What hast thou to do with this name of Jesus? Says the holy man to him, By the prayers of the Saints, if thou wert to give me the empire of Diocletian, I would not deny my Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the living God. So when Dionysius knew that he would not listen to him, he left off speaking to him, and put him under restraint; and he gave him bread and water for his daily food.
And it came to pass that the holy man came out one day, and behold there was a blind man sitting begging. Dionysius says to him, Go and entreat the man of God, to lay his hand upon thine eyes and thou shalt see; and he straightway cried out, saying, O man of God, help me that I may see. Then the blessed one said to him, Our Lord Jesus did not say to any man, See? but according to thy faith, so shall it be to thee. And laying his hands upon his eyes, he said, In the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ, See. And he saw immediately, and cried out, saying, One is the God of the Christians, the God of Father Isaac. And behold a woman cried out, Lord have mercy, and help me, for I and my son are poor. The blessed man says to her, Which gods do ye serve? and she answered, I serve Zeus and Hermes; and the holy man said, Thou art poor, and thy gods also are poor. If thou listenest to me, the blessing of God shall be with thee: go, serve Christ, and His blessing also shall be with thee.
Now the blessed Isaac stayed in the house of Dionysius the soldier until the governor returned to the south. And when he had come, he asked Dionysius, Has the Christian persuaded himself to offer sacrifice?
He answered, Mayest thou be burnt, and thy polluted idols with thee; for from now and henceforth I will serve the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the living God, and the Holy Spirit. Upon this the governor said, With thee I have nothing to do, but I will send thee to thy tribune. Then Dionysius said to him, As the God of Father Isaac liveth, thou shalt neither eat nor drink until thou hast pronounced my sentence, so that I may receive the crown of Christ in His kingdom.
Now when the governor had risen to go to his house, his chariot was delayed, and he was unable to go to his dinner. And he said to Dionysius, Now, show your sorcery to-day! He replied, I am no sorcerer, but a servant of Jesus Christ. Then the governor wrote his sentence, which ran after this manner: "I command that the head of Dionysius, a soldier disobedient to the commands of the emperors, be severed [from his body] by the edge of the sword." And when they had carried him to the west of the city to the place of the theatre, they took off his head: and he consummated his martyrdom on the 5th day of Pashons, in the peace of God, Amen.
Then says the governor to Father Isaac, Behold, through thee the soldier is dead; and I will take thee to Peshati 17 that I may try thee in the same manner; so he took him with him on board the ship, and brought him to Peshati. And on the morrow, when the governor sat upon the throne, he commanded them to bring the |82 blessed Father Isaac before him. "When they had brought him, he said to him, Hearken unto me, and offer sacrifice to the gods, that thou mayest escape a multitude of sufferings, for I am exceedingly grieved for thee. Says the holy man to him, If thou didst sorrow for me yesterday, do not pity me to-day; but the governor commanded them to hang him upon the wooden horse and to torture him. Then the holy man made the sign of the cross, saying, In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, help me, O good Saviour; and straightway the wooden horse broke in two in the middle. When the company of soldiers saw the marvel which had taken place, they cried out, The God of the Christians is the only ONE, the God of Father Isaac. Then the governor commanded to lay him upon the iron bed,18 and to heat it until he was entirely consumed, and to pour sulphur and pitch in his throat. And at the same time the governor said to Isaac, Hearken unto me, and die not by such a horrible death. Says the blessed man to him, Through the strength of Christ I can endure every torture thou wishest to inflict upon me. Says the governor, Carry him away to prison until I consider what I shall do with him: so they took him and carried him away to prison. And on the morrow, while he sat upon the judgment seat, behold Arianus the general landed at the city, and they greeted one another. Then Culcianus said to Arianus, There is a Christian here whom I am unable to compel to offer sacrifice to the imperial gods. Says Arianus to him, Show him to me. When they had brought the holy man, Arianus said to him, Art thou the sorcerer from Tiphre, who despisest the imperial gods? The blessed man says to him, I am not a sorcerer; nay, but I belong to the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Says Arianus to Culcianus, Send him to me, and I will teach him. Then Culcianus says to the holy Father Isaac, Since thou hast not listened to me, behold, I banish you; and he sent him away with Arianus, who sailed to the south.
And they threw the blessed man into the hold of the ship; and behold the Saviour appeared to him there. When the blessed man saw Him he threw himself down before Him, and did reverence, saying, Be mindful of me, O Lord, and sustain me until I finish my course. Then the Lord said to him, Fear not, I will never forsake thee, nor any like unto thee, until ye inherit the kingdom; and having said these things, He gave him the salutation of peace, and went up into heaven. And the blessed Father Isaac prayed to God, saying, O God, Who didst form me from my mother's womb, help me in every place whithersoever I shall go; and be not far from me, lest the heathen say, Where is their God?
Now while he was saying these things, the sailors of the ship listened to him, and said to one another, This is a man of God. And when one of the sailors opened the door of the hold of the ship and said to him, Hail! the blessed man replied, my Lord, hail, good brother; do me a charity and give me a little water. So he brought a vessel to the holy man, and he drank, and said to the sailor, May God show mercy unto thee in: the day of the great judgment. And the sailor took the vessel, and there was a little water left in it, and, in sport, he poured it upon one of the sailors who had a diseased eye, and immediately the eye was opened and became as if it had never been diseased. Then the sailor to whom this had happened glorified God, Who alone doeth great and wonderful things. At another time they brought him bread to eat; but the blessed man said to them, May my God bless you, but I will not eat until I have finished my course, when I shall eat bread in the kingdom of heaven with my Lord Jesus Christ.
And at the end of the sixteenth day he landed at the port, and they brought the blessed man into the city, which was exceedingly hospitable: and finding Philoxenus and Father Surine in prison, he greeted them.19 They said to him, Be of good cheer, beloved brother, we have received grace through greeting thee; and the blessed Father Surine said, May the Lord God give us power that we may stand firm in His Holy Name until we finish our contest. And the blessed Father Isaac said, Remember, O Fathers, that I am but a child, and I know nothing; Philoxenus replied, Be of good cheer, brother, the governor will hear thee before us, and thou wilt receive the crown of thy martyrdom; and do thou be mindful of us [when thou art] in the house of God.
And at midnight the holy man prayed: and Father Isaac opened his mouth and blessed God, saying, "I bless Thee, O God, in life, and I will praise Thee while I have my being; may my prayers come up before Thee as sweet incense: keep me under the shadow of Thy wings, and deliver me by Thy Holy Name, for Thine is the glory for ever." On the morrow Arianus the governor sat upon the judgment seat, and he commanded, saying, Bring hither to me the sorcerer from Tiphre. So the executioners went to the prison [to bring him]. Then the blessed Father Isaac says to the saints, Entreat God that He may give strength to me. They answered and said, My God Whom we serve day and night will give strength to thee until thou has finished thy course.
And when he had been brought before the governor, he said to him through an interpreter, Hast thou not yet persuaded thyself to offer sacrifice to the glorious gods, concerning whom the emperors have made proclamations, that thou mayest escape from torture? The holy Father Isaac says, I have already told thee not once nor twice that I will not offer sacrifice to thy gods; and I have already told thee that the whole world shall go to destruction, but the glory of my God shall endure for ever. When the governor heard these things he became exceedingly wroth, and he caused his mouth to be beaten with a rod of iron until his teeth were knocked out. Then the holy man suffered agonies through tortures such as these: they made gashes in various parts of the body of the holy man with iron knives; they poured vinegar and acid upon his wounds; they dug out the nails of his hands and feet, one by one; they laid hot ashes upon the places thereof; they brought iron borers red hot from the fire, and they thrust them through his ears until the fire entered his brain; but the holy man endured all these things with fortitude.20 Then the whole multitude and the governor himself marvelled. Arianus the governor turned to Father Isaac, the brave man, and said to him, Verily thou hast shown thy sorcery this day. Says the holy man, Dost thou not see, O fool, that my Lord Jesus has come time after time to deliver me from thy wiles and tortures? Arianus said to him, Verily, nothing could deliver thee from all these things except the sorcery which thou doest in the name of Jesus in whom thou believest. But by the life of the gods, by Apollo and Artemis, the mother of the gods, I will hack thee limb from limb until I find (know) that thy sorcery can deliver thee out of my hands. The governor says to him, What is thy name? The holy man answered, The name which my parents gave to me in the flesh according to the [custom of] the world is Isaac, but the name by which I live as a free man is Christian. Then the governor said to him, Isaac, thy words of madness will avail thee nothing: hearken unto me, and offer sacrifice to the gods. Says the holy man, I am wise and not mad; but were I to hearken unto thee I should indeed become mad.
So the governor commanded to carry him to the wooden horse and to torture him until all his bowels flowed away. Says the governor to him, Offer sacrifice that I may set thee free. The blessed man answered, It is in thy power to inflict all [manner of] tortures upon my body, but over the soul and the spirit thou hast no power. Then the governor commanded, saying, Bring hither oil and wax and sulphur, and throw them into a cauldron and make fire under them until they boil; first of all pour some down his throat, and then over all his body; and they did so. When the holy man saw the cauldron, he said, O Lord Jesus Christ, help me, and as Thou didst send Thy angel and didst deliver the three holy ones out of the fiery furnace of Nebuchadnezzar the king, oven so deliver me, O Lord Jesus Christ, that the governor may not say, Where is his God? And when he had said these things, he made the sign of the Cross three times, saying, In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Then he went into the cauldron, and prayed, saying, Come to me, O Lord Jesus Christ, and be not far from me. And behold, the archangel Michael came immediately from heaven and cooled the cauldron, making it like cold water.
Now when the [people of the] city had seen what had taken place, they wished to stone the governor, and cried out, saying, Either release him, or pronounce sentence upon him. Then the governor commanded to carry him on board ship, and to carry him to Taubah; and in passing sentence upon him he wrote thus, Since it is the wish of this man Isaac of Tiphre, in the nome of Panau, to die for the name of Jesus, I command that his head be taken off by the edge of the sword; and thus [saying] he closed up the paper and rose up from the judgment seat.
When the servants of iniquity had come, they dragged away the holy man with a gag in his mouth. Now when they had brought him to Taubah, the whole city came out to him, and they marvelled at his comeliness and the glory that surrounded him. And when they had seized him in order to take off his head, the holy Father Isaac said to the soldiers who were holding him, Long life to you, my brethren, and have patience with me a little time that I may pray to my God before ye slay me. So the executioners withdrew from the blessed Father Isaac, and turning his face towards the East, he opened his mouth and prayed, saying:----O ye Angels of light, stand by me this day; O ye Archangels of light, stand by me this day; O ye Seraphim of light, stand by me this day; O ye ministers of light, stand by me this day. Come to me this day, O Lord Jesus Christ, and give me strength; may I be worthy to hear Thy voice before I die, that my heart may be consoled by asking from Thee the petition which is in it. While the holy Father Isaac was saying these things, behold the Lord Jesus Christ, riding upon a chariot of light, came from heaven, with thousands of angels praising Him. And stopping the chariot above the place where the holy man was, the Lord cried out with a loud voice, saying, Come up to Me, O beloved Isaac, and I will give unto thee the wages of the recompense for the sufferings which thou hast endured for My Name. Every petition thou desirest to make I will grant to thee, for My Father is a joyful giver. Now when the holy Father Isaac heard the Saviour saying these things to him, his heart took courage, and he spoke to Him, saying, thus: Hear me, O Lord God, and make my heart glad [by granting] that which I shall ask from Thy hand, Thou knowest, O God, that my city is little, and lest an enemy rise up against it, send the archangel Michael to help them and to give them strength to destroy them. If a sinful man shall come to my body, and shall pray to Thee, do Thou forgive his sin before the sun goes down on that day. Then the Lord spoke to him, O beloved one, as thou wishest so shall it be. And the holy Father Isaac said to Him, I entreat Thee also on behalf of him that shall lay my body in a sarcophagus, that in the hour of his necessity thou wilt clothe his body that it be not naked; I ask too that Thou wilt write the name of him that shall write down [the history of] my martyrdom, and publish me abroad, in the book of Life; that Thou wilt make the heart of him that shall voluntarily call his son by my name, happy with joy; and that Thou wilt give part of the endless offering to him that shall make an offering at my tomb. When the holy Father Isaac had said these things, the Saviour answered in a gentle voice, saying, Verify, I say unto thee, whatsoever thou hast asked in My name, that will I grant unto thee, and the things which thou hast not made mention of, will I also grant unto thee. And behold I will appoint Michael the chief archangel to the place where thy body shall be laid to serve thee in every demand of healing the people which they ask thee for. And after these things the blessed Father Isaac turned to the executioners, and said to them, Come, fulfil that which has been commanded you. So they came and put the gag in his mouth, and having placed his head upon a great stone, they stretched out his neck, and cut off his holy head by the sword. Then the place where they cut off his head rocked hither and thither three times; and there was fear and trepidation in the city. And there came forth blood and milk from the body of the blessed man; and many people having heard of it came forth to see the wonder which had taken place. Now when the blind, and the lame, and the deaf, and the dumb had taken of that same blood and milk which came forth from the body of the blessed man, and laid it upon their diseased members, behold they were healed immediately: The blind saw, the lame walked, the deaf heard, and the dumb spake. This is how the holy Father Isaac consummated his martyrdom, on the 6th day of the month Pashons; and departed to Him whom he loved, our Lord Jesus Christ, and received his incorruptible crown in the kingdom of heaven.
After these things the chief citizen of the city brought a byssus cloth and wrapped the head of [the martyr] in it; and again he brought a fine linen garment, and buried the body of the blessed Father Isaac in it. I, Christopher, a sinner and kinsman of the holy man, was with him, and remained with him from the beginning, and have written his memoirs. I have added nothing thereto, neither have I taken anything therefrom. When I saw that there was no one with me there to carry away [the body], I asked the chief citizen and he gave me a four-wheeled carriage and his ten servants. Then I laid the body upon it and brought it to the port of his village, but I found no boat to carry it across the river. And God commanded the horses (?) and they walked upon the waters as upon dry land. Now when the people of the city heard of this, they all came out small and great, to meet the body, and they carried it to the Church with honour and glory, and they rejoiced and praised God, Who alone doeth wonderful things.
After these things, I, Christopher, destroyed his house at the north of the Church towards the close of the eighth month, and I built an oratory to the saint, and laid its crown for it. Then we sent and brought the Bishop, and he consecrated it on the sixth day of the month Tybi; and mighty deeds and wonderful things took place in it, and they praised our Lord Jesus Christ and all His saints: for Whom with the Father and the vivifying and consubstantial Spirit, all glory and majesty and adoration is meet, now and evermore for all eternity. Amen.
The Colophon reads:-----
In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Ghost, the perfect consubstantial Trinity in one Godhead: this is our God, and we Christians praise Him and glorify Him. O Thou Who didst accept the gift of Abel the just man, the sacrifice of our father Noah, the offering of our father Abraham, the two |91 mites of the widow and the alms of Cornelius, do Thou receive the offering from Thy servant my father, Father Stauros, a monk in the monastery of our righteous and great father, Father John, the son of Timanshopi-Pehoout.' He took very great pains about this holy book, and gave it to the holy Church of Elijah the mighty Prophet, that he, and those who came after him, might read therein. I pray everyone who reads in it to say, May the Lord Jesus Christ show mercy unto him with all the things of this world; and, when he departs from the body, may he recline in the bosom of our patriarch Abraham, with Isaac, and Jacob, and Elijah the prophet, in the kingdom of heaven. Whosoever shall say Amen, may he be blessed. Amen, Amen, ninety-nine times.
The 915th year of the era of the Martyrs (i.e., A.d. 1199) under our Father the Patriarch, Abba John, Archbishop of Alexandria. Our Lord Jesus Christ being King over us. Amen.21
the footnotes
11. 5 Tiphre, or Dephri, a village in the province of Garbjah, in the Busirite nome, in the Delta. See Quatremère, "Mémoires," Vol. I, p. 107. Champollion, "L'Egypte sous les Pharaons," Vol. II, p, 183.
12. 6 The name of a town and a nome in the Delta; called also Bana, the Benha of Niebuhr ("Voyage in Arabia," Vol. I, p, 64). See Quatremere, "Mémoires," Vol.1, pp. 105-107; Champ., "L'Egypte sous les Pharaons," Vol.II," pp. 181-183.'
13. 7 This month began on the 26th of April.
14. 1 Elsewhere we are told that he made seventy golden images, thirty-five male and thirty-five female, and called them gods, beginning with Apollo, Zeus, and Diana. Zoega, "Cat. Copt. MSS.," p. 32; Vatican MS., p. 66.
15. 2 This was probably his second edict against the Christians, given in the year a.d. 303.
16. 3[Coptic] or Taba, a city near [Coptic], south of Alexandria, in Lower Egypt, the [Coptic] of Ptolemy, and [Coptic]. of Stephen of Byzantium. In the Itinerary of Antoninus it is placed between Cyno and Andro, being thirty miles from the first, and twelve from the second. Its prefect or governor at the time of Isaac was Culcianus. See Quatremere, "Memoires," Vol. I, p. 350. Champ., "L'Egypte sous les Pharaons," Vol. II, p. 175. Anton. Itin. Wessel., p. 153.
17. 2 The Latin Nicin, the metropolis of the Prosopites nome, situated on the right bank of the west arm of the Nile, towards Rosetta. Two of its bishops, Sarapamen and Macrobious, were martyred under Diocletian. See Quatremere, "Memoires," Vol. I, p. 420; Vol. II, p. 162; Le Quien, "Oriens Christianus," Vol. II, p. 523; Champ., "L'Egypte sous les Pharaons," Vol. II, p. 162.
18. 1 Oil was often poured upon the fire under the bed to increase the torture of the victim. See "Praefat. de Miraculis," pp. xlviii-lxix.
19. 3 In the martyrdom of Saint Apater and Hrai, it is said that Saint Isaac of Tiphre was in prison at Antinoou with Saints Paphnouthi, Tshmaoul, Simeon of Tapsho, Sissinnios, Theodoros, Moses of Philotheos, Macarius, Maximus, and many others. See Hyvernat, Les Actes des Martyrs de l'Egypte, p. 100.
20. 1 For a list of the horrors endured by the martyrs, see "Praefat. De Miraculis," pp. lxiii-lxxxviii.
21. 1 The first patriarch of Alexandria, called John, was head of the Church for eight or nine years A.D. 498-507. - See Le Quien: 'Oriens. Christ.,' vol. ii., pp. 423-425; Eusebius Renaudot: 'Historia Patriarcharum Alexandrinorum Jacobitarum.' Paris, 1713, pp. 125, 126.
Translation.
The martyrdom of the holy martyr of our Lord Jesus Christ, Father Isaac of Tiphre,11 in the nome of Panau,12 which was consummated on the sixth day of the month Pashons 13 (Corresponding to May 14) in the peace of God, Amen.
The emperor Diocletian in his days did things which it was unlawful for him to do, for he made idols and worshipped them, and forsook the God of heaven.14 Besides this he wrote an edict 15 saying, "I, the Emperor Diocletian, command that the whole world shall offer sacrifice to the gods; whosoever shall not obey this decree, him shall they torture with horrible pains, and afterwards they shall spoil his house, and carry away all that he hath." And he gave the order to Culcianus the general, who carried it to Alexandria, where he made the multitude to offer sacrifice; and journeying on again he came towards the south to Egypt, and entering into Taubah 16 he landed at the harbour.
Now there was in the village of Tiphre, in the nome of Panau, a prudent young man whose name was Isaac; he was twenty-five years of age, and was very beautiful, and he served God by day and by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared unto him while he was asleep in the field behind his hut (or 'the reapers'?) and woke him up, saying, Hail, Father Isaac, the God-bearing (or God-borne) man, why sleepest thou when the contest is spreading? And he showed him a crown, and said, Be strong, this crown is thine, neglect not thy salvation. Arise, get thee to the governor of Taubah, and confess Christ, that thou mayest die for His holy name, and come into His everlasting kingdom; and when the angel had said these things, he departed from him.
When the daylight had spread over the earth, Isaac arose and came into his house, and greeting his father and mother, said, I salute you, my parents; and they said, Whither goest thou? He says to them, I am going to the governor to die for the name of my Lord Jesus Christ, Whom they crucified under Pontius Pilate; it is good for me to die to this world, that I may live in the kingdom of God; but they laid hold on him, saying, We will not send thee away, O beloved child, to die a horrible death.
At midnight the angel of the Lord appeared unto him, and the whole house became exceedingly bright. And the angel said to him, Hail, Father Isaac, God be with thee; and the blessed man replied, Thy grace be with me. And he led him out from his village and his house, saying, Endure, that thou mayest receive the incorruptible crown, for I say unto thee, thy crown and thy throne are in heaven. Fear not, I will be with thee, until thou endest thy martyrdom, for thou shalt suffer many pains for the name of the Christ; but be of good cheer, I will come to succour thee. And having said these things, the angel went upwards into heaven. Then the blessed Father Isaac arose in the strength of Christ, and departed on foot to Taubah, where he found the governor in the bath, and he stood before the door. And, behold, there came out to him a soldier, whose name was Dionysius, and he said to him, What dost thou need? Says the noble one, I want the governor. |79 The soldier replied, What is thy business with the governor? And the holy man answered, I am a Christian. Dionysius says to him, What hast thou to do with this matter? dost thou wish to die a horrible death? The blessed man answered, The death of this world is not death to me, but life in the world to come. Now while he was speaking with Dionysius, the governor came out from the bath; and when the noble Father Isaac saw him, he cried out, saying, I am a Christian. Then Culcianus the governor looked at him, and said, Knowest thou what a Christian is? The holy man answered, I know that I am a servant of the Lord Jesus Christ. And the governor spake to him, saying, If thou listenest to me, thou shalt live; but if thou dost not listen to me, thou shalt die a horrible death. The holy Father Isaac answered, saying, It is written in the Holy Gospel, "fear not them that are able to kill your body, but are not able to kill your soul; but fear rather Him that is able to destroy the soul and the body in the Gehenna of fire." Says the governor to him, Where are these things written? And the holy man made answer to him, "They are written in the Gospels." And again the governor spake to him, Art thou the reader? Says the holy man, No. Then the governor asked him, Whence comest thou? The holy man replied, I am a man of Tiphre, in the nome of Panau. And the governor said to Dionysius, See if thou canst persuade him while I go to Taniati and return; and having gone up into a ship, he came to Taniati.
Then Dionysius took the holy man into his house, and said to him, Listen to me, offer sacrifice to the gods; I have one only child, a daughter, and her will I give to thee to wife. I will also cause the governor to give thee a post in the army, and thou wilt receive honour. What hast thou to do with this name of Jesus? Says the holy man to him, By the prayers of the Saints, if thou wert to give me the empire of Diocletian, I would not deny my Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the living God. So when Dionysius knew that he would not listen to him, he left off speaking to him, and put him under restraint; and he gave him bread and water for his daily food.
And it came to pass that the holy man came out one day, and behold there was a blind man sitting begging. Dionysius says to him, Go and entreat the man of God, to lay his hand upon thine eyes and thou shalt see; and he straightway cried out, saying, O man of God, help me that I may see. Then the blessed one said to him, Our Lord Jesus did not say to any man, See? but according to thy faith, so shall it be to thee. And laying his hands upon his eyes, he said, In the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ, See. And he saw immediately, and cried out, saying, One is the God of the Christians, the God of Father Isaac. And behold a woman cried out, Lord have mercy, and help me, for I and my son are poor. The blessed man says to her, Which gods do ye serve? and she answered, I serve Zeus and Hermes; and the holy man said, Thou art poor, and thy gods also are poor. If thou listenest to me, the blessing of God shall be with thee: go, serve Christ, and His blessing also shall be with thee.
Now the blessed Isaac stayed in the house of Dionysius the soldier until the governor returned to the south. And when he had come, he asked Dionysius, Has the Christian persuaded himself to offer sacrifice?
He answered, Mayest thou be burnt, and thy polluted idols with thee; for from now and henceforth I will serve the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the living God, and the Holy Spirit. Upon this the governor said, With thee I have nothing to do, but I will send thee to thy tribune. Then Dionysius said to him, As the God of Father Isaac liveth, thou shalt neither eat nor drink until thou hast pronounced my sentence, so that I may receive the crown of Christ in His kingdom.
Now when the governor had risen to go to his house, his chariot was delayed, and he was unable to go to his dinner. And he said to Dionysius, Now, show your sorcery to-day! He replied, I am no sorcerer, but a servant of Jesus Christ. Then the governor wrote his sentence, which ran after this manner: "I command that the head of Dionysius, a soldier disobedient to the commands of the emperors, be severed [from his body] by the edge of the sword." And when they had carried him to the west of the city to the place of the theatre, they took off his head: and he consummated his martyrdom on the 5th day of Pashons, in the peace of God, Amen.
Then says the governor to Father Isaac, Behold, through thee the soldier is dead; and I will take thee to Peshati 17 that I may try thee in the same manner; so he took him with him on board the ship, and brought him to Peshati. And on the morrow, when the governor sat upon the throne, he commanded them to bring the |82 blessed Father Isaac before him. "When they had brought him, he said to him, Hearken unto me, and offer sacrifice to the gods, that thou mayest escape a multitude of sufferings, for I am exceedingly grieved for thee. Says the holy man to him, If thou didst sorrow for me yesterday, do not pity me to-day; but the governor commanded them to hang him upon the wooden horse and to torture him. Then the holy man made the sign of the cross, saying, In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, help me, O good Saviour; and straightway the wooden horse broke in two in the middle. When the company of soldiers saw the marvel which had taken place, they cried out, The God of the Christians is the only ONE, the God of Father Isaac. Then the governor commanded to lay him upon the iron bed,18 and to heat it until he was entirely consumed, and to pour sulphur and pitch in his throat. And at the same time the governor said to Isaac, Hearken unto me, and die not by such a horrible death. Says the blessed man to him, Through the strength of Christ I can endure every torture thou wishest to inflict upon me. Says the governor, Carry him away to prison until I consider what I shall do with him: so they took him and carried him away to prison. And on the morrow, while he sat upon the judgment seat, behold Arianus the general landed at the city, and they greeted one another. Then Culcianus said to Arianus, There is a Christian here whom I am unable to compel to offer sacrifice to the imperial gods. Says Arianus to him, Show him to me. When they had brought the holy man, Arianus said to him, Art thou the sorcerer from Tiphre, who despisest the imperial gods? The blessed man says to him, I am not a sorcerer; nay, but I belong to the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Says Arianus to Culcianus, Send him to me, and I will teach him. Then Culcianus says to the holy Father Isaac, Since thou hast not listened to me, behold, I banish you; and he sent him away with Arianus, who sailed to the south.
And they threw the blessed man into the hold of the ship; and behold the Saviour appeared to him there. When the blessed man saw Him he threw himself down before Him, and did reverence, saying, Be mindful of me, O Lord, and sustain me until I finish my course. Then the Lord said to him, Fear not, I will never forsake thee, nor any like unto thee, until ye inherit the kingdom; and having said these things, He gave him the salutation of peace, and went up into heaven. And the blessed Father Isaac prayed to God, saying, O God, Who didst form me from my mother's womb, help me in every place whithersoever I shall go; and be not far from me, lest the heathen say, Where is their God?
Now while he was saying these things, the sailors of the ship listened to him, and said to one another, This is a man of God. And when one of the sailors opened the door of the hold of the ship and said to him, Hail! the blessed man replied, my Lord, hail, good brother; do me a charity and give me a little water. So he brought a vessel to the holy man, and he drank, and said to the sailor, May God show mercy unto thee in: the day of the great judgment. And the sailor took the vessel, and there was a little water left in it, and, in sport, he poured it upon one of the sailors who had a diseased eye, and immediately the eye was opened and became as if it had never been diseased. Then the sailor to whom this had happened glorified God, Who alone doeth great and wonderful things. At another time they brought him bread to eat; but the blessed man said to them, May my God bless you, but I will not eat until I have finished my course, when I shall eat bread in the kingdom of heaven with my Lord Jesus Christ.
And at the end of the sixteenth day he landed at the port, and they brought the blessed man into the city, which was exceedingly hospitable: and finding Philoxenus and Father Surine in prison, he greeted them.19 They said to him, Be of good cheer, beloved brother, we have received grace through greeting thee; and the blessed Father Surine said, May the Lord God give us power that we may stand firm in His Holy Name until we finish our contest. And the blessed Father Isaac said, Remember, O Fathers, that I am but a child, and I know nothing; Philoxenus replied, Be of good cheer, brother, the governor will hear thee before us, and thou wilt receive the crown of thy martyrdom; and do thou be mindful of us [when thou art] in the house of God.
And at midnight the holy man prayed: and Father Isaac opened his mouth and blessed God, saying, "I bless Thee, O God, in life, and I will praise Thee while I have my being; may my prayers come up before Thee as sweet incense: keep me under the shadow of Thy wings, and deliver me by Thy Holy Name, for Thine is the glory for ever." On the morrow Arianus the governor sat upon the judgment seat, and he commanded, saying, Bring hither to me the sorcerer from Tiphre. So the executioners went to the prison [to bring him]. Then the blessed Father Isaac says to the saints, Entreat God that He may give strength to me. They answered and said, My God Whom we serve day and night will give strength to thee until thou has finished thy course.
And when he had been brought before the governor, he said to him through an interpreter, Hast thou not yet persuaded thyself to offer sacrifice to the glorious gods, concerning whom the emperors have made proclamations, that thou mayest escape from torture? The holy Father Isaac says, I have already told thee not once nor twice that I will not offer sacrifice to thy gods; and I have already told thee that the whole world shall go to destruction, but the glory of my God shall endure for ever. When the governor heard these things he became exceedingly wroth, and he caused his mouth to be beaten with a rod of iron until his teeth were knocked out. Then the holy man suffered agonies through tortures such as these: they made gashes in various parts of the body of the holy man with iron knives; they poured vinegar and acid upon his wounds; they dug out the nails of his hands and feet, one by one; they laid hot ashes upon the places thereof; they brought iron borers red hot from the fire, and they thrust them through his ears until the fire entered his brain; but the holy man endured all these things with fortitude.20 Then the whole multitude and the governor himself marvelled. Arianus the governor turned to Father Isaac, the brave man, and said to him, Verily thou hast shown thy sorcery this day. Says the holy man, Dost thou not see, O fool, that my Lord Jesus has come time after time to deliver me from thy wiles and tortures? Arianus said to him, Verily, nothing could deliver thee from all these things except the sorcery which thou doest in the name of Jesus in whom thou believest. But by the life of the gods, by Apollo and Artemis, the mother of the gods, I will hack thee limb from limb until I find (know) that thy sorcery can deliver thee out of my hands. The governor says to him, What is thy name? The holy man answered, The name which my parents gave to me in the flesh according to the [custom of] the world is Isaac, but the name by which I live as a free man is Christian. Then the governor said to him, Isaac, thy words of madness will avail thee nothing: hearken unto me, and offer sacrifice to the gods. Says the holy man, I am wise and not mad; but were I to hearken unto thee I should indeed become mad.
So the governor commanded to carry him to the wooden horse and to torture him until all his bowels flowed away. Says the governor to him, Offer sacrifice that I may set thee free. The blessed man answered, It is in thy power to inflict all [manner of] tortures upon my body, but over the soul and the spirit thou hast no power. Then the governor commanded, saying, Bring hither oil and wax and sulphur, and throw them into a cauldron and make fire under them until they boil; first of all pour some down his throat, and then over all his body; and they did so. When the holy man saw the cauldron, he said, O Lord Jesus Christ, help me, and as Thou didst send Thy angel and didst deliver the three holy ones out of the fiery furnace of Nebuchadnezzar the king, oven so deliver me, O Lord Jesus Christ, that the governor may not say, Where is his God? And when he had said these things, he made the sign of the Cross three times, saying, In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Then he went into the cauldron, and prayed, saying, Come to me, O Lord Jesus Christ, and be not far from me. And behold, the archangel Michael came immediately from heaven and cooled the cauldron, making it like cold water.
Now when the [people of the] city had seen what had taken place, they wished to stone the governor, and cried out, saying, Either release him, or pronounce sentence upon him. Then the governor commanded to carry him on board ship, and to carry him to Taubah; and in passing sentence upon him he wrote thus, Since it is the wish of this man Isaac of Tiphre, in the nome of Panau, to die for the name of Jesus, I command that his head be taken off by the edge of the sword; and thus [saying] he closed up the paper and rose up from the judgment seat.
When the servants of iniquity had come, they dragged away the holy man with a gag in his mouth. Now when they had brought him to Taubah, the whole city came out to him, and they marvelled at his comeliness and the glory that surrounded him. And when they had seized him in order to take off his head, the holy Father Isaac said to the soldiers who were holding him, Long life to you, my brethren, and have patience with me a little time that I may pray to my God before ye slay me. So the executioners withdrew from the blessed Father Isaac, and turning his face towards the East, he opened his mouth and prayed, saying:----O ye Angels of light, stand by me this day; O ye Archangels of light, stand by me this day; O ye Seraphim of light, stand by me this day; O ye ministers of light, stand by me this day. Come to me this day, O Lord Jesus Christ, and give me strength; may I be worthy to hear Thy voice before I die, that my heart may be consoled by asking from Thee the petition which is in it. While the holy Father Isaac was saying these things, behold the Lord Jesus Christ, riding upon a chariot of light, came from heaven, with thousands of angels praising Him. And stopping the chariot above the place where the holy man was, the Lord cried out with a loud voice, saying, Come up to Me, O beloved Isaac, and I will give unto thee the wages of the recompense for the sufferings which thou hast endured for My Name. Every petition thou desirest to make I will grant to thee, for My Father is a joyful giver. Now when the holy Father Isaac heard the Saviour saying these things to him, his heart took courage, and he spoke to Him, saying, thus: Hear me, O Lord God, and make my heart glad [by granting] that which I shall ask from Thy hand, Thou knowest, O God, that my city is little, and lest an enemy rise up against it, send the archangel Michael to help them and to give them strength to destroy them. If a sinful man shall come to my body, and shall pray to Thee, do Thou forgive his sin before the sun goes down on that day. Then the Lord spoke to him, O beloved one, as thou wishest so shall it be. And the holy Father Isaac said to Him, I entreat Thee also on behalf of him that shall lay my body in a sarcophagus, that in the hour of his necessity thou wilt clothe his body that it be not naked; I ask too that Thou wilt write the name of him that shall write down [the history of] my martyrdom, and publish me abroad, in the book of Life; that Thou wilt make the heart of him that shall voluntarily call his son by my name, happy with joy; and that Thou wilt give part of the endless offering to him that shall make an offering at my tomb. When the holy Father Isaac had said these things, the Saviour answered in a gentle voice, saying, Verify, I say unto thee, whatsoever thou hast asked in My name, that will I grant unto thee, and the things which thou hast not made mention of, will I also grant unto thee. And behold I will appoint Michael the chief archangel to the place where thy body shall be laid to serve thee in every demand of healing the people which they ask thee for. And after these things the blessed Father Isaac turned to the executioners, and said to them, Come, fulfil that which has been commanded you. So they came and put the gag in his mouth, and having placed his head upon a great stone, they stretched out his neck, and cut off his holy head by the sword. Then the place where they cut off his head rocked hither and thither three times; and there was fear and trepidation in the city. And there came forth blood and milk from the body of the blessed man; and many people having heard of it came forth to see the wonder which had taken place. Now when the blind, and the lame, and the deaf, and the dumb had taken of that same blood and milk which came forth from the body of the blessed man, and laid it upon their diseased members, behold they were healed immediately: The blind saw, the lame walked, the deaf heard, and the dumb spake. This is how the holy Father Isaac consummated his martyrdom, on the 6th day of the month Pashons; and departed to Him whom he loved, our Lord Jesus Christ, and received his incorruptible crown in the kingdom of heaven.
After these things the chief citizen of the city brought a byssus cloth and wrapped the head of [the martyr] in it; and again he brought a fine linen garment, and buried the body of the blessed Father Isaac in it. I, Christopher, a sinner and kinsman of the holy man, was with him, and remained with him from the beginning, and have written his memoirs. I have added nothing thereto, neither have I taken anything therefrom. When I saw that there was no one with me there to carry away [the body], I asked the chief citizen and he gave me a four-wheeled carriage and his ten servants. Then I laid the body upon it and brought it to the port of his village, but I found no boat to carry it across the river. And God commanded the horses (?) and they walked upon the waters as upon dry land. Now when the people of the city heard of this, they all came out small and great, to meet the body, and they carried it to the Church with honour and glory, and they rejoiced and praised God, Who alone doeth wonderful things.
After these things, I, Christopher, destroyed his house at the north of the Church towards the close of the eighth month, and I built an oratory to the saint, and laid its crown for it. Then we sent and brought the Bishop, and he consecrated it on the sixth day of the month Tybi; and mighty deeds and wonderful things took place in it, and they praised our Lord Jesus Christ and all His saints: for Whom with the Father and the vivifying and consubstantial Spirit, all glory and majesty and adoration is meet, now and evermore for all eternity. Amen.
The Colophon reads:-----
In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Ghost, the perfect consubstantial Trinity in one Godhead: this is our God, and we Christians praise Him and glorify Him. O Thou Who didst accept the gift of Abel the just man, the sacrifice of our father Noah, the offering of our father Abraham, the two |91 mites of the widow and the alms of Cornelius, do Thou receive the offering from Thy servant my father, Father Stauros, a monk in the monastery of our righteous and great father, Father John, the son of Timanshopi-Pehoout.' He took very great pains about this holy book, and gave it to the holy Church of Elijah the mighty Prophet, that he, and those who came after him, might read therein. I pray everyone who reads in it to say, May the Lord Jesus Christ show mercy unto him with all the things of this world; and, when he departs from the body, may he recline in the bosom of our patriarch Abraham, with Isaac, and Jacob, and Elijah the prophet, in the kingdom of heaven. Whosoever shall say Amen, may he be blessed. Amen, Amen, ninety-nine times.
The 915th year of the era of the Martyrs (i.e., A.d. 1199) under our Father the Patriarch, Abba John, Archbishop of Alexandria. Our Lord Jesus Christ being King over us. Amen.21
the footnotes
11. 5 Tiphre, or Dephri, a village in the province of Garbjah, in the Busirite nome, in the Delta. See Quatremère, "Mémoires," Vol. I, p. 107. Champollion, "L'Egypte sous les Pharaons," Vol. II, p, 183.
12. 6 The name of a town and a nome in the Delta; called also Bana, the Benha of Niebuhr ("Voyage in Arabia," Vol. I, p, 64). See Quatremere, "Mémoires," Vol.1, pp. 105-107; Champ., "L'Egypte sous les Pharaons," Vol.II," pp. 181-183.'
13. 7 This month began on the 26th of April.
14. 1 Elsewhere we are told that he made seventy golden images, thirty-five male and thirty-five female, and called them gods, beginning with Apollo, Zeus, and Diana. Zoega, "Cat. Copt. MSS.," p. 32; Vatican MS., p. 66.
15. 2 This was probably his second edict against the Christians, given in the year a.d. 303.
16. 3[Coptic] or Taba, a city near [Coptic], south of Alexandria, in Lower Egypt, the [Coptic] of Ptolemy, and [Coptic]. of Stephen of Byzantium. In the Itinerary of Antoninus it is placed between Cyno and Andro, being thirty miles from the first, and twelve from the second. Its prefect or governor at the time of Isaac was Culcianus. See Quatremere, "Memoires," Vol. I, p. 350. Champ., "L'Egypte sous les Pharaons," Vol. II, p. 175. Anton. Itin. Wessel., p. 153.
17. 2 The Latin Nicin, the metropolis of the Prosopites nome, situated on the right bank of the west arm of the Nile, towards Rosetta. Two of its bishops, Sarapamen and Macrobious, were martyred under Diocletian. See Quatremere, "Memoires," Vol. I, p. 420; Vol. II, p. 162; Le Quien, "Oriens Christianus," Vol. II, p. 523; Champ., "L'Egypte sous les Pharaons," Vol. II, p. 162.
18. 1 Oil was often poured upon the fire under the bed to increase the torture of the victim. See "Praefat. de Miraculis," pp. xlviii-lxix.
19. 3 In the martyrdom of Saint Apater and Hrai, it is said that Saint Isaac of Tiphre was in prison at Antinoou with Saints Paphnouthi, Tshmaoul, Simeon of Tapsho, Sissinnios, Theodoros, Moses of Philotheos, Macarius, Maximus, and many others. See Hyvernat, Les Actes des Martyrs de l'Egypte, p. 100.
20. 1 For a list of the horrors endured by the martyrs, see "Praefat. De Miraculis," pp. lxiii-lxxxviii.
21. 1 The first patriarch of Alexandria, called John, was head of the Church for eight or nine years A.D. 498-507. - See Le Quien: 'Oriens. Christ.,' vol. ii., pp. 423-425; Eusebius Renaudot: 'Historia Patriarcharum Alexandrinorum Jacobitarum.' Paris, 1713, pp. 125, 126.