Christian women saints -- Fiction; Christianity, Conversion to -- Fiction; Courtesans -- Fiction; Egypt -- Fiction; Hermits -- Fiction
“Jesus, my Jesus, why hast Thou forsaken me! Thou seest the danger in
which I am. Come, and help me, sweet Saviour. Since Thy Father no longer
loves me, and does not hear me, remember that I have but Thee. From Him
nothing is to be hoped; I cannot comprehend Him, and He cannot pity me.
But Thou was born of a woman, and that is why I trust in Thee. Remember
that Thou wast a man. I pray to Thee, not because Thou art God of God,
Light of light, very God of very God, but because Thou hast lived poor
and humble on this earth where now I suffer, because Satan has tempted
Thy flesh, because the sweat of agony has bedewed Thy face. It is to Thy
humanity that I pray, Jesus, my brother Jesus!”
When he had thus prayed, wringing his hands, a terrible peal of laughter
shook the walls of the tomb, and the voice which rang in his ears on the
top of the column, said jeeringly--
“That is a prayer worthy of the breviary of Marcus, the heretic.
Paphnutius is an Arian! Paphnutius is an Arian!”
As though thunderstruck, the monk fell senseless.
*****
When he reopened his eyes, he saw around him monks wearing black hoods,
who poured water on his temples, and recited exorcisms. Many others were
standing outside, carrying palm leaves.
“As we passed through the desert,” said one of them, “we heard cries
issuing from this tomb, and, having entered, we found you lying
unconscious on the floor. Doubtless the devils had thrown you down, and
had fled at our approach.”
Paphnutius, raising his head, asked in a feeble voice--
“Who are you, my brothers? And why do you carry palms in your hands? Is
it for my burial?”
One of them replied--
“Brother, do you not know that our father, Anthony, now a hundred and
five years old, having been warned of his approaching end, has come
down from Mount Colzin, to which he had retired, to bless his numerous
spiritual children? We are going with palm leaves to greet our holy
father. But how is it, brother, that you are ignorant of such a great
event? Can it be possible that no angel came to this tomb to inform
you?”
“Alas!” replied Paphnutius, “I am not worthy of such a favour, and the
only denizens of this abode are demons and vampires. Pray for me. I am
Paphnutius, Abbot of Antinoe, the most wretched of the servants of God.”
At the name of Paphnutius, all waved their palm leaves and murmured his
praises. The monk who had previously spoken, cried in surprise--
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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