The Lives of the Saints, Volume 02 (of 16): FebruaryBaring-Gould, S. (Sabine)
Religion
The Lives of the Saints, Volume 02 (of 16): February
Baring-Gould, S. (Sabine)
Christian saints
The father rejoiced when he heard whither he was going, for he knew
that it was to die; but he wept at leaving his dear companions; they
separated, never more to meet again in this world. He had to travel
barefoot, tightly bound, and surrounded by guards, who hurried him
over rocks and briers, through sand and brushwood. The blood gushed
from the wounds he had received in prison, and from his torn and
blistered feet; but instead of receiving pity from these wretches,
they heaped abuse upon him. On his journey, the Christians assembled
to see him pass, and receive his blessing.
He arrived at Orejour on the last day of January, and was immediately
taken before Oureiadeven, the king's brother. This prince laboured
under an incurable leprosy. Having heard of the missionary's gift of
miracles, he doubted not that he would gladly purchase his life by
exerting it for his cure. The father replied, that it appertained to
God alone to cure disease; all that he could do was to apply the
remedies, and entreat Almighty God to bless them; and he added, that
if the prince desired to be made whole of his bodily disease, he must
first heal the sickness of his soul, by accepting the true faith. When
the prince saw that nothing would move the holy man, he turned to one
of his suite named Margharittei, and bade him cut off his head upon
the spot. Margharittei answered, that he was a Christian himself, and
nothing would induce him to imbrue his hands in innocent blood. Then
the prince's own wife rushed in, and threatened her husband with the
judgments of heaven if he dared to execute the sentence of the king.
Moved by these remonstrances, he ordered the servant of God to be
carried back to his dungeon.
As soon as this got abroad, the Brahmins, fearing that their prey
might escape their hands, went to the governor of the town, who was a
bitter enemy of the Christians, and represented the case to him.
Mourougapapoullei, for that was his name, instantly demanded an
audience of the prince, and in the strongest terms reproached him for
not obeying the commands of the king. The cowardly prince yielded
through fear of the king's displeasure, and granted the governor leave
to execute the sentence of death. It was on the morning of the 4th of
February, being Ash-Wednesday, that the servant of God was apprised of
his final sentence. At the joyful news, his countenance lighted up; he
fell on his knees, and returned thanks to God. Then rising up, he said
to the executioners, "I am ready." He walked to the place of execution
without restraint, and with his Breviary hanging from his neck, his
eyes fixed on heaven, and his steps so rapid that his guards were
compelled to restrain him. Along the road a multitude of the faithful
were waiting to see him pass.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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