Martyrdom Mercurius

The Martyrdom of the Holy Mercurius The General and the Martyr Who is Holy in Christ, Whose Commemoration Is Completed Today, on This Day, Which Is the Twenty-Fifth of the Month of Hathor, in Peace. In the time of Decius and Valerian, who were emperors in the great city of Rome, they established a decree and a unanimous counsel, as if to cause everyone everywhere to sacrifice to the gods and to bow down to them openly. And they summoned all the senators. They set before them the things they had thought concerning this unanimous counsel. And they agreed with one heart with them, and rejoiced greatly, saying, "We thank the immortal gods that this opinion has been revealed openly." And at that same hour, they commanded to establish a written edict in this manner, of the emperor, written in this form: "Decius and Valerian, emperors, autocrats and pious, with all the senators of Rome, write to those who dwell everywhere. It is necessary that we inform you concerning those who are contrary to the spirit of the empire. For now, at this great time, we have come to know that the gods of our fathers, which establish the kingdom and bestow what is good upon everyone who is under our authority, we know their benefactions and their gifts.

according to what was said, but rather they enjoyed the victory outside, from their hands, over all the nations. Not only that, but they also provided for us fruits that are ripe through the mixture of the air. Because of this, we set down this decree of a single counsel, we and all the senators, with great zeal, so that everyone everywhere, freemen and slaves, soldiers and civilians, might bring in sacrifices to the gods and bow down to them, with prayers and supplications. If anyone, however, on his part, stands out from the holy decree which we have commanded with a single counsel, our mighty one commands that this one be brought in, that they cast him into darkness and hand him over to severe tortures. But he who will listen to our edict will receive from us great honor. If he is disobedient to us and our decree, they will hand him over to the madness of the sword, or to the beasts, or to the birds. Especially the Christians will be under this kind of sentence. Those who will listen, however, to our decree will live in blessedness. When the king's edict was published, the whole city of Rome was filled with turmoil and fear. Not only that, but all the other cities also were troubled, because they sent to them this same decree.

The archons, then, according to each city, gave orders to the multitudes to carry out what had been commanded to them in a secret manner. It happened at that time that a war arose against the Romans from the barbarians, causing their time to be troubled. They themselves prepared their army to fight against them, and they gave orders for the numbers from each place and each city to come and give them aid. And each one of the cities was prepared with zeal. The number of those called the Martyrs also came, who were in the first Armenia, standing before a tribune whose name was Sardonicus. Decius, however, went out to the war, while Valerian remained in Rome, administering the affairs of the empire. The war, then, was established in the midst of the barbarians and the Romans; they stood against each other. When they had continued in this manner for many days, one of the number of those called the Martyrs, whose name was Mercurius, saw a man of light who was tall, wearing shining garments upon him. He had seized a sword that was drawn in his right hand, and he was saying to him, "Mercurius, do not fear, nor be afraid, for I have been sent to help you and to reveal you as a victor. Take this sword from my hand and go forth.

and the barbarians. And if you prevail over them, do not forget the Lord, your God. This one, however, when it happened in a disturbance, he thought that he was one of the great archons of the king who speaks with him. When he took the sword, and he went out filled with the Holy Spirit, he went in among them, and he killed the great one who was over them, and many others with him, as if by his labor and effort, and by his blood which was shed, from his hand stretching inward to the hilt of the sword. This is how the barbarians fled, and they were defeated before the Romans. Then King Decius, when he learned of the courage of this strong man, he called him and gave him a rank, making him a stratelates and an archon over his entire army. Decius, thinking that he had prevailed in the battle through the providence of God, rejoiced greatly. And he distributed great sums of money to the soldiers on that day. They sent numbers to their own places. He himself also went to every city, having passed through them on his way to Rome. But one night, when the army was asleep, an angel stood before Mercurius in the form of the man he had seen in the battle, and he struck his side, and woke him. When he saw him, he became afraid. The angel said to him,

If you remember the word that I spoke to you in the contest, O Mercurius, do not forget the Lord, your God. For it is fitting for you to contend on behalf of his name well, and you will receive your crown of victory from the kingdom of the heavens, which is prepared for all those who love him.” And when he said these things, he withdrew from him at that very hour. When the heart of the blessed one became his own, he remembered the word. And he marveled at the power of the philanthropy of God. For he had heard about the faith of the Christians from his parents. His father was Cordianus, and they were of the same rank as this number. The child, however, was young. He was about twelve years old. For he had heard from his father many times, saying, “Blessed is the one who will be a soldier at the feet of the king of heaven. He will grant him great honors beyond compare, and he will fight up to his enemies.” For that king himself is the one who created everything by his word. The heaven he set upright like a vault, and he adorned it with stars that give light. The earth, however, with plants...

the fields, becoming a desert, causing men to become weak and sick, and the sea itself, so that the ships within it were wrecked, and it left the place of the crocodiles. And he is the one who comes to judge the living and the dead, giving each one according to his deeds. When the holy Mercurius remembered the words of his father within himself, and the revelation that he had seen, he fell into great sorrow and began to weep and lament, saying, "Woe to me, the sinner, I am like a branch without fruit, for I have no root of the knowledge of the glory of God." While he was speaking, at that moment the king sent two of those who are called "selentiarios" and others with them to summon him to him, because he was the one who gave him counsel. He refused to go, saying, "My body is weak." The king kept silent that day. But on the next day, Decius also sent for him similarly. When he came to him, they took counsel together about the matter between them. The king said to him, "Let us go, O Mercurius, to the great temple of Artemis, to offer sacrifices to her." While the king was walking, a great multitude followed him. The blessed Mercurius, however, turned back and hid himself in the praetorium.

One, however, accused him before the king, saying, "The great king, the ruler and the victorious one, the pious one, whom the gods of the Romans have chosen to govern the entire kingdom, give me the opportunity to speak, and you will hear from me in joy. Mercurius is the one whom your right hand has seized and to whom you have given honor in the kingdom of the Romans. Let him not come with us according to your command to make a sacrifice in the temple of the great

Artemis ordered her to be lifted up according to the command that had been given. He answered, the king said, "Who is this?" He said, "Mercurius, this one to whom you gave the victory and the great honor and the three days of evil. And you raised him in the rank more than the great ones. This one, not only did he disobey your greatness, but he also made many to worship the gods. If you send for them, you will know the truth of what I have said to you." Decius said, "Truly, has envy arisen in your heart against the man? You have spoken these things, but I will not believe you unless I learn with certainty the truth and see the matter face to face. For the eyes reveal more than the ears. So now, do not say any more words against the man. And if you accuse him out of envy, as I have said to you, you will be found to be in great folly. If what you have said is true, you will receive great gifts from us, as one who has a single heart with us towards the gods and towards the kings." He commanded that the holy Mercurius be brought to the appropriate place first. When he came before him, the king said to him, "Mercurius, is it not I who gave you this great honor and the rank? I made you a strategos among all the archons.

...because of your humility and the victory that God granted us in the war. And what great desire do you have towards you that you turned into evil hatreds? And the great honors you turned into nothing, as you despised God in this entire manner, according to the way they taught you outside in impiety. Then the soldier of the noble one of Christ truly left it behind, the man of Asia.

...with his works according to the word of the apostle Paul, the apostle, who put on the new man, which was built within him according to God through baptism. The saint answered with a voice of joy and courage, saying, "Let this kind of honor be for you. For if I had gone to the contest, I would have fought. But it is not I who prevailed, but the Lord; it is the Lord who granted me the victory. However, take your honors as you said. For I came out of my mother's womb empty, and I will go again empty." When he said these things, he let go of his cloak, he unfastened his belt, he threw them down at the feet of the king, and he cried out, saying, "I am a Christian! And hear all of you that I am a Christian!" Then Decius became like one who had been struck, he was enraged inwardly, with great fury, and he marveled at the appearance of the new man. The blessed one was very beautiful in his appearance, very radiant in his face, with a smile on his mouth, adorned with all kinds of virtues and strength. Many looked at him in wonder. After these things, Decius the king shook his head and gave orders to throw him into prison, saying, "The man who does not know honor, let him now receive the punishment of the dishonorable." He said this thinking that he would change his mind, but the blessed one was steadfast in his piety.

The martyr of Christ, as they were taking him to the torture, rejoiced and was glad in spirit, glorifying God. And in that night, an angel stood at his head and said to him, "Mercurius, take heart and do not be afraid of the wounds of the tyrant. Believe in Christ, God, and confess him, that he is Christ, God, who has the power to save you from every tribulation." The martyr himself also took courage.

the more. These are the things the angel sent to him in the night, appearing to him. And on the next day, Decius sat on the tribunal and commanded that the blessed one be brought before him. And he said to him, "Is this honor of this kind fitting for you, that you have taken it upon yourself, which is the honor you have chosen for yourself?" The blessed one answered and said, "It is fitting for me more. For I have received an indestructible dignity." The king said to him, "Tell me your lineage and your city, for I know you, that you are of some rank." The holy Mercurius said to him, "If you wish to know my lineage and my city, I will tell them to you. My father according to the flesh is from Scythia, his name is Gordianus, and he served as a soldier in the number of the Martyrs. At that time, he was first in the same number. But my true father is God, and my city is Jerusalem in heaven, the city of the great king." The king said to him again, "You were given this name Mercurius by your parents, or perhaps by the soldiers who gave it to you?" The holy Mercurius said, "My father called me Philopator, which means lover of his parents. But when I became a soldier, I was called Mercurius by the tribune.

The king said to him, "Mercurius, O one who speaks thus, will you act according to our decree? I have commanded that everyone worship the gods and receive your honor first, and the rest of the glory from now on, O one who speaks thus. Tell us briefly, as you know that you have been brought to this place because of this matter." The martyr answered, saying, "I, according to the manner in which I came to this place, as one who will prevail over you and your father Satan, who is the evil one, let all evil things happen.

...outside of his hand. If I conquer, then they give a crown upon me through the Agonothetes, truly my Lord Jesus Christ. What then do you wish? Do it quickly, do not delay. For I have the panoply of God and the gift of faith. These are outside of their hands. I will conquer your thoughts and all your deceitful arts that come into me. Then the king was filled with anger. He said, "Since this one says, 'I have a panoply,' of what sort is it? And the matter is laid aside, it stands ready. I command that he be stripped outside, that he be stretched out like a wolf, and that he be pierced through, from the sky to the earth, not touching. When this was done to him, the king said, "Where now are your weapons that you boast about before them? The great god Zeus has stripped you completely." But the holy one looked up to the sky and said, "My Lord, help me, I am your servant." Again the king commanded that his body be torn with iron combs that are sharpened to the place, with scourges. And afterwards they sprinkled burning coals under him so that he would burn, little by little. The flame of the fire was extinguished in the blood of the righteous one as it fell downward.

The saint then lifted up his face with great steadfastness in this great torture. Decius then commanded that he be taken outside so that he would not die quickly, and that he be chosen to be brought into a dark place and that his mouth be bound quickly. The soldiers then lifted him up under his face, as he was near death, with a little breath left in him, thinking that he would die. After a little while, at that very moment, the angel of the Lord appeared to him and said to him, "Peace to you, O victorious athlete." When he said this, he healed the wounds that were on his body and set him on his feet, as if he had never risen, stood up, and gave glory to God because he had helped him. After these things, he commanded that he be set before the tribunal. And when the king saw him, he said to him, "You were taken out from under my hand as if near death; how is it that now you walk, and there is no wound on your body?" Then he commanded the executioners to stand and to mock his body. They said to the king, "Your power, O pious king, his entire body is whole, and there is no destruction upon it, as if no one had touched it at all, not even their finger." Decius himself said, "Certainly he will say that Christ is the one who saved me and healed me. Did you not bring in a physician to treat him?

They said, "Your greatness, which is honored, has taken hold of the whole world. No one can heal him. But they think that he will die. In what way is he now alive, or in what way has he been released? We do not know." He said to them, "Do you not know what a great power the magic of the Christians is? And in what way has he been healed? For he has become strong. Today he himself stands on his feet. He has recovered." He was filled with anger and said to him, "Tell me truly, who healed you without magic?" The holy Mercurius answered, "My Lord Jesus Christ, the true physician of our souls and our bodies, is the one who wishes to grant me healing, as I have said. As for the magician, the sorcerers, and the idolaters, they are strangers to him, and he will bind them with unbreakable fetters and deliver them to the fire of Gehenna, because they did not know the true God who created them." The king said, "I will torture your body with severe torments, so that I may see whether the Christ in whom you trust will heal you." The saint said, "I believe in my Lord Jesus Christ. Even if you bring a multitude of tortures upon me, you will not disturb me." He said.

...for do not fear those who can kill your body, for they have no power to kill your soul. But rather fear the one who has the power to destroy both your soul and your body in the gehenna of fire. Then the king commanded that they bring a pan, heated, and place it under his genitals. And after these things, lamps of fire under his ribs. When they did this, the place became full of a great stench of smoke bursting forth, so that everyone who was there was troubled. They tortured him exceedingly, but he did not groan, nor did he weep. Decius said to him, "Where is your physician now? Let him come and heal you. For you said that he has the power to raise the dead." The holy Mercurius said to him, "Do what you wish. You have authority over my body. But my soul—God is its master. My body, even if you destroy it, my soul will go forth indestructible." Again the king commanded that they hang him by his hair and throw a great stone upon his chest, so that by being crushed he might die quickly. But the martyr, the power of God and his grace dwelling within him, endured for a long time in this torture. Decius, when he saw the martyr bearing these torments with such fortitude...

...and no torture touched him. He commanded that they take a stone from there and place it on his neck, and bring a red-hot iron, four palms long, and thrust it into him down to the ground, drenched in his blood. But the noble one was like a stone of adamant; he arose with a strength under this torture, and said, "I give thanks to you, my Lord, for you have made me worthy to suffer for your holy name." The king then...

...and he saw that his reasoning was unshakable, and that he would not be persuaded to sacrifice. He took counsel with his nobles, for he was about to go to Rome. He pronounced a sentence against him, that they should torture him with the sword, saying, "Mercurius, this one who blasphemed the gods and despised the sacred decree of the emperors, because he submitted to no one, our sovereign commands that his head be cut off in the country of Cappadocia, in that place, so that everyone may see him. For all who have been honored by the king, if they transgress his command, they will be given lashes, and finally they will be handed over to the sword." Those who were appointed to carry him carried him, and they lifted him onto a beast, and bound him upon it, because the body of the martyr was falling apart on all sides. He became like a corpse. They traveled on a long road, and after a few days they reached the city of Caesarea, and in this way they lowered him little by little. But the Lord stood over him and said to him, "Mercurius, come, rest yourself with me, for you have completed your course, you have kept the faith. Take for yourself your crown of martyrdom, which was appointed for you to inherit." The martyr, when the Lord appeared to him, took courage. He said to those who were with him, "Do what was commanded to you quickly.

...and he saw that his reasoning was unshakable, and that he would not be persuaded to sacrifice. He took counsel with his nobles, for he was about to go to Rome. He pronounced a sentence against him, that they should But the Lord, who opens the door of repentance to everyone, will make you worthy of his grace. For he is rich and bestows gifts upon those who turn their faces toward him, as a free gift without envy. And when he had said these things, they beheaded him. He completed the good confession of our Savior on the twenty-fifth of the month of Hathor, which is

...and he saw that his reasoning was unshakable, and that he would not be persuaded to sacrifice. He took counsel with his nobles, for he was about to go to Rome. He pronounced a sentence against him, that they should Bu A great wonder then occurred, worthy of his memory. After the martyr had finished his confession, his body became white like snow, gleaming and giving off a fragrance like roses, chosen with grace because of this sign. Many people became Christians. The holy one, however, was placed in a prominent place, where a multitude of powers and healings took place there, to the glory of God the Father and his only-begotten son Jesus Christ our Lord and the Holy Spirit, forever. Amen. The wonder that was revealed through the holy Mercurius, how he struck down the lawless Julian the king on his throne. And this wonder is written in the fifth history of the church. Amen. At that time, when Cyril was also bishop of Jerusalem, a great sign of the cross appeared, from the third hour until the fifth hour. A great cross of light appeared, standing upon the place of the Savior's tomb, where the flesh of every kind was stripped away. Believers and unbelievers, barbarians and Romans, as well as all the multitudes who were in the city, gathered with their foods and their drinks and their wines... the cross, until it went up into the sky at the fifth hour, with the eyes of everyone gazing after it. Cyril, the bishop of Jerusalem, wrote down the wonder that had occurred.

He wrote an epistle and sent it to King Costus, to the comitaton, who was the father of Athanasius. Athanasius, however, took hold of the church of Alexandria for another twenty years, one after another, and no persecution arose against him. He spent twelve years in the episcopate and the exorcistate. When Costus died, Julianus reigned in his place, a lawless man and a Hellene.

They were outside in the field of the great Constantine. For his sister was a Hellene. The sons of Constantine saw the small child, that he was a Nazirite, and they feared that he would take the kingdom from them. The small ones gave him to the church. They made him a reader. The men of his father brought him into the midst of the Hellenes. When Costus died, Julianus reigned in his place. And he gave him to the Hellenes immediately. He sought after the opening of the public temples. This one remained in the palace of the palace of the succession, for he was not worthy of the places of Constantine to dwell in them. He went to the place of the Hellenes and their idols. He took a bribe and gave it to the priest. He offered up a sacrifice to the demon. He took the property and gave it to him, and he consumed it. Julianus, the son of his sister, was the one who raised him to the kingdom. When he saw the purpose of his mother's brother, he became the holy Theodorichos the presbyter and the oikonomos of the church. He killed him. He came and took the portion of Julianus. He himself, however, refused, saying, "You have disturbed me. I do not wish to kill them, lest they boast that they made martyrs because of you. But if I come in the persecution, I will impose a law upon them: three holokottinoi for the head of each pagan, for the year of the Christians." The bouleutes, however, three ounces.

These things he did to them, his persecutors of the Christians, in every manner. At that time, the church was wealthy in the strength of the spirit-bearing ones. Four pillars stood at the gate, namely: Athanasius of Rakote, and Antony with Pachomius in the Maris, and Basil in Cappadocia. Basil was a companion of Julian concerning the smallness which they made with

They were together in Anzibe. When he heard about his evil deeds, he came to his gate with some other servants of God, companions of that bishop. When they went in to his gate, he saw their garments soiled, and their belts were like ropes. He said to them, "What are these seeking?" Basil answered, "We are seeking a good shepherd." The king said to Basil, "You left the son of the blacksmith, where did you come to this place?" He said to him, "I left him to make a sieve for you to winnow at the gate." The king said to him, "You are not philosophizing, for you are my companion. I will have your head taken off." Basil said to him, "You are not philosophizing. If you had philosophized, you would not have abandoned wisdom, which taught you to read in the books of true wisdom." The king said to him, "I have read them and I have understood them." Basil said, "You have not read them well, nor have you understood them. For if you had understood them, you would not have dishonored them." The king said to them, "I will throw you into prison until I come from Persia, so that you may know what it is to oppose the king, and you will be filled with the terror of the place of judgment." Basil said, "If you go to Persia, do not return, lest God speak with Basil.

King Julian said, “What shall I do with the Galilean, the deceiver? For he said in his heart, ‘They will not place stone upon stone in the temple of the Jews.’ I myself will turn his work into a royal matter, so that his deceitful words may be known, that he is a deceiver.” And he gave orders to have Basil and the other two who were with him thrown into prison. And he sent him to Persia. He came to Jerusalem. He saw the temple destroyed, with no single stone left upon another, just as Ouspasian had destroyed it in the destruction he wrought upon the Jews. He commanded that it be purified, so that they might rebuild it more splendidly than before. Julian appointed a comes over the temple, to purify it until he had prepared and rebuilt it. He himself went to Persia. He waged war. He left the holy ones imprisoned. Those who had destroyed the temple purified it, not placing stone upon stone, nor removing it outside, according to the word of our Lord. They began to build. They built from morning until evening, but by morning they found the building work undone, scattered by no human hand. Two months passed, and they continued in this way, laboring in vain, with no work succeeding, for providence prevented them. The Jews who were there informed them, “Burn the lime that the Christians have mixed among it.

And they were unable to build. They heard them, and they burned the ropes. When the fire fell upon the rope in which John the Baptist and the prophet Elisha were, the fire did not touch them. They spent many days with the fire surrounding them, but the fire did not touch them. Some of the brothers gave him money and persuaded him to allow them to take the bones of the saints. He took the money and did as they said. He gave them permission to come at night and take the bones of the saints. John the Baptist and the prophet Elisha, with the hand of the Lord being with them, they were brought to Egypt to Athanasius, because he desired to see them. They came out upon the sea and found a ship in a dark place. They embarked and came to Alexandria in safety. They were given to Athanasius. He rejoiced over them when he saw them, as if he had seen them in the body.

He hid them in the baptistery, seeking a time to build a martyrium for them. He would eat a day in the garden of the fathers and the brothers, for he would constantly summon the great clergy to eat with him. These would come to his door at dawn. Not only would they eat, but they would also listen to the words of wisdom that God had given him, according to the written manner. Every matter for the glory of God, whether in the time of fasting or in the time of eating and drinking, he would eat and drink in the word of God at all times. So he would eat with the brothers, the clerics, and the great philoponoi of the church in the garden that was his in the field, which is called Hermes of the South of the city, open to some dung-heaps and some wild plates. He said, "If I find the time, I will cleanse the dung-heaps and build from them the martyrium of John the Baptist." Theophilus at that time stood at the table eating, for he was not a notary for him. He heard the word that Athanasius had spoken and kept it in his heart. Julian, however, according to what drove him, to go in anger to Persia, Christ God gave him over into the hands of the Persians, because he had left the saints bound within and went to Persia. The death that he died was a certain manner.

He saw in the night a multitude of soldiers coming against him from outside the air. Then a company struck him upon his feet. He recognized them as the holy ones. He took his blood and threw it up into the sky, saying, "Take it for yourself, Jesus. You have filled the entire place." At the moment he took one, immediately he fell, and God had mercy on his people and saved them. Or the Romans, up to their place. Basil, however, before the three.

The day of the death of Julianus, he saw a vision in the prison. He was troubled, and he said to his two brothers, saying, "I saw in this night the holy martyr, the saint Mercurius, that he went into his martyrion. He drew his sword, saying, 'I will leave this lawless one in this way, blaspheming against the God of heaven.'" And when he said these things, he went to sleep to see his end. The other two answered, saying, "Truly we also have seen this same vision." When they saw this sign which God had taught them, they believed. They said to one another, "Let us send to the martyrion of the saint Mercurius, and we will see if his sword is drawn in its place or not." They sent, and they did not find it. They believed in the vision. After three days, they sent letters to Antioch that the king had died in the battle. The whole senate, by a vote of God, seized Julianus and made him king in the place of Julianus. He was a faithful man, a man of God from his childhood. He himself immediately released the holy ones, Basil, the pillar of truth, the Cappadocian, and his brothers. And Julianus did not turn back according to the word of Basil, in the peace of God.

the prayers and supplications of the great general, the holy Mercurius, will come down upon us for salvation at once.

The honor and glory of the holy Mercurius. The general, the young man. Glory and honor, he crowned him. He set him up and established him. Over all the works of his hands. He placed a crown upon his head, of precious stone. He asked for life for him, and he gave him long days. Into the ages. Eternal life. He diminished them, a little compared to the angels. Glory and honor, he crowned him and established him. Over all the works of his hands. From the Gospel of Luke. [Chapter 14:25-35] Many crowds followed him, and turning, he said to them, "Whoever comes to me, I do not hate his father, nor his mother, nor his wife, nor his children, nor his brothers, nor his sisters. But his own soul, he cannot make a disciple of them." And whoever does not...

A powerful one of my true disciple. And as one bears the crown, they set him up. And he comes to my hope, a powerful one of my true disciple. For of the hymn, the one wishing to build a tower, first he sits down, he calculates the expense, if he has the completion, lest the foundation of it be weak and not able to finish. And all those who see begin to mock him, saying, "Truly the mindless one began to build and is not able to finish." Or a king going to war against another kingdom, first he sits down, he deliberates if he is strong enough to meet with ten thousand against twenty thousand, coming upon them. But indeed, far from them truly, an embassy, having sent, to ask for peace. Truly then, all of the hymn, he does not renounce all that they have. A powerful one of my true disciple, well the Athlas. But if the Athlas is defiled in the river, art will be lost, neither to the earth, nor to the dung heap, they throw it out. It is outside, they throw it. The ruler, hear, listen. Take up his cross, let him follow me, without strength, that he might become a disciple to me. For which of you wishes to build a tower? Does he not first sit down, take up the cost of his expense?

so that he does not lay a foundation and then be unable to complete it. For anyone who sees its foundation mocks him, saying, "This man began to build, but he was unable to complete it." Or what king, when about to go to war with another king, does he not first sit down and take counsel, whether he has the strength to stand firm with one hand against what comes against him with two hands? If not, he sends ambassadors beseeching, "Make peace." So it is with anyone among you who is not willing to renounce all his possessions; he is unable to become a disciple for me. Good is the salt; but if the salt becomes insipid, they throw it away; it is of no use for the ground or for the dunghill, they cast it out. He who has ears to hear, let him hear.

Choiak 29. Feast of the Birth of our Lord Jesus Christ. According to Matthew [Chapter 2:1-12]. Now our Lord Jesus Christ was born in Bethlehem of Judea, in the days of Herod the king. Behold, magi from the east came to Jerusalem saying, "Where is the king of the Jews who has been born? For we have seen his star in the east, and we have come to worship him." But when King Herod heard this, he was greatly troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. And gathering together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them, "Where is the Christ to be born?" They answered him, "In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the prophet: 'And you, Bethlehem of the land of Judea, are the least among the provinces of Judea, for from you shall come forth the ruler who will shepherd the people of Israel.'" Then Herod secretly called the magi and questioned them precisely about the time of the appearing star, and sent them to Bethlehem, saying, "Go and examine carefully.

Behold, magi came from the east to Jerusalem, saying, "Where is the king who has been born? For we have seen his star in the east, and we have come to worship him." But when Herod the king heard this, he was greatly troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. He gathered together all the chief priests and the scribes of the people, and inquired of them, "Where will the Christ be born?" And they said to him, "In Bethlehem of Judea, for it is written by the prophet, saying, 'And you, Bethlehem, land of Judah, are not among the governors of Judah, for a governor is coming forth from you, who will rule my people Israel.'" Then Herod called the magi secretly, and inquired of them about the time when the star appeared, and he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, "Go, search carefully for the child.

Behold, magi came from the east to Jerusalem, saying, "Where is the king who has been born? For we have seen his star in the east, and we have come to worship him." But when Herod the king heard this, he was greatly troubled. And he said, "When you find him, tell me also, so that I too may come and worship him." But they, having heard from the king, departed. And behold, a star again appeared in the east, leading them until they came and stood above the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with great joy. And when they came to the house, they saw the child with Mary, his mother, and they prostrated themselves and worshiped him. And opening their treasures, they offered him gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And they were warned in a dream not to return to Herod, but to go by another road. So they departed to their own country. Now it happened that when you find him, tell me also, so that I may come and worship him. But they, when they heard, went away. And behold, the star which they had seen in the east went before them until it came and stood over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with great joy. And when they entered the house, they saw the child with Mary, his mother, and they bowed down and worshiped him. They opened their bags and brought him gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And they were warned in a dream not to go to Herod, but to go by another road.

They withdrew to their regions. OI ANUARIOS IA ARCH. According to Mark. [Chapter 1:1-11] The beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, Son of God, as it is written in Isaiah the prophet: "Behold, I will send my angel before your face to prepare your way." A voice crying in the wilderness. TYBI. IA ARCH M PKAT. [Chapter 1:1-11] The beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, Son of God, according to the way it is written in Isaiah the prophet: "Behold, I will send my angel before you to prepare your way before me." The voice of the crier.

Out in the desert, for the way of the Lord is prepared, and prepare his paths. John came, giving baptism in the desert, proclaiming a baptism of repentance, for the remission of sins. And the whole region of the Jordan, of Judea and Jerusalem, went out to him. They all received baptism in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. John wore a garment of camel hair, with a leather girdle bound about his waist, eating locusts and wild honey. And he proclaimed, saying, "He who is mightier than I comes after me, for I am not worthy to loose the knot of his girdle. I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with a holy spirit and with fire." It happened in those days that Jesus came out of Nazareth in Galilee, and received baptism from John in the Jordan. Immediately, as he came up from the water, he saw the heavens open, and the Spirit descending upon him like a dove. And a voice came from the heavens, saying, "You are my beloved son, in whom my desire is fulfilled.

baptism of repentance for the remission of sins. And the whole region of the Jordan went out to him, and all the people of Jerusalem came and were baptized in the Jordan river. They confessed their sins. And John was clothed in camel hair and a leather girdle around his loins, and he ate locusts and wild honey. And he preached, saying, "One stronger than I is coming. I am not able to loose the bonds of his garments. I baptize you in water, but he will baptize you in the Holy Spirit and in fire." And it happened in those days that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. And immediately, as he came up from the water, they saw the heavens opening and the Spirit descending like a dove upon him. And a voice came from the heavens, saying, "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

When he entered Capernaum, a centurion approached him, beseeching him, and said, "Lord, my servant lies paralyzed in the house, suffering greatly." And Jesus said to him, "I have come to heal him." And the centurion answered, "Lord, it is not fitting that he should be under the same roof as I; but if you only speak the word, he will be healed. For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under my command." And he said, "Go, and he will go; and command, and he will come; and to my servant, do the same, and he will do it." And when Jesus heard this, he marveled and said to his followers, "Amen, I say to you, there is no such faith in Israel." He said, "I say to you that many from the east and west will come and be called with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of the living. But the sons of the kingdom will be cast out into the outer darkness, where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth." And Jesus said to the centurion, "In the morning of the holy day." According to Matthew [Chapter viii. 5-13]. When he entered Capernaum, a centurion approached him.

...he beseeched him, saying, "Lord, my son has fallen into my house, lying paralyzed and suffering greatly." Jesus said to him, "I am coming to heal him." The centurion answered, saying, "Lord, I am not worthy for you to enter under my roof. But take only the word, and he will be healed. For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under my command. If I say to this one, 'Go,' he goes; and to another, 'Come,' he comes. And to my servant, 'Do this,' and he does it." When Jesus heard these things, he marveled. He turned to those who were with him and said to them, "Amen, I say to you, I have not found faith like this in Israel. I say to you that many are coming forth from the place of worship and the place of baptism, and they cast out Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of the heavens. But the children of the kingdom will cast them out into the outer darkness, where weeping and gnashing of teeth will be." Jesus said...

...enter my house, for I am a sinful man." Jesus said to him, "Go, and as you have believed, so let it be for you." And the son was healed from that hour. Euxastai hyper emou talas amartolous. Aurillios, Victor elachistou, servant of the blessed Mercurius, deacon of the holy Mercurius, the great general, apostolic, wrote this book. Antonios read the book. He prayed, "May I, through the mercy of my life, be pleasing to the Lord.