The Life and Martyrdom of the Great Martyr Apa Epima translated from the Coptic text

[karas karas]

The complete biography of the great martyr Saint Epima, from the original manuscripts, translated from the Coptic text. His feast day is the 8th of Ebib, corresponding to July 15th. There are no images or icons of the saint. The text is translated from the French translation found in the book Mina, Togo - Le martyre d'Apa Epima. The words and phrases in brackets are for clarification, and the word "Apa" is a Coptic word used for saints, meaning "father."

This is the first part; the second part is in the comments below.

Translated Text:

1-The martyrdom of Saint Epima (the Greek equivalent of the name Epima is Epimachus)—a man hailing from Pankolios in the region of Pemdji—which he attained on the eighth day of the month of Epip (corresponding to July 15), in the peace of God. Amen.

2- This is the first count concerning the saints to take place in the land of Egypt.

3- During the reign of Diocletian—that arrogant, godless king —Satan hastened to incite the king against Archbishop Gaius regarding a broken oath. Gaius had seized certain treasures and released Nicomedes, the son of Sapor (or Shapur), King of the Persians, while falsely swearing to the king that Nicomedes was dead. King Diocletian took the treasures, heated them until they melted into a liquid state, and poured the molten metal over the archbishop’s body, causing his death. Afterward, he took the remaining gold and fashioned seventy statues, naming them after various deities: the first he named Apollo, followed by Zeus, Serapis, Athena, Artemis, and the others by their well-known names.

4- The king addressed his nobles, saying: "Hear me, all of you, my friends." They replied: "Speak, O King, our master." He said to them: "I love you, my friends; so listen to me." They answered: "Let our master speak; for his servants are listening." He said to them: "You know that the king is not given to lying. Last night, while I slept—he said—Apollo, the great god, came to me accompanied by the rest of the seventy gods; they addressed me kindly, saying: 'We have honored you and granted you victory in war; therefore, honor us in your kingdom.' What, then, shall we say to them?" Commander Romanus—father of Apa Victor—replied to the King, saying: "Hear me and let me speak. Just as things transpired during the reign of Pharaoh, King of Egypt—when the people placed their trust in the gods he had fashioned—let the same be done today. Arise, O King, and issue a decree concerning Egypt, extending from Rome—the foremost city—to Philae, the last city bordering the land of Ethiopia. Send orders to the Governor of Alexandria and the rulers of all cities, commanding the demolition of every church built in the name of Jesus in every city. Order the construction of temples in every city and village; summon all provincial administrators and require them to bring their priests, deacons, readers, and all notables—dignitaries, farmers, and leaders alike—from every city and village. issue an order to the administrators to forbid Christians from offering sacrifices and to burn their books. Order the priests in every city and village to also build temples and to finance them from the royal treasury (i.e., "the costs of construction shall be borne by the royal treasury"). Command that they should offer incense to the gods, turn their faces westward, and worship them. Those who do not worship them shall be put to death by the sword, fire, and all kinds of torture. Order that all the priests be gathered and brought to Alexandria to worship the gods in the presence of the Duke; that their lands be exempted from taxes, and that the guardian of their fields be reinstated.

5- These words met with the King’s approval, and he declared: "I swear by Apollo, the great god, that I shall do this without delay." On the first day of the month of * Parmouti*—marking the start of the new year (the first of * Parmouti* corresponds to March 27th In the Julian calendar)—the King rose early and issued a royal decree stating: "Soldiers, commanders, and citizens—indeed, everyone in my kingdom—let me hear the name of Jesus upon your lips no more; instead, turn your faces toward the west and offer incense, pure wine, and wheat-flour dough as sacrifices to the gods." Thus, the matter was carried out, and the decree was proclaimed.

6- There was a young man—the son of a commander named Basilides—who saw the decree posted at the palace. He wept and cried out, saying: "O my Lord Jesus Christ, grant me Your aid; kindle within me that inner flame, (Literally: lit the lamp inside me) that I may find the strength to confront this impious king who scorns Your holy name." Having spoken these words, he removed his armor and appeared before the king, clad only in his undergarments. The king asked him, "What is the meaning of this?" He replied, "I am Christodorus, son of Basilides." The king said, "Why do you stand here without armor? You have forfeited your father's rank." The young man answered, "I shall no longer be a soldier to you, O King, for Satan has taken possession of your heart; rather, I shall be a soldier to my Lord Jesus Christ—Creator of the heavens, the earth, the sea, the rivers, and all that is within them, and my own Creator, in whose hand lies the breath of my life" (cf. Daniel 5:23). Upon hearing these words, the king flew into a rage; he snatched a sword from one of the soldiers and struck the young man, piercing his heart. Seeing this, the soldiers surrounded the young man, finished him off with their swords, and tore his body limb from limb. Thus, he received the crown of martyrdom in the month of Parmouti( .It falls between April 9 and May 8). In peace. Amen.

7- The king then ordered a fire to be lit on the altar and incense placed upon it—an act performed by both him and his subjects, including six thousand soldiers and thirty thousand civilians. He compelled everyone in the city—men and women, young and old, indeed every living soul—to participate in this act of worship; the total population numbered two hundred and forty thousand. Subsequently, the king drafted letters and entrusted them to a commander named Dionysius, who bore a seal branded upon his thigh. Dionysius carried the letters to Alexandria and delivered them to Armenius, who distributed them throughout Egypt to be copied in every city and province, thereby ensuring universal compliance with the king’s decree.

8- Thus, the messenger traveled across Egypt, carrying the decree from Alexandria and heading south. Upon reaching the city of Pemdje, he delivered the letters to Governor Culcianus, who read them and found they stated the following: "You have been granted the authority to execute anyone who disobeys you, or to send them to Alexandria so that I may personally see to their punishment."

9- And when it pleased God to choose His own and establish the lineage of Christians upon the earth—so that the glory of the Church of God might be revealed—He willed that His chosen saints should suffer for the sake of His holy name, in order to enter His kingdom. As the Teacher Paul said in his holy epistle: "A great matter rests upon us because of the martyrs" (cf. Hebrews 12:1); thus, it pleased God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, to choose His saints. And as the Prophet Isaiah said: "If all the disciples of God come to Me, I shall teach them" (cf. Isaiah 54:13; John 6:45).

10- Thus did God act: He stirred up an evil spirit in Diocletian, driving him to persecute the servants and martyrs of Christ—just as He hardened Pharaoh’s heart (Exodus 9:12) to persecute His people, which led to Pharaoh’s destruction in the sea and the salvation of God’s people. This accords with the words of Scripture: " Does calamity occur in a city, and the Lord has not caused it?" (Amos 3:6).

11- Thus, too, did the wicked king act—he who angered God, His angels, and His saints, until they cast him out into the outer darkness, so that the saints themselves—who belong to the Father and to His Holy Son, Jesus Christ—might enter the Kingdom of Heaven and inherit it forever; in fulfillment of the words of the Holy Gospel: "Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world" (Matthew 25:34). Such was God’s will throughout the earth.

12- Listen now, you who have been given the gift of hearing. Pay heed, you who have been granted wisdom; for there is nothing sweeter than the name of Jesus, nor more glorious than the name "Christian."

13- There was a twenty-seven-year-old farmer named Epima, who lived in a village called Pankolius in the Bemidji region. His father’s name was Elijah, and his mother’s was Sophia. He was known as a righteous Christian who abhorred all evil; he was a man of wisdom and benevolence who offered the firstfruits of his harvest to the House of God. The words of the Bible served as a lamp illuminating his inner being. His home was situated on the southern side of the village, while his fields stretched out to the west and east. Epima was filled with the precepts of the Holy Spirit, and the local people loved him for his good deeds; indeed, news of him—and specifically of his Christian faith—reached the ears of administrators and rulers, who began to pursue him relentlessly.

14- One day, while the blessed Epima lay asleep in his home, a young man radiant with brilliant light stood at his bedside and awakened him, saying: "O Epima, O Epima, open your eyes and recognize Me. I am Jesus Christ, whose star shone in the East; I am Jesus, whose star the Magi beheld; I am Jesus, whose birth the angels announced to the shepherds; I am Jesus, whom Mary bore; I am Jesus, who suffered and was martyred under Pontius Pilate; I am Jesus, the crown of martyrs and the Bestower of the prize upon those who strive valiantly. The peace that My Father bestowed upon Me when I came into the world, I also bestow upon you. Why do you sit there so indifferent, while the battle expands and crowns are being freely distributed?" I have prepared for you a dwelling in heaven, and an imperishable crown that will last forever. A great battle awaits you tomorrow in the city of Pimedji. Your martyrdom will be on the eighth day of the month of Ebib, and your body will remain for a long time on Mount Shenoti, in the house of a man named Ammonius. After that, your body will be taken to your home on the tenth day of the month of Paoni (corresponding to June 17). Then you will be taken to Alexandria where your case will be presented, and great miracles will be performed through you in that place. After that, you will be returned to the land of Egypt, where you will die in a region other than your own. (The Coptic text is not entirely clear. It is clear that the meaning is that this journey to Alexandria took place before his death. We will see later that the saint was taken to Alexandria, where the governor subjected him to various kinds of torture, and then he was sent to Upper Egypt to be beheaded.) I have placed Julius—the protector and chronicler of the martyrs, the man from Aqfahs—at your service; he shall care for you in this place, record your full story, and preserve it in his home until the time my Father wills for it to be revealed. He will then entrust you to servants who will remain faithfully by your side until you complete your struggle, ensuring the preservation of your body and its proper burial. As for your relatives, they shall remain in their own lands, while you die a glorious death in a foreign place—at the home of your friend Ammonius, from the village of Shenouti. On the day my Father wills for your body to be returned to your homeland for burial, I shall perform a miracle so that people may believe in you. My peace be with you. Yet, instruct Julius to charge the servants entrusted with your body, saying to them: "Care for him well, and place him in the very spot where my own body is to be laid. (Meaning: "He shall be buried in my burial place—that is, alongside Saint Julius of Aqfahs.") When the Savior spoke these words to Saint Apa Epima, He traced the Sign of the Cross over his entire body so that torture would have no power over him; then He embraced him and ascended into the heavens, while the Saint followed Him with his gaze.

15- When morning came, Saint Apa Epima rose and left his home; he told none of his men of those words, lest anyone try to dissuade him from his resolve. It happened to be market day in the town of Bemidji, so he said to his men, "I wish to go to the Bemidji market today to buy a cow that I need." They replied, "Go in peace; may the Lord send His angel before you and guide your steps."

16- Then Saint Apa Epima left his home, turned his face toward the East, and spread out his hands in prayer, saying: "Hear me, O my Lord Jesus Christ, for You are the One who said: 'Whoever does not leave father or mother, brother or sister, wife or child, orchards, fields, or treasures (cf. Matthew 19:29)—to take up his cross and follow Me—is not worthy of Me' (cf. Matthew 10:38). You know, O my Lord, that I have left everything I possess for Your sake; I have left what was within and what was without. As for my wife, seven years have passed since I left her—restraining myself—for the sake of Your holy name. Do not, O my Lord, shut the gates of righteousness against me (cf. Psalm 118:19) when I come to You; rather, remain with me to grant me courage, that I may find the strength to fulfill what You have commanded me! For Yours is the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen" (cf. Revelation 7:12). Upon uttering these words, Saint Apa Epima made the sign of the cross—in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit—and entered the city of Pemdje. There, he learned that the governor was presiding over a court session at the *Achilleion* (—a temple dedicated to the hero Achilles, of which there is no other known record)—located opposite the *Tetrapylon* (a public building and ancient four-columned monument; it appears that the city of Bahnasa, like Alexandria, featured a four-columned structure known as the *Tetrapylon*, and this text is the sole source mentioning it). The governor was hearing the cases of several Christians: Haap, a deacon from Takanach; Apa Hor, from Tepoché in the region of Pemdje; Maximus, a priest from Chenarô; Pegoch, a deacon from Terbé; as well as a crowd of Christians from the city of Pemdje. Then Saint Apa Epima lifted his eyes toward heaven, saying: "Hear me, O my Lord Jesus Christ; grant me sufficient courage to find the strength to speak to this wicked ruler who blasphemes Your holy name." As he uttered these words, the official Anubianus looked up and saw Saint Apa Epima; he went to the governor and said: "My lord governor, here is Epima, the head of the village of Pankolius; he has come and is standing outside the Court. Let him present to you the names of the clergy in his village and bring you the items found in its churches—namely, the books, altars, and vessels—in accordance with the orders of our lord the King."

17- Immediately, the governor summoned Theodore the jailer and had him brought before the court. The governor asked him, "Are you Epima, the leader of the Pancolians?" The saint replied, "Yes, I am; yet God is the leader of us all." The governor said, "Of which god do you speak? Is it Apollo or Zeus? Choose one of them and let him save you." The saint answered, "I was not speaking of any of those gods; rather, I speak of God, the Father of my Lord Jesus Christ." The governor then said to him, "Send someone to bring your priests here, along with the vessels they use to celebrate the Synaxis (liturgical gathering)." Saint Epima replied: "We have no priests; instead, we make it a practice to search everywhere until we find someone to celebrate the Synaxis (the mass) for us on Saturdays and Sundays. As for the vessels we customarily use to celebrate the Liturgy, they are made of glass, for we are poor folk living in a humble hut." The governor said: "Epima, you cannot mock me; I have already been informed of your cunning."

18- Then Anubianus, the official, went to the governor a second time and lodged a complaint against Saint Apa Epima, saying: "Do you see this apostate? He is another agitator of the Christian sect; that is why he refuses the King's decree." The governor said to him: "Epima, you cannot deceive me; obey me and carry out the command of Our masters, the kings, lest you destroy your handsome body in terrible torments." Saint Apa Epima replied: "My Lord Jesus instructed us, saying: 'Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather, fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell'" (Matthew 10:28). The governor said to him: "Do you wish for us to lay hands upon your body?" The saint replied: "Do with me whatever pleases you, for my God, Jesus Christ, is with me and grants me courage." The governor said: "I shall tear out your tongue before you utter that name in my presence." The Saint said to him: "You are not worthy to hear the name of my God; for even wild beasts and creeping things raise their heads when they hear the name of my God, yet you treat it with contempt. For the Apostle said: 'What fellowship is there between Christ and Belial, or what agreement between the house of God and the house of demons and idols?'" (cf. 2 Corinthians 6:15-16). At that moment, the wicked governor flew into a rage and ordered the righteous man to be suspended from the stake (The word might carry the meaning of the rack or wheel of swords the Hemetarim) and tortured.

19- As the noble Apa Epima—whose entire body was a marvel of beauty (Literally: "There was beauty in his entire body.") and whose hair was bound like clusters of henna—was about to be suspended from the stake, he traced the Sign of the Cross upon his head and forehead in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Having endured his share of torment, his body was drenched in blood; yet, while suspended, he lifted his eyes toward heaven and said: "O my Lord Jesus Christ; O Jesus, my life; O Jesus, my God; O Jesus, my refuge; O Jesus, my help; O Jesus, my hope; O Jesus, the all-seeing Eye and all-hearing Ear—hear me and have mercy on me; look upon all my suffering, and remember that I have never deviated from Your commandments. Do not hide Your face from me, O my Lord; rather, let Your name and Your power be glorified in this city, so that all may know that You alone are the true God and that there is no god but You—together with Your Holy Father and the Holy Spirit, in heaven and on earth, forever and ever. Amen. I have not turned away from Your obligations, O my Lord; indeed, I am ready to die and shed my blood for the sake of Your holy name. Yet, I ask You not to let me die now before I silence this wicked man and bring to nothing the works of his hands—his impure gods—lest he say in his heart: "I have triumphed over him(Compare: Psalm 12:5), and his god could not come to his aid."

20- While Saint Apa Epima was uttering these words as he hung from the stake, his supplications ascended to the throne of God, and his prayer reached the ears of the Lord of Hosts (cf. James 5:4). The Savior Jesus called upon the angel Michael and said to him: "Come, My faithful steward; go and touch the body of My servant Epima, and heal him of all the torments that insolent governor has inflicted upon him." Archangel Michael descended from heaven, stood at the righteous man's right hand, and said to him: "Take courage, noble Saint Apa Epima; for God has heard your prayer and removed all your pains, and I have been sent to grant you strength." As he spoke these words, he touched his body; the blessed Saint Apa Epima then rejoiced as one drinking fine wine, and cried out: "Be put to shame, O wicked governor! For I care nothing for you or your torments, so long as my God is with me."

21- When the inhabitants of the city of Bemidji heard these words, they all cried out: "Wondrous is the God of the Christians, Christ Jesus; there is no god but He in heaven or on earth." Upon hearing this, the governor flew into a rage and ordered four squads of soldiers—armed with whips made of single strips of leather (literally: sinews)—to seize the blessed Apa Epima. They threw him face-down, bound his hands and feet with straps, and rained blows upon him in groups of four, until his blood flowed onto the ground like water. The blessed Apa Epima cried out: "O my Lord Jesus Christ, come and help me." Just as his heart was on the verge of stopping from the severity of the blows, a mighty outcry rose up on his behalf from the people in the city square.

22- Then, he ordered the blessed Apa Epima to be seated on an iron chair; a helmet of fire was placed upon his head, and torches were lit beside his sides. Thereupon, the blessed Apa Epima traced the Sign of the Cross with his finger in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit; instantly, the helmet transformed into a crown upon the blessed Apa Epima’s head, and the torches turned back to burn those who held them. The city crowds cried out, saying: "Great is the Lord who grants His servants power and glory! We shall not allow this man to be killed in our city; rather, we must escort him out publicly and return him to his home. Should that wicked man wage war against us, we shall stone him; for shall we care about a mere mortal man and forsake God?"

23- When the wicked governor heard these words, he feared the city's inhabitants. He turned to Saint Apa Epima and said, "I adjure you by Jesus—that name by which you practice sorcery—to command these blazing torches to move away from the executioners, for they are causing them torment." Then, Saint Apa Epima lifted his eyes toward heaven and said, "Hear me, O my Lord Jesus Christ; for when You were on the Cross, and the Jews were tormenting You by striking Your face, You nevertheless asked Your Father to forgive them (cf. Luke 23:34). Furthermore, the Prophet Isaiah said: Do not repay anyone evil for evil (this quotation is erroneously attributed to Isaiah; it actually refers to Romans 12:17).and Solomon said in his Proverbs: "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for by doing this, you will heap burning coals upon his head" (Proverbs 25:21-22). And You also said, O my Lord, in the Holy Gospel: "Forgive people their sins, and your Father who is in heaven will forgive you" (cf. Matthew 6:14). And now, O my Lord Jesus Christ, the hour has come for Your holy name to be glorified" (cf. John 17:1). Then he turned to the executioners and said to them: "Go your way; for Jesus has forgiven you."

24- When the governor saw this, he marveled, and all the city's inhabitants glorified God. Then, that insolent governor turned to the blessed Apa Epima and said: "Will you not tell me what this miracle is that you have wrought with your forehead and face? Truly, you are a skilled sorcerer; never have I seen anyone perform a miracle such as this. I adjure you by Jesus, your God, to tell me the whole truth." The blessed Apa Epima answered him, saying: "Listen, and I shall tell you: this is the seal that God placed upon the face of Adam on the day he was created, and it is also the sign of the Cross that my Lord Jesus bore." Then the governor turned to his counselor and said: "What are we to do with this man amidst the great uproar surrounding us in the city? Look, we are not permitted to harm him." His advisor said to him: "Listen to me and pass judgment on this man: send him to Alexandria to be punished there. Otherwise, the inhabitants of this city—who know him well, for he is a distinguished man whom everyone respects as a scholar, a man of high standing in his household, and a leader of his village and the surrounding region—will not allow us, for these reasons, to execute him within this city."

25- Then the governor wrote a report worded as follows: "I, Culcianus, Governor of Pemdje, write to Arminius, Prefect of Alexandria, regarding a Christian saint named Epima—a resident of Pankolius in the district of Pemdje and a leader of that entire district, whom everyone obeys and fears due to the sorcery he practices. For this reason, the inhabitants of the city of Pemdje, as well as those of the entire district he leads, have opposed me and prevented me from harming him. Therefore, I have sent him to you to punish as you see fit, so that he may submit to the decree of our sovereign kings. Farewell, my beloved brother." Then, after writing the report, he ordered the pious man—who was already wearing two iron collars around his neck—to be shackled at the hands and feet. Four soldiers were assigned to escort him south to ......... (?) (the word is obscure and refers to a public place, perhaps the Temple of Athena)... until they brought him to the river. They threw him onto the bottom of the boat and sailed away with him While he was lying in the bottom of the ship. The blessed Apa Epima was filled with sorrow and wept, saying: "O Jesus my Lord, O Jesus my life, O Jesus my hope, O Jesus my help: have mercy on me and be with me wherever I go, for I am being led to a place I do not know, yet You alone are the One I know; O Lord God Almighty, Father of my Lord Jesus Christ, to whom belong glory and power forever and ever. Amen." When Saint Apa Epima uttered these words, his supplications found acceptance before the throne of God, and his prayer reached the ears of the Lord of Hosts. The Lord Jesus descended from heaven riding upon a cloud of light, with Michael at His right hand and Gabriel at His left, while multitudes of angels chanted praises to Him. He stood in the air above the boat and said to Saint Apa Epima: "Rejoice in the time of rejoicing, and take courage in the time of courage. I am Jesus, who became incarnate in the womb of the Virgin Mary. Do not fear, O Epima, My chosen one, for I am with you wherever you are taken. I shall reward you according to your sufferings, and I shall seat you upon your throne in My kingdom alongside My saints. I shall grant you a renowned name and a share in the eternal offering within the Church of the Firstborn in the heavenly Jerusalem (cf. Hebrews 12:22–23). Do not fear, O Epima, My chosen one; for My peace shall be with you everywhere. Amen." Then, after the Savior had spoken these words, He ascended into heaven in great glory, while the angels chanted praises to Him. As for the blessed one, his heart rejoiced at the sight of the Lord, and he continued to glorify God until he reached Alexandria.

26- That day was the day of the Great Fast (i.e., Good Friday). Saint Apa Epima prayed to God, saying: "O God, You who created me in my mother’s womb and have preserved my life to this day, deliver me from the hand of this wicked man during these three days—the day of the Great Fast, Saturday, and Sunday—for they are days of celebration in heaven and on earth, and no harm should befall during them." As he uttered these words, the ship arrived at the shores of Alexandria.

27- The soldiers searched for Arminius, and since it was the King’s birthday, they found him at the Playground. They presented him with the report concerning Saint Apa Epima —whom they had brought in with his hands bound behind his back and a yoke around his neck. Arminius intended to interrogate him that very day, but the townspeople objected, saying, "No, do not spoil our games; you can interrogate him later." He therefore ordered Saint Apa Epima to be taken to prison until the following day.

28- There was a man imprisoned in the jail who was tormented by an evil spirit that had taken possession of him. The spirit cried out in a loud voice, saying: "I shall depart from Dionysius—son of Theodore, the governor’s servant (or bodyguard)—O Saint Apa epima of Pankolios, out of fear of the Archangel Michael, who walks with you and has entered the prison in your company." Immediately, the devil cast the man to the ground and came out of him; the man felt relief and threw himself at the feet of Saint Apa Epima.

29- The prison warden—who had an only daughter who was pregnant—witnessed the great miracle performed by Saint Apa Epima. The daughter was in her final month of pregnancy and had been suffering labor pains for three days, yet the infant would not be delivered. Although her father had summoned a multitude of physicians, healers, and sorcerers, they were unable to cure her. Upon witnessing what Saint Apa Epima had accomplished, the father went to him, fell at his feet, and implored him to heal his daughter. Saint Apa Epima said to him, "Bring me oil over which I may pray, that I might reveal in her the glory of God—He to whom all such glory and miracles belong." The father hastened to bring the oil to Saint Apa Epima, who prayed over it; the young woman was anointed with it, and she immediately gave birth to a male child, whom she named Epima in honor of that righteous man.

30- Afterward, there was a blind man sitting at the threshold of the prison gate, accepting alms from those entering and leaving the prison. When he heard of the miracles of Saint Apa Epima, he rose and went to seek him out inside the prison; he cast himself at the saint's feet and implored him to grant him his sight. Thereupon, Saint Apa Epima turned his face toward the East and prayed, saying: Hear me, my Lord Jesus Christ; You who opened the eyes of the blind man as You journeyed toward Bethphage (cf. Mark 10:46 ff.); Jesus, who granted sight to the two blind brothers sitting by the roadside begging for alms (cf. Matthew 20:30); Jesus, my God, who spat on the ground, made clay, applied it to the eyes of the man born blind, and sent him to the Pool of Siloam, whereupon he returned with his sight restored (John 9:6). Hear me also, O my Lord Jesus Christ, and have mercy on this poor man who subsists on alms. Grant him sight so that he may ply his trade and craft, and live to praise Your holy name; for Yours is the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen." Immediately, Saint Apa Epima laid his hands upon the blind man’s eyes and breathed into his face three times—in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit—whereupon the man’s eyes opened at once, and he saw clearly. The man went about the city spreading word of Apa Epima and the miracles he performed in the prison; consequently, people from the city suffering from various ailments were brought to him in the prison, and he healed them all through the power of Christ.

​

 

[karas karas]

​

31- Julius—who was a protector of the martyrs and a chronicler of their lives—was present in that city, serving in the military garrison of Alexandria. He had a virgin sister named Eucharistia; she was learned (or wise and prudent) and compassionate (a doer of good). She treated her servants kindly, cared for the sick and the suffering, and cherished the entire Christian community. She would often admonish her brother Julius regarding the Christians, saying, "Do not torment them nor inflict any harm upon them." Satan was enraged by the good deeds and acts of righteousness she performed (cf. Titus 3:5) and caused a demon to possess her; this demon afflicted her body with paralysis. Her right arm and right foot contracted, the entire right side of her body withered, and her whole frame became contorted. She spent fourteen years bedridden, completely unable to stand on her feet. Julius heard of the miracles Saint Apa Epima was performing in prison; he went to him there and implored him, saying: "My lord and father, I have heard of the miracles and wonders wrought through your hands. I have a virgin sister who does much good for the poor and needy and holds great love for Christians; yet, because of her charitable deeds, Satan has struck her, ravaging her body with a severe and terrible affliction. She has been bedridden for fourteen years and is utterly unable to stand on her feet. I have brought her multitudes of physicians, healers, and sorcerers, but none could cure her. If you pray to your God to heal her, I shall provide you with whatever you need; and should you wish for me to secure your release so you may return home in peace, I will pay the Governor Arminius up to three rotls of gold to ensure your freedom... Grant me only this great favor." Saint Apa Epima laughed at Julius and said to him: "I do not desire my freedom; for it was not a human being who seized me and brought me before this tribunal, but rather the command of my Lord Jesus Christ that led me here. Yet, I ask one thing of you: I am in a foreign land, and there is no one to care for my remains once the sentence is carried out. I would like you to take charge of my body and send it to my burial place—so it may rest beside my forefathers and my kin—for my God has told me: 'Your body shall remain in this place for a long time.' However, instruct the men to whom you entrust my body, saying: 'Do not let anyone along the way know that this is a martyr; otherwise, he will be taken from you, and you will not be permitted to transport him to the place God has prepared for me.' If you grant me this favor, I, too, shall obtain a grace for you from my God, Christ Jesus." Julius replied, "I am ready to do so, for the angel of God appeared to me last night and commanded it; I shall record your story and preserve it in my home, so that your blessing and peace may abide in my house and among all my descendants for generations to come. Yet, I ask that you remember me and my entire household wherever you go." Then Saint Apa Epima opened his mouth and blessed Julius, saying: "My Lord Jesus shall bless you with the blessing of His own mouth; He shall bless your heavenly house—not made by human hands (cf. 2 Corinthians 5:1); neither famine nor pestilence shall befall your earthly home; and your descendants—for three or four generations (cf. Exodus 20:5; Deuteronomy 5:9)—shall not see the judgment of the Abyss (or Hell). Rather, you shall be counted among the choir of the martyrs of Jesus Christ. Amen."

32- After the Saint had spoken these words before Julius, he added: "Send for your sister to be brought here, so that the glory of Jesus—to whom all these glories and miracles belong—may be revealed." Immediately, Julius sent his servants; they brought his sister—carried on a litter—and placed her on the ground before the blessed Apa Epima. The honorable Apa Epima took some water and prayed over it, saying: "I pray to You, my Lord Jesus Christ—You who healed the paralytic, cleansed the leper, and enabled the mute to speak and the deaf to hear; O God, from whom all forms of healing and life proceed, hear me this day and grant healing to Your handmaiden Eucharistia—sister of Julius—as a reward for the good she renders to Your martyr-servants; for Yours is the power and the glory, forever and ever. Amen." When Apa Epima finished his prayer, he took the water and gave it to Eucharistia’s attendants; they washed her with it, and immediately her body straightened, and her skin became radiant like that of a young child. She rose and stood to her feet, walked towards Saint Apa Epima, and threw herself at his feet to kiss them. The saint said to her, "The grace of God has been fulfilled in you. Rise and go to your home and glorify the God of the Christians; for my Lord Jesus will henceforth complete all the services you were offering to His saints." (Literally: "My Lord Jesus will complete all your service, which was the service of His saints.") After the saint spoke these words to her, she returned to her home walking on her own two feet—even though she had been bedridden for fourteen years—and glorified the God of Apa Epima, who is Christ Jesus.

33- Then Julius blessed his personal servant, Faustus, and placed him at the disposal of Saint Apa Epima to serve him faithfully in all his needs—in accordance with the customs of this world—until the day of his death.

34- The Saint remained in prison for several days, performing great miracles and wonders. Eventually, the wicked Governor Arminius heard of the miracles and wonders Saint Apa Epima was performing while in custody. He ordered a tribunal to be set up at a location in the city known as the *Severium* (or the *Caesareum*—the Caesareum of Alexandria being a massive temple built by Queen Cleopatra VII in the city of Alexandria). The Saint was brought before the court, and the governor asked him, "Are you Epima the sorcerer?" He replied, "Yes, I am he; yet I am no sorcerer, but a servant of God, Christ Jesus." Arminius then said to him, "What are these magical deeds I have heard you performing in prison?" The Saint said to him: "These deeds I have performed—and of which you have heard—were not accomplished through sorcery; rather, I performed them in the name of my Lord, Jesus Christ. Indeed, I once heard of a sorcerer named Astratole who performed great wonders through his magic: he uttered an incantation, causing the well of the abyss to open, and he descended into it, intending to cross it. The well closed over him, and demons surrounded him. Some said, 'Let us kill him'; others said, 'Let us flay him'; others, 'Let us cut off his head'; and others, 'Let us tear out his fingernails.' They even contemplated inflicting severe torture upon him. He exhausted his strength summoning spirits, yet they were unable to save him."

35- At that moment, he remembered the God of the Christians, and his heart found peace. He said to himself, "If my heart finds peace merely by thinking of the God of the Christians, how great would be the power I would possess were I to confess Him with my mouth and tongue!" Immediately, he cried out in a loud voice: "O Jesus Christ, God of the Christians, if You save me from this ordeal, I shall go and shed my blood for the sake of Your holy name." At once, the abyss opened up, and he emerged from it. "Let it be known to you, Governor Arminius, that there is no god with power like my God—Christ Jesus—for He is the One who will destroy all sorcery and all the schemes of Satan by which he deceives all people." Arminius said to him, "Put aside all this talk and offer the sacrifice; you will not be able to persuade me with such words." The Saint replied, "A single word suffices for the wise. Let this be clear to you: even if you were to spend a whole year from this moment arguing with me about this matter—namely, offering the sacrifice—I would never forsake my God, Christ Jesus, to worship abominable idols." Governor Arminius became enraged and said to Saint Apa Epima, "Obey me and offer the sacrifice before I ruin your physical beauty with savage torture. As for you, ask a favor of me and I shall grant it, for I pity your beauty." The Saint laughed and asked him, "And what is this favor you intend to grant me?" Arminius replied, "I shall write to my lord the King to bestow a great favor upon you: he will assign you a hundred soldiers to remain under your command and take your orders." The Saint laughed and said to him, "Is this truly the gift you would bestow upon me? live my Lord (Cf. 2 Kings 12:5; Ps. 17:47) Jesus Christ., even if you were to give me a hundred soldiers to stay with me for a hundred years, it would not equal a single day in the Kingdom of my Lord Jesus Christ."

36- Then, in anger and exasperation, Arminius ordered Saint Apa Epima to be suspended from the stake (or the rack or the wheel of swords the Hemetarim ) and tortured until his inner flame was extinguished (i.e., his life).

37- Then the saint lifted his face toward heaven, saying: "Come to me this day, O angel of my Lord Jesus Christ, and succor me at this hour." Immediately, the Archangel Michael took the form of a white dove and alighted upon the top of the stake beside Saint Apa Epima; the bonds that bound him were loosed, the stake snapped and split in two, and the saint stood upon the platform unharmed, his body having suffered no injury.

38- Arminius flew into a rage and ordered him returned to his place; he then commanded that a great pyre be erected, onto which the righteous man’s body was thrust using iron pitchforks (iron tridents), tearing the skin from his flesh. Yet, by the power of God, the saint stood upright amidst the flames, unharmed, and continued to praise God.

39- Afterward, Arminius ordered that his fingernails be torn out one by one and that vinegar and quicklime be poured over the wounds; he also ordered that his genitals be severed and salt poured upon them. Yet, Saint Epima endured this torture with courage.

40- Then Arminius ordered a large cauldron filled with lead to be brought, a fire to be lit beneath it until the lead melted and turned to liquid, and for it then to be poured over his body. Yet Saint Apa Epima said to him: "Truly, O wicked fool, I am like a man who has come out of the heat, exhausted by fatigue, and immersed his body in cool water."

41- Then Arminius ordered red-hot tridents to be brought and thrust them into his ears until the smoke spread and reached the center of his brain; yet, the blessed man endured this torture with courage.

42- Then, that tyrannical man ordered the saint to be burned again with iron spikes and his flanks repeatedly pierced until his ribs were shattered and bent inward. Next, he ordered glowing iron balls to be brought and placed upon the saint’s hands until the tendons of his fingers contracted. Finally, his heels were pierced and iron chains were threaded through them; he was then dragged across the town square until the skin of his body and the hair of his head adhered to The road stones. Afterward, he was brought back to stand before the Count without bearing the slightest trace of a wound upon his body; the townspeople hailed him and cheered for him.

43- The wicked man flew into a rage and said to the guards and the other judges: "I swear to you that even if his God were to use both hands with great skill, He could not save him from my grasp; for I have heard only that various forms of sorcery are practiced in the name he invokes. Yet, by the fortune of our kings and the glory of the great god Apollo, I shall once again put the power of his God to the test, for the great god Apollo is a mighty being." Saint Apa Epima replied: "Since you have blasphemed the name of my God and dared to compare His great glory to that of your stone god Apollo, all the evils of the world shall instantly punish you, for you have shown no fear before Him—He who, together with His Father, created the heavens, the earth, the sea, the rivers, and all that is within them. All beings in heaven, on earth, and under the earth glorify Him, for He is their Lord. "And you, O wicked and impious man, despise him; yet my Lord Jesus Christ shall strike you dumb, for you have insulted His holy name with your defiled lips." Instantly, the lips and tongue of Governor Armenius became fused together, rendering him unable to speak. He wept bitterly, while the crowds, struck with awe, cried out: "There is no God but You, O Jesus Christ—the God of the Christians." Then, silence fell upon all.

44- Then Governor Arminius rose from his throne, went to seize Julius—the man from Aqfahs—and insistently led him to the blessed Saint Apa Epima, to implore him to heal him.

45- Then Julius approached the blessed Saint Apa Epima, embraced him, and kissed him on the mouth and chest, while simultaneously making a humble request of him. The Saint said to him: "Consider what you wish me to do, my brother, and I shall obey you in all things; for my Lord said—while upon the Cross and being tormented by the Jews—'I am Jesus, who was never deaf [to prayers] (See Philippians 2:8).' If the Creator of heaven and earth did not close His ears [to supplication], how then could I, His servant, close mine?" Julius replied: "I want you to speak the word so that Arminius may speak and be delivered from this condition." The blessed Saint Apa Epima answered him: "As the Lord God lives, he shall not speak unless he takes a reed pen, ink, and papyrus, and writes a confession of the God of the Christians—Christ Jesus—and His Holy Father." Immediately, the reed pen, ink, and papyrus were brought, while Arminius’s tongue remained bound within his mouth.

46- Arminius looked toward heaven and wrote the following: "There is no God but You, O Christ Jesus, whom the Holy Virgin Mary bore. We also know that You were crucified and rose from the dead; yet it was kings who compelled us to do this. Furthermore, and above all, You are the true God, and I believe in You." The parchment was taken and read by all who were literate, while those who could read conveyed its contents to those who could not; then, the non-readers began to disperse silently in various directions (likely those who had been unaware of the matter). The news spread throughout the city.

47- Then Saint Apa Epima approached the Governor Armenius and said: "In the name of Jesus Christ—who opened the mouth of Zechariah (when he wrote on the tablet, 'His name is John,' and his mouth was opened, his tongue was loosed, and he blessed God; see Luke 1:63–64)—may the mouth of this wicked Armenius likewise be opened, that he may speak and say whatever he wishes. I know for certain that he will not believe, yet I ask this for the sake of the assembled crowds, that they may witness Your holy power." Immediately, the wicked Armenius spoke in anger, saying to Saint Apa Epima: "You have done all you could against me, you insolent man, but I shall not spare you." He then ordered that the blessed Apa Epima be taken to the public bathhouse, where his hands and feet were bound; he was cast into the furnace, and the fire was kept burning upon him for three days and three nights.

48- Then Saint Apa Epima prayed to God amidst the flames, saying: "Hear me, O You who heeded our father Abraham and quenched the fire of King Busuk beneath him" (this detail undoubtedly refers to an incident found in an Old Testament apocryphal text—one with which I am unfamiliar—though it is also worth noting that the story of Abraham being cast into the fire appears in Jewish tradition). O You who delivered Paul and Thecla from the fire of Thamyris; (This refers to Thamyris, the fiancé of Saint Thecla—known as "Equal-to-the-Apostles"—who was, according to tradition, a devoted disciple of Saint Paul the Apostle. Thecla left her fiancé, a pagan, to follow Saint Paul closely. Thamyris subsequently sought to have Saint Paul condemned by the governor Castelius; we know this from the apocryphal *Acts of Paul and Thecla*.) who delivered Joseph from the hand of the chief of the cooks; who delivered Susanna from the hands of the wicked accusers (cf. Daniel 13:1–63); and who hearkened to the Three Holy Youths amidst the blazing furnace and sent Your angel to rescue them from the hand of King Nebuchadnezzar—who then acknowledged You, saying: "Did we not cast three men into the furnace? Yet I see four men, unbound, walking amidst the furnace unharmed, and the appearance of the fourth is like the Son of God. (cf Daniel 3:91 and 92.) " "And now, O Lord, hear me and deliver me from the midst of this fire; for Yours is the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen." Immediately, the Archangel Michael descended from heaven and entered the bathhouse furnace beside Saint Apa Epima; he spread his luminous wings over him, turning the fiery flames into a cool, dewy breeze like that of dawn. Michael said to him, "Take courage, O Saint Apa Epima! I am Michael, whom the Lord has sent to your aid." Instantly, the bonds fell from the saint; he stood upon his feet, lifted his eyes, and beheld the angel of God. His heart was reassured. Then, he opened his mouth and recited this hymn of praise: "The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him; He delivers them and grants them prosperity wherever they may be (cf. Psalm 33:8); according to what is written in the Holy Scriptures: 'I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken by the Lord, nor their offspring in want of any good thing' (cf. Psalm 36:25), for He sustains them in times of famine, because they have believed in Him."

49- Three days later, while Saint Apa Epima was in the bathhouse furnace—protected by the care of the Lord God—Governor Arminius arrived at the baths and undressed to bathe. He thought of Saint Apa Epima and said, "You have been forsaken, O sorcerer Epima; where is your God Jesus now—He in whom you placed your hope? Why has He not come to rescue you from my hands?" For he believed the fire had completely consumed the Saint. Yet, at that very moment, an archangel of God parted the bathhouse floor tiles, bore Saint Apa Epima up on wings of light, and set him down safe and sound in the bathhouse’s circular hall. Upon seeing him, Governor Arminius flew into a rage and was filled with fury; he changed his mind and did not bathe that day. Saint Apa Epima then left the bathhouse and headed toward the city square, following Governor Arminius, while the townspeople gazed at him in astonishment and wonder.

50-Eusebius, a prominent citizen, was building a palace, and his only son stood supervising and directing the workers. The young man fell from the building under construction; his brain spilled from his nose, and his body was completely shattered. People gathered around him, weeping. The Saint said to the crowd, "Step back, so that the glory of my Lord—to whom belong all such glory and miracles—may be revealed." The crowd immediately stepped aside; Saint Apa Epima stood over the young man’s body and prayed, saying: (Literally: in this manner, saying

"Hear me, O God, Father of my Lord Jesus Christ; You who heard our first father Adam when he prayed in the waters of the Jordan, accepted his repentance, and sent Michael to him with the seeds of the harvest. (This story may appear in Jewish or Christian tradition, or in an apocryphal text concerning Adam.) O Jesus, You who heard the prayers of all Your saints and answered their petitions, hear me also today and grant my request; hear me, O my Lord Jesus Christ, You who raised Lazarus from the dead. O Jesus my Lord, hear me today as I cry out to You on behalf of the son of Eusebius, a notable of the city; grant him healing, so that all these multitudes may know that there is no God but You and Your good Father—neither in heaven nor on earth—for Yours is the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen." Immediately, Saint Apa Epima took the young man by the hand, raised him up, and breathed into his face three times—in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Life instantly stirred within the young man’s heart; he opened his eyes, saw Saint Apa Epima, and cast himself at his feet in prostration, praising God Jesus Christ. The entire crowd marveled and glorified the God of the Christians.

51- At that moment, one hundred and six men from the city stepped forward to confront Arminius; they seized him and prevented him from going to his meal, declaring: "The God of Apa Epima is the one true God, and there is no other besides Him; to Him we hastened as soon as we came to know Him, for we too are Christians and belong to Christ Jesus." Enraged, Arminius ordered them taken to the seashore, where he pronounced judgment upon them. He said to Symmachus: "Symmachus, my executioner and the enforcer of my court’s decrees: go to these renegade Christians and carry out the order of our royal masters against them; you have full authority to exterminate them by whatever means of death you choose." Thereupon, Symmachus the executioner led the holy martyrs to the seashore and divided them into groups; then, drawing his sword, he rushed upon them—beheading some, Amputationing the legs of others, and lopping off the arms of yet others—in short, dealing with each of them according to the specific punishment decreed for them.

52- Symmachus, the executioner, grew weary and sat down to rest for a moment. One of the saints in the crowd, named Dioscorus, said to him: "Symmachus, my son, you have shed the blood of the saints enough; their God is great, and He will not leave you unpunished, but will bring their blood down upon your own head." Symmachus replied: "If I die, let the pupil of my right eye be placed beneath the pivot of the gate of 'Amenti'" (that is, the Abyss or Hell). All the saints—the living and the dead alike—answered, saying: "Amen. Let it be as you have said." Then, Symmachus the executioner sprang forward and beheaded the remaining saints. The air was filled with angels who came to them, bore away their souls, and clothed them in robes of *byssus* (gleaming linen or sea-silk); they appeared like radiant doves emerging from their nests. The angels carried them to the heights, seated them upon their thrones, and placed imperishable crowns upon their heads, while Saint Apa Epima watched them, chanting this hymn: "My heart has rejoiced in the gladness of my brethren. You have heeded us, O King of the heavenly hosts; You granted us glory and did not allow us to be put to shame. May our hands and feet be worthy to enter Your holy city, and may the lifting up of our hands be a sacrifice of peace before You (cf. Psalm 141:2)."

53- Thus did these holy martyrs receive the crown of martyrdom, all on a single day. In the peace of God. Amen.

54- The wicked man turned to go and dine, but Saint Apa Epima hastened toward him and stopped him, saying: "As the Lord lives! You shall neither eat nor drink until you pass judgment upon me." Although the wicked man wished to pronounce judgment against him, he feared the displeasure of the crowds, for all the city's inhabitants loved Apa Epima because of the miracles and wonders God performed through him. He therefore pondered how to be rid of him; he summoned the keepers of wild beasts and said to them: "Go and bring me four beasts." They went and brought him exactly what he had requested: a lioness that had just given birth, a tiger, a bear, and a leopard. He ordered that they all be taken to the seashore, along with Saint Apa Epima —whose hands and feet had been bound. So he ordered them—that is, the saint and the beasts—to be placed in a small boat, which was then pushed out into the waves. A sharp spear was fixed behind him. (Probably to prevent him from turning around or running away.) Then, the boat was left to face its fate on the open sea; its mooring ropes were cut, and it was cast adrift to be tossed about by the storm (or the winds) carrying Saint Apa Epima along with those beasts.

55- Then Saint Apa Epima prayed to God, saying: "Hear me, O my Lord Jesus Christ; You who answered Peter and John—who, while on their way to the Temple, encountered a man lame from birth and healed him after he looked upon them (cf. Acts 3:1–2); O Jesus, You who answered David and made him master over the beasts of the mountain while he tended his sheep (cf. 1 Samuel 16:11, 19); "Jesus, You who sent Your angel to rescue our father Daniel from the lions' den, making the lions gentle around him and submissive at his feet (cf. Daniel 6:27, 22)—hear me also today, me and these beasts amidst these vast waters; for just as I have been condemned to wander as an outcast, so too have they been driven from their native habitats." As the saint uttered these words, the angel Michael descended from heaven, boarded the boat with Saint Apa Epima, and loosed the righteous man’s bonds. He brought with him heavenly food; and Apa Epima ate and drank, and his heart was comforted. Upon seeing the angel of the Lord, the beasts prostrated themselves at his feet and at the feet of Saint Apa Epima and began to lick their feet.

56- Seven days later, Armenius arrived at the seashore, accompanied by his entire retinue. At that moment, the Archangel Michael steered the boat and brought it to land before Armenius. Armenius was seized with rage upon seeing the boat dock carrying the Saint—whose feet the wild beasts licking them—for he was utterly astonished, having assumed that the beasts had already devoured the Saint’s flesh and bones. He demanded, "Whence have you come, you wicked sorcerer?" Epima replied, "God sent His angel to rescue me and bring me here, that I might put you and your loathsome gods to shame." Armenius then convened a tribunal at a seaside location known as Poseidon (Neptune, the god of the sea); he seated the Saint before the court and ordered that Apa Epima be placed upon an iron bed. The Saint was bound with iron chains and secured with a torture device known as "the ravens.( corbeaux in French)" (It is most likely an iron belt with spikes that embed themselves into the martyr's body.) A fire was kindled over him to burn him. Suddenly, a cloud of light and dew spread above the bed, raining down a dew that extinguished the flames. The iron chains and the "ravens"— by which the righteous man was bound, melted like wax before the flame, The saint stood before the court, safe and sound. Instantly, full darkness enveloped Arminius and his entire retinue, with the exception of Julius, the man from Aqfahs. Then the crowds cried out, saying: "Blessed are You, O Lord God Almighty, together with Your beloved Son, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit, for You grant courage to Your servants." Arminius then called out in a loud voice: "Bring Julius, the man from Aqfahs, to me." Julius came forward and said to him: "What would you have me do now? If this continues much longer, they will stone me." The Insolent man replied: "I will do whatever you command." Julius stepped forward, embraced the saint Apa Epima for the second time, and said to him: "O my beloved brother and father, have mercy on us through the power and goodness of Jesus. Let Your miracle occur once more amidst these crowds; speak so that the blind may see, for there is no other god who rivals Your God in power." The crowds shouted: "Yes, O Father! May we see this other miracle once again!" Then, Saint Epima turned his face toward the east and prayed to God; he approached Armenius, touched his eyes and the eyes of all the soldiers, and said to them, "Go; for Jesus has forgiven you." Instantly, the darkness lifted from them, and they saw clearly. Armenius was seized with intense rage and fury, desiring to subject the righteous man to further cruel torments; however, the crowds shouted openly, "From this moment on, we will not allow you to torture this man any longer." Their voices rose, filling the place with a great clamor.

57- Then both Theophanes (the bodyguard) and Sotherichos (the advisor) turned to Armenius and said: "Master Armenius, listen to us: banish this man and send him to Egypt ( Administratively, Alexandria was separate from the rest of Egypt.)to be executed there; otherwise, if we torture him, we shall meet our own deaths, for we know the men of this city well—they are troublemakers who will show us no mercy."

58- Amidst the intensifying uprising, Governor Rocilianus arrived in Alexandria, accompanied by Sebastian, who had been appointed governor of the southern region. Rocilianus had been appointed governor over three cities—Heracleopolis, Pemdje, and Alexandria—after Emperor Diocletian sent them a letter ordering them to proceed to Egypt (most likely to assume their posts). At that time, Armenius ordered that the hands and feet of Saint Apa Epima be bound and an iron collar placed around his neck; he then handed him over to Governors Rocilianus and Sebastian to take him to Egypt and carry out his execution there, owing to the massive uprising then gripping Alexandria.

59- Then, as Saint Apa Epima was about to board the ship, Julius stepped forward and embraced him, saying: "I bid you farewell, good father; remember me wherever you go. I bid you farewell, father; may the Lord grant you strength to complete your struggle with courage. I bid you farewell, father; may the angels of God accompany you until you meet the Most High." After speaking these words to Saint Apa Epima, Julius summoned his two servants, Faustus and Theodimus, and entrusted the Saint to their care. He charged them to remain in his service until he had fulfilled his struggle, and to attend to his body and bury him in the place the Lord had prepared for him—just as Julius had previously agreed with the Saint. (The conversation—that is, the agreement reached between them before he healed Julius's sister.) He brought him a quantity of Fine Fragrances and pure burial shrouds. Furthermore, one of the city’s notables—whose son the Saint had healed—brought fine fabric (A piece of cloth or texture for shrouding) and precious Fine Fragrances; he entrusted these to Julius’s servants, instructing them to carry them to Egypt and place them upon the body of the righteous Epima once he had completed his spiritual struggle. Finally, Julius approached Governor Rokilianos, asking him to allow the two servants to travel to Egypt, to permit no one else to minister to the Saint, and to ensure they were not disturbed until they had accomplished the task assigned to them.

60- Then the Governor and the Prefect boarded the boat, accompanied by several groups of soldiers; the sail was unfurled, and they sailed southward along the river until they reached the outskirts of the city of Heracleopolis. Upon arriving at the landing of a village named Bihnamun—situated on the western bank of the river—the wind died down, and the boat brought the Saint to the shore. At that moment, the Angel of the Lord signaled to Saint Apa Epima, saying: "Prepare yourself, O Champion of Christ; for your struggle is at hand, as this is the place the Lord has prepared for you to fulfill your destiny."

61- At that location stood a fortress housing the military commander and his troops, known as the Tkemen garrison. The governor ordered mounts to be brought so he could ride up to the temple to worship the abominable gods; however, the animals suddenly stopped and refused to move in any direction. Saint Apa Epima then said to the rulers: "As the Lord lives! You shall not leave this place until you pass judgment upon me, for this is the site ordained for my destiny." A court was immediately convened at Pouôhnamèou. The governor sent word to the temple, instructing the priests to bring the statue of the great god Apollo so that he might worship it there. The priests brought the statue of Apollo and offered incense before it; the governor, the duke, and all the soldiers prostrated themselves before the statue in worship, and then took their seats before the court established at the site. The governor ordered that all Christians in the area be rounded up and brought before him. They brought him Apa Serapion, the priest of Bouohnamio; Horion, the priest of the fortress of Takmin; Ibona, the leader of Takmin; Eudaimon of Pouoeit; Petosiris of Dilag; and a vast multitude of Christians from that region. All underwent public interrogation; some were put to death, while the rest were taken to the boat. Subsequently, the governor ordered that they all be brought before him, accompanied by Saint Apa Epima. He said to him, "O Epima, here is your master; I have brought him and placed him before you so that you might cease practicing sorcery." Thereupon, Saint Apa Epima stepped toward the statue of Apollo and cast it to the ground. And with strength and courage drawn from the Holy Spirit, he overturned the ruler's throne, kicked him in the mouth and face, and hurled fierce curses upon the kings and their gods. Following the ruler's violent fall, court officials rushed to his aid and helped him back onto his throne; enraged, he issued the order for the saint to be beheaded.

62- As he was being led to the place of execution, Sebastian ordered him to be brought back and said to him: "Epima, listen to me and do not meet a terrible death. If you are ashamed to offer the sacrifice in your own province because you are well-known there, look—there is surely no one here who sees you or knows your identity; offer the sacrifice here, then, and we shall set you free to return home in peace. Why do you wait and bring this ruin and death upon yourself, when no one is forcing you to do so?" As Duke Sebastian spoke these words, the Saint Apa Epima replied: "Listen to me and let me instruct you: There was once a wealthy man of great means who had sons. Upon realizing the extent of their father’s wealth, these sons vied with one another and loved him dearly, coveting his possessions. I, too, know the immense wealth of my God—that wealth residing in His luminous eternities —and I have turned my heart toward Him to secure a share in His Kingdom, knowing that He rewards those who seek Him" (cf. Hebrews 11:6). The Duke then said to him, "So, you have resolved in your heart to die a hideous death—a cruel death such as this?" The Saint answered, "The death they are about to inflict upon me is not death at all, but rather eternal life in the age to come."

63- Then Rocilianus said to the Duke: "Leave this impudent, godless man be, and cut off his head so that we may be rid of him; otherwise, his sorcery will hinder us and prevent us from reaching the place where our king and master has established (our authority)".

64- Then, the executioners led Saint Apa Epima out of the court to be beheaded. He said to them, "I beg you, my brethren, allow me to pray to God before you cut off my head." The executioners granted his request. Thereupon, Saint Apa Epima turned his face toward the East and prayed, saying: "Open the gates for me, O my Savior, that I may enter through them (cf. Psalm 117:19). O angels of light, stand with me; O Cherubim of light, stand with me; O priests of light, stand with me; O guardians of the gates of light, stand with me and open your gates to me. Let those who are at the right hand (of God) stand with me, and let my enemies withdraw. Let darkness retreat and flee from before me, and let the light shine upon me. Come to me, O my Lord Jesus Christ, and be my aid on my journey until I stand before Your judgment seat; for Yours is the power and the glory forever. Amen."

65- When Saint Apa Epima uttered these words, he turned and saw the servants of Julius standing there, ready to carry out their master's orders. He called out to them, saying: "When my head is severed from my body, guard my remains with care; find a boat and place me upon it—otherwise, those godless men will not take me with them. Take me south to the port of Pmouche and set me ashore there. Then, find an Animal of burden and place me upon it; the Lord will send His angel to guide the animal until it brings me to the resting place of my brethren, for the Lord has told me: 'Your body shall remain there for a long time.' Be cautious in your speech: if people ask you, 'Where are you going?' or 'What is this?', do not say that I am a martyr; otherwise, they will wrest my body from your hands and will not permit you to transport it to the place the Lord has prepared for me."

66- While Apa Epima was uttering these words, the Lord Jesus descended from the heavens riding a radiant chariot, and the entire expanse was filled with angels who had come to receive Apa Epima’s soul. The Lord called out in a mighty voice, saying: "Come to Me, My beloved Epima, that I may grant you your reward for the sufferings you endured for the sake of My name." Upon seeing the Lord, the saint’s heart rejoiced, and he said to Jesus: "Hear me, my Lord, that I may make a request of You before my head is severed from my body." The Lord replied: "Speak, My beloved, and say whatever you wish." The Blessed One said to Him: "I desire that You grant my request: whoever among my people commits a sin and comes to my body in repentance, forgive him. Whoever records the story of my martyrdom Manifesting my memory, blot out the record of his sins and write his name in the Book of Life. And as for all who give my name to their children—thereby glorifying my name—let Your blessing, grace, and peace rest and abide in their homes." The Savior replied: "I shall grant you everything you ask of Me." Then Saint Apa Epima turned to the executioners and said: "Come, my brothers, and carry out what you have been commanded to do." At that moment, they placed a bridle in his mouth and beheaded him; blood and milk flowed from his body, and the place where he was beheaded shook three times. The Lord then received the soul of Apa Epima, gathered it to Himself, took it up into the chariot, and bore it to the heavens, where He seated it upon His glorious throne and placed upon its head the crown that endures forever.

67- Thus, Saint Apa Epima received the crown of martyrdom on the eighth day of the month of Ebib (corresponding to July 15), in the peace of God. Amen.

68- No sooner had the head of Saint Apa Epima been severed from his body than a north wind began to blow; the wicked men boarded their boat and sailed southward. Then, the servants of Julius took the burial cloths and spices entrusted to them by their master and wrapped the body of the righteous man in them. They placed the body on a small boat and sailed south until they reached the port of Pmouche; there, they went ashore and sought a beast of burden to carry the body of the blessed saint. An angel of the Lord guided the animal, ensuring it veered neither to the right nor to the left(meaning it did not stray from its path) until it arrived at Pankoleus, located south of a place called Chinouote. The beast continued on its way to a spot known as "Mount Chinouote," where it came to a halt. A voice then issued from the body of the saint, Apa Epima, saying: "Faustus and Theodimus—servants of Julius—lay me down here; for this is the place the Lord has prepared for me, and here my body shall rest until the Lord wills that a church be built for me." Immediately, the two servants of Julius placed the righteous man’s body upon the ground; and the olive staffs they held in their hands—with which they had been urging the beast forward—sprouted buds and put forth small branches heavy with fruit.

69- The inhabitants of Pankolius—the birthplace of Apa Epima—as well as the people of Chinouote and the entire region, heard about Saint Apa Epima and the body of that righteous man; they went out to meet the procession, carrying censers filled with incense and olive branches (for olive and palm branches, carried while preparing a body for burial, symbolize the joy of the martyr’s spiritual victory). They brought burial shrouds and Perfumes, placing them upon his body, and then held a solemn funeral service, laying him in a magnificent coffin befitting his stature within the honorable tomb of his friend, Ammonius. Afterward, the people of the region spent seven days celebrating in his honor.

70- Afterward, the servants of Julius returned to their master and recounted all that had befallen the blessed Saint Apa Epima, handing him the fruit-laden branches they were carrying; Julius marveled greatly and glorified the God of Apa Epima.

71- As for me, Julius, I sat down and began to record the life of Saint Apa Epima—including the miracles and wonders performed through him—so that I might take it to my home and keep it there, thereby ensuring that the blessing emanating from it would rest upon all my dwellings.

72- Before God—witness to my soul, body, and spirit—I, Julius, declare that I have neither added to nor subtracted anything from the miracles of Saint Apa Epima. God granted me this great grace and gift: I never offered a sacrifice, nor was I ever compelled to do so—for God caused those godless men to forget the matter (Literally: For God has placed forgetfulness in the hearts of these godless ones.) —so they never demanded a sacrifice from me, thereby allowing me to care for the saints. When the Eternal God willed to blot out my sins—even the very last of them—and deliver me from my sins, I resolved to love the saints; I would hasten to visit them in their prisons, ministering to their needs and the necessities of their earthly lives, and bringing them fire, water, and oil to alleviate their bodily pain and suffering.

73- Subsequently, the tyrant King Diocletian died, leaving prisons and detention centers everywhere packed with captives. When I—Julius—witnessed the suffering of the saints held in the Alexandria prison, I went to the governor and asked him to release them. The governor said to me, "I fear that another tyrant king might appear and demand them; and when he does not find them, he would expose me to great danger." I replied, "I shall go to the prison and stay there with my wife, my children, and my sister Eucharistia, until God issues a verdict in their favor." The governor answered, "Go, then; go and do as you please."

74- Then I entered the prison and set all the saints free, and each of them departed in peace to his home. As for me, I remained in the Alexandria prison—accompanied by my wife, my children, my sister Eucharistia, and my servants—until the pious King Constantine ascended the throne; he sent messengers to Egypt and ordered the emptying of all prisons, from Alexandria to the farthest south of the country. When the Alexandria prison was opened, I returned to my home with all my men.

75- When the saints learned of my return home, they gathered together and came to visit me; my sister, Eucharistia, brought water and washed their feet. They celebrated the Liturgy in my home, and I was privileged to receive their blessing; they partook of the bread in my house and blessed me from the depths of their souls. Some of the saints passed away in my home due to the hardships of travel and bodily ailments; I then moved them and buried them within my workshops and storehouses, so that their blessing might remain in that place.

76- Then, the saints blessed me from the depths of their hearts and departed one by one, returning in peace to their homes to live for God. Thereupon, I appointed one of my servants for each district—stretching from Alexandria to the farthest reaches of southern Egypt—to record the lives of the saints and the miracles and wonders they performed everywhere. Immediately, I sat down and began writing these accounts in the Roman script (that is, in Greek), keeping them in my home so that their blessing might dwell therein; for I believe that their blessing and grace shall never depart from my home, nor leave me or my descendants throughout all generations on earth.

77- May the peace of all those who were martyred for the sake of the name of our Lord Jesus Christ be with us—He to whom belong glory, power, and dominion throughout the ages, now and at all times, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

78- COLOPHON of the Manuscript

To all who read this book: Show love by praying for our pious father, Apa Epima, and his son, the master Onabri; for it was they who cared for this volume and deposited it in the Monastery of the Glorious Archangel Michael at "Fantu" in the Fayoum region, for the salvation of their souls. May Saint Michael, Saint Apa Epima, and Saint Apa Onabri intercede with Christ the King on their behalf, that He may forgive their sins, grant them heavenly blessings in place of earthly ones, inscribe their names in the Book of Life, and bestow upon them a hundredfold reward—in recompense for their vow—in the Heavenly Jerusalem, the city of all the righteous. Amen! So be it!​