تم تعطيل الجافا سكربت. للحصول على تجربة أفضل، الرجاء تمكين الجافا سكربت في المتصفح الخاص بك قبل المتابعة.

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الرسالة: [QUOTE="karas karas, post: 3869154, member: 135263"] [CENTER][/CENTER] [LEFT][SIZE=5]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[IMG alt="The Life and Martyrdom of the Great Martyr Apa Epima translated from the Coptic text "]https://www.chjoy.com/vb/images/smilies/smile.gif[/IMG]"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![/SIZE][/LEFT] [/QUOTE]

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