trans. by Nuns of St. Xenia’s Skete

 

In the beginning of the seventeenth century, shortly before the invasion of the Persians, during the reign of King Khozroe, in the town of Adana in the Cilician Eparchy of the Greek domain, there lived a warden of the holy synodal cathedral church of this town and his name was Theophil. He lived in a virtuous and holy manner, justly and righteously managing his affairs in harmony with the will of God. He was the bishop’s eye, supervising everything, and his right hand, carrying out every work and command. He was loved very much, not just by the bishop, but also by all the church’s clergy and all the inhabitants of the town for his virtue, because he was a father of orphans, a feeder of widows, a generous refuge for the poor, a defender of the offended, a hero of the helpless; in word, there was no one who he would not console in grief, in both word and deed. Everyone respected Theophil for this and loved him as a father and benefactor and the extolled his praises.

 

When, by God’s will, the bishop of Adana passed away from this temporal life, then all the pious inhabitants of this town, of every rank, from the great even to the very smallest, prompted by true Christian love for Theophil because of his many good deeds, and familiar also with his pure and chaste life, unanimously chose him as bishop. For this reason, they sent several specially honored citizens to the metropolitan of Cilicia with a written notice about this. Upon reading the letter, the metropolitan agreed to endorse their choice. Theophil was also well-known to him as a virtuous and God-pleasing man, skillful and experienced in everything, who was capable of administering the Eparchy. He immediately ordered Theophil to be summoned to himself for consecration as bishop of Adana. But when Theophil learned about the metropolitan’s decision, he did not wish to go to him, but obstinately refused to receive the Episcopal office. The citizens and all the clergy begged and implored him for a long time with tears to become their bishop, but without success. Then they dispatched another petition to the metropolitan, asking him to consecrate Theophil as a bishop even against his will.

Finally, by the power of his command, the metropolitan summoned Theophil to himself by force and received him with joy and love. He wanted to consecrate him as bishop immediately, but Theophil fell face downwards at his feet and with tears began to beg the metropolitan to not impose such a burden on him. “I know my sins,” he exclaimed. “I am not worthy of the rank of bishop.”

 

Since he lay for a long time in such a manner at the feet of the metropolitan, weeping and begging to be spared, the hierarch gave him a three day period for reflection, so that after considering the circumstances, he would agree to receive the episcopal office and would not disregard the entreaty of so many people who fervently wanted to have him for their pastor.

 

After the lapse of three days, the metropolitan summoned Theophil again and began to exhort and entreat him to not refuse the office of bishop. Then he began to praise the purity of his life and his skill in administration and he called him worthy of this position. But Theophil again fell at his feet and shedding copious tears, continued to exclaim, “I am not worthy to be a bishop!” Seeing that he remained adamant, stubbornly refusing, and did not yield to either commands or entreaties, the metropolitan finally granted him his own will. After placing another man, who he also considered worthy in the office of bishop, he sent him to Adana and entrusted Theophil to him so that he would perform the service of warden as he had formerly.

 

After this, since the new bishop remained for sometime on his throne, Theophil continued his customary service. Certain enemies, motivated by satanic envy, began to slander and accuse him of many improper actions. At first, the bishop did not heed their slanders and did not give credence to them, since he knew his warden as a man who was virtuous and irreproachable in every respect. But since his foes did not cease calumniating out of envy and almost daily imputing various derogatory accusations to Theophil, the bishop gradually began to yield to their words, to listen to their libels and trust them.

 

After a while, he removed Theophil from the work of warden so that he would no longer administer anything in either the bishop’s residence or the church property, but would live in his own home, peacefully and silently resting from labors. He entrusted the office of warden to another.

 

Released from cares and worldly vanity, Theophil began to abide in service to the one God. But the hater of the human race, the devil, could not endure the sight of Theophil’s God-pleasing and carefree life and took up arms against him with all his guile, and began to agitate him, sometimes with his own thoughts and sometimes through other people, secretly whispering to him, “The bishop has disgraced you, not remembering your great labors. He has humiliated you, preferring to you, one who is worse, unskilled and unworthy He has exposed you to people for ridicule and abuse.”

 

Theophil began, little by little, to pay heed to these demonic aspersbus and designs and then he began more and more to argue with himself or with others about this and to complain bitterly. Finally the treachery of the enemy reduced him to this, that forgetting his usual hope in God, he began to grow weak in faint-heartedness and grief and fell into

despair. It seemed to him that everyone laughed and mocked at him and that no one respected him any more. He began to be ashamed to go out of his house to people. An overwhelming desire for his former authority and administration of church property was enkindled within his heart. He thought about this day and night, disturbed himself with thoughts and pondered by what method to return to his former position so that his enemies would no longer rejoice over his abasement.

 

The grace of God receded from his heart because of such a desire and for other thoughts displeasing to God. Without this grace, he finally came the uttermost despair and began to look for help in magic and demons. By not wishing to receive the episcopal rank, he now came to aspire a much lesser power. So, for this, God allowed him to receive evil thoughts and satanic counsel in his heart.

 

A certain Hebrew lived in this town who was a son of perdition, a distinguished magician, sorcerer and deceiver. He was a real servant of the devil and led many to ruin. Theophil set out to this magician by night, coming to his house, he began to knock at the gate. The magician came out to see who was knocking and when he recognized Theophil, he was astonished (since he knew him). Nonetheless asked him to enter his house and when Theophil entered, he asked “What kind of reason, my master, brought you on your labor by to come to me who am evil and unworthy?” Theophil, in answer, himself at his feet and, imploring him, said, “If you are able to help, help me and do not turn away from me in my great sorrow.”

 

Then he related everything to the sorcerer in detail: how the bishop grieved him, taking away his authority, how people abused him, wiring someone worse to himself, and how he had been dismissed his service. He promised the magician a rich reward if he would

him to return to his former honor. Then the God-hating enchanter answered him, “Do not grieve about this, my master, but return home joyfully and with good hope. Come to me tomorrow night at this hour and I will take you to my commander and he will certainly help you in everything.”

 

Upon hearing this answer from the magician, the impious (at that time) Theophil rejoiced greatly and returned to his home full of iniquitous hope. The day passed and night again ensued. Theophil presented himself to the magician at midnight, as he had been commanded. The sorcerer took him to the hippodrome—a place where horse-racing takes place—and said to him, “If you see some kind of vision or hear any kind

of voice, then do not be afraid and do not shield yourself with the sign of the cross. The cross is of no help to people in this matter. This Christian chicanery is worthy of laughter.”

 

Theophil agreed to everything with him and promised not to guard himself with the cross. Then the necromancer immediately showed him in a vision, a throng of different unusual persons, adorned with diverse bright garments and with lit candies in their hands. These were demons. They cried out praises to their prince, satan. The very prince of darkness then sat in their midst in pride and delusive glory. Then the cursed Jewish enchanter took Theophil by the hand and led him to this ruinous assembly and approached the prince with him.

 

“Why have you led this man to us?” the prince of darkness asked the magician.

“My lord,” answered the God-hater, “I brought him to you to ask for your help because he has been terribly grieved by his bishop.”

 

“How can I help this man when he is a slave to his God? If he really wants to become my slave and enter into the number of my servants, then I will help him to receive greater power and honor than he had previously and he will be more powerful than the bishop himself.”

 

“Do you hear what the prince says,” the magician asked Theophil? “I hear,” Theophil replied, “and I will fulfill all that he commands.”

After saying these words he immediately fell and worshipped satan and began to kiss his feet.

 

“Let this man deny the so-called Son of Mary,” the devil said to the magician. “Let him also deny her, since I strongly hate them both. Let him write the denial with his own hand and present it to me. After this let him ask me whatever he wishes and he will receive what he asks for.”

 

After hearing this, Theophil responded to him, “I will fulfill everything that you command, my master, if only Twill receive what I desire.” At these words, the wily enemy of the human race, the devil, stretched out his fiendish hand to him and after embracing Theophil, began to stroke him on the beard and to kiss him, putting his impure mouth to Theophil’s.

 

“Rejoice, my true and faithful friend,” he said to him. And the impious Theophil, confirming his friendship with the devil, denied Christ our Saviour and His most pure Theotokos writing his denial on a parchment which had been prepared beforehand by the sorcerer. After sealing it, he entrusted it to the prince of darkness. After this they embraced one another as friends, kissed each other and were sent out.

 

The prince of darkness and his servants became invisible and withdrew from the hippodrome, both rejoicing over their perdition.

 

On the next morning, by God’s providence, as it turned out, and not by the devil’s efforts, the bishop woke up and repented that he had dismissed Theophil from his service as warden. He dispatched people to call Theophil to him again at the bishop’s residence and, with great honors, raised him to his former post, rendering him two-fold honor and he entrusted still greater authority over church affairs and property to him. On top of this, the bishop obtained Theophil’s pardon in the presence of the clergy and citizens.

 

“Forgive me, brother,” he said. “Forgive me. I have sinned before you, dishonoring your sanctity when I put an unworthy man in your place. Now I will dismiss him and I ask you to accept the administration of the church properties.”

 

From this hour, Theophil began to live in his former honor and power, being revered above everyone and managing the church’s business as warden. Not only did the clergy and citizens render him great honor and obey him with fear, but even the bishop himself deferred to him and his enemies kept silent from shame and began to humbly ask his favor.

 

During this time the blasphemous and cunning enchanter often

waited upon Theophil. “You see, my master,” he said, “how my prince and I have helped you to your desire, and how quickly you have received help from us.”

“Truly, I have received,” answered Theophil, “and I am grateful to you.”

Not much time had passed in such apostasy when Theophil began, as it were, to wake up from sleep and come to himself, recognizing his ruin. Our Creator and Redeemer, Christ God, not wishing the death of a sinner, but graciously awaiting his repentance (Ez. 18:21—23), remembered the former, virtuous life and labors of Theophil, his myriad works of mercy, care for the indigent and for widows, the upbringing of orphans, his defense of the offended, help for everyone who demanded help and the whole multitude of his good deeds. Not despising His creature in His ineffable goodness, the Lord showed him His mercy, because there is no sin that His love for humanity has not vanquished. By His hidden and divine inspiration, He placed the thought of repentance and rebirth into Theophil’s heart.

 

Coming upon this feeling, Theophil began to consider what kind of huge and dreadful crime he had committed, by denying Christ God and His most pure Mother for the sake of temporal and negligible human honor. He began to suffer in his soul, to grieve mentally and to repent vehemently, sighing from the depths of his heart, striking himself on the chest and bitterly weeping and wailing.

 

By this time the sorcerer was apprehended by the ruler of this country and was condemned to death by a legal court for his manifold enchantments and misdeeds and he received an execution worthy of his deeds: he was burned alive.

 

Then Theophil wept and sobbed day and night, grieving in his heart, not accepting any food or drink and not wishing to converse with anyone. After shutting himself up privately, he lamented and mourned.

 

“Woe is me: I am damned! Woe is me: I am ruined!” he exclaimed. “What have I done? To what kind of destruction am I cast down? Where shall I go now to receive salvation? To whom shall I resort in order to obtain forgiveness? To Christ God? But I denied Him. To the Mother of God? But I denied Her. I have become a slave of the devil and I secured my slavery with my own signature. Who will be able to help tear my manuscript from his hands? Who will help me and deliver me from his power? Why did I have to go to this loathsome and impious magician and trust him and deliver myself to eternal fire together with him? What kind of benefit have I received from this fleeting honor? What sort of pride and prosperity belong to this vain world? Woe is me! I am ruined and accursed! Woe is me! I lost my way and fell into a net, from which I do not know how I will be able to escape! Woe is me! I’ve deprived myself of eternal light and I abide in darkness! Wasn’t it better for me when I was dismissed from the position of warden? Wasn’t it better when I lived without sorrow and in silence? Why did I wish to plunge my poor soul into gehenna for the sake of vain and transitory human esteem and worthless glory? I am the author of my own destruction! I killed my own self! I, myself am traitor to my doomed soul! Woe is me! What have I lost? Woe is me! How shall I answer God on the day of judgment when everything becomes manifest and clear, when the righteous will be crowned and I who am damned will be condemned together with satan, to whom I’ve delivered myself? Who will I entreat to help me then? Who will have mercy on me then? Truly, no one! Woe to my accursed and miserable soul! How were you delivered to infernal bondage? How did you destroy yourself? With what horrible plummet have you fallen? In what kind of wave did you plunge yourself? What kind of refuge will you have recourse to? Or what kind of shelter will you turn to? Woe is me, my soul! Woe is me! Such a calamity has befallen you!”

 

Sobbing for a long time and tormenting his soul in despair with grief and sorrow, Theophil began, little by little, to commit himself to hope in God’s mercy. “I denied my Lord Jesus Christ, born of the most pure Virgin Mary,” he told himself, “and I do not dare to resort to Him. But although I also denied the Mother of God who bore Him, nevertheless, I will turn to her, and with my whole soul and my whole heart I will fall down before her mercy. I will go to the holy church of the most pure Mother of God and fall before her icon. I will remain there in prayer to her until I propitiate her and until I am found worthy of her intercession for God’s mercy. But with what kind of lips will I begin to pray to her,” he continued, “after denying her with my defiled mouth? How will I begin my confession? With what kind of heart, what kind of conscience, and what kind of hope will I rouse my impure tongue to pray? I do not know. How will I begin to ask forgiveness for my enormous sins? I am afraid that fire may descend from heaven and fall upon me, the condemned one, or else the earth may open up and swallow me alive and plunge me into the abyss of hell. But do not despair until the end my soul. But now that you’ve roused yourself from sleep, strive also to be delivered from the evil that has overcome you and run to the Mother of Christ and do not disgrace yourself.”

 

In one isolated part of town there stood a small church in the name of the most pure Mother of God, where services were only performed on feast days. Theophil wished to lock himself in this very church for prayer after first being freed from all the duties of warden and laying aside all obstacles and worldly cares. After he secluded himself in this church and fell before the revered icon of the most pure Mother of God, he began to pray to her, bitterly weeping and sobbing. No one knew about all this except his faithful servant Eutichius, who also wrote Theophil’s life. Theophil remained in the church for forty days and forty nights, fasting, confessing, repenting, day and night without cease, imploring and falling down before the icon of the most holy Mother of God. On the expiration of this forty days, when he was praying at midnight, the most blessed Mother of our Lord, the true salvation of all the world, refuge of the human race and our only hope after God, appeared to him. “0 man!” she said to him. “Why do you so shamelessly importune me, clamoring and begging me to help you? You know that you yourself have denied my Son and me! How will I pray to my Son and God for you so that He will forgive you, the slave of the devil, who have delivered your manuscript to him? With what kind of eyes shall I look on the most radiant brow of the Lord when I wish to pray for you? Even I am not able to endure the offense borne by my Son and God. I am able to forgive you, o man, in that you sinned before me, because I love the Christian race very much, especially those who with true faith and warm love run to me and pray in my church. I help them in every way. I receive them in my arms and listen to their prayers. But the offense and despite which you have caused my Son, crucifying Him a second time with your sins, this I am not able to look upon or listen to. You need many labors, podvigs and sincere grief in order to entreat His mercy. Though He is certainly very merciful, at the same time, He is the righteous Judge and dread Avenger Who renders to each according to his deeds.”

 

Gladdened by the vision of the Mother of God, Theophil took courage a little. “0 my most gracious Mistress!” he exclaimed, “Protectress of the human race, refuge and salvation of those who run to Thee! I know, truly I know how grievously I have sinned and angered thee and the God born of thee. But I see many examples of people before me who angered thy Son and our God and who were given forgiveness of sins for the sake of their repentance and confession. If it were not for repentance, then how could thy Son have spared the Ninevites (Jonah 2—3)? If it were not for repentance, how could He have saved the harlot Rahab (Josh. 6:25)? If it were not for repentance, then how could the Prophet David have not only received forgiveness, but even received the gift of prophecy again, when he had fallen into adultery and murder after receiving this gift (2 Sam. II)? If it were not for repentance, then how could Peter not only receive forgiveness after his great fall, but even be found worthy of the highest honor, to be placed as pastor of Christ’s rational sheep (Jn. 21:15—17)? The holy chief apostle Peter, who was the pillar of the church and who received the keys to the kingdom of heaven from God (Mt. 16,19) did not just deny the Lord once or twice, but three times, and then began to weep bitterly (Lk. 22:56—62). If it were not for repentance, then how could the Lord make an evangelist out of a robber and publican (Mt. 9:9)? If it were not for repentance, then how could St. Paul, a persecutor, become a chosen vessel of Christ (Acts 9:1—20)? If it were not for repentance, then how could the Lord receive Zaccaeus, the chief of the publicans (Lk. 19: 1—10)? If it were not for repentance, then how could the Prodigal Son begin the road of return to his Father (Lk. 7:36—50)? If it were not for repentance, then how could paradise have been opened to the thief (Lk. 23:39—43)? If it were not for repentance, then how could the magician Cyprian, who was completely like the devil, and had cut open the wombs of pregnant women for his sorceries, then turn to Christ through right-

eous Justina and not just receive forgiveness for all his great crimes, but even be found worthy of a martyr’s crown? With so many great examples of repentance, and looking to the boundless mercy of God which covered them, I, a sinner, have also dared to hasten with repentance to thy mercy most gracious Lady. Give me a helping hand, and beseech thy Son and our God to forgive my grievous sins.”

 

When Theophil uttered these words, the most pure Virgin Mother of God, the true refuge of sinners, hope of those in despair and speedy help of those who pray to her said to him, “Confess, 0 man, that my Son who was born of me, Who you denied, is truly Christ, the Son of the Living God, Who is to come to judge the living and the dead and then I will entreat Him for you and He will accept your repentance.”

 

“0 most blessed Lady,” answered Theophil, “How will I who am unworthy and accursed, dare to open my foul and impure mouth, which, denied your Son and my God and His holy Cross, the protection of my soul and holy baptism and confirmed this denial with my manuscript delivered to the devil, all for the sake of small and vain honor?”

 

“Indeed, just confess,” the most pure Mother of God told him, “and do not doubt in His mercy. He has loved mankind and is merciful and receives the tears of those who truly repent. He was pleased to be incarnated from me, and being God, He became man for the salvation of the human race.”

 

Then Theophil, with fear, shame and humility and with sincere grief opened his mouth and loudly exclaimed: “I believe, I confess and I glorify One of the Trinity, Our Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God, begotten of the Father ineffably before all ages, who descended from heaven at the end of time and was incarnated for our salvation of the Holy Spirit and of thee, most holy Virgin Mary truly the Mother of God. He was completely God and completely man. Of His own will, He desired to suffer for our sins and He stretched out His most pure hands on the life-giving tree of the Cross. He is the Good Shepherd Who laid down His life for His sheep, was buried and rose from the dead and with the body which came from Thee, most pure Virgin, He ascended into heaven and He will come again with glory to earth to judge the living and the dead. I confess all this with my heart and lips and I worship Him as my God. I beseech thee, Lady! Do not disdain or despise my defiled and sinful supplication or forsake me who am condemned, who was tempted by the evil enemy and was caused to fall to destruction! But beseech the One born of thee so that He will forgive me my great sins and deliver me from perdition, so that I also may hymn and glorify the limitless mercy of the One born of thee, our God and thine, most blessed Virgin, together with all those who have received forgiveness!”

 

Having received these words from him, as if as a certain atonement for sin, the most pure Mother of God, who is the source of mercy; the recovery of those who have perished, the true and incessant intercessor for us before God and the pledge of our salvation answered him thus: “Trusting your repentance because of the baptism wherewith you were

baptized in Christ, and being merciful toward you (because I suffer very much with those who suffer) I will importune my Son and my God and entreat Him to accept your repentance.” After she had said this, the most pure Virgin became invisible and day already began to break. 0 how happy was this night for the sinner, in the course of which he had been found worthy of such a vision of the most pure Theotokos and no small conversation with her!

 

Having received a certain relief from his sorrow and increased hope, Theophil remained another three days in weeping and prayer before the icon of the most holy Mother of God, gazing upon her, falling down before her, striking the earth with his head and hoping for his salvation from God through the prayers of the Theotokos. After the passage of these three days, our hope and refuge, the all-immaculate Mother of the Lord

appeared to him again. This time she looked upon Theophil with a joyful face and radiant eyes and she said, “Man of God! Your repentance is pleasing to the merciful Master God. He has received your tears for my sake and has heard your prayers. Now, see to yourself that henceforth you will preserve the true faith in Him until the day of your death!”

 

“Truly, I will preserve it, my most blessed Lady,” Theophil answered, “and I will not transgress thy command. Thou are my Protectress and defender after God and I place all my trust and hope in thee. I know, I know very well, my most merciful Lady, that people have no other help or protector besides thee. None of those who have put their hope in thee is put to shame and no one who prays to God through thine infercession has been forsaken. Therefore, I also, a sinner, beseech thine inexhaustible kindness, as the One who heals our infirmities. Open the door of thy mercy to me, who am lost and have fallen into the depths of evil and command that the blasphemous manuscript which I who was deceived gave to satan, be returned to me. It greatly disturbs my soul and I am not able to be consoled from great sorrow until this devil’s manuscript is found.”

 

Hardly had he pronounced these words when the most pure Virgin became invisible. Theophil spent another three days in assiduous prayer, as he had earlier. Then he fell asleep, exhausted by the labors he had endured, and in his sleep he saw a vision of the most pure Mother of God carrying the parchment with his signature to him. Having awakened from joy, he did not see the most pure Virgin, but he found his manuscript sealed and complete on his breast. He became much more faint in body from joy and terror and was as though half-dead. Finally he came to himself and, 0 how greatly he rendered thanksgiving to the merciful Master Christ and the most gracious Mother of God, his helper and defender!

 

Qn the next morning (it was Sunday), he went to the cathedral where the bishop was serving Liturgy. After the reading of the Holy Gospel, he approached the bishop who was blessing the people and threw himself at his feet, with weeping and entreated him to listen because he wanted to pronounce his repentance publicly. Then he related everything that had happened to him in detail—how his removal from the office of warden had grieved him, how he had denied Christ God and His most pure Mother from sorrow and had delivered a manuscript to satan, how he then repented, imploring and weeping and saw the most pure Mother of God, conversed with her, received forgiveness of sins and finally how his parchment was returned to him. Having declared all of this loudly and thoroughly in the presence of the people and the bishop, Theophil delivered the aforementioned sealed parchment which he had given to satan himself to the bishop and entreated him to command that it be read aloud so that everyone would know about his sin and glorify the mercy of God which the Mother of God had obtained for him. After breaking the seal of the parchment, the bishop handed it over to the deacon who stood on the ambo and began to read it. And everyone was astonished at such a

horrible deed. In this way, all the clergy and people, men and women and even small children learned about what had happened to Theophil, how he had fallen and risen and received back his manuscript.

 

The bishop turned to the people and said, “Come all ye faithful, let us glorify the all-good, true God, the Lord Jesus Christ! Come ye who are pious and God-loving and see the wonderful miracle! Come ye Christ-lovers and comprehend that our all-merciful Master does not desire the death of a sinner, but awaits his repentance! Come and see, ye Orthodox, how much heart-felt grief, sighs and tears are able to perform! Who is not amazed, fathers and brothers, at the great and unutterable patience of the gracious God! Who does not wonder at His inexhaustible mercy and love for man which is revealed to us sinners! This is truly a miracle! After a 40 day fast Moses received the tables of the law from God (Ex 24:18; Ex 31:18) and brothers, our Theophil, after a 40 day fast received his parchment, snatched from satan by the power of God and the mediation of the Mother of God! Let us also sing a hymn with him, children, a song of thanksgiving to the Master Who has mercifully accepted his repentance through the intercession of the Mother of God, is a bridge to God for people, the hope of those in despair, the refuge of those in distress, the true door to all sinners who knock on her and who opens her mercy to us and carries our prayers to the One born of her, her Son and our God. What else is there for me to say, or what kind of song is there to sing for her glory and for her Son? Truly, thy work is miraculous. Truly, we now fittingly repeat the words of the evangelist, ‘Bring forth the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and shoes on his feet, and bring hither the fatted calf and kill it and let us eat and be merry,’ for this, our brother Theophil, ‘was dead and is alive again. He was lost and is found.” (Lk. 15:22—24)

 

While the bishop spoke thus, Theophil lay at his feet and wept. The op then stretched out his hand and raised him from the earth. After g to his feet, Theophil began to ask him to burn the manuscript, but bishop ordered him to do this himself, which Theophil did in the presence of all. Looking upon the burning of the ungodly parchment, the people cried out with tears for a long time, “Lord, have mercy!”

 

Finally, after ordering the people to be silent, the bishop continued DivineLiturgy and on its completion, served the most pure and life-giving Mysteries of the Body and Blood of Christ to Theophil. Immediately, Theophil’s face shone as the sun. Everyone saw his altered face and glorified the most gracious God, Who justifies and sanctifies sinners who repent.

 

After all of this, Theophil went into that church of the most pure Virgin Mother of God where he had fasted with tears of repentance, was found worthy of her holy vision, and received forgiveness of his sins. Here he rested awhile from his labors. After three days passed he learned of the approach of his death and he made a will to distribute all his goods to the poor. After bidding farewell, then, to those brothers who were present, he

committed his righteous soul into the hands of God and the Mother of God. They buried him under the holy icon of the most pure Virgin on the spot where he bore his repentance.

 

And the mercy of Christ God and His most pure Mother became famous there, and may she, together with her Son, ever be a help for us sinners and to those who run to her, to whom be honor, glory and veneration, now and ever to the ages of ages. I, the humble and sinful Eutichius (who wrote this story), was brought up in blessed Theophil’s house and by his entreaty, I was vouch-safed to become a sub-deacon of the Holy Catholic Church, serving my lord in his grief and sorrow and following him everywhere. I saw his repentance with my eyes and with my ears I have heard this story from his mouth, truly and righteously described, all for pious use, to the glory of Christ our God, Who is glorified to all ages.^t

 

Copyright Epiphany Journal

reprinted with permission