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Forty Martyrs of the Sinai Desert

Ammonius the Monk, tr. Lewis, 1912

Chapter 1

[The narratives of Ammonius the monk, concerning the Holy Fathers who perished in a raid of the Barbarians on Mount Sinai, and Raïtho.

It occurred to my mind, once upon a time, while I was sitting in my humble cell not far from Alexandria, in a place called Canopus, that I would undertake a journey into Palestine. For in the first place, that I might see with my eyes, but not bear the vexations, and the danger, which was daily caused to the faithful by the cruelty of wicked tyrants. For certainly our very holy President Peter, when he sought hiding-places from place to place, and procured safety by flight, obtained no direct remission, nothing secure for the feeding of his flock. Besides these things, I was also inspired by a desire to survey the venerable places, and a pious zeal for adoring the Holy Sepulchre, with the vivifying and inviolate Resurrection; also the other holy places, in which our Lord Jesus the Christ walked about, and effected His tremendous mysteries.

Having turned a little aside to adore the holy places, and having been refreshed in mind by all the works of God, and having fulfilled [my] vows, that I might profit by the holy places.]

I was held worthy to worship also in the holy place of the Almighty. But I devoted¹ myself to the desert, with people who feared God, who were going thither to pray. Now we arrived there, by the grace of God, in eighteen days. And when I had prayed, I remained there for a few days. And I enjoyed the peculiar polity of the holy fathers who [were] there; for I went with them to their cells, because of the welfare of my soul. For all the week² they sit in silence, but on the evening of the sabbath they were assembled in the church, accomplishing the service³ of the first day of the week. And in the morning they took the Holy Mysteries; the Body and the Blood of the Lord Jesus. And in silence they went every man to his cell. But their aspect and also their discipline was like that of angels. Their bodies were all of them very pallid, as one might say, incorporeal; for they possessed nothing for the wants of the body; no wine, no oil, no bread was to be found at once [belonging] to them, except a few dates, and what was suitable for them. But for strangers who come to pray there, a little bread was placed there beside the Governor of the place.

And after a few days suddenly many of the Saracens fell upon us; because at that time the king of the Saracens had died, he who was the guardian of the desert. And they killed those of the fathers who were found in distant cells. But those who were dwelling in places near, when they heard (the commotion) fled to a certain fortress in the neighbourhood, (together) with the Governor of the place, he whose name was Dulos; for he was in truth a servant of God; for great was his long-suffering and humility; and many there were who called him Moses the servant of God. And they killed in Geth-rabbi all those whom they found there; and in Choreb; and people in Codar; and all those whom they found near to the Holy Mountain. And they came also as far as ourselves; and were also nearly killing us; for no man stood up against them; except the merciful God; He who stretched out His hand in conjunction with those who call upon Him from their whole heart. And He commanded and a flame of fire was seen on the summit of the Holy Mount, and it was a wonder; and all the mountain [was smoking, and the fire bursting out up to the sky. All being seized with terror, we became insensible through the fear of the vision. And falling on our faces, we worshipped God, and supplicated that He would carry us over the present necessity, which lay heavy on us, to a prosperous issue. Nay, even the Barbarians also, terrified by this new and unwonted sight, by a sudden impulse took to flight, many [of them] even leaving [their] arms with [their] camels, nor did they brook a moment’s⁴ delay. And now when we saw that they were scattered in flight, we poured out our thanks, and glorified God, who had not over-looked His suppliants, until the end. But descending from Tôr, we searched (to find out) which of the Fathers had been killed, and where. We found the names of the slain to be thirty-eight, some with different limbs, and differing wounds, cut and deformed. The manner in which they had been killed, no one will be able hereafter to tell, as no one saw how the massacre happened. We found twelve of these saints in the Monastery of Geth-rabbi, but several in quite other places. Isaiah and Saba badly wounded] and still breathing. And we were in great affliction. We buried also those who had been slain. And we attended to those brethren who were ill.

For who even if his heart were of stone, would not weep and lament for the holy martyrs who had grown old in the garb of Christians, flung upon the ground in merciless suffering; each one of them struck down, one with his head cut off, and another cleft in twain; and another with his head split in two. What can I say about the number of merciless blows which struck the saints who were killed limb by limb, and were flung upon the ground? For no word can tell all that our eyes saw, on the bodies of these saints; Father Isaiah died after a day (had passed). Also Saba himself was thrown down in the hope of life; because his wound was not very bad, and he was praising God greatly for what had happened. But he was sad that he had not become worthy of the end of the saints who had been slain. And he wept and said, “Woe is me, the miserable one! that I did not become worthy of the number of the holy fathers who have been slain for the sake of the Christ, who was cut off at the eleventh hour; he who saw the haven of the kingdom, and did not enter it.” And he said this with weeping, and begged from God, and said: “Thou art He alone [who] hast loved men. Do not separate me from the holy fathers those who have been slain for Thy name, but let the number of the Forty Martyrs be fulfilled in me. Yea, Lord Jesus, Son of the Living God, have mercy upon me, because Thou knowest I have cleaved unto Thee from my youth, and I have loved Thee and have longed for Thee. I am sinful and polluted.”

And when he had said these things with a wise and true thought, he surrendered his spirit to God, on the fourth day after all the holy men. And while we were in lamentation and in tears, a certain Saracen came, and said unto us, that the monks, after they had dwelt amongst the Barbarians, went their way to the place that is called Raïtho, and were slain by the Barbarians. The dwelling was distant from us a march of two days, which is on the shore of the Red Sea, where Moses and the people of God encamped when they had come out of Egypt. There are those twelve springs of water and the palm-trees which are written [about] in the Exodus, “seventy palm-trees, and twelve springs,” which have increased very greatly in numbers. And this Saracen related to us about the slain of Raïtho. We asked him to tell us on what day they were slain; and how many were slain. And he said unto us, “I know not, but I have heard the report from others, of those who dwelt here that they were all slain.” And while he was still telling us, others came [and] said that truly it had happened. And then after a few days, a monk came to us from the monks who were dwelling there, and he said unto us, “Here on Mount Sinai I wish to dwell, because the desert in which I dwell has been laid waste by the Barbarians.” And when Father Dulos, the Governor of the place, heard [it] he received him with joy. And he asked him to make known to him the truth of what happened to the saints who were slain at Raïtho; and of how he escaped from the Barbarians; and what was their polity; and also about their discipline.

Beginning of a chapter. And when he mentioned the discipline of the saints, he began to weep much, and said: I have not lived a long time here. But it is about twenty years to-day since I came here. But there are others who have dwelt here for forty years, and for fifty, and for sixty, and for seventy years, who have dwelt in the same place. For the place is level and plain, forty miles long, about twelve miles broad; on its eastern side are rugged mountains, like a wall inaccessible to those who do not know the place. A path crosses there. On the west is the Red Sea, which extends, as people say, to the Ocean Sea. On its shore is a mountain from which issue twelve springs of water; these and others beside them which trickle; and many other wells among them. They issue from the mountain, and water many palm-trees. And on that mountain are a number of anchorites dwelling, and there is a church below the mountain; and near the mountain there were people truly heavenly who dwelt on the earth while their souls were in heaven. About their discipline I am unable to speak, for not one of them was led to us; nor about the conflict which took place, nor about their temptations from the devil which arose against them; I am not able to tell, my beloved ones. Nevertheless I will speak about one or two things. And it will be sufficient for the satisfaction of many, that those who [hear me should know, from what I say, that the other things also are of the same nature. A certain Moses] having adopted the discipline of monasticism from his youth, practised monasticism for seventy-three years in that mountain from which springs of water issued. [He dwelt in a certain cave not far from the place [called] “Assemblies in Churches,” truly another Elias,] for every time that he asked of God, it was done unto him. For God did many mighty deeds by means of him. For He gave him power over wicked spirits⁵ [and by completely curing many he attached to the Christ nearly all the people] in that desert, and also the people of the place the inhabitants of Pharan, and made them Christians, for they were heathens, but now they are elect Christians. [For seeing signs and wonders which] the man of God, Father Moses did, they believed in the Father, and in the Son, and in the Holy Spirit. And they were persuaded to receive holy baptism. And as we have said before about the servant of God, Father Moses, that he cured many from their sicknesses, and from evil spirits, by the grace of our Lord Jesus the Christ. And this saint, from (the time that) he took the habit of the Christ, ate no flesh, but he ate dates only. The people, the Saracens, who dwelt there were bringing wheat from Egypt, which they sometimes sold, and gave to us. And we gave them dates instead of the wheat; from what we were gathering from the place. And we were doing it [for] our necessity. The food of that saint was a few dates, and water only. And he never tasted wine. And his dress was of palm-fibre compressed. And he loved silence more than all men. And he received with joy those who came to him to inquire from him about their thoughts. And his sleep was after the liturgy of the night; and the rest of the hours he spent in vigils. But in the days of fasting of the Forty he did not open the door of the cave, until the fifth day of the Holy Week. On the days of the fasting he said to us that we should serve him with these twenty dates, which were beside him, and a pitcher of water only. And in one of those days of fasting they brought unto him a man who was tried with an evil spirit. This man was chief of Pharan. And when they arrived at the mountain in which was the cave of the saint, the evil spirit tormented him, and he wailed with a loud voice and said: “O Power! thou canst not thus even for one hour make this aged man useless for his service.” And forthwith the demon came out of him and he was healed. He had been a heathen until now, who had not received holy baptism. For all the Pharanites were heathen formerly. And he returned to his house, whole; and he praised God, he and those who were with him. But the servant of God did not open the door of his cell, and he was not seen by any one of them.

What Father Psoes said about Father Moses is finished. On account of Father Psoes the Egyptian.

And this Father Psoes dwelt there with Saba above Father Moses. And he dwelt there forty years and he did not change from being with him. And this one was taught by Psoes in the rule of a father, like his sign and seal. And he took all that he heard and learnt from Saba. And I also dwelt with him a little while from the beginning, and because of the hardness of his regimen, I was forced to go out from beside him, for I could not bear the regimen of hardness and torment of the body beside him. He also was slain with the other holy fathers. We then make a remembrance of each of the other holy fathers. I leave greater things than these that I may tell what they did, and how they made known the rule of their struggle. I recollect about one of them. The conduct of Father Joseph who was from Elath, and he dwelt below the town two miles away from the water. And he built himself a cell with his hands; and he was perfect by the grace of God. And he dwelt in that cell for thirty years; and there was much discrimination in him, and he was full of the word of truth.

And he had one disciple. But he did not live with him, but near to him. Now there came one of the brethren, that he might ask him about his meditation, and he knocked on the door. But Saba was occupied with a vision about God. And our brother stooped to the door and saw Saba, who had become flames of fire from his head as far as to his feet. And our brother said: “Trembling hath seized me, and I have become like a dead man.” And I fell down on the ground for an hour. And then I rose up, and sat near to the door. But Saba was occupied with a vision, and did not perceive me. And after five hours he opened the door and brought me in. And when we had prayed, we sat down. And Saba answered and said unto me, “When didst thou come here?” And our brother said unto him, “I have had four hours and more since I came hither, but that I might not incommode thy Holiness, I did not knock.” And Saba knew that our brother had seen the vision. And he said nothing to him on account of this, but all that he asked of him he told him. And he cured his thoughts; and made him return in peace. And after that Saba also went away from that place and was seen no more by any one because of the glory of men. But his disciple came whose name was Gelasius, and he did not find Saba, and he sought him, and did not find him. And then he dwelt in Saba’s cell, and was much grieved because of him.

Beginning of a chapter. But after six years, in the middle of the day, a man knocked at the door, and our brother went out and beheld Saba his own Abbot standing; and amazement took hold of him, and he thought that he was a spirit. And he said unto him with composure, “Pray, Father.” And when he had prayed, he received him with joy; and they asked about each other. And Saba said unto him: “Thou hast done well, my son, that first thou hast sought for a prayer, for many are the snares of the Enemy.” And his disciple said unto him: “What happened to thee, Father, that thou didst depart from thy flock, and didst leave me an orphan? And I have grieved much.”

And Saba said unto him: “The reason why I have not been seen by thee, God is He who knoweth it. But yet until this hour I have not been far from this place; and I have spent no First day of the week that I have not taken part with you in the Holy Mysteries of the Christ.”

And our brother wondered at his meditations; and how he came in and went out amongst them; and no one saw him. And our brother said unto him: “What is the reason that thou hast come to thy servant to-day?” And Saba said unto him: “To-day I am going to the Lord; and I came to thee that thou mightest bury my body. And, bury it as thou wilt.” And Saba spoke much to our brother about the destiny of his soul. And in that hour Saba stretched out his hands to heaven, and prayed, and slept in peace. And our brother, his disciple, ran immediately and assembled the holy fathers. And we took branches of palm-trees and we went and with songs and with psalms we brought him into the church. And his face was shining like a light. And we kept a vigil over him all the night. And we laid him with the saints who slept there in the place. And these holy fathers were perfect and excellent in their discipline, and in prayer, and in their own polity. And we were forty-three dwelling in that place.

And behold, two men came from across the sea; and they told us that they had crossed the sea on boats of palm-wood. And they told us to take care of ourselves, for behold! many Blemmyes had come suddenly and seized a boat which was beyond Elath, and said unto us, “Conduct us to Clysma, and we will not kill you.” And we said unto them, in our fear lest they should kill us: “We thank you, and we are waiting till the south wind blows, and we shall set sail as you wish. But we found by the power of God, by night, how we might escape out of their hands. And behold, we tell you: Give heed and keep watch that they do not come here sometime, and slay all of you.”

And when we heard these things we were in great fear; and we placed spies on the shore of the sea; (saying) If ye see a ship coming, ye shall inform us. And after a day a little ship was seen towards the evening coming towards us. And the Saracens and the Pharanites also who were to be found there came up and prepared to make war with the Blemmyes, for the sake of their women and their children. And they were assembled to the number of two hundred men, beside the women and their children upon the mountain which is above the palm-trees, where there are fountains of water. But we fled to our church, which is fortified with bricks, and the height of its wall is three statures of a man and when these Barbarians arrived at the shore of the sea, and by means of the sailors who brought them they remained there, on the shore of the sea all that night. But when it dawned, and became morning they chained the sailors of the ship, that they might not run away, with the ship. And they left one of the sailors still standing upon the ship, with one of them[selves], lest they should take the ship.

And they crossed the mountain, and came as far as the springs of water. And the Saracens of that place met them for a fight, between the hill and the springs of water. And archers of both were shooting arrows. But the Barbarians were numerous and skilled in war, and they chased the Saracens, and killed a hundred and forty-seven of them. And the rest fled to the (shelter?) of the mountains, and some of them were hid amongst the trees. And the Barbarians sat down after the fight had ceased. They took their women and children captive, and all that belonged to them. And they gave (i.e. distributed) them where the springs of water are. And after these things they ran fast like wild beasts and came upon us to the fortress where we had fled; and they were expecting that they would find [much hidden treasure. As they were walking round the walls screaming, and filling the air with wild howls, and threats in barbarous languages, we all spent the time in much sadness of spirit, quite destitute of counsel, with our eyes fixed on God, prostrate in mind, overflowing in prayer. And some of our people bore the ills with a strenuous, equal mind, others lamented; one gave thanks, pouring himself out in prayers; another consoled his neighbours, and all together exclaimed, “Lord! have mercy!”

But our most holy Father, who was named Paul, a native of Petra, said in the midst of the assembly: “Hearken, ye fathers and brethren, unto me a sinner, and the least of all. Ye all know, that we have dwelt in this place for the sake of our Lord and Master, Jesus the Christ, cut off, because of His love, from the habits of this vain world, in this rough and fearful desert, we the unworthy and sinful, who will bear His yoke, living in hunger, in thirst, in dire poverty and misery despising certainly, if I may so say, everything earthly and this vain world, that we may deserve to be His worthy companions in the kingdom of heaven. And now nothing will happen, or will come near to us even in this hour, except by His command and will. Therefore if He wishes to free us from this vain and changeful life, and take us to Himself, it is right that we should rejoice in His name, and exult, and give thanks and in no wise be sad. For what could be more joyful, what more sweet, than to look on His glory, and His awful countenance? Recall to memory, fathers and brethren, how always, when seated together, we have preached (about) the blessed saints to each other, who for His holy Name, have endured martyrdom and have wished that we also might be found their companions in the City. Lo therefore, my children, the time is come, and] it is given unto you to inherit life eternal with them, as is your desire, that you should be with them in this gladness which is prepared for all these who please the Lord Jesus. Because of this, be not afflicted, O athletes of the Christ! by this good conflict; and let it not grieve you, and let not your souls be faint⁶, and do nothing that is unworthy of our cowl. But be clothed with strength and joy and manliness, that ye may endure with pure and brave heart; and may God receive you into His kingdom.”

And they all answered and said: “Yea, our honoured Father, as thou hast said unto us, thus will we do. What shall we render unto the Lord for all that He hath given unto us? We will take the cup of salvation, and call upon the holy name of the Lord.”

And then our Father lifted up his hands to heaven and said, “Lord Jesus the Christ, Son of the living God, Who never dieth, forget not Thy servants, but remember our afflictions, and our poverty; and strengthen us in this hour of affliction, and receive our offering of a sacrifice, as a sweet savour before Thee. For to Thee belongeth honour and glory for ever.

[Amen.”

Then, while we were saying, Amen, a voice came as if from the altar, heard by us all, “Come unto Me, all ye who labour, and are heavy laden, and I will restore you.” At that voice, all were seized with terror; the hearts and the knees of all were loosened, which made it plain that the spirit was willing, as the Lord said, but the flesh was weak. But the faces of all were fixed only on heaven; we were all now lacking in hope of this life. Then the Barbarians, as no one opposed or retarded their onrush, climbed up over a heap of tree trunks, piled up like a wall, and the door being opened, ran in like ravening wolves, huge, rough animals, with their swords firmly grasped in their hands. But first they seized a certain man named Jeremiah sitting at the door of the Lord’s church and commanded him, by means of one of their own number who fulfilled the duty of interpreting, to shew which was our President. He being fearless at these things, not in the least terrified, either at the rough look of the Barbarians, or at the sharp points of the drawn (swords), said: “I neither fear you, O impious ones and enemies of God, nor will I shew you him whom ye seek, although I have him standing near me.”

The Barbarians were astounded at the great boldness of the man, and the firm strength of his heart, that he did not fear them in the very least, but accused them with a reproof; and having seized him everywhere, they bound him hand and foot, and set him up as a target, and loaded him with such a rain of arrows, that they left no place in his body free from arrows. Thus wrestling bravely against the devil, he obtained the crown first of all, the serpent’s head being trampled to death; the holy firstfruits, having become a fine example to the saints. When our most holy Father Paul saw these things, he came forward immediately shouting and saying: “I am he whom ye seek!” and he shewed himself to them with his own finger, that he was he whom they sought. He declared himself thus, fearing nothing, to be a brave servant of the Christ, he counted in his soul neither the blows nor the torture which the wicked men were going to bring in before the massacre. Having therefore seized him, they asked, where was his money hidden. To whom he said with soft speech, and gentleness of manners, as was his wont, “Believe me, children, in all my substance, except these old haircloths, with which, as you see, I am clothed, I possess nothing.” With these words, he stretched out his cloak with his hand and shewed it to them.

But they, beating his bare neck with stones, and piercing his cheeks and his face with arrows, “Bring,” they said, “what thou possessest.” But after the torture had been prolonged for a long hour, and they had mocked him, and had found nothing, then they drove a sword through the middle of his skull, cutting his sacred head into two halves, and dropping them down over either shoulder; and verily all his body having received other blows, and many torments having been endured by his force of mind before his death, he lay at the feet of the Father who was already dead. Plainly he was another victor, a brilliant triumpher over the devil, being cowardly in not a single thing, or having become weaker in spirit.

But I, the miserable one, having seen this great slaughter, and the streams of the saints’ blood, and their viscera thrown about, was frozen by fear, looked about, considering silently, in what place I could find safety. As there was in the corner of the house, in the left hand, a heap made of a few palm-branches and the Barbarians being in the meantime busied with torturing Paul], I fled, and hid myself there. And I thought that one of two things would happen to me. Either I would escape, or I would be taken, and they would kill me. But these wicked Barbarians left two fathers, whom they had slain in the court, and rushed suddenly into the church, shouting together with drawn swords in their hands, and every one whom they met there, they slew without mercy. For some of them they smote on their heads, and another on his shoulder. But what can I say [for just as each had received a blow, they slew him].

While he was relating these things to us, he wept, and his tears fell like floods of water, so that we all wept also. And again he said unto us: “What shall I say? how shall I relate what mine eyes have seen? [There was one there named Salathiel, who had as kinsman a monk in the Institute. He was] about fifteen years old. Father Joseph had taught him from his childhood the discipline of monasticism. For from his childhood he sent him out to the desert to fight against Satan; and in hunger and thirst. When the Barbarians saw this one also, that he was a boy, the wicked men did not wish to kill him; but yet one of them took him out.

Beginning of a chapter. And when our brother saw that he was not worthy to be slain with these saints by wicked men, [he seized a sword from the Barbarians, from the one who] held him. And he struck one of them on the shoulder that it might happen (that) they should kill him. For this was his longing to die with these saints, that he might be slain by these hateful men. Then they raged against him with anger, and flung (themselves) at him, and gnashed their teeth upon him, and cut him limb by limb. And he rejoiced and said: “Blessed be the Lord, Who hath not delivered me into the hands of the wicked.” And whilst he said these things, he finished his course in the Lord. And after he was dead they struck him often; and when I saw these things I entreated God to cover me from their eyes, that they might not see me; so that I might escape and bury the bodies of the saints who had been slain there. And they filled all the church with blood, the blood of the saints who had been slain. And it was finished according to every good wish, and they praised God for these things that had happened to them. For their thoughts were in heaven with the Lord their God; and they were holy temples to God most High. And they left the transient and perishing world, and cleaved only unto God. And thus they died by the sword. And they were not separated from the love of the Christ; as it is written, “Who shall separate us from the love of the Christ? neither sword, nor tribulation shall separate us from the love of the Christ.” Thus these holy ones resigned their bodies to tribulation and to the sword. If then I call them martyrs, I am not wrong; for they endured tribulation. They were completely cut to pieces, limb by limb, like martyrs. But the Barbarians were thinking that they had killed them all; and they were searching in all places, hoping that they would find gold. And they did not know that the saints possessed nothing upon the earth. But when I had seen all these things done, I (nearly) died from fear. And not a drop of blood still remained in me; but I remained like a dead man. I was hidden among the palm-branches, for I had said: “For here they will seek and will find me.” And I was thrown among the palm-branches; while they came towards me, and I saw my death with my eyes. And I begged of God that if it were His will, I might escape from them. And they came as far as (my) corner. And when they saw these palm-branches, they despised them, and went off from me; for God covered their (eyes) that they did not see me. And they left the saints thrown one upon the other. And when they found nothing to take, they returned to the side of the springs of water. And they tried to sail on the sea; and go to Clysma, where it had been their desire before to go. And they went, and found the ship broken, and their comrade killed, him whom they had left to take care of the ship. He was a friend of the Christ; and he could have fled secretly away from the Barbarians who were with him in the ship. And he cut the ropes of the ship, and she knocked suddenly against a rock and she was broken.

And he killed the Barbarian who was with him in the ship, and threw his body into the sea. And by the mercy of God he escaped to the mountain. And they then saw a broken ship, and their comrade killed, and the confidence of their hope was cut off. And they were considering as to how they should return to their place. And they could not do it, because their ship was broken. And in a rage they killed the women and the children. And afterwards they kindled a fire in the palm-trees. And they burnt many of the palm-trees ruthlessly; so that they might lay waste the place. And while they were doing these things, men came from Pharan, valiant chosen men, six hundred in number, and the Barbarians were mourning because of their country. And when they had agreed (together), and had heard of the massacre, they came like wild beasts. Then the Barbarians also prepared themselves for the fight, and withdrew themselves a little from the water. And they began the battle from the rising of the sun in a level place. And they hurled arrows the one upon the other. But the Pharanites were more numerous than the Barbarians, and they slew the Barbarians. But the Barbarians gave up⁷ the hope of their lives, for they were not able to run away, that they might escape. Then they rose up in strength, and endured much in the fight. And the fight was until the ninth hour. And they killed in that day of the Pharanites eighty-four men, and many who were wounded in the battle here did not die. The Blemmyes stood well in the fight because of their children until they were all slain; and not one was left of them. But I, [while these things were happening], recovered strength and came out from my corner where I was hidden. And I sought to bury the bodies of the saints. And I found them all who had been killed except three, Domnus, and Orion, and Andrew. And Domnus was in great torment, for he was badly wounded in the side, but not unto death. And Orion was not with him. And he suffered nothing at all, for the Barbarian who struck him with the sword in his abdomen from right to left thought that he had killed him, but did not hurt him at all. He only cut his garment, and did not touch his body. And he was thrown among the bodies of the saints as dead. And he saw me, and he arose and went round the bodies of the saints with me. And he was afflicted and grieved at all that had happened to the saints. But the Pharanites after they had gone to the Blemmyes had left their bodies on the shore of the sea to the beasts of the earth, and to the fowls of the heaven. But those of them[selves] who had been killed, they collected, and made a great wailing over them. And they buried them at the foot of the mountain, above the springs of water in a cave. And they came to us, and they saw us weeping and wailing about the saints who were slain. And they entered and saw the bodies of the saints, torn, and they wailed and wept bitterly, seeing the flock of the Christ torn and flung upon the earth. But we were in great fear, seeing the blows that had struck the bodies of the saints, the slaves of the Christ, those who in their lives had pleased the Christ, and in their deaths gave the blood of their necks that they might be finished with the holy martyrs.

Beginning of a chapter. But Obedianus, the chief of Pharan, with the great men of Pharan, brought very costly garments, and covered the bodies of the saints, for they also had heard the word, “I was naked, and they clothed me.” But Domnus was from Rome, and the saints were thirty-nine. And Domnus who was from Rome, his life was still in him. And all those who were there took branches of palm-trees, and came to meet the saints. And with praise and with honour we buried them all in a certain place near to the camp. And Domnus died in the evening. And we buried him, not with the saints, but near them. The reason was that we should not open the grave and disturb the bodies of the saints. But he was counted with them; forty Martyrs of the Lord Jesus the Christ. To Whom be glory for ever and ever, Amen.

And Father Andrew and Father Orion remained there in the place; hesitating in their minds whether they should go or stay. But I, because I was not able to endure the hardships of the desolations of that place, nor to cease from the grief for the fathers who were slain there, I thought of going to Your Holinesses. And Obedianus was a great lover of the Christ. He persuaded me to stay in the place, and he said unto me: “I will care for thee, and I will supply thy wants at every season.” And I did not stay, because of the desolation of the place, but I have said to you truly what happened there. Do you also tell me what has happened in your neighbourhood truly concerning those who have been slain there.

And we told him all truly about what has happened amongst us in detail. And we marvelled at the wonderful things of God, that thus on the same day all the saints both here and there were equally crowned, and again that they were the same in number; and we exceeded with weeping about what was said. And after this the Governor of the place rose up, Father Doulos, and said: “O my beloved ones! these saints also, so worthy of the Christ and chosen by Him, became servants of God, and worthy of the kingdom of heaven; and after their conflict and battling and temptations obtained the crown of their martyrdom with God. For behold they dwell in ineffable glory. But let us arise and care about ourselves. And that we may persuade them to seek from our Lord Jesus on our behalf that He may make us also worthy of the kingdom, and the glory of their deeds: Amen. And let us glorify God, and thank Him from all our soul that according to His mercy He hath saved us from the hands of the Barbarians. [And let us seek with vows, that we may be slain with the holy Martyrs.” Having spoken these things, he consoled all with words composed for the profit of souls.]

But I, Ammonius, returned to Egypt, and truly I [took] with me all these writings on parchment. And I went to Egypt, but not to my first place, whose name was Canopus, but near to Memphis, [and shut myself into a very small hut] and I read every hour in the memoirs of the holy Martyrs of the Christ, that I might delight in the memory of their struggles. And at every time I praised God the Father, the Ruler of all, to Whom be glory for ever and ever, Amen.

I John found writings, by the mercy of our Lord Jesus the Christ, beside the monk Tarus near Naukratis, in the Egyptian tongue; and I translated them by the grace of the Christ into the Greek tongue, for I was cognizant of both tongues, Egyptian and Greek. And by the grace of God I translated them accurately, to the praise of the holy witnesses, And may the Lord Jesus give us a portion with them all in His Kingdom. Amen.

The life of the Holy Fathers who were slain at Mount Sinai and Raïtho, is finished, in the days of Pope Peter of Alexandria. But the memory of these holy ones is made in December in the months of the Romans, the 28th. May the Lord have mercy on us by their prayers, and on all the world.

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