Companions Of The Cave #1 : A Tall Tale
Companions Of The Cave: A Tall Tale
A tall story made into religious literature. Plagiarism of all sorts abound in the Quran. The one quoted below is just ridiculous. I guess they did not call Muhammed mad without a reason. Is the Quran indeed a religious book? Shall we believe in comics too? Stan Lee might make a good god, don't you think?
Surah 18
IN THE NAME OF THE MOST MERCIFUL GOD.
(1) Praise be unto God, who hath sent down unto his servant the book of the Qurán, and hath not inserted therein any crookedness, (2) but hath made it a straight rule: that he should threaten a grievous punishment unto the unbelievers, from his presence; and should bear good tidings unto the faithful, who work righteousness, that they should receive an excellent reward, namely, paradise, wherein they shall remain for ever: (3) and that he should warn those who say, God hath begotten issue; (4) of which matter they have no knowledge, neither had their fathers. A grievous saying it is, which proceedeth from their mouths: they speak no other than a lie. (5) Peradventure thou wilt kill thyself with grief after them, out of thy earnest zeal for their conversion, if they believe not in this new revelation of the Qurán. (6) Verily we have ordained whatsoever is on the earth for the ornament thereof, that we might make trial of men, and see which of them excelleth in works: (7) and we will surely reduce whatever is thereon to dry dust. (8) Dost thou consider that the companions of the cave, and Al Raqím, were one of our signs, and a great miracle? (9) When the young men took refuge in the cave, they said, O Lord, grant us mercy from before thee, and dispose our business for us to a right issue. (10) Wherefore we struck their ears with deafness, so that they slept without disturbance in the cave for a great number of years: (11) then we awaked them, that we might know which of the two parties was more exact in computing the space which they had remained there.
(12) We will relate unto thee their history with truth. Verily they were young men who had believed in their Lord; and we had abundantly directed them; (13) and we fortified their hearts with constancy when they stood before the tyrant; and they said, Our Lord is the Lord of heaven and earth; we will by no means call on any god besides him, for then should we surely utter an extravagance. (14) These our fellow-people have taken other gods besides him, although they bring no demonstrative argument for them; and who is more unjust than he who deviseth a lie concerning God? (15) And they said the one to the other, when ye shall separate yourselves from them, and from the deities which they worship, except God, fly into the cave: your Lord will pour his mercy on you abundantly, and will dispose your business for you to advantage. (16) And thou mightest have seen the sun when it had risen to decline from their cave towards the right hand, and when it went down to leave them on the left hand: and they were in the spacious part of the cave. This was one of the signs of God. Whomsoever God shall direct he shall be rightly directed, and whomsoever he shall cause to err thou shalt not find any to defend or to direct.
(17) And thou wouldest have judged them to have been awake while they were sleeping; and we caused them to turn themselves to the right hand and to the left. And their dog stretched forth his forelegs in the mouth of the cave: if thou hadst come suddenly upon them, verily thou wouldest have turned thy back and fled from them, and thou wouldest have been filled with fear at the sight of them. (18) And so we awaked them from their sleep, that they might ask questions of one another. One of them spake and said, How long have ye tarried here? They answered, We have tarried a day, or part of a day. The others said, Your Lord best knoweth the time ye have tarried: and now send one of you with this your money into the city, and let him see which of its inhabitants hath the best and cheapest food, and let him bring you provision from him, and let him behave circumspectly, and not discover you to any one.
(19) Verily if they come up against you they will stone you, or force you to return to their religion, and then shall ye not prosper for ever. (20) And so we made their people acquainted with what had happened to them, that they might know that the promise of God is true, and that there is no doubt of the last hour, when they disputed among themselves concerning their matter. And they said, Erect a building over them; their Lord best knoweth their condition. Those who prevailed in their affair answered, We will surely build a chapel over them. (21) Some say the sleepers were three, and their dog was the fourth, and others say they were five, and their dog was the sixth, guessing at a secret matter; and others say they were seven, and their dog was the eighth. Say, My Lord best knoweth their number: none shall know them except a few. (22) Wherefore dispute not concerning them, except with a clear disputation, according to what hath been revealed unto thee, and ask not any of the Christians concerning them. (23) Say not of any matter, I will surely do this to-morrow, unless thou add if God please. And remember thy Lord when thou forgettest, and say, My Lord is able to direct me with ease, that I may draw near unto the truth of this matter rightly. (24) And they remained in their cave three hundred years, and nine years over. (25) Say, God best knoweth how long they continued there: unto him are the secrets of heaven and earth known; do thou make him to see and to hear. The inhabitants thereof have no protector besides him, neither doth he suffer any one to have a share in the establishment or knowledge of his decree.
(26) Read that which hath been revealed unto thee of the book of thy Lord without presuming to make any change therein. There is none who hath power to change his words; and thou shalt not find any to fly to besides him if thou attempt it.
Analysis
Here again Muhammad’s claim to inspiration from Allah is disproved because this sleeping tall tale is based on the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ , the firstborn from the dead:
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Colossians%201&version=WEB 18 He is the head of the body, the assembly, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things he might have the preeminence; whereas the Quran insists that Jesus never died but was taken up to Allah:
Surah 4 (156) and have said, Verily we have slain Christ Jesus the son of Mary, the apostle of God; yet they slew him not, neither crucified him, but he was represented by one in his likeness; and verily they who disagreed concerning him were in a doubt as to this matter, and had no sure knowledge thereof, but followed only an uncertain opinion. They did not really kill him; (157) but God took him up unto himself: and God is mighty and wise.
Source Of Muhammad 's Tall Tale
The Legend of the Seven Sleepers of Ephesus
The Legend of the Seven Sleepers of Ephesus in Syriac and Arab sources
After Decius had acceded to the throne he came from Carthage to Byzantium and thence to Ephesus, to include authority over all churches. In fear of him Christians scattered, because since king’s arrival his cruelty has increased. Decius built in the middle of the city altars for idols. He also issued an order to the patricians of the city to sacrifice to idols, and then he anointed their bodies with the blood of these offerings. A huge number of people subordinated to him coming every day from all sides and going to the city center, over which a pitch black clouds of smoke hovered rising from the ovens. At the sight of those dark seances believers were seized by confusion, anxiety and deep sadness. Feeling humiliated, they hid their faces in fear of persecutors. The king has already ordered the arrest of Christians the third day since the beginning of this seance. The army received assistance from the Gentiles and Jews, who accompanied the soldiers. They dragged away the believers from their hiding places and led them where the people gathered together with the king in order to make the victims. Strong faith is not denounced Christ, persevering patiently in tribulation and not paying attention to these cruel experience. Through
them the name of the Lord was glorified.
Maximilian, Malchus, Martynian, Dionysius, John, Serapion, and Constantine and Anthony persisted in faith in the Son of God. They were well-known leaders, not leaving the royal palace. When the king together with all people sacrificed to idols, they entered stealthily to the library, where they fell on their faces before God, sprinkling their heads with dust and pleading with Him. At that time their comrades sought them because they noticed their absence during the ceremony. When they entered the palace one day, they found them kneeling, praying with tears. Immediately they told about them to Decius, saying, “O mighty king! At a time when Your Majesty called on the farthest to sacrifice to the gods, those closest ignored Your Majesty’s orders. They cheated your army, performing Christian rituals, hidden inside your palace. Their leader is Maximilian, son of the governor and his companions are well-known leaders of this city.” The king trembled with anger. Young men were brought immediately before his face, and they sobbed aloud, and their heads were covered with a layer of dust. “What has prevented you from sacrificing with us and with all the people constantly to the gods?” the king inquired. Then Maximilian replied saying: “We have the Almighty and the Invisible God. To Him only we plead incessant supplications, clean and unseen offerings of our faith: the incense of praise flowing from our mouths by our unblemished consciences. As for idols, we do not sacrifice them the incense, thus defiling our souls and bodies by unlawful offerings.” After these words the king turned, furious, to each of them in turn. But they confessed their faith as they did it previously. The king therefore ordered that they would be deprived of their insignia, in a speech, “As you do not believe in the gods of our kingdom, you will be deprived of your high ranks. We give a chance to you to be able to think deeply. Maybe you will leave from your straying? Then you will appear before me a second time and we will see what will be your fate.” Later they were driven out from his face. Decius then hit the road visiting other cities adjacent to Ephesus, to get back after visiting to Ephesus a second time for the purpose mentioned above. Patricians took a lot of gold and money from their parents’ homes giving of alms to the poor.
Later they conferred among themselves, saying: “Let us go away from the city and hide ourselves in the great cave at the Okhlon mountain.32 Let us stay there until the return of the king praying constantly. Then we appear before him and he may give us a sentence as he wants.” Since they all decided to do so, they took bags of money and climbed to the cave at the Okhlon mountain. They have stayed there for many days. Malchus, dressed in rags, pretending to be a beggar, walked down to town to buy food for all and get information about what was happening in the royal palace. He also distributed alms to the poor, then he returned to his companions informing
them about everything. That very day the king Decius returned to Ephesus, commanding officers of his palace to sacrifice along with Maximilian and his companions. Malchus went from Ephesus, terrified, fleeing with his life. On that day, he bought just a little food. Distressed by the situation he has reached to the cave, to his companions, informing them of the arrival of Decius to the city and his command, including all officials of the palace, concerning sacrificing offerings to the idols. Having heard the news, Malchus’ comrades fell to his knees terrified. They get their faces dirty with ground, pleading with supplications to God in sorrow and despair and commending their souls to him. After the prayer Malchus rose placing the bought in the city food in front of them. They all sat down, eating and preparing for the battle with the tyrant. When they talked about what was happening, suddenly their eyebrows became heavy as a result of grief, sadness gripped the souls and sleepiness has overcome them. They fell asleep33 in peace with God’s plan, in order to be announced a wonderful miracle after years.
On the morning of that day the king commanded that the young men appeared before him. He looked for them in the palace, in the city and its surroundings, but he did not find anyone. Then he said to the most distinguished people of his kingdom, “Flight of the young men worried me greatly, because they guessed our anger for the sin which they have committed. They did not know, however, that for anyone who returns to our gods in repentance, forgiveness is available.” “Let Your Majesty do not worry because of the rebellious youth,” replied the high and mighty of the city. “We were informed that they are still underway in his stubbornness. Since then,
the Most Honorable, you ordered that they appeared before you, take up now their parents and wring testimony from them about place where they have hidden themselves.” The king was seething with anger, listening to notables’ speech. Immediately he sent people who had brought to him the parents of the youths. When they presented themselves, he asked them, “Where are those disobedient, who fled from the first ranks of the army of our kingdom, with the contempt for our wonderful orders and worshipping the gods worthy of respect? We decided to condemn you to death instead of them.” “Oh, Lord, a great king,” replied the caught, “we have not shown disobey to the command of Your Majesty and we did not reject worshipping the distinguished gods. These young men spent our silver and gold, and now they are hiding themselves in a cave at the Okhlon mountain, which is placed near the city. We have not seen them since the time when they disappeared. Nor do we know if they are still alive.” When the tyrant heard their excuse, he released them. While pondering of harsh punishment, which he intended to affect them, God inspired him to command to block the entrance to the cave with stones, resulting burying the clean bodies of these saints. “This is my sentence on those rebels who have not proved to obey my straight orders” said the king “they are contemptuous of the cult of the gods and thus they are unable to raise the rank of a kingdom. So why would they present themselves to our gods? Therefore, let the gate of the cave be closed in front of their eyes, where they have taken refuge, and this building will be with hewn stones so that they have died in torment, forever trapped.
So the king commanded, because everyone thought that the believers were still alive in his cave. At that time Arbos and Antodoros served as advisors to the king and they were believers– Christians – who hid their religious beliefs for fear of the king. Having conferred among themselves they said, “Let us write confession of faith of these young men in the lead plates, which will be placed inside a sealed copper box buried in the building, erected at the entrance to the cave. Perhaps God will decide, before the second coming of the Savior that the cave will be open and that their holy bodies will be honored because of their faith would be known from the inscription located at the entrance to the cave. And God willed that these two men realized what they thought, making sure secretly on this inscription. Decius died, and with him his entire generation. After him many kings reigned, until the throne was acceded by Theodosius, son of Arcadius, who was a believer. In his time a repulsive heresy appeared, disrupting purity of the Church by attempt to challenge the dogma of the common resurrection of the dead. It was tried to hide all traces of the promises of the resurrection of the dead, which gave Christ the Lord to his flock. The king was troubled by relationships, which came to his ears. In addition, the heathen shown publicly to the king falsified books, and some bishops of this period, living immorally, were the cause of lapsing to the Church of God.
A certain Theodore, bishop of Galos, stood at their head and besides him the others who are not worthy to mention their names in this story, because they destroyed the Church of God, tiring it. They disrupted purity of faith by unproductive discussions and blind searching. At the time King Theodosius was haunted by violent doubts which disturbed him. He poured forth abundant tears, weeping over the simple faith of the Church, which two forces tore – uncertainty and doubt. Some heretics denied the resurrection of the dead. Others said that the spread and scattered body will not live a second time and will not be resurrected, but the spirit alone will receive a promise of life. Indeed, they have gone astray and lied who said in such way. They did not understand that a child, while born of his mother, is not a spirit without a body or a body without breath of life. Darkness enveloped their minds and their ears have become deaf to the words of God’s promise that our Lord declared, when he said: “when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God; and they that hear shall live.” It was also said: “Awake and sing, ye that dwell in the dust!” Also it was said, “Behold, I will open your graves, and cause you to come up out of your graves.” But the heretics, deprived of life, they turned the sweetness of life in the bitter more bitter than their souls, disrupting by doubts the integrity of the believers’ consciences. The king got lost in his thoughts, sadness seized him and diseases pervaded him. The king dressed in the hair-shirt, lying in ashes. But the merciful God who does not delight in destruction of man nor giving up of the way of truth by him, he returned health to ill consciences. He strengthened faith in the promise of life by raising the dead, whom he prepared – thanks to his prior, divine knowledge – to ensure that they became an effective medicine, treating the Church of the poison that was poured on it. They restored it to its integrity and enhanced the pillars of its structure, because they are not able to overcome it striking about him, raging waves. In this way, the king Theodosius was shined by light of consolation and he received the crown of victory with their fathers. In order to occur all of this, God sent inspiration to Adolius, the owner of the pasture, where the cave was placed, to build an enclosure for his cattle. Many slaves and laborers took bravely to work. For two days they pulled out stones of the holes grave, using them to build the enclosure.
They also removed the stones, closing the entrance to the cave. When it was opened the next day, God decided to revive the Sleeping Youths. This is not surprising, since he is the Almighty God who gives life to the dead and gives the breath of life to embryo, hidden in the womb. He also gathered pieces of bone in the middle of the valley and revived them. He called out also by his divine power Lazarus from the grave and he came out alive, wrapped in shroud. God wanted also to return a breath of life to his followers, sleeping in that cave. So they woke up and their faces were fine. Then they saluted one another, just as it had in their habit each morning, and there was no visible trace of their death. There was not also changed their appearance nor their clothes they had on them from the moment of falling asleep. It would appear that they fall asleep in the night and woke up in the morning. Immediately an anxiety entered in their thoughts, because they thought that Decius is still looking for them. A grief returned that filled their hearts and tears began to flow from their eyes. The brothers stared sadly at Malchus, his minister, and began to question him about what has happened in the evening, the day before.
– As I mentioned to you yesterday afternoon – began to report Malchus – an order was issued by the king Decius, pursuant to which he demands from us and from all the palace officials, that we sacrifice in his presence offerings to idols. So I do not know what will become with us.
Then Maximilian said to his companions:– My brothers! Take note of the fact that one day we will stand before the tribunal of the Formidable Christ. Therefore, we must to be not afraid to stand before a human court and we must think about the grace of life, which we have received through faith in the Son of God.
After him they all said to Malchus:– It is time for a meal. Take a coin and go to the town. Hurry back to us as soon as you find out what are the effects of royal orders. Buy for us more food than yesterday, because it was not
enough and we are very hungry. They said so thinking that they have slept one night, waking up in the morning. Malchus got up, like every morning, he took from the purse coins sixty-two and forty-four, which were then in circulation41, and which were coined before the period when they were falling asleep, that is, three hundred seventy-two years before their waking up and he walked out of the cave very early, before dawn. Seeing the stones lying at the entrance, he was surprised, but he did
not bother it. He came down from the mountain and he went on to the town, avoiding a tamped road in fear that someone having noticed him, would not check his identity. Then he would tell about him to Decius and bring him to him. He did not know that notables, who were in the service of that evildoer, fell into hell, joining with those who were sentenced to death.
When Malchus approached to the gate of the city, he was very surprised seeing the cross carved on its top. He looked furtively, looking here and there, baffled. Walking along the outer side of the wall, Malchus came pensively to another gate. There, however, he saw the same view, and his astonishment has only increased. In the end he went around the whole city, seeing the cross carved on each gate. After he entered the town, he did not recognize it because he saw the new buildings that were unfamiliar to him. Malchus was enormously surprised and went like a man
who was seized by phantoms. Going like this, he returned to the gate, to which he arrived at the start and he began to think, “I wonder what kind of riddle is it? Here is a cross placed publicly on the urban gates, and last night it was hidden in the darkness.” Malchus tried to collect his thoughts. He pinched himself and he said, “Am I asleep?” Entering the town, as usual, he hid her head in a cloak and he went to the market, where he heard many people swearing in their talks to the Christ. Then everything was confused for him. Very frightened he began to speak:– If I knew what is the explanation of this riddle! Only yesterday no one would dare utter out loud the name of Christ, and today I hear how respectful it is pronounced. Is this Ephesus or any other city? Its buildings are in fact different from that one, as well as expressions of language used here, but I really do not know. I have not seen such city near Ephesus.
While Malchus was amazed by all this, he met a young man and asked him:– Tell me, for your Lord, what is the name of this city?
– It is Ephesus – replied the young man.
These words only increased his embarrassment.– For my life, I do not know what happened to me – he said – Have I lost my mind and my head? Better, if I hasten to come out of the city, before I get mad and die. Indeed, it seems to me that fantasies possessed me and I was taken aback.
Malchus told to his comrades about these events, when he had climbed to the cave. Later, when they became known, they were written down.
Because Malchus wanted to leave the city in a hurry, he approached in beggar’s dress to bakers, stretching from the pocket pieces of silver he gave to one of them and that began to stare at them. He saw the fact that they were of large sizes, differing in reverses from reverses of the silver coins in circulation. The seller was very surprised and showed it to his colleague. Soon all the vendors began to talk about them with each other, standing at their stations. They whispered among themselves, looking at Malchus, who – as they supposed – has found a treasure hidden for centuries. Seeing when they are conferring among themselves, not taking his eyes from him, Malchus trembled with fear. He thought they recognized him, and they will lead him to the king Decius, because some of them started watching him closely. Then, overcome by terror, he said to them:– I give you this money and I do not want bread.
But they hold him and began to question:– Where are you from, man? You have surely found a treasure belonging to the first kings. Show it to us to conceal what you have discovered, dividing it with you. Otherwise you will issue to death.
Malchus, very surprised, thought: “That is not against what I have kept, has increased my fear.”– Do not think, young man – the seller said – that the treasure remains hidden. Malchus, however, did not know what he asked. When they saw that he does not say any word, they wrapped him with his cloak and began to fling insults at him in the middle of the
market so that he admits and shows them where the treasure is.
News about capture of a young man who found the treasure of the first kings spread throughout the city. People gathered around him, staring at his face, but nobody knew him.
– This young man is a foreigner – they said – we did not have seen him before.
Malchus was stunned. He was unable to say anything. He could not also convince them that he did not find any treasure. But he was self-confident, thinking that he has parents, brothers and a large family known in the city. He was also absolutely sure that even yesterday he knew many residents of the city, but this morning he was not able to identify any of them. He looked at the crowd like a madman, trying to see someone from among his brothers or friends, but he did not notice anyone. He got dizzy from that, driven by phantoms. The whole town was touched, and the news was made known also to the church. The bishop of Ephesus, St. Maris,42 whom Antobatis, the governor of the city just visited, heard everything. The Divine Providence was willing to gather them together this hour to show to all the people the treasure of the resurrection of the dead. Then the bishop and the governor had ordered to bring the young man with his money. Malchus was dragged to the church, while he was thinking that he would stand before Decius. He began to look right and left, and the crowd laughed at him, just as people are laughing with someone crazy. Then he was put to the church where the bishop resided. There was also the governor Antobatis. They were astonished to see the money of the young man and Antobatis asked him:– The money is a proof that you found a treasure. Tell us, therefore, where is it?
– I have never found any treasure – Malchus said. – And as to the money, they came from my parents’ purse and coins of this city. But I can not explain what happened to me.
– Where are you from? – the governor asked.
– I suppose that I come from this city – Malchus replied.
– Whose son are you and who knows you here? Let him come and testify in your favor
– the man replied.
Malchus then mentioned his parents’ names, but there was none who knew them or him.
– You are a liar. You are not telling the truth – said Antobatis.
Malchus was dismayed and silent with bowed head. Then some of the people around him said that he could be insane. Others claimed that he is simulating insanity to save himself from this difficult situation.
– How can we consider you insane? – Antobatis said, looking at him suspiciously. – How do I believe that the money is from your parents’ purse, since their appearance indicates that they have been coined three hundred seventy-two years ago, that is for many years before the Decius’ reign? In addition, the reverse did not appear on other pieces of silver. Nor is it similar to the reverse of coins now in circulation. Did your parents live many centuries ago, and you stayed young? Or maybe you are trying to deceive the elderly and the wise men of our city? I think I will have to give orders to put you in chains and torture for so long, until you admit to that treasure you have found.
When Malchus heard what they said, he threw himself on his knees before them saying:– Just answer me, gentlemen, to one question, and I discover to you the depths of my heart. Tell me, by your Lord, where is now the king Decius, who yesterday was in this city?
– Son, there is no king in the world today, who would be called Decius – said the bishop– there was only one such king, who died long ago.
– My lord, either phantom possessed me, or what happened to me is too difficult for anyone to believe it – Malchus said. – Come with me to the cave at the Okhlon mountain, and I will show you my comrades. From them you can learn everything with absolute certainty. I know only so much that we fled before Decius few days ago. Yesterday I saw as he entered to the city,but now I do not know if it was Ephesus or not? At the time when Malchus was telling, the bishop Maris thought intensively about what he heard.– God wants to show us something through this young man – he said after some thought
– Let’s go with him to see what really happened. Having said that, the bishop and the governor stood up and with them the leaders of the city. They got into carts and came out on the mountain. When they reached to the cave, where these believers were, Malchus entered first, followed by the bishop. Entering the bishop came upon a copper box, sealed with silver seals, which were on the right side of the entrance. He lifted it, and standing opposite to the entrance to the cave he called the most distinguished men of the city and patricians with Antobatis. In their eyes Maris broke the seals and opened the box. Inside it he has found two copper plates. He took them out and then he began to read the inscription graved on them, “To this cave believers had fled before the king Decius and their names are: Maximilian, son of the governor, Malchus, Martynian, Dionysius, John, Serapion, Constantine and Anthony, and the entrance of the cave has been obstructed by stones.” It was written on the tablets also their profession of faith. When the inscription was read, everyone was amazed, giving glory to God for the miracles and signs, which appeared to all the people. They went into the cave and saw these brothers, sitting with dignity. Their faces shone like blooming roses. Then the bishop and the governor and all the accompanying leading citizens fell on their knees in front of these followers of Christ and they glorified their Lord, who caused, that they became worthy to see this unusual phenomenon. Their reports testify to the fact that they were talking with these followers, who informed them of the full sequence of events that took place in the times of Decius.
Immediately after these events, a telegram was sent to the king Theodosius as follows, “Let Your Majesty hastily come to see how wonderful wonders were revealed by God Most High in the time of your blessed reign. In fact the light of promise of life risen from the dust of the earth and the rays of the resurrection of the dead flashed from the darkness of tombs by resurrection of the saints’ clean body.”
When this news reached Theodosius, at the time the ruling, he took courage, took off his hair-shirt and rose from the ashes, on which he laid, then raised his hands to heaven, saying:– Thank you, Lord Jesus Christ, King of heaven and earth, for the rays of mercy, which you enlightened me because my belief, the light coming from the lamp of my parents, did not extinguish. Either no pearl of faith, inlaid in the crown of Constantine-winners, has fallen.
This good news was heard by bishops and leading citizens. They joined the king, leaving right away with him the town on horseback, ships and cars. When they came to Ephesus, all residents– including clerics and leaders – came out to greet the newcomers. Then, they all went up to the Okhlon mountain, to the cave of these followers, who also came out to meet the king. He saw with his own eyes their shining faces, and went to the cave and fell on his knees before them. Then he took them, weeping, sat down with them on the ground and stared at them, praising God. His heart was filled with gratitude.
– It seems to me that I hear his voice on his second coming in glory – he said. – In that time, when the dead come out from their tombs to meet him, there will be no longer unusual.
– Now we are leaving you in God, when your faith has reached fullness – said Maximilian to the king – May Christ, the Son of God, preserve Your Majesty from unrest, which devil stirs up. Be sure that our Lord because of you raised us from the ground before the Big Day of Resurrection. We were like a child that, while he is in the womb, does not feel respect, humiliation, power or weakness, and though he is alive, does not feel the presence of living or the dead. So were we, as if we were asleep, unmoved, resting and deprived of all thought.
When he had finished talking, Maximilian fell asleep and all his companions. They laid their heads on the ground, giving their souls to God. The king in turn, the bishops and leaders of the people looked up to them. Then Theodosius rose. Standing over their bodies he wept. Then he commanded to do for them eight gold coffin, but the Brothers appeared to him in a dream, saying:– Our bodies are resurrected from the earth, not from gold or silver. Leave us in the earth, in the same place in the cave, so that God will raise us from there.
The king ordered to put their bodies on gold plates and left there until that day.
Synod of Bishops approved the great feast of those believers, and the king on this occasion gave abundant alms to the poor and freed bishops kept in exile, whom allowed returning with him to Constantinople. Filled with joy because of the faith of the king, the bishops praised the Supreme God for everything that happened.
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