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IT is said that during this reign the Iberians, a large and warlike
barbarian nation, confessed Christ. They dwelt to the north beyond
Armenia. A Christian woman, who had been taken captive, induced
them to renounce the religion of their fathers. She was very faithful
and godly, and did not, amongst foreigners, remit her accustomed
routine of religious duty. To fast, to pray night and day, and to
praise God, constituted her delight. The barbarians inquired as to
the motives of her endurance: she simply answered, that it was
necessary in this way to worship the Son of God; but the name of Him
who was to be worshiped, and the manner of worshiping, appeared
strange to them. It happened that a boy of the country was taken ill,
and his mother, according to the custom of the Iberians, took him
around from house to house, in hope that some one might be found
capable of curing the disease, and the change from the suffering might
be easy for the afflicted. As no one capable of healing him could be
found, the boy was brought to the captive, and she said, "as to
medicines, I have neither experience nor knowledge, nor am I
acquainted with the mode of applying ointments or plasters; but, O
woman, I believe that Christ whom I worship, the true and great
God, will become the Saviour of thy child." Then she prayed for
him immediately and freed him from the disease, although just before it
was believed that he was about to die. A little while after, the wife
of the governor of the nation was, by an incurable disease, brought
nigh unto death; yet she too was saved in the same manner. And thus
did this captive teach the knowledge of Christ, by introducing Him as
the dispenser of health, and as the Lord of life, of empire, and of
all things. The governor's wife, convinced by her own personal
experience, believed the words of the captive, embraced the Christian
religion, and held the woman in much honor. The king, astonished at
the celerity of the cure, and the miraculousness and healing of faith,
learned the cause from his wife, and commanded that the captive should
be rewarded with gifts. "Of gifts," said the queen, "her estimate
is very low, whatever may be their value; she makes much of the
service she renders to her God only. Therefore if we wish to gratify
her, or desire to do what is safe and right, let us also worship
God, who is mighty and a Saviour, and who, at His will, gives
continuance unto kings, casts down the high, renders the illustrious
abject, and saves those in terrible straits." The queen continued to
argue in this excellent manner, but the sovereign of Iberia remained
in doubt and unconvinced, as he reflected on the novelty of the
matters, and also respected the religion of his fathers. A little
while after, he went into the woods with his attendants, on a hunting
excursion; all of a sudden thick clouds arose, and a heavy air was
everywhere diffused by them, so as to conceal the heavens and the sun;
profound night and great darkness pervaded the wood. Since each of the
hunters was alarmed for his own safety, they scattered in different
directions. The king, while thus wandering alone, thought of
Christ, as men are wont to do in times of danger. He determined that
if he should be delivered from his present emergency, he would walk
before God and worship Him. At the very instant that these thoughts
were upon his mind, the darkness was dissipated, the air became
serene, the rays of the sun penetrated into the wood, and the king
went out in safety. He informed his wife of the event that had
befallen him, sent for the captive, and commanded her to teach him in
what way he ought to worship Christ. When she had given as much
instruction as it was right for a woman to say and do, he called
together his subjects and declared to them plainly the Divine mercies
which had been vouchsafed to himself and to his wife, and although
uninitiated, he declared to his people the doctrines of Christ. The
whole nation was persuaded to embrace Christianity, the men being
convinced by the representations of the king, and the women by those of
the queen and the captive. And speedily with the general consent of
the entire nation, they prepared most zealously to build a church.
When the external walls were completed, machines were brought to raise
up the columns, and fix them upon their pedestals. It is related,
that when the first and second columns had been righted by these means,
great difficulty was found in fixing the third column, neither art nor
physical strength being of any avail, although many were present to
assist in the pulling. When evening came on, the female captive
remained alone on the spot, and she continued there throughout the
night, interceding with God that the erection of the columns might be
easily accomplished, especially as all the rest had taken their
departure distressed at the failure; for the column was only half
raised, and remained standing, and one end of it was so embedded in
its foundations that it was impossible to move it downward. It was
God's will that by this, as well as by the preceding miracle, the
Iberians should be still further confirmed about the Deity. Early in
the morning, when they were present at the church, they beheld a
wonderful spectacle, which seemed to them as a dream. The column,
which on the day before had been immovable, now appeared erect, and
elevated a small space above its proper base. All present were struck
with admiration, and confessed, with one consent, that Christ alone
is the true God. Whilst they were all looking on, the column slipped
quietly and spontaneously, and was adjusted as by machinery on its
base. The other columns were then erected with ease, and the
Iberians completed the structure with greater alacrity. The church
having been thus speedily built, the Iberians, at the recommendation
of the captive, sent ambassadors to the Emperor Constantine, bearing
proposals for alliance and treaties, and requesting that priests might
be sent to their nation. On their arrival, the ambassadors related
the events that had occurred, and how the whole nation with much care
worshiped Christ. The emperor of the Romans was delighted with the
embassy, and after acceding to every request that was proffered,
dismissed the ambassadors. Thus did the Iberians receive the
knowledge of Christ, and until this day they worship him carefully.
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