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EPIPHANIUS was at this period at the head of the metropolitan
church of Cyprus. He was celebrated, not only for the virtues he
manifested and miraculous deeds during his life, but also for the honor
that was rendered to him by God after his death; for it was said that
demons were expelled, and diseases healed at his tomb. Many wonderful
actions wrought while he lived are attributed to him, of which the
following is one of the most remarkable that has come to our knowledge.
He was extremely liberal towards the needy, either to those who had
suffered from shipwreck or any other calamity; and after expending the
whole of his own patrimony in the relief of such cases, he applied the
treasures of the church to the same purpose. These treasures had been
greatly increased by the donations of pious men of various provinces,
who had been induced by their admiration of Epiphanius to entrust him
with the distribution of their alms during their lives, or to bequeath
their property to him for this purpose at their death. It is said that
on one occasion the treasurer, who was a godly man, discovered that
the revenues of the church had been nearly drained, and so little
remained in the treasury that he considered it his duty to rebuke the
bishop as a spendthrift. Epiphanius, however, having,
notwithstanding these remonstrances, given away the small sum that had
remained, a stranger went to the little house where the treasurer
lived, and placed in his hands a bag containing many gold coins.
Since neither the giver nor the sender was visible, it seemed very
naturally miraculous, that in a gift of so much money a man should keep
himself unknown; thus everybody thought it to be a Divine work.
I desire also to relate another miracle that is attributed to
Epiphanius. I have heard that a similar action has been related of
Gregory, who formerly governed Neocaesarea; and I see no reason to
doubt the veracity of the account; but it does not disprove the
authenticity of the miracle attributed to Epiphanius. Peter, the
apostle, was not the only man who raised another from the dead;
John, the evangelist, wrought a similar miracle at Ephesus; as did
likewise the daughters of Philip at Hierapolis. Similar actions have
been performed in different ages by the men of God. The miracle which
I wish to instance is the following. Two beggars having ascertained
when Epiphanius would pass that way, agreed to extract a larger
donation than usual from him by having recourse to stratagem. As soon
as the bishop was seen approaching, one of the beggars flung himself on
the ground and simulated death; the other stood by and uttered loud
lamentations, deploring the loss of his companion, and his own
poverty, which made him unable to procure sepulture for him.
Epiphanius prayed to God that the deceased might rise in peace; he
gave the survivor sufficient money for the interment, and said to the
weeper, "Take measures, my son, for the burial of your companion,
and weep no more; he cannot now arise from the dead; the calamity was
inevitable, therefore you ought to bear it with resignation." Saying
these words, the bishop departed from the spot. As soon as there was
no one in sight, the beggar who had addressed Epiphanius touched the
other with his foot, as he lay extended on the ground, and said to
him, "You have well performed your part; arise now, for through
your labor, we have a good provision for today." He, however, lay
in the same way, neither heard any cry, nor perceived him who moved
him with all his strength; the other beggar ran after the priest and
confessed their artifice, and, with lamentations and tearing of his
hair, he besought Epiphanius to restore his companion. Epiphanius
merely exhorted him to submit with patience to the catastrophe, and
sent him away. God did not undo what had happened, because, I feel
persuaded, it was his design to show that those who practice deception
on his servants are accounted as guilty of the fraud as if it had been
perpetrated against Him who sees all, and who hears all.
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