|
The citizens of that parish mention many other miracles of Narcissus,
on the tradition of the brethren who succeeded him; among which they
relate the following wonder as performed by him. They say that the oil
once failed while the deacons were watching through the night at the
great paschal vigil.
Thereupon the whole multitude being dismayed,
Narcissus directed those who attended to the lights, to draw water and
bring it to him.
This being immediately done he prayed over the water, and with firm
faith in the
Lord, commanded them to pour it into the lamps. And when they had
done so, contrary to all expectation by a wonderful and divine power,
the nature of tim water was changed into that of oil. A small portion
of it has been preserved even to our day by many of the brethren there
as a memento of the wonder.
They tell many other things worthy to be noted of the life of this
man, among which is this. Certain base men being unable to endure the
strength and firmness of his life, and fearing punishment for the many
evil deeds of which they were conscious, sought by plotting to
anticipate him, and circulated a terrible slander against him. And to
persuade those who heard of it, they confirmed their accusations with
oaths: one invoked upon himself destruction by fire; another the
wasting of his body by a foul disease; the third the loss of his eyes.
But though they swore in this manner, they could not affect the mind
of the believers; because the continence and virtuous life of
Narcissus were well known to all.
But he could not in any wise endure the wickedness of these men; and
as he had followed a philosophic life for a long time, he fled from the
whole body of the Church, and hid himself in desert and secret
places, and remained there many years. But the great eye of judgment
was not unmoved by these things, but soon looked down upon these
impious men, and brought on them the curses with which they had bound
themselves. The residence of the first, from nothing but a little
spark failing upon it, was entirely consumed by night, and he perished
with all his family. The second was speedily covered with the disease
which he had imprecated upon himself, from the sole of his feet to his
head. But the third, perceiving what had happened to the others, and
fearing the inevitable judgment of God, the ruler of all, confessed
publicly what they had plotted together. And in his repentance he
became so wasted by his great lamentations, and continued weeping to
such an extent, that both his eyes were destroyed. Such were the
punishments which these men received for their falsehood.
|
|