The Book of the Saints of the Ethiopian church/Pagumen
Pagumen
Pagumen 1 (September 6)
On this day the blessed Apostle Eutychius became a martyr. This holy apostle was the disciple of Saint John the evangelist, and he was filled with the grace of the Life-giving Holy Spirit, whilst he was ministering to John the apostle, and he was subject unto him. He longed to go with Paul the apostle, and John commanded that he should go with him, and he went with him into the preaching. And he preached in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ, and he converted many of the Greeks and brought them into the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ, and he baptized them with Christian baptism; and he destroyed the temples of idols, and rebuilt them as churches of our Lord Jesus Christ. And he endured great tribulation, and imprisonment, and beatings for many days by the infidels. And the angel of God used to come to him in the prison house, and with him was the food, which the saint ate, and which fire had never touched. And the soldiers also cast him to the lions, but the beasts never attacked him, and they were friendly towards him, like sheep with their shepherd. And then he went to the city of Constantinople, and the angel of God went before him and strengthened him. And having finished his fight, and waxed old, and arrived at a good old age, he departed to God Whom he loved. Salutation to Eutychius, who was called the “Companion of John the evangelist.”
And on this day also the holy priest Besoy, the brother of Saint Abba Hor, became a martyr. This saint came from the city of Antioch, and he belonged to an honorable family, and because of the nobility of his kinsfolk, and his knowledge and his Orthodoxy, he was appointed priest. And when his brother Abba Hor, and his mother Diodora went to the city of Alexandria, and became martyrs on the twenty-ninth day of the month of Sane, this saint rose up to go to the city of Alexandria to see their bodies, and to be blessed by them. And he gave all [his money] to the poor and needy, and took nothing with him except three bread-cakes and a staff of palm wood on which to lean. And when he arrived in the city of Alexandria he enquired for the bodies of his brother and mother, and certain men guided him and brought him to them; and when he saw them he wept with a bitter weeping, because of his separation from them. And then he went to the governor and confessed our Lord Jesus Christ before him, and he made known to him that he was the brother of Abba Hor. And the governor commanded the soldiers to set a great pillar on his belly, and straightway he delivered up his soul into the hand of God. And then the governor commanded the soldiers to burn the body of the saint and the bodies of his brother and mother in the fire, and the bodies of other martyrs, eighty-eight in number, but the fire never touched them. And certain believing men took the bodies of Saint Abba Hor, and his brother Abba Besoy, and his mother Diodora, and Saint Damon, of the city of Debeya, and the body of Saint Bimakos from the city of Barmon, and Wursunufa of the city of Tuluya, and carried them in a ship, and brought them to the city of ‘Ablasi with great honor, and laid them in a good place until the days of persecution were ended. And they built a church for them, and laid them in it, and many signs and wonders and many healings were made manifest through them. Salutation to Abba Besoy.
And on this day also are commemorated Saints Pachomius and Serapion. Salutation to Serapion and Pachomius. Salutation to the imprisonment of John the Baptist. Glory be to God Who is glorified in His Saints. Amen.
Pagumen 2 (September 7)
On this day died Saint Titus the apostle, unto whom Paul the apostle wrote one of his Epistles. The birthplace of this saint was the city of Wartes, and he was the son of the sister of the governor of the city, and his kinsfolk were Greeks. And from his childhood he studied the learning of the Greeks, and he was exceedingly wise in his understanding, and sincere in his disposition, and his acts were good, and he loved the poor and needy. And one night he saw [a vision] and it seemed as if one said unto him, “Fight, O Titus, for the salvation of thy soul, for this world is unprofitable unto thee”; and when he awoke from his dream he was frightened and did not know what to do. Now the story of our Lord Jesus Christ had been preached abroad and it was heard of in the city of, and the people thereof talked among themselves about His doctrine and about His miracles. And when the governor of the city, whose name was ‘Akrates, heard of this miracle he marveled exceedingly, and he wished to know with certainty if the story which he had heard about the Lord and His miracles were true. And he sought out a wise and understanding man whom he could send to the city of Jerusalem to verify the story of our Lord, and to put His miracles to the test, and to find out whether He was a being from the infernal regions, or whether He was a magician, or whether He was truly God; and he chose Titus to send, for he found no one better than he, and he sent him and commanded him to search into these matters with very great care and attention. And when Titus came to the land of Judah, and saw the miracles of our Lord Jesus Christ, and His marvelous deeds, and heard the Life- giving words of our Lord, he distinguished between the words and miracles of our Lord, and the words and deeds of the Greeks; and he found a great difference between them, and he knew that the faith of the Greeks was as nothing. Then he believed on our Lord Jesus Christ and followed Him. And he sent to the governor, his mother’s brother, and informed him of what he had seen and heard of the signs and wonders of our Lord Jesus Christ. And when our Lord chose His Twelve Disciples, He chose this Saint Titus to be of their number. And after the Ascension of our Lord the grace of the Holy Spirit Paraclete descended upon him, as upon the Apostles, in the upper chamber of Zion; and he went with the Apostles into the preaching. And when our Lord chose Paul the apostle, this Saint Titus followed him, and went with him into many cities. And after Paul the apostle became a martyr in the city of Rome, this saint returned to his native city of ‘Ekertes, and built a church therein; and he appointed priests and deacons over the cities which were round about. And having finished his apostolic fight he departed to God, Whom he loved. Salutation to Titus. Glory be to God Who is glorified in His Saints. Amen.
Pagumen 3 (September 8)
On this day are commemorated the glorious angel Rufa’el (Raphael) the archangel, the third of the vigilant, holy and heavenly archangels; and the dedication of his church, which was built to him on an island outside the city of Alexandria in the days of Saint Theophilus the Archbishop; and the miracle which was made manifest therein, and took place thus. A certain rich woman from the city of Rome came to Saint Theophilus the Archbishop, and with her were her son and a picture of the glorious Archangel Rufa’el (Raphael), and much money, which she had inherited from her parents. And she cleared away the heap of rubbish, which was in front of the archbishop’s house, and there appeared from beneath it a treasure of gold, even as we have written [in the section for] the eighteenth day of Tekemt. And Saint Abba Theophilus built many churches, and among them was the church, which was on the island outside the city of Alexandria, and was dedicated in the name of the glorious Archangel Rufa’el (Raphael); and Abba Theophilus the Archbishop finished the building thereof and consecrated it as it were this day. And whilst the believers were praying in the church, behold the church trembled, and was rent asunder, and it moved about. And they found that the church had been built upon the back of a whale of the whales of the sea, on which a very large mass of sand had heaped itself. Now the whale lay firmly fixed in its place, and the treading of the feet of the people upon it cut it off from the mainland; and it was Satan who moved the whale so that he might throw down the church. And the believers and the archbishop cried out together, and made supplication to the Lord Christ, and they asked for the intercession of the glorious Archangel Rufa’el (Raphael). And God, the Most High, sent the glorious angel Rufa’el (Raphael), and he had mercy on the children of men, and he drove his spear into the while, saying unto him, “By the commandment of God stand still, and move not thyself from thy place”; and the whale stood in his place and moved not. And many signs and wonders were made manifest, and great healings of sick folk took place in that church. And this church continued to exist until the time when the Muslims reigned, and then it was destroyed, and the whale moved, and the sea flowed back again and drowned many people who dwelt in that place. This story was told by John, Archbishop of the city of Constantinople, to Honorius, the righteous emperor. And he said unto him, “Know, O emperor, that we were sailing in a ship to come to thee, and as we were going along we saw a church, on the island, on the day preceding the Sabbath, and we came into port, so that we might received the Holy Mysteries on the First Day of the week. And we found a little monastery by the side of the church, with brethren and monks therein. And, by the commandment of God, we went to them, and we said unto them, ‘O brethren, if ye have with you an old manuscript treating of the days of the ancients, give it to us so that we may comfort ourselves therewith.’ And they answered and said unto me, ‘Behold, we have many manuscripts in the sanctuary, but we do not know how to translate them.’ And I said unto them, ‘Bring them here that I may see them.’ And when they brought them to me, I searched through them, and I found that they treated of the mighty deeds and miracles which our Lord Jesus Christ had performed before His disciples, and also of the beginning of the heavens and the earth, and [they went on] to the end of this world. And as I was examining these manuscripts, I found a manuscript which was written by our fathers, the holy Apostles, and which treated of the appointment of the Seven Archangels, and it said: ‘When our Lord Jesus Christ was on the Mount of Olives with His disciples, He revealed to them the mystery of the Godhead.’ And the Apostles asked Him, saying, ‘O our Lord and God, we beseech and entreat Thee to tell us about the glory of the honorable angel Rufa’el (Raphael), and what day Thou didst appoint him, and in what month, and whether he is the equal of his fellow archangels, so that we may preach him in the world, and that men may celebrate a festival in his honor as they celebrate festivals in honor of his fellow archangels, and that men may pray to him in the time of their sorrow and tribulation, so that they may find grace and compassion with Thee, and his intercession.’ And straightway our Lord Jesus Christ commanded, and the seven, and the three archangels, came from the third heaven, Michael, and Gabriel and Rufa’el (Raphael) with great joy, and they bowed down before our Lord Christ: and our Lord said unto the angel Rufa’el (Raphael), ‘Tell the Apostles thy name so that they may know thy great honor.’ Now the Archangel Rufa’el (Raphael), a sincere (?) angel, is the third of the archangels, and Michael the archangel is the first of all the angels; and his name [meaneth] the ‘compassionate.’ And Gabriel is the second archangel, and his name [meaneth] ‘God and man,’ and it was he who was sent to our holy Lady, the Virgin Mary, to announce the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ from her.” And Rufa’el (Raphael) said, “I make hearts to rejoice, and I am sincere, and good, and merciful to sinners, against whom I never lay information concerning their sins before God; I speak only of my power to save, and my sincerity, and my love for men. I send angels with the souls of sinners, and I treat them with long-suffering until at length they repent of their sins, and forsake their transgressions, I am Rufa’el (Raphael) whom God set over the twenty-three hosts of angels, [and] we praise God the Father, and His compassionate Son, and the Holy Spirit the Comforter. I am Rufa’el (Raphael) whom God commanded to give good things to the saints at the Marriage of One Thousand Years in Mount Zion, when our Lord Jesus Christ made them to drink out of the cup, which is filled with honor indeed, as they reclined with Him when He sat on the holy throne. I am Rufa’el (Raphael) whom God commanded to take up branches of the Tree of Life in my hand, and to give them to Christians on that day [of] life and joy. I am Rufa’el (Raphael) under whose hands are kept the treasure houses of the heavens, and I open them and shut them according as God commandeth me. And if any man shall do a good deed to another man, who is in tribulation upon earth, for my name’s sake, or shall write a book about my office, or shall remember any of the poor in my name, or shall offer up an offering or incense on the day of my commemoration, which is the third day of Paguemen, whereon God appointed me, and crowned me with the office of the angels, I will bear them and transport them on the chariot of light, until they enter the heavenly Jerusalem. And I will place in their souls scented branches with an exceedingly sweet odor, the like of which shall never be found upon the earth. Ask of me, O chosen Apostles, at all times so that I may protect you until ye stand before God. And preach ye unto all men in all the world that they must celebrate my commemoration, and I will make intercession with God on their behalf, and I will deliver them from their tribulation, and they shall never see punishment.” And having said these words Rufa’el (Raphael) bowed low to the Lord. And this glorious angel Rufa’el (Raphael), the archangel, hath performed many miracles, and it is meet that we should celebrate his commemoration at all times, for he maketh intercession with God on our behalf. Salutation to Rufa’el (Raphael).
And on this day is celebrated the death of Melchisedek. This man was the son of Kainan, the son of Shem. And when he was fifteen years of age God commanded Noah to send Shem his son with the body of our Father Adam, and to lay it in the middle of the earth, which is called “Keranyo” (Place of Skull); and he informed him that the Savior of the world would come, and that they would sacrifice Him there, and that He would redeem Adam by His Blood. And Shem and Melchisedek took the body of Adam from the house of his father in secret, and he went there, and the angel of God guided them; and Melchisedek was appointed priest. And he took twelve stones and offered up an offering upon them, with bread and wine which came down to him from heaven, and which revealed the mystery of the new Law. And the angels used to bring food unto him from heaven, and his apparel consisted of a hide, and a hide girdle, and he continued to minister before the body of our father Adam. And when Abraham returned from the war, and had vanquished the kings, he offered him bread and wine, and Abraham gave him tithes of all his possessions, and he was appointed priest and king of Salem. Salutation to Melchisedek.
And on this day also died Serapion of Landun. This saint was learned in the Books of the Church, and in the interpretation of the same, and he renounced all the possessions of this world. And then he went and departed into the country of the pagans, and sold himself for twenty dinars, and he took care of his dinars. He ate nothing but bread and water, and he used to pray to God to turn [the people] from their error; and then he made them all to believe in the Faith of Jesus Christ, and he taught them all the Law. And then he told them that he was an Egyptian free man, and that for love of them he had sold himself; and he gave them the money of his price to give to the poor. And he departed to another city, the people of which were called “Mankayaweyan,” and he sold himself to them, and he served them until he made them to believe in the Faith of Christ. And then he went to Rome and lived and worked there, with fasting and prayer, until at length he died in peace; and signs and wonders appeared through his body. Salutation to Serapion.
And on this day also died the good, and honorable, and Orthodox, and apostolic king Zara Ya’akob [died 26th August, 1468] after he had established ordinances and laws for the good behavior [of his people] in all the cities of his kingdom. Salutation to Zara Ya’akob, the preacher of the Faith of the Gospel. Glory be to God Who is glorified in His Saints. Amen.
Pagumen 4 (September 9)
On this day died the ascetic, fighter, and anchorite Saint Abba Benjamin (Baymon). This saint was from the city of Mesr (Cairo). There were seven brethren, namely, John, and Job, and Joseph, and Basil, and Baymon, and Jacob, and Abraham, and they all became monks. John was the most advanced (i.e. the eldest) of them in his days, and Abba Baymon was most advanced in knowledge and wisdom. And they all agreed together, and went forth from the world, and dwelt in places, which were remote from men; and they bore the yoke of our Lord Christ. And they traveled on the straight road, and put aside the honor of family, and the desire of their mother to see them. Now their mother came to their abode, and she stood outside and having sent them a message she waited (?) for them to come to her, so that she might see them before she departed. And they sent to her a message, saying, “If thou wishest to see us in the generation which is for ever, depart from this place”; and she understood, and accepted [their words], and departed. And this father was a haven and a comforter of the old men and of the young men of the desert of Scete. And whenever tribulation, and doubt about the Faith, or a temptation of the Adversary [assailed any one of them], he would come to him, and our father would comfort him, and straightway he was cured of his sickness. And this father composed works on Doctrine, and many Homilies, and profitable Admonitions on piety, and the spiritual fight, and the path of the monastic life. And he said in his teaching, “If thou seest a brother who hath transgressed, despair not of him, but wake up his soul, and comfort him, and lighten his heaviness, so that he may rise up from his fall.” And he also saith, “Teach thy heart so that it may do what thy tongue sayeth.” And one of the brethren said unto him, “If I see a brother who is good, I rejoice in him, and bring him into my abode, and make him to rejoice. And also, if I see a brother whose works are inferior I do not wish to bring him into my abode.” And Abba Baymon answered and said unto him, “If thou treatest well the brother who is good, thou must treat that brother whose works are inferior with a double portion of goodness, for he who is sick needeth healing especially.” And then he informed that brother who was talking with him, saying, “There was a monk in the monastery whose name was Timothy, and he fell into sin, and he was always weeping; and he wept, and groaned, and petitioned God, saying, ‘O Lord, I have sinned against Thee; forgive me.’ And a voice came to him and said unto him, I will only cast thee off when thou despisest thy brother in the time of his trial.” And this father Abba Baymon also said, “If we cover over the sins of our brethren, God will cover over our sins.” And this holy father lived all his days a life of spiritual fighting, and devotion to God, and he arrived at a good old age and pleased God and died in peace. Salutation to thee, O mortal tongue of the seven brethren who refused to see their mother.
On this day also died Liberius, Archbishop of the city of Rome. This holy father was appointed over the city of Rome in the days of Kuenesta (Constantine), the son of Kuenesta (Constantine). And Kuenesta (Constantine) having driven his brother, the apostolic Saint Athanasius, from the throne of the city of Alexandria, and having also driven out Paul, Archbishop of the city of Constantinople, the two of them came to this father Liberius and asked him to help them. And he received them and brought them to the Emperor Kuenesta (Constantine), and he wrote for them from himself a letter to his brother Kuenesta (Constantine), and commanded him to receive them. And he wrote for them a letter to his brother Kuenesta (Constantine) that he might help them. And when the Emperor Kuenesta (Constantine) read the letter of his brother Kuenesta (Constantine), and the letter of this holy father Liberius, he received them, and set them upon their thrones as before. And when Kuenesta (Constantine) was killed in the city of Rome, Kuenesta (Constantine) sent to this Saint Liberius, and asked him to help him, and to drive the apostolic Athanasius out of the city of Alexandria, and to receive the Arians, and he made him many promises. But Liberius did not accept this petition, and he would come to no agreement with him, and the emperor banished him to a remote region; and then he sent and slew the murderer of his brother. And after this he went to the city of Rome, and with him were the heads of the monasteries and the chief priests, and they begged him to make this father Liberius to come back from exile to his archiepiscopal throne in the city of Rome; and he accepted their petition, and commanded him to return to his office. And having returned to his archiepiscopal throne, this father taught always his flock to be strong in the True Faith. And he composed many Homilies and Admonitions, and he resisted the followers of Arius, and excommunicated them, and drove them out until he died; and he sat on his archiepiscopal throne for seven years. Salutation to Abba Liberius the Archbishop. Glory be to God Who is glorified in His Saints. Amen.
Pagumen 5 (September 10)
On this day died the pure and holy virgin, Abba Jacob, Bishop of the city of Mesr (Cairo). The soul’s desire of this fighter from his youth up was to wear the holy garb of the monastic life, which is the apparel of the angels. And he went forth from his city, and departed to the desert of Scete, that is to say, to the monastery of Saint Abba Macarius, and he took up his abode in a cave close by Saint Abba John the Short; and he devoted himself to God and fought the spiritual fight for many years, and he was appointed Archdeacon of the church of Saint John. And the report of his virtues, and his knowledge, and his sanctity was noised about, and God chose him, and he was appointed Bishop of the city of Mesr (Cairo). And having taken his seat upon the throne of his office, he added to his fasting, and prayer, and asceticism, and fighting of the spiritual fight, and he did not diminish through [the duties of] his office his former fight. He taught his people continually, and he read the Scriptures to them, and he explained the obscure passages in them, and he admonished them for continuing to commit sin; and he excommunicated them and repelled them from receiving the Holy Mysteries until they repented. And when he had finished his good fight, he fell sick of a slight illness, and he summoned his flock and taught them to hold fast the True Faith. And he summoned the priests and commanded them, saying, “Take heed that ye be not negligent at the time of celebrating the Mysteries,” and he made them to know that they would deserve great punishment if they were negligent about the celebration of the Holy and Divine Mysteries, and if they did not minister in holiness, and in the fear of God. And he said unto them, “I am innocent of your sins.” And then he made the sign of the Cross over his face and eyes, and stretched out his hands, and made the sign of the Cross, and he covered his eyes with his hands and died in peace. And they wrapped him in a beautiful shroud, which was worthy of bishops, and they made a great lamentation over him, and they buried him in the tomb of the fathers, the Bishops. Salutation to Jacob, Bishop of Mesr (Cairo).
And on this day also died the great Prophet Amos, the father of Isaiah the prophet, one of the Twelve Minor Prophets. This righteous man prophesied in the days of the kings of Israel, Joash, Amos, and Uzziah; and all the days of his prophesying were fifty years and more. And he admonished the children of Israel and their kings, and the kings of Judah, and he told them that God would not accept over many offerings, nor the things which they did not offer up to Him in the days of Moses the prophet. And he prophesied concerning the Passion of our Lord, and concerning the darkness of the sun on that day, and concerning the lamentation and sorrow which should come upon the children of Israel after this; and how their festivals should be turned into [days of] sorrow, and their joy into weeping; and how they should lack the help of God; and how they should be scattered in all countries among the nations; and how they should be driven about like spelt. And all these things were fulfilled upon them, for they dwell [scattered] in the world unto this day. And it is said that the people killed him when he rebuked them overmuch for their sins. And he prophesied before the coming of our Lord Christ six hundred years before the coming of our Lord. Salutation to Amos the prophet.
And on this day also died the holy, and blessed, and chaste Abba Barsuma, the “Naked,” the son of Taban. This saint had God-fearing parents in the city of Mesr (Cairo), and they entreated pilgrims kindly and walked in the way of God; and they were exceedingly rich in gold and silver, and they had many possessions. And when they got this blessed son they called his name “Barsuman,” and brought him up in the fear of the Lord, and taught him the Doctrine of the Books of the Church. And when his parents finished their days at a good old age, and died in peace, the brother of the mother of this saint took all the money, which Barsuman’s parents had left. And when this Saint Abba Barsuma (sic) saw how he had seized his parents’ money, he meditated in his heart about this fleeting world, and said, “Our Redeemer saith in His holy Gospel, ‘He who wisheth to save his soul, let him cast it away, and he who hath cast away his soul for My sake shall find it. What shall it profit a man if he hath gained the whole world, and destroyed his soul? And what shall a man give [as] a ransom for his soul? Verily, verily, I say unto you, the Son of the children of men shall come in the glory of His Father, with His holy angels, and shall reward each one according to his works (Mark vii, 35 f.).’” And the saint went outside the city, and did as Job the Just did, and sat upon a dust heap for five years, in the heat of summer and the cold of winter, and he wore no clothing on his body, but went naked; and his loincloth was made of hairy sackcloth. And he said unto his soul, “O Barsuma, know thou that thou must stand naked before God.” And he devoted himself frequently to fasting, and prayer, and bowings, and vigil, by night and by day, for seven days at a time ceaselessly. And he ate [nothing but] dry bread soaked in water, and at length his body dried up, and his skin stretched itself tightly over his bones. And then he said unto himself, “I will rise up and will depart from this place, so that men may not know me, and award to me the vain praise of this world.” And he departed from that place, and came to the church of Saint Mercurius in Mesr (Cairo), and he dwelt therein and fasted for three and thirty years. And there was a serpent in a well, which was in that church, and men were unable to light the lamp through fear of that snake. And God willed to make manifest the righteousness of this righteous man, Abba Barsuma, and to make signs and wonders to appear at his hands. And the saint went into that cave, and stood up and prayed to God, saying, “O my Lord and God, Jesus Christ, the Son of the Living God, Who hath given unto us power to tread upon serpents and scorpions, and all the might of the Enemy, I ask Thee now to make me strong over this serpent which is in this cave, for Thine is the glory for ever and ever. Amen.” Then he sealed himself with the sign of the Honorable Cross, and he sang the psalm, saying, “Thou shalt be strong against the wolf and the serpent, thou shalt tread upon the lion and the serpent” (Psalm 91:13), and having finished his singing, he seized the serpent with his hand, and said unto it, “Henceforth be blessed! And thou shalt not have power and might over any man, and thou shalt do no evil whatsoever to any man, but thou shalt be subject and obedient to what I shall say unto thee.” And straightway that serpent coiled itself at the feet of this saint, even as the lions crouched before Daniel the prophet in days of old. And this saint fought a great fight against hunger and thirst, and he used to fast two and three days at a time, and after this he fasted for a whole week, without cessation or negligence. And the light shone upon him, and when he stood up to pray the serpent would go away from him, and when he sat down and called the serpent it would come to him. And there was a spring of water in that place wherefrom water flowed unceasingly in the winter season, and in the period of cold, and he used to stand up [in it] from sunset to sunrise, continually; and he used to eat dry bread, and food which had gone bad, and was full of worms, and had been thrown away, and he drank dirty water. And in those days there took place a period of great persecution of the Christian people in the country of Egypt. And he passed all his time in reading the Books of the Church, and especially the Psalms of David, and the histories of the ascetic labors of the fathers and the stories of their abstinence. And because of this he loved the life of abstinence and purity, and he spoke to men profitable words, saying, “Without purity no man can see the kingdom of God by day and by night for seven days, and God received his petition, and he taught the people Christianity. And God performed many signs and miracles by his hands, and on many occasions made manifest to men his extraordinary spiritual fight. His presence was handsome, and he was of fine appearance, and his face was joyful; he rejoiced in being without a bed, and he possessed nothing whatsoever of this world’s goods. He wore a tunic only, but he was [otherwise] naked, and his head was uncovered and he covered his body with apparel, which was in rags. And he endured the heat of summer and the cold of winter, and he laid no bed between his body and the ground, and he fought the fight that he might reach the Heavenly Garden. And he found trouble through evil men and devils; who is able to explain it? And in spite of this he gave thanks to the Lord Jesus Christ who helped him in this difficult work. And whilst following this course men heard of the glorious report of him, and everywhere men loved him. He was the comforter of the old men, and of those who were in trouble and misery, and of him that had been tripped up by the enmity [of Satan], and of him whom the temptation of the Enemy or of an evil man had found; such an one used to seek and find with him healing. And having spent thirty years in his spiritual fight, and pleased God, he died in peace on the fifth day of the month of Paguemen in the one thousand and thirty-third year of the Martyrs (A.D. 1317). And after his death John the priest, his disciple, thought in his soul and said, “Who is there that shall comfort men after our father Barsuma?” “Abba Barsuma had knowledge through the Holy Ghost,” saith his disciple. And he answered saying with his holy mouth, “Know, O my brother John, I am far from all those who call me by my name, and unto all who say unto me, ‘Abba Barsuma, the son of Taban, ‘ I say, ‘Behold I will fulfill for him everything which he wisheth with our Lord Jesus Christ.’” And then this holy father looked towards his left hand and said, “Behold, they have made the reckoning about us, and they have not found against us any evil thing.” And after this he said unto his disciple Abraham, “Give me a knife or a razor,” and he cut off his tongue therewith, and cast it away, and he began to sing, saying, “The Lord illumineth me, and delivereth me, who then shall make me afraid?” (Psalm xxvii, 1)--to the end [of the Psalm]. And he sealed his face with the sign of the Honorable Cross, and delivered his soul into the hand of God, and the angels of light carried it up to the Garden of Joy. And he departed to God, Whom he loved, and he dwelt with the righteous in the Garden of Delight in the kingdom of the heavens. And the monks wrapped him up in pure white woolen cloths, and they took him and laid him in the church. And Abba John, the eightieth Archbishop of the city of Alexandria, came, together with priests, and deacons, and the nobles of the city of Mesr (Cairo), and a great many Christian folk, and they made a procession in his honor with singing and instruments of music, and they buried him; and they made great mourning for him many days. Salutation to Abba Barsuma.
And on this day also died Abba Magder. Salutation to Magder. Glory be to God Who is glorified in His Saints. Amen.
Pagumen 6 (September 11)
And if the month of Paguemen containeth six days he (i.e. the priest or monk) shall read the following; any if it hath only five days, he shall read it likewise. On this blessed day, O believing, beloved, and Orthodox brethren, it is meet that ye should magnify our Lord Jesus Christ and His honorable Blood, and that we should praise God the Most High, and multiply His praises, and exalt His highness exceedingly, because He hath given unto us the grace of His goodness and the greatness of His compassion, which have brought us to this hour, which is the end of the revolution of the year of mercy of Egypt, and of Ethiopia, and Nubia. And we are sound and healthy in our bodies and souls, and we are strong in the True Faith, following our holy fathers. And God shows patience towards us, and He hath mercy upon us, and He waiteth for us to turn from our transgressions and from our evil works. And He doth not destroy us, as He destroyed many nations who were before us, but He abideth us patiently, and He waiteth for us to turn from our sins, an our transgressions, and our folly, and for us to rouse ourselves up out of our sluggishness, and for us to rise up from our fall. And it is meet that we should weep before Him, and cry to Him to set aside His abomination of our transgressions, and our many sins, and that we should ask Him to strengthen us in the True Faith in this world, and in that which is to come, and during all the days of our life, and to preserve us from the snare of Satan, our Enemy, so that we may arrive at the end of this coming year, and that we may be strong in the True Faith, and joyful in good works, and healthy in our bodies. And let us ask Him to give rest to the souls of those who have died among us, and may He set grace in our country, and bless our land, and bring us into our abode in houses in joy, and in peace, for ever and ever.