Chapter XLIV.—Dionysius’ Account of
Serapion.
1. To
this same Fabius, who seemed to lean somewhat toward this schism,2135
| 2135 See above, chap. 39, note 7. |
Dionysius of Alexandria also wrote an
epistle.2136
| 2136 This epistle, as we may gather from the description of its
contents in the next sentence, is without doubt the same from which
Eusebius has quoted at such length in chaps. 41 and 42. Upon the date
and purpose of it, see chap. 41, note 1. We possess only the fragments
quoted by Eusebius in these three chapters. |
He writes in this many other
things concerning repentance, and relates the conflicts of those who
had lately suffered martyrdom at Alexandria. After the other account he
mentions a certain wonderful fact, which deserves a place in this work.
It is as follows:
2. “I will give thee this
one example which occurred among us. There was with us a certain
Serapion,2137
| 2137 Of this Serapion we know only what is told us in this
chapter. |
an aged believer who had lived
for a long time blamelessly, but had fallen in the trial. He besought
often, but no one gave heed to him, because he had sacrificed. But he
became sick, and for three successive days continued speechless and
senseless.
3. Having recovered somewhat on
the fourth day he sent for his daughter’s son, and said, How long
do you detain me, my child? I beseech you, make haste, and absolve me
speedily. Call one of the presbyters to me. And when he had said this,
he became again speechless. And the boy ran to the presbyter. But it
was night and he was sick, and therefore unable to come.
4. But as I had commanded that
persons at the point of death, if they requested it, and especially if
they had asked for it previously, should receive remission, that they
might depart with a good hope, he gave the boy a small portion of the
eucharist, telling him to soak2138
| 2138 ἀποβρέξαι. This is translated by Crusè and by Salmond (in the
Ante-Nicene Fathers, VI. p. 101) “soak (or steep) in
water”; but the liquid is not specified in the text, and it has
consequently been thought by others that the bread was dipped in the
wine, as was commonly done in the celebration of the eucharist in the
Eastern Church (see Bingham’s Ant. Bk. XV.). But it must
be noticed that the bread was soaked not by the presbyter but by the
boy, and that too after his return home, where there can have been no
consecrated wine for eucharistic use, and there is no hint that wine
was given him for the purpose by the presbyter. It therefore seems
probable that the bread was soaked simply in water, and that the
soaking was only in order that the old man, in his enfeebled state,
might be able to receive the element in a liquid instead of in a solid
form. |
it and let
the drops fall into the old man’s mouth.2139
| 2139 κατὰ τοῦ
στόματος
ἐπιστ€ξαι |
5. The boy returned with it, and
as he drew near, before he entered, Serapion again arousing, said,
‘Thou art come, my child, and the presbyter could not come; but
do quickly what he directed, and let me depart.’ Then the boy
soaked it and dropped it into his mouth. And when he had swallowed a
little, immediately he gave up the ghost.
6. Is it not evident that he was
preserved and his life continued till he was absolved, and, his sin
having been blotted out, he could be acknowledged2140
| 2140 ὁμολογηθῆναι. The meaning is apparently “acknowledged or
confessed by Christ,” and Valesius is doubtless correct in
remarking that Dionysius was alluding to the words of Matt. x.
32. |
for the many good deeds which he had
done?”
Dionysius relates these
things.E.C.F. INDEX & SEARCH
