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| Preservation of the Church of the Novatians from Fire.
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Chapter
XXXIX.—Preservation of the Church of the Novatians from
Fire.
A little while after this, Paul
bishop of the Novatians acquired the reputation of a man truly beloved
of God in a greater measure than he had before. For a terrible
conflagration having broken out at Constantinople, such as had never
happened before,—for the fire destroyed the greater part of the
city,—as the largest of the public granaries, the Achillean
bath,1026
| 1026Rebuilt and rededicated, according to the
Chronicon of Marcellinus, under the consuls Maximus and
Paterius, i.e. 443 a.d. and ten years after
the fire.
|
and everything else in the way of the fire were being consumed, it at
length approached the church of the Novatians situated near Pelargus.
When the bishop Paul saw the church endangered, he ran upon the altar,
where he commended to God the preservation of the church and all it
contained; nor did he cease to pray not only for it, but also for the
city. And God heard him, as the event clearly proved: for although the
fire entered this oratory through all its doors and windows, it did no
damage. And while many adjacent edifices fell a prey to the devouring
element, the church itself was seen unscathed in the midst of the whole
conflagration triumphing over its raging flames. This went on for two
days and two nights, when the fire was extinguished, after it had burnt
down a great part of the city: but the church remained entire, and what
is more marvelous still, there was not the slightest trace even of
smoke to be observed either on its timbers or its walls. This occurred
on the 17th of August, in the fourteenth consulate of Theodosius, which
he bore together with Maximus.1027
Since that time the Novatians annually celebrate the preservation of
their church, on the 17th of August, by special thanksgivings to God.
And almost all men, Christians and most of the pagans from that time
forth continue to regard that place with veneration as a peculiarly
consecrated spot, because of the miracle which was wrought for its
safeguard. So much concerning these affairs.
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