Páis Cristoforus (English translation)
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Fraser’s English translation.
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<title>Páis Cristoforus (English translation)</title>
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<seg>There was a persecution of Christians in time of the emperor Decius, and the holy man Christopher was taken and tortured like the others. Christopher was exceedingly wise, and had observed that the Lord assisted those of the heathen who believed just as much as he assisted Christians. Now this Christopher was one of the Dogheads, a race that had the heads of dogs and ate human flesh. He meditated much on God, but at that time he could speak only the language of the Dogheads. </seg>
<seg>When he saw how much the Christians suffered he was indignant and left the city. He began to adore God and prayed. "Almighty God," he said, "give me the gift of speech, open my mouth, and make plain thy might that those who persecute thy people may be converted".</seg></p>
<p n="2">An angel of God came to him and said: <said>God has heard your prayer.</said> The angel raised Christopher from the ground, and struck and blew upon his mouth, and the grace of eloquence was given him as he had desired. Thereupon Christopher arose and went into the city, and immediately began to stop the offering of sacrifice. <said>I am a Christian,</said> he said, <said>and I will not sacrifice to the gods</said>. There came a certain Baceus to him and struck him. <said>You may do so</said>, said Christopher, <said>for I will not strike you in return, but I forgive you, for forgiveness is the new law.</said>[3] Baceus went to the king, and said: <said>Hail O King, I have news for you. I have seen a man with a dog's head on him, and long hair, and eyes glittering like the morning star in his head, and his teeth were like the tusks of a wild boar. I struck him for he was cursing the gods; but he did not strike me, and said it was for the sake of God that he refrained. I am telling you <pb n="311"/> this in order to know what is to be done with him, for it seems that it is by the God of the Christians that he has been sent, to help the Christians.</said> <said>Bring him to me,</said> said the king. The bystanders said that a large number of men must be sent for him. <said>Let two hundred soldiers go for him,</said> said the king, <said>and bring him hither in chains; and if he resist you, bring his head with you that I may see it.</said>
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<p n="3">
<seg>The soldiers then went to seek him. As for Christopher he went into the temple, and drew his hair round his head in two plaits (?). He rested his head on his knee, and, after planting his staff in the ground, began to pray. <said>Almighty Lord, </said> he said, <said>perform a miracle through me that thy name may be praised; and let thisstafFsend forth shoots.</said> </seg>
<seg>The staff immediately put forth twigs, and leaves and flowers appeared. </seg>
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A certain woman came gathering roses past the place where he was praying.
She looked into the temple, and saw him seated and moaning.
She went away then and told another woman that she had seen a magician lamenting loudly.
While they were talking in this way, the soldiers came up to them seeking him.
The soldiers heard the conversation of the women, and asked them where they had seen the man they were talking about.
The women gave them a description of Christopher and told them where he was.
The soldiers had not the courage to go to him.
At that time a company came from Asia to see Christopher.
Christopher was praying with his hands stretched out, and when the soldiers came up to him they said :
<said>Why do you moan in that way ?</said> —
<said>I moan,</said> he said, <said>for all men that do not recognise the Lord God, that is the true God who made heaven and earth.</said>
The soldiers said to him :
<said>It is for you we have been sent, to take you with us in chains, in order that you may worship the <pb n="313" />gods. </said>
<said>I will go with you without chains, if you like, </said> he said, <said>for God will save me from the power of your father, the devil.</said> —
<said>Stay, if you wish,</said> said the soldiers, <said>or, if you like, rise and go in any direction you please, and we will say that we have not found you.</said> —
<said>Allow me to go to pray for a short time that the might of God may be made plain to you. </said>
<said>We cannot,</said> they said, <said>for our provisions have come to an end.</said> —
<said>Give me any you have left,</said> said Christopher, <said>that I may divide it between you, so that you may see the miracle God will work in it.</said>
They gave him thereupon the little they had.
Christopher took the remainder, and said :
<said>Almighty God, who didst satisfy the five thousand with five loaves, bless this little portion that the soldiers may be satisfied with it, and that thy grace may be made clear, and that all that will see the miracle may believe.</said>
The food immediately increased and grew, so that they all ate as much as they wished.
When they had seen that miracle, they believed that he had been sent by Christ.
So Christopher and the soldiers came afterwards to Antioch, and were baptised by the bishop, Babilus.
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