his goodness' sake. Rise up then from the earth, thou that art become wholly above it: look on the
light, for the Lord leaveth not them that love him to walk in darkness: behold him that travelleth
with his servants, that he is unto them a defender in perils. And Mygdonia arose and looked on
him and said: Whither wentest thou, my lord? and who is he that brought thee out of prison to
behold the sun? Judas Thomas saith unto her: My Lord Jesus is mightier than all powers and all
kings and rulers.
120 And Mygdonia said: Give me the seal of Jesus Christ and I shall ( Let me) receive the gift at
thy hands before thou departest out of life. And she took him with her and entered into the court
and awaked her nurse, saying unto her: Narcia (Gr. Marcia), my mother and nurse, all thy service
and refreshment thou hast done for me from my childhood until my present age are vain, and for
them I owe thee thanks which are temporal; do for me now also a favor, that thou mayest for
ever receive a recompense from him that giveth great gifts. And Narcia in answer saith: What
wilt thou, my daughter Mygdonia, and what is to be done for thy pleasure? for the honours which
thou didst promise me before, the stranger hath not suffered thee to accomplish, and thou hast
made me a reproach among all the nation. And now what is this new thing that thou commandest
me? And Mygdonia saith: Become thou partaker with me in eternal life, that I may receive of
thee perfect nurture: take bread and bring it me, and wine mingled with water, and spare my
freedom (take pity on me a free-born woman, Syr.). And the nurse said: I will bring thee many
loaves, and for water flagons of wine, and fulfil thy desire. But she saith to the nurse: Flagons I
desire not, nor the many loaves: but this only, bring wine mingled with water and one loaf, and
oil [EVEN be a it Syr. lamp, in if].
121 And when Narcia had brought these things, Mygdonia stood before the apostle with her head
bare; and he took the oil and poured it on her head, saying: Thou holy oil given unto us for
sanctification, secret mystery whereby the cross was shown unto us, thou art the straightener of
the crooked limbs, thou art the humbler (softener) of hard things (works), thou art it that showeth
the hidden treasures, thou art the sprout of goodness; let thy power come, let it be established
upon thy servant Mygdonia, and heal thou her by this freedom. And when the oil was poured
upon her he bade her nurse unclothe her and gird a linen cloth about her; and there was there a
fountain of water upon which the apostle went up, and baptized Mygdonia in the name of the
Father and the Son and the Holy Ghost. And when she was baptized and clad, he brake bread and
took a cup of water and made her a partaker in the body of Christ and the cup of the Son of God,
and said: Thou hast received thy seal, get for thyself eternal life. And immediately there was
heard from above a voice saying: Yea, amen. And when Narcia heard that voice, she was
amazed, and besought the apostle that she also might receive the seal; and the apostle gave it her
and said: Let the care of the Lord be about thee as about the rest.
122 And having done these things the apostle returned unto the prison, and found the doors open
and the guards still sleeping. And Thomas said: Who is like thee, O God? who withholdest not
thy loving affection and care from any who is like thee, the merciful, who hast delivered thy
creatures out of evil. Life that hath subdued death, rest that hath ended toil. Glory be to the only-
begotten of the Father. Glory to the compassionate that was sent forth of his heart. And when he
had said thus, the guards waked and beheld all the doors open, and the prisoners <+ asleep,
Syr.>, and said in themselves: Did not we fasten the doors? and how are they now open, and the
prisoners within?
ron
(Ron)
#1