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Selected and rare materials, excerpts and observations from ancient, medieval and contemporary authors, travelers and researchers about Cyprus.
 
 
 
 
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CLAUDE DELAVAL COBHAM
Exerpta Cypria
page 241

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forth, thy prayer is heard, tin e disciple of Christ." On the morrow they led him out, and when they found him inflexible they beat him and drove him away. But he said to them, " Since ye remain unrepentant, and boast yourselves presumptuously against me, even now the wrath of God has fallen upon yon, and made half your bodies to wither, that by your example the rest may be wise," and as he spake, as it were lightning from heaven fell with terrible thunder and left them half withered. After that divine manifestation the saint left the city and went up to worship at Jerusalem. As' he was about to set forth from his country he uttered words of thanksgiving that he left his city which was so populous and so full of heresy now attached to the opposite party. He visited all the holy places, and laying up profit for himself he struck many with awe by his wonders and miracles, so that he won fame as a wonder-worker. For the God of all wonders, Who glorifies them who glorify Him in return, worked a truly great miracle. In this very city of Jerusalem, while the saint was one day walking about, there met him a Jewish woman whose dead son they were carrying forth for burial, and she grieved ex-ceedingly. The sannt pitied her and stretching out his hand over the corpse said, "Arise, in the name of Jesus Christ Whom the lawless Jews crucified under Pontius Pilate." The words restored him to life, and the mother falling at the feet of the wonder-worker cried, "Regenerate by water lum thou.hast raised up, and me with him." And having obtained this grace she published to all men the good news of her son's resurrection. He stayed yet some while there, and in the name of Christ worked mighty miracles. Then he sailed for the famous island of Cyprus. There he was hospitably entreated by one Sosios. He was ill, and the saint healed him : his wife lay for nine years sick with a fever, S. Therapou took her hand and raised her up whole. And many others who had divers diseases were healed by the laying on of the saint's hands. He stoutly gainsaid the heretical Theopaschitai, whereupon a daring and arrogant man struck the bishop on the face. Some days after the heretic repented and sought pardon from Therapon for his boldness. But the saint gave him no pardon bnt sent him away, cursing him as separated from the glory of Christ in this world and the next. For he said that he saw the Lord in a vision in the form of a newborn babe shining with a glory greater than that of the sun, and wearing a garment rent from head to foot. And they that rent His garment were this heretic and his supporters. The pious among the Cypriote were astonished at the great virtue of the man, and their Archbishop, who learned by revelation all about him, besought him earnestly to remain in the island, that he might be for the profit of many, and the saving of their souls. He bade him preside over a church in a part of Cyprus near the sea. There he proved a most exact teacher of orthodoxy, mild, charitable, a father to orphans, a champion of widows, a guide of the erring, a healer of the sick and consoler of the oppressed. You might see all men rejoicing and cheered by his forethought and justice. But no long time passed and Arab strangers invaded Cyprus, destroyed many monasteries and churches and ruthlessly slaughtered many. These persecutore of the orthodox faith seized the saint in his church, and slew him at the altar, whereon melody and songs of spirit-powers hovered round the body of the blessed Therapon. The strangeness whereof moved the faithful to thank God, and strnek the slayers with awe, and forced them to repent of their lawless daring. But the holy martyr was buried by the faithful and inherited that endless blessedness which grows not old. His precious remains were translated, it is said, to the queen of cities. SYNAXARIA. 231

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