The Ecclesiastical History of Evagrius Scholasticus - Coptic ...

64
EVAGRIUS
the rotunda, towards the east, is a well-proportioned shrine,where the allholy
remains of the martyr lie in a lengthy co⁄n ^ some call it a sarcophagus
28 ^ which is very skilfully fashioned from silver.
And the miracles performed by the all-holy lady at certain times are
manifest to all Christians. For often, appearing as a dream to those who
at the time were bishops of the said city, or even to some who were in
other ways distinguished in their life, she orders them to attend on her
and harvest a vintage at the precinct. [41] Whenever this became known
to the emperors and the archbishop and the city, those who direct the
sceptres and the sacred rites and the o⁄ces throng to the church along
with all the remaining multitude, in their wish to participate in the celebrations.
Then while everyone is watching, the prelate of the city of
Constantine with his attendant priests goes inside the sanctuary where
lies the all-holy body, as I have already mentioned. There is a small
opening in the said co⁄n, on the left side, secured with small doors;
through this they send in towards the all-holy remains a lengthy iron
rod on which they have fastened a sponge; after turning the sponge
around they draw back the iron towards themselves, ¢lled with blood
and numerous clots. Whenever the populace beholds this, it forthwith
does obeisance, reverencing God. So great is the quantity of what is
brought forth that both the pious emperors and all the assembled priests
and furthermore the whole populace gathered together share richly in
the distributions, 29 and it is sent forth throughout the whole wide world
to those of the faithful who want it, and both the clots and the all-holy
blood are preserved for ever, in no way changing to a di¡erent appearance.
These matters are celebrated in a manner be¢tting God, not
according to a certain ¢xed cycle but as the life of the presiding priest
and the gravity of his habits wishes. And so men say that when an
honourable person, distinguished for virtues, is at the helm this miracle
have been visible from the martyrion’s gallery. The building was quite large since it was used
for the third session of the Council, at which over 200 bishops plus the necessary attendants
(e.g. translators) were present (ACO II.i.2, pp. 3^8).
28 The sense is correctly explained by Schneider, ‘Euphemia’ 298 n. 32, taking ma¤ kra as a
contraction for ma¤ ktra (cf. Lampe s.v.). Bidez^Parmentier, unaware of this sense and regarding
the translation ‘long’ as banal, cite Valesius’ emendation a ’¤rkan (Ark) as probable,
but this is unnecessary. The sarcophagus was presumably contained within a ciborium.
29 Theophylact, who also describes the miraculous e¡usion (viii.14.3^5), says that the
blood was distributed to the crowds in little glass vessels.