THE LIFE of SAINT PELAGIA
 the HARLOT,
written by the Deacon James and translated into Latin by Eustochius.

^[663] OCTOBRIS VIII. VITA SANCTAE PELAGIAE, MERETRICIS AUCTORE JACOBO DIACONO  Ita auctor seipsum vocat hic in praefatione.] , INTERPRETE EUSTOCHIO.

THE words of this writer about holy hidden things Have I, Eustochius, into Latin rendered;

 ^[663A] Verba sacerdotis tanti, et celata Latinis,  Eustochius Christi transtuli subsidio. 

Good readers, take note of all my labour,

 ^[664A] Sed vos, lectores, mecum pensate laborem, 

And ask God in your prayers to remember me.

Et memores nostri fundite verba Deo. 

WE should always have in mind the great mercy of our Lord who does not will the death of sinners but rather that all should be converted to repentance and live (1 Tim. 2). So, listen to a wonder that happened in our times. It has seemed good to me, James, to write this to you, holy brothers, so that by hearing or reading it you may gain the greatest possible aid for your souls. For the merciful God, who wills that no one should perish, has given us these days for the forgiveness of our sins, since in the time to come He will judge justly and reward everyone according to his works. Now be silent, and listen to me with all the care of which you are capable because what I have to tell you is very rich in compunction for us all.

^[376 Magnas semper Domino nostro gratias referre debemus, qui non vult perire peccatores in mortem, sed omnes per poenitentiam converti cupit ad vitam  (I Tim. II) . Audite ergo miraculum quod gestum est in diebus nostris. Visum est mihi peccatori Jacobo scribere vobis fratribus sanctis, ut audiendo vel legendo sciatis, et animabus vestris maximum consolationis auxilium acquiratis. Misericors enim Deus, qui nullum hominem vult perire, statuit in hoc saeculo ut per satisfactionem delicta donentur, quia in futuro justum judicium erit, in quo recipiet unusquisque secundum opera sua. Nunc ergo silentium mihi praebete, et intuemini mecum omni diligentia cordis, quia relatio nostra compunctione satis uberrima plena est.

1. THE most holy bishop of the city of Antioch called together all the bishops nearby about a certain matter; and so eight bishops came, and among them was Nonnus, the most holy man of God, my bishop, a marvellous man and a most observant monk of the monastery called Tabennisis. Because of his incomparable life and most excellent conduct, he had been snatched away from the monastery and ordained bishop. When we had all assembled in the aforesaid city, the bishop of Antioch told us the meeting would be in the church of the most blessed martyr Julianus. So we went out and sat there before the door of the church with the other bishops who had come.

 ^[663B] I.—Sacratissimus episcopus Antiochiae civitatis convocavit ad se omnes prope se existentes episcopos, pro certa quadam causa: unde convenerunt episcopi numero octo, inter quos fuit et sanctissimus Dei vir Nonnus, episcopus meus, vir mirificus et efficacissimus monachus, de monasterio quod dicitur Tabenensiotarum. Propter incomparabilem enim ejus vitam et decoratissimam conversationem raptus est de monasterio, et episcopus ordinatus. Congregatos ergo in praedicta civitate, jussit nos episcopus ipsius civitatis manere in basilica beatissimi martyris Juliani. Ingressique successimus, ubi et caeteri qui convenerant episcopi ante januam ipsius basilicae resederunt.

 2. WHEN we were seated the bishops asked my lord Nonnus to speak to them, and at once the holy bishop began to speak words for the edification and salvation of all. 

CAP. II.—Quibus sedentibus, aliqui episcopi dominum meum Nonnum rogabant ut aliquid ab ipso docerentur; statimque ex ore suo sanctus episcopus coepit loqui ad aedificationem et ad salutem omnium  ^[664,B] qui audiebant.

Now when we were marvelling at his holy teaching, lo suddenly there came among us the chief actress of Antioch, the first in the chorus of the theatre, sitting on a donkey.

Cunctis vero nobis admirantibus sanctam doctrinam ejus, ecce subito transiit per nos prima mimarum Antiochiae; ipsaque est prima choreutriarum pantomimarum sedens super asellum;

SHE was dressed in the height of fantasy, wearing nothing but gold, pearls, and precious stones, even her bare feet were covered with gold and pearls.  With her went a great throng of boys and girls all dressed in cloth of gold with collars of gold on their necks, going before and following her.

et processit cum summa phantasia, adornata ita, ut nihil videretur super ea nisi aurum et margaritae et lapides pretiosi; nuditas vero pedum ejus ex auro et margaritis erat cooperta: cum qua maxima erat pompa puerorum et puellarum in vestibus pretiosis amicta, et torques aurea super collum ejus. Quidam praecedebant, alii vero sequebantur eam:

SO great was her beauty that all the ages of mankind could never come to the end of it.  So they passed through our company, filling the air with traces of music and the most sweet smell of perfume.

pulchritudinis autem decoris ejus non erat satietas omnibus saecularibus hominibus. Quae tamen transiens per nos, totum implevit aerem ex odore music vel caeterorum suavissimorum odoramentorum fragrantia.

WHEN the bishops saw her bare-headed and with all her limbs shamelessly exposed with such lavish display, there was not one who did not hide his face in his veil or his scapular, averting their eyes as if from a very great sin.

Quam ut viderunt episcopi ita ³⁷⁷ nudo capite et omni membrorum compage sic inverecunde transire cum tantis obsequiis ut nec velamen  ^[0665A] super caput positum, nec super scapulas, tacentes ingemuerunt, et quasi a peccato gravissimo averterunt facies suas.

 3. BUT the most blessed Nonnus gazed after her very intently for a long space of time, and after she had gone by he turned round and still gazed after her.  Then he turned towards the bishops sitting round him and said, “Were you not delighted by such great beauty?”  When they did not reply, he buried his face on his knees over the holy Bible which he held in his hands and all his emotions came out in tears; sighing deeply he said again to the bishops, “Were you not delighted by her great beauty?”  Still they did not answer, so “Indeed”, he said, “I was very greatly delighted and her beauty pleased me very much.  See, God will place her before his awful and tremendous judgement seat and he will judge her on her gifts, just as he will judge us on our episcopal calling.”

^{CAP. III.—}Beatissimus autem Nonnus intentissime eam et diu respiciebat, ita ut posteaquam transisset, intueretur et respiceret eam. Et postea avertit faciem suam, dicens ad circumsedentes episcopos: Vos non delectati estis tanta pulchritudine ejus? Illis vero nihil respondentibus, posuit faciem super genua sua, et manuale sanctum quod tenebat sanctis manibus suis, et sic omnem sinum suum replevit lacrymis, et suspirans graviter, dixit iterum ad episcopos: Non delectati estis tanta pulchritudine ejus? Illis vero nihil respondentibus: Vere, ait, ego valde delectatus sum, et placuit mihi pulchritudo ejus,  [0665B] quoniam istam habet Deus praeponere et statuere in conspectu tremendae et admirabilis sedis suae, judicaturus tam nos quam episcopatum nostrum.

AND  he went on to say to the bishops, “What do you think, beloved brothers, how many hours does this woman spend in her chamber giving all her mind and attention to adorning herself for the play., in order to lack nothing in beauty and adornment of the body; she wants to please all those who see her, lest those who are her lovers today find her ugly and do not come back tomorrow.

Et iterum dixit ad episcopos: Quid putatis, dilectissimi, quantas horas fecit in cubiculo suo haec mulier, lavans et componens se, cum omni sollicitudine animi et intentione ad spectaculum ornans se, ut corporali pulchritudini et ornatui nihil deesset, quatenus omnibus placeret, ne turpis videretur esse suis amatoribus, qui hodie sunt, et crastino non sunt?

 HERE  we are, who have an almighty Father in heaven offering us heavenly gifts and rewards, our immortal bridegroom, who promises good things to his watchman, things that cannot be valued ‘which eye has not seen, nor has ear heard, nor has it entered into the heart of man to know what things God has prepared for those who love him’ (I Cor.2.9).

Ergo et nos habentes patrem in coelis omnipotentem, sponsam immortalem, donantem bene custodientibus promissiones, quae habent divitias coelestes et aeterna praemia, quae aestimari non possunt, quae oculus non vidit, nec auris audivit, nec in cor hominis ascenderunt,  ^[0665C] quae praeparavit Deus diligentibus se.

WHAT  else can I say?  when we have such promises, when we are going to see the great and glorious face of our Bridegroom which has a beauty beyond compare, ‘upon which the cherubim do not dare to gaze’ (I Pet.1.12),

Quid enim plura loquor? habentes repromissionem, faciem illam magnam et splendidam, et inaestimabilem sponsi vultum videre, cui Cherubim respicere non audent, non ornamus

why do we not adorn ourselves and wash the dirt from our unhappy souls, why do we let ourselves lie so neglected?”

neque detergimus sordes de miseris animabus nostris, sed dimittimus eas negligenter jacere.

Nonnus: (1) prostrates in penitent prayer (2) prays with parrhesia; (3) trusts in God's mercy

[1] threw himself on the ground with his face to the floor, and beating his breast he wept, saying, ‘Lord Jesus Christ. I know I am a sinner and unworthy, for today the ornaments of a harlot have shone more brightly than the ornaments of my soul. How can I turn my face towards you? What words can justify me in your sight?

[2]  I will not hide my heart from you, for you know all its secrets. Alas, I am a sinner and unworthy, for I stand before your altar and I do not offer you a soul adorned with the beauty you want to see in me. She promises to please men; I have promised to please you; and my filthiness makes me a liar. I am naked before earth and heaven, because I do not keep your commandments. I cannot put my hope in anything good that I do, but

[3]  I place my trust in Your mercy which saves.’ He said this kind of thing and wept for many hours; that day was a great festival of tears for us.

spes mea in misericordia tua, qua confido salvari. Haec vero illo dicente, et horum causa plurimum ululante, eodem die vehementer festa celebravimus.

5. WHEN day came, it was Sunday and after we had completed our night prayers, the holy bishop Nonnus said to me, ‘I tell you, brother deacon, when I was asleep I was deeply disturbed and I do not understand it’. Then he told me the dream he had had: ‘At the corner of the altar was a black dove, covered with soot, which flew around me and I could not bare the stench and filth of it. It stood by me until the prayer for the dismissal of the catechumens, and when the deacon announced to the catechumens, "Depart", no more was seen of it. After the prayer of the faithful, and the complete oblation had been offered and everyone had been dismissed, I came to the threshold of the house of God, and there  _[p.69] I saw the dove again, covered grievously with filth, and again it fluttered around me. Then I held out my hands and drew it to me, and plunged it into the font which was in the ante-chamber of the holy church and washed off all the dirt with which it was covered and it came out of the water as white as snow. It flew up into the highest heaven and was lost to my sight.’ When the holy man of God, bishop Nonnus, had recounted his dream, he took me with him and brought me to the cathedral with the rest of the bishops and there we greeted the bishop of Antioch.

V.—Superveniente autem die, quae est Dominica,  ^[666A] postquam complevimus nocturnas orationes, dicit ad me sanctus Nonnus episcopus: Tibi dico, frater diacone, vidi somnium et fortiter conturbor, eo quod non possum discernere illud. Qui mox dicit ad me vidisse se in somnis, quomodo ad cornu altaris staret nigra columba, multis sordibus involuta, quae circumvolabat me, et fetorem ac squalorem sordium ejus ferre non valebam. Illa vero circumstetit me, donec dimissa est oratio catechumenorum  . Postquam vero proclamavit diaconus catechumenis: Procedite, statim nusquam comparuit. Et post missam fidelem et completionem oblationis, cum dimissa esset ecclesia, egrediente me limitem domus Dei, venit denuo ipsa columba multis sordibus involuta, et iterum circumvolabat me. Ego vero  ^[666B] extendens manum, apprehendi eam, et jactavi in concham, quae erat in atrio sanctae ecclesiae; et dimisit in aqua omnes sordes suas quibus obvoluta erat, et ascendit de aqua candida sicut nix: quae et volans, in excelsum ferebatur, et omnino ab oculis meis sublata est. Cum ergo narrasset somnium sanctus Dei Nonnus episcopus, apprehendit me: et pervenimus ad majorem ecclesiam cum caeteris episcopis, et salutavimus episcopum civitatis.

Pelagia Hears Nonnus preach on judgment and the joy of heaven

6. HE went in and preached to the people who came and sat around his throne and when he had read the canon of the holy Gospel, the same bishop of that city held the Gospel book towards the most blessed Nonnus and asked him to speak to the people. Nonnus then opened his mouth and spake by the wisdom of God, without any set speech or philosophy and with no indiscretion. Filled with the Holy Spirit, he exhorted and urged the people, speaking very earnestly about the future judgement and the good gifts in store in eternity. All the people were moved with compunction by his words, and the floor of the church was awash with the tears of the hearers.

VI.—Et ingrediens, omnem populum ecclesiae hortatus est, qui ingressi sederunt super thronos suos; et post omnem canonicam celebrationem vel lectionem sancti Evangelii, idem episcopus civitatis porrigens sanctum Evangelium beatissimo Nonno, hortabatur eum ut verba faceret ad populum.  ^[666C] Qui aperiens os suum loquebatur sapientiam Dei, quae habitabat in eo, quoniam nihil compositionis, aut philosophiae, aut indiscretum alloquebatur, nihil in se habens humanae naturae superfluum: sed repletus Spiritu sancto, arguebat et commonebat plebem, sincerissime loquens de futuro judicio, et perpetuis bonis quae reposita sunt. Cuncta ergo plebs compuncta est ex 378 verbis, quibus locutus est per eum Spiritus sanctus, ita ut pavimentum sanctae Ecclesiae inundaret populi lacrymis.

Pelagia Demands Baptism

 ‘To the holy disciple of _[p.70] Christ, greetings from a sinner and disciple of the devil. I have heard of your God, how he bent the heavens and came down to earth not for the righteous but for the salvation of sinners. So greatly did he humble himself that he came near to publicans, and he whom the cherubim do not dare to look upon (1 Pet.1.12) spoke with sinful men. My lord, you are very holy, and so, just as your lord Jesus showed himself to the harlot in Samaria at the well (John 8.48) will you look upon me, as he did whose follower you are, as I have heard Christians say? If you are a true disciple of Christ, do not reject me, for through you I may deserve to see His face.’

‘Whoever you are, show yourself to God and you will be saved. But I tell you, I am a man, a sinner, and a servant of God, and you would tempt my humanity. But if you really do desire God, have strength and faith and come to me among the other bishops, for I cannot let you see me alone.’

When the harlot read this, filled with joy she came running to the church of the blessed martyr Julianus, and we were told that she was there. When Nonnus heard this, he called all the bishops around him, and ordered that she should be brought to him. When she came in where the bishops were gathered, she threw herself on the floor and seized the feet of the holy bishop Nonnus saying, ‘I beg you, my lord, imitate your master the Lord Jesus Christ and pour out on me your goodness and make me a Christian. My lord, I am an ocean of sin, a deep pit of iniquity and I ask to be baptised.’

Cum haec relegisset meretrix, gaudio repleta, cursu venit ad basilicam beati martyris Juliani, et nuntiavit nobis de praesentia sua. Quo audito sanctus Nonnus episcopus, vocavit ad se omnes qui illic aderant episcopos, et jussit eam venire ad se. Quae accedens ubi congregati erant episcopi, jactavit se in pavimentum, et apprehendit pedes  ^[667C] beati Nonni episcopi, dicens: Rogo te, domine meus, imitare magistrum tuum Dominum Jesum Christum, et effunde super me tuam bonitatem, et fac me Christianam. Ego enim sum, domine meus, pelagus peccatorum et abyssus iniquitatis. Peto me baptizari.

Pelagia challenges Nonnus and is Baptized

‘You will give account for my soul and to you I will confess all the sins I have committed: and you will wash away by baptism all my great sins and wickednesses. You will not now find a place with the saints before God unless you put away from me my evil deeds. Unless you give me rebirth as a bride of Christ and present me to God, you are _[p.71] no more than an apostate and idolater.’

Rationem reddas Deo pro anima mea, et tibi ascribam iniquitates factorum meorum,  ^[667D] si distuleris me iniquam et turpissimam baptizare. Non invenias portionem apud Deum cum sanctis, nisi me nunc feceris alienam malorum operum meorum. Neges Deum, et idola adores, nisi me hodie in sponsam Christi renasci feceris, et obtuleris Deo.

Then Nonnus exorcised her and baptized her, placing on her the sign of the cross, and he gave her the Body of Christ. And with the lady Romana he was god-parent to her and the deaconess received her and took her to the place of the catechumens while we remained where we were. Then the bishop said to me, ‘I tell you, brother deacon, today we are rejoicing with the angels of God, with the bread and wine of spiritual joy beyond measure, because of the salvation of this girl.’

Quo audito, sanctus Nonnus episcopus exorcizavit eam, et baptizavit; et imposuit ei signum Domini, tradiditque illi corpus Christi. Fuitque illi mater spiritalis sancta domina Romana, prima diaconissarum: quae accipiens eam, ascendit in catechumenum, eo quod et nos ibi maneremus. Tunc dicit ad me sanctus Nonnus episcopus, Tibi dico, frater diacone, laetemur hodie cum angelis Dei, et oleum extra consuetudinem sumamus in cibo,  ^[668C] et vinum cum laetitia spiritali accipiamus, propter salutem hujus puellae.

The Devil Complains

Pelagia:[1] exorcist; [2] Heavenly Bride; [3] gives wealth to poor; [4] preaches conversion to her servants; [5] becomes an amma

The holy Nonnus said to her, ‘Make the sign of the Cross in the name of Christ.’  [1]  And she made the sign of the Cross in the name of Christ and she blew at the demon and at once he disappeared.

Tunc dicit ad eam sanctus Nonnus episcopus: Signa te cruce Christi, et abrenuntia ei. Quae signavit se in nomine Christi, et insufflavit in daemonem, et statim nusquam comparuit.

10. TWO days later, when Pelagia was asleep in her room with the holy Romana her godmother, the devil appeared to her in the night and awakened Pelagia the servant of God, saying, ‘I ask you, my lady Margaret, were you not once rich with gold and silver? Did I not adorn you with gold and jewels? Tell me, how have I displeased you? Tell me, so that I may make amends, for you have made me a very great cause for mockery among the Christians.’ Then the handmaid Pelagia made the sign of the Cross and blew at the demon, saying,  [2] ‘My God who snatched me out of your teeth and led me into the heavenly bridal chamber will resist you for me.’ At once the devil disappeared.

X.—Post biduum ergo, dormiente ea cum sancta Romana commatre sua in cubiculo suo, apparuit diabolus nocte, et suscitavit ancillam Dei Pelagiam,  ^[669A] et dicebat: Rogo te, domina mea Margarita, nunquid non ex auro et argento ditata es? nunquid non ex auro et gemmis pretiosis adornavi te? Rogo te, quid te contristavi? Responde mihi, ut satisfaciam tibi, tantum ne me facias opprobrium Christianorum. Tunc ancilla Dei Pelagia signavit se, et exsufflavit in daemonem, dicens: Deus meus, qui eripuit me de medio dentium tuorum, et induxit in coelestem thalamum suum, ipse tibi resistet pro me. Et statim nusquam comparuit diabolus.

11. ON the third day after the baptism of the holy Pelagia, she called her servant who was in charge of all her goods and said to him, ‘Go to my rooms and make an inventory of all the gold and silver, the ornaments and the precious clothes, and bring it to me.’ The servant did as his mistress told him and reported it all to her. At once she sent for holy Nonnus through the holy Romana her godmother, and she placed all she had in his hands, saying,  [3] ‘Lord, these are the riches with which Satan ensnared me; I place them at your disposal; do with them whatever you think is right, for my  _[p.73] choice is the riches of Christ.’ At once the bishop called the senior custodian of the church and in her presence he gave all her goods into his hands saying, ‘I charge you, by the undivided Trinity, do not let any of this remain with the bishop or with the church, but let it all be expended on the widows and orphans and the poor, so that whatever evil clings to it may be removed by this good use and the riches of sin become the treasures of righteousness. But if you sit lightly to this promise and either you or anyone else keep any of it, let anathema come upon you and them and their houses, and let them have a part with those who cry, ‘Crucify, crucify.’ Pelagia then  [4]  called to all her servants, boys and girls, and set them free and gave each a collar of gold from her own hands and said, ‘Make haste to free yourselves from this wicked world, so full of sin, so that we who have been together in this world may remain together without grief in that life which is most blessed.’

XI.—Tertia vero die, posteaquam baptizata est sancta Pelagia, rogavit puerum suum, qui praeerat rebus ejus omnibus, et dicit ad eum: Vade in vestiarium meum, et scribe omnia quae sunt tam in auro quam in argento, vel in ornamentis aut vestibus pretiosis,  ^[669B] et affer mihi. Puer fecit sicut praecepit ei domina sua, et omnem substantiam suam detulit. Quae statim vocavit sanctum Nonnum episcopum per sanctam Romanam commatrem suam, et omnem substantiam suam posuit in manibus ejus, dicens: Hae sunt, domine, divitiae quibus ditavit me Satanas: has trado in arbitrio sanctitatis tuae, et quod nosti expedire, facias ex eis, mihi enim optandae sunt divitiae Domini mei Jesu Christi. Qui statim vocavit custodem ecclesiae seniorem; et ipsa praesente, omnem substantiam ejus in manibus illius tradidit, dicens: Adjuro te per inseparabilem Trinitatem, ne quid hinc in episcopium aut in ecclesiam ingrediatur, sed magis viduis et orphanis et pauperibus erogetur, ut quod male attractum est, bene distribuatur, et divitiae  ^[669C] peccatricis fiant thesauri justitiae. Si vero spreto sacramento, sive per te, sive per quemlibet alium subtraxeris de his quidquam, anathema ingrediatur domum ejus, et cum illis habeat partem qui dixerunt: Crucifigatur, crucifigatur. Illa vero convocavit omnes pueros et puellas suas, et liberavit omnes: donavitque tortos aureos eis de manu sua, dicens: Festinate, et liberate vos de hoc saeculo nequam, pleno peccatis, ut sicut fuimus in hoc saeculo simul, ita simul permaneamus sine dolore in vita illa quae est beatissima.

12. ON the eighth day when it is the custom for the baptised to take off their white robes, Pelagia rose in the night, though we did not know it, and took off her baptismal dress and  [5a]  put on a tunic and breeches belonging to the holy bishop Nonnus; and from that day she was never seen again in the city of Antioch. The holy lady Romana wept bitterly, but the holy bishop Nonnus said to her, ‘Do not weep, my daughter, but rejoice with great joy, for Pelagia has chosen the better part (Luke 10.42) like Mary whom the Lord preferred to Martha in the Gospel.’  [5b]  Now Pelagia went to Jerusalem and built herself a cell on the mount of Olives and there she prayed to the Lord.

XII.—Octava vero die, quando habebat depositionem albarum facere, surgens nocte, nobis ignorantibus, deposuit vestem baptismatis sui, et induit se tunicam tricinam sancti Nonni  ^[669D] episcopi, et ex illa die nusquam comparuit in civitate Antiochia. Quam sancta Romana flebat amarissime, et sanctus Nonnus consolabatur eam, dicens: Noli flere, filia, sed laetare gaudio magno, quoniam Pelagia optimam portionem elegit, sicut Maria, quam Dominus praefert Marthae in Evangelio. Illa autem abiit Jerosolymam, et construxit sibi cellulam in monte Oliveti, ubi Dominus oravit.

James Visits Jerusalem

13. AFTER a little while, the bishop of Antioch called the bishops together, so that they might all go back to their own homes. Three or four years later, I, James the deacon, wanted to go to Jerusalem to worship the resurrection of Christ and I asked the bishop to let me go. When he gave me his blessing he said to me, ‘Brother deacon, when you reach the city of Jerusalem, ask the whereabouts of a certain brother Pelagius, a monk and a eunuch, who has lived there for some years shut up alone; go and visit him; truly I think you will be helped by him.’ I did not at all understand that he was talking about the handmaid of God, Pelagia. _[p.74]

XIII.—Post aliquantum vero temporis convocavit episcopus civitatis omnes episcopos, ut unusquisque reverteretur ad propria. 380 Post triennium aut quadriennium temporis, desideravi ego Jacobus diaconus proficisci Jerosolymam, ut ibi adorarem resurrectionem Domini nostri Jesu Christi, et  ^[670A] petii episcopum meum, ut me permitteret ire. Dum me permisisset ire, dicit ad me: Tibi dico, frater diacone, dum perveneris Jerosolymam, require ibi quemdam fratrem Pelagium, monachum et eunuchum, qui multos annos habitabat in solitudine clausus, quasi eum visitaturus; vere enim poteris ab eo juvari. Haec autem omnia dicebat mihi de ancilla Dei Pelagia non manifeste.

The Death of Pelagia

14. SO I reached Jerusalem, and when I had joined in the adoration of the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, on another day I made inquiries about the servant of God. I went and found him on the mount of Olives where he used to pray to the Lord in a small cell which was closed on all sides, with one small window. I knocked on the window and at once she appeared and she recognised me, though I did not recognise her. How could I have known her again, with a face so emaciated by fasting? It seemed to me that her eyes had sunk inwards like a great pit. She said to me, ‘Where have you come from, brother?’ And I replied, ‘I was sent to you by the order of the holy bishop Nonnus.’ At once she closed the little window on me, saying, ‘Tell him to pray for me, for he is a saint of God.’ At once she began the psalms of the third hour. I prayed beside the cell and then left, much helped by the sight of her angelic face. I returned to Jerusalem and began to visit the brothers in the monasteries there.

XIV.—Perveni ergo Jerosolymam, et adoravi sanctam resurrectionem Domini nostri Jesu Christi: et alia die requisivi servum Dei. Et accessi, et inveni eum in monte Oliveti, ubi Dominus oravit, in modica cellula undique circumclusa, et parvam fenestellam habuerat in pariete. Et percussi ostium fenestellulae, et statim aperuit mihi, et coguovit me: ego vero  ^[670B] non cognovi eam. Quomodo enim poteram cognoscere illam, quam antea videram inaestimabili pulchritudine, jam facie marcidam factam prae nimia abstinentia? Oculi vero ejus sicut fossae videbantur. Quae dicit ad me: Unde venis, frater? Ego respondi et dixi: Missus sum ad te, jubente Nonno episcopo. Quae ait ad me: Oret pro me, quoniam vere sanctus Dei est. Et statim clausit ostiolum fenestellae, et coepit psallere horam tertiam. Ego vero oravi juxta parietem cellulae ejus, et recessi, multum juvatus de angelica visione ejus. Reversus vero Jerosolymam, coepi per monasteria ambulando visitare fratres.

15. THROUGHOUT these monasteries, great indeed was the fame of the monk Pelagius. So I decided to make another journey to speak with her and receive some saving teaching. When I reached the cell and knocked, calling her name, there was no reply. I waited a second day and also a third, calling the name of Pelagius, but I could not hear anyone. Then I said to myself, ‘Either there is no one there or he who was a monk has left.’ But warned by a nudge from God, I said to myself, ‘I had better see if, in fact, he has died.’ So I broke open the little window; and I saw that he was dead. So I closed the opening and I was filled with sorrow. I ran all the way to Jerusalem and told whoever I met that the holy monk Pelagius who had wrought so many wonders was now at rest. Then the holy fathers came with monks from several monasteries and the door of the cell was broken in. They carried out his sacred little body as if it had been gold and silver they were carrying. When the fathers began to anoint the body with myrrh, they realised that it was a woman. They wanted to keep such a wonder hidden but they could not, because of the crowds of people thronging around, who cried out with a loud voice, ‘Glory to you, Lord Jesus Christ, for you have hidden away on earth such great treasures, women as well as men.’ So it was known to all the people, and monks came in from all _[p.75] monasteries and also nuns, from Jericho and from the Jordan where the Lord was baptised, bearing candles and lamps and singing hymns; and the holy fathers bore her body to its burial.

XV.—Magna vero ferebatur fama per monasteria de domino Pelagio: propterea deliberavi etiam iterato ad eum redire, et salutaribus doctrinis  ^[670C] ejus refici. Cumque ad cellulam suam pervenissem, et pulsare, imo nominatim eum interpellare praesumerem, nihil respondit. Exspectavi secunda die et tertia perseverans, et proprio nomine Pelagium interpellans, neminem audivi. Quare intra me dixi: Aut nemo est hic, aut recessit qui hic erat monachus. Nutu vero Dei monitus, iterum dixi: Considerem ne forte mortuus sit; et aperui ostiolum fenestellulae, et prospexi, et vidi eum mortuum, et clausi ostiolum; et de luto replens diligenter, cursu veni Jerosolymam, et nuntiavi commanentibus, quod sanctus Pelagius monachus mirabilia faciens requievisset. Tunc sancti patres venerunt cum diversis monasteriis monachorum, et sic solutum est ostiolum cellulae; et delatum est foras sanctum corpusculum  ^[670D] ejus, quod auro et lapidibus pretiosis condigne posuerunt. Et dum sancti patres ungerent corpus myrrha, tunc cognoverunt quod fuisset mulier: qui volentes miraculum abscondere, sed populum ipsum latere non poterat, exclamaverunt voce magna, dicentes: Gloria tibi, Domine Jesu Christe, qui multas divitias absconsas habes super terram, non solum viriles, sed etiam muliebres. Divulgatum est autem omni populo, et venerunt omnia monasteria virginum, tam de Jericho, quam ex Jordane, ubi Dominus baptizatus est, cum cereis, lampadibus et hymnis; et sic depositae sunt sanctae reliquiae ejus, portatae a sanctis patribus.

MAY the life of this harlot, this account of total conversion, join us to her and bring us all to the mercy of the Lord on the day of judgement, to whom be glory and power and honour to the ages of ages. Amen.

Haec vita meretricis, haec conversatio desperatae;  ^[671A] cum qua et Dominus nos faciat invenire misericordiam suam in die judicii; quoniam ipsi est honor et  ^[672A] gloria, potestas et imperium in saecula saeculorum. Amen.