XXXV.

King Abenner was pricked to the heart by this inspired wisdom and with loud voice and fervent heart confessed Christ his Saviour, and forthwith forsook all superstitious error. He venerated the sign of the life-giving Cross in the sight of all and, in the hearing of all, proclaimed our Lord Jesus Christ to be God. By telling in full the tale of his former ungodliness, and of his own cruelty and blood-thirstiness toward the Christians, he proved himself a great power for religion. So here was proved in fact, the saying of Paul; that where sin abounded, there did grace much more abound.

While then the learned Ioasaph was speaking of God, and of piety towards him, to the dukes and satraps and all the people there assembled, and was as it were with a tongue of fire piping unto them a goodly ode, the grace of the Holy Spirit descended upon them, and moved them to give glory to God, so that all the multitude cried aloud with one voice, "Great is the God of the Christians, and there is none other God but our Lord Jesus Christ, who, together with the Father and Holy Ghost, is glorified."

Waxen full of heavenly zeal, King Abenner made a sturdy assault on the idols, wrought of silver and gold, that were within his palace, and tore them down to the ground. Then he brake them into small pieces, and distributed them to the poor, thus making that which had been useless useful. Furthermore he and his son besieged the idols' temples and altars and levelled them even to the ground, and in their stead, and to the honour of God, built holy courts. And not only in the city but throughout all the country also, thus did they in their zeal. And the evil spirits that dwelt in those altars were driven forth with shrieks, and cried out in terror at the invincible power of our God. And all the region round about, and the greater part of the neighbour nations, were led, as by the hand, to the true Faith. Then came the holy Bishop, of whom we have spoken, and King Abenner was instructed, and made perfect with Holy Baptism, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. And Ioasaph received him as he came up from the Holy Font, in this strange way appearing as the begetter of his own father, and proving the spiritual father to him that begat him in the flesh: for he was the son of his heavenly Father, and verily divine fruit of that divine Branch, which says, "I am the vine, ye are the branches."

Thus King Abenner, being born again of water and of the spirit, rejoiced with joy unspeakable, and with him all the city and the region round about received Holy Baptism, and they that were before darkness now became children of light. And every disease, and every assault of evil spirits was driven far from the believers, and all were sane and sound in body and in soul. And many other miracles were wrought for the confirmation of the Faith. Churches too were built, and the bishops, that had been hiding for fear, discovered themselves, and received again their own churches, whilst others were chosen from the priests and monks, to shepherd the flock of Christ. But King Abenner, having thus forsaken his former disgraceful life, and repented of his evil deeds, handed over to his son the rule of all his kingdom. He himself dwelt in solitude, continually casting dust on his head, and groaning for very heaviness, and watering his face with his tears, being alone, communing with him who is everywhere present and imploring him to forgive his sins. And he abased himself to such a depth of contrition and humility, that he refused to name the name of God with his own lips, and was scarce brought by his son's admonitions to make so bold. Thus the king passed through the good change and entered the road that leadeth to virtue, so that his righteousness now surpassed his former sins of ignorance. For four years did he live thus in repentance and tears and virtuous acts, and then fell into the sickness whereof he died. But when the end drew nigh, he began to fear and to be dismayed, calling to remembrance the evil that he had wrought. But with comfortable words Ioasaph sought to ease the distress that had fallen on him, saying, "Why art you so full of heaviness, O my father, and wily art you so disquieted within time? Set your hope on God, and give him thanks, who is the hope of all the ends of the earth, and of them that remain in the sea afar, who cries by the mouth of his prophet, 'Wash you, make you clean: put away from before mine eyes the wickedness of your souls; learn to do well'; and 'Though your sins be as scarlet, I will make them white as snow; though they be red like crimson, I will make them as wool.' Fear not, therefore, O my father, neither be of doubtful mind: for the sins of them that turn to God prevail not against his infinite goodness. For these, however many, are subject to measure and number: but measure and number cannot limit his goodness. It is impossible then for that which is subject to measure to exceed the unmeasurable."

With such comfortable words did Ioasaph cheer his soul, and bring him to a good courage. Then his father stretched out his hands, and gave him thanks and prayed for him, blessing the day whereon Ioasaph was born, and said "Dearest child, yet not child of me, but of mine heavenly Father, with what gratitude can I repay you? With what words of blessings may I bless you? What thanks shall I offer God for you? I was lost, and was found through you: I was dead in sin and am alive again: an enemy, and rebel against God, and am reconciled with him. What reward therefore shall I give you for all these benefits? God is he that shall make the due recompense." Thus saying, he pressed many kisses on his beloved son; then, when he had prayed, and said, "Into your hands, O God, you lover of men, do I commit my spirit," he committed his soul unto the Lord in penitence and peace.

Now, when Ioasaph had honoured with his tears his father that was dead, and had reverently cared for his body, he buried him in a sepulchre wherein devout men lay; not indeed clad in royal raiment, but robed in the garment of penitence. Standing on the sepulchre, and lifting up his hands to heaven, the tears streaming in floods from his eyes, he cried aloud unto God saying,

"O God, I thank you, King of glory, alone mighty and immortal, that you hast not despised my petition, and hast not held your peace at my tears, but hast been pleased to turn this your servant, my father, from the way of wickedness, and to draw him to thyself, the Saviour of all, departing him from the deceitfulness of idolatry, and granting him to acknowledge you, who art the very God and lover of souls. And now, O my Lord and God, whose ocean of goodness is uncharted, set him in that place where much grass is, in a place of refreshment, where shineth the light of your countenance. Remember not his old offences; but, according to the multitude of your mercies, blot out the handwriting of his sins, and destroy the tablets of his debts, and set him at peace with your Saints whom he slew with fire and sword. Charge them not to be bitter against him. For all things are possible with you, the Lord of all, save only to withhold pity from them that turn not unto you; this is impossible. For your pity is poured out upon all men, and you savest them that call upon you, Lord Jesu Christ, because glory becomes you for ever and ever. Amen."

Such were the prayers and intercessions that he made unto God, by the space of seven full days, never leaving the grave, and never thinking of meat or drink, and taking no refreshment of sleep: but he watered the ground with his tears, and continued praying and moaning unceasingly. But, on the eighth day, he went back to his palace and distributed amongst the poor all his wealth and riches, so that not one person was left in want.

XXXV

Κατανυγεὶς δὲ ὁ βασιλεὺς Ἀβεννὴρ ἐπὶ τῇ θεοδιδάκτῳ σοφίᾳ ταύτῃ, φωνῇ μεγάλῃ καὶ θερμοτάτῃ ψυχῇ τὸν σωτῆρα Χριστὸν ὡμολόγει, πάσης ἀποστὰς δεισιδαίμονος πλάνης. τὸ σημεῖόν τε προσκυνεῖ τοῦ ζωοποιοῦ σταυροῦ ὑπὸ τῇ πάντων ὄψει καὶ εἰς ἐπήκοον ἁπάντων Θεὸν κηρύττει ἀληθινὸν τὸν Κύριον ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦν Χριστόν: τήν τε προτέραν ἀσέβειαν διεξελθών, τὴν οἰκείαν τε κατὰ τῶν Χριστιανῶν ὠμότητα καὶ μιαιφονίαν ἐλέγξας, μέγα μέρος πρὸς τὴν εὐσέβειαν γίνεται: ὡς ἐντεῦθεν ἔργῳ τὸ εἰρημένον τῷ Παύλῳ γνωσθῆναι, καὶ ὅπου ὁ τῆς ἀσεβείας ὑπῆρχε πλεονασμός, ἐκεῖ καὶ τὴν περισσείαν γενέσθαι τῆς χάριτος.

Πολλὰ τοίνυν καὶ τοῦ σοφωτάτου Ἰωάσαφ τοῖς συνελθοῦσι τότε στρατηγοῖς τε καὶ σατράπαις καὶ παντὶ τῷ λαῷ περὶ Θεοῦ καὶ τῆς εἰς αὐτὸν εὐσεβείας διαλεγομένου, καὶ οἱονεὶ πυρίνῃ γλώσσῃ καλόν τι καὶ ᾠδικὸν τερετίζοντος, ἡ τοῦ Ἁγίου Πνεύματος χάρις ἐπιφοιτήσασα πάντας εἰς δοξολογίαν ἐκίνει Θεοῦ, ὡς ἐκ μιᾶς φωνῆς πάντων βοησάντων τῶν ὄχλων: Μέγας ὁ Θεὸς τῶν Χριστιανῶν: οὐκ ἔστιν ἄλλος θεὸς πλὴν τοῦ Κυρίου ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ σὺν Πατρὶ καὶ Ἁγίῳ Πνεύματι δοξαζομένου.

Ζήλου δὲ θείου κατάπλεως γενόμενος, ὁ βασιλεὺς Ἀβεννὴρ ἐφάλλεται στερρῶς τοῖς εἰδώλοις ἃ ἦσαν ἐν τῷ παλατίῳ αὐτοῦ ἐκ χρυσοῦ καὶ ἀργύρου πεποιημένα, καὶ εἰς ἔδαφος ταῦτα κατασπᾷ. εἶτα, εἰς λεπτὰ διελών, πένησι διανέμει, ὠφέλιμα οὕτω τὰ ἀνωφελῆ θέμενος: ἀμέλει καὶ μετὰ τοῦ υἱοῦ τοὺς εἰδώλων ναοὺς καὶ βωμοὺς περιστάντες μέχρις αὐτῶν κατηδάφουν τῶν θεμελίων: ἱερὰ δὲ τῷ Θεῷ τεμένη ἀντῳκοδόμουν. οὐ μόνον δὲ ἐν τῇ πόλει, ἀλλὰ καὶ ἀνὰ πᾶσαν τὴν χώραν σπουδῇ ταῦτα ἐποίουν. τὰ δὲ πονηρὰ πνεύματα τὰ τοῖς βωμοῖς ἐνοικοῦντα ὀλολύζοντα ἠλαύνοντο, καὶ τὴν ἄμαχον τοῦ Θεοῦ ἡμῶν δύναμιν ὑποτρέμοντα ἐβόων. πᾶσα δὲ ἡ περίχωρος καὶ τὰ τῶν προσοίκων ἐθνῶν πλεῖστα πρὸς τὴν εὐσεβῆ πίστιν ἐχειραγωγοῦντο. τότε δὴ τοῦ ἀνωτέρω ῥηθέντος θειοτάτου ἐπισκόπου παραγενομένου, κατηχεῖται ὁ βασιλεὺς Ἀβεννήρ, καὶ τῷ θείῳ τελειοῦται βαπτίσματι εἰς τὸ ὄνομα τοῦ Πατρός, τοῦ Υἱοῦ καὶ τοῦ Ἁγίου Πνεύματος. καὶ Ἰωάσαφ τοῦτον ἐκ τῆς θείας κολυμβήθρας ἀναδέχεται, τοῦτο δὴ τὸ καινότατον γεννήτωρ τοῦ πατρὸς ἀναδειχθείς, καὶ τῷ σαρκικῶς γεννήσαντι τῆς πνευματικῆς ἀναγεννήσεως πρόξενος γενόμενος. υἱὸς γὰρ ἦν τοῦ οὐρανίου Πατρὸς καὶ καρπὸς ὄντως τῆς θείας ῥίζης θειότατος, ῥίζης ἐκείνης τῆς βοώσης: Ἐγώ εἰμι ἡ ἄμπελος, ὑμεῖς τὰ κλήματα.

Οὕτως ἀναγεννηθεὶς ὁ βασιλεὺς Ἀβεννὴρ δι' ὕδατος καὶ Πνεύματος ἔχαιρε χαρᾷ ἀνεκλαλήτῳ: σὺν αὐτῷ δὲ καὶ πᾶσα ἡ πόλις καὶ ἡ περίχωρος τοῦ θείου ἠξιοῦτο βαπτίσματος, καὶ φωτὸς υἱοὶ ἀνεδείκνυντο οἱ πρὶν ἐσκοτισμένοι. πᾶσα δὲ νόσος καὶ πᾶσα δαιμονικὴ ἐπιφορὰ πόρρω τῶν πιστευόντων ἠλαύνετο: ἄρτιοι δὲ καὶ ὑγιεῖς πάντες τὰς ψυχὰς καὶ τὰ σώματα ἦσαν. καὶ πολλὰ ἕτερα θαυμάσια εἰς βεβαίωσιν τῆς πίστεως ἐτελοῦντο ἐκκλησίαι τε ἀνῳκοδομοῦντο, καὶ ἐπίσκοποι, οἵ τε κεκρυμμένοι διὰ τὸν φόβον ἐφανεροῦντο καὶ τὰς ἰδίας ἀπελάμβανον ἐκκλησίας, καὶ ἄλλοι ἔκ τε τῶν ἱερέων καὶ τῶν μοναζόντων προεχειρίζοντο εἰς τὸ ποιμαίνειν τὸ τοῦ Χριστοῦ ποίμνιον. ὁ μέντοι βασιλεὺς Ἀβεννήρ, οὕτω τῆς προτέρας ἐκείνης μοχθηρᾶς ἀγωγῆς ἀποστὰς καὶ μετάμελος ὢν ἐφ' οἷς ἔπραξε, πᾶσαν μὲν τὴν βασίλειον ἀρχὴν τῷ υἱῷ παραδίδωσιν: αὐτὸς δὲ καθ' ἑαυτὸν ἠρεμῶν, κόνιν ἀεὶ τῆς κεφαλῆς καταχέων, βαρεῖς τε ἀναφέρων στεναγμοὺς καὶ λούων τοῖς δάκρυσιν ἑαυτόν, μόνος μόνῳ τῷ πανταχοῦ παρόντι ὡμίλει, συγγνώμην αὐτῷ τῶν οἰκείων πταισμάτων ἐξαιτούμενος. εἰς τοσαύτην δὲ κατανύξεως καὶ ταπεινοφροσύνης ἄβυσσον ἑαυτὸν καθῆκεν ὡς παραιτεῖσθαι καὶ τὸ τοῦ Θεοῦ ὄνομα τοῖς ἑαυτοῦ ὀνομάζειν χείλεσι, μόλις δὲ τούτου τῇ τοῦ υἱοῦ νουθεσίᾳ κατατολμῆσαι. οὕτω δὲ τὴν καλὴν ἀλλοίωσιν ἠλλοιώθη καὶ τὴν πρὸς ἀρετὴν ἀπάγουσαν ὥδευσε τρίβον ὡς ὑπερβῆναι αὐτὸν τῇ εὐσεβείᾳ τῶν προτέρων ἀνομιῶν τὸ ἀγνόημα. ἐπὶ τέσσαρας δὲ χρόνους οὕτω βιοὺς ἐν μετανοίᾳ καὶ δάκρυσι καὶ ἀρετῇ πάσῃ, ἀρρωστίᾳ περιέπεσεν, ἐν ᾗ καὶ τελευτᾷ. ὅτε δὲ τὸ τέλος ἤγγισεν, ἤρξατο φοβεῖσθαι καὶ ἀδημονεῖν, μνείαν ποιούμενος τῶν αὐτῷ πεπραγμένων κακῶν. ὁ δὲ Ἰωάσαφ ῥήμασι παρακλητικοῖς τὸ ἐπιπεσὸν αὐτῷ διεκούφιζεν ἄχθος, Ἱνατί περίλυπος εἶ, λέγων, ὦ πάτερ, καὶ ἱνατί συνταράττεις ἑαυτόν; ἔλπισον ἐπὶ τὸν Θεὸν καὶ ἐξομολόγει αὐτῷ, ὅς ἐστιν ἐλπὶς πάντων τῶν περάτων τῆς γῆς καὶ τῶν ἐν θαλάσσῃ μακράν, ὃς κέκραγε διὰ τοῦ προφήτου βοῶν: Λούσασθε, καθαροὶ γένεσθε: ἀφέλετε τὰς πονηρίας ἀπὸ τῶν ψυχῶν ὑμῶν ἀπέναντι τῶν ὀφθαλμῶν μου: μάθετε καλὸν ποιεῖν: καί, Ἐὰν ὦσιν αἱ ἁμαρτίαι ὑμῶν ὡς φοινικοῦν, ὡς χιόνα λευκανῶ: ἐὰν δὲ ὦσιν ὡς κόκκινον, ὡσεὶ ἔριον λευκανῶ. μὴ φοβοῦ τοίνυν, ὦ πάτερ, μηδὲ δίσταζε: οὐ νικῶσι γὰρ αἱ ἁμαρτίαι τῶν ἐπιστρεφόντων πρὸς Θεὸν τὴν ἄπειρον αὐτοῦ ἀγαθότητα. αὗται γὰρ ὑπὸ μέτρον εἰσὶ καὶ ἀριθμὸν, ὅσαι ἂν ὦσιν: ἐκείνη δὲ ἀμέτρητός ἐστι καὶ ἀναρίθμητος. οὐκ ἐνδέχεται τοίνυν τὸ ὑποκείμενον μέτρῳ τοῦ ἀμετρήτου περιγενέσθαι.

Τοιούτοις παρακλητικοῖς ῥήμασι κατεπᾴδων αὐτοῦ τὴν ψυχήν, εὔελπιν ἀπειργάσατο. εἶτα ἐκτείνας ὁ πατὴρ τὰς χεῖρας, εὐχαριστῶν αὐτῷ ὑπερηύχετο, καὶ τὴν ἡμέραν εὐλόγει ἐν ᾗ αὐτὸς ἐγγεννήθη, Τέκνον, λέγων, γλυκύτατον, τέκνον οὐκ ἐμόν, ἀλλὰ τοῦ οὐρανίου Πατρός, ποίαν ἀποδώσω σοι χάριν; ποίαις εὐλογήσω σε εὐλογίαις; τίνα δὲ εὐχαριστίαν ἀναπέμψω τῷ Θεῷ περὶ σοῦ; ἀπολωλὼς γὰρ ἤμην, καὶ εὑρέθην διὰ σοῦ: νεκρὸς ἤμην τῇ ἁμαρτίᾳ, καὶ ἀνέζησα: ἐχθρὸς καὶ ἀποστάτης Θεοῦ, καὶ κατηλλάγην. τί οὖν ἀνταποδώσω σοι ὑπὲρ τούτων ἁπάντων; Θεός ἐστιν ὁ ἀξίας σοι παρέχων τὰς ἀμοιβάς. οὕτω λέγων, πυκνὰ κατεφίλει τὸν φίλτατον παῖδα. εἶτα εὐξάμενος, καί, Εἰς χεῖράς σου, φιλάνθρωπε Θεέ, παρατίθημι τὸ πνεῦμά μου, εἰπών, ἐν μετανοίᾳ τὴν ψυχὴν καὶ εἰρήνῃ παρέθετο τῷ Κυρίῳ.

Ὁ δὲ Ἰωάσαφ δάκρυσι τιμήσας τελευτήσαντα τὸν πατέρα, καὶ κηδεύσας αὐτοῦ τὸ λείψανον ἐντίμως, κατέθετο ἐν μνήματι ἀνδρῶν εὐσεβῶν, οὐ μέντοι βασιλικῇ περιβαλὼν ἐσθῆτι, ἀλλὰ μετανοίας κοσμήσας ἀμφίοις. στὰς δὲ ἐπὶ τῷ μνήματι, χεῖράς τε εἰς οὐρανὸν διάρας, καὶ δάκρυα ποταμηδὸν τῶν ὀμμάτων καταδύσας, ἐβόησε πρὸς τὸν Θεόν, λέγων:

Ὁ Θεός, εὐχαριστῶ σε, Βασιλεῦ τῆς δόξης, μόνε κραταιὲ καὶ ἀθάνατε, ὅτι οὐ παρεῖδες τὴν δέησίν μου καὶ τῶν δακρύων μου οὐ παρεσιώπησας, ἀλλ' εὐδόκησας τὸν δοῦλόν σου τοῦτον καὶ πατέρα μου τῆς ὁδοῦ ἐπιστρέψαι τῶν ἀνομιῶν καὶ πρὸς ἑαυτὸν ἑλκύσαι τὸν σωτῆρα τῶν ἁπάντων, ἀποστήσας μὲν τῆς ἀπάτης τῶν εἰδώλων, καταξιώσας δὲ γνωρίσαι σε τὸν ἀληθινὸν Θεὸν καὶ φιλάνθρωπον. καὶ νῦν, ὦ Κύριέ μου καὶ Θεέ, ὁ ἀνεξιχνίαστον ἔχων τὸ τῆς ἀγαθότητος πέλαγος, τάξον αὐτὸν ἐν τόπῳ χλοερῷ, ἐν τόπῳ ἀναπαύσεως, ὅπου τὸ φῶς λάμπει τοῦ προσώπου σου: καὶ μὴ μνησθῇς ἀνομιῶν αὐτοῦ ἀρχαίων, ἀλλὰ κατὰ τὸ πολὺ ἔλεός σου ἐξάλειψον τὸ χειρόγραφον τῶν αὐτοῦ πταισμάτων, καὶ τὰ γραμματεῖα διάρρηξον τῶν αὐτοῦ ὀφλημάτων, καὶ τοὺς ἁγίους σου κατάλλαξον αὐτῷ οὓς πυρί τε καὶ ξίφει ἀνεῖλεν: ἐπίταξον αὐτοὺς μὴ κατ' αὐτοῦ ὀργίζεσθαι. πάντα γὰρ δυνατά σοι τῷ πάντων Δεσπότῃ, ἀλλ' ἢ μόνον τὸ μὴ ἐλεεῖν τοὺς μὴ ἐπιστρέφοντας πρὸς σέ: τοῦτο ἀδύνατον. τὸ γὰρ ἔλεός σου ἐκκέχυται ἐπὶ πάντας, καὶ σώζεις τοὺς ἐπικαλουμένους σε, Κύριε Ἰησοῦ Χριστέ, ὅτι πρέπει σοι δόξα εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας. ἀμήν.

Τοιαύτας εὐχὰς καὶ δεήσεις προσέφερε τῷ Θεῷ ἐν ὅλαις ἑπτὰ ἡμέραις, μηδόλως τοῦ μνήματος ἀποστάς, μὴ βρώσεως ἢ πόσεως τοπαράπαν μνησθείς, μήτε μὴν ἀναπαύσεως ὕπνου μετασχών: ἀλλὰ δάκρυσι μὲν τὸ ἔδαφος ἔβρεχε, στεναγμοῖς δὲ ἀσιγήτοις εὐχόμενος διετέλει. τῇ ὀγδόῃ δὲ εἰς τὸ παλάτιον ἐπανελθών, πάντα τὸν πλοῦτον καὶ τὰ χρήματα τοῖς πένησι διένειμεν, ὡς μηκέτι ὑπολειφθῆναί τινα τῶν χρείαν ἐχόντων.