Consummation
of Thomas the Apostle.
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At the command of King
Misdeus the blessed
Apostle Thomas was cast into prison; and he said: I glorify God, and I shall preach the word to the prisoners, so that all rejoiced at his presence. When, therefore, Juzanes the king’s son, and Tertia his mother, and Mygdonia, and Markia, had become believers, but were not yet thought worthy of baptism, they took it exceedingly ill that the blessed one had been shut up. And having come to the prison, and given much money to the jailor, they went in to him. And he, seeing them, was glad, and glorified the Lord, and blessed them. And they entreated and begged the seal in the Lord, a beautiful young man having appeared to them in a dream, and ordered the apostle into the house of Juzanes.
And again the beautiful young man coming to them
and Thomas, bade them do this on the coming night. And he ran
before them, and gave them light on the way, and without noise opened
the doors that had been secured, until all the mystery was
completed. And having made them communicate in the Eucharist, and
having talked much with them, and confirmed them in the faith, and
commended them to the Lord, he went forth thence, leaving the women, and again went to be shut up. And they grieved and wept because Misdeus the king was to kill him.
And Thomas went and found the jailors fighting, and saying: What wrong have we done to that sorcerer, that, availing himself of his magic art, he has opened the doors of the prison, and wishes to set all the prisoners free? But let us go and let the king know about his wife and his son. And when he came they stripped him, and girded him with a girdle; and thus they stood before the king.
And Misdeus
said to him: Art thou a slave, or a freeman? And Thomas
answered and said to him: I am not a slave, and thou hast no power against
me at all. And how, said Misdeus, hast thou run away and come to
this country? And Thomas said: I came here that I might
save many, and that I might by thy hands depart from this body. Misdeus says to him: Who is thy master? and what is his name? and of what country, and of whom is he? My Lord, says Thomas, is my Master and thine, being the Lord of heaven and earth. And Misdeus said: What is he called? And Thomas said: Thou canst not know His true name at this time; but I tell thee the name that has been given Him for a season—Jesus the Christ. And Misdeus said: I have not been in a hurry to destroy thee, but have restrained myself; but thou hast made a display of works, so that thy sorceries have been heard of in all the country. But now this will I do, that thy sorceries may also perish with thee, that our nation may be purified from them. And Thomas said: Dost thou call these things which will follow me sorceries? They shall never be removed from the people here.
And while these things were saying, Misdeus was
considering in what manner he should put him to death; for he was
afraid of the multitude standing round, many, even some of the chief
men, having believed in him. And he arose, and took Thomas
outside of the city; and a few soldiers accompanied him with their
arms. And the rest of the multitude thought that the king was
wishing to learn something from him; and they stood and observed him
closely. And when they had gone forth three stadia, he delivered
him to four soldiers, and to one of the chief officers, and ordered them to take him up into the mountain and spear him; but he himself returned to the city.
And those present ran to Thomas, eager to rescue
him; but he was led away by the soldiers who were with him. For
there were two on each side having hold of him, because of
sorcery. And the chief officer held him by the hand, and led him
with honour. And at the same time the blessed apostle said: O the hidden mysteries of Thee, O Lord! for even to the close of life is fulfilled in us the riches of Thy grace, which does not allow us to be without feeling as to the body. For, behold, four have laid hold of me, and one leads me, since I belong to One, to whom I am going always invisibly. But now I learn that my Lord also, since He was a stranger, to whom I am going, who also is always present with me invisibly, was struck by one; but I am struck by four.