A merchant from Senfewat who struck the icon of the Virgin Mary and who died when his mule bucked him off

Summary

Abba Thomas recounts how, one year, many people gathered at his church for the feast Mary, which occurs on the twenty-first of Terr (around January 25). A merchant from Senfewat arrived at the church. Even though the people of Senfewat were heretics, Abba Thomas provided the merchant with food and sleeping quarters. That night, while everyone else slept, the merchant walked about the church. When he saw a painting of Mary and Christ, he picked up a staff and poked out both of their eyes. When Abba Thomas heard what had happened, he prayed for Mary and threatened to stop serving the church until she took revenge on the merchant. Immediately, the Angel of Sacrifice appeared to Abba Thomas and told him to be patient, since this was the last day of the merchant’s life. The angel then informed Abba Thomas that the next day the merchant would request his help to leave the city. He should agree to help, at which time the merchant’s mule would bolt and cast him off, causing him to hit a rock and die. Abba Thomas did as the angel instructed, and everything happened as foretold. Abba Thomas then rode home on the merchant’s mule and served the church for the rest of his life.

Translation

Translated by Jeremy Brown & Dawit Muluneh with Wendy Laura Belcher from EMML (HMML) 3872, ff. 29r–30v, in null.

A miracle performed by Our Lady Mary, the Twofold Virgin. May her prayers be with her servant Simon forever and ever, amen.

Let us tell you another miracle that the priest Abba Thomas, the servant of this house, [our church,] wrote down.

It happened during the feast of Our Holy Lady, which falls on the twenty-first of the month of Terr. Many people had gathered at this holy house so that they might receive the blessing of [being at] the feast.

A merchant from the people of the city of Senfewat¹ arrived [at our church] with produce and servants while riding his mule.

We prepared him something to eat and a place to sleep, even though the people of Senfewat do not believe in the birth of God the Word from his Virgin Mother.

When the visitors finished eating, they slept, but the merchant got up and walked around that house. He noticed the painting of Our Lady, the Holy Virgin, with [scenes of] the nativity and her journey into the land of Egypt, in the place of ruin.²

Then the merchant picked up a staff with his hand, and with the staff in his hand he poked out Mary’s eyes and her son’s eyes.

Instantly, [one of the merchant’s servants] rebuked him and said to his lord, “Don’t strike Jesus and his mother!”

However, that heretic began to speak, denying the truth of Our Lady, and her son, and the blessed birth.

[When Abba Thomas told us this story, he told us,] “I am Thomas the priest, and when I saw this happen, I became heartsick and prayed, ‘My Lady Mary, the Twofold Virgin, why don’t you take revenge on that heretic, since that heretic won’t turn away from his disbelief in the presence of the icon of the Son of God? He has committed this grievous offense in this holy place.’”

[And again Abba Thomas said,] “I am Thomas the priest, and when I saw this happen, I became heartsick and I said, ‘My dear Lady, I will never again serve this house, not even for a single day, until you take revenge on that heretic.’³

“After I said these words, and more, while weeping, the Angel of Sacrifice appeared to me saying, ‘Dear Abba Thomas, my blessed beloved, rejoice! Don’t be angry with me because I didn’t hurry to take revenge on this sinner and heretic. For today is the last day of his life, so be patient. Now is the time for patience.’

“[Then the angel instructed me:] ‘When those people leave, this heretic will make demands of you, saying, “Come with me and show me the way [out of the city].” And you should go with him, until [you reach] the city’s edge. At that moment, the mule he will be riding will bolt and cast him down on the rocks, and he will die a terrible death.’

“And I, Abba Thomas, am a witness to you all that everything the angel told me would happen, [and] indeed did happen, to that heretic, just as the angel said.”

Now, when that [merchant’s] servant saw what had happened, he did not grieve but worshiped God.

He [got on that mule and] rode it, rejoicing, until he arrived [back] at this house[, our church]. He dismounted and never ceased to serve this house for all the days of his life. He [also] gave all the merchant’s possessions to this house.

Afterwards, we baptized him, and he became a Christian. We appointed him as a deacon, [and he served] until the day he died.

After [telling me about] this miracle, Thomas told me about many other miracles that happened [in our house].

But because our time [together] has come to an end, and for the sake of the people who have gathered here and come a long distance, we will put an end to this story here.

Witness the miracle and wonder that Our Lady Mary, the Twofold Virgin, performed against that heretic, who ridiculed her and her son.

Praise be to God, the Almighty, who is able to do all things, for by his strength he spilled that heretic off the mule onto the rocks in order to destroy him.

May the goodness that no eye can see, that no ear can hear, and that cannot be perceived in the human heart, be upon the person who wrote down the miracle of Our Lady, the Twofold Virgin. Forever and ever, amen.

TO CITE THIS TRANSLATION

Jeremy Brown & Dawit Muluneh with Wendy Laura Belcher. , trans. "ID 118: A merchant from Senfewat who struck the icon of the Virgin Mary and who died when his mule bucked him off." From EMML (HMML) 3872, ff. 29r–30v. Täˀammərä Maryam (Miracle of Mary) Stories, edited by Wendy Laura Belcher, Jeremy Brown, Mehari Worku, and Dawit Muluneh. Princeton: Princeton Ethiopian, Eritrean, and Egyptian Miracles of Mary project. https://pemm.princeton.edu/stories/118.