E00220: The Story of Euphemia and the Goth, written in Syriac at Edessa (Mesopotamia) in the 6th c., celebrates the Edessan saints, *Shmona and Gurya (martyrs of Edessa, S00081), and *Habbib (martyr of Edessa, S00090), as protectors of the weak and guarantors of oaths.

The Story of Euphemia and the Goth (summary)

The work describes a miracle in Edessa, specified as taking place in the late 4th century.

The narrative opens with an introductory passage, in which the author relates that he received this story from a priest, who was custodian of the Church of the Confessors in Edessa and who heard it himself from the women, Euphemia and her mother. (§§ 1-3)

The main narrative line starts with a Roman garrison being stationed at Edessa in the year 395/6 in order to stop the invasion of the Huns. One of the Roman soldiers, a Goth by origin, is billeted in the house of a widow named Sophia, who had a young daughter Euphemia. (§§ 4-5)

Seeing the beauty of Euphemia, the Goth falls in love with her and asks Sophia to let her daughter marry him. The mother refuses initially, but after the Goth persists with his advances she yields to his requests. Sophia marries her daughter to the Goth on condition that she does not leave Edessa. (§§ 6-11)

When the time comes for the Roman garrison to leave the city, Sophia tries to prevent Euphemia's departure, but fails to do so. Worried about her daughter's future in a foreign land, she places her under the protection of the Martyrs of Edessa. For that purpose she brings Euphemia and her husband to the Church of the Confessors, where after praying to the saints both of them lay their hands upon the martyrs' 'coffin' (Syr. gluskma, from Gr. γλωσσόκομον), and the Goth also takes an oath to treat his wife well and justly. (§§ 11-14)

When the couple reach the vicinity of the Goth's native city, he reduces Euphemia to the state of a slave and reveals to her that he already has a wife there, while ordering her to keep their own marriage secret. Euphemia, introduced to the Goth's wife as her slave, is burdened with hard work and suffers abuse from her. (§§ 15-19)

When Euphemia gives birth to a male child, who resembles his father very much, the Goth's wife becomes jealous and confronts her husband. He allows her to do with the baby as she wishes, and one day, having sent Euphemia away from the house, she murders the child by poisoning. After her child has been buried, Euphemia resorts to a trick and kills the Goth's wife with the same poison she used against the child. Having buried the Goth's wife, her family accuses Euphemia of murdering her. They bring her to the judge, who condemns Euphemia to be shut in the same tomb, where the Goth's wife's body has been placed. (§§ 20-24)

Imprisoned in the tomb, Euphemia prays to the Martyrs of Edessa for deliverance. The three saints appear to her, promising to save her. The saints' appearance is accompanied by the miraculous transformation of the corpse stench in the tomb into a pleasant fragrance. After that Euphemia falls asleep and when she wakes up she finds herself transferred miraculously to the hill outside Edessa's walls, where the Church of the Confessors stands. Euphemia is greeted by the saint Shmona himself, who relates that they (i.e. the saints) have kept their promise to save her. (§§ 25-30)

After that Euphemia enters the Church of the Confessors, where she offers a thanksgiving prayer and recounts the miracle that took place. The custodian of the church notices her, and asks Euphemia about what happened to her. She relates him her story. In order to confirm it, he finds and brings in Euphemia's mother, who recognises her daughter and takes her back home. As a result, the story of the miracle becomes known to the whole city of Edessa. (§§ 31-34)

After some time, the Gothic soldier arrives in Edessa again, as a part of the Roman army. When Sophia and Euphemia hear about his presence in the city, they devise a scheme to bring him to justice. The Goth is invited to stay in Sophia's house. While Euphemia is hiding in the house, Sophia accompanied by her relatives and neighbours starts to inquire of the Goth about the well-being of her daughter and their child. The Goth assures her that both of them are doing well. At that moment, Sophia confronts him, while bringing Euphemia out of the room where she was hiding. (§§ 35-40)

Having bound the Goth, the relatives of Sophia write the whole affair down in an 'affidavit' (Syr. didasqaliqon, from Gr. διδασκαλικόν) and bring this document to the city's bishop Eulogius. In turn, the bishop reports what happened to the Roman general in charge, who orders the Goth and Euphemia to be brought before him. In the quick trial that follows, the Goth is found guilty and punished with beheading by the sword. (§§ 41-46)

Summary: Sergey Minov.