E05262: John Moschus, in his Spiritual Meadow, recounts the story of Abba *Kosmas (later 6th c. monk of Palestine, S01976), from the monastery of the Byzantines in Jerusalem. After his death, a beggar is healed from paralysis at his tomb at Antioch. Calling from his tomb, he reveals that a bishop, who was buried near him in the cemetery, was a heretic. Written in Greek, probably in Rome, in the 620s or 630s.

John Moschus, The Spiritual Meadow, 40

In this chapter Moschus quotes a story which he received from Abba Basil, priest of the monastery of the Byzantines. When Abba Basil was with Abba Gregory the Patriarch of Theoupolis [Antioch], there came there from Jerusalem Abba Kosmas the Eunuch, of the Lavra of Pharon. He was very pious and a true monk, with no small knowledge of Holy Scripture. However, since he was an aged man, after a few days he died. Wishing to honour him, the Patriarch ordered that he be buried at a spot in the cemetery [in Antioch] where a bishop lay. Two days later Abba Basil went to this spot to kiss the elder's grave. There he met a poor man stricken with paralysis who was lying on top of the tomb and begging. When the beggar saw Abba Basil praying and prostrating himself, he said to him that the elder who was buried three days before was indeed a great elder. To Abba Basil who asked how he knew this, he replied:

Ἐγὼ παραλυτικὸς ἤμην ἔτη δώδεκα, καὶ δι’ αὐτοῦ με ἐθεράπευσεν ὁ Κύριος· καὶ ὅτε ἐν θλίψει γίνομαι, ἔρχεται παραμυθούμενός με, καὶ παρέχει μοι ἀνάπαυσιν.

'I was paralyzed for twelve years and, through this elder, the Lord cured me. When I am afflicted, he comes and comforts me, granting me relief.'

He added also that he heard the elder's voice from the tomb, saying to the bishop buried nearby:

'Touch me not; stay away! Come not near, thou heretic and enemy of the truth and of the holy catholic Church of God!'

When Abba Basil learnt this story, he went to the patriarch and besought him to bury the elder in another tomb. But the patriarch said that Abba Kosmas would suffer no harm from the bishop and that all this came about so that the virtue and zeal of Abba Kosmas might become known to them and the doctrine of the bishop might be revealed, so that he would not be held as one of the orthodox.

Text: Migne 1865 (PG 87.3). Translation: J. Wortley, lightly adapted. Summary: J. Doroszewska.