File(s) not publicly available
E05284: John Moschus, in his Spiritual Meadow, recounts how a certain recluse on the Mount of Olives was attacked by the demon of sexual desire who promised to stop annoying him if he ceased venerating the icon which displayed *Mary (Mother of Christ; S00033) carrying Jesus Christ. Written in Greek, probably in Rome, in the 620s or 630s.
online resource
posted on 2018-04-04, 00:00 authored by juliaJohn Moschus, The Spiritual Meadow, 45
In this chapter Moschus recounts a story concerning the veneration of an icon of Mary Mother of Christ by a recluse on the Mount of Olives, that he received from Abba Theodore of Aelia. With this recluse the demon of sexual desire waged battle for a long time. One day the recluse began to give up in despair and asked the demon how much longer he would torment him.
Λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ δαίμων, Μὴ προσκυνήσῃς ταύτῃ τῇ εἰκόνι, καὶ οὐκ ἔτι σε πολεμῶ. Εἶχεν δὲ ἡ εἰκὼν τὸ ἐκτύπωμα τῆς Δεσποίνης ἡμῶν τῆς ἁγίας Θεοτόκου Μαρίας, βασταζούσης τὸν Κύριον ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦν Χριστόν.
'The demon said to him: "Desist from venerating this icon here and I will call off my war against you."
The icon in question bore the likeness of our Lady Mary, the holy Mother of God, carrying our Lord Jesus Christ.'
The demon insisted that the recluse swear that he would not reveal to anybody what he said to him. The recluse asked the demon to let him think about it. The next day he sent for Abba Theodore the Aeliote who at that time was residing at the Lavra of Pharon. When Abba Theodore came, the recluse told him everything. Abba Theodore said that he did good, when he broke his oath to the demon and spoke out. He also said that it would be better for the recluse to leave no brothel in the town unentered, than to diminish reverence for the Lord Jesus Christ and for His Mother. By these and other words he strengthened and comforted the recluse and went away to his own place. Then the demon reappeared to the recluse, and furious that the latter revealed everything to Abba Theodore, said to him that he would be tried as an oath-breaker at the Day of Judgement. But the recluse answered that it would be the demon who would face the consequences of the misdeeds he had brought about.
Text: Migne 1865 (PG 87.3). Translation: J. Wortley. Summary: J. Doroszewska.
In this chapter Moschus recounts a story concerning the veneration of an icon of Mary Mother of Christ by a recluse on the Mount of Olives, that he received from Abba Theodore of Aelia. With this recluse the demon of sexual desire waged battle for a long time. One day the recluse began to give up in despair and asked the demon how much longer he would torment him.
Λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ δαίμων, Μὴ προσκυνήσῃς ταύτῃ τῇ εἰκόνι, καὶ οὐκ ἔτι σε πολεμῶ. Εἶχεν δὲ ἡ εἰκὼν τὸ ἐκτύπωμα τῆς Δεσποίνης ἡμῶν τῆς ἁγίας Θεοτόκου Μαρίας, βασταζούσης τὸν Κύριον ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦν Χριστόν.
'The demon said to him: "Desist from venerating this icon here and I will call off my war against you."
The icon in question bore the likeness of our Lady Mary, the holy Mother of God, carrying our Lord Jesus Christ.'
The demon insisted that the recluse swear that he would not reveal to anybody what he said to him. The recluse asked the demon to let him think about it. The next day he sent for Abba Theodore the Aeliote who at that time was residing at the Lavra of Pharon. When Abba Theodore came, the recluse told him everything. Abba Theodore said that he did good, when he broke his oath to the demon and spoke out. He also said that it would be better for the recluse to leave no brothel in the town unentered, than to diminish reverence for the Lord Jesus Christ and for His Mother. By these and other words he strengthened and comforted the recluse and went away to his own place. Then the demon reappeared to the recluse, and furious that the latter revealed everything to Abba Theodore, said to him that he would be tried as an oath-breaker at the Day of Judgement. But the recluse answered that it would be the demon who would face the consequences of the misdeeds he had brought about.
Text: Migne 1865 (PG 87.3). Translation: J. Wortley. Summary: J. Doroszewska.
History
Evidence ID
E05284Saint Name
Mary, Mother of Christ : S00033Saint Name in Source
ΘεοτόκοςRelated Saint Records
Type of Evidence
Literary - Hagiographical - Monastic collections (apophthegmata, etc.)Language
- Greek
Evidence not before
614Evidence not after
634Activity not before
530Activity not after
634Place of Evidence - Region
Rome and region Palestine with SinaiPlace of Evidence - City, village, etc
RomePlace of evidence - City name in other Language(s)
Rome Rome Rome Roma Ῥώμη Rhōmē Caesarea Maritima Καισάρεια Kaisareia Caesarea Kayseri Turris StratonisMajor author/Major anonymous work
John MoschusCult activities - Non Liturgical Practices and Customs
Oral transmission of saint-related storiesCult activities - Use of Images
- Private ownership of an image
