Page:Early Christianity outside the Roman empire.djvu/78

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68
EARLY CHRISTIANITY

Xanthippus (or, Xenophon) and goes with the General. On the way the horses of their chariot break down, but four wild asses come to be harnessed in their stead, and with their help the devils are driven out and the women healed.

VIII. Soon after this a noble lady, by name Mygdonia, the wife of Cyrus[1], a kinsman of King Mazdai, is converted by Thomas to the life of virginity. Cyrus is in despair; and when his personal influence fails to move Mygdonia, he goes and complains to the King, who sends and arrests Thomas at the house of Ṣîfûr the General. Thomas is scourged and sent to prison, where he sings a Hymn of praise[2]. But Mygdonia remains firm, and secretly visits Thomas in the prison with her nurse Narqia: there he baptises them and celebrates the Eucharist. In the meanwhile King Mazdai

  1. The name Cyrus, in Syriac Kôrêsh, is preserved uncorrupted in the Sachau ms. In the British Museum ms. it is misspelt Kârîsh, and in the Greek corrupted to Χαρίσιος.
  2. In front of this Hymn, which is undoubtedly a genuine portion of the Acts, the British Museum Codex inserts the great Hymn of the Soul.