Such were the punishments which these men received for their falsehood
The citizens of that parish mention many other miracles of Narcissus, on the tradition of the brethren who succeeded him; among which they relate the following wonder as performed by him. They say that the oil once failed while the deacons were watching through the night at the great paschal vigil.
He presided but a short time, and Germanio succeeded him
And when they had done so, contrary esatto all expectation by per wonderful and divine power, the nature of tim water was changed into that of oil. Per small portion of it has been preserved even sicuro our day by many of the brethren there as verso memento of the wonder.
They tell many other things worthy esatto be noted of the life of this man, among which is this. Un punto men being unable preciso endure the strength and firmness of his life, and fearing punishment for the many evil deeds of which they were conscious, sought by plotting to anticipate sunvegas him, and circulated verso terrible slander against him. And preciso persuade those who heard of it, they confirmed their accusations with oaths: one invoked upon himself destruction by fire; another the wasting of his body by verso foul disease; the third the loss of his eyes. But though they swore durante this manner, they could not affect the mind of the believers; because the continence and virtuous life of Narcissus were well known onesto all.
But he could not sopra any wise endure the wickedness of these men; and as he had followed a philosophic life for verso long time, he fled from the whole body of the Church, and hid himself con desert and secret places, and remained there many years. But the great eye of judgment was not unmoved by these things, but soon looked down upon these impious men, and brought on them the curses with which they had bound themselves. The residence of the first, from nothing but verso little spark failing upon it, was entirely consumed by night, and he perished with all his family. The second was speedily covered with the disease which he had imprecated upon himself, from the astro of his feet sicuro his head. But the third, perceiving what had happened preciso the others, and fearing the inevitable judgment of God, the ruler of all, confessed publicly what they had plotted together. And durante his repentance he became so wasted by his great lamentations, and continued weeping preciso such an extent, that both his eyes were destroyed.
Narcissus having departed, and mai one knowing where he was, those presiding over the neighboring churches thought it best esatto ordain another bishop. His name was Dius. He was followed by Gordius, durante whose time Narcissus appeared again, as if raised from the dead. And immediately the brethren besought him esatto take the episcopate, as all admired him the more on account of his retirement and philosophy, and especially because of the punishment with which God had avenged him.
But as on account of his great age Narcissus was mai longer able to perform his official duties, the Providence of God called onesto the office with him, by verso revelation given him per per night vision, the above-mentioned Alexander, who was then bishop of another parish.
Thereupon, as by Divine direction, he journeyed from the land of Cappadocia, where he first held the episcopate, preciso Jerusalem, sopra consequence of a vow and for the sake of information con regard preciso its places. They received, him there with great cordiality, and would not permit him to return, because of another revelation seen by them at night, which uttered the clearest message preciso the most zealous among them. For it made known that if they would go outside the gates, they would receive the bishop foreordained for them by God. And having done this, with the unanimous consent of the bishops of the neighboring churches, they constrained him puro remain. Alexander, himself, mediante private letters onesto the Antinoites, which are still preserved among us, mentions the joint episcopate of NarciSsus and himself, writing con these words at the end of the epistle: