VP 3.1

English

This Abraham, then, was born on the shore of the river Euphrates, and when he had found himself to be proficient in the service of God, wished to go to the deserts of Egypt to visit the hermits. While he was exhausting himself with the journey, he was captured by pagans, tortured with repeated beatings for the name of Christ, and put in chains; he rejoiced at this for five years, and then an angel released him and he was freed.

Wishing to visit the West, he came to Clermont and there founded a monastery near the basilica of the holy Cyricus. He had marvelous power, put demons to flight, gave light to the blind, and cured other illnesses too as a very potent healer.

Thus when the feast of the above-mentioned basilica came around, he called the prior to prepare a vessel filled with wine as usual in the forecourt of the church to refresh the people present for the solemnity. The monk excused himself, saying: "Look, you have invited the bishop, the duke, and the citizens, and we have less than thirty-four gallons of wine left. Where will you get enough to fill all these pitchers?" And Abraham said: "Open the cellar for me." When it was opened, he went in. And praying as a new Elijah, raising his hands to heaven, his eyes filled with tears, he said: "Let there be no lack of wine in this vessel, I beg you, Lord, until all have been given in abundance." Then, as the Holy Spirit rushed into him, he said: "Thus says the Lord: 'Wine will not lack in this vessel, and enough will be given to all those who ask for it, and there shall be some left.'"

And according to his word it was served in abundance to all the people, who drank it with joy, and there was some left. But the conscientious prior had previously measured the vessel, which could hold fifty measures, and found that the wine stood four hands high. When he saw what had happened, he measured the wine again the next morning and found the same amount as on the previous day.

After this event had made his holy power manifest to the people, the holy man died at an advanced age in this monastery and was buried there with honor. At that time the holy Sidonius was bishop, and Victorius was duke: he had received the governance of seven cities from Euric, the king of the Goths. The blessed Sidonius wrote the epitaph for this saint, and in it some of the things I related are mentioned. Frequently, the fever-stricken who sleep at the tomb of this blessed Abraham are relieved of their illness by the succor of heavenly healing.

Latin

Igitur Abraham iste super Eufratis fluvii litus exortus est, ubi in Dei opere proficiens ad visitandos heremitas adire Aegypti solitudines concupivit. Quod iter dum teneret, a paganis conprehensus et multis pro Christi nomine adfectus verberibus, in vincula conicitur, in quibus per quinque annos exulans, angelo solvente, laxatur. Occidentalem quoque plagam visitare cupiens, Arvernus advenit, ibique ad basilicam sancti Cirici monasterium collocavit Erat enim mirae virtutis, fugator daemonum inluminatorque caecorum, aliorum quoque morborum potentissimus medicator. Igitur cum festivitas supradictae basilicae advenisset, praepositum vocat·, ut vasa vino plena ad reficiendum populum, qui solemnitati aderat, in atrio ex more conponeret. Causatur monachus, dicens: 'Ecce episcopum cum duce et civibus invitatum habes, et vix nobis supersunt quattuor vini amphorae, unde omnia ista conplebis?' Et ille: 'Aperite', inquid, 'mihi poenum'. Quo aperto, ingressus est; et dans orationem, quasi novus Helias, elevatis ad caelum manibus, infusis fletu luminibus, ait: 'Ne deficiat, quaeso, Domine, de hoc vasculo vinum, donec cunctis ministretur in abundantiam', et, inruente in se Spiritu sancto, ait: 'Haec dicit Dominus: Non deficiet vinum de vase, sed omnibus petentibus affatim tribuetur, et abundabit'. Verumtamen ad verbum et hilaritatem dispensationis illius cuncto populo in abundantia ministratum est, et superfuit. Sed quia strenuitas praepositi prius mensuraverat vasculum quinquagenarium et reppererat quattuor palmorum mensuram, cernens quae acta fuerant, in crastino iterum mensurans, tantum repperit in vase, quantum in eo praęcedente reliquerat die. Ex hoc sancti virtus in populis· declarata est; in quo monasterio plenus dierum obiit, ibique cum honore sepultus est. Erat enim eo tempore sanctus Sidonius episcopus et Victorius dux, qui super septem civitates principatum, Eoricho Gothorum rege indulgente, susceperas. Huius vero sancti epitaphium beatus Sidonius scripsit, in quo aliqua de his quae locutus sum est praefatus. Ad huius enim beati Abrahae sepulchrum plerumque frigoritici decubantes, medicinae caelestis praesidio sublevantur.