The Life of S. Hilarion 46

St Jerome (AD 345–420) · Vita S. Hilarionis · PL 23, 29–54

46 PL 23, 52

46. When the holy man Hesychius heard of his decease, he went to Cyprus and, to lull the suspicions of the natives who were keeping strict guard, pretended that he wished to live in the same garden, and then in the course of about ten months, though at great peril to his life, stole the saint’s body. He carried it to Majuma; and there all the monks and crowds of towns-folk going in procession laid it to rest in the ancient monastery. His tunic, cowl and cloak, were uninjured; the whole body as perfect as if alive, and so fragrant with sweet odours that one might suppose it to have been embalmed.

Hesychius furatur corpus S. Hilarionis. Integrum corpus Hilarionis et illaesae vestes. --Quod postquam sanctus vir audivit Hesychius, perrexit ad Cyprum, et simulans se velle habitare in eodem hortulo, ut diligentis custodiae suspicionem accolis tolleret, cum ingenti vitae suae periculo, post decem fere menses corpus ejus furatus est. Quod Majumam deferens, totis monachorum et oppidorum turbis prosequentibus, in antiquo monasterio condidit; illaesa tunica, cuculla, et palliolo, et toto corpore, quasi adhuc viveret, integro, tantisque fragrante odoribus, ut delibutum unguentis putares.

Philip Schaff and Henry Wace (eds.), New York: Christian Literature Publishing Co., 1890-1900. Public domain: English translation first published 1885-1900 (Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Second Series). Latin: Migne, Patrologia Latina (1844-1855), public domain; transcription from Corpus Corporum (University of Zurich).

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