The Collected Works of Pseudo-Dionysius

Martyrdom of the saints?

And she, with every effort and toil as much as she was able, with all prayer and great desire, having built a church over the blessed bodiesThe OCR shows "σωματ̅", an abbreviation for "somata" (bodies). In hagiography, the physical remains of saints were considered conduits of divine power. of the holy martyrs, and in the holy glory of the Holy Trinity, worthily laid down the holy bodies, three in number, with fragrant spices. This was done with the help of God the Almighty, whose goodness shines forth daily through miracles and signs. What word, then, or what tongue of the faithful could suffice to recount these miraculous powersoriginal: "δυνάμεις" (dynameis) — often translated as "powers," but in this context, it specifically refers to miracles.,
15 since people cannot even comprehend their own affairs with human reasoning? For they grant health to the sick, the ability to walk to the lame, light to the blind, and hearing to the deaf. They give speech to the mute, and by driving out the unclean spiritsoriginal: "πν̅ατα" (pneumata) — another sacred abbreviation. that beset their bodies,
20 they ceaselessly provide healings. And we, drawn by good prayer and blessed obedience—especially we who are most unworthy—believe that we are helped toward salvation by their prayers; or rather, being in awe as unworthy men, we yet attempt to present their worth to you. For we have not been called by our own ways or by our own foreknowledge, but an ancient narrative has brought these things to you. In part, from a firm and ancient source, we have set down in writing a few things as we were able, which we have heard from long ago.
30 We have not acted on our own accord regarding this explanation, as has been said, but have written as we learned the accounts from the great teachers, fearing God and with the care of love...