JOHANNES MEURSIUS

...bearers of the teraine original: τεραινοφόροι and bearers of the citron] Meursius is likely correcting a corrupted manuscript reading here. It should be written: and bearers of scirrhous tumors. original Greek: σκιῤῥοφόροι; referring to medical conditions or perhaps those carrying offerings related to healings.

"and the moisture gave him an answer" original Greek: δεδώκει δὲ αὐτῷ ἀπόκρισιν ἡ νότις] It should be written: "and the nun gave him an answer." original Greek: ἡ νυνίς; Meursius is correcting "notis" (moisture/south wind) to "nynis" (a rare term for an old woman or nun). See our Glossary under this word.

"and you, why do you delay?" original Greek: καὶ σύ τί μέλλεις] It should be written: "and you, why will you delay?" original Greek: καὶ σύ τί μέλλῃ And soon after again: "for a dead man you shall never delay."

"buried in the desert itself" original Greek: ἐν αὐτῇ τῇ ἐρήμῳ ταφείς] It should be written: "buried in Rome itself." For these events occurred in Rome, as is clear from what precedes.

"One Pior by name" original Greek: Πίωρ τίς ὀνόματι; Pior was a 4th-century Egyptian hermit and disciple of Anthony the Great known for his extreme asceticism.] One should consult Sozomen, Book 6, Chapter 28 and Nicephorus, Book 11, Chapter 37. Socrates [Scholasticus], Book 4, Chapter 22 also mentions him, as does John Geometra in his Epigrams on the Paradise, Epigram 41, Book 66.

"at Phliasa" original Greek: ἐπὶ τῆς Φλιάσας] It should be written: "at Phliasis." original Greek: Φλιάσεως

"To see the fire of the saint brings the miracle of his endurance" original Greek: Ἰδεῖν δὲ τοῦ ἁγίου πῦρ φέρει τὸ ὑπομονῆς τὸ θαῦμα] John Geometra also praises his patience in Epigrams on the Paradise, Epigram 41:

When the King had sent a speaker, if he gave the city
See the things that approach to honor, and the water.
"Let it be so for you too," said Pior, "you shall destroy the passions,
Until you blame these things, you will draw out the difficult part."

"This man was deemed worthy of the gift of healings" original Greek: οὗτος κατηξιώθη χαρίσματος ἰαμάτων; Moses the Libyan is better known as Moses the Black, a former bandit who became a Desert Father.] Nicephorus, Book 11, Chapter 36: "We have received word that Moses attained great glory through his gentleness and charity; he also [healed] very many sicknesses, and those [which were] incur- original Latin: invic-; the text breaks off here at the catchword for 'invictas' or 'invincibiles' meaning incurable or unconquerable diseases.