Mazgaba Maṣāḥəft

Title

• ገድለ፡ ብሶይ፡, Gadla Bǝsoy, Combat of Bishoy

Description

(Synaxary version) This holy man came from Upper Egypt, from the city of ‘Akhim (Akhmim). In the days of his early manhood he used to do works of abomination, and to eat and drink luxuriously. When God chose him He brought upon him a severe illness, and he well-nigh died and delivered up his spirit, and He showed him the places of punishment, and the great deep pits of hell, and he saw men clothed in shining apparel, and in their hands they had the body of a man which they tore into four pieces. And they said unto Besoy, “Thus will they do unto every man who stealeth the possessions of men.” When he heard this word he was sorrowful in his heart, and he wept a bitter weeping, and his soul returned to his body, and he lifted up his eyes to heaven and said, “O my Lord and God, if Thou wilt heal me of this sickness, I will repent of this my sin, and I will worship Thee with all my heart, and from this time forward I will never look at a woman again.” And straightway God healed him of his sickness, and he rose up and went to Dabra Banwayet, and the monks counseled him, and they arrayed him in the garb of the monk. And he fought a great fight with fasting, and prayer, and vigils for many years, until his fame was heard of throughout Egypt; and he excelled among many saints, and he composed many Homilies and Admonitions, and Teachings for the monks and for the laity. And he fasted a month at a time, and neither ate bread nor drank water; and continued to fight the fight in this manner for a period of five and thirty years. And he used to stand up all night in prayer. And the works of men were manifest before him, whether righteous or sinners; and after this he became a little sick and he died in peace.