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Handout #46 |
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The church spread to the ends of the earth |
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| In a
poetic language understandable to believers, the author of this epitaph
proclaims his faith in Jesus, the church and the eucharist. He already
bears witness to the 'catholicity' (universality) of the church. The fish
(in Greek [ichthys]) symbolizes Christ, since the letters of the Greek word
have the initials of Jesus Christ, Son of God, Savior.
My name is Abercius. I am a disciple of a holy pastor who fed his flocks of sheep on the mountains and in the plains; who has keen eyes that can see everywhere. He taught me the scriptures which are worthy of faith. It was he who sent me to Rome to contemplate the sovereign majesty and to see a queen with garments and shoes of gold. I saw there a people marked with a radiant sign. I also saw the plain of Syria and all the cities, Nisibis on the other side of the Euphrates. I met Christians everywhere. Everywhere faith was my guide. Everywhere it provided for me as food a fish from the source, very great, very pure, caught by a holy virgin. She gave it constantly as food to eat with friends; she had a delicious wine which she offered with the bread. I, Abercius, have written these things at the age of seventy two. May the brother who understands them pray for Abercius...Funereary inscription of Abercius, Bishop of Herapolis in Syria, end of the second century. |
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