This continues the translation of chapters from the German translation of the anonymous saint’s Life of Mar Aba I, the Nestorian patriarch in Persia in the middle of the 6th century A.D., when Justinian was emperor of the Romans and Chosroes II was the King of Kings of Persia.
7. When he came to Edessa, he was joined by a brother named Thomas, who had been instructed (in the faith) from a young age. And thus he surpassed most people in his knowledge, which he acquired from the blessed one in the many years that he was with him. After wandering about a lot teaching, because he had been instructed in the Greek language also by him, he went into the Egyptian desert and enlightened many with his teaching and virtues. He went into distant lands with great effort and by difficult ways of travel. In Alexandria he expounded the holy scriptures and converted many who held pagan opinions. He refuted those who dealt in magic, and put down the heretics (αἱρεσιώτης), in which he put them in a state of admiration by his attractive conduct. Everyone was amazed at his mortification and enlightened by his teaching. From there he went to Athens, and chastised the Athenians who believed that they were something great because they had been busy from the start with pagan knowledge and he converted many to the knowledge of the truth by signs and wonders, which were done by him there and in Corinth. We would like to recount a double miracle.