E06987
Literary - Hagiographical - Other saint-related texts
The Conversion/Penance of Taisia (BHG 1695-1697)
Short Summary:
Taisia was an extremely beautiful woman from Alexandria, who as a girl was sold into prostitution by her mother. Her beauty infatuated innumerable men, rich and poor alike, who spent all their money to be with her. She attracted the attention of the ascetic Sarapion Sindonios, who visited her, seemingly in order to use her services. Alone in her bedroom, he convinced her to abandon her way of life and seek forgiveness from God. She burnt all her belongings in the centre of Alexandria, and was taken by Sarapion to a convent. He instructed that she be locked in a dark cell, and only be given some bread and water, without being allowed to leave even for her hygiene. Three years later, Sarapion visited the monastery of *Antony ['the Great', monk of Egypt, ob. 356, S00098] and asked the monks to seek a revelation as to whether Taisia's sins have been forgiven. A vision was granted to *Paulos the Simple [ascetic of Egypt, ob. c. 340, S01480] confirming the salvation of the former prostitute. Sarapion went to Taisia's monastery and released her from her cell, although she implored that she be allowed to continue her asceticism. She died two weeks later.
Text: Nau 1903.
Summary: E. Rizos.
Composing and translating saint-related texts
MiraclesApparition, vision, dream, revelation
Protagonists in Cult and NarrativesWomen
The socially marginal (beggars, prostitutes, thieves)
Ecclesiastics - monks/nuns/hermits
Source
For the full text of Nau's edition, translation and accompanying study, see:https://archive.org/details/histoiredethais00nauf/page/n1
Discussion
This is a monastic edifying story which was in circulation by the early 6th century, when a version of it, very close to the text of BHG 1695, was translated into Latin by Dionysius Exiguus (E06983). In that version, the figure of Serapion is replaced by that of Paphnutios, suggesting the existence of several variants.Bibliography
Text, French translation, commetary:Nau, F. 'Histoire de Thais," Annales du Musee Guimet 30:3 (1903), 51-114.
Efthymios Rizos
26/10/2018
| ID | Name | Name in Source | Identity | S00098 | Antony, 'the Great', monk of Egypt, ob. 356 | Ἀντώνιος | Certain | S01480 | Paulos the Simple, ascetic of Egypt, ob. c. 340 | Παῦλος | Uncertain | S02646 | Taisia/Thais, penitent of Egypt, 4th c. | Ταϊσία | Certain | S02647 | Sarapion/Serapion 'Sindonios', travelling ascetic of Egypt | Σαραπίων | Certain |
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Efthymios Rizos, Cult of Saints, E06987 - http://csla.history.ox.ac.uk/record.php?recid=E06987