Two of those were the army officers, Anatolios and Protoleon. They became martyrs for Christ on that same day. Only Diocletian did not want to believe, and so he called for Athanasius, a famous magician of the time, to come to his palace. The Emperor implored him, “Athanasius, I beseech you, use your magic to either make him give in to my will or to kill him as he deserves.”
“Do not worry, my king,” answered the magician. “Tomorrow I will do as you bid and then you will see my art and the power of our great gods.” After saying so he left the palace. Diocletian ordered for George to be sent back to prison.
When dawn came, Diocletian sat on his throne and asked for the Saint to be brought to him. Athanasius arrived, holding two clay vessels and said, “My king, the solution to your problem lays within these vessels. If you want him to surrender to your wishes without objections, he should drink from the poison in my left hand. But, if you wish for him to die, let him taste from the vessel in my right hand.”
Then the envious Emperor ordered for George to drink both poisons, starting with one in his left hand. The Saint took the magic potions from the magician, and after he prayed to God, he drank the first one. Nothing happened to him. Then he drank the other poison, and that also did not affect him. Everyone that was present became astonished by the scene, especially Athanasius, who knew the power of his magic potions. They became powerless next to the power of Christ.
| magician (ματζίσιαν) | Είναι στ’ αγγλικά ο μάγος, αυτός που κάνει μαγείες. |
| dawn (ντων) | Είναι η αυγή. |
| solution (σολούσιον) | Η κυρία χρήση της λέξης είναι η λύση, π.χ. ενός προβλήματος. Αλλά μπορεί να σημαίνει και διάλυμα, διάλυση. |
| problem (πρόμπλεμ) | Είναι στ’ αγγλικά το πρόβλημα. Όπως βλέπετε, η λέξη μοιάζει με την ελληνική, διότι από αυτήν προέρχεται. |
| (to) drink (ντρινκ) | Ως ρήμα σημαίνει πίνω και ουσιαστικό είναι το ποτό. Στο κείμενο χρησιμοποιείται ως ρήμα. |
| (to) poison (πόιζον) | Ουσιαστικό και ρήμα. Δηλητηριάζω και δηλητήριο. Στο κείμενο χρησιμοποιείται ως ουσιαστικό. |
| (to) taste (τέιστ) | Ως ρήμα σημαίνει γεύομαι και ουσιαστικό είναι η γεύση. |
| throne (θρόουν) | είναι ο θρόνος στα αγγλικά. |
Η φράση που θα μάθουμε να γράφουμε σ’ αυτό το μάθημα είναι
ότι «Η δύναμη του Χριστού νικάει όλα τα κακά»:
The power of Christ beats all evil.