This was not the first time Nicholas had seen Faustinus conceal talk of Christus from the court. He knew Faustinus to be a follower of Christus—for that very reason his uncle had arranged his apprenticeship with Faustinus—but two years ago when the emperor purged the army of Christiani, Faustinus began to be cautious. Whenever Nicholas saw him draw back from speaking of Christus, it made him uneasy, though he was beginning to get used to it. He asked Faustinus, “Would they really change their verdict over something like that?”
“I have seen it before.”
Nicholas thought about it a moment, then said, “But at least in this case, wouldn’t it help his argument to show that as a follower of Christus, he would not steal or worship idols?”
Faustinus laughed and shook his head. “That may be a convincing argument to you and me. But to them, it may well have proven him guilty. They would judge him an enemy of the gods, someone with no respect for a man’s ancestral gods, and no fear of stealing them. No. Far better we said nothing of it.”
Nicholas nodded. It sounded reasonable. They were not in court to represent Christus. If the magistrates hated the name, it would win no cases to mention it. He hoped to become as keen-witted as Faustinus. He said, “When will I get to speak in court?”
“In due time. Just keep helping me, watching what I do and asking questions.”
That night, Nicholas found his uncle bubbling with excitement. He said, “Do you remember Stephanas? No, you would not remember him, you may have seen him when you came to visit when you were little. He used to be the overseer of our Assembly here in Myra. He has been living in the holy land for some years now. He has chosen a life of prayer and solitude, like Antonius of Egypt.”
Nicholas recognized the fame of Antonius: A wealthy man, he read of what Christus told the rich young ruler and decided he would actually do it. He sold all he had and gave it to the poor. Then he went to live a life of solitude in the desert of Egypt for the past 30 years. Many Christiani had come to look on him as a great example of self-sacrifice. While some could only hope to make smaller sacrifices, others sought to become hermits just like him. Stephanas was one of those.
Old Nicholas went on, “Some of us in the assembly here have been sending him support. I now have the opportunity to go to Palestina and bring him the next collection from our assembly. I will need someone to travel with me.” He smiled an invitation to young Nicholas.
“I have seen it before.”
Nicholas thought about it a moment, then said, “But at least in this case, wouldn’t it help his argument to show that as a follower of Christus, he would not steal or worship idols?”
Faustinus laughed and shook his head. “That may be a convincing argument to you and me. But to them, it may well have proven him guilty. They would judge him an enemy of the gods, someone with no respect for a man’s ancestral gods, and no fear of stealing them. No. Far better we said nothing of it.”
Nicholas nodded. It sounded reasonable. They were not in court to represent Christus. If the magistrates hated the name, it would win no cases to mention it. He hoped to become as keen-witted as Faustinus. He said, “When will I get to speak in court?”
“In due time. Just keep helping me, watching what I do and asking questions.”
That night, Nicholas found his uncle bubbling with excitement. He said, “Do you remember Stephanas? No, you would not remember him, you may have seen him when you came to visit when you were little. He used to be the overseer of our Assembly here in Myra. He has been living in the holy land for some years now. He has chosen a life of prayer and solitude, like Antonius of Egypt.”
Nicholas recognized the fame of Antonius: A wealthy man, he read of what Christus told the rich young ruler and decided he would actually do it. He sold all he had and gave it to the poor. Then he went to live a life of solitude in the desert of Egypt for the past 30 years. Many Christiani had come to look on him as a great example of self-sacrifice. While some could only hope to make smaller sacrifices, others sought to become hermits just like him. Stephanas was one of those.
Old Nicholas went on, “Some of us in the assembly here have been sending him support. I now have the opportunity to go to Palestina and bring him the next collection from our assembly. I will need someone to travel with me.” He smiled an invitation to young Nicholas.
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