Letter to John of Jerusalem · §3 · Epiphanius of Salamis

The Imprint of Christ and the Torn Garment

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The imprint belonged to Christ or to one of the saints, for I do not remember having seen such a thing existing as a mystery within the church. I tore it and consulted about wearing it as a penance after it was completed, but those who grumbled said, 'It was necessary for him to change his own cloak before it tore.' This was despite my promise that I would send another in its place, though I delayed sending it because of my necessity.

Greek

Χριστοῦ ἦν τὸ ἐκτύπωμα ἢ ἑνὸς τῶν ἁγίων οὐ γὰρ μέμνημαι ἐγὼ θεασάμενος, καὶ εἰδὼς ὅτι μύσος ἐστὶν ἐν ἐκκλησίᾳ τοιαῦτα εἶναι, διέρρηξα αὐτὸ καὶ συνεβούλευσα ἀμφιάσαι ἐν αὐτῷ πένητα τελευτήσαντα, οἱ δὲ γογγύσαντες ἔλεγον· "ἔδει αὐτὸν ἀλλάξαι ἐκ τῶν ἰδίων τὸ βῆλον πρινὴ αὐτὸ σχίσῃ", καίτοιγε ἐμοῦ ὑποσχομένου ὅτι ἀντ' αὐτοῦ ἀπο 283 στελῶ ἕτερον, ἐβράδυνα δὲ τοῦ ἀποστεῖλαι διὰ τὸ ἀναγκαῖόν με