Page:The Apocryphal Acts of Paul, Peter, John, Andrew and Thomas.djvu/371



157. Having thus prayed for them, the apostle said to Mygdonia, "Undress thy sisters!" She undressed them and put aprons about them and brought them. And Vazan had gone first and they followed. And Judas took oil in a silver cup, and spoke thus: "Fruit, more beautiful than the other fruits, with which no other can be united; thou most compassionate; thou which burnest by the power of the word; power of the wood (cross), with which men by putting it on (by anointing themselves with it), overcome their enemies; which crowns the victors; token and joy of the weary; which has brought to men the good news of their salvation; which showest light to those that are in darkness; which art bitter as to the leaves, but sweet as to the fruit; which art rough as to the appearance, but tender as to the use; which seems weak, but carries the all-seeing power by the extraordinariness of thy power; Jesus, let thy victorious power come and rest upon this oil as it once rested upon the wood (cross) related to it—and thy crucifiers could not bear the word; let also come the gift by which thou didst blow at thy enemies and thereby didst bring about that they went back and fell downward, and may it dwell in this oil over which we call thy holy name!" And after the apostle had said this, he poured it first upon the head of Vazan, then upon the women, saying, "In thy name, Jesus Christ, let it be to these souls for forgiveness of sins and for keeping away of the enemy and for the salvation of their souls!"