Andreas X

Then the sainted one began to gladden the heroes,
comforting the throng of warriors wordfully:
“Do not be too fearful, although ruin has chosen
the kindred of sinners. They have suffered
death and torments as they deserve —
For you is the dazzling light of glory is revealed,
if you think rightly.” (1607-12)

Next he sent his prayer before the Child of God,
begging the Holy One to give help to the youthful men,
who had recently given up their lives in the water,
through the flood’s embrace, so that those spirits—
starved of good, deprived of glory, who had perished in agony—
would not be ferried into the rule of the Enemy.
When that message was spoken graciously to the All-wielding God,
the Chief of Nations, according to the speeches of the sainted spirit,
then the Lord commanded all the young men to arise
uninjured from the dust, those whom the ocean had earlier killed.
When they stood up hastily, the many youthful sons,
there as a group, as I have heard, then all of them were united,
body and soul, even though they had swiftly laid down
their spirit through the flood’s fear. The Mermedonians
accepted baptism and a peace-bond, the patronage of the Creator,
that each would be pledged to Glory and
be made prosperous through their punishments. (1613-32a)

Then spirited Andrew, the King’s craftsman,
ordered them to build a church, to raise a temple to God
on that very spot where the youth were raised through
the Father’s baptism and where the flood burst forth.
Then the people gathered, far and wide, into a troop of men throughout
the wine-town,* resolute nobles, and their wives among them.
They stated that they wished to follow faithfully,
promptly take on the bath of baptism, as pleases the Lord,
and forsake idolatry and the old idol-havens. (1632b-42)

Next, baptism was raised up among the people,
nobly among nobles, and God’s righteous law
and decree exalted in the land, among the city-dwellers,
and the church was consecrated. There the envoy of God
appointed one a learned man, wise of words, a bishop for those
people in that bright city, for the need of the nation, and confirmed him,
a man named Platan, before that mighty multitude
by his apostle-hood. Andrew boldly commanded them
to attend to Platan’s teaching eagerly and achieve their salvation. (1643-54a)

Andrew then declared his hastening intention,
that he wished to leave the gold-city then, the hall-joys of men
and the treasure-hoard, the bright bracelet-houses,
and wished to seek a ship for himself at the sea’s shore.
That was a hard fact for the host to endure—
that the first of their nation wished to remain no whit longer with them.
Then the God of Glory revealed himself, the Lord of Armies,
to Andrew on the journey-road, and spoke a word: (1654b-63)

“These folk, on account of their sins, their minds are eager,
but they go about groaning. They show their sorrow
to men and woman alike. Their wailing, their mourning spirit,
has come to my attention.* You must not abandon your flock
in such new joys, but edify my name in them,
securely in their soul-closures. Shelter of warriors, dwell with them
in that wine-city, their treasure-laden halls, for a space of seven nights.
After that with my grace you may depart.” (1664-74)

Then Andrew returned one more time, high-spirited,
stout of power, seeking the city of Mermedonia.
The words and wisdom of these Christians had increased,
since they had laid eyes upon Glory’s thane, the messenger
of the Worthy-King. Then he taught those people the way of belief,
and strengthened them gloriously; the measureless host
of glory-blessed men that hoped for glory,
for the holy home of Heaven’s Realm, where the Father
and the Son and Comforting Spirit in Majestic Trinity
rule the Sublime Mansions in the World of All Worlds.* (1675-86)

And so the holy man tore down the temples,
dispelled devil-worship and destroyed their errors.
That was a pain for Satan to endure—a great sorrow of mind,
that he saw that multitude, through Andrew’s gracious instruction,
turn heart-glad from their hell-houses to sweet joys,
where no Enemy or other fierce-minded spirit
will ever be found, walking by land. (1687-94)

Then were the count of days fulfilled according to the decree
of the Lord, as He had commanded that Andrew must dwell
in the weather-beaten city. Then he began to hasten himself
and get ready to sail, exulting in bliss. Andrew wished to betake
himself on a ship to Achaia a second time,
where he anticipated his soul-parting and battle-death—
That would be no laughing matter for his slayer,
instead the guilty hand, without friends, set himself
on a course into the jaws of Hell,
where there would be no comfort at all to enjoy. (1695-1705

Then I have heard that a host of people, of mournful-hearted men,
conducted their beloved teacher to the stem of the ship.
In many there was an emotion welling hot about their hearts
when they brought the quick-purposed warrior
onto the wave-plank at the sea’s headland.
They stood then upon the land’s margin lamenting after him
while they could still see him, the joy of good men,
upon the waves, across the seal-path.
And then they honored the Possessor of Glory,
crying out in chorus, and speaking thus: (1706-16)

“Almighty God is alone among of all creation!
His might and his possession is celebrated,
blessed across Middle-Earth, and his reward shines
over all holy things in heavenly majesty,
beautiful in glory for the length of life,
eternal among angels —
That is a worthy king!” (1717-22)

— Explicit