THEN John, prostrating himself before an image of the Virgin in his private chapel, poured out his soul in supplication, praying that the hand which he placed against his mutilated arm might grow again to the limb from which it had been severed.* He falls asleep, worn out with pain and weariness, and in a dream beholds the Holy Virgin signifying that his prayer is heard.* The vision comes true. On starting up he finds his hand to be indeed restored whole as the other.
The news of this miracle soon reaches the ears of the caliph. John is again summoned to his presence, and strictly questioned. His enemies try in vain to explain it away; the red line showing where the knife had gone still remains visible, and no earthly physician could have wrought such a work of healing. The caliph is convinced, and would fain have had the sufferer resume his former office. But John pleaded so earnestly for relief to retire from public affairs that his master yielded; and so, having disposed of all his worldly goods, he set out, accompanied by his old companion Cosmas, for the convent of St Sabas.
abridged
* According to Patriarch John of Jerusalem, John Mansur’s prayer to the Virgin Mary went something like this:
LADY, purest mother, who gave birth to my God:
For the sake of the divine images, my right hand had been severed.
You are not ignorant of the reason why Leo has lost his mind.
Hurry then, be quick, and heal my hand.
The Right Hand of the Most High, who took flesh from you,
Does many deeds of power through your intercession.
Let him now heal my right hand by your entreaties,
That I might compose your hymns — hymns which you inspire —
And hymns of him that was born of you,
In harmony and in good metre, O Birth-giver of God,
So making me a fellow-labourer in Orthodox worship.
For you are the Mother of God
And can do whatever you please.
* “Behold your hand is healthy” said Mary to him in his dream; “do not delay, but make it the pen of a ready writer, as you promised me just now.” The reference is to Psalm 45:1-2.