Introduction
This story was told to his congregation by Elfric of Eynsham (955-1010) on the Feast of the Dormition of Mary. It is quite true that in 363, Julian the Apostate, pagan Emperor of Rome and cruel persecutor of Christians, was mortally wounded by an unknown assailant wielding a spear.
ON his way to Persia to do battle, the Emperor Julian ran into Basil, Bishop of Caesarea. They had been at the same Christian school, and Basil, after offering him some bread, joked that he had benefited rather more from their education than Julian, who was now a pagan.
To Basil’s amazement, Julian was furious.
He offered Basil a handful of grass, fit (he said) for dumb animals, and then the mood turned darker, as he vowed to sack the whole town and turn it to farmland, when he had dealt with Persia.
Once Julian was gone, Basil had the townsfolk bring their gold and gems to a church dedicated to Mary, hoping to buy Julian off later. Bishop and people then gathered to fast and pray for three days and three nights.
On the third night, Mary herself appeared to Basil. ‘Bring me the martyr Mercurius’, she said; so Basil, very willing but very puzzled, hastened to a nearby church, dedicated to St Mercurius.
St Mercurius, a soldier in the army of the Roman Emperor Decius, was martyred in 250 at the age of twenty-five, for refusing to worship the gods of the State. His feast day is December 4th.
Précis
Roman Emperor Julian the Apostate was offended by a harmless quip from an old schoolfellow, Basil, Bishop of Caesarea, and threatened to destroy his whole town. Basil raised as much money as possible to buy him off, but while the town fasted and prayed, Mary appeared to Basil and told him to fetch a martyr buried in a nearby church. (60 / 60 words)
Roman Emperor Julian the Apostate was offended by a harmless quip from an old schoolfellow, Basil, Bishop of Caesarea, and threatened to destroy his whole town. Basil raised as much money as possible to buy him off, but while the town fasted and prayed, Mary appeared to Basil and told him to fetch a martyr buried in a nearby church.
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Variations: 1.increase the length of this precis to exactly 65 words. 2.reduce the length of this precis to exactly 55 words. 3.introduce one of the following words into the precis: although, despite, if, ought, since, unless, until, whether.
Word Games
Sevens Based on this passage
Suggest answers to this question. See if you can limit one answer to exactly seven words.
How did Basil and Julian know each other?
Suggestion
They had been at the same school. (7 words)
Variations: 1.expand your answer to exactly fourteen words. 2.expand your answer further, to exactly twenty-one words. 3.include one of the following words in your answer: if, but, despite, because, (al)though, unless.
Jigsaws Based on this passage
Express the ideas below in a single sentence. Do not be satisfied with the first answer you think of; think of several, and choose the best.
Basil and Julian were once schoolfellows. Basil teased Julian. Julian became angry.