In the seventh century an Anonymous author compiled a number of miracles of Saint Artemios, whose healing activities were predominantly centered in the Church of Saint John the Forerunner in Constantinople and who "specialized" in healing hernias and diseases affecting the genitals of mostly male patients. Below are two examples of the forty-five listed:
Miracle 13: From the Bath of Dagistheos to St. John's
A certain 50 year old man, gray and overcome by disease of the testicles, waited upon the Saint for fifteen days. But since domestic concerns were pressing on him while at the same time despair also was oppressing him, that having reached old age he would not enjoy good health thereafter, he picked up his mattress and withdrew. But hampered by the disease and the burden of the mattress, he walked somewhat haltingly. Reaching the public bath, the one called Dagistheos', opposite the Kyphe where once there were the stable of horses of the Hippodrome, exhausted he set the mattress down in the corner and rested on it. It was about the third hour. Constricted by extreme pain but pulling himself together, he fell asleep and saw someone pricking his testicles. He was awakened by the pain and found himself covered in blood and pus, while the skin of his testicles was ruptured and exuded an intolerable odor. Immediately he returned to the house of the Forerunner; those who were present wiped off his effluvium with sponges and warm water. He was restored to health after applying a plaster of wax to the ruptured spot.
Miracle 14: A Miraculous Cure Performed at Sea
A certain sailor afflicted by the same disease waited upon the Saint for 30 days. Since his shipmates urged him to set sail, he withdrew from the church and set sail. After they had passed beyond Abydos, while they were sailing with a favorable wind, they plainly saw someone wearing a cloak standing by the steersman giving orders and they were amazed at the strange sight, seeing a stranger in such garb sailing with them. It happened that about this time the sick man was lying near the helmsman. Now the stranger they were staring at made as if to lay hold of the tiller so as to help the pilot, and pretending not to notice, he trod upon the sick man's testicles. The man, gripped by fear, shouted loudly and touching his testicles found them healed and, amazed at what happened, he showed himself to his shipmates as well; these had witnessed both the miracle as well as the disappearance of the stranger who had been sailing with them, and they shouted for many hours: "Lord, have mercy." While these returned home, the healed man posthaste took what was suitable for thanksgiving and returned to the divinely favored city, where the tomb of the Saint is situated, and thanked God and the Holy Martyr.
Miracle 13: From the Bath of Dagistheos to St. John's
A certain 50 year old man, gray and overcome by disease of the testicles, waited upon the Saint for fifteen days. But since domestic concerns were pressing on him while at the same time despair also was oppressing him, that having reached old age he would not enjoy good health thereafter, he picked up his mattress and withdrew. But hampered by the disease and the burden of the mattress, he walked somewhat haltingly. Reaching the public bath, the one called Dagistheos', opposite the Kyphe where once there were the stable of horses of the Hippodrome, exhausted he set the mattress down in the corner and rested on it. It was about the third hour. Constricted by extreme pain but pulling himself together, he fell asleep and saw someone pricking his testicles. He was awakened by the pain and found himself covered in blood and pus, while the skin of his testicles was ruptured and exuded an intolerable odor. Immediately he returned to the house of the Forerunner; those who were present wiped off his effluvium with sponges and warm water. He was restored to health after applying a plaster of wax to the ruptured spot.
Miracle 14: A Miraculous Cure Performed at Sea
A certain sailor afflicted by the same disease waited upon the Saint for 30 days. Since his shipmates urged him to set sail, he withdrew from the church and set sail. After they had passed beyond Abydos, while they were sailing with a favorable wind, they plainly saw someone wearing a cloak standing by the steersman giving orders and they were amazed at the strange sight, seeing a stranger in such garb sailing with them. It happened that about this time the sick man was lying near the helmsman. Now the stranger they were staring at made as if to lay hold of the tiller so as to help the pilot, and pretending not to notice, he trod upon the sick man's testicles. The man, gripped by fear, shouted loudly and touching his testicles found them healed and, amazed at what happened, he showed himself to his shipmates as well; these had witnessed both the miracle as well as the disappearance of the stranger who had been sailing with them, and they shouted for many hours: "Lord, have mercy." While these returned home, the healed man posthaste took what was suitable for thanksgiving and returned to the divinely favored city, where the tomb of the Saint is situated, and thanked God and the Holy Martyr.
