One of the most mysterious personalities in the 1st century AD was the famous ancient Greek healer, philosopher and seer Apollonius of Tyana. It was said about him that he is able to make objects and people disappear and reappear, predict the future and even … revive the dead. No wonder the mighty of this world were seriously afraid of this man …
Already in his early youth, Apollonius's amazing mental abilities began to manifest. Although the young man was very handsome (it was not for nothing that he bore the name in honor of the god Apollo), he preferred to spend time not with girls, but with sages and philosophers, and study the works of Aristotle, Plato and Chrysippus. He did not eat meat or fish, only food of plant origin.
He often surprised those around him with his wonderful "tricks". So, during the feast, meals of themselves appeared out of nowhere in front of Apollonius. He knew how to animate stone statues, so that they changed their positions, came off their pedestals and even served at the table … Sometimes Apollonius made gold and silver vessels disappear along with their contents. There is one known case when he made the servants disappear …
Once, having met a funeral procession on the street, the philosopher turned to the people accompanying her with the following words: "Lower the coffin to the ground, and I will dry the tears that you shed over this girl." They were amazed, but obeyed the famous sage. Apollonius touched the body of a young woman lying in the coffin, uttered a few words, and the deceased suddenly came to life …
Another time, while in Smyrna, he suddenly informed those who were next to him that a plague was raging in the city of Ephesus and he needed to immediately go there. At the same moment he was transported to Ephesus.
When Apollonius of Tyana arrived in Rome, he was already 70 years old. With him was a crystal ball received as a gift from some Persian magician, with the help of which Apollonius healed the sick and predicted the future for people. Some of the Romans envied him, and charges of high treason were brought against the philosopher. He was brought in for interrogation, but when the prosecutor unrolled a scroll on which the charges were written, there was a blank sheet inside. The sage was released and he returned to his activities.
This went on for about 30 years. Having reached almost a hundred years of age, the elder did not look decrepit at all and felt quite cheerful.
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Meanwhile, the Roman emperor Domitian began to fear the popularity of the miracle worker, which, as it seemed to him, could shake his power. And then the emperor ordered the arrest of Apollonius and put him on trial for sorcery.
During a search, the guards did not find the notorious crystal ball with the elder - he disappeared. When Apollonius was imprisoned, someone asked him if he could make it so that he could be free. He replied: “I can do it tomorrow, if it depends on the judge; now if it depends on me. " With these words, the elder took his legs out of the shackles and said: "You see the freedom that I have." Then he was somehow again imprisoned in shackles.
During the tribunal Apollonius was asked the question: "Why do people call you God?"
"Because, - was the answer, - every person who is kind has the right to be called that."
“How did you predict the plague in Ephesus?” They asked him.
"Due to the fact that I live on lighter food than other people."
Apollonius' answers made such an impression on the emperor that he pleaded not guilty, but asked to stay for a personal conversation. To this the sage replied: “You can restrain my body, but not my soul; and the body, perhaps, you will not be able to detain."
Then the emperor asked how Apollonius makes people disappear. The elder promised "not only to tell, but also to show." From somewhere a crystal ball appeared in his hand, and suddenly … Apollonius was gone. Panic seized those present. Domitian sent his men in search of the daring old man, but no trace of him could be found. On the same day, one of Apollonius's friends met him three days' walk from Rome.
When Apollonius of Tyana was in Ephesus, he had a vision of the assassination of the emperor Domitian. Astrologers predicted to him that he would be killed on September 18, 96, before 5 pm. On the indicated day, Caesar anxiously awaited the appointed hour, taking all precautions. Finally he was informed that it was already 5 o'clock and a visitor had come to him. Deciding that the danger was over, Domitian ordered to let the guest in. But it turned out that there was a conspiracy against him. In fact, five had not yet struck, and an assassin named Stephen stabbed the emperor unhindered. At the same moment Apollonius saw this whole scene in his crystal ball …
TRINITY MARGARITA
