The Novatian Church Saved from Fire

A little while after this, Paul, bishop of the Novatians, came to be regarded even more than before as a man truly loved by God. For a terrible fire broke out at Constantinople, such as had never happened before; it destroyed the greater part of the city. As the largest of the public granaries, the Baths of Achilles and everything else in the fire’s path were being consumed, it at last drew near the church of the Novatians that stood near Pelargus. When the bishop Paul saw the church in danger, he ran up to the altar, and there he committed to God the safekeeping of the church and everything in it; nor did he stop praying, not only for the church but also for the city. And God heard him, as the outcome clearly showed. For though the fire came into this house of prayer through all its doors and windows, it did no damage. While many of the buildings around it fell prey to the flames, the church itself was seen unharmed in the middle of the whole blaze, triumphing over its raging flames. [a]

This went on for two days and two nights. Then the fire was put out, after it had burned down a great part of the city. But the church stood whole, and, more marvelous still, not the slightest trace even of smoke could be seen on its timbers or its walls. This happened on the seventeenth of August, in the fourteenth consulship of Theodosius, which he held together with Maximus. Since that time the Novatians celebrate the saving of their church every year on the seventeenth of August, with special thanksgivings to God. And from that time on almost everyone, Christians and most of the pagans too, has regarded that place with reverence as a specially holy spot, because of the miracle worked to keep it safe. So much for these matters.