The Girl from Busiris and Paphnutius the Confessor

There was also a young girl from Busiris Tripolitana who had a terrible and very hideous disorder. The discharge from her eyes, nose, and ears fell to the ground and at once turned into worms. She was also paralyzed, and her eyes were crossed. Her parents heard of some monks who were going to Antony, and, believing in the Lord who healed the woman with the flow of blood, they asked to be allowed to travel with them, together with their daughter. When the monks let them, the parents and the girl stayed outside the mountain with Paphnutius, the confessor and monk, while the monks went in to Antony. They only wanted to tell him about the girl, but he spoke before they could, and described both the child’s sufferings and how she had traveled with them. Then, when they asked that she be admitted, Antony would not allow it, but said, “Go, and if she is not dead, you will find her healed. For this is not something I accomplish by her coming to me, wretched man that I am. Her healing is the work of the Savior, who in every place shows his pity to those who call on him. So the Lord has inclined to her as she prayed, and his loving-kindness has made known to me that he will heal the child where she is now.” So the wonder took place, and when they went out they found the parents rejoicing and the girl well. [a]