Story
The Lives of the Saints and Martyrs in the Coptic Orthodox Church
St. Amator the Bishop / Amatre
Stephen, the African priest, recounted his story to us about 160 years after the repose of St. Amator.
Amator was the only son of one of the noblemen of the city of Auxerre. His father chose for him a wealthy and beautiful young woman named Martha to be his wife, even though the son had been candid with his father about his longing for the life of virginity.
The bishop came to perform the sacrament of marriage for him at the house. He was a very aged elder named Valerian, whose words were difficult to understand because of his extreme old age. As he took up the book of services to pray, he began to pray the prayers of the ordination of a deacon, and none of those present perceived anything amiss — except the bridegroom alone.
The bridegroom met with his bride, and when he asked her whether she had noticed anything, she answered, "No." Then he told her what the bishop had done — that he had not prayed the prayer of the sacrament of matrimony but rather the prayer of the ordination of a deacon. She was greatly astonished, and she asked him for his interpretation of the matter. Amator answered her that this was a sign from God of His desire to consecrate them both for His own account. At this the young woman threw herself into Amator's arms, declaring with joy and longing that she would gladly offer up her life to God together with him.
The two knelt to pray together, and behold, a wondrous fragrance filled their chamber. When the bride asked her bridegroom whether he could smell anything, he answered her, "It is the fragrance of Paradise."
They spent a long while in prayer and in converse together in the Lord. And as the lamp was put out so that they might sleep, a radiant light shone upon them; then an angel appeared to them, bearing two crowns, which he placed upon their heads.
It was the custom for wedding celebrations to extend over several days, and before the days of their celebration had passed, the aged bishop reposed, having ordained St. Helladius as his successor. The newlyweds set out to him, seeking his blessing and telling him what had happened to them. He rejoiced over them greatly, and he permitted Martha to enter one of the convents of nuns, and he ordained Amator a deacon and then a priest to assist him.
When the bishop reposed, Amator was chosen as bishop. During the long span of his episcopate he won all the remaining pagans of the region to the Christian faith, built churches, and worked wonders in the name of the Lord.
With the Governor Germanus:
In the final years of his episcopate, the governor of the city was a young man named Germanus. Although he was a Christian, he practiced the pastime of hunting animals; he would bring their heads and hang them upon a great pear tree in the middle of the city as an offering to the god Woden — a thing that scandalized many.
The bishop spoke with him and warned him time and again, but when he would not be restrained, the bishop went to the tree in the governor's absence, cast the animals' heads to the ground, and demolished the tree entirely. When the governor came and saw this, he was enraged and resolved to kill the bishop. By the counsel of some of the believers, the bishop left the city until the governor's anger should be turned away, and he came to the city of Autun. There he prayed for the governor, even as he prayed to God to guide him to one fit for the episcopate after him, on account of his old age.
It was revealed to him that none was fit save Germanus the governor. Indeed he returned to his city, and all hastened to him in the church, proclaiming their joy in their father the bishop; among them was the governor, who showed affection and repentance. Thereupon the bishop ordered the doors to be shut and announced his choice of Germanus as bishop. The people rejoiced in him, and he was a cause of blessing to many.
Father Amator reposed, most likely on the first of May, in the year 418 A.D