Corpus of Electronic Texts Edition
Adamnan's De Locis Sanctis (Author: Adamnan of Iona)

Chapter/toc 3

CONCERNING THE ROCK SITUATED OUTSIDE THE WALL, OVER WHICH (WAS POURED) THE WATER OF HIS FIRST WASHING (AFTER THE NATIVITY)

I think that brief mention should be made of the rock situated outside the wall, over which the water of the first ablution of the Lord's little
30] body after the nativity was poured from the vessel in which it was, which was tilted over from the top of the wall. This water of the sacred washing,


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when poured from the wall, found a sort of channel hollowed out by nature in the rock lying beneath; which channel, filled by that flow on the first birthday of the Lord, from that very day up to our time through the cycles of many centuries one sees to be full without any failing or
5] diminution of the purest water, our Saviour from the day of his nativity performing this miracle, of which the prophet sings: ‘Who brought forth water from the rock’ and the apostle Paul: ‘Now the rock was Christ’? he who, contrary to nature, brought forth a consoling flow for the thirsting people from the hardest rock in the desert. It is the same power and
10] wisdom of God which brought forth water from the rock of Bethlem too, and always keeps its channel filled with water. Our friend Arculf saw it with his own eyes and washed his face in it.