Abba Helenus visited a certain monastery on a Sunday and found that they were not observing the solemnity of the day. Upon asking why, he was told that the priest who lived on the other side of the river had not come. No one indeed was willing to cross the river for fear of the crocodiles. “If you like,” he said, “I’ll go across and get him.” And he immediately made his way to river bank. He called upon the name of the Lord, and suddenly a crocodile appeared, ready to stop being a terror to mankind and change into a ferry for the righteous. It offered him his back, which he accepted, all fear cast aside, and was carried to the opposite back.
Helenus went straight up to the priest and begged him to come to the brothers. Now his clothing was quite mean and disheveled, and the priest wondered wherever this person had come from and asked him what he wanted. But when he realized that he was indeed a man of God he began to follow him to the river. He mentioned that there was no boat to be found in which they could cross, but Abba Helenus said to him: “Don’t worry, father, I am now about to call up a ferry.” And in a loud voice he commanded the beast to appear. It came as soon as it heard his voice, and peacefully offered his back. Helenus got on first and then invited the priest to do so. “Come on, don’t be afraid,” he said. But the priest was so frightened at the appearance of this monster that he took to his heels and fled.
Fear and amazement fell on all his companions when they say him being carried across the waters of the river by a crocodile. When got back, he led the beast up the bank with him and said: “Death would be a better thing for you than to be burdened with the guilt of so many assaults and homicides.” And immediately the beast burst asunder and died.
