“Superstitions then, even more than now, were powerful instigators of violence. To be possessed by demons was to the quickly at the hands of one’s superstitious neighbors. So, to make sure the word didn’t spread about their daughter, and thus endanger her and the rest of the family, they raised the baby in total isolation.

“But locks and barriers were no match for the developing Sophia. At the age of thirteen, the girl appeared at her grandfather’s side at a trade negotiation. The incident was confirmed by the accounts of nearly a dozen men. According to those accounts, she mesmerized them, speaking as an adult and somehow finding the words to preach to them. They were stunned and captivated by her. Her terrified grandfather rushed her away, fearing for his life, his business … for the lives of his daughter and the rest of the family.’ But the violent actions he expected never materialized. In fact, just the opposite happened. Afterwards, the men who had been present reported feeling totally serene and at peace. They were fond of Sophia and demanded to see her again and again. Soon she became a fixture in the village and began to develop a following. Then she started healing people.”

“You actually believe this?” the American asked incredulously.

Braun nodded. “I have no choice. The documentation is too overwhelming not to …as you will see. Consider Valerius Daia—her first miracle, for example. Pressed into the service of the Roman army in 285 A.D., Daia’s legion was sent to Mesopotamia by Emperor Diocletian in 295. A year later, Narses of Persia routed the Roman legions and their leader Galerius. The extensive military records were plain in the case of Valerius Daia. His right leg had been maimed and was paralyzed, rendering him unfit for further military service.

“The trail picks up again in the small village near Smyrna where Sophia lived. Under a general order from the emperor, the village diverted a small portion of the taxes it had to pay to Rome into a fund that provided small stipends for honorably wounded soldiers of the empire. It was the first simple attempt at veterans’ benefits. At any rate, Valerius Daia’s name first appeared on these village rolls in 297 A.D. Then in 323 A.D., there is an unusual entry in the village records calling for a cessation of those payments due to ‘extraordinary circumstances resulting in the healing of the palsied leg of Valerius Daia.’ ”

Braun paused to let his words sink in. He fixed the American’s eyes with his own and leaned forward. “She touched his leg, you see. She touched his leg and he was healed. We have an account of the miracle as recorded by the village scribe, but we also have military and financial records to corroborate the event” He paused.

“There are other records as well. The Romans were fastidious record keepers. And then there are the relics and artifacts that were meticulously recorded and documented by civil authorities and come to us now with an impeccable provenance. There is no way to deny these.”