(77) <Death of Sabas, 5 Dec. 532> The rumour of Sabas’ death rapidly spread in all the country round about, and a countless mass of monks and laymen gathered together; also the most holy bishop Peter arrived, with the bishops who happened to be in the holy city and the most distinguished citizens. And so (Sabas’) venerable remains were buried in the Great Laura between the two churches, in the place where he had seen the pillar of fire. Except that the holy man is not dead, but sleeping, as suits one who lived a perfect life and found favour before the Lord, as it is written: ‘The souls of the righteous are in the hands of God and death will not touch them’ (Wisdom 3:1). Actually his body is also preserved intact and uncorrupted until this very day. This indeed I have seen with my own eyes in the course of the last tenth indiction <AD 546/7 : but the occasion mentioned by Cyril is to be dated to July 548>.
(78) For, when the venerable grave was opened, in order to lay in it the body of the blessed Cassian, I went down to make obeisance to the body of the divine Elder, and found it uncorrupted, in a perfect state of preservation, and in wonder I glorified God who had glorified His servant and deemed him worthy of incorruption (of the body), before the day of the common and universal resurrection …
(transl. Leah Di Segni)