Malchus and his wife crossing the river on inflated water skins to escape their master. Saint Malchus of Syria, aka Malchus of Chalcis, or Malchus of Maronia, died c. 390. Malchus was a monk who was sold into slavery and forced to marry another slave. While never consummating the marriage, he escaped with his wife and returned to his monastery. From The Book of Saints and Heroes, published 1912