Christian novels from the menologion of Symeon Metaphrastes

A landmark of orthodox Christianity, Symeon Metaphrastes's tenth-century Menologion is one of the most important Byzantine literary creations. This was a liturgical book, usually in multiple volumes, that included various texts regarding the saints--mostly Passions (martyrdom accounts, or marty...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Dumbarton Oaks medieval library
Main Author: Simeon, Metaphrastes ca. 900-990 (Author)
Contributors: Papaiōannu, Eustratios ca. 20./21. Jh. (Editor, Translator)
Format: Print Book
Language:English
Ancient Greek
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Published: Cambridge, Massachusetts London Harvard University Press 2017
In: Dumbarton Oaks medieval library (45)
Series/Journal:Dumbarton Oaks medieval library 45
Standardized Subjects / Keyword chains:B Simeon, Metaphrastes, Menologium
B Griechisch-Orthodoxe Kirche / Liturgy
Further subjects:B Christian hagiography
B Commentary
B Christian saints
B Orthodox Eastern Church Liturgy
B Christian women saints
B Spring
Description
Summary:A landmark of orthodox Christianity, Symeon Metaphrastes's tenth-century Menologion is one of the most important Byzantine literary creations. This was a liturgical book, usually in multiple volumes, that included various texts regarding the saints--mostly Passions (martyrdom accounts, or martyria) and Lives (biographies, or bioi)--arranged according to the sequence of feast days in the fixed Byzantine liturgical year that began on September 1. Its primary purpose was the provision of a text dedicated to each saint on his or her feast day to be read aloud during liturgical services (usually vigils, especially in monasteries, but also in urban churches). From the vast corpus of Metaphrastes's menologion, the following six texts were edited and translated into English for the first time in this volume: Life, Conduct, and Passion of Saints Kyprianos and Ioustina; Life and Conduct of Saint Pelagia of Antioch; Life, Conduct, and Passion of the Holy and Glorious Martyrs Galaktion and Episteme; Miracle Concerning Euphemia the Young Maiden; Passion of the Holy and Triumphant Martyr of Christ Barbara; Life, Conduct, and Passion of the Holy Martyr of Christ Saint Eugenia and Her Parents. These texts are united by the central role played by female protagonists; women who test social expectations take center stage. More importantly, these texts belong to a particular type of hagiographical story included in the original Metaphrastic collection, which we can view as "Christian novels."--
A landmark of orthodox Christianity, Symeon Metaphrastes's tenth-century Menologion is one of the most important Byzantine literary creations. This was a liturgical book, usually in multiple volumes, that included various texts regarding the saints--mostly Passions (martyrdom accounts, or martyria) and Lives (biographies, or bioi)--arranged according to the sequence of feast days in the fixed Byzantine liturgical year that began on September 1. Its primary purpose was the provision of a text dedicated to each saint on his or her feast day to be read aloud during liturgical services (usually vigils, especially in monasteries, but also in urban churches). From the vast corpus of Metaphrastes's menologion, the following six texts were edited and translated into English for the first time in this volume: Life, Conduct, and Passion of Saints Kyprianos and Ioustina; Life and Conduct of Saint Pelagia of Antioch; Life, Conduct, and Passion of the Holy and Glorious Martyrs Galaktion and Episteme; Miracle Concerning Euphemia the Young Maiden; Passion of the Holy and Triumphant Martyr of Christ Barbara; Life, Conduct, and Passion of the Holy Martyr of Christ Saint Eugenia and Her Parents. These texts are united by the central role played by female protagonists; women who test social expectations take center stage. More importantly, these texts belong to a particular type of hagiographical story included in the original Metaphrastic collection, which we can view as "Christian novels."--
Item Description:Includes bibliographical references and index
ISBN:0674975065