Homily on Saint Martinian (St. Michael Choniates)

Editorial Introduction

This homily survives in only one manuscript, the Laurentian codex (Λ), folio 104a, but it was found without its beginning, the opening having been lost together with the leaves of the codex that went missing between the end of the address “To Stryphon” and the leaf now bearing the number 104. The missing leaves were probably three in number. The title, being absent in the manuscript, was supplied conjecturally.

Homily on Saint Martinian 

By St. Michael Choniates, Metropolitan of Athens

… though differing in rank of glory, yet all are glorified and shining with purity: virginity is gold, widowhood and marriage silver — second indeed in order and glory to virginity, yet not deprived of splendor, provided they are kept free from the defiling stain that corrupts.

You have clear examples of the brightness of these venerable ways of life. In the Old Testament, there is Seraphina* and Elijah: Elijah representing virginity, Seraphina widowhood; and for marriage there are many others, and even she herself.

For just as in her widowhood she excelled and alone, having welcomed so great a prophet, nourished him, so also in marriage she conducted herself with self-control, from which union she even received back her dead offspring through resurrection.** For if she had not been chaste when she lived with her husband, she would not have remained steadfast when she became widowed of the one who dwelt with her. Now her pure widowhood bears strong witness also to the purity of her married life.

And in the divine Gospels, as the archetype of virginity, there is the Virgin and Mother of God; as a shining example of marriage, Zechariah and Elizabeth, from whom came forth the lamp of the true Light, the Forerunner — so that virginity alone might not be excessively praised, but marriage also, showing forth a lamp, might be honored;*** and as an example of pure widowhood, Anna, the mother of Samuel, who devoted herself to fasting and prayers and did not fail to recognize the One who arose from a Virgin.

These things do not seem to me to fall outside the present festival, nor to intrude as belonging to some other feast, as some might say, but rather to be fitting and welcome gifts for the divine Martinian. For this too was an achievement of Martinian’s great virtue: that at the same time one remembers him and is led into discourse concerning chastity, and that such narratives are expanded upon.

For what else is the remembrance of Martinian than a recollection of purity, a solemn proclamation of self-control, and participation in sanctification?

May we also be found sharing in these things, through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom be glory unto the ages. Amen.

Critical Notes:

* The manuscript (Λ) reads: σαραφίαν - saraphian.

** The manuscript (Λ) reads: ἐξαναστάσεως - exanastaseōs (“out of resurrection”).

*** The manuscript (Λ) reads: σεμνύνεται - semnynetai (“is honored”).

Translated by John Sanidopoulos.

Ὁμιλία εἰς τὸν Ὅσιον Μαρτινιανόν

… μὲν τῇ δόξῃ, δεδοξασμένα δὲ ὅμως πάντα καὶ λάμποντα καθαρότητι· ἡ παρθενία μὲν χρυσός, ἄργυρος δὲ χηρεία καὶ γάμος, δεύτερα μὲν τῇ τάξει καὶ δόξῃ τῆς παρθενίας, οὐκ ἀμαυροῦντα δὲ καὶ ταῦτα λαμπρότητος, εἴπερ τῆς ὑποφθειρούσης κηλῖδος ἀνεπίμικτα σώζοιντο.

Ἔχετε τῆς λαμπρότητος τῶν σεμνῶν τούτων βίων σαφῆ παραδείγματα· ἐν μὲν τῇ Παλαιᾷ τὴν Σαραφίαν* καὶ τὸν Ἠλιοῦν, τῆς μὲν παρθενίας τὸν Ἠλιοῦν, τῆς δὲ χηρείας τὴν Σαραφίαν, τοῦ γάμου δὲ ἄλλους τε πλείους καὶ τὴν αὐτήν.

Ὡς γὰρ ἐν τῇ χηρεία διέπρεπε καὶ μόνη τὸν τηλικοῦτον προφήτην ξενίσασα ἔθρεψεν, οὕτω καὶ τῷ γάμῳ σωφρόνως ἐχρήσατο, οὗ καὶ τὸν καρπὸν τεθνηκότα ἐξ ἀναστάσεως** ἔλαβεν· εἰ μὴ γὰρ σώφρων ἦν ὅτε συνέζῃ ἀνδρί, οὐδ’ ἂν ἥνικα τοῦ συνοικοῦντος ἐχήρευε· νῦν δὲ ἡ ἁγνὴ χηρεία πολλὴν καὶ τῆς συζυγίας ἐπιμαρτυρεῖται καθαρότητα.

Ἐν δὲ τοῖς θείοις εὐαγγελίοις, παρθενίας μὲν ἀρχέτυπον τὴν παρθένον καὶ μητέρα Θεοῦ, γάμου δὲ λάμποντος τὸν Ζαχαρίαν καὶ τὴν Ἐλισάβετ, ἐξ ὧν ὁ τοῦ ἀληθινοῦ φωτὸς πρόδρομος λύχνος προῆλθεν, ἵνα μὴ παρθενία μόνον ὑπεραυμνῆται, ἀλλὰ καὶ ὁ γάμος λύχνον προφαίνων σεμνύνηται·*** χηρείας δὲ καθαρᾶς τὴν Ἄνναν τοῦ Σαμουήλ, νηστείαις καὶ προσευχαῖς προσανασχοῦσαν καὶ τὸν ἐκ παρθένου ἀνασχόντα μὴ ἀγνοήσασαν.

Ταῦτα οὐκ ἔξω μοι δοκεῖ πίπτειν τῆς νῦν πανηγύρεως, οὐδὲ κατόπιν ἄλλης ἑορτῆς, ὡς φασίν, ἔρχεσθαι, κατάλληλα δὲ μᾶλλον καὶ φίλα δῶρα τῷ θείῳ Μαρτινιανῷ. Ἦν δὲ τῆς μεγάλης ἀρετῆς Μαρτινιανοῦ καὶ τοῦτο κατόρθωμα, ἅμα τε ἐκείνου μεμνῆσθαι καὶ εἰς τοὺς ὑπὲρ ἁγνείας λόγους ἐμπίπτειν καὶ τοιούτοις ἐμπλατύνεσθαι διηγήμασι.

Τί γὰρ ἄλλο μνήμη Μαρτινιανοῦ ἢ ἀνάμνησις ἁγνείας καὶ σεμνολόγημα σωφροσύνης καὶ ἁγιασμοῦ μετοχή; Ὧν ἐν μεθέξει καὶ ἡμεῖς εὑρεθῶμεν διὰ Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ τοῦ Κυρίου ἡμῶν, ᾧ ἡ δόξα εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας· ἀμήν.

Κριτικαὶ σημειώσεις:

* σαραφίαν Λ.

** ἐξαναστάσεως Λ.

*** σεμνύνεται Λ.