Editorial Notice on the Homily on Saint Meletius

ENCOMIASTIC HOMILY ON OUR HOLY FATHER MELETIUS, ARCHBISHOP OF GREAT ANTIOCH, AND ON THE ZEAL OF THOSE WHO HAVE ASSEMBLED

^ASurveying this holy flock with my eyes, and seeing the entire city present here, I know not whom to pronounce blessed first: the holy Meletius, because even after his death he enjoys such honor, or your charity, because you show such benevolence toward your pastors even after their departure. For blessed is he, in that he was able to leave such love for himself among you all; and blessed are you, in that, having received the deposit of love, you have preserved it intact and ever-enduring for him who deposited it. For the fifth year has now passed since he departed to Jesus, whom he desired, yet you have approached him today with an affection as fervent as if you had seen him yesterday or the day before. Because of this, he is blessed for having begotten such children; and you are blessed, for it has fallen to you to have had such a father. The root is noble and admirable, but neither are the fruits unworthy of this root. For as a certain admirable root, hidden in the bosom of the earth, does not itself appear, yet demonstrates the strength of its own virtue through its fruits, so too the blessed Meletius, though hidden in this casket, is not seen by us with the eyes of the body; yet through you, who are his fruits, he sufficiently shows the power of his grace. Even if we remain silent, the festival and the fervor of your zeal are enough to proclaim the love of holy Meletius for you more clearly than ^B any trumpet. For he so inflamed your minds with love for him that you grow warm even at the mere mention of his name, and are stirred by the very appellation.

Antiochians used to give the name of Meletius to their children; they painted his image everywhere. For this reason, I too, not rashly, but with study and forethought, now weave that name continuously into my words. And just as one who weaves a golden crown, by inserting pearls, makes the diadem more radiant by the frequency of the gems, so I, too, weaving a crown of praises for his blessed head, attach his name to my discourse, repeated often like a string of pearls, hoping thereby to make it more pleasing and splendid. For lovers are accustomed to embrace even the bare names of those they love, and to grow warm at the very appellations: a thing that has come to pass among you also with this blessed man. For when you received him upon his entrance into the city at the beginning, each man used to call his own son by his name, each believing that through the appellation he was introducing the saint into his own home; and, passing over fathers, grandfathers, and great-grandfathers, mothers were bestowing the name of the blessed Meletius upon the children they had brought forth. For love of piety overcame nature, and those who were born thereafter were dear to their parents not only by natural benevolence, but also by affection toward that name. For they believed that the very name was an ornament of their lineage, a protection of their homes, a salvation for those so called, and a solace of love; and just as if certain people, sitting in darkness, once one lamp has been sighted, kindle many torches and each ^C brings one into his own house, so too, when that appellation had descended upon the city like a light, everyone introduced the name of that blessed man into his own house, as if bringing home a certain treasure of innumerable goods through that appellation, and that was truly a doctrine of great piety. For since they were constantly compelled to remember that appellation and to embrace the holy man in their minds, they possessed this name as a kind of weapon with which every affection and thought alien to reason was put to flight; and it became so frequent that this name resounded everywhere—at the crossroads, in the marketplace, in the fields, and on the roads. Nor were you so affected toward the name alone, but also toward the very figure of his body. For just as you did with the names, so you also did with his image: for in the bezels of rings, and in seals, and in phials, and on the walls of bedchambers, and everywhere, many expressed that holy image, so that they might not only hear that holy appellation, but also might see the figure of his body everywhere, and receive a double consolation for his exile.

^D Meletius was banished into exile. For no sooner had he entered than he was at once driven out of the city, the enemies of truth expelling him. But God allowed it, wishing to demonstrate both his virtue and your fortitude. For since, having entered, he had cleared the city of the error of heresy, like Moses in Egypt, and having amputated the rotten and incurable limbs from the rest of the body, had restored complete health to the multitude of the Church, the enemies of truth, not bearing the correction, having stirred up the Emperor, drove him from this city, expecting that in this way they would be superior to the truth and overturn that correction of affairs. But the outcome was the opposite of what they expected; and both your zeal and his scientific skill in teaching shone forth all the more—his, because in thirty days, and not even complete ones, he was able to ground you so firmly in the study of the faith that, even when innumerable spirits later erupted, that doctrine remained unshaken and unconcussed; but your fervor also manifested itself openly, in that in thirty, and not even complete, days, you accepted the seeds sown by him so accurately that you transmitted the roots to the depths of your mind, and yielded to no subsequent temptation brought against you thereafter.

^A 2. It is worth while not to pass by what occurred during that very persecution. For when the governor of the city was driving his chariot and setting out through the middle of the forum, with that holy man seated beside him, a blizzard of stones was being hurled from all sides at the head of the governor. The city could not endure the separation, choosing rather to fall from its present life than to see that holy man torn away. What then did that blessed one do at that moment? Upon seeing the stones being hurled, he cast his own garments around the governor and hid his head, by this act simultaneously shaming his enemies with the magnitude of his gentleness, and teaching his own disciples how much forbearance one ought to show toward those who commit injuries; and that not only is it proper to do no harm to them, but even if danger were to come upon them from others, one ought to repel it with all diligence.

Who was not struck with awe at that time, seeing the frantic devotion of the city, and marveling at the master's extreme philosophy, gentleness, and mildness? For the things that happened then were truly paradoxical. The shepherd was being driven away, and the sheep were not scattered; the pilot was being cast out, and the vessel was not submerged; the farmer was being banished, and the vine was bearing more fruit. For because you were knit together with one another in the bond of love, neither the introduction of temptations, nor the uprisings of dangers, nor the length of the road, nor the passage of time, nor anything else had the power to separate you from the presence of the blessed shepherd; but he was being cast out, so as to be far from his children, yet the opposite occurred. For he was bound to you all the more with the bonds of love; and he took the whole city with him in his heart as he departed for Armenia. For while his body was stationed in his homeland, his understanding and mind, being lightened as if by certain wings of the grace of the Spirit, and dwelling among you at all times, carried this entire populace in his own inward parts, which is exactly what you yourselves were experiencing. For sitting here and being confined within the city, you were flying in spirit by the bond of love to Armenia each and every day, and seeing that holy face, and hearing that sweetest and blessed voice, and so you would return again. And God permitted this cause for him to be expelled from the city immediately, so that, as I previously said, He might demonstrate to the enemies who were fighting against you the firmness of your faith, and his own proficiency in teaching.

And this is evident from what followed. For having returned after the first persecution, he did not dwell here for merely thirty days, but for months, and a year, and two, and even more. For since you had given sufficient proof of your firmness regarding the faith, He granted you the liberty to enjoy your father again. For it was a great joy indeed to enjoy that holy sight. For he was capable of bringing the entire teaching of virtue into the souls of those who looked upon him, not only when he was teaching or speaking, but even when he was merely seen. When, therefore, he was driving toward you, and the whole city was shifting to the road, some would approach and touch his feet, and kiss his hands, and hear his voice; others, hindered by the crowd and only seeing him from afar, as if they had received sufficient blessing from that sight, and having gained nothing less than those who were near, would depart in this manner with full conviction; and what happened in the case of the apostles, the same happened in his case. For just as in the case of the apostles, those who could not approach and be near, when their shadow extended and touched those afar, would draw the same grace and depart healed, so too now, those who could not approach, sensing a sort of spiritual glory being emitted from that holy head and reaching even to those furthest away, would all depart filled with every blessing from the mere sight of him.

^B 3. But when it seemed good to the God of all to call him at last from the present life and to rank him in the choir of the angels, even this did not occur simply, but he was called by the Emperor's letters, God having stirred the Emperor; and he called him not to some nearby place, but to Thrace itself, so that the Galatians, and Bithynians, and Cilicians, and Cappadocians, and all who dwell near Thrace might learn of our good things; so that the bishops everywhere on earth, having looked upon his holiness as an archetypal image, and having received from him a clear example of the ministry according to this office, might possess a sure and most clear rule by which it is necessary to manage and govern the Churches. For because of the size of the city and the presence of the Emperor there, many were then streaming together toward that place from all parts of the world; and the bishops of the Churches were all summoned there by imperial letters, because the Churches were receiving a beginning of peace and tranquility after long war and storm.

Then, therefore, he also arrived there. And just as with the three children, when they were about to be proclaimed and crowned, having extinguished the power of the fire, having trampled upon the arrogance of the tyrant, having refuted every form of impiety, the theater was seated for them from the entire world (for the satraps, and consuls, and governors from everywhere on earth were summoned for another reason, but became spectators of those athletes); so too did it happen then, that the theater became illustrious for the blessed one; for they had arrived for another reason, those bishops who manage the Churches everywhere on earth, and they beheld that holy man. And when they had looked upon him, and had accurately learned of his piety, his wisdom, his zeal for the faith, and all the virtue becoming a priest thoroughly completed in him, then God called him to Himself.

And this came to pass also out of restraint for our city. For if he had let go of his soul here, the burden of the calamity would have been unbearable. For who would have endured to see that blessed one breathing his last breaths? Who would have endured to see those eyelids of his eyes being closed, and his mouth being shut as he uttered his final commands?

could [Meletius] have looked upon it and not fainted from the magnitude of the calamity? God provided, therefore, that this should not happen, so that he might breathe his last in a foreign land, in order that, during the intervening time, we might have premeditated this great calamity, so that when we saw the body coming in, we would not be dismayed in spirit, since the mind had already become accustomed to mourning: which is indeed what happened. For when the city received that venerable body, it did indeed lament and wail greatly; but it quickly repressed its mourning, as much for the reason we have already stated as for the one which is yet to be told. ^B Praise of Bishop Flavian. For the kind and merciful God, taking pity on our sorrow, quickly gave us another shepherd who might accurately reflect his virtues. When he had ascended his chair, he immediately stripped us of our humble and mournful garments and extinguished our grief, but he renewed the memory of the blessed Meletius even more. Though the pain was fading, love was being kindled more vehemently, and the sickness of our spirit was entirely removed—although this does not usually happen in the loss of those who are most dear; for when one has lost a most beloved son, or a woman her honorable husband, as long as she preserves a fervent memory of him, a more vehement mourning occupies the mind; but when the passage of time has settled the mourning, the memory that once flourished is extinguished along with the vehemence of the pain. In the case of this blessed man, however, the opposite occurred: for while the sickness ^C of the spirit was entirely cast out, the recollection did not depart along with the pain, but instead was augmented more vehemently. You are witnesses to this, who, after so much time, like bees around a honeycomb, swarm around the body of the blessed Meletius; for the cause was not an affection for him born of nature, but the reasoning of sound judgment. Therefore, the memory of Saint Meletius was not extinguished by death, nor did it fade with time; rather, it is increased and receives greater growth, not only in those who saw him, but also in those who did not see him. For this is also wonderful: that those who were younger at the time of his life are also kindled toward the same longing. And you old men indeed surpass those who did not see him in this, that you associated with him and partook of the fruit of his holy fellowship; but those who did not see him surpass you in that, since they never set eyes upon the man, they demonstrate no less longing for him. ^D Intercession of the Saints. Therefore, let us all pray together, magistrates and private citizens, women and men, old and young, servants and free, taking the blessed Meletius himself as a partner in these prayers. For he has now greater confidence with God, and his love for us is more fervent, so that this charity may be increased for us, and that we all may attain this: that just as we stand here near this ark, so there too we may be near his blessed and eternal tabernacle, and may be able to obtain the eternal goods laid up for us: which may it be granted to us all to obtain, by the grace and clemency of our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom and with whom to the Father be glory and power, together with the Holy Spirit, for ages of ages. Amen.

ADMONITION

PANEGYRICAL HOMILY ON THE HOLY MARTYR LUCIAN

1. He inveighs against the sloth of some; he demonstrates the fleeting nature of riches.