A Humble Woman

ὧν ἦν Νικαρέτη ἡ Βιθυνὴ, τῶν παρὰ Νικομηδεῦσιν εὐπατριδῶν ἐπισήμου γένους, ἐπὶ ἀϊδίῳ παρθενίᾳ καὶ ἀρετῇ βίου εὐδοκιμοῦσα. Ἀτυφοτάτην δὲ ὧν ἴσμεν σπουδαίων γυναικῶν ταύτην ἔγνων, ἤθει τε καὶ λόγῳ καὶ διαίτῃ τεταγμένην, καὶ τὰ θεῖα μέχρι θανάτου τῶν βιωτικῶν προτιμῶσαν: ἀνδρείᾳ τε καὶ φρονήσει πρὸς περιπετείας δυσχερῶν πραγμάτων ἀντισχεῖν ἱκανήν: ὡς μήτε πολλῆς πατρῴας περιουσιας ἀδίκως ἀφαιρεθεῖσαν ἀγανακτεῖν, ἐν ὀλίγοις τε περιλειφθεῖσιν, ὑπὸ ἀρίστης οἰκονομίας, καίπερ εἰς γῆρας προελθοῦσαν, τὰ ἐπιτήδεια σὺν τοῖς οἰκείοις ἔχειν, καὶ ἄλλοις ἀφθόνως χορηγεῖν.Ὑπὸ φιλανθρώπου δὲ προθυμίας φιλόκαλος οὖσα, καὶ παντοδαπὰ παρεσκεύαζε φάρμακα εἰς πτωχῶν νοσούντων χρείαν: οἷς δὴ πολλοῖς τῶν γνωρίμων πολλάκις ἐπήρκεσε μηδὲν ἀποναμένοις τῶν συνήθων ἰατρῶν. Σὺν θείᾳ γάρ τινι ῥοπῇ, ἅπερ ἐπεχείρει εἰς χρηστὸν ἀπέβαινε τέλος: καὶ συλλήβδην εἰπεῖν, τῶν καθ̓ ἡμᾶς σπουδαίων γυναικῶν ἑτέραν οὐκ ἔγνων, εἰς τοσοῦτον ἤθους τε καὶ σεμνότητος καὶ τῆς ἄλλης ἀρετῆς ἐπιδοῦσαν. Ἀλλ̓ ἡ μὲν, καίπερ τοιάδε οὖσα, τοὺς πολλοὺς ἐλάνθανεν: ὑπὸ μετριότητος γὰρ τρόπων, καὶ φιλοσοφίας, ἀεὶ λανθάνειν ἐπετήδευεν: ὡς μήτε εἰς ἀξίωμα διακόνου σπουδάσαι προελθεῖν, μήτε προτρεπομένου πολλάκις Ἰωάννου ἑλέσθαι ποτὲ παρθένων ἐκκλησιαστικῶν ἡγεῖσθαι. Ἑρμείος Σωζομενός, Ἐκκλησιαστίκη Ἱστορία, Τομ Η' Κεφ ΚΓ' Source: Migne PG 67.1576a-c

Nikarete of Bithynia, of a noted family of the nobility near Nicomedia, was celebrated on account of her perpetual virginity and the virtue of her life. She was the most modest of all the zealous women that we have ever known, and was well ordered in speech and in behavior, and until death she preferred the service of God to all worldly considerations. With courage and prudence she was able to bear the sudden reversals of adverse affairs; thus when she was unjustly stripped of much of her abundant patrimony she did not display any indignation, but with finest economy, although advanced in age, she supplied the needs of her household, and without complaint ministered to others. As a woman who loved a charitable spirit, she prepared a variety of remedies for the needs of the poor who were sick, by which she frequently succeeded in curing patients who had received no benefit from the knowledge of the customary physicians. Then with a devout strength which assisted her in reaching the best results, she departed. And, to speak briefly, we have never known a devoted woman endowed with such manners, dignity, and every other virtue. But although she was so, she concealed much, for by the modesty of her ways and love of wisdom she always desired to be unnoticed, so that, thinking herself unworthy, she did not seek the office of deaconess, nor of instructress of the virgins consecrated to the service of the Church, although it was frequently urged by John Chrysostom. Sozomen, Ecclesiastical History, Book 8, Chapter 23

Hymns And Preaching

Ἐπεὶ γὰρ οἱ ἀπὸ τῆς Ἀρείου αἱρέσεως, ἀφαιρεθέντες τῶν ἐν τῇ Κωνσταντινουπόλει ἐκκλησιῶν ἐπὶ τῆς Θεοδοσίου βασιλείας, πρὸ τῶν τειχῶν ἐκκλησίαζον, νύκτωρ πρότερον ἐν ταῖς δημοσίαις στοαῖς συνελέγοντο, καὶ εἰς συστήματα μεριζόμενοι, κατὰ τὸν τῶν ἀντιφώνων τρόπον ἔψαλλον, ἀκροτελεύτια συντιθέντες πρὸς τὴν αὐτῶν δόξαν πεποιημένα. Ὑπὸ δὲ τὴν ἕω ταῦτα δημοσίᾳ ψάλλοντες, εἰς τοὺς τόπους ἀπῄεσαν, ἔνθα καὶ ἐκκλησίαζον. Ἐποίουν δὲ ὧδε ἐν ταῖς ἐπισήμοις ἑορταῖς, καὶ τῇ πρώτῃ καὶ τελευταίᾳ τῆς ἑβδομάδος ἡμέρᾳ. Τελευτῶντες δὲ, καὶ πρὸς ἔριν τὰς ᾠδὰς προσετίθεσαν, Ποῦ εἰσὶν οἱ λέγοντες τὰ τρία μίαν δύναμιν, καὶ ἕτερα τοιάδε τοῖς ὕμνοις ἀναμιγνύντες. Δείσας δὲ Ἰωάννης, μή τινες τούτοις ὑπαχθῶσι τῶν ὑπ̓ αὐτὸν ἐκκλησιαζόντων, ἐπὶ τὸν ἶσον τρόπον τῆς ψαλμῳδίας τὸν αὐτοῦ λαὸν προτρέπει. Ἐν ὀλίγῳ δὲ ἐπισημότεροι γενόμενοι, τοὺς ἀπὸ τῆς ἐναντίας αἱρέσεως ὑπερέβαλλον τῷ πλήθει καὶ τῇ προόδῳ. Καὶ γὰρ δὴ καὶ σταυρῶν ἀργυρᾶ σημεῖα ὑπὸ κηροῖς ἡμμένοις προηγοῦντο αὐτῶν: καὶ εὐνοῦχος τῆς βασιλέως γαμετῆς ἐπὶ τοῦτο τέτακτο, τὴν περὶ ταῦτα δαπάνην καὶ τοὺς ὕμνους παρασκευάζων. Ἐντεῦθεν δὲ ἢ ζηλοτυπήσαντες οἱ ἀπὸ τῆς Ἀρείου αἱρέσεως, ἢ ἀμυνόμενοι τοῖς ἀπὸ τῆς καθόλου ἐκκλησίας, εἰς μάχην κατέστησαν. Καὶ κτείνονταί τινες ἑκατέρωθεν. Ὁ δὲ Βρίσων, τοῦτο γὰρ ἦν ὄνομα τῷ βασιλικῷ εὐνούχῳ, λίθῳ κατὰ τοῦ μετώπου βάλλεται. Κινηθεὶς δὲ πρὸς ὀργὴν ὁ βασιλεὺς, ἔπαυσε τῶν ἀπὸ τῆς Ἀρείου αἱρέσεως τὰς τοιαύτας συνόδους. Οἱ δὲ ἀπὸ τῆς καθολικῆς, ἐξ αἰτίας τοιᾶσδε τὸν εἰρημένον τρόπον ὑμνεῖν ἀρξάμενοι, καὶ εἰσέτι νῦν οὕτω διέμειναν. Ἰωάννης δὲ ἐκ τούτων, καὶ τῶν ἐπ̓ ἐκκλησίας λόγων, πρὸς μὲν τὸν δῆμον ἐπεδίδου τὸ φίλτρον: μῖσος δὲ πρὸς τοὺς δυναμένους καὶ τοὺς κληρικοὺς ἐκ τῆς κατ̓ αὐτῶν παρρησίας. Τοὺς μὲν γὰρ ἀδικοῦντας ὁρῶν, ἤλεγχε: τοὺς δὲ πλούτῳ, καὶ ἀσεβείᾳ, καὶ ἡδοναῖς ἀσέμνοις διεφθαρμένους, ἀνῆγε πρὸς ἀρετήν. Ἑρμείος Σωζομενός, Ἐκκλησιαστίκη Ἱστορία, Τομ Η' Κεφ Η'

Those of the Arian sect, their churches in Constantinople being taken from them in the reign of Theodosius, 1 assembled outside the walls. They gathered together during the night in the public porticoes and were divided into bands that they might sing antiphonally, songs having been composed which attempted to express their dogma, then, at dawn, singing these things, they marched to the places in which they held their assemblies. They did this for solemn festivals and on the first and last days of the week. The views expressed in these songs were were likely to cause strife, such as: 'Where are they who say that the Three Persons are One Power?' And other similar things were mixed in throughout their hymns. John was fearful lest any of his own church people should be misled by witnessing such things, and therefore he exhorted them to sing hymns in the same manner, and in a short time they surpassed the opposing heretics in number and processions; for they had silver crosses and lighted wax tapers carried before them. A eunuch of the Empress 2 was appointed to regulate these processions, to pay costs and to prepare hymns. Whence some Arians, on account of either jealousy or revenge, attacked members of the Catholic Church. Some were slain on both sides. Briso, for this was the name of the Imperial eunuch, was struck on the forehead by a stone. This provoked the anger of the Emperor 3 and he put a stop to the Arian assemblies. But the Catholics having adopted the custom of singing hymns in the manner that they did and for the reason recorded, did not discontinue the practice, but have maintained it to the present. The institution of these things in the Church endeared John to the people, but he was hated by the powerful and the clergy on account of his frankness, for perceiving unrighteousness he rebuked it, and from those who were led astray by wealth, or impiety, or vulgar pleasures, he demanded a return to virtue. Sozomen, Ecclesiastical History, Book 8, Chapter 8  1 Theodosius I 2 Aelia Eudoxia 3 Arcadius

The Work of a Young Empress

Βάσσου καὶ Φιλίππου ὑπατευόντων, τελευτᾷ τὸν βίον Ἀρκάδιος, διὰδοχον τῆς ἡγεμονίας Θεοδόσιον τὸν οἱέα καταλιπὼν, ἀρτίως γάλακτι τρέφεσθαι πεπαυμένον· Θυγατέρας δὲ, Πουλχερίαν καὶ Ἀρκαδίαν καὶ Μαρίναν, ἔτι κομιδῇ νέας. ᾝ μοι δοκεῖ μάλιστα τὸν Θεὸν ἐπιδεῖξαι, μόνην εὐσέβειαν ἀρκεῖν πρὸς σωτηρίαν τοῖς βασιλεύουσιν· ἄνευ δὲ ταύτης, μηδὲν εἶναι στρατεύματα καὶ βασιλέως ἰσχυν, καὶ τὴν ἄλλην παρασκευήν. Ἐπεὶ οὖν εὐσεβέστατον τὸν βασιλέα ἔσεσθαι προεϊδεν ἡ τῶν ὅλων οἰκουρὸς θεία δύναμις, ἐπίτροπον αὐτοῦ καὶ τῆς ἡγεμονίας κατέστησε Πουλχερίαν τὴν ἀδελφην. Ἡ δὲ, οὔπω πεντεκαιδέκατον ἔτος ἄγουσα, ὑπερ τὴν ἡλικίαν σοφώτατον καὶ θεϊον ἔλαβε νοῦν. Καὶ πρῶτα μὲν τὴν αὐτῆς παρθενίαν τῷ Θεῷ ἀνέθηκε, καὶ τὰς ἀδελφὰς ἐπὶ τὸν αὐτὸν ἐπαιδαγώγησε βίον, ὅπως μὴ ἄλλον ἄνδρα ἐπεισαγάγῃ τοῖς βασιλείοις, καὶ ζήλου καὶ ἐπιβουλῆς πᾶσαν ἀνέλῃ ἀφορμήν. Ἐπιβεβαιῦσα δὲ τὰ δόξαντα, καὶ Θεὸν αὐτὸν, καὶ ἱερέας, καὶ πάντα ἀρχόμενον μάρτυρας ποιουμένη τῶν αὐτῇ βεβουλευμένων, ἐκ χρυσοῦ καὶ λίθων τιμίων θαυμάσιόν τι χρῆμα θεαμάτων κάλλιστον, ὑπὲρ τῆς ἰδίας παρθενίας καὶ τῆς τοῦ ἀδελφοῦ ἡγεμονίας, ἱερὰν ἀνέθετο τράπεζαν ἐν τῇ ἐκκλησίᾳ Κωνσταντινουπόλεως· καὶ ἐπὶ τοῦ μετώπου τῆς τραπέζης, ὡς ἄν πᾶσιν ἔκδηλα ᾗ, τάδε ἐπέγραψεν. Ὑπεισελθοῦσα δὲ τῆς ἡγεμονίας τὴν φροντίδα, ἄριστα καὶ ἐν κόσμῳ πολλῷ τὴν Ῥωμαίων οἰκουμένην διῴκησεν· εὖ βουλευομένη, ὡς ἐν τάχει τὰ πρακτέα ἐπιτελοῦσα καὶ γράφουσα. Ἠκρίβωτο γὰρ λὲγειν, καὶ γράφειν ὀρθῶς κατὰ τὴν Ῥωμαίων καὶ Ἑλλήνων φωνήν. Τῶν δὲ πραττομένων τὴν δόκησιν εἰς τὸν ἀδελφὸν ἀνέφερε· καὶ ἐπεμελεῖτο, ὡς ἄν μάλιστα βασιλικῶς ἀναχθείη τοῖς καθ' ἡλικίαν παιδευομένοις μαθήμασιν. Ἀλλ’ ἱππικὴν μὲν καὶ τὴν ἐν τοῖς ὅπλοις καὶ τοῖς λόγοις ἄσκησιν, παρὰ τῶν ἐπιστημόνων ἐξεδιδάσκετο. Περὶ δὲ κόσμιος εἶναι καὶ βασιλικὸς, παρὰ τῆς ἀδελφῆς ἑῥῥυθμίζετο· ἐσθῆτα ᾗ χρὴ περιστέλλειν μανθάνων, καὶ πρόπῳ τίνι καθῆσθαι, καὶ βαδίζειν, καὶ γέλωτος κρατεὶν, καὶ πρᾶος καὶ φοβερὸς ἐν καιρῷ εἶναι, καὶ ἁρμοδίως πυνθάνεσθαι τῶν περί του δεομένων. Ούχ ἤκιστα δὲ εἰς εὐσέβειαν αὐτὸν ἦγε, συνεχῶς εὔχεσθαι, καὶ ταῖς ἐκκλησίαις φοιτᾷν ἐθίζουσα· καὶ ἀναθήμασι καὶ κειμηλίοις τοὺς εὐκτηρίους οἴκους γεραίπειν· καὶ ἐν τιμῇ ἔχειν τοὺς ἱερέας, καὶ ἄλλους ἀγαθοὺς ἄνδρας, καὶ τοὺς νόμῳ Χριστιανῶν φιλοσοφοῦντας. Οὐ μὴν ἀλλά καὶ ὑπὸ νόθων δογμάτων νεωτερίζεσθαι κινδυνευούσης τῆς θρησκείας, σπουδῇ καὶ σοφῶς προύστη. Καὶ τοῦ μὴ καινὰς αἱρέσεις ἐν τοῖς καθ' ἡμᾶς χρόνοις κρατεῖν, μάλιστα αὐτὴν αἰτίαν εὑρήσομεν, ὡς ἐν τοῖς μετὰ ταῦτα εἰσόμεθα. Δὲει δὲ πολλῷ τὸ Θεῖον θρησκεύουσα, μακρὸν ἂν εἴη παρὰ τίσι λέγειν, καὶ πόσους εὐκτηρίους οἴκους μεγαλοπρεπῶς ἐτεκτήνατο· πόσα δὲ καταγώγια πτωχῶν καὶ ξένων, καὶ μοναστικὰς συνοικίας συνεστήσατο, διηνεκῆ τάξασα τὴν εἰς ταῦτα δαπάνην, καὶ τὸ σιτηρέσιον τῶν ἐνοικούντων.  Ἑρμείος Σωζομενός, Ἐκκλησιαστίκη Ἱστορία, Τομ Θ´ Κεφ Α´

In the consulate of Bassus and Philip the Emperor Arcadius died, leaving Theodosius, his son, who was just weaned, as his successor to the empire, and also three daughters of tender age, named Pulcheria, Arcadia, and Marina. It seems to me that God here showed that piety alone suffices for the salvation of rulers, and that without it, neither armies, nor a powerful empire, nor any other thing, are of use. The Divine Power which watches over all things, foresaw that the Emperor would be distinguished by his great piety, and therefore established Pulcheria, his sister, as  protectress of him and his rule. She was not yet fifteen years of age, but was wise beyond her years and possessed of divine intent. She first dedicated her virginity to God, and she taught her sisters to do the same, and no man was allowed to enter the palace that there be no cause for jealousy and intrigue. In confirmation of her resolution, she took God, the priests, and all those ruled as witnesses to her self-dedication, consecrating a holy table of gold and precious stones, a remarkable fabric and very beautiful to see, in token of her virginity and the headship of her brother, in the church of Constantinople, and she inscribed these things on the front of the table, that they be clear to all. Resuming the care of government, she governed the Roman empire excellently and with great order; what she decided was quickly decreed and brought to realisation. She was able to write and to converse with perfect accuracy in the Greek and Latin languages. The value of all that was done she attributed to her brother. She took great care to raise him as a prince, educating him as befitted his years. Though in horsemanship, and the practice of arms and in letters he was taught but the wisest men, in conduct and princely bearing he was taught by his sister; she showed him how to gather up his robes, how to take a seat, how to walk, how to restrain laughter, how to assume a gentle or a formidable aspect for the occasion, and how to inquire fittingly into petitions. And no less did she lead him into piety, and continual prayer; she taught him to frequent the churches regularly, and to honour the houses of prayer with gifts and treasures; and to have reverence for priests and other good men, and for those who, in accordance with the law of Christianity, took to philosophy. And that religion might not be endangered by the innovation of spurious dogmas she provided zealously and wisely. That new heresies have not prevailed in our times, we shall find to be due especially to her, as we shall subsequently see. With how much fear she worshipped God, it would take long for any one to say, and also how many houses of prayer she built magnificently, and how many houses for the poor and strangers she set up, and the monastic communities she established, and the arrangement for the expenses for their perpetual support, and for the provision of the inhabitants. Sozomen, Ecclesiastical History, Book IX, Chapter 1