E00018: Theophylact Simocatta in his History recounts the story of *Golinduch (Persian convert to Christianity, ob. 590s, S00019) who flees to the Roman Empire and lives a holy life in Hierapolis (Syria). She prophesies the overthrow of Khosrau II and his flight to the Romans. Written in Greek at Constantinople in the early 7th century, based on a lost Life of Golinduch, written in Hierapolis.
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posted on 2014-08-31, 00:00 authored by CSLA AdminTheophylact Simocatta, History 5.12.13
The subject of this hagiographical note in Simocatta's History is the life of Golinduch, a Persian woman who converts to Christianity, migrates to the Roman lands and dies at Hierapolis in Euphratensis.
The daughter of a prominent Persian family of magi in Babylonia, Golinduch decides to become a Christian after an ecstatic vision, while living with her husband. Although abused by him, she persists in her decision to convert and receives a vision of an angel predicting her husband’s imminent death, which indeed happens. Next she goes to Nisibis and is baptised by the local Christian clergy. The magi come in search of her and, failing to convert her back to their religion, they imprison her for a long time. She manages to escape with the help of an angel, migrates to Roman territory and, after a pilgrimage to Jerusalem, settles in Hierapolis where she lives a holy life and dies. She prophesies Khosrau II’s overthrow and alliance with the Roman Empire. The final sentences of Simocatta’s account are the following:
5.12.13
πολλά τε περὶ τῶν ἐσομένων τῷ Χοσρόῃ προαναγορεύσασα τήν τε προσχώρησιν αὐτοῦ Ῥωμαίοις πρὸ τῆς τῶν πραγμάτων ἐνάρξεως καταμηνύσασα, βίον τε ἰσάγγελον πολιτευσαμένη, καὶ ὡς πρέπει ἁγίοις τὰ εἰς ψυχὴν καὶ τὸ σῶμα ὁρῶντα, ἀπέστη τῶν τῇδε τὸν τῆς καρτερίας στέφανον ἀκηράτοις ἀναδησομένη τροπαίοις.
'She made many predictions about what would befall Chosroes [Khosrau II] and revealed his approach to the Romans before the commencement of the events. After conducting her life like an angel and as befits the saints with regard to the matters of the body and the soul, she departed this world in order to bind on, with undefiled triumphs, the crown of endurance.'
Text: de Boor and Wirth 1972. Translation: Whitby and Whitby 1986, modified. Summary: E. Rizos.
The subject of this hagiographical note in Simocatta's History is the life of Golinduch, a Persian woman who converts to Christianity, migrates to the Roman lands and dies at Hierapolis in Euphratensis.
The daughter of a prominent Persian family of magi in Babylonia, Golinduch decides to become a Christian after an ecstatic vision, while living with her husband. Although abused by him, she persists in her decision to convert and receives a vision of an angel predicting her husband’s imminent death, which indeed happens. Next she goes to Nisibis and is baptised by the local Christian clergy. The magi come in search of her and, failing to convert her back to their religion, they imprison her for a long time. She manages to escape with the help of an angel, migrates to Roman territory and, after a pilgrimage to Jerusalem, settles in Hierapolis where she lives a holy life and dies. She prophesies Khosrau II’s overthrow and alliance with the Roman Empire. The final sentences of Simocatta’s account are the following:
5.12.13
πολλά τε περὶ τῶν ἐσομένων τῷ Χοσρόῃ προαναγορεύσασα τήν τε προσχώρησιν αὐτοῦ Ῥωμαίοις πρὸ τῆς τῶν πραγμάτων ἐνάρξεως καταμηνύσασα, βίον τε ἰσάγγελον πολιτευσαμένη, καὶ ὡς πρέπει ἁγίοις τὰ εἰς ψυχὴν καὶ τὸ σῶμα ὁρῶντα, ἀπέστη τῶν τῇδε τὸν τῆς καρτερίας στέφανον ἀκηράτοις ἀναδησομένη τροπαίοις.
'She made many predictions about what would befall Chosroes [Khosrau II] and revealed his approach to the Romans before the commencement of the events. After conducting her life like an angel and as befits the saints with regard to the matters of the body and the soul, she departed this world in order to bind on, with undefiled triumphs, the crown of endurance.'
Text: de Boor and Wirth 1972. Translation: Whitby and Whitby 1986, modified. Summary: E. Rizos.
History
Evidence ID
E00018Saint Name
Golinduch, Persian convert to Christianity, ob. 590s : S00019Saint Name in Source
ΓολινδούχRelated Saint Records
Type of Evidence
Literary - Other narrative texts (including Histories)Language
- Greek
