E00340: Five poems in Greek, ascribed to Gregory of Nazianzus (329-390), refer to the burial of several members of Gregory's family near a shrine of martyrs. Written in Cappadocia (central Asia Minor); recorded in the 10th c. Greek Anthology.

Greek Anthology, Book 8 (Gregory of Nazianzus, Epigrams ), 33, 76, 99, 165

Epigram 33: A poem for Gregory’s mother Nonna who died c. 374, and was buried at a martyr shrine in Nazianzus

Ψυχὴ μὲν πτερόεσσα πρὸς οὐρανὸν ἤλυθε Νόννης,
σῶμα δ’ ἄρ’ ἐκ νηοῦ Μάρτυσι παρθέμεθα.
Μάρτυρες, ἀλλ’ ὑπόδεχθε θύος μέγα, τὴν πολύμοχθον
σάρκα καὶ ὑμετέροις αἵμασιν ἑσπομένην,
αἵμασιν ὑμετέροισιν, ἐπεὶ ψυχῶν ὀλετῆρος
δηναιοῖσι πόνοις κάρτος ἔπαυσε μέγα.

'The soul of Nonna left on its wings for heaven, and from the temple we took her body and laid it beside the martyrs. Martyrs, accept this great offering, her long toiling flesh which followed [= the example of] your blood. Your blood indeed, for she extinguished the great might of the destroyer of souls, by her immense labours.'


Epigram 76: A poem for Gregory’s parents, Gregory of Nazianzus the Elder and Nonna, buried outside an unnamed martyr shrine in Nazianzus.

Ἀσπάσιοι χθόνα τήνδε φίλαις ὑπὸ χείρεσι παιδὸς
ἑσσάμεθ᾿ εὐσεβέος Γρηγορίου τοκέες·
ὃς καὶ γῆρας ἔθηκεν ἑοῖς μόχθοισιν ἐλαφρὸν
ἡμέτερον, καὶ νῦν ἀμφιέπει θυσίαις.
ἄμπνεε γηροκόμων καμάτων, μέγα φέρτατε παίδων
Γρηγόρι᾿, εὐαγέας Μάρτυσι παρθέμενος
σοὺς τοκέας· μισθὸς δὲ μέγαν πατέρ᾿ ἵλαον εἶναι,
πνευματικῶν τε τυχεῖν εὐσεβέων τεκέων.

'By the dear hands of our son, the pious Gregory, we, his parents, are clothed in this welcome earth. He also lightened our old age by his toil, and now tends us with his prayers. Take rest from your labour of tending the elderly, Gregory, best of sons, now that you laid your pious parents beside the martyrs. Your reward is to be yourself a great and kind father, and to have pious spiritual children.'


Epigram 99: A poem for Gregory’s brother Caesarius, who was buried in the same family tomb as his parents, Gregory of Nazianzus the Elder and Nonna.

Γείτονες εὐμενέοιτε καὶ ἐν κόλποισι δέχοισθε,
Μάρτυρες, ὑμετέροις αἷμα τὸ Γρηγορίου,
Γρηγορίου Νόννης τε μεγακλέος εὐσεβίῃ τε
καὶ τύμβοις ἱεροῖς εἰς ἓν ἀγειρομένους.

'Be propitious neighbours, martyrs, and receive in your bosom the blood of Gregorios, Gregorios and the famous Nonna, gathered together both in piety and in the holy tomb.'


Epigram 165: For Gregory’s young nephew Gregory

Γρηγόριον μήτρως, ἱερεὺς μέγας, ἐνθάδ᾿ ἔθηκε
Γρηγόριος, καθαροῖς Μάρτυσι παρθέμενος,
ἠΐθεον, θαλέθοντα, νεόχνοον· αἱ δὲ πάροιθεν
τῆς γηροτροφίης ἐλπίδες ἥδε κόνις.

'Gregorios, the high priest, laid here his nephew Gregorios, still in the first bloom of youth, entrusting him to the pure martyrs. This dust is what remains of his former hopes of being tended by him in his old age.'


Text and Translation: Paton 1916-1918; translation modified.