E02742: John Chrysostom delivers two homilies on a feast of the *Maccabean Martyrs (pre-Christian Jewish martyrs of Antioch, S00303) held in Antioch (Syria) in 386 or shortly after; he refers to the relics of the saints, and recounts aspects of their story. Written in Greek at Antioch.

John Chrysostom, Two Homilies on the Maccabees (CPG 4354; BHG 1008, 1009)

Homily 1 (BHG 1008)

ΕΙΣ ΤΟΥΣ ΑΓΙΟΥΣ ΜΑΚΚΑΒΑΙΟΥΣ
Καὶ εἰς τὴν μητέρα αὐτῶν.
Ὁμιλία αʹ.

αʹ. Ὡς φαιδρὰ καὶ περιχαρὴς ἡμῖν ἡ πόλις, καὶ τοῦ παντὸς ἐνιαυτοῦ λαμπροτέρα ἡ σήμερον ἡμέρα, οὐ τοῦ ἡλίου φανερωτέραν ἀκτῖνα τῆς εἰωθυίας πρὸς τὴν γῆν ἀφιέντος σήμερον, ἀλλὰ τοῦ φωτὸς τῶν ἁγίων μαρτύρων ὑπὲρ ἀστραπὴν ἅπασαν τὴν πόλιν ἡμῖν καταυγάσαντος· μυρίων γὰρ ἡλίων οὗτοι λαμπρότεροι, καὶ τῶν μεγάλων φωστήρων φανότεροι. Διὰ τούτους σεμνοτέρα τοῦ οὐρανοῦ σήμερον ἡ γῆ. Μὴ γάρ μοι τὴν κόνιν εἴπῃς, μηδὲ τὴν τέφραν λογίζου, μηδὲ τὰ χρόνῳ δαπανηθέντα ὀστᾶ, ἀλλ’ ἄνοιξον τῆς πίστεως τοὺς ὀφθαλμοὺς, καὶ βλέπε παρακαθημένην αὐτοῖς τοῦ Θεοῦ τὴν δύναμιν, περιβεβλημένην αὐτοῖς τοῦ Πνεύματος τὴν χάριν, περιστέλλουσαν αὐτοὺς τοῦ οὐρανίου φωτὸς τὴν δόξαν. Οὐ τοιαῦται ἐξ ἡλιακοῦ κύκλου πρὸς τὴν γῆν ἀκτῖνες ἀφίενται, οἷαι μαρμαρυγαὶ καὶ λαμπηδόνες ἐκ τῶν σωμάτων ἐξαλλόμεναι τούτων αὐτὰς ἀποτυφλοῦσι τοῦ διαβόλου τὰς ὄψεις. Καθάπερ γὰρ λῄσταρχοι καὶ τυμβωρύχοι ἐπειδὰν ἴδωσιν ὅπλα που κείμενα βασιλικὰ, θώρακα, καὶ ἀσπίδα, καὶ κράνος, χρυσῷ πάντα καταλαμπόμενα, ἀποπηδῶσιν εὐθέως, καὶ οὐδὲ προσελθεῖν, οὐδὲ ἅψασθαι τολμῶσι μέγαν ὑφορώμενοι κίνδυνον, εἴ τι τοιοῦτον τολμήσαιεν· οὕτω δὴ καὶ οἱ δαίμονες οἱ ἀληθινοὶ λῄσταρχοι, ὅπουπερ ἂν ἴδωσι μαρτύρων σώματα κείμενα, δραπετεύουσι, καὶ ἀποπηδῶσιν εὐθέως. ……

‘On the Holy Maccabees and their mother. Homily 1

How bright and joyful is our city, and how much more brilliant is this day than the rest of the year – not because the sun is sending today its rays clearer than usual to the earth, but because the light of the holy martyrs has enlightened our entire city more than a lightning flash. For they are more resplendent than a myriad of suns, and clearer than the brightest of luminaries. For their sake, earth is today more magnificent than heaven. And, I pray, speak not of their dust, think not of their ash, nor of their bones which have been consumed by time, but open the eyes of your faith, and see the power of God residing by them, the grace of the Spirit enshrouding them, the glory of the heavenly light encompassing them. No rays are sent from the solar orbit to the earth as are the flashes and glitters leaping from these bodies, which blind the very eyes of the Devil. For, just as chief bandits and tomb-raiders immediately jump away, whenever they see somewhere royal weapons resting – a cuirass and shield and helmet, all resplendent with gold – and they dare neither to approach nor touch them, fearing the danger of daring such a thing, even so do also the demons, these true bandits, flee and jump away immediately, wherever they see bodies of martyrs resting (….)’

The bodies of the martyrs are precious because they have been sanctified not by an angel, but by Christ himself. The presidents of athletic games strive to recruit young and vigourous men for the pleasure of their spectators. Christ, however, places before our eyes seven young boys, their elderly mother, and the old man Eleazar, to contest in the most dreadful of matches. The martyrs are weak in their bodies, but strong in their faith, and strengthened by the grace of Christ. They prevail easily over the Devil. Especially admirable is the martyrdom of the elderly mother, who was taken first to the contest by the Devil, but was left to witness the deaths of all her sons before dying herself. The faithful must keep her as an example in their struggles against their own passions.


Homily 2 (BHG 1009)

The author implies that this homily was given on the second day of the feast. Now he focuses on the seven brothers, and especially on one of them, even though references to their mother are again necessary. The author intends to conclude his homily quickly in order to pass the word on to the bishop. The mother of the Maccabees must be kept as an exemplar by fathers and mothers, and especially by ascetics. Everyone, monastics and married people alike, should take the Maccabees, their mother, and Eleazar as intercessors in their prayers.

Text: Migne 1862, 617-626.
Summary and translation: E. Rizos.