E04152: Theodoret of Cyrrhus in his Ecclesiastical History mentions the popular acts of devotion taking place at the sarcophagus and column of the emperor *Constantine (ob. 337, S00186) in Constantinople as a proof of the Constantine’s favour with God. Written in Greek at Cyrrhus (northern Syria), 444/450.
online resource
posted on 2017-10-13, 00:00 authored by erizosTheodoret of Cyrrhus, Ecclesiastical History, 1.34
Ὁ μὲν οὖν βασιλεὺς εἰς τὴν ἀμείνω βασιλείαν μετέστη. οἱ δὲ ὕπαρχοι καὶ οἱ στρατηγοὶ καὶ οἱ λοιποὶ ἅπαντες ἐν λάρνακι τοῦτον καταθέντες χρυσῇ εἰς τὴν Κωνσταντινούπολιν μετεκόμισαν, τῆς στρατιᾶς ἁπάσης ἡγουμένης καὶ ἑπομένης καὶ πικρῶς ὀλοφυρομένης τὴν στέρησιν· πατρὸς γὰρ ἠπίου πεῖραν εἰλήφεσαν ἅπαντες. ὁπόσης δὲ τιμῆς τὸ σῶμα ἐκεῖνο τετύχηκε καὶ ὁπόσον ἐν τοῖς βασιλείοις διέμεινε χρόνον, τῶν ἀρχόντων τὴν τοῦ παιδὸς περιμενόντων ἐπάνοδον, περιττὸν ἡγοῦμαι γράφειν, ἄλλων ταῦτα συγγεγραφότων· οἷς ῥᾴδιον ἐντυχεῖν καὶ μαθεῖν ὅπως τῶν ὅλων ὁ πρύτανις γεραίρει τοὺς εὔνους θεράποντας. εἰ δέ τις ἐκείνοις διαπιστεῖ, τὰ νῦν περὶ τὴν ἐκείνου θήκην καὶ τὸν ἀνδριάντα γινόμενα βλέπων πιστευσάτω τοῖς γεγραμμένοις καὶ τῷ φήσαντι δεσπότῃ· «τοὺς δοξάζοντάς με δοξάσω καὶ οἱ ἐξουθενοῦντές με ἐξουθενωθήσονται.»
‘So the emperor departed for the better realm. The prefects and generals and all the rest placed him in a golden coffin and carried him to Constantinople, with the entire army marching before and after it and bitterly bewailing his loss. For all of them had known him as an affectionate father. How great honours that body received and how long it remained in the palace, while the officials were waiting for the return of his son, I deem it unnecessary to write, since others have already written about these matters. It is easy to find these works and learn how the Ruler of All honours His faithful servants. Should anyone have doubts, let them look at what occurs now at his tomb and the statue, and believe what is written and in the words of Him who said: Those who honour me I will honour, and those who despise me will be disdained. [1 Sam. 2:30]'
Text: Hansen 1997.
Translation: E. Rizos.
Ὁ μὲν οὖν βασιλεὺς εἰς τὴν ἀμείνω βασιλείαν μετέστη. οἱ δὲ ὕπαρχοι καὶ οἱ στρατηγοὶ καὶ οἱ λοιποὶ ἅπαντες ἐν λάρνακι τοῦτον καταθέντες χρυσῇ εἰς τὴν Κωνσταντινούπολιν μετεκόμισαν, τῆς στρατιᾶς ἁπάσης ἡγουμένης καὶ ἑπομένης καὶ πικρῶς ὀλοφυρομένης τὴν στέρησιν· πατρὸς γὰρ ἠπίου πεῖραν εἰλήφεσαν ἅπαντες. ὁπόσης δὲ τιμῆς τὸ σῶμα ἐκεῖνο τετύχηκε καὶ ὁπόσον ἐν τοῖς βασιλείοις διέμεινε χρόνον, τῶν ἀρχόντων τὴν τοῦ παιδὸς περιμενόντων ἐπάνοδον, περιττὸν ἡγοῦμαι γράφειν, ἄλλων ταῦτα συγγεγραφότων· οἷς ῥᾴδιον ἐντυχεῖν καὶ μαθεῖν ὅπως τῶν ὅλων ὁ πρύτανις γεραίρει τοὺς εὔνους θεράποντας. εἰ δέ τις ἐκείνοις διαπιστεῖ, τὰ νῦν περὶ τὴν ἐκείνου θήκην καὶ τὸν ἀνδριάντα γινόμενα βλέπων πιστευσάτω τοῖς γεγραμμένοις καὶ τῷ φήσαντι δεσπότῃ· «τοὺς δοξάζοντάς με δοξάσω καὶ οἱ ἐξουθενοῦντές με ἐξουθενωθήσονται.»
‘So the emperor departed for the better realm. The prefects and generals and all the rest placed him in a golden coffin and carried him to Constantinople, with the entire army marching before and after it and bitterly bewailing his loss. For all of them had known him as an affectionate father. How great honours that body received and how long it remained in the palace, while the officials were waiting for the return of his son, I deem it unnecessary to write, since others have already written about these matters. It is easy to find these works and learn how the Ruler of All honours His faithful servants. Should anyone have doubts, let them look at what occurs now at his tomb and the statue, and believe what is written and in the words of Him who said: Those who honour me I will honour, and those who despise me will be disdained. [1 Sam. 2:30]'
Text: Hansen 1997.
Translation: E. Rizos.
History
Evidence ID
E04152Saint Name
Constantine the Great, emperor, ob. 337 : S00186Saint Name in Source
ΚωνσταντῖνοςRelated Saint Records
Type of Evidence
Literary - Other narrative texts (including Histories)Language
- Greek
