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    J. Wortley, Studies On The Cult of Relics in Byzantium Up To 1204 2009

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    Radu Constantin

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    Alo in he Varkrum Collected Sai Seri: ‘NEIL McLYNN (Christin Polis and Religious Culture in Late Ansquity HENRY CHADWICK ‘Staion Ancient Chant ‘VARIORUM COLLECTED STUDIES SERIES PAULSPECK Understanding Byzantium ‘Stiie n Byrtn istrcl Sources MILTON V. ANASTOS (Eds Speros Vryonis, and Nihos God) ‘eal Tho, Theology an rsa! Relations wit fe So of Rome Studies on the Cult of Relies in ——— Byzantium up to 1204 Die Unig en oben a Byzain Amni Sid Pane JPAN-MICHEL SPIESER ‘Urban and Relpioas Spacer in Late Antiquity and Early Byzantium MILTON McC. GATCH Eschatology and Chistian Nurture ‘Themes Anglo Sixon and Medieval Religious Life NINAG. GARSOIAN (Church nd Cole in Early Medieval Armenia GABRIELE WINKLER ‘Stues in ati Chritin Litrayandt Comte ‘Byzantom, Syria, Armenia AVERIL CAMERON (Changing Cltres in ary Byzantiom, R.W. THOMSON ‘Stade in Armenian Literate and Cristini BRIAN CROKE (Christin Chronicles and Byzantine History, St-6th Centuries i John Wortley Studies on the Cult of Relies in Byzantium up to 1204 ASHGATE VARIORUM BX 323 ‘let “Tis ede © 2000 by Jo Woy oe Woke ase isa pt nthe Copyright, Designs and Pats At, ‘i tbe eid we stor of nO ‘Peblited inthe Variorm Collet Stade Sek by amet peta ey genet sgegpenecine ceed roe ee Jae ae SS ae Asa abit pray com rkh Leary Cataloguing a Paiation Data ‘ey Jon “Seon he a of sn Byam pw 1208 "orm ed sass 93) 1 Rees" Byranie Empey. Lie over rary of Congres Casrl amber: 2005924045 \VARIORUM COLLECTED STUDIES SERIES C5935 Pind and ound in Great ein by CONTENTS Preface by Cyril Mango Ineotaction Acknowledgements Abbreviations (Genera. 1 Theovigins of Csi veneration of body-pare ‘ome deh designs 23 Par 208 Buns nie Byzanrn Hoan ‘The Byzantine component ofthe rei-hoard of Consatnople ‘Grok oman and Byzanie Sue 40, Durham NC, 1989 ‘Te legend of Constntin th elie provider Daimaneyl: Bey prised Earn Beye RB Egor and AA Wipe, MB: Une of ‘ania Cour for Hele Caton, 208 TV Theat reliesimporations to Constantinople Seu Dei 2008 VThe sre remains’ of Constantine and Helo ‘mine erat: Papr Hour of Bop St ‘Burke Banna sais 16. Melon ‘Seaton satan or Bon Se 2006 VI The wood ofthe Tue Coss Posrpucaton 5.28 asvame 497-496 207-225 contents Teas ano Reus Constantine V Jeopoclasm and Lepsaoclas: Leo sod teal. ‘BzonncheFochangen 8 Aram, 182 Icon and relic: a comparison ‘Grek omar and Bate Se 48 Dra, NC, ‘a 008 How re Reucs Wonke> 1% “Tne not-so-minenlos mics si we nd Hein Mea Cate be lected Proce of conference ha att Cot fr Mea! ‘Sa Cie of Toon) aS Camel 2 al nd Rano New St rns Pre 92 De arome comers tele ofthe convert robber (HG 14504, W361) (aa eon te Grek yoo arte and Ione withstand te ‘Boon 66 Lomein eee 1985 Sone Rice Pace xi xl xv “The Marian ics at Contaninope Grok Romo and Bsa Ses Durham, MC, 2008 Hagia Skepé and Prov Boga ios sincidenoe “atta limon 89 Brazel 1971 ‘The Oration of Theodore Sycelis (BH 1058) andthe Sige of 0 [ani Sede beans 4 Shphersown Relics of he ens of Jess’ at Constetnope (Can de pchored hae eioaon de Bane, Nomar) Part nacido core ‘Tht eiation de Bence. 2008, ava vo1-i74 150-168 219-240 is o.1se mi-126 waoast contents XV__The Relics of Our Lords Pasion in th Russian ‘Primary Chron (ith Constantin Zacher) eat Yemeni 83: Mascon 2006 ACunous Ouissox XVI Rois and he Great Church ‘Peon Zein 98 Mich and Lei, 208 Index “This volume contin 27 pes om een PUBLISHER'S NOTE ‘The ance in hs volume a in all ters in he Vina Collected Stain ‘Sees, ave ot been sien new, conouows piation In ore t oid confisog,and ofc use where these sme studies ve ben rere. to sewhere he orginal pagination hasbeen atid wherever pose Each article has been given a Roman number in ere of appearance, 25 | ‘nad the Contents. This uberis epeated on cach page an gue in the index ens PREFACE. ‘The eal of sin’ alc, Lf thei badly party sto me a east —one of ‘he most puzlng manfesations of Early Chitin. Puzzling for several ressos. Furst, ocase it had no sesptual foundation. Seco, because it onavened eeply roc ble of thant worl in oth he inlay ‘nthe impunity ofthe grave. Third beeauseitaroused no opposition within the (Church. Only one Galle pista crn Vigilentn,exreed his bjestions and was sil (and indeed ely) po dwn by St Frome. Fou beease itvas actively promoted by the mest emia! and lured bishops ike Jobo ‘Chrytorom, Atbrone, Cel of Alexanda and Theodore, whom we do nat suspect of ynicism, although Ia not o sure about my namesake. ‘The eutof els, apart om encouraging the dismemberment of skeletons, eto to slated pretest had farreaching effets, aly invention and asain (ot inthe technical ease ofthese term) aveton' the dacovery, usuly thanks to dean or a vison, of «bay bral whose ‘existence had been previously unknown as iuppene, fons, in he case (of Sts Gerase and Protas in Milano of Sts Cyrus abd Joh at lexan ‘Translation meant moving rl fr ane place to another, sometimes (6 it svat allege) atthe teeta the decom sin himec. Regions that were ‘lentilly supplied were encouraged o share them With those that were no ‘As moe and more recs were walled ~ a races that went on ouphout ‘Late Anigity and the Midle Ages ~ foi of lines were re-dstebued ll ‘over the Criian werk Tnshismury subject one thing icles: te central rl of Contatinopl. At ‘etme of its foundation (324-30) Constantinople ha practically no Cristian ast Eve dring the Great Persecution launched in nearby Nenad i303, [produced aly vo may, Alaklosand Malone of them mie The previous histary of Byamtion's Church had ben forgot ad was invented ta ler date, probably inthe sixth entry, whee an apostle funder was ‘denied inthe pen ofSt Andrew. There Way, therefore aga of holiness be fla the easiest way of making up the deficit was by temptation of res. ded, the earestimporant wasn obe at was widely regarded oth East and Wes a Sting a precedent wa ht of St Andrew ad Lake © Constanie'smasceum a Corstatnpie nee 36 or 387 Pesunded hat he was hms the cen apostle if second Jesus Christ, Constantine ‘wanted tobe bared inthe company of ter aos Naa}, his wish was Tall “The example set by Constantine was no flowed immediately. twas only fro 390 ena inthe en of Theodosia fue lcs began ow into Constantino, mol rom Palsine By the endo eh entry Constantinople could bos ofthe mest comprehensive collection athe wasld ‘snag the domaine ofboth the Old and New Testaments wells Chistian ‘sits from oth East and Wet boi worl apt The farther growth otis accumulations tacedin the preset book down its eakia the age of the Crusades ad its wholesale disper fer 1204, maton body parson calle pray rei, hee wasn important exepory of secondary eis, ie objets tht bad come into physical contact, With olypeonage ine fit lace th Tue Cros Bt asthe robe of ‘he Virgin Mary which was to Become the palavm of Constantinople, the ipint of Css Tae onthe towel of Eds, th hay garment of Sh the Baptist Mover stafand many more. Fall here war nin bower ago, tha of mireculns ions, which were not, sell Speaking, eis, bu shared ‘with eles enti syperatulpropers, ike ceding (30 did the erp of ‘St Eaphemia) remitting curative In studying for several decades various aspects of Byzantine elo, oa Ware bas pi particular adeton othe cal frees at Constantinople ‘dts overan with miraculous icons. Ate isl adit that jet in ‘which ts Sldom posible atin certitude. One sure of cots s due {othecxseneof multiple fhe sare reli: Wena bewiling acct he two gles the Virgin Mary (se my hve ba sever), but adhe 10 «ret te thoe heads oft John the Bap, which ued up ia diferent places ‘nd at diferent ines. Furthroce, tee were often two oe hee competing ‘enone of an invention, making hiro etrmine whic, say, was the Ios athe. Indeed, es we pursue the sory of relic, we fd ousclves ina ‘eel of legend rather tha th of istry ~ Word ht has town loge ait ‘otamenable evidential analysis, yet lis us more about Byzantine metal ‘than demonstrable fas, John Worey's says wl lp to gpen upto readers this aerate weld, ‘CYRIL MANGO Exeter College, Oxford ‘March 2008, INTRODUCTION ‘To rover he tombs ofthe distinguished dead is a characteristic fal thre [Abrahamic religions. OF the tre, however, ony in Christianity (ako ‘characterised deetionto an avowed emp tomb) arte corpses or Pas there ad the ccoutemens of the bay dead eliiousy venerated, Ext how and why Crisis developed the cult of holy relics canot be stated wid any certainty. The Eaypian practices of mumifyng the corpses of te sings dead ad keeping tem unburied for some tie ay have inspired ‘he early church smal to teat its deceased sins In tnes of persecution, ‘he wasporabiiy ofthe asso he mangle body pars of te marty ay Inve inspire the survivors toretin sh things on had othe oul ois te lachare ta healing dinars they were bbeved exude he avenge ‘hose wh approached them faith Yet by whatever path elie deveton eae into being isle tha he queso reis was lead in ilswing by thetine ‘he penecton of Cvstians eaded («320 4D)- Anas the ew explo ie now-Chistiansed Roman Empire n the Bospris exerted its spiny ‘Aldrin, rapidly ook the ean the acguon of ei, was probably forthenumber and distinction of hrs ht no mater ow cospicaous might Ive been note respets, Constantinople Beane most amos in is heyy. Some ofits wears re complete Dds, such as Saat Joa Chrys’, scr teed in the sanctuary a Holy Apste’ ome were Boy par, (fen ncased in finely wrought casings Tegure) such ashe on ca view ‘tbe Topp musen nade contain an am of Job he Baptst Many other treasures wee secondary relics meanig items asocnted withthe oly ones (Cather than pars of them) tings they wore oF used Gch asthe se = naptorion”ofte Motor of God) or with which hey wera, of which by fiche mes ilusows was the Wood ofthe True Coss ‘What mates te enamel ch eich of Constaniople partially remaable shat mont every tem init was acquired eawhere and porte ‘othe cept I that cy possessed ay indigenous eis otal was ee mae ‘tan the bones the martes Makios and Alakis, supplemented in de couse bythe victims ofthe war on the ions eveything he originated elsewhere This hardly surprising since Constanine the Great had ied the architectural snd attic Geasures ofthe Empire io eri is be apa on te Bospors. Thus, pri pas, alos s soon as eins ofthe ssn cae 0 be vega as great teases (which they did with remarlabe apd in Py IstRopucTION ‘he later fourth century) Constantinople began aequiing them. The Blesed Plcheri, the siterofThoodosus I (41-50 was the fst of may emperors ‘who exerted hemscies dely to soquie hse ecesiastial treares forthe faluncerent ofboth church ad sate (a distinction whic bey woul scarcely hve recopined), a leas a part ial the oer Rome on he Tiber and primacy “The Now of ris to the Capit was not, however, consistent. By and lane i gent ines rom the orth tothe seventh centuries, racing ealable climax in te eign of Herc (610-41. No dob tbe ree Persian ssl of 681609, 615 and 626and te subsequent ‘explosion slam caused many elie tobe remove rom the path ofan advancing fo, lo beconservedin ‘hegre forwess of Melgar (asthe Norse called Byzaniun), Outstanding ‘meng Herel segustons was the most important ei ofall te Wood the Tre Cross, This wa in restored to lene afer ing reine! from ‘Ceipho,butitwassubsequely brought this Capita bythe aging empece, nprohensive his bility to overcome the Moslem forces. This however was ‘probably he ast his aeuistons cary in is eg, n 614, te Holy Lance brivedatConstsnopl; possibly followed by one or moro the Holy Nal the Sponge tat wa led wih vines, th Crown of Thoms and maybe even ‘he Pup Robe. Theis fits whose recs arvedin Healt even ‘morempressiv (and maybe moreelible): Sin Eupemia (Body ad Hand), Sint jmp, Saint Theodor of Seo, Sait Googe, Saat Anastasius be Pesan, Salat Therap ad Saint Ame Maybe this impressive aray exhausted the supply of avalable relics, fr, afer the death of Heres, relcmportaton tothe capt pers almost 1 have groundto a complete hk Indeed, ring he next wo centres hardly 8 snetlns made ofan oficial aoqstn; but his wasa ie whea the Empire ‘was in roest, Then top the Second al ef hs hits in vlc portation ‘bres the age of tomomachiof the war om ons ed to be thought athe iconoclast were equally opposed ois so cons, Dutt as now ‘sn gustoned The nronger likelihood i tht men wee to eaaceraed Wilt icons to concem themselves with ei othe rsa the afore-mentioned ‘ius som to have Been huraceised By aap and genera iene in he opolarity and we of ions. Tis prompts the question (ven i cannot be Enswered with any condense) were the fil ering to teem (which ‘lly what it potent be, Le picture of Saint NN) and away fom the ‘elie, which mayor may ot have ees a member othe possesion ete sist ‘to whom twas alleged tov pertained? Fr although thology was devised ‘which tiibuted the fll ami of scr core tothe tiniest agent fit {orofis perquisites. the malin ofelis even at ficial level este the ‘bedhead of Jon the Bats), doubts must ave ben in some pope's ads, ‘ren though hey are smost never expressed inthe extant writings concerning {heal of sme of theclams made fr the relies, afortar about he eles ‘ha ad oe “vena? subsequeat oa Vsotdeam abou them ‘Whatever he ene may be, tins it ht lost soo the fon-var ame oan end in) ad ceainy when the Empire wentback nthe esi tae began expand agai Lear the vicry at Paonia #6, we bogin bear of eles being sed again (the Head of Jon the Baptist was ought ‘othe expiring Basil and often being disoveed scqied an inperted 0 the city of Coste. Indeed, wth the advet of the Macronan emperors, {now age of imporaton began that extended into te reigns of he watt ‘engerors Nkopores Palas (963-6) and Joa Tiss (8-76 wha een tone acquired relic smang the other spoil of war Das It Blgarokonos| however, the geatestaf warior emperor nspteoFhsmany vers and oag ‘eign (9761025), appears to have added nothing obs cpiaerelicclleton this tre ofl those who saeeeed him on te ier tro wt the atasrphe of 120, ‘Whena eco distinction was imported itwas accorded formal ates and wsleome’ then twas tally deposited in some feporary location (in ‘nay cassia the Treasury [stewppfaion fhe Great Church). Ten, in due ‘our enasiable ay (eho epenynos i's easy) it "esate with great pomp and ceremony to be permanent deposited, sometimes in ‘oe ofthe exiting major shrines. More ofl, however, especially in relly tutsttding css a ine wa bultr restored epeilly to accommodate he recently aivedreicand hose who came torovere it The alice church of he ‘Theotoes a tne Lighthouse (ou pharou bere ay the lie’ share ofthe elie oard of th ty) would eventually became de oustanding example of ach "gereral depository’) while the Bisherse and Chslkopteia crc each ince amoag is elc-ollecton and may have ben bal house) Maran relics, posi Wo par of he sane pace of ii. Relics wee on formally aeqted through diplomatic channels and sometimes as the prizes of war, but nt aways. Private ctizensocasoally ‘Snributedto the eicbaurdsmetines by dog donest ens Wnos Se Man," he te ws ee Fine i ‘mar kr muse Ci TL a bce a fice pie ey the pious lacey of Galbius and Canidus, the prototype of many a ilar bation The ory of Job he Deacon ess pein Prestige the relics cerainy confer at the wer also perceived to have one important gules, th est of which ws Realing power nani). Thee ‘ree tv may of ling wth lines nth pre-moder Wold: ope could consult " plyician ikethe pgm in Chasers Camtrbuy Teer who st ou he bly bist mary fot sak (x Thomas Becket, ene ould she oly rele, The fat was expensive and rae (aye even very) dangerous. Per Conn vsto th ele cos 0 more than the expense of ging to where thoy ly, oof having a portable ee nought fo ones bad (ites he ead of John the Baptist was brought the djing emperor Bas edeed, ‘v0 ofthe mos famous healing sits, Cosmas apd Damian, were known as the onary mening tht he ook no ave Whatever else might wane, the relies unl the physician) cold do one ao harm. Whether they stl {idany god ismuch debated. Given their experience wth the wonder working frag placo and deepening nderstandng of psychosomatic considerations, Some siti ae aw prepared fo semi tha theres cerainly could apd Probab ddd some good at eston casio. Common seas sugges that he Journey (pring) tat rovpt the patent oa vn sine oul be ute a ential therapeutic experience intel. To thiscanbe aed the fit cbvious fact ht ithe ois had ot proved themseves capable of doing What hey wee expected odo a eat fom time to ine, thy would erly no ave been clive ad covet foro many cea ar nded they al are 9 Some places: wines ine crowde ll seaming o rovers the tomb ofS James the Lends Brother a Santiago de Compertla Occasionally ope ecousers reba droped out of sight (eg the Head of Jo the Bapist at ebomon). ‘Arbon as only seven mies west of th Capital onthe Via Eatin and ‘dbo housed rele of the Propet Same! ene ca nly cele tha he Head fd cone deliver wha wa expected of "The relics were so valved as apart and defence agninst the enemy As the Judeo-Christian God was thought to fight oa thsi of ischosen ones, 50 too mute aban ois sus Bea very preset help in rouble [Ps 45.2 {61}, Thus Constannope wih is incase herd of eis, believed it could ‘wih good reason lim ete “God-pur!(theophato) cian exy fn apn ll eds in condense tht two secre fon ener; wl the ‘experience of 1208 shared iat belle andthe cys conideee. 2 Seshar ft tantot h omX). © eg The 184 251585 1 Lette ddd at te tes were ali of considerable ccnomic a poi ‘ale, While theres sme evidence of ris eing ocasionaly nt ut Fam the capital (and even of tem being sold unwary customers bythe wel ‘crfuy) the eh les were secure fom such vation, boing conserved it jor shrines (ether thn the Great Church satin eases. twas he ‘els that put Constanioope on the mapas an inporant pilgrimage eae fnd evenly, a the journey tothe Hol Land became mote fel s the Ieading ilgrimage-enre of Christendom. Consttnole had alin bons important taping-point onthe way fom the west 0 Jersslom: as bez © acquire more md more relics ad a fortiori when it began thnk of seta he New ese” wih all ht that etl and, moreover, when it aque ‘he Wood ofthe True Cos in Herc’ tine, Condutinople began to seu an atratoninmea's minds at est eqa ttn of ion's lo mich acess ‘ecame inemitent fer the samicoecuptin ofthe Holy Lan). ‘Amajor dificult instudying there thal the Byzantine sources reo ‘he whole remaabl reticent concerning thos treasures. Major aoquisons serecordd and sometimes eee Thoodae Dapopats composed ‘notion onthe ava of he rm of "ie Prorat Bats) This ‘sane of series of midenth-cetary tnsatons of ris othe capital (eg the sired mand ion fom Edo uderRetsanoe Lekapenos in 940, oy athe tave of my emperor’ As already noted once the time of Puce id so many eis are in So shor a ine, nor woul they evr agin. But hee a in ter ese, characteristic once relic has Bee ‘Sepose i its permanent resing pice, silece descends and itis hardy mentioned again. I 2 itaees it secede hat an anval nai iscelebeated ints hoot the plce where ay (lsenere toi some exes), bt fr the mast part, ‘becomes almost impossible to lar arything oF subsequet ile fa recat ‘he capital. Faruately, some ofthe freigers who visited the capital ater it ‘opened p under the Komperoi emperors wer es recent das such ‘rlfn-centry vos sth oclled "Anon Meret Antony of Novgorod ‘nd Rabe de Cla who provided yt another and pertclay wel descepon ‘Kalo ig dc cp pt semen ea ‘hey sme cero 8 08H Mg kg, toneun + Sethe ss aft ty fe fGen Toon Come opiyopmcr congo! 1 regres "te page de Coma Vib feziopt prvi i A087 "aoe Meo Ke NC "Un cn Coan ie oan 3970, 3-8. wi ssrRopucrioN ‘ofthe relics in 1203, onthe wry eve ofthe cts, an idea cn be formed ‘of which eles were belived ae where end for what ey were famous, The ‘stor nformatio snot always accra, bu hei account ean be used © onl eachother o «cern eens without thm or ignornoe of te relic: ard would be over, Bt one day tall came toa end No dae io rete mportence in the study oles than 1204 when the eck of Constantinople bythe oop ofthe ‘ovled Fourth Crusade bought about he uring fa ie which woul, 8 ‘de cours, provide the sprk that nite th religous ware inthe Fogo the ‘Sxocth and sevestoenh centuries, Un 120, forthe mort pr (re were ‘exceptions of cours) relic, sponding a hough some cepa ree, ‘ended to ow othe imperial ty. But once that city fel ote marauéers, is ‘monic hoard of ales was epi dispersed throughout the western Weld ‘No dou the relics plated and mulled athe pons of darian: consequent fm th ime res began to play an nresingly porn and, imately, sso, lente evlitio oF Wester Caisaniy “There hasbeen a igificat amount of scolar naret in what became of ‘terete when ey anved inthe wes: fhe works fu Cange inte seventeeth enty and of Rian in the nneeenth ae eal examples sarge Maja, ‘nore recent one.” On te other had, the stages and methods by which the ‘sic hoard was assembled have received relively oan trestment nt aly rece.” This colton of estys represents various eff to gain some lng int how and why the eles wer acgurd at Constantinople, how they tek aa why they were a0 valued It is worth noting hatin pit of the relics otros ito protect ty ha ese the rom tern ‘oar of 120, many ofthe rele wel known ove departed are epred stil totve been in place in the yrs ofthe Palcoogan era (1289-1483). Hope spengs teal JOHN WORTLEY Univers of Manitoba July 2008 "eB Cag, a are ch eS Je Bape, a Pa a, ‘arian Corio ren 7 nb item te Oe oe ct is ch wy melt ee pet al Cis At oa terns hue he Xe Cong ner ar ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ‘The autor ofthese studies wishes to express hs sinsere gai to the Socal Seioses and Homans Reseach Cosel of Canad for ts naling td generous suport of his work for pel hal a entry; to thnk among ‘ther th Cente National de Recherche Scientige, The Ques University Beli, Prinseon Unvesyand University Calg, Dust, for occa ad valued suport and orcad bis appreciation of his dea enlngies a the Clie de rane (Chaired Byzance pon whose usttng ai and guidance ‘accom tefl trey, “hanks also goes to the individuals, joual, publishers an insitaions -whohve kindly given tsipermissiono epee th atcles inti volume (Cares Amie Collge de France Revue de histoire des religions, Dav (oe stl Grech Roman and Bycantne Sats, Duke Universi, Durham, NC {AIL and XD the ett of Dainonopyal, University of Manto Centre {or Heli Civilization, Winnipeg, ME (ID ean-L-ue Deu Pei), Sit Denis (IV) the Austin Assoration for Byzantine Stas, Metboure(V) ‘Wale Kaegi ma De W. Kos yzantinicheForchangon, Amsterdam (VID; ‘he Cene for Medieval Stale, Universit of Trot (x); Pra: Dr. Pater Vin ‘Deu and Janes Seba, zation, Lewen(X); Rober Godding, Soi des Bolles inaleca Bolanaana), Brass (XI); roesoe Water K Hana, Byzantine SoaesEruds Byzantines, Shepecdtown, WY (XII; Constant ‘Zoeken, Associaton ds is du centred sore vilston de Byaoe, Pais XIV); Gama Litwin Feantisk omen Moscow and Constantin Zuckerman (XV) and Walter de Gruyter & Co, Gt, Bee (VD, aass AB Anotlt ae “anonfymows} ‘Meret! Bak we Coen Co heed se De Cor DuGE or me EUR ors HE Malt MoH oDeb=) © Patria mL ABBREVIATIONS ea Sesoran “AnaecaBolandona ‘mo min S.GMera, "Saar eriquieConsunopoliane secundo il codice Otaboniano Latino 169 prima ‘ela Conga Lain (204), RondPonec 12 (1936) 13-56 Bibliotheca Hagigraphca Gasca Byzanion ByuaninsicheForschngon Bysontnsche Zech De Caerimonis’ (Codes Tredsiom CConstsnnople ‘Corpus seoram eclsasticor latnoram De Corian Distomcie histoire de gogrophie ceclistasigues Dumbarton Oot Papers Dictionnaire de Thloge Catholique English Historica Review Grok Roman and Byzantine Saicr Historia Eecleistica Codremis Malas Monumonta Germania historias Orient chisiona antec * sor Ditonary of Beata Ortio ‘Sciporeseiginum Contaninopeliznaram cf. Progr Parolgia Gracca Paola Lana Parolegia Orenalts PSChro0 RendPontdce nes RR sc ‘SLNPNE Sok Sor{om). ‘Symarfarin]CP TAPAS ‘Thoophanes Toop vu ve ton ABBREVIAYTONS, xe Mapas vot zpovn ~ see Patria Recon dela Ponficta Accademia Romana dk Archeologia. Revue des Eudes byantnes ‘Rese de Histoire des Reigns Sources Chrétiennes {A Soe Library of None and Post Nicene Fathers Socrates Sonomen ‘Smmatarlum Eecetoe Contantnopolianae Transactions ofthe American Phosophical Socien; Theophanis Chronographia eC. de Boot Vea Antoni ab Athanasio, BUG 140 Mua Contain’ a Eucebio, BHG 61x Zoarss ‘The origins of Christian veneration of body-parts ‘Wy did Chris chase ein human corpses bred and 0 tonember te hen mat oer people fe ole dios of be dea wal by ara or inchcaon The pose eons are Sted Fhe marked empha opal comec al ebb! Cases of el (bred ody anno etched Second ied ‘ain cold legal ated brid nd may have provided the ‘ea object of iron ele devotion Third the Exp hist, {elo rom Atanas) doped the long-standing pagan racic of bain he corse of marys an expting them Pith ‘ay rey for wraps men who, real he popu of ch ‘cy were nt sow appeciaehe advnages of ein mem ‘The evil hat men do, tvs afer hem, the good io inter with he bones. (Shakespeare, lus Caesar, 3273-7) “Ta nrxsc-noanp oF ConsraxTNorL Between 359 and 1204 Constantinople gradually sequired an immense hoard of “holy relies" which, at leat fr some, constuted that city’s chief claim to fame. What was it, we may well as, tha ‘motivated Constantinople to amass that huge relic collection? Why ‘were those relics so coveted that they were even capable itis sai) of diverting an entire crusade in pursuit of them?! The East Romans ‘were not of course alone in acquiring relics; they jut did it ona far grander scale (given the greater resources disposable) than the rest of Christendom, much in the same way thatthe USA acquires the world's t-reasures today. But the question sil remains: why was itdone at all? ‘There are both immediate and emote aspects o this question, “The immediate aspects concer the perceived intrinsic value of relics, matter which has mostly been dealt with fairly thoroughly clscwere. Briefly holy eis were believed to diffuse certain power [dynamis) bot directly and indiretly; there was a fuly-worked out theory indicating thatthe dynamis of the relics was conceived of ‘ch in the same way at we think of radioactivity (except ofcourse that dynamis was etirely beneficial), Ths even the tiniest fragment cof arlic was capable of discharging the same level of dnamis as the emite corpse (or object; merely the place where relics had once lain? or oil which had been poured over tbem was thought to be 1. Such she widely accepted ypshesis of Anton Flo, “La viaion el #Crosade ves Costantino: probit ene etd doce”, ent de Ths des veins 145 (1938) 168-187, 146 (1954) 6799 and 19019, 7 Tm Cyto sy that ven afer thls wer removed ‘ton Dap a3, thst where they hd an comtiued exer alin frweraner thse ho payed the: Discore nur Babar & Homelie sar Batplarod Masaet A Sohn rane Ci Bae and Berd Gilet, Part 1990 oureesChrnnes 382). 128 capable of producing the same remarkable effects asthe whole corpse forthe healing of body, mind and sprit Tina wider sense relics were a secret weapon to deploy agaist the foe. "The bodies ofthe sins area stronger protection for our city than any adamantine and inexpugnable fortification” says John ‘Chrysostom, “Like o many high look-out towers se all bout ber, they repulse th enslaughts, not only of those enemies which an be seen and heard, but als the atacks ofthe invisible demons, repeling ‘every device ofthe dev Thisthey do with ease too, usta avigarous man will tr back and frustrate the playful advances of children."* ‘This and moch mor like itis already wellknown: our Cristian fore- {athers were convinced ofthe eficary frei and theres god reason ‘to sppose ta, ike mos things one rly Belews, the eis Some- times actually did what they were believed tobe capable of doing, Now relics are of various kinds, Although Constantinople undoubtedly acquired many of the so-called “secondary relics” (nan-made or natural objects associated wih some holy person) these can be set aside for the purposes ofthis paper. Nor are we here talking aboot sans’ bodies decently and legally entombed of which CConstvnopeinberied very few, although these are undoubtedly ‘of capital importance. We have the extraordinary endorsement Eusebius of Caesarea ofthe veneration ofthe tombs of those who ied ploriously, using the authority of Plato and Hesiod. There is 3 John Chrysostom, In margres Aygo, Patroegia Greece $0693 Except wheres hers, all Wane ae te wer’ own ark: bea gunaton we monly om the Adhoed Vestn of TI (alias "king ane Bae) 1 fet Woke.“ Byzantine componet of he elias of Coestan- nop" Greek Roman and Beanie Snes 40 (198) 307-32 "Ean de Cs, La PrépraonBvngdiqe lives XIE dtd sd wae by Edouard es Pcs, Sowes cdenes 307, Pas 1983, ‘p206309 Pao is qc saying: “And henceforth we sal Bout ad ‘ve bot tombs teense they bene daemons. And we ll doe tie when en of those whe we je ote ottaningl good in le i ‘dager any ter wy Boss commen “The se apis the death ‘tthne who ve God, whom we woul nat be nemo in sling oes of {het lg Tost rourcasom goto throm oof oureyers {here tn bonour their ete ou, ho rcs bog eon also the passage in Apostolic Constintions expressly relieving ‘Christians of any Jewish doubts about the cleanliness ofthe raves ‘ofthe holy ones.* Devotion to and atthe sites where corpses have ‘been decently and definitively disposed of pertain oan immemorial ‘uation for all peoples; bat such sites need not detain us now. ‘What isin question here is human remains which have been * Henn 4x0 Gresx FXCEPTIONS To GENERAL PRACTICE Letus pause and observe before going further thatthe abhorrence of cadavers was nt quite as unequivocal as may have ben suggested thus far Even in the Hebrew tradition there was provision forthe disturbance of a grave in exceptional circumstances: ‘To la the rest ofthe dead by removing the body or the bone- ‘eras fom an place fo anole was considered eat Wrong but {Twat allowed forthe Bento the dead inthe case othe tas of| the body ote fay lor when te place of burl had osome tule from desecrate lementay ait” ‘And even though tombs were technically # source of ritual polltion (Lev.21, 1-4; Nam 19, 1-16] some tombs were neverte- less venerated bythe Jews, manly inJudae, Joachim Jeemia has ‘dentified forty-nine such tombs containing: eight paarchs,weaty- ‘one leading figures in Hebrew history, nineteen prophets (two of ‘whom may have been martyrs) and one whose sole claim to fame ‘was martyrdom. Every one ofthese was the object ofa degree of ‘veneration. Yet in everyone ofthese cases the tombs were sealed, the relic imecesible. 21, Tha the 28h ofthe Tiy-Nne Aric of 1562, refering to the clue etn 22. Ka Kole, “Bus” The Jesh Bncylpea vol. 3 (New York, 1916) 9.437 wah erences Gis ae), 722? nes Bee. ese one the ory of relics (London, 1985). 36. [Nor did the Ancient Greeks” insistence on bral allogether cxclie a relis-ul which, inhi ease, wat scary othe ca, fo of sins, ut of Beroce2 Ar Plo tail they aboud be, th ‘moral remains (ometine teases) of grat heres were often preserved in empls located inthe main gates of eit cies, {he bones of Theat at Athens, of Orestes a para of Tans at ‘Ago: he shoulder bade of Pelops was preserved is, he head of Orpheus at Leos (hese last wo lager than i). esta ante poo ep divers. ls pleat et SiS rsd te ec gn inp ie, ‘Soot roccton sil def done st ies ade A en temps de pl cacon psn! en ‘cpu Des rcs, ds pods permeates cov Sls {Sipps cometass Gate oi bocrter ent we ste ee on {Pedlapar ecu seo na our sn {Fine meg ame eae on arena ae prorrr e peseues ‘ca cles Get pons sence ance nom Ieuan eagerr leven les reg oe dopnirct eG Cats cae ner near ne iit wel imagine iso be a desciption of circumstances sn the Cian Mile Ages, fori ts at al pons, But he writer {is apating of Ancea Grcce, and ofthe rie of pagan eres, ‘otf Crstin stn. This stiking demonsaton ofthe exe Itich the cult of elics already existed in nig enjoins great, auton when exploring the enigns of Cristian usage; bt fr all, Abe since, ncope when alc was being "wanna" fara fone can el twas avays biden fom sight among te Helees, ever avalible fr touch, 24, See (ot recent). Als ad W. Amsing, "Rebgsien”, Der "Nee Pay 10, Saga 200, p. 918919 with bloga "8, Nee Herm Mca reqs de ns: mation conti tro Pare 1975, pp 1318. Ter wa lo x pei sap of ht ‘cl liter be eld secondary alls” ar she's ween, a mel Jnsrment (Ore), Azanenacr’s eeu, Hen’ sandal, es ‘Sree jel: even he ery sip which boght nas o Rose "hip. 18 ne Heenan Macard nots il ater (2) hat the agit wold go oe nba beo bering ower and ices celebae Suet herons ds, gneNo. The semblance ole Chisan practic at my tombs sot ling She Bebeves at te ose a ele [5S ra umn pewomenon _Ariuxastes” conpesinaTIon oF Te EOvrTiaN pRACTICE ‘There was however inthe ancient world one people whose ati- tudes to corpses and death were ery diferent from most ther: the Egyptians. Since time immemorial it was their practice to preserve the bodies of the departed by embalming thus transforming them ito mummies. Inthe process of time, x Greek and then Roman ‘eas fitered nto Egypt, changes came sbout inthe tational rocedue. On ofthe bestow examplsis the practice of painting the fee ofthe departed onthe mummy (he famous Feyum porta’ ‘athe notable examples)” ~ the sort of youthful, rejuvenated face that is with which one would wish t enter eteraity. By a curious aradox the Egyptians were inspired in tee funerary practices by a ‘elit which woud be shared by th Christians in dc course: belief in ifeafter death, This may explain why, when Christianity came the Nile Valley, the Eeypians appear to have taken tit wih aac. Inevitably, they also set thet own very distinctive stamp upon (Cvistaniy, a stamp which owed mach tothe religion and beliefs of thr ancien ancestors, which Rad itself been subj to ansformaion cover he centuries. ‘The old Egyptian tradition was thatthe bodes ofthe dead, once they were mummified, were to be inhumed or placed in scaled sepulchres" surounded bythe things they might need in theater life. This tation, however, a been maxifed with he process of time, as we ea fom Athanasius, Pope of Alexandia, Writing in the 360s he sys this of Anthony the Great the so-called “rt monk”, ‘believed to have did in 356 in his one hundred and sixth ea: “The retren were yng o persuade Antony to ay wih then wl ‘eed bbe refaed oreverl eon, wich beaded wt ‘i keeping silent an for hn enon aor ls thc th ‘Egyptians Yo pv the feral res forthe copes of en of 27 See (ost recently) aprosya® Dox, The Mysterio Foam Porta: aces rm ancient yp London a New Yor 1995. “hn ostoriscll cond” sa Soh Csi of departed aypin conftres Leeach in sev sepals ie the vgs The aataeFistry © 38 tia mma ded by Cab Beer 296 action especially forthe corps ofthe oly martyr, pt wrap ‘hem upin ines, aot conceal hem below ground, tat ly tea on low be [et stimpodin] and to kep thm at ome, wit dors. th wy they thought they were Bones the departed. Many a bithop di Anthony ask to reach about ts to the pope: be eed tate on the ay and chased the women, sying the pactce was ‘legal snd uboly, or te bees of he patircs and props rena ‘i hit tomb to this cy; and eves the body o he Lend vas ‘ced ina tepelere anda slow et in place o cone ual be rose gin dee days Iter In these word [Anthoy) dersaseted te vest of mt puting eva the bodes ofthe deceased fer death, omar hw bal the orate ight be, fr what could be get: or toe holy than the body ofthe Lord? So, many who bead Bally ‘oncealed thet deceased] beneath the ground; a ty gave tanks 10 ‘heard fr having ben Sowell instuted.” (Letit here beaded that, according to Jerome writing 2 390, ‘when Hilarion visited the ste of Antony's askévis shorly after be ‘ied, "the elder alo asked tobe shown the place of (Antony's) tomb, ‘whereupon they took him aside”. But its not known wheter they showed itto him or not, claiming thatthe reason fr concealing i whereabouts was Antony's directive; this was to ensure that Pergamiu, an extremely wealthy person in those parts, should not remove the body of the saint wo his vila and construct a maryrion)® Ris of course somewhat unlikely that Anthony signaled anything ofthe sor. is far more key that Athanasivs saw this as an excellent ‘opportunity to take issue with practice which he found distasteful ‘nchrstian and maybe even dangerous. tis nt the mumnmifction ofthe distinguished dea to which he takes primary exception, but the retention ofthe mummified remains on display, at home ~ when 28. Atanas, Vu Anni (BHG 140), 90 (ut wanton, edited snd wasn by GJM Bartel, Aanase Alexandre, Ve rine, SC ‘0, Pars 1994p 364-67 ‘i Jame; feof laron he Hert 31, PL23A7A (prec opt eno o Hlaron] leu ta iat a. Ant onde el (Ser ecopum com dei urn monsters ene gnc, casa ‘tla spc Anton ae lens, Pegg ls ici ici eat slat of lam sam sac ope agian fb (Sree) Nevers tee scout ofan iano oe ees of Anon ‘inte eign of Jaan (I anf i wanton wo Alesana. Wi ‘rerio Conte a 670 At ancora ar SIS in bis opinion) these ought to be entombed or inhumed. Others who have studied this remarkable pessage™ are agreed thatthe cxiginl practice, once the embalming process was complete, was indeed forthe mummies either tobe sealed in seputchres "standing "up againet the wall” pace Herodotus ot be buried below ground (presumably lying down), Hisrony oF rae Rover reacrice ‘As Thoofiod Baumeister noted some time ago, there evidence that concealment of the mummy had ceased to be the ‘niversl practice long before Athanasius protested. Tels, the cynic teacher probably from Megara who flourished ca 235 BC says: “We [Hellenes) hesitate o look ato touch [tbe dead) but they (the Egyptians) mummy and keep them in the house as something good and acept the bodies as sureties, so opposed isthe way to ours” ‘Gero sys quite bully (and alas without comment, maybe quoting (Chyippivs: “The Egyptians embalm their deed and keep them in 3, Alisd Ruth, Death and Baril x Christian Anti Washington 1c Tit], 244, “agin cremation and Clan ftement™ pp. 260 ‘Thevtd Buuren, VorchatlicheBesttngeiten und he ibang des Maryreles in Age” Pre Corsi arial astoms and he is of te ate wary in gy) Romtche Quote 69 (1974) 1 See so te aril of D. Hal i Hating’ Encyclopaedia of Religion and Eis fsa. 1 Heodos 2854 33 Ter te ole teacher) teal by Edvard N O°Nel, Missoula Mont 1977 pp 92% an 3. As O'NA comments (ote 49) tee 8 ‘icon nmetilyprecdingtspssage beets at sed who "hey™ ‘Se bt lig cosierion someting Herod sys 1362) thre ‘iv much dst “Tey sd tht when Arschir was ing in ype, Bene ‘mone pel not eas om hand oa we was mae tt man ight Iarow the ery of father's dnd boy: and he law povided als {burt kadrchould ve enon the wl rl Yult of te Bore, ‘uta pealy forthe per fh torr shuld he al to pay tae ‘She Shoal be tate might nerf bret death or ary ay ‘Eesned fir incr oh tbo i ars rin any ther elated ‘AD. Godley, Loh 1990, yp 40-4, Might one surmise ha unas tte out of tombs when oor freed on es? het owes? iss cone two cet late by Ses Epitcar Some wap Gt dnl p complet hen coven ier tihng timp xpos om tan, Bat xyes othr eas neta head ep er ‘hone ground wih hence" bomy henc)= Wing try cemay eter at (10D) Lan Soot tren mee et The Gp tert be Sel he Fein bu, ena cca Beh Sle tin ha at Be pct ipa thr ol in erin pe Hapa hla’ hl haa ous sos by Soong ieee {appear that mummy was of sufcietinsnsie worth be coun eet Ts hy png ven gst prcesel pepo dre y Dav Sul wh sel Tas uy et comary BC) termes ith et pining wo at “ecco of e aly suche” He conti i rw of rh y e Dice tee Scare eae minynent a hough hey ad ved with hose on whom ey gue rom this passage it may be posible to catch glimpse of what ‘nappene. As the undertakers’ skis improved, te resulting mummy ‘ame more and more to resemble the departed person (as can well be sen in the exquisite Fayum portraits), thus provoking an ever increasing reluctance to stow the likeness where it could no longer be sen, Most people are motivated by a dsie to look pen those 14, Goer, Tsun Dipti A, ance Aso. Picea NI 182 35, Seta Empires, Outine of Pyrhoion 3226 tatlated by RG. ary, Loc 1833. Heras (3.2) mensions histo: is something ofa mysery tothe "Loca f Samoan, On fares /De uct 3.170, ase by AM. amon, Lab 925. "Diodes Skul 191.67, tan by CH, Oli, Loeb 1933 they loved, also indeed upon those whom they loved and so forth, hence the whilom popularity of the family photograph album (rof| the deah- maskin ttm). From there it was a shor sept sting the mummy, notin an hermetically sealed chamber, but ins costly chamber (presumably part ofthe bom to which access could be ‘ined on occasion, Once that concession was made, the pressure to release the mummy from the home would be eased ~ and the ‘way be open fori to remain there for sometime; in practice, frit to remain at home (yn heauois) more or less in perpetuity. “Thus the practice to which Athanasius adéressed himself was not by any means a new one; local law either allowed it (which Roman Lav certainly would not have done) o looked the other way. ‘Tiss hardly surprising because of couse, when Diodorus Sieulus says that most, or even many, Egyptians indulge in his practice he isclealy exaggerating. twas an indulgence only ofthe very wealthy to have their loved ones transformed into valuable asses that could be used as collateral and to stow these in costly chambers. And Athanasius says: “eis the custom ofthe Egyptian to perform the fancral rites fo the corpses of men of dsincton”, probably meaning the sort of people for whom a statue would have been erected inthe nineteenth century. But Cvistans have not been remiss in taking ‘up the challenge; now (he sy) they do this “especially forthe ‘corpses ofthe holy martyrs. Its worth reflecting that by the ime ‘Antony died, and a fortiori by the time Athanasius wrote about him, the age of persecutions was several decades in the past, hence their mummified remains must have been around for quite some time, Also that withthe end of persecutions the supply of marys” remains had dried up, while the demand for them appears to have increased; increased, it would appear, to the point where the ‘remains of a distinguished holy man would be aceptable as an altemative to marys eis. 39, Bameiser (arti) make he ineestingmpgesion ath exbiing of te mary my have boca splay of weal [REASONS FOR ATHANASIUS’ OFFOSION TO THE KGYFTIAN PRACTICE ‘Why, on might wel ak was Athanasius so biery opposed to the practic of Keeping the mummies ofthe distinguished dad in homes? One possibility isthat be wanted to precude the emergence af marpria i bis etry over which he had no conto. I this context may be significant tht ts special the ay, men and women, whom be proves, aot the clergy. He was himself, ater {lin portation of one ofthe two méti(beepkin cloaks) of “Amony and maybe hoped to make that th focal pont ofa cl.:® Iris also possible ht, given hit intensely humane Christology, ‘Athanasius was disturbed by a practice which prevented human ‘mans rom ing “dst to das, ashes to ashe" Buta mach mor likly explanation isthat he knew thatthe practice opened the ‘ny for whitin his ees wee the ery sions cimes of dsmebetng corpse and alching in hen, to eset concomitant of the ‘veneration of accesible relics, This we know fom one ofthe Festal eters to which Baumeister has daw attention © In it Athanasios prints an accusing Sager quite deibereey aa paticular group of pl, he schsmatcs we know as the Melita, whose “wicked nd ei intent, alo “thee ancient evi and apostasy” re noted in The Life of Anton. ‘The Melian schism was named after Melts of Lycopotis who, shocked to find Bishop Peer of Alexandria had gone im hiding 40, Mel she wad in te Sepuagin fox be mano ih wich ft apn Bini ad with which Sot died od: ngiben ecedey To fot which we never Her api) 3 Ringe 1990, 4 Kings 080A {led chino nda Ve Antoine 472,919, “Arena of Cavin pps are “C'et Voie de cine de lice car des alts en ur spine, pour ob 8 cee sees ‘veel gu toa fmm poe eerie pou, on pos eet {ever en pope espa pure we ume Scan ete fr cya a con, oe Fr ei cat teens des sores mgr nla ea ls dere, ed leat couche eeu eee, en ato fe dere oe” Tea (Givin That der Relies, of Alber Aan, Pas 1921, 99.9293 “2 Arttsnoe 3. Medina 85.4 Ahurng he recent wave of persecution, established a rival episcopate at Alexandra and inthe Thebaid ca 306, thus provoking a schism ‘hich lasted into the eighth century. It nce not have lasted atthe ‘Council of Nicaca in 325 generous terms were worked out forthe reconciliation ofthe Meliians (whose convictions were remarkably ‘similar to thot ofthe Donatiss in Nor Africa) but the arrange ‘ments collapsed, partly because Molitias created a successor (John ‘Arkaph, bishop of Memphis) shorty before he died (ca 328); but ‘mainly because, scoring to Epiphanius of Salamis, when Athanasius acceded tothe bishopec of Alexandria in 328, he “rekindled his anger atthe schism in the church and saw fit to offer every kind of harassment and hindrance to thse who assembled by themselves and whom Melitus had left behind and forcibly to prevent them ‘rom rebelling against the church’. Predictably, this attitude provoked the bite hostility ofthe schinmatcs“©They resented their case to Eusebius of Nicomedi, ‘newly returned from exile fr championing the Aran ease. biter ‘enemy of Athanasius, Eusebius (bishop of the then imperial ety of| "Nicoedia) welcomed the complains of the Meltians, cooperated With them and thus sucoededin securing the frat exile of Athanasius a the Council of Tyre in 335, while Eusebius himself went on to ‘occupy the see of Constantinople in 339 but died in 342. Although the Mettians were not themselves Arians, by throwing in thei lot with Eusebius of Nicomedia for political reason, they added inslt ‘to the injury of schism within Athanasius ecclesiastical jurisdiction Ins mind the heresy which he would make it is life's work to cextipate was now identified with his mos biter enemy. Hence itis scarcely surprising that there is no shortage of evidence thatthe sntipathy of the Melitians to Athanasius was hotly reciprocated; “4 Epiphanies of Salamis ins tat “TMeleti) th never changes from tna of te oly calle che, Poaron 8 Prank Wins, 2 [eden de 1967 81094 2315 “&. Ponarion 68, Willans 2319 ‘6, “Dlsrmaiermolidnsvont e monrer es dvecaes aha Jone archeveqs”, E Amant. "Malee de Lyeopll", DING 10 (1928) Sse witness especially his Apology against the Arians. He accuses them of nearly every misdemeanour imaginable, and often oo. ‘The sccusaton which paniculaly concems us ber is oly known to have been hurled at them once; it is found ina Festal Leer the texto which has nly survived in Coptic and in a lacunous condition butt speaks clearly enough. There shin of what sto come when the Pope of Alexandria says that, in common with Pilate and Herod, the Melitan dare to oppose the Saviour and to insult the sins who ‘have fallen asleep in His name”. Then he charges expiily: “They donot keep the bodies of he mays (who have nobly sive) ‘den othe earth but at theses tobe woubl a placing them or ‘ers and wees that body wo wisbes wo ay ak pos en ‘This hey do therecaly to honour her btn fat ey sal em nd thy do fra despicable reason. As hey have no mars bal 1 he town an do.ac know what a mary ry hate Come uP wid the Kes of sealing martyr" bodies and of taking them up ro ‘hecemetrie of abo churches Infact, wl we care ten with ‘npg Hin whom the marys conse, they beg the bodes fom ‘hose who have jst bud them thy wafer hes rm oe place © ‘ato nd away of cevng hose who they ae leading 53, ‘ren with thar bis. ] Our father dd ot equenth ato ‘econ, they tk that sch apace fick ‘This al seems tobe congruent with what he say in the Life of Anthony, but there is greater wrong involved here than merely exposing the bodies ofthe martyrs: ‘Who can despise the heretics as much they deserie? Who wouldnt Jost ike 1 ran io them when he ae insulin the bodies of the Stns ie fase rps? Who cold eae uemoved he peta he bodes of propia and the odes of marty town up and exit? ‘hiss ot Chistian behaviour Pal id not bequeath this 10 ws ‘eer rire nor propels di thin the cou fhe agen. But 47, 8, Atanas, Leer Fests ot Patoraes on Copt ete snd ‘eusined by LT ler Core Srpioram Charan Gril 1S, ‘Strnons Copic vol 20 Loon 1988, Late Xp. 6145p. 4210-4313 {ortanion of Leo's Frac) Sex ao Alberto Campan, Anal dt ‘tess Leer esl de, Mia 2008 oo ne aa {n'wich ede Lager 4 oat 369 4., “2. Left p41, and ene "i «Mata misfrane tpl he begs andthe marae the maton nd oo to ty then he ‘he sai ad above ll ke heap 3", seni sel in roa Birgu tearm nace ‘Soni hee who wee cor a a ie and wee ven arb Sg iieecr ar eenamearrearony ent iespcermanernaeras Ee USI ais ceeeoarmecrke Sqatomveraswuueser es Sentero aaa me rmcoet ea Thin ne tig a copa te SaaS Seog halen teeta Soap cope ray oem eat pla tetra con Seaweeds ae Siatgeens Riel doereescks ey Score mevete ecient Sintec davaten esse iene tunes eros ig oan te areca ct ear ges ring ee Se Tinstiow cenmang oteeconesny ee tm fl i se oy sae cba pp eer ee sateen eee en Sry inrtage oicaebepeercome nla ge kines a wae ss syn Ca iene nel ped ‘50, Thelin chs cerinly dd not come ase en Theodore of Gye (nh ded ea 46) wees: “Event present ay thee do ren ‘Reman fh (Mts al opinon wd there rein thse les cain Companies of marks whose dct nt oan, allowing in i one and “Sevrtonf ie many folh and vin oberon nd ating emt ‘tolly ote fnicmadess of errand Samaras Thederet E19 (en) {Bonyious waster A.D. 1612, PG 8293280. men profiting from the demand for eis, probably by dismembering ‘mummies and disseminating the pts (cach of which, we real, was held o emanate the healing dynamis ofthe entire corps.) Although in The Life of Antony Athanasius does not spell out the danger of ‘exhibiting martyrs’ mummies in homes he does nevertbeless focus his atack onthe root problem. Like Tertullian claiming that if there were no idol-makers there could be no idolatry, Athanasius advocates the speedy, indeed the immediate, inhumation of corpses (preferably in places known only o a select few) because inthis way thee canbe no more trafficking. Speaking through the mouth ‘of Anthony be seems tobe saying to those who wl hear him: “Maybe your pagan neighbours keep the corpses of their distinguished ‘compatriots exposed in their homes on bers (pt skimpodidn); bat you, Christians, must cease and desist forthwith” (sous-entendi ths there willbe no more waficking in eis. Covcxusion ‘Theis of couse absolutly no indication thatthe Christians of Egypt did anything such thing; bishops are rarely obeyed when they talk ke tht, even when they bortow the voice ofa holy man to do so. And, inthis case it is easy to see why. By Keeping the embalmed body ofa mart at home, ep skimpodion, not only was the bome itelf transformed int a private maryrion; it also became ‘ marpyrion in which the oly ei, far from being entombed, was openly visible and tangible: in other words, accessible to physical contact. Now if healings could be produced by the ashes andlor bones (bloodied reali) of a martyr how much moreso might healings be expected when the very body itself was present and could be physically handled? A body, moreover, which, thanks to the undertakers skills, might very closely have resembled the sant in life, and thus have been ina cetin sense both relic and icon? 5, "Capt inst alae a cms ge lum qpoqumodo eit’ “Traian Be idle and wasted by. Wasa and JMC Vi Vines Leen 1987, 32. ‘Maybe we can go even ite further; it healings began to oocur ‘where & marys mummy lay

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