Epitaphs

The surviving poetic heritage of St. Gregory the Theologian includes 408 poems, most of which belong to the last period of his life (383-389). Saint Gregory wrote in an archaic language, used traditional meters for ancient Greek poetry, based on the alternation of long and short syllables (hexameter, elegiac distich, iambic, iambic trimeter and pentameter), and often imitated Homer, Euripides and other ancient poets. Poems by St. Gregory the Theologian are devoted to various aspects of Christian life, they reflect most of the theological themes discussed in other works of the saint. Corpus of poetic works of St. Gregory is divided into “Theological Poems”, “Historical Poems”, “Epitaphs”, “Inscriptions”. In the cycle “Epitaphs” (129 verses) St. Gregory places epitaphs on his deceased parents, brother, sister, himself, St. Basil the Great, his mother and sister Macrina, Theosevia (wife of St. Gregory of Nyssa) and other close persons. A significant part of the epitaphs represents an admonition to virgins about abstinence, as well as pictures of death and burial. Contents 1. Naucrates, brother of Basil the Great 2. Others 3. Others 4. Martinian 5. Sophist Proaresia 6. Caesarea 7. Others 8. Others 9. Others 10. Others 11. Others 12. Others 13. Others 14. Others 15. Others 16. Others 17. Others 18. Others 19. Others 20. Others 22. Gorgonians 23. Others 24. Others 25. Livia 26. Others 27. Others 28. Others 29. Others 30. Others 31. Others 32. Others 33. Others 34. Others 35. Others 36. Others 37. Hellas 38. Others 39. Others 40. Martinianu 41. Others 42. Others 43. Other 44. Other 45. Other 46. Other 47. Other 48. Other 49. Other 50. Other 51. Other 52. Other 53. Other 54. Emilia, mother of St. Basil the Great 55. Father 56. Other 57. Other 58. Other 59. Other 60. Other 61. Other 62. Other 63. Other 64. Other 65. Other 66. Mother, who died in the sanctuary 67. Other 68. Other 69. Other 70. Other 71. Other 72. Other 73. Other 74. Other 75. Other 76. Other 77. Other 78. Other 79. Other 80. Other 81. Other 82. Other 83. Other 84. Other 85. Other 86. Other 87. Other 88. Other 89. Other 90. Other 91. Other 92. Other 93. Other 94. Other 95. Other 96. Other 97. Other 98. Other 99. Other 100. Other 101. Personification of the speech of deceased parents 102. Other 103. Amphilohiyu 104. Other 105. To another Amphilohiu 106. Other 107. Other 108. Other 109. Other 110. Vassu 111. Other 112. Nicomides 113. Other 114. Other 115. Carteria 116. Other 117. Other 118. Other 119. Basil the Great 120. Macrina, sister of St. Basil the Great 121. Eusebius and Vasilisa 122. George 123. Theosevia, sister of St. Basil the Great 124. Philtatius 125. Gregory 126. Maxentius 127. Other 128. Eupraxius 129. Paul the Grammarist Thespesius 1. Naucratius, brother of Basil the Great One day, Naucratius, plunging into a river whirlpool, was unraveling a fishing net from a rock in the depths, but he could not untangle the net, and he himself was held in the waters by it. Tell me, Word, why did the fish catch the fisherman instead of the fish? And I guess that the example of pure life, Naucrates, drew for himself both grace and death from the waters. Naucratius ended his life in the abyss of an envious river, entangled in the ropes of the deep-sea depths. Learn from this that the amusements of this life are mortal, from which this young, high-riding horse was snatched away. Naucrates, having become entangled in the ropes of the fishing water, renounced the bonds of this life. Before you are the mountains and the sea, wicked one! Take advantage of the plains sown with wheat and the herds of four-legged animals. Talents of gold and silver, precious stones and fine silk threads - 5. Life brings all this as a gift to the living. But the dead are left with a few stones, and those are dear to them. But you raise your hand here too, unfortunate one, not fearing that someone else, according to your own laws, but with more truthful hands, can ruin your grave. The city of Kekrops will not boast much after this! A small lamp cannot be compared with the sun, and no other mortal can compete in eloquence with Proeresius, who once shocked the world with his newborn speeches. Attica made thunder again. And the entire host of highly prophetic sophists yielded to Proeresius. He gave in, but envy conquered Proeresia to death. Athens is no longer glorious; flee, young men, from the city of Kekropsov! This coffin is unmerciful. I never expected that the former would begin to bury the latter. However, he accepted Caesarea, the famous son of famous parents, and accepted him before his parents. What justice is there in that? It’s not the coffin’s fault, don’t blame it: it’s a matter of envy. Could she patiently see that the young are wiser than the elders? It is true that you, Gregory, had a son who surpassed mortals in both beauty and wisdom and enjoyed the friendship of the king; however, I did not think that he was not at all subject to inexorable death. But what does the coffin say? Be patient! Although Caesarius died, nevertheless, instead of your dear son, you were left with his great glory. We were already ripe for the grave when the stonemasons laid this stone for our old age. Yes, they laid it for us, and the stone went to someone who shouldn’t have, it went to Caesarea, the last of our children. Great, great is our grief, son! But accept us quickly, hastening to our grave! Parents placed this stone for their coffin in the hope that their share of life was already small. But against their will, they rendered a bitter service to their son Caesarea, because he had renounced life before them. My old age slowed down on earth, and the most kind of children, Caesarius, received this stone instead of his father. What is the law in this? What kind of justice? How did You deign to do this, O King of mortals? Life is so long for one! Is death so hasty for someone else? I do not praise, I do not praise the fact that you, Caesar, of all our treasures, chose one gift, and precisely this grave. How bitter this stone is for elderly parents! That's what envy wanted. And how long our lives have become due to such sorrows! And in geometry, and in the knowledge of the position of the heavens, and in the logical art of competing, and in grammar, and in the science of medicine, and in the power of orbit, you alone, Caesar, with your winged mind grasped all the wisdom that is accessible to the subtle mind of man. And now, alas! Alas! like everyone else, you have become a handful of dust. Glorious Caesarea, you left everything to your brothers and sisters and instead of everything you choose a small grave. Neither geometry, nor the stars, whose position you knew, nor medical science, nothing protected you from death. Beautiful, glorious, eminent, the first in all wisdom, you were, Caesar, when we released you, the most excellent of doctors, from your fatherland to the king. And alas! One of your ashes was received back from Bithynia. Although you escaped deplorable danger during the terrible earthquakes, when the city of Nicaea was razed to the ground, you nevertheless lost your life from a cruel illness, and Caesarea, adorned with chaste youth and wisdom. I, the grave, contain within myself the best of the sons of Gregory and the God-fearing Nonna, the noble Caesarea, who was distinguished by the gift of speech, was high in the royal court and illuminated the ends of the earth with lightning. When Caesarea died, the royal court was saddened, the Cappadocians were sad in spirit, and everything that was still beautiful among the people perished, even their speeches were shrouded in a cloud of silence. If some kind of tree becomes a mountain or a stone, if some source of weeping flows, stones, rivers, trees - be sad, all the neighbors of Caesarea and his friends. 5. Caesarea is respected by all and the voice of kings, ah - ah, oh woe! He went to hell. This is what Gregory's hand writes: grieving for my most excellent brother, I preach to mortals to hate real life. Who is like Caesarea in beauty? Who, with his wisdom in such years, achieved such fame as he? None of the inhabitants of the earth. But Caesarea also flew away from life, like a rose from thorns, like dew from tree leaves. Martyrs, be merciful co-inhabitants and accept into your bosom the blood of Gregory, Gregory and the great Nonna - accept those united together by piety and sacred tombs! Here lies the dear daughter of Gregory and Nonna, the mystery of the heavenly life, Gorgonia. There is no Gorgonia: she left only bones to the earth, but the good-victorious martyrs took everything else to things above. Property, flesh, and bones - having brought everything as a gift to Christ, Gorgonia left one husband, but not for long, and now she suddenly took the glorious Alypius to her side. 5. Blessed husband and most blessed wife, having put aside impurities in the font, live regenerate! One building, but below is a grave, and above is a church; the tomb is for the church builders, the church is for the virtuous martyrs. And the church builders are already covered with sweet dust, and this is you, Livia, blessed wife of Amphilochiev, and you, 5. the most beautiful of sons, Euthymius! Accept them, witnesses of the truth; accept those who are still alive! It would be better for you, Livia, and your dear children to live! It would be better for you to reach the gates of old age! But now, still beautiful, still shining with the flowers of youth, premature death crushed you. And your husband, Amphilochius, instead of a kind and reasonable wife, 5. Alas! Alas! has a miserable tomb before him. Alas! Alas! And Libya is covered in ashes. I would never have thought that this woman was mortal, looking at her appearance, meekness and chastity, with which she surpassed the rest of her sex. 5. Therefore, your three sons and your husband Amphilochius honored you and the deceased with such a coffin. Truly there was a couple, a sacred couple, in two bodies one soul, and in blood, and in glory, and in wisdom, in everything, brothers, two Amphilochius sons, Euthymius and Amphilochius - 5. bright stars for all Cappadocians. But envy looked menacingly at both and took one’s life and left the other; but there is already one half of Amphilochius in it. An orator among orators, a singer among singers, the glory of his fatherland, the glory of his parents, barely reaching his youth and recently calling love to his palace, Euthymius died. What a shame! 5. Instead of a maiden, he found a coffin for himself, and after the days of pre-nuptial joy came a day of mourning. Twenty-year-old Euthymius was as familiar with the Hellenic and Auzonian muse as anyone else would not have become acquainted with even one of them. He shone with both beauty and good character. But now he has descended into the ground. Alas! Alas! How quick is envy in the judgment of the good! Euthymius shone brightly at the people, but not for long, because even the flash of lightning can be short-lived; he shone with wisdom, external beauty, and kindness. All this was once the glory of the Cappadocians, but now it has become the cause of tears. The great Euthymius shone among the people, but not for a long time, because even lightning is short-lived. He shone at the same time with wisdom and appearance and heart, and all this, which had previously been the glory of Cappadocia, now turned into a sob. Who is this, whose is he? Amphilochia Euthymius lies here, this one who is [loved] by all Cappadocians for the sake of [his] lips, this one whom the Charites gave to the Muses; they are the Hymens between the gates; but envy came quickly. Weep, springs, rivers, groves, sweetly singing birds, beautifully striking the ear from the tops of trees, breezes, with their rustling evoking a subtle sleep, 5. and the flower beds of Harit gathered together! And you, lovely garden of Euthymius, how much glorious the deceased Euthymius made you, because you bear his name! If there was anyone more beautiful than all the young men, it was Euthymius. If there is any field more beautiful than all fields, it is his Elysium. That is why all the Harites gathered together. Although Evfimy left life, 10. however, he left his name to this delightful place. Charites say to the Muses: “What will we say? There is no image of any kind [that came out] from under our hands for Euthymius among people.” The Muses answer the Charites: “Since envy is insidious, let it be so, but for us let the oath be firm that no such similarity will arise among people.” Springs, rivers and groves, beautiful clear-voiced birds on the branches, blows induce faint sleep with the sounds of a pipe, and the gardens of Harit, gathered together, cry. O beauty of Euthymius! After all, Euphemia returns your glorious name to you who is dying. Your mind, Helladius, always remained in heaven, but you did not establish even a small trace on the earth below, and therefore you left the earth so quickly. And your half-brother Eulalia embraces your ashes. I, the monastery of martyrs, contain within myself the young but great Christ and Helladius, gray in mind. And there is nothing to marvel at, because he, too, patiently bore sorrows, like the martyrs, when he extinguished the abuse of an envious enemy. You barely breathed on earth, yielding to the needs of the flesh, but for most of your life you were already in grief, O great glory of Christ, Helladius! And if you were released from your bonds very quickly, then this is a reward for your labors. If there is some dry Tantalus in the waters for the infidels, if there is some stone overhead that is always threatening, the ageless liver of the wicked torn by birds, a river of fire, immortal darkness, 5. the depths of the abyss, furious demons and others, causing the awe of the punishment of hell; Anyone who damages the glorious Martinian by moving the tombstone will receive all this terrible things [as punishment]. Rivers and sea, for you, wicked one, and enjoy the fertile plains, herds of four-legged animals, for you, talents of gold, and silver, noble stones and fine Syrian yarn. 5. All life is for the living; small stones beloved by mortals; you give me this hand, and so that no scoundrel destroys your grave, [and protect it] with your laws and most just hands. When Martinian entered the common mother earth, then all the cities of Ausonia burst into tears, the inhabitants of all Sicily and the wide borders of the earth cut off their hair, because Themis herself had withdrawn from the people. But we, instead of you, embracing your glorious grave, will always show it to those who come as something sacred. Listen, Christ-bearers and you, who know the rights of the living and the honor due to the dead! I left everything - the royal court, fatherland, family, glory. Alas! Alas! In everything I had the advantage, but now Martinian, respected by all, has become a small handful of dust. Drop a tear on my grave, but do not lay hands on it! I, the tomb, contain within myself the noble Martinian, poet, champion, judge, excellent in everything, victorious on the seas, warlike on land. But get away from the grave before you suffer something bad! Do not declare war on the dead, villains; many and alive. Don't declare war on the dead. I, Martinian, order this to everyone alive! it is fair to envy the dead that they have a few stones. O Themis! How once I set the cities of the bowl in motion, O terrible punishments for the souls of the wicked! This one brings groaning iron to my stones. This one is for me! Oh woe, woe! Where is Sisyphus' stone? Happy, in a good old age, painlessly, occupying the first place at the royal court, having reached the heights of sacred wisdom, I died, if you have heard of some Martinian. But away from my tomb; Do not lay hostile hands on me! Go away, go away! You are undertaking an evil task - to disturb the stones and my grave. Move away! I, Martinian, brought benefit to the living and, dead, I have considerable power here. Great praise to the Cappadocians, blessed Martinian, and we mortals honor your grave! You once formed the strength of the city rulers in the royal strongholds, and you acquired Sicania and Libya with weapons. We swear by the power of the immortal and reigning God on high, we swear by the souls of the dead and your ashes, famous Martinian, we swear to you that we will never, never raise our hands on your monument and your tomb as if it were a shrine. Rome, my kings and the ends of the earth - these are the monuments of Martinian, which time will not destroy. However, I am afraid for this small grave, lest it suffer something, because many people’s hands are not holy. Here is the tombstone of the glorious Martinian, if you have heard of the Roman ruler of the noble Cappadocians, who was adorned with virtues of every kind. But, honoring his ashes, kiss the monument and grave. I have never raised my hands against the dead or sought gain for myself in the tombs - I swear this by justice and the dead. Therefore, do not bring iron to my stones; and if you do, let it fall on your head! This is what Martinian asks of you. If my glory is dear to you, then may my tomb always stand! 54. Emilia, mother of St. Basil the Great Who would say that? Emilia has died, who gave the world the light of so many excellent children, both sons and daughters, married and celibate, who alone in the human race was both blessed and many children! 5. For from her came three glorious priests. She herself is the wife of a priest, and her neighbors are like the heavenly army. I am amazed to see the large and famous generation of the great Emilia - this is the complete fruitfulness of her womb. Why 10. If I call Emilia the acquisition of Christ, the pious blood, then I will not say much. Such is the root, such is the sacred reward of your piety, O full of perfections, that is, the honor of your children, with whom you had the same aspiration! A hundred years old, who has transgressed the limits of human life, forty years in the spirit 9 and on the throne, meek, sweet-tongued, bright preacher of the Trinity, Gregory tastes deep sleep here with his body, 5. his inspired soul moved to God. And you, priests, kiss his coffin with respect! The great God called me, who was a wild olive tree, to Himself, just as He placed me as the leader of His flock, like no last sheep, and gave me happiness from the godly rib. We have both reached a blissful old age. 5. I dedicated my most beloved child to God. And if death befell me, Gregory, it is not surprising: I was mortal. If anyone, like Moses on the mountain, was a hidden person who listened to a pure voice, it was the mind of the great Gregory. Grace made him, who once stood afar off, a great bishop, and now places him near the Holy Trinity. I myself decorated the church for God and gave Gregory to the pure Trinity, so that he would be a bright priest, a messenger of truth, a loud shepherd of people, a chaste defender of this and that wisdom. 5. My son, try to surpass your father in everything else, and be worthy of him in meekness; it is impossible to wish for more; guided by it, you will meet, blessed one, deep old age. Here I lie - first not a sheep of Christ, then the most excellent of sheep, then a shepherd, and then the father and shepherd of shepherds, bringing mortals into communion with the great immortal God, Gregory, Gregory's parent. Happy, blessed, I died in a good old age - Gregory, the bishop and the father of the bishop. What more? Although I did not come early to the abundant vineyard, I still receive a greater reward than those who came before me. I, Gregory, am a good shepherd, who with meek morals raised most of the flock for Christ, although not a branch of the holy root, but nevertheless the head of a reverent wife and three children 5. ruled a unanimous flock and departed from here, full of earthly and heavenly years. Gregory, taken from here (oh miracle!), cast the grace and luminosity of the Spirit upon his beloved son. The pearl is small, but reigns among expensive stones. Bethlehem is small, but Christ-bearing. So I, Gregory, received as my inheritance a small, albeit most beautiful, flock. I ask you too, dear son, to be its leader. I, Gregory, put the pastoral pipe into your hands. And you, son, play on it like a skilled shepherd; Open the door of life to everyone and go down ripe into your father’s tomb. A light once shone to the disciples, before whom Christ was transfigured on the mountain; light also shone to the mind of pure Gregory when he fled from the idolatrous darkness. Since he was purified by the sacrifices he offered, he still leads his people. 66. Mother who died in the sanctuary In every word and deed, the day of the Lord was your support, my mother; You honored every cry with tears, but gave in only to holidays; The church witnessed joy and sorrow. 5. Every place is sealed with your tears, but the tears were also overcome by a single cross. The Sacrificial Meal has never seen your backbone; no bad word passed through your lips; Laughter had no place on your tender cheeks, mysterious girl. 10. I will keep silent about your hidden labors, blessed one - they were internal. But your external labors are known to everyone, that’s why you left your body in God’s church. How Nonna’s beautiful knees were exhausted! How did her lips close? Why doesn't she shed tears from her eyes? Others cry out at the tomb. This Meal no longer bears fruit from the great hand; 5. the place where her immaculate foot stood is empty. The priests do not lay a trembling hand on the head. What will you do, you widows and orphans? Both virginity and well-ordered marriage cut off their hair. The one who is decorated with them gives everything to the earth after 10. how she left her bent body in the church. The wise Sarah, who honors a kind spouse, but you, my mother, prepared a kind spouse, who was far from the world, so that he would first become a Christian, and then a great priest. You are Anna; Through prayer you gave birth to a dear son, 5. and brought the pure servant Samuel as a gift to the church. But there was another Anna, who took the great Christ into her bosom. And Nonna was awarded the glory of both; Finally, while praying in the church, she laid aside her beloved body. The mouth of fire-breathing Etna has proven to you, Empedocles, who was in vain arrogant, that you are mortal. And Nonna did not throw herself into the mouth, but, praying once before this Meal, was raptured from here on as a pure sacrifice. And now she has become the support of the wives, distinguished with Susanna, Mariama and Anna in the host of the pious. Hercules, Empedotimus, Trophonius and you, incredible pride of the vain Aristaeus, be silent with your fables! You are mortal, not blissful with your passions. But Christ-bearing Nonna, 5. the servant of the Cross, who despised the world, having walked the path of life with a courageous spirit, now, as she wished, the triblessed one soared into the heavenly circle, having stripped off her body in the church. Calling Gregory among the flowering vineyards, you, my mother, came out to meet those returning from a foreign land and extended your kind hands to your beloved children, calling Gregory. The blood of the mother flowed in both sons, 5. but especially in the one whom you raised with your nipples. That is why I honored you, mother, with so many inscriptions. Child of my breasts, sacred branch, Gregory, with what love for you I depart into heavenly life! You worked a lot caring for my and my father’s old age; this is written in the great book of Christ. 5. Follow, dear one, your parents; We will gladly accept you into the world in which we ourselves belong as soon as possible. Some women deserve fame through household labors, others through courtesy or chastity, others through deeds of piety and mortification of the flesh, tears, piety, and concern for the poor. 5. And Nonna is famous for everyone. She, if you can call it a death, died during prayer. I, the coffin, contain within myself Nonna, enjoying the heavenly light, the ever-blooming branch of the sacred root, the wife of Priest Gregory, equal with him, the mother of pious children. Prayer, longed-for sighs, sleepless nights and the church platform watered with tears brought you, wonderful Nonna, such a death that you accepted the definition of death in the church. Nonna’s inspired soul soared into heaven, and we transferred her body from the church to the martyrs. Accept, martyrs, the great sacrifice, this much-labored flesh, which has even partaken of your blood, 5. - yours, I say, blood, because through long exploits she overthrew the great power of the destroyer of souls. Nonna brought the sacrifice depicted not in the shadows, not calves, not goats, not the firstborn, as a gift to God. That was prescribed by the law to the ancients, because these are just images. 10. She sacrificed herself throughout her entire life, and she sacrificed herself (note this) in death itself. Let another lover of purity challenge Nonna’s advantage, but it is impossible to compete with her in prayerful zeal. Proof of this is the end of her life, which stopped in the middle of prayer. Oh, sighs, tears, all-night vigils! Oh, members of the wonderful Nonna, crushed by their exploits! She was in the church once, and the church put an end to her old age, which her labors could not overcome. Praying and crying out before the Most Holy Table, Nonna died; Both the voice and the beautiful lips of the old woman became bound. What's surprising? God was pleased to close the hymn-speaking tongue with a key when he uttered words of praise. 5. And now in heaven the God-fearing Nonna fervently prays for us. And before that, with her prayers for her beloved children, she calmed the sea, and her motherly love from the borders of the east and west brought together her sons, covered in glory, when they did not expect such a meeting. Previously, with her prayers, she saved her husband from a cruel illness. 10. But what’s most amazing is that while she was praying, she ended her life inside the church. How did she die? Or how the glorious end of my mother was accomplished? During prayer, her soul flew away to God. Here, the soul of Nonna, who was once praying, left her body. Hence Nonna, who left her body, was admired. Repeatedly you saved me from illness, from terrible turmoil, from terrible hesitation and from a fiercely agitated sea, because God was merciful to you. But save me now with great prayers, O parent, 5. and you, blessed mother, who died in prayer! Nonna, bright Nonna! You still had a voice when you offered a pure sacrifice from a pure heart, putting everything without exception into the great winepress. And finally, delighted from now on, you left this voice in the church. Nonna did not die outside the fragrant church, but first the voice of the praying one delighted Christ from here, for she wanted in prayer to end this life, which was purer than any sacrifice. Sacred Nonna, you, having offered your whole life as a gift to God, finally gave up your soul as a pure sacrifice. For here, praying, you left your life, and this Table gave glory to your death, my mother. My father was a great minister of this same Table; Before the same meal, praying next to her husband, the mother also ceased to live. Gregory and Nonna are great. I pray to the King that I too may have the same life and the same end. “You have received many tears from Nonnina, beloved Meal, now accept your soul, this last sacrifice!” So Nonna said, and her soul flew away from her body, but she wanted to take with her her son, who is one of her children still remaining on earth. First, the mind of the praying Nonna soared from here, and finally the soul followed the admiring mind. And now the praying dead man reclines before the sacred Table! Godly ones, record this miracle for the future birth! Who died, as Nonna died, before the Holy Table, holding onto the sacred boards? Who upset this situation of the praying Nonna? How long she wanted to stay here, and while dead, maintaining a reverent appearance! As Nonna prayed here one day, God said from above: “Come!” - and she willingly renounced her body, holding onto the Table with one hand, and praying with the other: “Be merciful, Christ the King!” How did you leave your Isaac, beloved Sarah? Or did you wish, Nonna, to meet the God-wise Gregory in Abraham’s bosom? A truly great miracle is to die not outside the church, not far from the victims! 5. Forgive me, martyrs! Not without fear, but I will say that beloved Nonna is no lower than you in her exploits, both in secret and in open warfare. That is why she received such an end to her life, having found for herself one end to both prayer and life. Nonna came from a pious root; she was both the flesh and mother of the priest; and body, and life, and tears - she exhausted everything as a gift to Christ, and in the end she was taken away from here, leaving her old body in the church. Faith moved Enoch and Elijah, and of the first wives, my mother. This Table knows this, for from here, along with the bloodless sacrifices, the beloved Nonna, still praying in her body, was taken away. It was not illness, not illness-like old age, not sorrow that crushed you, my elderly mother. On the contrary, you, Nonna, were invulnerable and invincible, and, praying at the foot of the most pure Table, you gave your voice to Christ. Abraham and the famous Jephthah brought great sacrifices to God: one brought a son, and the other a daughter (see: Gen. 22:6; Judges 11:30–34). But you, Nonna, sacrificed a pure life, and finally a prayerful soul - this is a slaughter pleasing to God. One radiance, one greatness - the Trinity, to which you, Nonna, strove, took you praying to heaven from the great church; and you met an end that became purer than life itself. You, my mother, have never coupled your clean lips with unclean lips, you have never given your clean hand to a godless hand; and as a reward for this she ended her life while offering sacrifices. A radiant and bright Angel delighted you, Nonna, when you prayed, pure in both body and mind, and delighted your mind, but left your body here in the church. This church could not contain the whole Nonna in itself, therefore, when the soul departed, it left only one body in itself, so that the soul, when it was again enclosed in a purer body, would ascend from here and be clothed in glory along with the labored flesh. Here lies Nonna, Filtatiev's daughter. Where did she die? In the church. How? Praying. When? In old age. What a wonderful life and what a holy death! Elijah ascended to heaven on a fiery chariot, and the Great Spirit received Nonna, who was praying, to Himself. Here beloved Nonna fell into deep sleep, having willingly followed her husband Gregory. 5. And horror and joy together! Nonna, who left her life, was taken to heaven from here in the midst of prayer. The end of both prayer and Nonnina’s life! Witness to this is this Meal, from which Nonna, who suddenly became lifeless, is raised. Here is the grave of the chaste Nonna, who, before she was delivered from life, 10. I have already entered the gates of heaven! Mortals mourn for mortals, but whoever, like Nonna, died praying, I do not cry for him. Glorifying Nonna’s immaculate life, I will glorify her death even more, because she died in the church praying. 15. Here once upon a time, praying and throwing herself to the ground, the bright Nonna died; now she prays, standing in the ranks of the pious. This meal, before which you renounced life, praying for the last time, serves as a monument to the longed-for death for you, Nonna. 20. There was a little breath of life left in you, Nonna, and you gave that to God, once praying here. Everyone, send the god-like Nonna away from the church, send the great old woman who is being carried away from here! From the pure church God took me into heaven - Nonna, who is hastening to approach the heavenly ones! 25. Nonna, carried out from the great church, said this: “For many labors, I accept an even greater reward.” Here lies Nonna - the victim of her beloved prayer - Nonna, who, having once prayed, was released from this life. 30. From the great church the great sacrifice was raised - Nonna. She was released from life in the church. Rejoice, ye pious! This Meal sent from itself to God the godlike Nonna. 101. Personification of the speech of deceased parents 12 A young man strong in speech and a priest, and the support of our city - Gregory, may your life be happy through every blessing that concerns sons who honor the old age of their parent. So that life is easy, the death of the saint, which the King grants to our old age. The pious parents of Gregory are hidden here, kindly underground, in the native hands of their son, who returned lightness to the burdens of old age, and now makes sacrifices. 5. Sigh from the labors of caring for the elderly, best of children, Gregory, comparable in piety to the martyrs - your parents. As a reward for you, the Great Father will be merciful and create you spiritual, pious children. And Amphilochius’ body, dear to us, passed into the majestic tomb, and the soul departed, flying to the blessed abodes. What is needed for your neighbors, you have mastered everything, most blessed one, you have found the key of understanding for every book, whether it is written for mortals or is heavenly, 5. and he descended to his beloved land in old age, leaving behind children who were better than their parents. It is impossible for a person to wish for more. Amphilochius, having met a vigorous old age, willingly added his body to the bodies of his wife and sons. He was happy, noble, strong in words, served as a protection for all his neighbors, the pious, the noble, the learned; 5. he was an abundant dispenser of the word. Look, friend, at this funeral inscription of one of your comrades. All of you, O blessed one, the general medicine of poverty, O winged speeches, O source from which everything was drawn - you left everything with your last breath. 10. But one ever-blooming glory followed you, delighted from now on. Gregory wrote this, giving thanks in a word for the word that he learned from you, Amphilochius. Amphilochius died; the beautiful church of orbit that people still had was collapsing. The Charites wept when they met the Muses, and the dear fatherland, Diocaesarea, especially wept for you. I am a small town - Diokesarea, but I have given to the altars of justice a great man, Amphilochius. He died; died with him both his fiery eloquence and the glory of the fatherland, which produced such valiant men. I, a small dust, outside the fatherland support Amphilochius, the great son of Philtatiev and Gorgonin, who defeated his opponents with his fiery eloquence, and in morals and heart was sweeter than honey. Broadcast now, vitii; I, the grave, contain within myself the lips of the great Amphilochius, bound in silence. Here is the tomb of the mellifluous Amphilochius, who once surpassed all Cappadocians in his eloquence and kindness. Far from your fatherland, you were killed by a robber’s hand, friend Vass, who pleased Christ more than anyone else. It is not your own grave that contains you. However, your great name remained as a legacy to all Cappadocians; it is written on pillars that are better than immutable ones. This is the monument erected to you by Gregory, whom you loved! You, Vass, like Abraham, took into your bosom Carterius, your undoubted son in spirit. But I, even if one coffin hid me with my parent, will be inseparable from your partnership. You have left us, Nikomides, my glory. How will your children, this pure couple, end their lives? Whose hand will complete the beautiful church? Whose mind will send up the perfect sacrifice to God? Since you, blessed one, have so quickly entered into communication with the most heavenly, what has the unfortunate human race not suffered? Look at the grave of Nicomides, if you have heard about that Nicomides, who, having built the church of the great Christ, first himself, and then the virginity of his children, sacrificed as a glorious, pure sacrifice, because this priest and the best parent did not find anything better for himself. For this he soon entered into communion with the great Trinity. Finally, Nikomides, you departed to a glorious life, but very soon you were kidnapped from here. Who gave their verdict on this? King Christ, so that together with the sacred couple of his children he may rule your people from heaven. Where did you, dearest of comrades, illustrious Carterius, go so hastily, leaving me burdened with labor on earth? Where did you go, who ruled the helm of my youth, when I studied the word on a foreign side - you, who tied me to a fruitless life? Without a doubt, what you most desire most is King Christ, Whom you now possess. Lightning of the great Christ, most excellent fence of good morals, the reins of my life, do not forget Gregory, whom you formed in good morals, which was a long time ago, my leader to virtue, Carterius! Why, like every mortal, and Carterius, did you, the sources of tears, cease, did you, the knees, and you, the hands, who propitiated Christ with the purest sacrifices, become ineffective? Because the community there wanted to have a new singer. Soon, Nicomedes, you stole my heart from me, you stole Carterius, who labored in piety at the same time as you. O sacred country of the blessed Xols, what support do you have for yourself by calling the crusader Carterius to you? Before, I thought that it was the same thing for a body to live without a soul and for me to live without you, beloved servant of Christ, Vasily. But I survived the separation and am still alive. 5. How long to delay? Why don’t you snatch me away from here and bring me with you into the ranks of the blessed? Don't leave me, don't leave me! I swear on my grave that I would never, even if I wanted to, forget about you. Here is Gregory's word! When the Trinity captured the spirit of the godly wise Basil, who willingly hurried away, then all the heavenly host rejoiced, seeing him marching, 10. and every city of the Cappadocians wept. I will say even more: then the great world cried out: “The preacher is gone, the one who was the knot holding the beautiful world together is gone.” The whole world - the property of the equally powerful Trinity - has been thrown into extraordinary turmoil by opposing teachings. 15. And Vasiliev’s lips (alas! alas!) are closed in silence. Awake, Vasily, and stop the storm with your word and your sacred rites. For you alone have shown us both life equal to teaching and teaching equal to life. One God reigns in the highest; 20. and our century has seen one worthy bishop. It is you, Vasily, the thunderous messenger of truth, the bright eye of Christians, illuminating with spiritual virtues, the great glory of Pontus and the Cappadocians! I beg you, now intercede and bring your gifts for peace. 25. Here the Caesarians laid me, the bishop, Vasily, Vasily’s son, Gregory’s friend. I loved Gregory with all my heart: may God grant him both success in everything else and the ability to quickly enter our lives. 30. What is the benefit of remaining on earth for a long time and melting away for someone who seeks heavenly friendship? You breathed for few on earth, but you brought everything and gave it as a gift to Christ, soul, body, word, and hands, O Basil, the great glory of Christ, the support of the priests, the support of the truth, which now they are trying most of all to cut. 35. Science! Common abode of friendship! Dear Athens! Early conditions to lead a divine life! Know this that Vasily is in heaven, what he desired, and Gregory is on earth and wears bonds on his lips. Light-bringing Basil, great praise to the Caesareans! 40. Your word is thunder and your life is lightning. But you also left the sacred throne! This is how it pleased Christ to add you to the host of celestial beings as quickly as possible. You have studied all the depths of the Spirit and all earthly wisdom. You were a living victim. 45. For eight years you held the reins of the godly people. This alone is not enough in your affairs, Vasily. Rejoice, Vasily, although you are still separated from me! This is the funeral scripture for you from Gregory! This is the word you loved! Committed to you, Vasily, 50. the debt of friendship and a gift for us is a great one. Gregory places these twelve inscriptions on your ashes, Vasily. 120. Macrina, sister of St. Basil the Great I, dust, cover the luminous maiden, if you have heard about Macrina, the firstborn daughter of the great Emilia. She hid from the gaze of all men, and now in the mouths of everyone and everyone she surpasses everyone in glory. Here lie the great-glorious Eusebius and Vasilisa, Christ-bearing pets of the God-loving Xols, and with them the sacred body of blessed Nonna. You, who pass by these coffins, remember these great souls. And you lie here, dear body of George, who sent many pure sacrifices to Christ; and together with you, your dear sister both in flesh and in spirit, the great Vasilisa, has a common grave, just as she had a common life. 123. Theosevia, sister of St. Basil the Great And you, Theosevia, daughter of the glorious Emilia, in the exact sense the friend of the great Gregory, the support of pious wives, were covered here with sacred soil; She gave up life in her mature years. This sacred land hides the body of Philtatius, a great youth, ruler of a great people. His maternal uncle, the great priest Gregory, laid here among the pure martyrs the young, blossoming Gregory, who had not yet reached maturity; and the former hopes of having a breadwinner in old age became dust. I was of noble blood, served at the royal court, raised my vain eyebrow high. Christ scattered everything when He called me to Himself. On many paths of life I set my foot, agitated by desires, until I found a reliable path. For Christ I exhausted my body with many sorrows, and now Maxentius soared lightly from this grief. My heart trembles when I write your name, Maxentius; you walked the path of life that was harsh, not human, high, unpleasant. And a Christian will approach your tomb, most excellent one, not without trepidation. Я, великая арианзская земля, заключаю в себе Евпраксия, архиерея сей священной страны. He was a friend, peer and co-worker of 19 Gregory, so he found his grave in the vicinity of him. The limit of life is unknown, so do not go for luck, but strive for virtue so that you can find bliss there. 5. Look, everything is dust and everything turns to ashes; whatever is in the world, the grave will certainly take it into itself. And long life 10. there is a quickly withering grain, an unrealized bliss, an unimpressed trace. O mother, shedding bitter tears on my coffin! 15. ...No matter what you look at, you only acquire a new heart disease. The graves are full of tears, full of immense sorrow. 20. Whoever looks into the coffin will gather sorrow in his heart. You turn your gaze to my body, look at my members. 25. Death cut me down like a young branch; the insatiable Tartarus opened its gloomy abode and drew me, Pavel, there, cutting it off prematurely, like a tender sprout. All the beauty of the young, like grass, 30. reaps death with its scythe, for, indeed, it is inevitable. Look where you're going? Stop! 35. Look! You are touching decay. This world is dust, cloud, wind, ashes. Everything like air flows quickly, irreversibly. 40. The earth hid me in its depths. I can’t utter a single word, the decay has tied my tongue and scattered all my limbs. 45. Everyone's breath belongs to You, You created my hands. When the bubbling flame of the all-purifying judgment carries me away, then - alas for me! - how not to ignite that filth, 50. which one have I gathered for myself, for my works are stubble? Alas! Alas! Thespesius, and you died; envious death hid you in the grave too! But the glory of the dead Thespesius will not die; so abundantly did you exude newborn speeches; and Attica cries: “Who will now support the glory of my wisdom?” Translation made for this PG edition. T. 38. Col. 19–20. – Ed. In TSO, tombstones No. 23 and 24 were published without titles in the “Gorgonia” cycle, under No. 2 and 3. - Ed. In TSO, gravestones No. 26 and 27 were published without titles in the “Libya” cycle, under No. 2 and 3. - Ed. In TSO, gravestones No. 29, 30, 31 and 34 were published without titles in the “Euphemia” cycle, under No. 2, 3, 4 and 5, respectively. – Ed. Tombstones No. 32, 33, 35 and 36 have been translated for this edition according to PG. T. 38. Col. 26–29. – Ed. Tombstones No. 40 and 41 have been translated for this edition but PG. T. 38. Col. 30–32. – Ed. In TSO, gravestones Nos. 42–45 and 47–53 were published without titles in the “Martiniana” cycle, under Nos. 2 and 12, respectively. – Ed. Gravestone No. 46 has been translated for this edition according to PG. T. 38. Col. 34. – Ed. In TSO, tombstones Nos. 56–65 were published without titles in the “To the Father” cycle, under Nos. 2 to 11, respectively. – Ed. In TSO, gravestones No. 67-100 were published without a title in the cycle “The Mother Who Died in the Sanctuary”, under No. 2 to 35, respectively. – Ed. Tombstones No. 101 and 102 have been translated for this edition but PG. T. 38. Col. 62–64. – Ed. This Amphilochius was the parent of Saint Amphilochius, Bishop of Iconium. In the TSO, tombstones No. 103–109 were united under the general heading “Amphilochia” and were published without names with continuous numbering from 1 to 7. However, Minh's Patrology clearly indicates the existence of an "Other Amphilochius" and combines five tombstones (nos. 105–109) into an independent cycle. – Ed. In TSO, gravestone No. 111 was published without a name in the “Vassu” cycle, no. 2. – Ed. In TSO, gravestones No. 113 and 114 were published without titles in the “Nikomidou” cycle, No. 2 and 3. - Ed. In TSO, gravestones No. 116, 117 and 118 were published without titles in the “Carteria” cycle, under No. 2, 3 and 4. - Ed. σύζυγε – vocative case from η᾿ σύζυγος – companion, friend, spouse. One of the important evidence causing controversy about the marital status of St. Gregory of Nyssa, whose wife is traditionally called Theosevia. – Ed. In TSO, gravestone No. 127 was published without a title in the “Maxentius” cycle, No. 2. - Ed. Συνοδίτης, as can be seen from the Theodosian Code (lib. II, lex 57), is a word identical to κοινόβιος - “coenobitic monk”. [However, perhaps we are talking about joint participation in bishops’ councils.] The funeral poem “Grammar of Thespesius”, published in the TSO edition, is absent in Min’s “Patrology”, and therefore lacks a number designation. – Ed.