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E02529: The Homily (memrā) on *Shmona and Gurya (martyrs in Edessa, S00081) is written in Syriac during the late 5th/early 6th c. by Jacob of Serugh (c. 451-521). It retells the story of the conversion and martyrdom of Shmona and Gurya, while celebrating the martyrs' steadfastness.
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posted on 2017-03-08, 00:00 authored by sminovJacob of Serugh, Homily on Shmona and Gurya
Willingly accepting suffering "for love of God's Son's sake', the martyrs are presented as 'walls of our country, which became for us a shelter from all robbers' (pp. 96-97 of Cureton's translation). In the following exposition of the martyrs' life and death, the author refers to the main narrative elements of their martyrdom as found in the Martyrdom of Shmona and Gurya ($E00167) (pp. 98-104). The poet puts a particular emphasis on the image of the martyr as one of the key figures in the conversion of Edessa to Christianity: 'By your deaths, oh ye blessed men, Edessa waxed rich, for well ye ornamented her with your crown and suffering. Ye are her beauty, her bulwark ye, her salt ye are likewise; her wealth, her store, her boast, and all her treasury. Ye are the stewards of her faith; for by your suffering the bride ye did array with beauty' (p. 105).
Willingly accepting suffering "for love of God's Son's sake', the martyrs are presented as 'walls of our country, which became for us a shelter from all robbers' (pp. 96-97 of Cureton's translation). In the following exposition of the martyrs' life and death, the author refers to the main narrative elements of their martyrdom as found in the Martyrdom of Shmona and Gurya ($E00167) (pp. 98-104). The poet puts a particular emphasis on the image of the martyr as one of the key figures in the conversion of Edessa to Christianity: 'By your deaths, oh ye blessed men, Edessa waxed rich, for well ye ornamented her with your crown and suffering. Ye are her beauty, her bulwark ye, her salt ye are likewise; her wealth, her store, her boast, and all her treasury. Ye are the stewards of her faith; for by your suffering the bride ye did array with beauty' (p. 105).
History
Evidence ID
E02529Saint Name
Shmona and Gurya, martyrs in Edessa, ob. 309/10 : S00081Saint Name in Source
ܓܘܪܝܐ ܘܫܡܘܢܐRelated Saint Records
Type of Evidence
Liturgical texts - Hymns Literary - Sermons/HomiliesLanguage
- Syriac
Evidence not before
451Evidence not after
521Activity not before
451Activity not after
521Place of Evidence - Region
MesopotamiaPlace of Evidence - City, village, etc
SerughPlace of evidence - City name in other Language(s)
Serugh Edessa Edessa Ἔδεσσα EdessaMajor author/Major anonymous work
Jacob of SerughCult activities - Liturgical Activity
- Chant and religious singing