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E03331: Palladius of Helenopolis in his Lausiac History recounts the story of *Melania the Elder (aristocrat of Rome, monastic founder in Jerusalem, ob. 410, S01185). Written in Greek at Aspuna or Ankyra (both Galatia, central Asia Minor), 419/420.
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posted on 2017-07-18, 00:00 authored by erizosPalladius of Helenopolis, Lausiac History (BHG 1435-1438v; CPG 6036), 46, 54, 55.
Summary:
The story of Melania the Elder, who was known personally to Palladius, is recounted in two parts, in chapters 46 and 54-55.
46. She was of Spanish origins and daughter of a consul. She became a widow at the age of twenty one and went to Alexandria, taking her fortune with her. In Nitria she met *Pambo, *Arsisios, *Sarapion, *Paphnoutios of Sketis, *Isidoros of Hermopolis, and *Dioskoros. She spent half a year visiting holy men. She followed Isidoros, *Pisimios, Adelphios, Paphnoutios, Pambo, Ammonios, and twelve bishops and other priests, into exile in Palestine (banished by the Arian authorities) and supported them with her wealth. She was imprisoned by the governor of Palestine, who hoped to seize her wealth, but was freed, after she invoked her high social rank. She built a monastery of fifty nuns in Jerusalem where she lived with Rufinus of Aquileia, an excellent man. They achieved the reunification of a schismatic group of monks.
54-55. Melania spent her fortune on benefactions. By her prayers, her son grew up well, he received a fine education, married well, and was appointed to high office. Worrying that her grand-daughter would fall into heresy, she returned to Rome from Palestine, at the age of sixty. There, she converted the pagan Apronianos and his wife, Avita, and confirmed her grand-daughter Melania the Younger, with her husband, Pinianus, in the orthodox faith. She convinced them all to sell their property and move outside Rome in order to live in asceticism. She sent her young son, Publicula, to Sicily, sold everything and took the money to Jerusalem where she died in peace. Her decision to liquidate her property in Rome proved to be right, since the city was soon sacked and left in ruins. The only families which survived the disaster were those which had sold everything at the advice of Melania.
Text: Bartelink et al. 1974. Summary: E. Rizos.
Summary:
The story of Melania the Elder, who was known personally to Palladius, is recounted in two parts, in chapters 46 and 54-55.
46. She was of Spanish origins and daughter of a consul. She became a widow at the age of twenty one and went to Alexandria, taking her fortune with her. In Nitria she met *Pambo, *Arsisios, *Sarapion, *Paphnoutios of Sketis, *Isidoros of Hermopolis, and *Dioskoros. She spent half a year visiting holy men. She followed Isidoros, *Pisimios, Adelphios, Paphnoutios, Pambo, Ammonios, and twelve bishops and other priests, into exile in Palestine (banished by the Arian authorities) and supported them with her wealth. She was imprisoned by the governor of Palestine, who hoped to seize her wealth, but was freed, after she invoked her high social rank. She built a monastery of fifty nuns in Jerusalem where she lived with Rufinus of Aquileia, an excellent man. They achieved the reunification of a schismatic group of monks.
54-55. Melania spent her fortune on benefactions. By her prayers, her son grew up well, he received a fine education, married well, and was appointed to high office. Worrying that her grand-daughter would fall into heresy, she returned to Rome from Palestine, at the age of sixty. There, she converted the pagan Apronianos and his wife, Avita, and confirmed her grand-daughter Melania the Younger, with her husband, Pinianus, in the orthodox faith. She convinced them all to sell their property and move outside Rome in order to live in asceticism. She sent her young son, Publicula, to Sicily, sold everything and took the money to Jerusalem where she died in peace. Her decision to liquidate her property in Rome proved to be right, since the city was soon sacked and left in ruins. The only families which survived the disaster were those which had sold everything at the advice of Melania.
Text: Bartelink et al. 1974. Summary: E. Rizos.
History
Evidence ID
E03331Saint Name
Melania the Elder, Roman aristocrat and monastic founder in Jerusalem, ob. AD 410 : S01185Saint Name in Source
ΜελάνιονRelated Saint Records
Type of Evidence
Literary - Hagiographical - Monastic collections (apophthegmata, etc.)Language
- Greek
