E00686: Jerome's novelistic Life of *Malchus (monk of Maronia, Syria, ob. c. 380s, S00463) describes his adventures and captivity, and emphasises his chastity. Written in Latin in Bethlehem (Palestine) in the early 390s.

Jerome, Life of Malchus

Summary:

In the preface (ch. 1) Jerome presents his Life of Malchus as a preparatory work before writing a large historical narrative (he never wrote it). He claims that he heard the story from Malchus himself when he lived as a hermit in Maronia, in the Syrian desert of Chalkis (ch. 2). The story is put into the mouth of Malchus and told in the first person singular. It briefly mentions his early monastic life at the desert of Chalkis (ch. 3), his desire to change the monastery, travel to his homeland, attack by brigands, captivity, slavery (chs. 4-5), and a forced marriage with a slave-woman, in which Malchus managed to keep his chastity (ch. 6). Then it presents Malchus' longing for a life in monastic community, his and his wife's adventurous escape through the desert, and his return to his old monastery (chs. 8-10). It ends with a praise of chastity (ch. 11).

Summary: Robert Wiśniewski.