Romanos the Melodist: Verse homily ‘On the newly Baptised’¹

1 Number liii in P. Maas & C.A. Trypanis, Sancti Romani Melodi Cantica, I, 454-461 (Oxford 1963) = number lii in J. Grosdidier de Matons, Romanos le Mélode. Hymnes V, 342-370 (Paris 1981 = SC 283).

Abstract

This is the only surviving poetic sermon on baptism by Romanos, forming as such a link in the chain of some important Greek baptismal homilies. Although it lacks the dogmatic and exegetic depth of its antecedents, it nevertheless exhibits the typical qualities of Romanos’ poetic sermons, called ‘kontakia’ Apart form a translation, the article explores the nature and character of this kontakion, which consists of three distinct sections: the preacher first focusses on the new status of the newly baptised; then Romanos has Belial reflect in a long dramatised section on this new status by candidates who have thus escaped his dominion; and finally Romanos directs various admonitions to the newly baptised relating to their new life style. This final section certainly renders this sermon into one of a very few ‘intimate’ kontakia by the hand of Romanos, ex hibiting a close relationship between preacher and catechumens.

Notes

1 Number liii in P. Maas & C.A. Trypanis, Sancti Romani Melodi Cantica, I, 454-461 (Oxford 1963) = number lii in J. Grosdidier de Matons, Romanos le Mélode. Hymnes V, 342-370 (Paris 1981 = SC 283).