The Miracles of Saint Demetrius (Latin: Miracula Sancti Demetrii) is a 7th-century collection of homilies, written in Greek, accounting the miracles performed by the patron saint of Thessalonica, Saint Demetrius. It is a unique work for the history of the city and the Balkans in general, especially in relation to the Slavic invasions of the late 6th and 7th centuries, which are otherwise neglected by contemporary sources.
Folio of the Miracles, from the Vaticanus graecus 797 manuscript
7th-century mosaic from the cathedral of St. Demetrius in Thessalonica, depicting the saint with the bishop (left), often identified with John, and the governor (right) of the city
The Miracles comprise two books. The first was compiled between c. 610 and c. 620 by John, Archbishop of Thessalonica, and the second was compiled in the 680s.[1] The first book enumerates fifteen episodes of Saint Demetrius's intervention on behalf of Thessalonica, most of which occurred in the episcopate of John's predecessor, Eusebius, including outbreaks of plague and the siege of the city by the Sclaveni (proto-South Slavs) and Avars. These episodes were written in the form of homilies or sermons, to be publicly read to the city's populace in order to demonstrate the Saint's active presence and intercession on their behalf.[2]
The second book differs considerably in style, and is closer to an actual historical account, with the unknown author being an eyewitness or using written annals or eyewitness testimonies for the events he is describing, i.e. the Slavic invasion and settlement of the Balkans, including a series of sieges of Thessalonica by the Slavs and the Avars, culminating in the great Slavic attack of c. 677. Whereas in Book I John portrays the Slavs as generic barbarians, the unknown author of Book II is far more familiar with them and their tribal divisions, listing the several Slavic tribes that settled around the city and calling them "our neighbours". Due to its change in style and focus, the second book proved less popular than the first with copyists in the following centuries, and survives in only a single manuscript.[3][4]
The Miracles are particularly valuable as a historical source. As the eminent scholar of the medieval Balkans, Dimitri Obolensky, writes, "in no other contemporary work will he find so much precise and first-hand information on the military organization and topography of Thessalonica during one of the most dramatic centuries of its history; on the methods of warfare and the techniques of siege-craft used in the Balkan wars of the time; and on the strategy and tactics of the northern barbarians who, thrusting southward in successive waves down river valleys and across mountain passes, sought in the sixth and seventh centuries to gain a foothold on the warm Aegean coastland and to seize its commanding metropolis which always eluded their grasp. And there can be few documents stemming from the Christian world of the Middle Ages in which the belief held by the citizens of a beleaguered city that they stand under the supernatural protection of a heavenly patron is so vividly and poignantly expressed."[5]
The second book also preserves information on the second basilica dedicated to Saint Demetrius, before its destruction by fire in 629/634. A few of the surviving portions of the church, especially the mosaics, were re-used when the church was rebuilt. One of the mosaics is believed by some scholars to be depicting the Archbishop John, the author of Book I of the Miracles.[6]
Editionsedit
The main critical edition is Paul Lemerle's two-volume (text and commentary) Les plus anciens recueils des miracles de saint Démétrius et la pénétration des Slaves dans les Balkans, Éditions du Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Paris 1979–1981. 268 pages.
Modern literatureedit
American writer Harry Turtledove, who had studied Byzantine history, published in 1997 the fantasy novel Thessalonica, inspired by the Miracles of Saint Demetrius. The novel is based on the assumption that the miracles described did actually happen and that Saint Demetrius, as well as numerous other beings of the Christian as well as Classical Greek and Slavic mythologies, appeared and took part in the siege of Thessalonica.
See alsoedit
Chronicle of Monemvasia, dealing with the Avaro-Slavic incursions into Greece and their subsequent settlement there
Curta, Florin (2001). The Making of the Slavs: History and Archaeology of the Lower Danube Region, c. 500–700. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. ISBN9781139428880.
Barišić, Franjo (1953). Čuda Dimitrija Solunskog kao istoriski izvori. Belgrade.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
Бурмов, Александър (1952). "Славянските нападения срещу Солун в "Чудесата на св. Димитър" и тяхната хронология". Годишник на Философско-историческия факултет на Софийски университет (in Bulgarian). II. Sofia: 167–215.
Frendo, J.D. (1997). "The Miracles of St. Demetrius and the Capture of Thessaloniki". Byzantinoslavica. 58: 205–224.
Lemerle, Paul (1953). "La composition et la chronologie des deux premiers livres des Miracula S. Demetrii". Byzantinische Zeitschrift (in French). 46: 349–61. doi:10.1515/byzs.1953.46.1.349. S2CID 192083565.
Obolensky, Dimitri (1974). "The Cult of St. Demetrios of Thessaloniki in the History of Byzantine-Slav Relations". Balkan Studies. 15: 3–20.
Philippidis-Braat, A. (1981). "L'enkómion de saint Démétrius par Jean de Thessalonique". Travaux et mémoires (in French). 8: 397–414.
Speck, P. (1993). "De miraculis Sancti Demetrii, qui Thessalonicam profugus venit, oder: Ketzerisches zu den Wundergeschichten des Heiligen Demetrios und zu seiner Basilika in Thessalonike". In S. Kotzabassi and P. Speck (ed.). Varia IV. Poikila Byzantina 12 (in German). Bonn. pp. 255–532.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
Speck, P. (1994). "Nochmals zu den Miracula Sancti Demetrii: Die Version des Anastasius Bibliothecarius". In T. Pratsch; et al. (eds.). Varia V. Poikila Byzantina 13 (in German). Bonn. pp. 317–429.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
Tapkova-Zaimova, V. (1970). "La tradition écrite des Miracula saint Demetrii: Plotin après Jean". Byzantinobulgarica (in French). 3: 119–23.
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Acta Sancti Demetrii.
"The Passion (BHL 2122) and Miracles (BHL 2123) of St. Demetrius by Anastasius the Librarian". Retrieved 8 May 2013.
April 12, 2024
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This article includes inline citations but they are not properly formatted Please improve this article by correcting them December 2023 Learn how and when to remove this template message The Miracles of Saint Demetrius Latin Miracula Sancti Demetrii is a 7th century collection of homilies written in Greek accounting the miracles performed by the patron saint of Thessalonica Saint Demetrius It is a unique work for the history of the city and the Balkans in general especially in relation to the Slavic invasions of the late 6th and 7th centuries which are otherwise neglected by contemporary sources Folio of the Miracles from the Vaticanus graecus 797 manuscript Contents 1 Date and content 2 Editions 3 Modern literature 4 See also 5 References 6 Sources 7 Further reading 8 External linksDate and content edit nbsp 7th century mosaic from the cathedral of St Demetrius in Thessalonica depicting the saint with the bishop left often identified with John and the governor right of the cityThe Miracles comprise two books The first was compiled between c 610 and c 620 by John Archbishop of Thessalonica and the second was compiled in the 680s 1 The first book enumerates fifteen episodes of Saint Demetrius s intervention on behalf of Thessalonica most of which occurred in the episcopate of John s predecessor Eusebius including outbreaks of plague and the siege of the city by the Sclaveni proto South Slavs and Avars These episodes were written in the form of homilies or sermons to be publicly read to the city s populace in order to demonstrate the Saint s active presence and intercession on their behalf 2 The second book differs considerably in style and is closer to an actual historical account with the unknown author being an eyewitness or using written annals or eyewitness testimonies for the events he is describing i e the Slavic invasion and settlement of the Balkans including a series of sieges of Thessalonica by the Slavs and the Avars culminating in the great Slavic attack of c 677 Whereas in Book I John portrays the Slavs as generic barbarians the unknown author of Book II is far more familiar with them and their tribal divisions listing the several Slavic tribes that settled around the city and calling them our neighbours Due to its change in style and focus the second book proved less popular than the first with copyists in the following centuries and survives in only a single manuscript 3 4 The Miracles are particularly valuable as a historical source As the eminent scholar of the medieval Balkans Dimitri Obolensky writes in no other contemporary work will he find so much precise and first hand information on the military organization and topography of Thessalonica during one of the most dramatic centuries of its history on the methods of warfare and the techniques of siege craft used in the Balkan wars of the time and on the strategy and tactics of the northern barbarians who thrusting southward in successive waves down river valleys and across mountain passes sought in the sixth and seventh centuries to gain a foothold on the warm Aegean coastland and to seize its commanding metropolis which always eluded their grasp And there can be few documents stemming from the Christian world of the Middle Ages in which the belief held by the citizens of a beleaguered city that they stand under the supernatural protection of a heavenly patron is so vividly and poignantly expressed 5 The second book also preserves information on the second basilica dedicated to Saint Demetrius before its destruction by fire in 629 634 A few of the surviving portions of the church especially the mosaics were re used when the church was rebuilt One of the mosaics is believed by some scholars to be depicting the Archbishop John the author of Book I of the Miracles 6 Editions editThe main critical edition is Paul Lemerle s two volume text and commentary Les plus anciens recueils des miracles de saint Demetrius et la penetration des Slaves dans les Balkans Editions du Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique Paris 1979 1981 268 pages Modern literature editAmerican writer Harry Turtledove who had studied Byzantine history published in 1997 the fantasy novel Thessalonica inspired by the Miracles of Saint Demetrius The novel is based on the assumption that the miracles described did actually happen and that Saint Demetrius as well as numerous other beings of the Christian as well as Classical Greek and Slavic mythologies appeared and took part in the siege of Thessalonica See also editChronicle of Monemvasia dealing with the Avaro Slavic incursions into Greece and their subsequent settlement thereReferences edit Obolensky 1994 p 284 Curta 2001 pp 52 54 Curta 2001 pp 61 62 Obolensky 1994 p 285 Obolensky 1994 pp 284 285 Obolensky 1994 pp 285 286Sources editCurta Florin 2001 The Making of the Slavs History and Archaeology of the Lower Danube Region c 500 700 Cambridge Cambridge University Press ISBN 9781139428880 Obolensky Dimitri 1994 Byzantium and the Slavs St Vladimir s Seminary Press ISBN 0 88141 008 X Further reading editBarisic Franjo 1953 Cuda Dimitrija Solunskog kao istoriski izvori Belgrade a href Template Cite book html title Template Cite book cite book a CS1 maint location missing publisher link Burmov Aleksandr 1952 Slavyanskite napadeniya sreshu Solun v Chudesata na sv Dimitr i tyahnata hronologiya Godishnik na Filosofsko istoricheskiya fakultet na Sofijski universitet in Bulgarian II Sofia 167 215 Frendo J D 1997 The Miracles of St Demetrius and the Capture of Thessaloniki Byzantinoslavica 58 205 224 Lemerle Paul 1953 La composition et la chronologie des deux premiers livres des Miracula S Demetrii Byzantinische Zeitschrift in French 46 349 61 doi 10 1515 byzs 1953 46 1 349 S2CID 192083565 Obolensky Dimitri 1974 The Cult of St Demetrios of Thessaloniki in the History of Byzantine Slav Relations Balkan Studies 15 3 20 Philippidis Braat A 1981 L enkomion de saint Demetrius par Jean de Thessalonique Travaux et memoires in French 8 397 414 Speck P 1993 De miraculis Sancti Demetrii qui Thessalonicam profugus venit oder Ketzerisches zu den Wundergeschichten des Heiligen Demetrios und zu seiner Basilika in Thessalonike In S Kotzabassi and P Speck ed Varia IV Poikila Byzantina 12 in German Bonn pp 255 532 a href Template Cite book html title Template Cite book cite book a CS1 maint location missing publisher link Speck P 1994 Nochmals zu den Miracula Sancti Demetrii Die Version des Anastasius Bibliothecarius In T Pratsch et al eds Varia V Poikila Byzantina 13 in German Bonn pp 317 429 a href Template Cite book html title Template Cite book cite book a CS1 maint location missing publisher link Tapkova Zaimova V 1970 La tradition ecrite des Miracula saint Demetrii Plotin apres Jean Byzantinobulgarica in French 3 119 23 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Acta Sancti Demetrii The Passion BHL 2122 and Miracles BHL 2123 of St Demetrius by Anastasius the Librarian Retrieved 8 May 2013 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Miracles of Saint Demetrius amp oldid 1189871533, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
