The Virgin in Song. Thomas Arentzen

CCSG Corpus Christianorum Series Graeca ChHist Church History: Studies in Christianity and Culture CSCO Corpus Scriptorum Christianorum Orientalium CSSH Comparative Studies in Society and History DOP Dumbarton Oaks Papers FOTC The Fathers of the Church GCS Die Griechischen Christlichen Schriftsteller GOTR Greek Orthodox Theological Review GRBS Greek, Roman, and Byzantine Studies HTR Harvard Theological Review JAJ Journal of Ancient Judaism JECS Journal of Early Christian Studies JRS Journal of Roman Studies JTS Journal of Theological Studies JÖB Jahrbuch der österreichischen Byzantinistik Kriaras Λεξικὸ τῆς μεσαιωνικῆς ἑλληνικῆς δημώδους γραμματείας, 1100–1669. Emmanuel Kriaras LCL Loeb Classical Library LSJ A Greek–English Lexicon. Ed. H. G. Liddell and R. Scott. Rev. H. S. Jones LXX The Septuagint MarLex Marienlexikon MHJ Medieval History Journal NLH New Literary History NPNF Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers NTT Norsk teologisk tidsskrift OCA Orientalia Christiana analecta ODB The Oxford Dictionary of Byzantium OE Sancti Romani Melodi cantica. Cantica genuina [the Oxford edition]. Ed. Paul Maas and C. A. Trypanis PBR Patristic and Byzantine Review PE I–V Romanus le Mélode, Hymnes I–V [the Paris edition]. Ed. José Grosdidier de Matons PG Patrologia Graeca. Ed. J. P. Migne PGL A Patristic Greek Lexicon. Ed. G. W. H. Lampe PL Patrologia Latina. Ed. J. P. Migne PO Patrologia Orientalis PPS Popular Patristics Series P&P Past and Present RPP Religion Past and Present: Encyclopedia of Theology and Religion RSR Recherches de Science Religieuse SBN Studi bizantini e neoellenici SC Sources Chrétiennes Sophocles Greek Lexicon of the Roman and Byzantine Periods. E. A. Sophocles SP Studia Patristica STK Svensk teologisk kvartalskrift SVC Supplements to Vigiliae Christianae Tanner Decrees of the Ecumenical Councils. Ed. and trans. Norman P. Tanner. TheolSt Theological Studies TRE Theologische Realenzyklopädie VoxP Vox Patrum

      The Virgin in Song

      Let us beware that … our ancestors do not feel shame for us and that we are not ashamed before them.

      —Patr. Pavle of Serbia

      CHAPTER 1

      The Song and the City

      ROMANOS THE MELODIST (CA. 485–CA. 560)

      According to stories later told, the Virgin Mary appeared one sixth-century night to a young man of Syrian descent. The Constantinopolitan winter had pulled dark curtains around the city, and yet people were gathering in the suburb of Blachernae. The famous Marian shrine outside the city walls would attract faithful all year round, but, of course, Christmas Eve—like other feasts with a strong Marian bent—drew considerable crowds. People were thronging, and chants charged the air like incense. The night was filled with excitement.

      This man from the eastern provinces was normally stationed at another Marian shrine, the old Church of the Theotokos in the western part of town, namely in the ta Kyrou district—or at least that is how some versions of the story go.¹ He had to walk a little distance to get to Blachernae, but this young adult was not unused to travel. Like so many men who had grown up in other parts of the empire, he had come to the capital to seek his fortune.