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.
