Malchus of Syria: Difference between revisions
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{{Short description|Syrian Christian 4th century monk and saint}} |
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[[File:Malc monjo CauFerrat Escriptori mallorca sXVII(1) 3869 - Copy.jpg|thumb|Image of Malchus from a XVII century Mallorcan furniture piece]] |
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'''Saint Malchus of Syria''' (or '''Malchus of Chalcis''', '''Malchus of Maronia''') (died c. 390) is the subject of [[Saint Jerome]]'s biography ''Life of Malchus the Captive Monk'' (''Vita Malchi monachi captivi''), written in Latin around 391/392 CE.{{sfn|Christa Gray|2015|p=6}} |
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According to Jerome, Malchus was a monk who was sold into slavery and forced to marry another slave. While never consummating the marriage, he escaped with his wife and returned to his monastery. Jerome interviewed Malchus at his home in Maronia, Syria, while Malchus and his wife were still alive. Malchus is commemorated 26 March by the [[Eastern Orthodox]] and [[Eastern Catholic]] Churches, and is in the Roman Martyrology for Oct. 21.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.boston-catholic-journal.com/roman-martrylogy-in-english/roman-martyrology-october-in-english.htm#October_21st|title=Roman Martyrology October, in English}}</ref> There is no record of him except for Jerome's biographical account.{{sfn|Christa Gray|2015|p=7}} |
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==Life== |
==Life== |
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⚫ | According to Jerome's account, Malchus was the only child of a farming family that resided near [[Nisibis]] during the fourth century. When he reached mature age Malchus' parents desired that he should marry, but he desired to become a monk.{{sfn|Christa Gray|2015|p=3}} Malchus left his family home at this time and began his [[monastic]] life in the desert of Chalcis.<ref name=schaff>{{cite book | editor1-first= Philip | editor1-last = Schaff | editor1-link = Philip Schaff |others= Henry Wace |title= A Select Library of Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers of the Christian Church | accessdate= 2010-06-07 | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=NQUNAAAAIAAJ | volume = VI | year = 1893 | publisher = The Christian Literature Company |location=New York |series=2nd series}}</ref> |
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⚫ | After several years as a [[monk]] Malchus heard of his father's death and went home to obtain with his inheritance, leaving the [[monastery]] against the direction of his [[abbot]]. He joined a group of [[pilgrim]]s headed to his home district, but during their journey they were overtaken by [[Saracens]] and sold into [[slavery]].{{sfn|Christa Gray|2015|pp=3-4}}<ref name=jiri>Šubrt, Jiří. "Hagiographic Romance: Novelistic Narrative Strategy in Jerome’s Lives of Hermits", ''The Ancient Novel and the Frontiers of Genre'', (Maríla P. Futre Pinheiro, Gareth L. Schmeling, and Edmund P. Cueva, eds.) 205–14. Ancient Narrative, vol. 18. Supplementum. Groningen: Barkhuis, 2014. Pp. 205, 212–213</ref> |
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⚫ | According to Jerome's account, Malchus was the only child of a farming family that resided near [[Nisibis]] during the fourth century. When he reached mature age Malchus' parents desired that he should marry. Malchus |
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⚫ | Malchus' [[slave master]] insisted that he marry another of the slaves who had been captured in the same raid, and whose husband had been sold to another master. But Malchus, faithful to his monastic [[vocation]] refused to consummate the union and threatened to kill himself.{{sfn|Christa Gray|2015|p=4}} The woman told him that she also wanted to live a celibate life, and proposed that she become the partner of his chastity, but not tell their master that they were living as brother and sister.<ref name=jiri/> |
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⚫ | After several years as a [[monk]] Malchus heard of his father's death and went home to |
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⚫ | Malchus and his wife eventually escaped their master by fleeing downriver on inflated goatskins. When their master caught up, they hid in a cave but were tracked down.{{sfn|Christa Gray|2015|p=4}} They received protection from God when a lioness using the cave for a den attacked and killed their pursuers, then left with her cub. Then they were able to ride their deceased pursuers' camels back to a Roman fort under the command of Sabinianus who allowed them to go free.<ref name=schaff/>{{refn|group=note| Sabinianus is described as ''[[Dux Mesopotamiae]]'', which might date Malchus' capture to the 340s or early 350s.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Shahîd |first1=Irfan |title=Byzantium and the Arabs in the Fourth Century |date=1984 |publisher=Dumbarton Oaks |isbn=978-0-88402-116-2 |page=285 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mvQ8MKpVtqkC |access-date=16 October 2024 |language=en}}</ref>}} |
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⚫ | Malchus' [[slave master]] insisted that he marry another of the slaves who had been captured in the same raid, and whose husband had been sold to another master. But Malchus, faithful to his monastic [[vocation]] refused to consummate the union and threatened to kill himself. The woman told him that she also wanted to live a celibate life, and proposed that she become the partner of his chastity, but not tell their master that they were living as brother and sister. |
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⚫ | Malchus sent his wife to a women's monastery as she requested, while he tried to return to his own monastery. By then the [[igumen]] was no longer alive. Malchus ended up going to Maronia, to a men's monastery under the direction of Bishop Evagrius. For the edification of monks he often recounted his trials, which were the result of his disobedience. Malchus labored in [[ascetic]]ism in the monastery until the end of his life.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://ocafs.oca.org/FeastSaintsLife.asp?FSID=100909|title= St Malchus of Chalcis in Syria|first= |publisher= [[Orthodox Church in America]]|accessdate= 2011-01-11|quote= Malchus sent his wife to a women's monastery as she requested, while he returned to his own monastery.}}</ref> His wife also transferred to a woman's monastery in Maronia.{{sfn|Christa Gray|2015|p=4}} In their old age, they became close companions again.<ref name=schaff/> |
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⚫ | Malchus and his wife eventually escaped their master by fleeing downriver on inflated goatskins. When their master caught up, they hid in a cave but were tracked down. They received protection from |
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Malchus was a [[Christian vegetarianism|vegetarian]] who ate only dates, cheese, and milk.<ref>{{cite book |last= Roberts|first= Holly Harlayne|title= Vegetarian Christian Saints: Mystics, Ascetics & Monks|url= http://books.google.com/books?id=ZEuamyoZIXwC&printsec=frontcover|isbn= 978-0-9754844-0-1|date= 2004-09-01|accessdate= 2010-12-09|publisher= Anjeli Press|location= New York |laysummary= http://www.all-creatures.org/book/r-vegchriststs.html |page= 177|quote= He lived on dates, cheese, and milk}}</ref> |
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==See also== |
==See also== |
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*[[Skete]] |
*[[Skete]] |
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*[[Lavra]] |
*[[Lavra]] |
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== Notes == |
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{{NoteFoot}} |
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==References== |
==References== |
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{{Reflist}} |
{{Reflist}} |
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==Bibliography== |
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{{Persondata <!-- Metadata: see [[Wikipedia:Persondata]]. --> |
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*{{cite book | author=Christa Gray | title = Jerome, Vita Malchi: Introduction, Text, Translation, and Commentary | year = 2015 | publisher = Oxford University Press | location=Oxford}} |
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| NAME = Syria, Malchus Of |
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| ALTERNATIVE NAMES = Maronia, Malchus Of |
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==External Links== |
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| SHORT DESCRIPTION = Eastern Catholic saint |
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*[https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/3006.htm The Life of Malchus, the Captive Monk, ''From Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers'', Second Series, Vol. 6. Edited by Philip Schaff and Henry Wace] |
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| DATE OF BIRTH = |
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| PLACE OF BIRTH = |
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| DATE OF DEATH = |
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[[Category:4th-century Christian saints]] |
[[Category:4th-century Christian saints]] |
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[[Category:Syrian Christian monks]] |
[[Category:Syrian Christian monks]] |
Latest revision as of 06:09, 7 November 2024
Saint Malchus of Syria (or Malchus of Chalcis, Malchus of Maronia) (died c. 390) is the subject of Saint Jerome's biography Life of Malchus the Captive Monk (Vita Malchi monachi captivi), written in Latin around 391/392 CE.[1]
According to Jerome, Malchus was a monk who was sold into slavery and forced to marry another slave. While never consummating the marriage, he escaped with his wife and returned to his monastery. Jerome interviewed Malchus at his home in Maronia, Syria, while Malchus and his wife were still alive. Malchus is commemorated 26 March by the Eastern Orthodox and Eastern Catholic Churches, and is in the Roman Martyrology for Oct. 21.[2] There is no record of him except for Jerome's biographical account.[3]
Life
[edit]According to Jerome's account, Malchus was the only child of a farming family that resided near Nisibis during the fourth century. When he reached mature age Malchus' parents desired that he should marry, but he desired to become a monk.[4] Malchus left his family home at this time and began his monastic life in the desert of Chalcis.[5]
After several years as a monk Malchus heard of his father's death and went home to obtain with his inheritance, leaving the monastery against the direction of his abbot. He joined a group of pilgrims headed to his home district, but during their journey they were overtaken by Saracens and sold into slavery.[6][7]
Malchus' slave master insisted that he marry another of the slaves who had been captured in the same raid, and whose husband had been sold to another master. But Malchus, faithful to his monastic vocation refused to consummate the union and threatened to kill himself.[8] The woman told him that she also wanted to live a celibate life, and proposed that she become the partner of his chastity, but not tell their master that they were living as brother and sister.[7]
Malchus and his wife eventually escaped their master by fleeing downriver on inflated goatskins. When their master caught up, they hid in a cave but were tracked down.[8] They received protection from God when a lioness using the cave for a den attacked and killed their pursuers, then left with her cub. Then they were able to ride their deceased pursuers' camels back to a Roman fort under the command of Sabinianus who allowed them to go free.[5][note 1]
Malchus sent his wife to a women's monastery as she requested, while he tried to return to his own monastery. By then the igumen was no longer alive. Malchus ended up going to Maronia, to a men's monastery under the direction of Bishop Evagrius. For the edification of monks he often recounted his trials, which were the result of his disobedience. Malchus labored in asceticism in the monastery until the end of his life.[10] His wife also transferred to a woman's monastery in Maronia.[8] In their old age, they became close companions again.[5]
See also
[edit]Notes
[edit]- ^ Sabinianus is described as Dux Mesopotamiae, which might date Malchus' capture to the 340s or early 350s.[9]
References
[edit]- ^ Christa Gray 2015, p. 6.
- ^ "Roman Martyrology October, in English".
- ^ Christa Gray 2015, p. 7.
- ^ Christa Gray 2015, p. 3.
- ^ a b c Schaff, Philip, ed. (1893). A Select Library of Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers of the Christian Church. 2nd series. Vol. VI. Henry Wace. New York: The Christian Literature Company. Retrieved 2010-06-07.
- ^ Christa Gray 2015, pp. 3–4.
- ^ a b Šubrt, Jiří. "Hagiographic Romance: Novelistic Narrative Strategy in Jerome’s Lives of Hermits", The Ancient Novel and the Frontiers of Genre, (Maríla P. Futre Pinheiro, Gareth L. Schmeling, and Edmund P. Cueva, eds.) 205–14. Ancient Narrative, vol. 18. Supplementum. Groningen: Barkhuis, 2014. Pp. 205, 212–213
- ^ a b c Christa Gray 2015, p. 4.
- ^ Shahîd, Irfan (1984). Byzantium and the Arabs in the Fourth Century. Dumbarton Oaks. p. 285. ISBN 978-0-88402-116-2. Retrieved 16 October 2024.
- ^ "St Malchus of Chalcis in Syria". Orthodox Church in America. Retrieved 2011-01-11.
Malchus sent his wife to a women's monastery as she requested, while he returned to his own monastery.
Bibliography
[edit]- Christa Gray (2015). Jerome, Vita Malchi: Introduction, Text, Translation, and Commentary. Oxford: Oxford University Press.