medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
On 11/15/12, I wrote:
> Today (15. November) is also the feast day of:
>
> Gourias and Samonas (d. early 4th cent.). Along with Abibus (entered under 2. Sep. in the revised RM of 2001) Gourias and Samonas are two of three saints referred to jointly since late antiquity as the confessors of Edessa ('confessor' being used in an early sense in which it is equivalent to 'martyr'). They are first attested in an entry under today in the later fourth-century Syriac Martyrology. As the aforesaid martyrology does not style them 'ancient' martyrs, its designation for those who suffered prior to the early fourth-century Great Persecution, one may accept the testimony of their originally fourth-century Syriac Passio (which comes to us in other-language translations and in later, re-worked versions in Syriac) that they were martyred in that persecution. On the other hand, the particular year given by the Passio (306/307) may derive from a later chronicle tradition whose accuracy in this instance cannot be determined. In their Passio Gourias is characterized as a recluse and Samonas as a lay preacher; Abibus, who is entered in the Syriac Martyrology under 2. September, has a separate Passio in which he is said to have been a deacon and to have been buried at the graves of Gourias and Samonas.
>
<SNIP>
> Gourias as depicted in the earlier fourteenth-century mosaics (betw. 1315 and 1321) in the exonarthex of the Chora church in Istanbul:
> http://ocafs.oca.org/Icons/november/1115gurias.jpg
An expandable view of all three of the confessors of Edessa as depicted in the earlier fourteenth-century mosaics in the exonarthex of the Chora church in Istanbul (at top, from left to right: Abibus, Gourias, Samonas):
http://www.gliscritti.it/gallery3/index.php/album_055/turchia-2008-ii-835
Best,
John Dillon
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