ON SS. THALASSIUS AND MARK
HERMITS AMONG THE GREEKS.
HISTORICAL COMMENTARY.
Their notice from the MS. Synaxarion, whether and how it distinguishes them from others of the same name?
Thalassius, of the Hermits among the Greeks (St.)
Marcus, of the Hermits among the Greeks (St.)
G. H.
[1] Related by us on February XXII is St. Thalassius the Anchorite near Cyrus in Syria, whom there dwelling on a hill with St. Limnaeus his disciple, oftener visited Theodoret Bishop of Cyrus, from whose Philotheus chapter 22 a brief elogium of him we have given. Now we hang in doubt, whether from him is to be distinguished, he who today is celebrated Thalassius, in the MS. Menæa at Dijon among the Fathers of the Society of Jesus kept, and is said to have rested in peace. Yet because there is added a distich, by which he seems to be indicated, to have dwelt in a sepulchre, which of the other is not read; him, as different, under such caution here we place. The Distich itself is of this kind, alluding to the name of Thalassius, ἀπὸ τῆς θαλάσσης, that is from the Sea, taken.
Ὁ Θαλάσσιος καὶ κατοικήσας τάφον, Βλύζει θαλάσσας χαριτων ἐκ τοῦ τάφου
Even in a sepulchre dwelling Thalassius, A sea of graces pours forth from the very sepulchre.
Ambiguous, as thou seest, of the Aorist κατοικήσας the signification, doubtful leaves whether it be said of Thalassius, once to have dwelt living, or truly dead to dwell in the sepulchre, whence flows the grace of cures: therefore through me it is permitted, that the things here said posterity refer to February XXII. In the MS. Synaxarion of the Constantinopolitan Church, which at Paris from our Ludovician College to use we received, also on this day, and on May XXII in the MS. Milanese ones of the Ambrosian Library, is indicated the memory of our holy Father Thalassius, which of one and the same, of whom we have already made mention, we willingly take; more who shall find will do a favor to posterity, by supplying greater light.
[2] The same Dijon Menæa on this XX of May, but the Milanese on the XXII, relate St. Mark the Hermit, and assert that he rested in peace: but in the former are added these verses:
Δίδωσι Μάρκῳ τῆς Ἑδὲμ κῆπον μέγαν, Ὁ κῆπον εὑρὼν εἰς ταφὴν Χριστὸς πάλαι.
To Himself who a sepulchre found within a garden, God, The greatest gardens of Eden to Mark He gave.
[3] Thus far those MSS. Of another monk Mark, a holy and learned man, Another St. Mark related on March 5, who is handed down from Angelic hands the sacred Eucharist wont to receive, and many books wrote and to a blind hyena the eye restored, we treated on the V day of March, and we gave what is related of him in the printed Menæa and the MS. Synaxarion: in which although on this day of St. Mark it is not treated, yet this one related seems from that one to be distinguished. On occasion of the said St. Mark we treated also on March V of another Mark, Silvanus's disciple and an antiquarian Writer, who also a letter imperfect left. But he by others on October VII and XVIII is commemorated. another on October 7 and 18.
[4] In the Spiritual Meadow of John Moschus book 10 On the Lives
of the Holy Fathers chapter 13 is brought forth the Life of Mark the Anchorite in these words: They said of Abbot Mark the Anchorite, who dwelt near the monastery of Penthucula for sixty-three years, that he had this virtue of fasting whole weeks, those are the Acts of another. so that some thought him to be without flesh. But he worked day and night, and distributed all things to the poor, nor from anyone received anything. Of this hearing faithful men, came that they might give him an agape, and he said to them: I do not receive, because my hands nourish me, and those who for God's sake come to me. Thus far that. Yet we do not at once affirm of him that it is treated on this day, but we show only that men of this name several illustrious have been. To suspect meanwhile someone could that he praised by John Moschus by the culture of his garden himself and others nourished, and looking to this the Author of that distich, him on this day wished to the sacred Calendars ascribed; although perhaps he was ignorant of the day, on which he died.