Isacius and Meletius

ON SS. ISACIUS AND MELETIUS, BISHOPS,

IN CYPRUS.

From the Menologies and Menæa of the Greeks.

Isacius, bishop, in Cyprus (S.)

Meletius, bishop, in Cyprus (S.)

BY J. S.

SS. Isacius and Meletius in the Greek calendars Two bishops of Cyprus Baronius inserted in the Roman Martyrology at this day, following in some measure the Sirletian Menology of the Greeks, although he was unwilling to adopt that Menology's assertions in everything; for if we had to adhere closely to the Menology, not two but three bishops in Cyprus would have to be recorded. But Baronius commemorates two, and each separately in this manner: In Cyprus, of St. Isacius, bishop and martyr. In the same place, of St. Meletius, bishop and confessor. But the Menology first announces two in these words: On the same day, the commemoration of the holy fathers and bishops of Cyprus, Meletius and Isacius. These

holy and blessed fathers of ours, bishops of the church of God which is in the island of Cyprus, men pious and fearing God, whose unremitting work was to teach the people the divine words of Christ and to distribute their goods to the needy, and who, so acting through their whole life, passed to the Lord at different times. Then again: On the same day, the commemoration of the most sacred martyr Isacius, bishop of Cyprus. The printed Menæa plainly agree with the Menology about Meletius and Isacius the confessors. Isacius the martyr too they announce in the same manner, only these little verses being added:

Τὸν μόσχον Ικάκιε τὸν θεῖον θύων, Ξίφει δι᾽ αὐτὸν οἶάπερ μόσχος θυῃ.

Sacrificing the divine calf, Isacius, for his sake thou art slain by the sword like a calf.

If therefore we must needs follow these guides, it would have to be said that there are two holy Isaciuses, bishops in Cyprus, the one a martyr, the other a confessor.

[2] But the authority of the Menæa or of the Menology is not so great celebrated as bishops in the island of Cyprus; that we should believe everything is to be taken literally for certain; nor do the other calendars of the Greeks favor a twofold Isacius. In the Sirmondian manuscript Synaxary only one Isacius, bishop in Cyprus, is commemorated at this day, and he is said to have died in peace, Meletius being passed over there. In the Basilian Menology, mention of Isacius the martyr being omitted, two confessors are announced together in these words: The commemoration of our holy fathers Isacius and Meletius, bishops of Cyprus. Then this eulogy is subjoined: The holy and blessed fathers Isacius and Meletius were at different times bishops of the church of Cyprus: Isacius indeed the earlier, Meletius the later: but each shone with equal piety. For, always carrying the fear of God about with them, and conspicuous in the episcopate, they blamelessly offered the Liturgy [] to God, and with a most ready mind distributed all their goods to the poor, all the day long, according to the word of the Prophet, showing mercy and lending — not bread only, but also a faithful word in teaching. They took care of widows, they followed the orphans with mercy, they raised up downcast spirits, they became all things to all, that they might gain all. Since therefore they had so lived, they deserved the gift of miracles; and, helping many by wonderful cures, in extreme old age at different times, as is reported (in Greek, as has been said), but nevertheless on the same day of the year, they passed to God, whom from their earliest years they had worshiped with the utmost zeal.* Like things are read in a Greek manuscript of the monastery of St. Saviour of the Order of St. Basil near Messina, more briefly, however, and nothing about miracles.

[3] but some things about these are doubtful. Now I cannot deny that various things about them appear little certain, because the collectors of the eulogies which I have given do not seem to have had a sufficiently distinct knowledge of those Saints, since they relate only some things suiting almost all holy bishops. Besides, they make them bishops of Cyprus, and do not declare in what city of the island of Cyprus they were bishops. Le Quien in the Oriens Christianus, tom. 2, reckons many episcopal cities of Cyprus, and enumerates their bishops so far as he knew them; but among them no Isacius, no Meletius. In the manuscript Synaxary already praised Isacius is called bishop σίτης τῆς Κύπρου, of Sita in Cyprus; but a city of Sita in Cyprus I have nowhere been able to find. Hence I readily believe that Isacius and Meletius were venerated in Cyprus; but it does not appear equally certain that they were bishops in the same island: nor yet is there, from the omitted or unknown episcopal city, a sufficient reason for denying that they were bishops in the said island, since at least all the aforesaid calendars constantly affirm this. And so it seems more ambiguous whether Isacius was a martyr (for that there were two in Cyprus is less probable), and he is celebrated in some calendars as a martyr, in others as a confessor. Nothing certain therefore can I establish on this matter.

* i.e. the sacrifice of the Mass