Biography
Theognis
(Theognis)
Megarian
(ancient Greek: Θέογνις ὀ Μεγᾰρεύς) - ancient Greek poet of the 2nd half. VI century BC e. A representative of the family aristocracy, Theognis was expelled from his hometown and wandered around different regions of Greece.
Theognis put the pessimism and despair of the broken aristocracy, hatred of the demos - the “vile”, the rich townspeople and their leaders - the “tyrants” in the form of short moralizing and political “elegies”, table poems. These elegies are addressed to the young man Cyrn, whom Theognis, according to the ancient Dorian custom, “instructs” in the basic principles of aristocratic ethics, but the traditional moral teachings of the Greek gnomes are interspersed with sharp outbursts of political bitterness and thirst for revenge.
Theognis's lyrics are one of the brightest examples of aristocratic hatred and contempt for the demos in world literature. Calling for the consolidation of the aristocracy, Theognis takes up arms against marriages between the impoverished nobility and rich representatives of the “artistic” demos, as a result of which “the breed of citizens becomes dull”, biologically “deteriorates” - the “eugenic” theory, which drew the attention of Friedrich Nietzsche and the fascist theorists of “racism” to Theognis " Theognis' elegy enjoyed wide popularity among the Athenian aristocracy and served as material for table singing; the author's name became almost a collective name for "table" poetry, and the collection that has come down to us is essentially a "feast songbook", which contains a very large number of poems that do not belong to Theognis and relating to different times.
As noted in the TSB, traditional advice to honor gods and ancestors attracted attention to it in antiquity. At the same time, V.N. Yarkho notes that he himself has little faith in the justice of the gods, since they give a better share to the “bad” (demos).
Martyr Theognis (Feognius) Kizicheskiy
Kontakion 1
The election from the King of Powers, the Lord Jesus, the nine passion-bearers of Christ, from various countries in the city of Kizitsa in one assembly and Christ boldly, without fear of torment and death, having confessed, we triumph spiritually in your holy feast and, chanting the grace-filled patience of your valor, we pray to you, How many of Christ have suffered and are confirmed in the will of Christ, and ask us for salvation, calling:
Rejoice, most praised martyr of Christ, numbering nine.
Ikos 1
Like the Angels of the Peace, having ascended in thought from the earthly to the heavenly, to Christ, the Lord of all, unceasingly gazing with faith with their eyes, the holy martyrs Theognis, Rufa, Antipater, Theostiche, Artemo, Magna, Theodota, Faumasius, Philemon, among the idolaters of the city of Cyzicus, confessed to yourself fearlessly be Christians and, strengthened by the power of God, have endured many torments courageously for Christ and have bowed your heads under the sword, and therefore, praising your suffering and beheading, we say:
Rejoice, you who have despised earthly joys;
Rejoice, you who have desired the blessings of heaven.
Rejoice, confessors of Christ's invincibility, having kept the immaculate faith;
Rejoice, you who followed the passion of Christ and imitated the death of Christ by your death.
Rejoice, by the power of the Risen One you have trampled down the kingdom of hell;
Rejoice, having delivered your souls into the hand of God and received crowns of victory.
Rejoice, most praised martyr of Christ, numbering nine.
Kontakion 2
Seeing the city of Kizicus is full of idols, you, O god-wise nine-numbered combination of the martyrs of Christ, have been indignant in spirit and, strengthened by burning zeal for God and strengthened by Divine grace, often proclaim and teach about the name of the Lord Jesus, denouncing the error of idols; the people, blinded by the darkness of unbelief, took you abby and bound, like villains, to the city prince of Kizitsa for torture; But you stood before the wicked prince and, having clothed yourself in all the armor of God, as faithful soldiers of Christ, in no way retreated from the chosen Voivode, your Lord, crying out to Him: Alleluia.
Ikos 2
Understanding that he who has endured to the end will be saved by patience, the passion-bearers of Christ, at the feat set before you, looking at the Author of the faith and Perfecter of Jesus, and the torment and torment of your bodies naturally endured, rejoicing and flaunting the wounds that they naturally suffered for the love of To your Lord, too:
Rejoice, for Christ the Lord, who laid down His soul for us on the Cross, and you, holy martyrs, love each other;
Rejoice, for you have endured to be like the torment of patience.
Rejoice, having converted suffering and torment into the triumph of faith;
Rejoice, for those who shed their blood in glorification for the sake of Christ.
Rejoice, for blessed is the land, drunk with your blood;
Rejoice, for your souls are filled with love for Christ.
Rejoice, most praised martyr of Christ, numbering nine.
Kontakion 3
We are strengthened by the power of God, martyrs of the ninth number, not afraid of the reproaches of the evil prince of Cyzitic, lower than the machinations of the invisible prince of this world, but bearing witness to Christ Jesus, with your lips confessing the true existence of God, for He has given you a mouth and wisdom, to whom you cannot answer anything against tormentor, but put to shame, overcome by the truth, and also through your sufferings you testify to all your desire for God, and people are terrified, seeing your valiant patience, and I recognize the power and help of the omnipotent God on you, to whom you cry: Alleluia.
Ikos 3
Having in memory the words of the Lord: and the hair of your head will not perish, you have such faith: not only the hair, for the sake of Christ’s torment, will appear in the glory of the resurrection, but also the body itself, which has endured wounds and fragmentation for Christ, will rise whole with much glory. For this reason, the most wonderful passion-bearers of Christ, strengthened by faith and boasting in the hope of the glory of God, have accomplished the good course of martyrdom and betrayed their holy souls into the hand of God, and we also offer you this song of praise:
Rejoice, you who have shown wonderful courage;
Rejoice, for with the hope of the resurrection Christ has made you invincible before the tormentors.
Rejoice, for Christ will transform the body of your humility, so that it will be conformed to the body of His glory;
Rejoice, participants in the eternal bliss of life.
Rejoice, for with the Angels you sing a song of victory.
Rejoice, most praised martyr of Christ, numbering nine.
Kontakion 4
Tormented for the holy faith in the name of Christ the Lord, a storm of temptations and troubles arose against you, Theognis, but it was not possible to shake the temple of your soul, which was founded on the Stone, Who is Christ, the Son of the Living God; when you were brought to the prince of the city at the trial, as a testimony to the tormentor, neither prison nor cruel beatings and wounds rejected you from Christ, but, stretched across the earth and mercilessly beaten with sinews and whittled with iron nails, you appeared strong and courageous in suffering , with streams of your blood, like scarlet, you dressed yourself and fixed your heart’s eye on God, singing to Him: Alleluia.
Ikos 4
Having heard the formidable command of the wicked ruler, that you have rejected Christ, offer sacrifices to an idol, and having seen the tormenting weapon prepared for you, the venerable passion-bearers, think about the day of the second coming to earth of the Lord Christ and the unbearable wrath of His judgment, when He will come in His glory from heaven and all holy things. The angels are with Him; For this reason, soldiers of Christ, having not been overcome by much patience, having given yourself up to the wounds and torments of the Kingdom for the sake of the Heavenly Kingdom, receive from us these songs of praise:
Rejoice, you who have remembered the words of the Lord: he who rejected Me before men will be rejected before the angels of God;
Rejoice, having listened to the words spoken by Christ: do not be afraid of those who kill the body but are not able to kill the soul, but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in Gehenna.
Rejoice, you have decided for yourself: the torment of ardent people is temporary, but the torment of Gehenna is eternal; let us escape eternal torment, let us not fear the imams;
Rejoice, servants of Christ, faithful even unto death, to whom the Lord will reward the crown of life.
Rejoice, for at the terrible judgment the Lord will number you with those at the right hand and will grant you portions of those who loved Him;
Rejoice, to whom the King of Glory says: come, blessed of My Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.
Rejoice, most praised martyr of Christ, numbering nine.
Kontakion 5
The God-bearing star, guiding you to the Sun of Truth, Christ God, you have appeared, holy martyr Rufus, and you have shone with the light of your suffering feat among people who sit in the darkness of unbelief, for the power of the grace of the Lord is perfected in your weakness. For this reason, bound hand and foot, you endured dishonor and reproach, you dared to suffer and did not spare your life for your Lord, but, cruelly beaten with a rod and whips and scorched by fire, you cried out to Him with a loud voice: Alleluia.
Ikos 5
Having seen yourself in chains suffering for the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, Whom you loved and believed in inappropriately, you, the nine sufferers of Christ, are consoled by the Holy Spirit in your sorrow and the crampedness of the prison, rejoicing, saying to each other: we will not spare flesh and blood, let us become fearless to to every torment, let us die in Christ, so that we may live with Him forever, rejoicing unceasingly. Moreover, your wonderful and glorious deeds, we praise you:
Rejoice, having placed your hearts in the hand of God;
Rejoice, vessels of the grace of the Holy Spirit of election.
Rejoice, wonderful dwelling of the Holy Spirit;
Rejoice, truth, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
Rejoice, everlasting joys for us, favorable intercessors;
Rejoice, confirmed by the Spirit of the Lord, Who has given you the joy of salvation in the Lord.
Rejoice, most praised martyr of Christ, numbering nine.
Kontakion 6
For the sake of suffering, you appeared as a preacher of Christ to us, the martyr Saint Antipater, for you were tied to a pillar and beaten by evil tormentors with rods of thorns, you were conformed to Christ the Lord, crowned with a crown of thorns. For this reason, you looked to Christ, for our sake, wounded and abused, and, enduring many torments for Him, just as He endured for us, you sang to Him, your Master, out of strong love: Alleluia.
Ikos 6
Arose, O holy nine-numbered passion-bearers, in the city of Kizitsa the light of Christian virtues, like the descent of luminous stars, and enlightened the deep night of idolatry. Christ, the Lord, by His Divine mania, sent you like sheep in the midst of wolves; But you have shown yourself to the Lamb Christ, the Son of God slain for the world, a true follower, by the wisdom of God, even in the Holy Spirit, enlightened, understanding the fleeting life and careless about torment, keeping the right faith eternal for the sake of life, marveling at this, we cry out to you:
Rejoice, for according to the word of the Lord, be wise like a serpent, be wise for good, and goals like a dove, forgive for evil, quickly;
Rejoice, for being like Christ, He was meek and lowly in heart, and you have endured the meekness and reproach of the meek one.
Rejoice, for in your suffering you did not resist those who embittered you, but in your humility, like sheep, were led to the slaughter;
Rejoice, for you have imitated the virtues of Christ in your life.
Rejoice, lambs, who sacrificed Christ for themselves;
Rejoice, whom Christ has blessed and who are the heirs of the land of the living.
Rejoice, most praised martyr of Christ, numbering nine.
Kontakion 7
Although the enemy of the salvation of the human race frightens you, the fearless warrior of Christ, the passion-bearing saint Theostikhe, moves towards the anger and rage of the evil prince of the city of Cyzicus, who commanded the cruelty to torment you; But you, having been beaten with clubs without mercy, skulls planed and gored, thanked Christ for making you worthy of torment, suffering, and glory for the sake of His holy name. We strengthen you with the power of God, you repelled the advice of the invisible enemy and faithfully sang to God: Alleluia.
Ikos 7
Marvelous Christ is God and glorified in His saints, granting to you, martyrs, not only to believe in Him with one mind, but also to walk with one mind in the good confession of His Divinity and to suffer for Him. For Christ has gathered you, the bright martyr’s army, into one cathedral of martyrs, into the Church of the Living God, and be with you, and we joyfully bring you this:
Rejoice, for the Lord also spoke to you in the Gospel: where there are two or three, gather together in My name, I am in the midst of them;
Rejoice, for you too are comforted by the gospel verb: you will be in a world of sorrow, but be brave: I have overcome the world.
Rejoice, for I also made a promise to you, saying: Behold, I am with you all the days, even to the end of the age;
Rejoice, for victory has been given to you by our Lord Jesus Christ.
Rejoice, for we are strengthened by the grace of God to resist the tormentor, and moreover, we are able to resist all the devil’s power;
Rejoice, for Christ God has become to you a pillar of strength from the face of the enemy.
Rejoice, most praised martyr of Christ, numbering nine.
Kontakion 8
You walked a strangely terrible and cruel path, Artemo, a martyr of glory, tied to a wheel and brought down from above the mountain, as if your wisdom had been crushed. The path of your suffering shines like light, the Light of the Unstoppable is illuminated by the rays, you have looked at the Lord, you are attached to Christ in thought and love. Christ is the Strength, God and Lord, to whom you cried, most passionately: Alleluia.
Ikos 8
The whole host of you, the nine holy martyrs, put their hope in Christ our God, who will look from on high at your feat with many holy Angels and will help you, the weak. But God is faithful, Who did not leave you to be tempted more than He could, but created deliverance from temptation, so that you were able to bear it, so receive this praise from us:
Rejoice, for God has comforted you in all your sorrow;
Rejoice, for as the suffering of Christ is abundant for you, so is your consolation abundant in Christ.
Rejoice, for the power of Christ has dwelled in you, for this reason you have done all you could through Jesus Christ, who strengthened you;
Rejoice, for the love of God has been poured into your hearts by the Holy Spirit and has given you the unashamed hope of the glory of God.
Rejoice, for the Lord of Powers, the Helper in sorrow, is with you, and nothing can separate you from the love of God;
Rejoice, as your souls, like birds, have escaped from the snare of those who catch them and have flown to the beautiful village of paradise.
Rejoice, most praised martyr of Christ, numbering nine.
Kontakion 9
Your whole body was wounded to the bones, the kind sufferer Magne, always the tormentor, having exposed you, on the ground in the open and beating along the ridge without mercy and along the belly, even tormenting you with kindled tongs. The Lord, co-present with you by invisible power, easing your illness and confirming your heart in patience and Divine love, also in torment you sang to Christ God: Alleluia.
Ikos 9
The oracles of multi-proclamation will not be able to speak to you worthy of praise, nine martyrs of Christ, for with the sword you bowed your necks for the sake of Christ, who bowed the heavens and came down and shed your blood, who were fellow-partners of this passion. We, who are unworthy, bring you this gift of song, saying:
Rejoice, for Christ has given you His cup to drink and through baptism, with which He Himself was baptized, was baptized;
Rejoice, for your paths and labors are before God’s eyes.
Rejoice, having loved Christ with all your souls;
Rejoice, for you have suffered with Christ and may be glorified with Him.
Rejoice, having received eternal glory and the robe of incorruptibility from Him;
Rejoice, for the treasures of heaven have received you like ripening wheat.
Rejoice, most praised martyr of Christ, numbering nine.
Kontakion 10
To save the world that has come, we ignite the love of the Son of God, Martyr Theodota, the strongest fire has appeared. You valiantly despised scorching and bitter torment, laid on a frying pan, set on fire, naked, even thrown into a bubbling horse; Having never been separated from the love of Christ, you sang to him with tenderness: Alleluia.
Ikos 10
The Eternal King, who was obedient to Christ in everything, the long-suffering martyr, from various places and countries in Kizitsa gathered into one, and, having entered the city, Christ the Son of God, came in the flesh, preaching, glorifying, and speaking the word of God without fear. When the people of the city of Cyzicus did not accept the gospel of Christ, and gave you over to torments and executions and cruel death, you, the evangelists of God, proceeding from there not in body, but in soul, not the dust that stuck to you from the city, shake it from your feet, but mortal flesh yours, who were martyred for the gospel of Christ, stand as a witness against me on the day of judgment, and we therefore reverently cry to you:
Rejoice, having marched in your Christ-consistent feet to the city of Cyzicus;
Rejoice, evangelizers of the Gospel of Christ.
Rejoice, for you are a preacher of God incarnate;
Rejoice, for torment, fire and beheading by sword have been turned into sweetness for Him.
Rejoice, because people who did not accept you, listened to you, as a testimony of your heroic deed, for the salvation of them, you have been lifted up, your honest body has been left behind;
Rejoice, for the course of the martyrdom is good in the end, you have observed the faith, and so on, the crown of righteousness will be preserved for you.
Rejoice, most praised martyr of Christ, numbering nine.
Kontakion 11
We bring singing, Faumasius, to you, martyr. Show your soul strong patience and heroic valor, for I will add merciless to you painful wounds to wounds and illness to illness, for I will cut and cut your flesh with a knife, and I will also pierce your ribs with a spear. But you, martyr Faumasius, having been conformed to Christ the Lord, on the Cross from one of the soldiers with a spear pierced into the ribs, you said, rejoicing and glorifying God: Alleluia.
Ikos 11
A light-receiving, God-radiant light for those who exist in the darkness of unbelief and polytheism of idols, your incorruptible body appeared, the holy martyr of nine. When the great Constantine reigned, persecution ceased and the light of piety spread throughout the world, then in Kizitsa, in your temple, many miracles and healings from your holy relics happened, and for this reason many unfaithful people turned to Christ. Moreover, in your praise we call:
Rejoice, as the people of the city of Cyzicus, seeing the grace of God in your multi-healing relics, working wonders, having received the holy faith in Christ;
Rejoice, for the idols and idolatries of the temples in Kizitsa were destroyed, and in their place the temples of God were erected.
Rejoice, giver of infinite healings;
Rejoice, for you are great, martyr of Christ, God-gracious power, for you lie in graves and drive away the spirits of evil, and, as you live, by faith you give petitions to those who come.
Rejoice, for you illuminate the faithful with wondrous miracles and turn the unfaithful to Christ;
Rejoice, for your holy might has appeared to all as a victorious banner.
Rejoice, most praised martyr of Christ, numbering nine.
Kontakion 12
Divine grace strengthened you in your martyrdom, more passion-bearing Philemon: surrounded by an iron hook by the ribs and horribly hanged on a tree, you remained adamant in your confession of Christ and God, and you sang a song of praise to Him: Alleluia.
Ikos 12
Singing your many and glorious miracles, we praise you, the all-praised nine-numbered martyrs of Christ: when in Kizitsa the faithful Christians of your body, taken from the earthly heap and found incorruptible, brought into the temple created in your name, miracles, like bright rays, shone from your holy relics. We, singing with love the grace of healing given to you from God, call:
Rejoice, for after your death, wonderful healing springs flowed forth from Christ God for your glorification;
Rejoice, you have driven away unclean spirits from man.
Rejoice, those who are obsessed with healing and shaking diseases, obsessed with the ultimate healing;
Rejoice, for a certain man has freed himself from watery labor by touching your relics more honestly.
Rejoice, for by the very invocation of your honorable names the shaking illness is driven away and every illness of all who come with faith is healed;
Rejoice, good-victorious martyr, crowned with victory from Christ our Savior, for your suffering has been rewarded to you with the glory and honor of the Kingdom of Heaven.
Rejoice, most praised martyr of Christ, numbering nine.
Kontakion 13
About the good victory and long-suffering of the nine martyrs of Christ, graciously accept from us, unworthy and sinners, the hymn of praise that is now being offered to you; and, as we are forerunners of the heights of glory, having much boldness towards Christ our God, remember us, who please you with love and honor your wonderful deeds; Ask us from the Lord for forgiveness of sins, confirmation in faith, strengthening in good deeds, deliverance from troubles and misfortunes, and let us always sing to God with grateful lips: Alleluia.
This kontakion is read three times, then the 1st ikos and the 1st kontakion.
Prayer 1
(from the service compiled by St. Demetrius, Metropolitan of Rostov, miracle worker)
About the all-validation of the holy martyr, the valiant servants of Christ, Theognis, Rufus, Antipater, Theostichus, Artemo, Magna, Theodotus, Faumasius and Philemon, who like Christ for the sake of various countries gathered together and boldly preached that perfect God and Man in Kizitsa; having been forced to worship the former idol, putting idols to shame and putting the prince to shame, not being afraid of various languidities and fiery punishments, and through various sufferings with the edge of a sword, shed your blood for Christ like water, and with that, like purple, the Church of Christ, like a bride, decorator; Likewise, now, crowned with an unfading crown of immortal glory, you are ever in unspeakable joy with the faces of angels in the heavenly villages, bathed in Divine light and enjoying the sight of His ineffable kindness. For this reason, we, in humility, come to you and, looking tenderly at your holy image, we pray: you pray for us to Christ God, as we have boldness towards Him, that through your holy prayers we will get rid of every mental and physical ailment. For you have been given from God a medical gift from all sorrows, with faith to heal those who fall upon you, just as you healed this glorious man from the shaking illness, and we, the faithful, having received the same, honor you, holy martyrs, who have the same gift from Christ God, Him and glory is together with the Father and the Holy Spirit always, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Prayer 2
O great servants of God, holy martyrs of Christ: Theognis, Rufus, Antipater, Theostichus, Artemo, Magna, Theodotos, Faumasius and Philemon! You became a faithful servant of the King Christ and fought a good fight, enduring torment for Him; in the same way, according to His untrue verb: where I am, there My servant will be, and now you and the Angels stand before the Lord Christ and from the heights of heavenly glory look mercifully on your temple and on those praying in it.
Pray therefore to the Lord Almighty to save His Holy Church and our Orthodox Fatherland from misfortunes and troubles, from all enemies visible and invisible, to overthrow the charm of unbelief and atheism, and to deliver the flock of Christ from the wolves that destroy it, who speak evil of good, and good evil, who make darkness light , and light darkness; from the unsteadiness of minds, like a reed shaken by the wind, and from sinful relaxation of souls.
Extend the God-given grace of your miracles, nine martyrs of Christ, to all of us who come running to you by faith, and heal all our mental and physical ailments, and fulfill all our requests for good.
To her, holy passion-bearers, pray to the Lord for us, that He may bestow on us Divine grace and the gift of the Holy Spirit, who always heals the weak and replenishes the poor, so that He can accomplish our salvation for us, through the intercession of Christ our Savior, and deliver us from the network of enmity and sins, and have mercy to our souls, and together with you and all the saints we will glorify God, glorified in the Trinity, the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Bibliography
- I. Elegies of Theognis..., commentary el appendies by T.; Hundson-Williams, NJ, 1910;
- Diehl E. Anthologica Graeca, Lpz., 1925.
- In the series "Collection Budé": Théognis
. Poèmes élégiaques. Texte établi, traduit et commenté par J. Carrière. (2nd edition 1948) 2nd edition 2003. 288 p.
Russian translations:
- Alekseev V.
, Ancient Greek poets in biographies and samples, St. Petersburg, 1895; (partial) - Veresaev V.V.
, Hellenic poets, Complete. collection works., vol. X, M., 1929. (partial) - Theognis
. Elegies. / Per. A. Piotrovsky. Petersburg: Petropolis, 1922. 96 pp. - Feognidov
collection.
Book 1. / Prosaic. lane A.K. Gavrilova. // Dovatur A.I.
Feognis and his time. L.: Nauka, 1989. pp. 147-181. - Theognis and Theognid collection. / Per. Yu. A. Golubets. // Ancient Greek elegy. / Ed. preparation N. A. Chistyakova. (Series “Ancient Library”. Section “Ancient Literature”). St. Petersburg: Aletheia, 1996. 400 pp. pp. 97-155. ( the second book of the collection was translated for the first time
)
Links
- [antiquites.academic.ru/2009/Theognis Theognis]
- Greek text on Wikisource
- Theognis
- article from the Great Soviet Encyclopedia. - [slovari.yandex.ru/Feognis/Lit.%20encyclopedia/Feognis/](inaccessible link since 06/14/2016 (1857 days))
- Theognis // Real Dictionary of Classical Antiquities = Reallexikon des klassischen Altertums: Leipzig: BG Teubner Verlag, 1855: [trans. with German] / auto-comp. F. Lubker.
- [dictionary_of_ancient.academic.ru/4294/Feognis]
The article is based on materials from the Literary Encyclopedia 1929-1939.
