In the third and fourth decade of the ninth century Methodius of Constantinople delivered an Encomium of the Sicilian martyr Agatha which opens with the evocation of the “miracle oil”. Each year, on the memorial day of St. Agatha, the oil miraculously would overflow from lamps in a church (probably) in Constantinople. The analysis of the text reveals that Methodius saw this miracle, which recalled the lava fountaining and flows of Etna, as the means by which the Sicilian martyr became part of the devotions and the religious practices of the capital.
Nel III-IV decennio del IX secolo, Metodio di Costantinopoli pronunciò un Encomio della martire siciliana Agata che si apre con la rievocazione del ‘miracolo dell’olio’: ogni anno, nel giorno memoriale della Santa, l’olio traboccava miracolosamente dalle lampade in una chiesa di Costantinopoli, verosimilmente. L'analisi del testo fa emergere che Metodio ha visto in questo miracolo, che rievocava il flusso e il fuoco ardente della lava dell’Etna, il mezzo con cui la martire siciliana entrava a far parte delle devozioni e delle pratiche cultuali della capitale.
S. Agata a Bisanzio nel IX secolo. Rileggendo Metodio patriarca di Costantinopoli
CRIMI, Carmelo Ugo
2006-01-01
Abstract
In the third and fourth decade of the ninth century Methodius of Constantinople delivered an Encomium of the Sicilian martyr Agatha which opens with the evocation of the “miracle oil”. Each year, on the memorial day of St. Agatha, the oil miraculously would overflow from lamps in a church (probably) in Constantinople. The analysis of the text reveals that Methodius saw this miracle, which recalled the lava fountaining and flows of Etna, as the means by which the Sicilian martyr became part of the devotions and the religious practices of the capital.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.