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F I R S T H O M I L I E S ON T H E FORTY
M A R T Y R S OF SEBASTE (ΙΑ AND IB)
THE precise chronology of Gregory of Nyssa's writings is difficult
to establish because of t h e lack of references to datable events.
His sermons are n o exception to the rule. I n this note I propose,
against the traditional date established by Daniélou, an alternative
date for G r e g o r y ' s so-called First Encomium on the Forty Martyrs
of Sebaste. In fact it consists of two homilies {Mart. la and lb),
delivered on consecutive days in Armenian Sebaste. T h e first
was preached on 9 M a r c h (the m a r t y r s ' feast day) in the martyrium,
the second on 10 M a r c h in a church. Daniélou's dating of these
homilies in 383 has found general acceptance. Yet, in my opinion,
his argument is far from conclusive, since it rests entirely on the
assumption that the homilies m u s t have been delivered in either
380 or 383, the only two years for which Gregory's presence in
Sebaste is attested. His choice for 383 is determined by the fact
that Gregory arrived in Sebaste in 380 at the earliest during the
m o n t h of April. I n my opinion, however, 380 and 383 are not
the only possible dates. O u r knowledge about Gregory's where-
abouts during a life which was filled with quite some travel is
far too fragmentary to exclude the possibility that he preached
Mart. la and lb d u r i n g a visit to Sebaste that otherwise left no
trace in the sources.
I n what follows I argue for an earlier date for these homilies.
T h e basis for m y a r g u m e n t is a passage in the captatio benevol-
entiae of Mart. la that so far has not been taken into account.
Gregory enumerates as possible sources of inspiration for his
homily, because of their enigmatic character, J o b , Paul, and the
JOHAN LEEMANS
Cf. Gregory of Nyssa, Letter 19.13-19 (P. Maraval (ed.), SChr, 363,
pp. 252-7).
^ s
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