Church History 7.32.27
Summary: Pierius was poor, learned, and a fine preacher; Meletius, “the honey of Attica,” was outstanding in eloquence and learning.
Greek text · Dindorf 4:346
ἀλλʼ ὁ μὲν ἄκρως ἀκτήμονι βίῳ καὶ μαθήμασι φιλοσόφοις δεδοκίμαστο, ταῖς περὶ τὰ θεῖα θεωρίαις καὶ ἐξηγήσεσι, καὶ ταῖς ἐπὶ τοῦ κοινοῦ τῆς ἐκκλησίας διαλέξεσιν ὑπερφυῶς ἐξησκημένος, ὁ δὲ Μελέτιος τὸ μέλιτῆςʼ Αττικῆς ἐκάλουν αὐτὸν οἱ ἀπὸ παιδείας) τοιοῦτος ἦν, οἷον ἂν γράψειέ τις τῶν κατὰ πάντα λόγων ἕνεκα τελεώτατον· ῥητορικῆς μέν γε τὴν ἀρετὴν οὐδὲ οἶόν τε θαυμάζειν ἐπαξίως, ἀλλὰ τοῦτο μὲν εἶναι αὐτῷ φαίη ἄν τις τὸ κατὰ φύσιν· τῆς δʼ ἄλλης πολυπειρίας τε καὶ πολυμαθείας τίς ἂν τὴν ἀρετὴν ὑπερβάλοιτο;
English · Claude translation
The former was esteemed for his extreme poverty of life and philosophical learning, and was exceedingly practised in divine speculations and expositions and in public discourses in the church. Meletius (the educated called him “the honey of Attica”) was such a man as one would describe as most perfect in every kind of learning. It is impossible to admire his excellence in rhetoric adequately, though one might say it was natural to him; but who could surpass his excellence in wide experience and learning?
About this passage
Notes
Translation notes
- The nickname plays on Μελέτιος and μέλι (“honey”).
Cite this passage
Eusebius, Hist. eccl. 7.32.27 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/eusebius-historia/7/32/27/).
Plain text
Eusebius, Hist. eccl. 7.32.27 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/eusebius-historia/7/32/27/).
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