by Melito of Sardis (d. 180 a.d.) This text preserves an early version of the Virgin’s Dormition, and perhaps the earliest known in Latin. It is dated by most scholars to sometime in the fifth century. The narrative’s location of Mary’s house on the Mount of Olives particularly suggests an early date, since this is […]
Because The Lord Has Sworn An Oath
November 2, 2013 By
by Fr. Patrick Henry Reardon The scene at Mount Moriah, where Abraham prepared to offer his son Isaac, has long lived in Christian memory as a source of theological reflection. Melito, a 2nd century bishop of Sardis, commented on the event at some length in a Paschal homily. In this comment we observe how easily […]
Types and Typos
October 23, 2013 By
by Fr. Patrick Henry Reardon Once again, Fr. Patrick hits it out of the park. The special soteriological significance of various Old Testament figures has long been recognized. In the second century, for instance, Melito, the bishop of Sardis, wrote: “Surely, in the patriarchs, in the prophets, and in the whole people of God, the […]
On The Lord's Pascha – Excerpts
April 10, 2010 By
by St. Melito of Sardis Our father among the saints, Melito, bishop of Sardis, was a prominent figure of second-century Christianity. A leader of the Church in Asia, Melito was, according to Eusebius of Caesarea, a supporter of the Quartodeciman theory. Hippolytus of Rome reports that he was among the earliest proponants of the two […]
