weeks only of the fast had passed away, and Tillemont on that ground determines, that it
ought to be moved out of its place. He supposes it was spoken on the third Sunday in Lent,
reckoning for the first Sunday that which preceded the first day of the fast, which we call
Quinquagesima Sunday. But what if at Antioch at that time, that was called the first Sunday
of Lent, which according to modern custom occurs as the first within the fast?991 For the
fast did begin the Monday after Quinquagesima, and now it begins on the Wednesday, and
the people of Antioch might not reckon that week for the first week of Lent, just as we do
not reckon it as so, and in that way this Homily would have been delivered one week later,
that is to say, taking the Sunday after the modern custom. But even then a great difficulty
would remain, for this Homily would precede the thirteenth and following ones. Certainly
all these points are full of perplexity, as Tillemont himself confesses, who is compelled to
leave the question, without entirely coming to any conclusion upon it. Perhaps familiarity,
and longer handling, will add to our knowledge on so obscure a subject, which it is possible
we may be able to determine, in drawing up the life of Chrysostom at the end of his works,992
more clearly and accurately. For which reason we have purposely determined to leave the
matter doubtful. That one point only we contend for, that this Homily cannot be placed
between the tenth and eleventh, for the reasons above mentioned. Certain things being
premised as to the timidity of the people of Antioch, and the avoiding of oaths, Chrysostom
borrows the argument of the Homily from those words of Paul, “Paul, a prisoner of Jesus
Christ, and Timothy our brother;” and shews that Paul was more glorious from bonds, than
from the power of miracles.
The seventeenth was delivered after Ellebichus, or Hellebichus, (styled Magister Militum),
and Cæsarius, (styled Magister), the persons sent by the Emperor for the purpose of insti-
tuting an inquiry into the sedition, had arrived at Antioch. This Hellebichus, Master of the
Horse or993 Foot, is found mentioned elsewhere, and was distinguished by a reputation for
justice and clemency. Cæsarius, also styled elsewhere Master of the Offices, enjoyed a similar
reputation for high character. But this Homily was pronounced when the people of Antioch
were almost free from fear. “We expected,” says Chrysostom (No. 1.), “innumerable horrors,
that the property of all was to be plundered; the habitations consumed, together with their
inmates; the city snatched away from the midst of the world; and all its relics obliterated,
991 He may exclude the τυροφ€γος, or cheese-week, as not one of the strictest fasting. This appears to have
been the case from Homily XVIII., which cannot well be placed anywhere but on the fourth Sunday, and which
says that half the fast is over.
992 This is chiefly a reprint of this preface. Here nothing better is suggested than the supposition of a mistake
in transcribing. The difficulty arises from the mistaken notion, that it was before the trials, whereas it was
probably delivered a little before the return of a messenger from Cæsarius. See Tabular View.
993 Ιν τηε Λιφε “ανδ Φοοτ.”
450
Preface to the Benedictine Edition.