«"Страсти Галактиона и Эпистимы" в литературном контексте: имена отсылки и имена-ключи» – доклад профессора Н.В. Брагинской

Главный научный сотрудник ИКВИА, профессора кафедры классической филологии Н.В. Брагинская выступила с докладом «"Страсти Галактиона и Эпистимы" в литературном контексте: имена отсылки и имена-ключи» на VI Международной конференции по древнему роману под названием «Неторными дорогами», проходившей 21-24 Сентября 2022 г. в Генте.

The passio of Galaktion and Episteme and its literary context: names-references and names-keys

The Life and Martyrdom of ss. Galaktion and Episteme (G&E, BHG 665), which was translated into modern languages only in the last decade, has started to attract the attention of specialists of the ancient novel¹: this text is a unique specimen of Christian hagiography, presenting itself as a sequel to the novel of Achilles Tatius. Why did the author of G&E choose the protagonists of a pagan novel as the parents of a martyr? The proposed paper aims to grapple with this question by focusing on the generic fashioning of G&E and its literary strategies.

In a prologue the servant Eutolmius, who unusually serves as the narrator, admits to the strange nature of his story (διήγησις ξένη καὶ παράδοξος) and attributes several characteristics to the following narrative (πολιτεία καὶ μαρτυρία; βίος σὺν μαρτυρίῳ; ψυχοφελὴς ἱστορία; τὸ τῆς πίστεως ταπεινόν μοῦ ἀπόφθεγμα). As it seems, he does justice to his name – ‘the one who dares to do good’ – by presenting a new genre, which which incorporates many others .

Yet G&E cannot be characterized as a novel ‘proper.’ Most prominently, the passio’s literary style is strikingly ascetic – a feature that the author compensates by introducing characters and places with ‘telling’ names. Some of these are symbolic, such as the names of the protagonists, some bear intertextual significance (‘Kleitophon’, ‘[G]leukippe,’ ‘Thekla’), others refer to events considered historical: for example, Mount Puplion and the persecutor Ursus. With Achilles Tatius G&E shares not only names but some elements of plot, too. The most obvious parallels are the topoi of separation and final reunion of the couple (as discussed by P.Robiano and Anonymus Mioussensis). But both separation and reunion are completely reinterpreted; in one case separation is forced, in the other it is voluntary, and in the first case the reunion is achieved in marriage, and in the second in martyrdom.

Finally, G&E contains references to non-Christian allegory – The Table of Cebes as well as the Old Testament apocrypha Joseph and Aseneth, – and the apocryphal Acts of Paul and Thekla. References to Achilles Tatius are obvious, to the Acts of Paul and Thekla less so, and those to Joseph and Aseneth and the Table of Cebes difficult to spot. The proposed analysis of G&E’s literary framework will contribute to our understanding of the narrative’s literary and ideological programme. I conclude that G&E underpins its metapoetic significance with the help of references to allegorical works, which also call attention to the narrative’s own allegorical side, quod est demonstrandum.

¹ Delehaye  H.Les Passions des martyrs et les genres littéraires, 1921; Braginskaya N. [Pseudonym Anonymus Miussoussensis] Galaktion and Epistima "and" Painting "of Cebetus: Life as a scriptio superior of Socratic dialogue. In: Indo-European Linguistics and Classical Philology - X. - St. Petersburg: Nauka, 2006. - pp. 192-208 (in Russian); [Pseudonym Anonymus Mioussenensis]. Life and martyrdom of the holy martyrs Galaсtion and Epistima. Introductory article, translation from ancient Greek, commentary, critical edition of the Greek text and study "Galaktion and Epistima: Roman-Life-Passio of Anonymous Miussky. Journal of Ancient History. 2009 - No. 3. - P. 210-235. - No. 4. - S. 269-291.-2010 - No. 1 - С241-266. - No. 2 - P. 232-250 (in Russian); Robiano P. Pour en finir avec le christianisme d’Achille Tatius et d’Héliodore d’Émèse : la lecture des Passions de Galaction   L’Antiquité Classique 78, 2009 pp.145-160; Alwis, A. Celibate Marriages in Late Antique and Byzantine Hagiography: The Lives of Saints Julian and Basilissa, Andronikos and Athanasia, and Galaktion and Episteme (London and New York, 2011), 286–308.