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In recent years the story of the Humnographer Kassiani
has attracted the attention of many scholars interested
in the history and thought of the Greek and Latin Middle
Ages as well as of modern writers and critics interested
in the development of Greek literature.
This magnificent story was told to me by the Archibi-
shop Xeroubein in Athens Greece , who came to visit
our religious class in the private school I was attending
as a high school student. It was spring and Holy Week
was approaching . The story was very appropriate
coming from a Hierarch of his statute and it left an
indelible impression in our minds..-
To this day, every time I hear the opening hymn
" Dear Lord , this woman who committed many sins"
I can not help this emotion that engulfs my entire being
and I recall the first time I heard the magnificent story
of the power struggle and divine dedication of a young
woman named Kassiani..
In the years and centuries that followed the rule of
Justinian the Great , the Byzantine Empire was brought
to even greater heights by his successors. Byzantium
reigned supreme and commerce dominated the East and
religion ,arts, letter and culture were greatly cultivated
in the Empire.
With the death of Micheal of Amorion ( 829 AD)
Theophilos succeeded as emperor ( 829-843) and with
the help of his stepmother Evfrosyne, he began to look
for a bride . According to the custom that prevailed in
Byzantium , the emperor's wife was to be selected
among the best possible candidates , young ladies that
came from patrician families - smart, educated and
beautiful. This process was to take place in the palace
in the form of a competition. The young ladies would go
through the rigors of competing against each other and
in the final stage, they were to be presented to the
Emperor, who would have the opportunity to put them
through his scrutiny and ask them the final questions.
The search was narrowed down to six ladies of which
Kassiani was one. The emperor would symbolically
give the golden apple to the one he chose for his future
wife.
When the young women were finally presented to Theo-
filos for the final test, his attention turned to a particular
young lady of striking beauty who was Kassiani.
Impressed also by her demeanor , he asked her some
questions to see, how she would handle the answers .
Kassiani, answered him directly, showing no fear of the
examiner and almost shocked him with her obvious
intelligence and direct approach. To his comment
" from woman flowed corruption"
( referring to Eve's fall from paradise )
Kassiani answered " but also from woman sprung forth
what is supreme "( referring to the mother of God )
Theofilos , although very impressed by her beauty and
mentality , felt that Kassiani was a bit too forward and
intelligent for a woman of her time and decided against
her, selecting another young lady.
In the days and years to follow, no one ever heard from
Kassiani, again and it seemed that she had disappeared.
Years went by and Theofilos became a great emperor
and his extraordinary support of the Orthodox faith had
made him a hero. He used to travel in all parts of his empire, visiting monasteries and supporting the Orthodox Church the best he could.
On one of those trips, in a remote region of the Empire he stopped to visit a nunnery. He asked to see the nuns and visit their quarters
They all came to great him, except one, The nun Kassiani
he was told, was absent and not available this moment.
When he entered her room , his curiosity brought him to
a little table, where he found a small candle burning and
a fresh manuscript. He stopped to read and recognized
the story of Maria Magdalena which began
" Dear Lord, this woman who committed many sins"
By now, he know that nun Kassiani was the woman he
rejected as his empress and momentarily decided to
show her that he knew who she was. He added:
" as soon as heard me coming she left out of fear "
This phrase has absolutely no commenting relation to
the poem Kassiani was writing about Maria Magdalena
but it has been allowed into the Hymn by Hymnogra-
phers as historical evidence of this amazing event and
is now one of the most beautiful hymns we hear in our
churches of Holy Tuesday following the Liturgy..
This Article has been published by:
Evi Martyn / Founder of the Hellenic Culture.
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