Allen W. Chatfield (trans.) · 23 of 31

Methodius, Bishop and Martyr

(Died about A.D. 311).

Methodius, a father of the Church, and a martyr, was Bishop of Olympas or Patara, in Lycia, and afterwards of Tyre in Palestine. He lived during the last half of the third century, and died a martyr at Chalcis in Greece, probably A.D. 311, during the Diocletian persecution. Jerome ranks him among the popular writers, and commends him especially for the neatness of his style.

This Virgins' Song of his composing is in twenty-four parts, or strophies, each beginning with a letter of the alphabet in order from A to Ω. Ten virgins are supposed to be present. Thecla leads, giving the strophy in each case, the rest join in chorus, singing the burden or refrain (εφυμνιον). The learned editors refer to the Συμποσιον of Plato, also to the Παρθενια of Alcman and Pindar; which Methodius may in part have imitated.