Kassia

A Female Hymnographer of 9th Century Byzantium and her Hymnographic Poem on the Vesper of Holy Tuesday

Abstract

For over 1000 years many men and a few women wrote hymns in Byzantium. Their contribution to world literature and to Greek letters constitutes a vast and priceless treasure of sacred poetry. It is impossible to exaggerate the value of this hymnography, since it expresses, as nothing else can, the spiritual riches, faith and beauty of Eastern Christendom. All these hymns are still chanted today in many languages in Orthodox Churches in every part of the world. Other hymns remain unknown; hidden in manuscripts, stored in monastic libraries, they are waiting to be discovered and edited.