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Banquet of the Ten Virgins
Methodius of Olympus
Chapter 2 About this work A literary symposium in which ten women offer speeches on virginity, creation, Scripture, virtue, and Christian perfection, consciously adapting the form of a classical philosophical banquet.
Author Methodius of Olympus
Date Late 3rd century
Origin Eastern Mediterranean
Genre Dialogue Chapter II.—Thekla Singing Decorously a Hymn, the Rest of the Virgins Sing with Her; John the Baptist a Martyr to Chastity; The Church the Spouse of God, Pure and Virgin. Theopatra said that Arete having said these things ,
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commanded
them
all
to
rise
,
and
,
standing
under
the
Agnos
,
to
send
up
to
the
Lord
in
a
becoming
manner
a
hymn
of
thanksgiving
;
and
that
Thekla
should
begin
and
should
lead
the
rest
.
And
when
they
had
stood
up
,
she
said
that
Thekla
,
standing
in
the
midst
of
the
virgins
on
the
right
of
Arete
,
decorously
sang
;
but
the
rest
,
standing
together
in
a
circle
after
the
manner
of
a
chorus
,
responded
to
her
:
“
I
keep
myself
pure
for
Thee
,
O
Bridegroom
,
and
holding
a
lighted
torch
I
go
to
meet
Thee
.
”
Thekla . 1 . From above , O virgins , the sound of a noise that wakes the dead has come , bidding us all to meet the Bridegroom in white robes , and with torches towards the east . Arise , before the King enters within the gates .
Chorus . I keep myself pure for Thee , O Bridegroom , and holding a lighted torch I go to meet Thee .
Thekla . 2 . Fleeing from the sorrowful happiness of mortals , and having despised the luxuriant delights of life and its love , I desire to be protected under Thy life - giving arms , and to behold Thy beauty for ever , O blessed One .
Chorus . I keep myself pure for Thee , O Bridegroom , and holding a lighted torch I go to meet Thee .
Thekla . 3 . Leaving marriage and the beds of mortals and my golden home for Thee , O King , I have come in undefiled robes , in order that I might enter with Thee within Thy happy bridal chamber .
Chorus . I keep myself pure for Thee , O Bridegroom , and holding a lighted torch I go to meet Thee .
Thekla . 4 . Having escaped , O blessed One , from the innumerable enchanting wiles of the serpent , and , moreover , from the flame of fire , and from the mortal - destroying assaults of wild beasts , I await Thee from heaven .
Chorus . I keep myself pure for Thee , O Bridegroom , and holding a lighted torch I go to meet Thee .
Thekla . 5 . I forget my own country , O Lord , through desire of Thy grace . I forget , also , the company of virgins , my fellows , the desire even of mother and of kindred , for Thou , O Christ , art all things to me .
Chorus . I keep myself pure for Thee , O Bridegroom , and holding a lighted torch I go to meet Thee .
Thekla . 6 . Giver of life art Thou , O Christ . Hail , light that never sets , receive this praise . The company of virgins call upon Thee , Perfect Flower , Love , Joy , Prudence , Wisdom , Word .
Chorus . I keep myself pure for Thee , O Bridegroom , and holding a lighted torch I go to meet Thee .
Thekla . 7 . With open gates , O beauteously adorned Queen , admit us within thy chambers . O spotless , gloriously triumphant Bride , breathing beauty , we stand by Christ , robed as He is , celebrating thy happy nuptials , O youthful maiden .
Chorus . I keep myself pure for Thee , O Bridegroom , and holding a lighted torch I go to meet Thee .
Thekla . 8 . The virgins standing without the chamber , with bitter tears and deep moans , wail and mournfully lament that their lamps are gone out , having failed to enter in due time the chamber of joy .
Chorus . I keep myself pure for Thee , O Bridegroom , and holding a lighted torch I go to meet Thee .
Thekla . 9 . For turning from the sacred way of life , unhappy ones , they have neglected to prepare sufficiency of oil for the path of life ; bearing lamps whose bright light is dead , they groan from the inward recesses of their mind .
Chorus . I keep myself pure for Thee , O Bridegroom , and holding a lighted torch I go to meet Thee .
Thekla . 10 . Here are cups full of sweet nectar ; let us drink , O virgins , for it is celestial drink , which the Bridegroom hath placed for those duly called to the wedding .
Chorus . I keep myself pure for Thee , O Bridegroom , and holding a lighted torch I go to meet Thee .
Thekla . 11 . Abel , clearly prefiguring Thy death , O blessed One , with flowing blood , and eyes lifted up to heaven , said , Cruelly slain by a brother’s hand , O Word , I pray Thee to receive me .
Chorus . I keep myself pure for Thee , O Bridegroom , and holding a lighted torch I go to meet Thee .
Thekla . 12 . Thy valiant son Joseph , O Word , won the greatest prize of virginity , when a woman heated with desire forcibly drew him to an unlawful bed ; but he giving no heed to her fled stripped , and crying aloud : —
Chorus . I keep myself pure for Thee , O Bridegroom , and holding a lighted torch I go to meet Thee .
Thekla . 13 . Jephthah offered his fresh slaughtered virgin daughter a sacrifice to God , like a lamb ; and she , nobly fulfilling the type of Thy body , O blessed One , bravely cried : —
Chorus . I keep myself pure for Thee , O Bridegroom , and holding a lighted torch I go to meet Thee .
Thekla . 14 . Daring Judith , by clever wiles having cut off the head of the leader of the foreign hosts , whom previously she had allured by her beautiful form , without polluting the limbs of her body , with a victor’s shout said : —
Chorus . I keep myself pure for Thee , O Bridegroom , and holding a lighted torch I go to meet Thee .
Thekla . 15 . Seeing the great beauty of Susanna , the two Judges , maddened with desire , said , O dear lady , we have come desiring secret intercourse with thee ; but she with tremulous cries said : —
Chorus . I keep myself pure for Thee , O Bridegroom , and holding a lighted torch I go to meet Thee .
Thekla . 16 . It is far better for me to die than to betray my nuptials to you , O mad for women , and so to suffer the eternal justice of God in fiery vengeance . Save me now , O Christ , from these evils .
Chorus . I keep myself pure for Thee , O Bridegroom , and holding a lighted torch I go to meet Thee .
Thekla . 17 . Thy Precursor , washing multitudes of men in flowing lustral water , unjustly by a wicked man , on account of his chastity , was led to slaughter ; but as he stained the dust with his life - blood , he cried to Thee , O blessed One : —
Chorus . I keep myself pure for Thee , O Bridegroom , and holding a lighted torch I go to meet Thee .
Thekla . 18 . The parent of Thy life , that unspotted Grace and undefiled Virgin , bearing in her womb without the ministry of man , by an immaculate conception , and who thus became suspected of having betrayed the marriage - bed , she , O blessed One , when pregnant , thus spoke : —
Chorus . I keep myself pure for Thee , O Bridegroom , and holding a lighted torch I go to meet Thee .
Thekla . 19 . Wishing to see Thy nuptial day , O blessed One , as many angels as Thou , O King , calledst from above , bearing the best gifts to Thee , came in unsullied robes : —
Chorus . I keep myself pure for Thee , O Bridegroom , and holding a lighted torch I go to meet Thee .
Thekla . 20 . In hymns , O blessed spouse of God , we attendants of the Bride honour Thee , O undefiled virgin Church of snow - white form , dark haired , chaste , spotless , beloved .
Chorus . I keep myself pure for Thee , O Bridegroom , and holding a lighted torch I go to meet Thee .
Thekla . 21 . Corruption has fled , and the tearful pains of diseases ; death has been taken away , all folly has perished , consuming mental grief is no more ; for again the grace of the God - Christ has suddenly shone upon mortals .
Chorus . I keep myself pure for Thee , O Bridegroom , and holding a lighted torch I go to meet Thee .
Thekla . 22 . Paradise is no longer bereft of mortals , for by divine decree he no longer dwells there as formerly , thrust out from thence when he was free from corruption , and from fear by the various wiles of the serpents , O blessed One .
Chorus . I keep myself pure for Thee , O Bridegroom , and holding a lighted torch I go to meet Thee .
Thekla . 23 . Singing the new song , now the company of virgins attends thee towards the heavens , O Queen , all manifestly crowned with white lilies , and bearing in their hands bright lights .
Chorus . I keep myself pure for Thee , O Bridegroom , and holding a lighted torch I go to meet Thee .
Thekla . 24 . O blessed One , who inhabited the undefiled seats of heaven without beginning , who governed all things by everlasting power , O Father , with Thy Son , we are here , receive us also within the gates of life .
Chorus . I keep myself pure for Thee , O Bridegroom , and holding a lighted torch I go to meet Thee .
Notes 1 The text of Jahn is here followed.—Tr. [I have been obliged to arrange this hymn (so as to bring out the refrain as sung by the chorus of virgins) somewhat differently from the form in the Edinburgh edition. I invite a comparison.]
2 Ps. xlv. 10.
3 Matt. xxv. 11.
4 Gen. iv. 10.
5 Gen. xxxix. 12.
6 Jud. viii.
7 Matt. i. 18.
8 [The only one. See p. 355, Elucidation II., infra.]
