Apostolic Geography in Early Christian and Early Byzantine Hymnography
Vasilik Vladimir V.
In spite of certain limitations, early Christian and early Byzantine hymnography can provide a scholar with considerable historical and geographical data. Aberkios’ epitaph gives information about his voyage to Rome and about Christian communities in several Syrian towns, and probably mentions apostle Paul’s preaching in Eastern Syria. Romanos’ kontakion for the Pentecost is an evidence for apostle Peter’s preaching in Egypt, Andrew’s in Mesopotamia and John the Evangelist’s in Pamphylia. The Akathistos Hymn confirms old Syrian legends of the Magi preaching in Persia.
Keywords: hymnography, early christianity, Byzantium