Transcending boundaries

The Maccabean Martyrs, Jewish heroes from the era of the persecution of Antiochus IV Epiphanes, were incorporated into the IVth century Christian martyrology. Two Church Fathers, Gregory Nazianzen and John Chrysostom wrote panegyrics in their honour, which are studied and translated in this book. The first part shows how, since the beginning, the Church referred to these martyrs as biblical examples known through 2 and 4 Maccabees. The second part describes, through the eulogies of Gregory and John, the circumstances surrounding the creation of the Christian Feast. The third part analyzes the preaching built around the story of the Maccabean martyrs, where, following the 4 M model, Eleazar, the seven brothers and their mother are established as examples of virtue and asceticism for the edification of all Christians. The book investigates an original aspect of the cult of martyrs : the christianisation of jewish martyrs killed defending the Law, and sheds light on the sometimes contradictory preaching choices of Gregory and John to respond to the jewish roots of this cult. Les martyrs Maccabees, heros juifs de la persecution d`Antiochus IV Epiphane, furent integres dans le martyrologe chretien au IVe siecle. Deux Peres de l`Eglise, Gregoire de Nazianze et Jean Chrysostome, ont laisse des discours panegyriques en leur honneur, etudies et traduits dans ce livre. La premiere partie montre comment, depuis l`origine, l`Eglise citait comme exemples bibliques ces martyrs connus par le Deuxieme et le Quatrieme livre des Maccabees. La deuxieme partie decrit, au travers des panegyriques de Gregoire et de Jean, les circonstances qui ont marque l`instauration de la fete chretienne. La troisieme partie analyse la predication adressee aux fideles a partir de l`episode maccabeen, Eleazar, les sept freres et leur Mere, devenant, sur le modele de 4 M, des exemples de vertus et d`ascese proposes a l`imitation de tous. Le livre explore ainsi un aspect original du culte des martyrs, la christianisation de martyrs juifs morts pour la defense de la Loi, et met en lumiere les choix de predication, parfois opposes, de Gregoire et de Jean face a l`enracinement juif de ce culte.