Venerable Melania the Roman

Life

Melania was born in Rome of pious and very wealthy parents. Compelled by her parents Melania entered into marriage with a certain distinguished young man Apinianus. Having borne her second child Melania became gravely ill, and said to her husband that Melania would recover only if Apinianus would swear before God that he would henceforth live with Melania as brother with sister. Her husband swore, and Melania from spiritual joy also recovered physically. Since it pleased God to take both their children, they decided to sell all their estates and distribute them to the poor, to churches and monasteries. They traveled through many lands and cities everywhere doing good works with their wealth. They visited renowned spiritual fathers in upper and lower Egypt, and from them learned much and were inspired. During all this time Melania practiced asceticism in strict fasting, heartfelt prayer and reading of Holy Scripture. Melania had the custom of reading through the entire Holy Scripture, the Old and New Testament, three times every year. With her husband Melania lived as with her brother and fellow ascetic. Coming to Alexandria, Melania received the blessing of Saint Cyril the Patriarch. Then they went to Jerusalem and settled on the Mount of Olives. There Melania shut herself in and gave herself entirely to contemplation of God, fasting and prayer. And she lived thus for fourteen years. Then Melania went out to serve others toward salvation. Melania founded a men's and women's monastery. At the invitation of her kinsman Senator Volusianus, a pagan, Melania went to Constantinople and converted him to the Christian faith (which even blessed Augustine could not do). Then Melania again returned to the Mount of Olives, where she presented herself to God in the year 439 in the fifty-seventh year of her life.

From the Hymn of Praise

Melania the wealthy had gold,For Christ and salvation distributed it to the poor.Gold is worth much to one who with it wisely trades,And the Heavenly Kingdom with it skillfully purchases.