1. The outbreak of the famine
The phenomenon started in 368/691 in Cappadocia. Its main cause had been the intense plus lingering drought that afflicted the area from the winter of 368 until the summer of 369, at least. Every water spring dried out, the ground was filled with chasms and the seeds dried out in the ground without sprouting.2 The financially weak population was afflicted all the more by the alimentary crisis, since the wealthy inhabitants of the city of Caesarea apparently owned enough supplies of food. 2. Attempts to face the crisis
Basil (the Great), future bishop of Caesarea, tried, via his sermons, to exhort the wealthy to be charitable to their poorer fellow citizens.3 His brotherly friend, Gregory (the Theologian), informs us that Basil organized common meals for the people afflicted, and, in general, he personally took care of the suffering population by all means.4 Moreover, Basil’s sister, Makrina, abbess in a monastery at Pontos, ministered all those who came close to her, having covered great distances in the pursuit of food. At the same time, Makrina took under her protection every young girl she found abandoned in the streets during the period of the famine.5 The alimentary crisis, however, persisted in the next year (370) as well. At this time, it afflicted the nearby region of Phrygia. Wide masses of population moved mainly towards Constantinople, but also towards neighboring provinces, in order to find stores of provisions.6 The crisis apparently ended at the time that the normal climatic conditions reverted.
1. The famine in Cappadocia occured shortly before Basil the Great's accession to its bishopric throne, in 370. Cf. Χρήστου, Π., Ο Μέγας Βασίλειος. Βίος και πολιτεία, συγγράμματα, θεολογική σκέψις (Ανάλεκτα Βλατάδων 27, Θεσσαλονίκη 1978), pp. 62-63. 2. Basil the Great was eye-witness of this crisis, which influenced his philanthropic work, as indicated by Holman S.R., The Hungry are dying. Beggars and bishops in Roman Cappadocia (New York 2001). Cf. «Homilia dicta tempore famis et siccitatis», in Migne, J. P. (ed.), Patrologia cursus completus Series Greca, vol. 31 (Paris 1857-1866), col. 303-328.
3. Holman, S.R. , The Hungry are dying. Beggars and bishops in Roman Cappadocia (New York 2001), pp. 71, 78, 91. 4. Gregorios the Theologian, “Funebris oratio in laudem Basilii Magni Caesareae in Cappadocia episcopi”, in Migne, J. P. (ed.), Patrologia cursus completus Series Greca, vol. 36 (Paris 1857-1866), col. 493-606, esp. 541-545. (Or. XLIII 34-36).
5. Gregory of Nyssa, Vie de Saint Macrine, ed. Maraval P., (Sources Chretiennes 178, Paris 1971), ch. 12 p. 184, ch. 26 p. 232. 6. Sokrates Scholastikos, Εκκλησιαστική ιστορία, ed. Hansen, G. Ch. (GCS, Neue Folge 1, Berlin 1995), pp. 245-246. |
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