The Wisdom of Saint Kassiani

On 7 September, as part of the feast day celebrations for one of the greatest hymnographers of Byzantium, Dr Andrew Mellas reflected on the life, wisdom and hymns of St Kassiani. The online presentation was convened by SOFIA (Student Orthodox Fellowship in Australia) UNSW in collaboration with its chaplain, Fr Athanasios Giatsios (an alumnus of St Andrew's), and the Theological College. After briefly recounting the life of the ninth-century saint, Dr Mellas explored how St Kassiani creatively fused ancient wisdom and monastic truth in her epigrams, examined her most famous hymn on the sinful woman for Holy Wednesday, and pointed to many other hymns she composed for our liturgical cycle.