andrew of caesarea and the apocalypse in the ancient church of the ...

-10-
would not hâve abandoned their sees. Some sources suggest that the Persians remained in
Caesarea, whereas others suggest that they moved on and later returned. What is certain is
that the Romans arrived at Caesarea and besieged the city for one year in an effort to push the
Persians out. When the Persians left they set the city on fire. 28 Taking into considération ail
of thèse factors, the most likely date for the composition of the commentary is 611,
subséquent to the first capture of Caesarea but prior to any catastrophic destruction.
1.3 The Audience and Purpose of the Commentary
1.3.1 The Request From "Makarios"
In the opening sentence of his commentary, Andrew refers to a number of unnamed
persons who had appealed to him to write a commentary on the Book of Révélation.
Apparently he resisted until he received a request from an individual whose exact identity is
unclear. This person, whom Andrew addresses as "Makarios," 29 apparently made a request
that could not be denied, thus compelling the composition of Andrew's commentary. The
commentary is addressed to Makarios. The only concrète clue as to Makarios' identity, other
than possibly the name itself, is found in the very first line: Andrew refers to Makarios as my
lord brother and co-celebrant. 30 This can only mean that Makarios was a clergyman. Had it
not been for this détail, our search for the man who prompted this commentary could hâve
included men of political or social prominence. With this détail, we can safely exclude
26 If Andrew had fled the city he would hâve almost certainly gone to Constantinople because of his rank within
the Church and the safety of its fortification. When the Armenians rebelled against the Persians in 571-2 and
révolution erupted, the Armenian Patriarch, Catholikos John, sought refuge in Constantinople. Stratos,22. When
the Persian gênerai Shahrbaraz was marching toward Egypt in 616, John, the Patriarch of Alexandria, left for
Constantinople. Stratos, 113. If Andrew had fled to Constantinople, he might hâve been urged to write the
commentary during his stay there, since he would hâve had the patriarchal library at his disposai. But if he had
indeed fled the city in advance of the Persian army it would be difficult to explain his comments, such as the
unspeakable misfortunes encircling us by barbarian hands. Chp. 49, Text 169, Comm. 165.
27 A mémorable example is the Patriarch of Jérusalem, Zacharias, who could hâve fled but remained in the city
when the Persians attacked. He was captured and taken to Persia as a slave. Chronicon, Whitby, 156.
28 Sebeos 34.113, Armenian History 66.
29 Prologue, Text 8 (line 13), Comm. 7.
avXkEnovpyôc,.