The rich and the middle classes, in 5th century Alexandria
24 Mar 2008 posted by: Roger Pearse tags: cyril of alexandria
Cyril of Alexandria writes:
Purchase the grace that comes from God; buy for your friend the Lord of heaven and earth: for indeed we often purchase men’s friendship with large sums of gold, and if those of high rank are reconciled to us, we feel great joy in offering them presents even beyond what we can afford, because of the honour which accrues to us from them. And yet these things are but transitory, and quickly fade away, and are like the fantasies of dreams.
It’s an interesting picture of a society where the influence of the wealthy and powerful had replaced law and order.