Who is listening? Apostrophe and ‘double relevance’ in the hymns of Romanos the Melodist

Key Points

• The article aims to explore the dynamics of speaking and listening in the hymns of Romanos the Melodist.
• Analyzed selected hymns of Romanos the Melodist from c. 485–562
• Focused on the use of apostrophes addressed to various biblical characters and saints
• Applied principles of modern narratology to assess character interactions.
• Identified instances of apostrophes where divine and biblical figures are addressed
• Noted rare responses from characters, including Hades about Christ's descent
• Demonstrated the narrative implications of character interactions on the congregation.

Abstract