Panegyric

Panegyric (Lat. panegyricoe orationes) is the name of the orations pronounced upon the graves of the early Christian martyrs. They were especially a labor of love with the Church fathers, who thus came to compose some of their most praised homilies (q.v.). Among the ablest were those by Chrysostom. Basil the Great, the Gregories of Nazianzum and of Nyssa, Ambrose, Augustine, Leo, Chrysologus, and others. These panegyrics contained partly thanksgivings to God for the mercy shown the martyrs, partly encouragement to like action for remaining faithful if the occasion should arise, partly intercessory prayers for the whole Church, and encouraging reminders of the approaching resurrection of the dead. See Siegel, Christliche Alterthumer, 3:281.