Vox Patrum

Congratulatory Letter by the Most Rev. Piotr Turzyński

2024-07-15T11:20:18+02:00

Congratulatory Letter by the Most Rev. Piotr Turzyński

Congratulatory Letter of the Rector of University Ignatianum

2024-07-11T12:21:41+02:00

Congratulatory Letter of the President of the Polish Patristic Section

2024-07-18T18:50:58+02:00

Congratulatory Letter of the President of the Polish Patristic Section Rev. Prof. Dr hab. Bogdan S. Czyżewski

Congratulatory Letter of the Historians' Circle of the University of Gdansk

2024-07-11T12:53:08+02:00

Latin Address in Honour of Rev. Prof. dr hab. Henryk Pietras SJ

2024-07-12T14:45:58+02:00

Michael of Damietta, Nomocanon 47,9 - Translation into Polish

2024-09-16T10:22:12+02:00

The article contains an introduction and a commented translation of chapter 47.9 from the Nomocanon by Michael of Damietta.

Hermetica Berolinensia I (Papyrus Berolinensis Graeca 9794) - translation into Polish

2024-09-16T10:21:22+02:00

Papyrus Berolinensis Graeca 9794 was written in the 3rd century AD, most likely by a Christian compiler who included a fragment of a pagan text among Christian prayers – a Hermetic hymn from the first work of the "Corpus Hermeticum" collection. The subject of this paper is a translation into Polish, a philological study of the Hermetic fragment, technically called Hermetica Berolinensia I, taking into account the description of the Berlin Papyrus and its contents.

Curriculum vitae of Fr. Prof. Dr. hab. Henryk Pietras SI

2024-07-11T11:09:31+02:00

Curriculum vitae of Fr. Prof. dr. hab. Henryk Pietras SI

Scientific Publications by Fr. Prof. dr. hab. Henryk Pietras SJ

2024-07-11T11:14:30+02:00

Scientific Publications by Fr. Prof. dr. hab. Henryk Pietras SJ

Dissertations Written under the Supervision of Fr. Prof. Dr. hab. Henryk Pietras SI

2024-07-11T11:18:53+02:00

Dissertations Written under the Supervision of Fr. Prof. Dr. hab. Henryk Pietras SI

A Pastoral Theology of Desire. Reading Augustine’s Theology of Desire in A Broader Corpus

2024-09-16T10:21:52+02:00

The Enarrationes in Psalmos are an important source for understanding the Augustinian theology of desire, linking it to his systematic theology and his pastoral practice. In this paper I illustrate by overviewing the expositions on Psalms 11 (12), 12 (13), 23 (24), and 26 (27). These Psalms teach us to love, trust, and seek God only, a failure to do which marks the Donatist schism. Augustine mingles ideas from pagan philosophy’s quest for eudaimonia or beata vita—the good, happy, and blessed life—with biblical ideas. We want a stable happiness, and we must pursue wisdom; we can find stability in the rock that is Christ, to follow whom is to pursue wisdom rightly. Our desires must be converted to God, the only complete and perfect good and the source of eternal happiness, whom we must single-mindedly pursue with prayer and faith. While we must desire the eschaton and look to no earthly satisfaction, earthly goods may be received as gifts from God. One thing we can learn from studying the Enarrationes is how closely connected are the ideas of right love, the right church, and the right end; all three go together in Augustine’s theology.

“Victory follows God” (HE IV 3). The Ideology of Triumph in the "Ecclesiastical History" by Theodoret of Cyrus

2024-09-16T10:21:48+02:00

The ideology of victory in Theodoret's Ecclesiastical History, similarly in the work of Eusebius of Caesarea, of which he was a continuator, has three dimensions: military, martyrdom and doctrinal. All three were related to the war waged by the evil spirit against God and amounted to winning victories in the name of Christ. For the Christian Theodoret, military victories in the confrontation with pagan enemies had a sacred aspect and proved the truth of the Christian religion and the power of God of Christians, an ally of Christian rulers, and, on the other hand, the falsity of the beliefs of the followers of traditional cults. The martyrs, on the other hand, gave their lives for Christ and won victories following His example. Likewise, defenders of orthodoxy, by advocating the victorious truth, became winners themselves. Theodoret's speculations on peace expressed in the conclusion of his Ecclesiastical History are extremely interesting. He argues that war brings greater benefits to Christians than peace. This, in turn, makes them lethargic and lazy, while war sharpens their characters and makes them aware of the fragility of earthly life and teaches them to despise the present, and therefore puts them on the right track of Christian eschatology. In the light of the ideology of victory proclaimed by Theodoret, the confrontation of Christians with opponents of their faith created opportunities in various fields to achieve victories in Christ.

„They came together to form one person and one hypostasis”: A Critique of the Polish Translation of a Fragment of the Chalcedonian Confession in "Dokumenty Soborów Powszechnych" and a Proposal for an Alternative Version

2024-09-16T10:22:31+02:00

In this article, the author addresses the problem of the translation of a passage from the Chalcedonian Creed as found in the Dokumenty Soborów Powszechnych. The author's thesis is that it does not correspond to the theological thought of the Council Fathers behind this part of the definition. The aim of the article is to justify this thesis and to propose an alternative translation. The method used is complex. Firstly, the author reconstructs the genesis of the passage through a study of the historical and philosophical-theological context of its origin and a literary analysis. Then, based on the results of this research, the author carries out an analysis of the Fathers’ Christology contained in the passages, which allows the initial translation to be called into question. The article is therefore divided as follows: a grammatical analysis of the passage; the wide and the narrow context of the origin of the text of the creed; a literary analysis; a theological analysis and the presentation of the new translation. In addition to the text of the Confession, the main sources studied are Cyril of Alexandria’s Epistula Altera ad Nestorium and Pope Leo’s Tomus ad Flavianum. The conclusions of the research highlight well the difference between the heretics and the Church Fathers in the use of ancient philosophy to express the faith. They furthermore reveal a metaphysical novum of the concepts of person and nature arising from the content of the Creed and the patristic reflection of the time, an issue which is still relevant today and which the translation discussed above unfortunately somewhat overshadows.

The Christian Attitude towards Death in the light of "De mortalitate" by St. Cyprian of Carthage.

2024-09-16T10:20:57+02:00

In his small work entitled De mortalitate, written in the form of a letter, St. Cyprian
of Carthage includes a beautiful teaching on suffering, dying and death. The bishop comforts those who have been affected by the present plague and are facing their departure from this world. He teaches them to view death from the perspective of a believer and to see it as a positive, although painful, phenomenon. Since death must be experienced in an eschatological spirit, as an encounter with the Risen Christ and with all those who preceded us on the pilgrimage to immortality. According to the Bishop of Carthage, death teaches man right attitudes, such as patience, courage, and acceptance of the will of God. Moreover, Cyprian shows specific benefits that death brings to Christians. He calls it a journey to a better, eternal life. Thus those who relate their earthly lives to Christ should not fear death. The purpose of this study is therefore to study the statements of St. Cyprian contained in De mortalitate on the subject of death. It is not only about assessing it, but primarily about reading the practical instructions addressed to Christians on how they should behave in the face of this inevitable reality, especially during the current plague.

Tertullian, Apostolicity, and the Apostles

2024-09-16T10:22:26+02:00

How did Tertullian regard the apostles? This article investigates the references to them scattered through his writings both as individuals and as a collective. It reveals that individually the apostles were remote figures who appear in the pages of the New Testament simply as interlocutors of Jesus. Even Peter, significant as he was, was someone whose role was personal to himself and not a pattern for future leadership. Yet collectively the apostles performed an important function in Tertullian’s ecclesiology; they were the first receivers and transmitters of the regula fidei, and their fidelity to that responsibility distinguished authentic Christian communities from heretical associations. The regula fidei was important to Tertullian. As a synthesis of the essentials of faith as preached and lived by Jesus, it provided the measure against which passages of Scripture and Christian belief and practice were to be interpreted. The regula relied upon the accurate and complete transmission of the message of Jesus via the apostles to the church and its leaders. The apostolicity of the church is at the heart of why Tradition is central to Christian theology.

Bishop Michael of Devol as a Witness of the Memory of Komitopules

2024-09-16T10:22:33+02:00

The appendices of Michael of Devol to the chronicle of John Skylitzes are a valuable testimony in the knowledge of the Balkan wars of emperor Basil II and the first century of Byzantine rule in Bulgaria. They also provide important information on the biographies of individual members of the Komitopules family or the process of assimilation of Bulgarian elites in the geographical area of Macedonia under Byzantine rule in the XI-XII centuries.

The Motif of the torcular Christi and its Reminiscences in Medieval Liturgical Poetry

2024-09-16T10:22:18+02:00

The study presents reminiscences of the torcular Christi motif in the liturgical poetry of the Middle Ages against the background of evidence of its presence in the writings of the Fathers of the Church and authors of later centuries. The source of the motif is the text of the Book of Isaiah 63:1-3, referred to Christ as an allegory. The grape is Christ, and the winepress is His cross - torcular Christi. Since late antiquity, the text of Isaiah was read at Mass on Holy Wednesday and was part of the breviary office on the Friday after the third Sunday of Lent. The image of torcular Christi became permanent in the consciousness of the faithful and went beyond the liturgy - also into the world of art and poetry. The article refers to eleven poetic works which contain reminiscences of the motif of the pressing plant to varying degrees (in whole or in some fragments). These are texts by Peter Abelard, Peter the Venerable - Abbot of Cluny, Peter Damiani, Philip the Chancellor, Adam of Saint Victor and anonymous authors. The annex to the study contains the original text and the author's translation into Polish of the commented source texts.

The Literary and Cultural Potential of Patristic and Theological Texts. Selected Examples

2024-09-16T10:22:03+02:00

The article discusses the issue of literary and cultural reflection on patrological and theological texts. The outline of possible analysis of texts related to the history of doctrine and the dissemination of Christianity using methods other than those developed in patristics and theology shows ways to enrich both the spectrum of interpretation of texts originating from Christian antiquity or its reception, as well as the possibilities of disseminating knowledge about them. For exemplification, texts by three authors of Christian antiquity were selected: Damasus I, Firmicus Maternus, Filaster of Brescia, and native reception texts from Poland (Walenty of Warta, Andreas Stredonius), referring both to the achievements of ancient literature, Christian apologetics, and to the literary tendencies of the era (16th and 17th centuries).

The Authority of Peter the Apostle in the Acts of the First Millennium Councils

2024-09-16T10:21:55+02:00

The paper discusses the issue of Peter the Apostle’s authority as it emerges from the acts of the first millennium councils. Peter is portrayed as an authority on doctrine and morality, a model for dealing with wrongdoing, and a promoter of a pastoral ministry based on religious freedom. The emperors regarded him as a model of the defender of the faith; the popes perceived him as a doctrinal and, on occasion, jurisdictional authority; and the conciliar debate participants looked at Peter as an example of how to deal with wicked oaths. The reference to Peter's authority is determined by the function held and the circumstances.

Linear, Cyclical, and Spiral? History in Fourth-Century Greek Catechists

2024-09-16T10:21:58+02:00

This article delves into the previously underexplored conceptualizations of history articulated in the initiatory homilies of late fourth-century Greek catechists Cyril of Jerusalem and John Chrysostom. Grounded in their interpretation of the (Judeo-)Christian tradition, both authors conceive history as a divine narrative, constituting a coherent “history of salvation”. Metaphorically, their historical understanding can be illustrated as a spatial entity characterized through geometric imagery. A systematic analysis of their catecheses reveals that, fundamentally, both authors maintain a linear perspective on history, emphasizing divine beginning in creation and continuing through the present toward an eschatological consummation. Nonetheless, Cyril introduces more nuanced models, including cyclical depictions, notably a four-staged vision of paradise intertwined with a spiral-like conception of history. Owing seemingly to their primary objective of guiding audiences toward robust engagement with the Christian tradition and ecclesial participation, both authors refrain from addressing themes that might provoke unwarranted speculation. By presenting these insights, this article offers a novel contribution to the scholarship on late fourth-century theology of history, concurrently paving the way for historiographical exploration in modern scholarship of late antique Christian sources.

The Christianization of Byzantine Jews in the Second Half of the 9th Century: Opposition and Approval

2024-09-16T10:22:09+02:00

The subject of this article are several written sources created in the context of the conversion of Byzantine Jews to Christianity in the second half of the 9th century: the polemical treatise of Gregory of Nicaea (844–880) and the poems of the protoasekretis Christopher (850–900). The purpose of this article is to examine these works in terms of their standpoint towards policy of encouraging the conversion of Byzantine Jews to Christianity. The article consists of four parts: the introductory part briefly presents the information concerning the sources, the following two parts define the intended audiences for Gregory’s treatise and Christopher’s poems and the fourth part examines the intention of their works in the confrontation between supporters and opponents of the policy of Christianization of the Jews. Despite the differences in genre, the works of Christopher and Gregory were written for the purpose of propaganda and counter-propaganda for the Christianization of the Jews. The article shows the way the written texts were used by opposing sides to defend their own standpoint.

Fortunazian of Aquileia’s "Commentary on the Gospels"

2024-09-16T10:22:00+02:00

The discovery in 2012 of the complete text of the Commentary on the Gospels, by Fortunatianus of Aquileia, represents a major event in the history of 21st century patrology. Austrian patrologist and philologist Lukas Julius Dorfbauer discovered the anonymous commentary on Matthew's Gospel in the collections of the Cologne Cathedral Library in Codex 17 (K: Köln, Erzbischofl. Diozesan- und Dombibl. 17, p. IX1/4). Dorfbauer showed that the found commentary, except for the opening pages, dated to the early 4th century, is the Fortunatianus Aquileiensis Commentarii in evangelia, lost for more than 1600 years. In 2013 Dorfbauer announced his discovery, and began work on a critical edition of the text, which he published in CSEL 103 in 2017. Fortunatianus' commentary was likely written as an exegetical aid for the clergy of Aquileia in the early 4th century. In writing it, the Bishop of Aquileia relied on a lost commentary on the gospels written by Victorinus, Bishop of Poetovium, in the late 3rd century. The commentaries mentioned above are evidence of the successful reception of Origen's allegorical exegesis in the Western Church in the late 3rd and early 4th centuries.

The Eschatological Dimension of St. Hilary of Poitiers’ "Treatise on Psalm 118"

2024-09-16T10:21:35+02:00

Hilary of Poitiers (+367) is the author of the Tractatus super Psalmos, which originally covered the entire Psalter. Explanatory notes to 58 psalms have survived to the present day, including an extensive commentary on Psalm 118. This article explores the teachings of St. Hilary on eschatology on the basis of the Treatise on Psalm 118. Presented work consists of four parts. The first part presents the meaning of psalm 118, which, according to the author, is a spiritual primer guiding Christians towards an understanding of the heavenly realms. The second part presents the theology of man's creation in the image and likeness of God, which expresses man's calling to eternity. In his work, the Bishop of Poitiers often uses terms that emphasise the eschatological dimension of human life: everlasting goods, eternal life, future goods, eternal reward, heavenly realities or the kingdom of heaven. The third part of the work answers the question: how can we attain eternal life? According to Hilary, salvation can be achieved by obeying the law and the Lord's commandments. Obeying them is no easy thing for man because of his sinfulness, but it is possible by God's grace and mercy. Taking responsibility for one's own salvation is a matter of course and necessity for the Bishop of Poitiers, since one must strive for one's own assurance of eternal goods and reward after death. According to our exegete, true life only begins after temporal death, and this life is eternal. The final part contains the ancient exegete's teaching on the final judgment and resurrection. Hilary has no doubt that every human being will stand before the tribunal of Christ after death. The righteous will receive the reward of salvation, while sinners will receive the punishment of damnation. The Bishop of Poitiers also mentions the existence of Satan and hell, and explains the issue of the resurrection of the dead and the glory of heaven. Written shortly before the author's death, the Treatise on the Psalms also appears to be his personal confession of his hope of salvation in Christ and his desire for eternal life. This work serves as an ever-present encouragement to read and interpret Psalm 118, which prompts deeper reflection on human life in the context of “final matters.”

The Structure of Noah’s Ark (Gen 6:14-16) in Latin Patristic Sources before Augustine of Hippo

2024-09-16T10:21:00+02:00

The article analyzes the comments of eleven Latin authors on the structure of Noah’s Ark (Genesis 6:14-16). These authors are: Tertullian, Cyprian, Pseudo-Cyprian, Victorinus of Patavia, Lactantius, Hilary of Poitiers, Gregory of Elvira, Ambrose of Milan, Maximus of Turin, Jerome of Strydon and Orosius. The most important points in their analyzes of the flood pericope were three typologies: Noah – Christ, Noah’s ark – the Church of Christ, the waters of the flood – the water of baptism. These typologies were closely related to the thesis regarding the exclusivity of salvation in the Church. The structure of the ark was a secondary or even tertiary problem in this context. However, over time, interest in this issue also gained attention. Gregory of Elvira and Ambrose of Milan paid the most attention to the „technical” structure of the Ark. A translation of Origen’s Second Homily on the Book of Genesis by Rufinus of Aquileia should be added here. These writers drew attention to the pyramidal shape of Noah’s Ark and the two-stage division of its interior: storeys and floors. The symbolic meaning of the dimensions of the Ark was also analyzed. The Ark-Church typology has also been linked to considerations on the Church as the mystical body of Christ. In this way, Latin theologians, even before the translation of Origen’s homily by Rufinus, either adopted the ideas of the Greek Fathers of the Church or reached the same conclusions themselves.

Isidorus musicus: Music in Isidore of Seville’s Etymologies (III 14-22)

2024-09-16T10:22:06+02:00

Isidore of Seville (c. 560-636) is one of the important figures of European culture. In addition to his strictly theological interests, he also showed interest in other fields of knowledge related to the artes liberales. He presented the fullest spectrum of his interests in his Etymologies. For the Bishop of Seville, music was an important field of knowledge. He dealt with it on practical grounds and tended to describe it in a concise, clear and diverse manner in his encyclopedia. The musical terminology used by the Bishop of Seville is extremely rich and sometimes difficult to translate into modern languages.

Byzantine Presence in Crimea and its Reminiscences in 10th-16th Century South and East Slavic Literature (the Case of the Martyr Bishops of Tauric Chersonesus)

2024-09-16T10:22:41+02:00

The aim of this article is to present the beginnings and the development of the Eastern Christian cult – both in its Byzantine and medieval Orthodox Slavic variants – of seven Holy Martyrs: Basil, Ephrem, Eugenius, Elpidius, Agathodorus, Aetherius and Capiton, who at least from the 9^th–10^th century were worshipped as Bishops of Chersonesus, contributing to spreading the Eastern (Orthodox) Christianity in the region of the Crimean Peninsula. In the first part of our article we are making an attempt to reconstruct the beginnings of this cult in Byzantium and to show, to what extent the early hagiographical tradition of the Bishop-Martyrs from Chersonesus was shaped by a changing political situation in the Byzantine Empire. The second part is devoted to the Orthodox Slavic version of their cult: we are discussing here the earliest remarks about these Saints, that can be found in the Church Slavic sources, analyzing all hagiographic texts devoted to them, that have been preserved in the Eastern and South (Bulgarian and Serbian) manuscript material from the 10^th–16^th centuries. Some attention has been given also to images of the Seven Bishop-Martyrs from Chersonesus in the Orthodox Slavic medieval art.

Identification of John and Matthew in Some Nubian Paintings of Twelve Apostles

2024-09-16T10:22:23+02:00

This paper aims to show how, in certain Nubian paintings depicting apostolic colleges, the evangelists John and Matthew can be identified by the attributes they hold, namely books. Theoretically, a book is an attribute that can define many figures involved in writing or preaching, such as saints (especially bishops in Nubian paintings), apostles, evangelists and Christ. However, in these particular paintings I am describing, only two of the apostles are holding books and these are the evangelists John and Matthew. The other apostles hold rotuli, while Peter is singled out through the key. My argument is based not only on the attributes, but also on an analysis of other elements such as the position of the apostles in the whole college, their physiognomic types, and finally the surviving inscriptions. However, we should remember that not all Nubian paintings are preserved intact. In many cases, large fragments of figures, including their faces, are missing.
Therefore, several elements must be taken into consideration during the interpretation
of the content of the paintings. The research I have carried out can be helpful in
identifying the individual figures that make up the apostolic college. It also shows how
Nubian iconographers consciously used the language of symbols by differentiating
between the earthly and heavenly hierarchies.

Christological Themes Found in the Letters of Jerome – Part One

2024-09-16T10:22:20+02:00

This article describes the Christological themes that Jerome of Stridon took up in his teaching and which are found in the Letters. They are related to the defence of the truths of faith about the Trinity and to the formulation of Christological doctrine. At the same time, they show the Monk of Bethlehem as a concerned defender of a right theology. The research carried out reveals the Vulgate Author's firm grounding in the era in which he lived. They show both his inscription in the teaching of other Church Fathers after the first two universal councils and the originality of certain thoughts in his teaching.

Bishops and Presbyters in the Churches of the I and II Century (Jerusalem, Asia Minor and Greece, Antiocha), part 1

2024-09-16T10:21:31+02:00

The article, after detailed analyses of the sources, refines M. Simonetti's conclusions about the role of bishops and presbyters in early Christian communities of the first and second centuries. Firstly, the term πρεσβύτερος and his function appears in the communities founded by St. Paul during his lifetime, who himself established presbyters “elders” in various churches on Asia Minor so he had no resistance as Simonetti suggests to the use of terminology prevalent in Judaism. Secondly, Simonetti assumes that a monarchical episcopate is present in the Pastoral Epistles, which implies that the term πρεσβύτερος present there should be understood as the second level of the hierarchy and not as “elder”. This is not quite so obvious. One sometimes gets the impression that it still retains the meaning of “elder”. And thirdly, the reconstruction presented makes sense provided that by the term πρεσβύτεροι we mean “elders” and not the second degree of the priesthood. This, on the other hand, does not ring out unequivocally in his studies. On the other hand, if we understand the term πρεσβύτεροι to mean the second degree of the priesthood, and if the process itself proceeded in such a way that first the communities were led by colleges of priests, and then they were supplanted by a single bishop, or a monarchical episcopate emerged from among them, and the priests were relegated to the second order and to the role of associates of the bishop, then such a process is not confirmed by the first and second century sources.

The Influence of Origen on Augustine: The Question of the Infinity of God

2024-09-16T10:21:19+02:00

There is a belief among scholars of Augustine’s philosophy that he derived the notion of the positively understood infinity of God from Plotinus. Another opinio communis holds that Origenes inherited a negative understanding of infinity from the ancient philosophers and therefore considered God’s power to be finite. This paper aims to demonstrate that both opinions are erroneous. Although Augustine was familiar with Plotinus’ thought, his reflections on the infinity of God have more in common with the theses put forward by Origen than with Neoplatonism. In both authors, the issue arises when commenting on the same biblical passages, and both authors wrestle with the same aporia caused by accepting the doctrine of God’s infinite power and knowledge. If, according to Aristotle’s logic, infinity cannot be encompassed by anything, can the divine intellect encompass infinite ideas? Both authors’ answer to this question is positive. The article posits that Augustine may have taken over the doctrine of the infinity of God directly from Origen, since he had access to many of his works translated into Latin or through Novatian and Hilary of Poitiers, both influenced by Origen’s thought.

Gregory of Nyssa’s Baptismal Typology (In diem luminum, GNO 9, 230-235) against the Background of Ancient Christian Exegesis

2024-09-16T10:21:15+02:00

Perhaps in 383, Gregory of Nyssa wrote a eulogy for the Day of Lights, which fell on 6 January and replaced the previously celebrated Epiphany. The introduction of Christmas in Cappadocia on 25 December prompted the bishop to link the January feast with the baptismal theme. In the middle part of the speech, Gregory successively cites and interprets ten different events from the Old Testament that illustrate the mystery of baptism. The combination and interpretation of these testimonies in the key of baptismal typology prompts the article’s author to look at the sources of inspiration for Gregory's exegesis and the extent of its influence.

Place and Context of References to the Writings of St. Augustine of Hippo in "Liber de divinis officiis" by Rupert of Deutz OSB

2024-09-16T10:21:06+02:00

Medieval theologians, in the name of the principle of unanimity (unanimitas), referred in their works to the writings of the Church Fathers to give credibility to their message. An example of this are treatises explaining the liturgy allegorically, including the Liber de divinis officiis by Rupert of Deutz OSB (1075/76-1129). The author’s research goal is to indicate those places where Rupert of Deutz directly refers in his work to the writings of St. Augustine and gives them a new context in the Roman liturgy he explained. The structure of the present analysis was determined by the places of references to St. Augustine in the work of Rupert of Deutz, who made direct use of the following writings of St. Augustine: De civitate Dei, De doctrina christiana, De fide et symbolo, Enarrationes in Psalmos, Epistula 265, In Iohannis euangelium tractatus. The article uses a historical-critical method, supplemented with contextual and descriptive analysis. As a result of the analyses, it was found that Rupert of Deutz sometimes interprets the thought of St. Augustine slightly differently (e.g. the interpretation of the dimensions of the cross) or uses the arguments of the Bishop of Hippo for different theological content than in his works (e.g. explaining the octave of Easter). To sum up, the article shows the reception of the teachings of St. Augustine in the Middle Ages on the example of Liber de divinis officiis by Rupert of Deutz in relation to the explanation of the Roman liturgy.

Did Eustathius the Philosopher Become Eustathius of Sebastea? A Contribution to Federico Fatti’s Hypothesis

2024-09-16T10:22:15+02:00

In 2009, Federico Fatti published a hypothesis that Eustathius the Philosopher, described by Eunapius, converted to Christianity and became bishop of Sebastea and master to Basil the Great. In my article I present Fatti’s hypothesis and solve three important problems that he left unclear: the place of birth of two Eustathiuses, the problem of Letter 35 by Julian and the mystery of the year 358, when Eustathius of Sebastea was already bishop and Eustathius the Philosopher is believed to have been sent by the emperor to Persia despite his Hellenic faith. When those issues that could challenge Fatti’s thesis have been clarified, his claim, I think, gains plausibility close to certainty. The identification of two Eustathiuses helps explain certain mysteries in the life of Eustathius the Philosopher and some peculiar features of the ascetic movement initiated by Eustathius of Sebastea. It is also a milestone in understanding the teaching of the Cappadocian Fathers as it provides us with a direct link between them and Neoplatonism and more specifically its Syrian branch initiated by Iamblichus.

The History of Polyarchion (πολυάρχιον), John Chrysostom’s Illness, and Access to Medicinal Treatments at the End of Late Antiquity

2024-09-16T10:22:38+02:00

John Chrysostom’s (c. 347‑407) works are valuable for medical historians because they provide us with a first-hand insight into his health problems and the therapies he was treated with. John’s correspondence gives us a unique opportunity to assess the popularity of certain drugs and the availability of healthcare, enabling us to verify the extant medical data. In the present study we will discuss the information on Chrysostom’s illness including his mention of a medicament named polyarchion (πολυάρχιον) which had been sent to the archbishop by Carteria. On the basis of the recipes preserved in medical treatises by Galen as well as other medical data, we will introduce the main properties of the medicine and treatments in which it was administered. Having outlined the scope of its action, and having analysed the symptoms of Chrysostom’s condition described in his correspondence to Olympias, we will establish the nature of the ecclesiastic’s main ailments fully. Finally, we will also conclude on the drug’s availability in the Byzantine world and on the inclusion of drug formulas in early Byzantine medical works.

Saint Caesarius of Arles a Pastor for the Modern Age. A Program of Christian Perfection in the Light of Pastoral Exhortations (Part 1: Fighting Evil)

2024-09-16T10:21:11+02:00

Based on an analysis of the content of St. Caesarius of Arles’ Sermons, his conception of a program of Christian perfection can be shown. In it, St. Caesarius clearly distinguishes two essential stages: the first consists in undertaking a struggle against sins; the second consists in acquiring Christian virtues. In addition, St. Caesarius proposes measures for Christian perfection. This article is the first part of a study of this issue, and is limited to an analysis of the Sermons to the People in terms of the pastoral exhortations contained therein (various appeals, exhortations, injunctions and prohibitions, and postulates) concerning the first stage of the perfection program, which is to take up the fight against sins such as divination and pagan customs, concubinage and adultery, abortions, drunkenness, pride and envy. As a result, the pastoral priorities guiding him and the conceptual assumptions of the improvement program are shown. However, the main research goal is to show the actuality of St. Caesarius’ teaching by confronting the message of the exhortations he delivered with the teaching of the modern Church. The analysis of the content of the Sermons leads to the conclusion of the timeless significance of the life and religious problems raised by St. Caesarius. Although the form of the sermons delivered has become outdated, but their content is still relevant, and the message contained in the exhortations is also completely in line with the teaching of the modern Church.

Origen and Jerome as Exegetes of the Parables from the Gospel of St. Matthew - Elements in Common and Differences

2024-09-16T10:21:42+02:00

The article is an attempt to examine the degree of dependency of Jerome’s exegesis of the parables from the Gospel of St. Matthew on the exegesis of the same texts by Origen. The primary sources are Jerome’s Commentary on the Gospel of St. Matthew written in 398 AD, when he was already an enemy of the Alexandrian, and Origen’s Commentary on the same Gospel. A detailed comparative analysis of the exegesis of the selected parables led to the following conclusions. The differences between the approaches of both authors are limited to three issues: (1) Jerome’s interpretations reflect the spirit of the post-Nicene period, marked by Trinitarian disputes; (2) The Stridonian dissociates himself from all associations with Origen’s dubious theological suggestions, such as the pre-existence of souls or apocatastasis, which can be noticed concealed in the exegesis of the Alexandrian; (3) Jerome’s comments are short and concisely convey the main spiritual meaning of the parables in question, but this difference in the length of comments is quite secondary. Despite the above differences the reliance of the Stridonian on the Alexandrian is significant. Jerome’s elaborations are very similar to those of Origen in terms of exegetic methodology and spiritual content extracted from the text of the Gospel. Even if Jerome does not accept all the solutions proposed by the Alexandrian, he is in constant dialogue with him and remains in his work an Origenist dependent on the allegorical orientation of exegesis.

The Mystery of the Incarnation in “Enarrationes in Psalmos” by Saint Augustine

2024-09-16T10:20:55+02:00

The article presents the importance of the issue of the Incarnation in
the commentary of St. Augustine to the Psalms. According to the Bishop of Hippo,
the Mystery of the Incarnation is one of the key moments of salvation history. Augustine,
in the writings of ancient philosophers, did not find a way in which man could
achieve the divine world he longs for. However, Christianity showed him the path of
humility (via humilitatis) in the Incarnation. In Christ, God assumes the human condition
and, without losing any of his divinity, introduces man to the divine world of eternity.
Augustine is convinced that the humility of the Son of God in the mystery of the Incarnation
makes God’s humility the core of the Christian faith. And the category of humility itself
has not only a moral but also a philosophical dimension. By virtue of the Incarnation,
Christ becomes a representative of people and a priest who offers himself as an offering
to God the Father. And all of His saving work constitutes unity and has its foundation,
weight and meaning precisely in the mystery of the Incarnation. Augustine explains
the Incarnation in a biblical and figurative way. For him, Christ as God is the Homeland
from which man came and to which he is heading, and as a man, he is the Path along
which one must follow to reach the goal. Thanks to the Incarnation, human changing
time acquires a purposeful character and moves towards its fulfillment in eternity.

Augustine explains the Incarnation in a biblical and figurative way. For him, Christ as God is the Homeland from which man came and to which he is heading, and as a man he is the Path along which one must follow to reach the goal. Thanks to the Incarnation, human changing time acquires a purposeful character and moves towards its fulfillment in eternity.

Emperor’s Titles in Lucifer of Cagliari’s Works

2024-09-16T10:21:09+02:00

The article presents what titles Lucifer of Cagliari applies to Emperor Constantius II. The main part of the work is preceded by a short introduction, which contains basic information about the Author and his works. The main part describes selected contexts of use of individual groups of titles and the functions they perform. The bishop used titles to express irony, show the ruler his error and persuade him to convert. The titles used for the monarch were also compared with those used for other people and with the titles used by Hilary of Poitiers for Constantius II.

Nicean Theology. Lewis Ayres’ Historic-Systematic Interpretive Proposal

2024-09-16T10:21:45+02:00

The subject of this article is the interpretation of Nicene theology proposed by Lewis Ayres in his monograph Nicaea and its Legacy. The main part here is an analytical presentation of two important moments of Ayres' proposal. First, it is a matter of isolating the common features of the multiplicity of interpretations that arose after the Nicaean event, which is necessary to maintain the existence of the historical phenomenon of a theology that could be generally described as Nicaean. Secondly, in accordance with the author's initial intention, the previously extracted set of essential and characteristic features of Nicean theology will be repositioned as a universal paradigm for Trinitarian theology and systematic theology in general. The article will conclude with a preliminary assessment of the achievements of the contribution of Ayres' approach, especially from the perspective of the work of a systematic theologian. This will articulate our author's essential belief in the unity of theological systematics, dogmatics and historical theology. Ayres, therefore, does not propose some rigid inanimate return to Nicaea, but portrays it as an event that defines an essential feature of the theologian's workshop.

The Role of the Holy Spirit in the Life of the Church Based on Bede the Venerable’s "Commentary on the Acts of the Apostles"

2024-09-16T10:21:40+02:00

The article presented here discusses the teaching of Bede the Venerable in his commentary on the Acts of the Apostles on the role of the Holy Spirit in the life of the Church. The author of the commentary dedicates little space to discussing the truth of the divinity of the Holy Spirit. Much more extensively, in keeping with the content of the Acts, he elaborates on His role in the life of the first-century Church. Thus, He equips the Apostles with the necessary gifts to preach the Gospel. He supports them with wisdom when they make important decisions for the Church, is present in the sacrament of baptism, overcomes evil spirits and prompts the faithful to renew their lives. All who wish to receive the gifts of the Holy Spirit must abandon sin and open themselves to His works through prayer. Bede's teaching on the Holy Spirit is embedded in the tradition of the Fathers of the Church and has a decidedly pastoral dimension.

Miracles That No One Else Can Perform: Further Thoughts on the Wedding at Cana in Greek and Eastern Christian Literature

2024-09-16T10:21:03+02:00

Although the pericope about the Wedding at Cana (John 2:1‑11) did not garner significant interest in Late Antiquity, several commentaries and homilies on it have been preserved, particularly within the literature of the Christian East. This article examines various Greek texts from the second to the fifth centuries, including the writings of Irenaeus, Origen, John Chrysostom, Epiphanius of Salamis, and Cyril of Alexandria. Special attention is given to texts in Syriac, which often present a distinct perspective on biblical theology. Saint Ephrem (4th cent.) provided an extensive exegetical commentary rich in theological themes, while Jacob of Sarug (5th/6th cent.) offered a poetic homily. A homily by Benjamin I, the Patriarch of Alexandria in the seventh century, has been preserved in both Coptic dialect and Arabic translation; this work primarily serves as a treatise against heretics. Within Ethiopic literature, the Wedding at Cana is elaborated upon in the apocryphal Miracles of Jesus (14th cent.). In the Treasure of the Faith (16th cent.), the miracle is interpreted within a Christological framework, akin to the approach of Giyorgis of Saglā (14th/15th cent.) in the Book of the Mysteries, likely based on earlier sources. Additionally, an Ethiopic homily mistakenly attributed to John Chrysostom (CAe 2150; see CPG Sup. 5190.14), translated into Polish here for the first time, discusses the unity of divinity and humanity in Christ since the Incarnation, particularly in polemics against Nestorius, and contains significant eschatological and Marian themes, indicating its composition post-Ephesian crisis. The influence of Ephrem’s exegesis is also evident, possibly mediated through the works of Jacob of Sarug, whose homilies reached medieval Ethiopia via Arabic translations.