Vox Patrum

Fr Dr Aleksander Gołda CSMA RIP (25.03.1929-2.01.2025)

Stanisław Longosz — 2025-12-15

2024 Polish Bibliography of the Christian Antiquity. With Additions from 2023

Adam Pawlak — 2025-12-15

Every year, the journal Vox Patrum publishes a bibliography of Christian antiquity that presents the scholarly output of Polish authors from the previous year. The bibliography is organized into thirteen thematic categories and according to the names of the ancient authors to whom the publications refer.

Bibliography of the First Letter of Clement of Rome

Andrzej Suski — 2025-12-15

Bibliography of the First Letter of Clement of Rome.

Tatiana Krynicka, Święty Mikołaj z Myr Licyjskich w świetle greckich i łacińskich źródeł starożytnych i średniowiecznych, Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Gdańskiego, Gdańsk 2022, pp. 209

Stanisław Longosz — 2025-12-15

Review of the book: Tatiana Krynicka, Święty Mikołaj z Myr Licyjskich w świetle greckich i łacińskich źródeł starożytnych i średniowiecznych, Gdańsk, Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Gdańskiego 2022.

Pier Franco Beatrice, The Philosophy of the Few against the Christians: An Inquiry into the Textual Transmission of Porphyry’s Philosophy according to the Chaldean Oracles, Studies in Platonism, Neoplatonism, and the Platonic Tradition 31, Brill, Leiden 2024, pp. 581

Ewa Osek — 2025-12-15

Review of the book: Pier Franco Beatrice, The Philosophy of the Few against the Christians: An Inquiry into the Textual Transmission of Porphyry’s Philosophy according to the Chaldean Oracles, Studies in Platonism, Neoplatonism, and
the Platonic Tradition 31, Brill, Leiden 2024.

Izydor z Sewilli, O posługach kościelnych. Pamięci Doktora Roberta Sawy (1966-2018), tł. Tatiana Krynicka – Adam Wilczyński – Robert Sawa, Biblioteka Kieleckich Studiów Teologicznych 23, Jedność, Kielce 2024, pp. 142

Stanisław Longosz — 2025-12-15

Review of the book: Izydor z Sewilli, O posługach kościelnych. Pamięci Doktora Roberta Sawy (1966-2018). Z języka łacińskiego tł. Tatiana Krynicka – Adam Wilczyński – Robert Sawa, Biblioteka Kieleckich Studiów Teologicznych 23, Kielce, Jedność 2024.

Jan Chryzostom, Homilie do Listu św. Pawła do Efezjan, przekład z języka greckiego opatrzony wprowadzeniem i notami ks. Antoni Paciorek, Biblia Ojców 10, Edycja Świętego Pawła, Częstochowa 2025, pp. 388

Józef Pochwat — 2025-12-15

Review of the book: Jan Chryzostom, Homilie do Listu św. Pawła do Efezjan (John Chrysostom, Homilies on the Letter of St. Paul to the Ephesians), ed. and transl. by Rev. Antoni Paciorek, Biblia Ojców 10, Częstochowa: Edycja Świętego Pawła 2025.

The Most Effective Polish Translator of the Writings of St. John Chrysostom (Commentaries on the Corpus Paulinum)

Stanisław Longosz — 2025-12-15

A review of published translations of the writings of John Chrysostom by Rev. Prof. Antoni Paciorek.

Clement of Alexandria, "Stromata" VII 16, 94, 5: “ἡ ψυχικὴ εὐτονία” and Its Significance for “ὁ τῆς ἀληθείας ἐραστής” – A Few Philological Remarks

Grzegorz Sus — 2025-12-15

The article analyzes an enigmatic sentence from Book Seven of the Stromata by Clement of Alexandria: “I think that the lover of truth needs a psychikē eutonia”. The Author examines two key questions: who is the “lover of truth”, and what does the term psychikē eutonia mean? The article is divided into seven sections and employs both philological analysis and historical-comparative interpretation. Clement redefines the notions of both truth and the lover of truth (in contrast with the Platonic doctrine). Truth is no longer a metaphysical idea but Christ himself; and the lover of truth is no longer the philosopher, but the Christian gnostic striving for union with God through knowledge, discipline, and prayer. Eutonia refers to a state connected with inner tension (tonos), which enables mastery over passions and supports the path toward true gnosis. The primary sources include Clement’s Stromata, Platonic dialogues, and fragments of Stoic and Middle Platonic writings. The aim of the author is to propose possible interpretative paths for the problematic sentence.

The Anthropology of Methodius of Olympus

Miroslaw Mejzner — 2025-12-15

The article aims to present the key elements of the anthropology of Methodius of Olympus, which include: the creation of man in the image and likeness of God as a spiritual and bodily unity; the degradation of human nature through the sin of disobedience; redemption in Christ; the spiritual and moral development of the Christian, especially through the virtue of chastity; the passage through the gate of death; the resurrection and the fullness of life in the world of the redeemed. Particular attention will be given to the exegesis of the Bishop of Olympus and his dependence on early Christian theological traditions—specifically the Asia Minor and Alexandrian traditions—which he sought to combine creatively, though not without difficulties. The coherence of the author's thought will also be emphasized, especially the consistency of his protological, soteriological, and eschatological assumptions, as well as those pertaining to spirituality and asceticism.

"Palpandi corporis et contrectandi vulneris obtulit facultatem" (Trin. III 20). Hilary of Poitiers’ Exegesis of John 20:24–29 in the Light of Previous Tradition

Almudena Alba López — 2025-12-15

The main patristic witnesses assume that Thomas touched the body of Christ in order to verify the truth of his resurrection, even though this contact by the disciple is not stated in the Johannine account. By refusing to alter the original account, Hilary of Poitiers does not attributed an action that is not documented by the Gospel to the apostle and highlights the fact that the Son adapts to the weakness of man’s intelligence, providing an answer to unbelievers using the motif of doubting Thomas to reflect on the transformative effect of miracles and the soteriological function of faith.

Anthropology in the Light of the Incarnation: The Christian Vision of Human Nature in the Process of the Formation of Christological Doctrine (2nd-5th Centuries)

Oleksandr Kashchuk — 2025-12-15

The aim of this article is to verify the continuity and development of the Church Fathers’ reflection on human nature in the light of the Incarnate Christ and to present its evolution during the period from the 2nd to the 5th century. Employing a panoramic and synthetic approach enabled the identification of those anthropological elements that were common and consistently emphasized, thereby highlighting the essential core of the doctrine. The study focuses on the anthropological implications of the Incarnation, that is, the fact that God truly assumed human nature: body, soul, and reason. Based on the testimonies of the Church Fathers – from Ignatius of Antioch and Irenaeus of Lyon to the definition of the Council of Chalcedon – It is demonstrated that theology in the 2nd to 5th centuries consistently argued for the real and inseparable presence of both the fullness of divinity and the fullness of humanity in the one person of Jesus Christ. The analysis addresses four main theological traditions: Alexandrian, Cappadocian, Antiochene, and Western (Latin), each of which defended the integrity of Christ’s divine-human identity in a distinct manner. Within these Christological currents, a deepened vision of humanity gradually emerged – conceived as a nature capable of union with God without losing its own identity. The article shows that Christology constituted the foundation of Christian anthropology: it defined not only the identity of Christ but also the dignity of the human person and his capacity to participate in the life of God. In this perspective, the Incarnation appears as the key to understanding the mystery of humanity.

„Let ust outline a kind of rough sketch of what virtue is…” – Hellenic arete as the Foundation of Christian Perfection in Basil the Great’s "Address to the Young"

Joanna Sowa — 2025-12-15

In his “Adress to the Young", Basil the Great encourages the addressees to use the pagan literature they learn at school to acquire virtue, which for Christians is the path to eternal life. The analysis of the work conducted in the article aims to answer the question of how the author understands the concept of virtue (arete) and how it should be acquired. According to Basil, the essence of virtue is the dominion of reason, which is the supreme power of the soul, over the irrational drives of the body. Therefore, the concept of virtue presented in the work is ascetic (limiting the needs of the body), ethical (shaping character) and intellectual (acquiring knowledge and training the mind) in its nature. The foundations of virtue can be most easily acquired by imitating the good patterns described in the works of ancient authors, and its understanding can be deepened by familiarizing oneself with the writings of philosophers. After such preparation, the young person can more easily understand the mysteries of the "holy scriptures," which acquaint him with the principles of Christian perfection.

Friendship or Love? Same-Sex Relationships and the Classical Ideal of Friendship in the Context of Contemporary Debates on the Relationship Between Ausonius, Paulinus of Nola, and Sulpicius Severus

Marcin Wysocki — 2025-12-15

Various studies have suggested homosexual relationships between Ausonius, Paulinus of Nola and Sulpicius Severus. However, based on an analysis of the content and form of their surviving writings, the anthropological views they express, and their approach to homosexuality in ancient Roman culture, such claims should be rejected. Existing sources do not suggest such relationships, and the conclusions are based on a superficial and selective interpretation of the sources. Erotic references and expressions of longing in the letters are literary conventions and games, while the profound relationships described are believed to be ordinary human relationships between students, teachers and friends. Such relationships are depicted in literary works through rhetorical devices that are underpinned by a Christian understanding of friendship and love.

Basic Anthropological Concepts in the Macarian Corpus

Mariya Horyacha — 2025-12-15

The study analyzes the Macarian corpus of homilies from an anthropological perspective. As the author of these parenetic discourses relies on imagery rather than on
terminology, his vocabulary is highly unsystematic. The aim of this article is to highlight the key anthropological concepts of the Macarian corpus and elucidate their meaning. The article consists of three parts: the first explores the Macarian use of anthropological terms such as body, soul, mind, and heart; the second focuses on the interrelation of these concepts, and the third considers the type of anthropology the author of the corpus developed. The analysis is based on the three main Greek collections: I (63 logoi), II (50 homilies), and III (43 discourses). It shows that the meanings of basic anthropological terms are blurred and cannot be determined by definition, but only through context. While their different aspects and nuances are revealed in their interplay, Macarian anthropology should be seen as a holistic one, in which basic anthropological terms usually imply the whole person. The study has also revealed the incomplete character of Macarian anthropology.

The Early Church and the Problem of Orphaned and Abandoned Children

Paweł Wygralak — 2025-12-15

The article discusses the problem of care for orphaned and abandoned children by ancient Christians. Based on the available sources, it is shown that the bishop was responsible for organizing care for such children. It was primarily on his initiative, although sometimes also on the initiative of laymen, that orphanages (orphanotrophia) and homes for abandoned children (brefatrofia) were established. Christian families also took care of these children. Efforts were made to prepare children for adult life. Such activity of Christians was a complete novelty in the ancient world, where there was no systematic care for orphaned and abandoned children.

Early Christian Writers on Contraception

Wojciech Kamczyk — 2025-12-15

This article addresses the issue of the presence and moral evaluation of contraception in early Christianity. It analyzes the writings of Christian authors from the 2nd to the 6th century, distinguishing them from testimonies concerning abortion and infanticide. Using the historical-philological method, the study examines how the Church Fathers constructed their arguments: from references to the natural purpose of sexual acts (Athenagoras, Clement of Alexandria, Lactantius), through the condemnation of contraceptive practices (Hippolytus, Augustine), to defining contraception as a form of murder or sacrilege (Jerome, John Chrysostom, Caesarius of Arles). The article also discusses the penalization of such acts in the synodal legislation of Western Christianity (Martin of Braga). The primary sources analyzed include patristic texts by Augustine, Jerome, John Chrysostom, and Caesarius of Arles. The main conclusion is that contraceptive practices were seen as fundamentally contrary to the order of creation and were regarded as serious moral transgressions. The article contributes to the study of marital ethics and the perception of corporeality in Christian antiquity.

Patristic Inspirations in Reflection on Therapeutic Procedures

Agnieszka Amilkiewicz-Marek — 2025-12-15

The article addresses the problem of understanding the concepts of therapy and therapist within the context of patristic thought and their relevance to contemporary speech therapy practice. The study adopts a hermeneutic and comparative approach, analyzing selected writings of the Church Fathers – especially Basil the Great, Gregory of Nazianzus, John Chrysostom, Augustine, Clement of Alexandria, and Paulinus of Nola – to explore the spiritual and moral dimensions of healing and human formation and the importance of the word in this process. The structure of the article moves from the exegesis of patristic sources, through a comparison with modern therapeutic principles, to the formulation of guidelines inspired by Christian tradition. Using historical-theological content analysis, the author demonstrates that, in patristic anthropology, therapy signifies the healing of the soul through word, relationship, and love. The findings highlight the enduring contribution of patristic thought to the anthropological and ethical foundations of contemporary speech therapy, revealing it as a form of service and integral accompaniment of the human person in their process of growth and restoration.

A Few Remarks on the Diet in the Light of the Texts of Latin Patristic Authors and its Importance for the Image of the Economic Condition of Western Roman Society in the Late Antiquity

Maciej Wojcieszak — 2025-12-15

This article analyses the diet of late antique Western Roman society in the light of the texts of Latin patristic authors. The aim of this analysis was to demonstrate that the texts discussed diet data that can be used to reconstruct the image of the economic condition of society in the western part of the Roman Empire in the 4th and 5th centuries. There have been no attempts to study the works of Christian authors writing in the west of the Empire in this way. The biggest disadvantage of the used sources is that the analyzed authors created primarily didactic-pastoral literature, full of rhetorical figures and topos. They didn't mention pricing details, mostly just saying that the meal/ingredient was expensive/cheap. Nevertheless, if properly criticized, these texts are of great importance to the historian of late antiquity. Apart from the introduction and summary, the article is divided into three main parts: the diet of the upper classes of society, the diet of the lower classes of society, and the fasting diet. The main result of the conducted research is that, based on the diet of Western Roman society, we can cautiously state that the economic condition of the inhabitants of the western part of the Empire was neither dramatically bad nor exceptionally good, allowing people to live slightly above the minimum necessary for existence. The second conclusion is that, on the basis of the used sources, we can try to examine the economic condition of Western Roman society.

Becoming Like Christ in Patristic Eastern Monasticism - An Overview of the Issue

Jan Witold Żelazny — 2025-12-15

The article focuses on the importance of following and following Christ in the context of Eastern patristic monasticism. Authors such as Aphrahat, Anthony the Great, Barsanuphius, John the Prophet and Joseph Hazzaya present a variety of approaches to this topic that have not yet been synthesized in Polish. It seems that the New Testament motif of following (ἀκολουϑεῖν) Jesus is losing its autonomy and original meaning, and sometimes even seems to be disappearing in the ascetic thought of Eastern monasticism of the patristic period. Monks are careful to say that they follow the One who is now in glory, and with whom they identify as Christians, after all. For them, the more significant element of conforming to Jesus is asceticism and living according to the virtues, which are spiritual and moral reflections (μιμεῖσϑαι) of the monk's conformity to Christ. The motif of conformity to Christ in Eastern monasticism is therefore not anthropologically unified, nor does it form any paradigmatic account for moral theology or Christian spirituality until the 8th century in Eastern theology.

“The problems of the Church present in the disciplinary canons of the First Council of Nicaea” – Meeting of the Polish Patristic Section (Obra, Poland, 15-17.09.2025)

Grzegorz Pakowski — 2025-12-15

Report from the annual meeting of the Polish Patristic Section with the conference entitled: “The problems of the Church present in the disciplinary canons of the First Council of Nicaea” that took place in Obra, Poland on 15-17.09.2025.

3rd Congress of the Commission on Ancient History of the Polish Historical Society with the National Scientific Conference „Spaces of Antiquity” (Białystok, Poland, 17-19.09.2025)

Piotr Kochanek — 2025-12-15

Report from the 3rd Congress of the Commission on Ancient History of the Polish Historical Society with the National Scientific Conference „Spaces of Antiquity” that took place in Białystok, Poland on 17-19.09.2025.

Scripture in Early Christianity 14th Annual Conference Asia-Pacific Early Christian Studies Society (Sydney, Australia, 25-27.09.2025)

Marcin Wysocki — 2025-12-15

Report from 14th annual conference Asia-Pacific Early Christian Studies Society (APECSS), titled: Scripture in Early Christianity, which took place on 25-27.09.2025 in Sydney, Australia.

Synodality in the Early Church (5th International Patristic Conference, KUL, Lublin, Poland, 7-9.10.2025)

Paweł Głowacki — 2025-12-15

Report from the 5th International Patristic that took place on oCtober 7-9, 2025 at the John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin. The subject was: Synodality in the Early Church.

From the Council of Nicaea to Vatican II: Professing the Faith, the Creeds, and the Church’ s Credibility 31st International Theological Symposium (Split, Croatia, 16-17.10.2025)

Marcin Wysocki — 2025-12-15

Report from the international conference titled From the Council of Nicaea to Vatican II: Professing the Faith, the Creeds, and the Church’ s Credibility, 31st International Theological Symposium, that took place on 16-17.10.2025 at the Faculty of Theology of the University of Split, in Croatia.

Meeting of Société d’études syriaques (Paris, France, 20-21.11.2025)

Jan Witold Żelazny — 2025-12-15

On November 20-21, 2025, a regular meeting of researchers of Aramaic heritage was held in Paris, organized by the Societe des Etudes syriques. It was dedicated to the Syrian Libraries.

Meetings of the Byzantine Commission of the Polish Historical Society in the Academic Year 2024/2025

Piotr Kochanek — 2025-12-15

Report from the meetings of the Byzantine Commission of the Polish Historical Society in the Academic Year 2024/2025.

Activity of the Committee for Research on the Christian Antiquity of the Learned Society KUL in the Academic Year 2024/2025

Anna Głowa — 2025-12-15

Activity of the Committee for Research on the Christian Antiquity of the Learned Society KUL in the Academic Year 2024/2025

Saint Jerome, Praefatio in libro Iosue (translation into Polish)

Łukasz Krzyszczuk — 2025-12-15

Around the year 390, St Jerome abandoned his work on translating the Greek Septuagint into Latin and began rendering the Old Testament – as he repeatedly claims – directly from the Hebrew. His own statements make it abundantly clear that in this translational endeavour he is guided by the principle of the Hebraica veritas (“Hebrew truth”), and that he refers to the Hebrew original rather than to the Greek Hexaplaric versions based on the Hebrew Bible. Jerome thus departs from the Septuagint in favour of the meaning conveyed by the Hebrew text known in his time. As he himself affirms, he is able to do so thanks to his knowledge of Hebrew and with reference to the Hebrew source text, on which his Latin translation of the Old Testament is based. After the death of Paula of Rome, his close companion, Jerome of Stridon translated the books of Joshua, Judges, and Ruth – a task he undertook around 404/405, toward the end of his work on the Hebrew Bible. The present article offers a translation of a short text which the Bethlehem monk attached to his Latin version of the last three books of the Octateuch, and which has come down to us under the title Praefatio in libro Iosue. The translation is preceded by an introduction that outlines the interpretative issues encountered in reading this opusculum by Jerome, as well as by a description of the manuscript fragment containing the oldest extant copy of the text preserved in Polish collections.

Ambrose Autpert, Libellus de conflictu vitiorum atque virtutum missus ad Lantfredum presbyterum et abbatem in Baioaria constitutum (translation into Polish)

Michał Barczak — 2025-12-15

The first translation into Polish of the work of Ambrose Autpert, Libellus de conflictu vitiorum atque virtutum missus ad Lantfredum presbyterum et abbatem in Baioaria constitutum with commentary.