http://www.evansville.edu:80/~ecoleweb/documents.html
Early Church Documents
Welcome to the ECOLE Documents Page, a compilation of translated primary
sources useful for learning about early and medi?val Christianity. We have
also included texts from other religions with which the Church necessarily
had dealings -- Judaism, Islam, and the various heresies -- and from the
Hellenistic philosophical schools. (We have not attempted, however, to
include all of the earlier classical philosophers, many of whom may be
found at the Internet Classics
Archive.)
The following list consists of links to documents stored at various
places on the World-Wide Web. The Ecole Initiative expresses its appreciation
to all of those who have made these primary sources available. If you know
of a document that is missing from the list and should be included, please
send the URL to Norman.Redington@pobox.com.
ABBREVIATIONS: AHS = Armenian
Historical Sources; AL-ISLAM = Ahlul
Bayt Digital Islamic Library Project; AU = AU
Catholic Resource Site; CCEL = Christian
Classics Ethereal Library; CN = CoptNet;
GNHP = Gregory
of Nyssa Homepage; ICL = Institute
for Christian Leadership; ITR = Islamic
Texts and Resources MetaPage; JOD =James
J. O'Donnell and colleagues; MSBP = Mediaeval
Sourcebook Project; NA = New
Advent; NNC=Northwest
Nazarene College Non-Canonical Homepage; OMACL=Online
Mediaeval and Classical Library; OSB = Order
of St. Benedict; SGPM = St.
Gregory Palamas Monastery of Ohio; SPL = St.
Pachomius Library; YUS = Salim
Shabbir Yusufali;
NOTE: Recently, most of the text of the well-known thirty-eight
volume Victorian patristics collection The
Ante-Nicene, Nicene, and Post-Nicene Fathers was placed online
by the heroic effort of the
Electronic Bible Society. Unfortunately, this vast collection of electronic
texts is presently in a difficult-to-use format and apparently lacks all
footnotes. Improved HTML versions are now being created and will be announced
as they appear. (Anyone interested in helping with the HTML conversion
is invited to contact either the St. Pachomius Library, redingtn@pobox.com
, or Dr. Harry Plantinga of Wheaton College, whp@wheaton.edu.)
A
-
Abelard, Peter, French theologian, philosopher, and poet, (XI/XII Centuries):
-
History
of My Calamities: The autobiography of the famous religious thinker
(and lover of Heloise) who personified Medi?val avant garde. Bellows translation,
1922. --- MSBP
-
Abraham ibn Daud, Hispano-Moorish Jewish historian, (XII Century):
-
Adamnan, Abbot of Iona, (VII/VIII Centuries):
-
Julius Africanus, Libyan soldier, historian, and encyclop?dist, (II/III
Centuries):
-
Letter to
Origen about the Book of Susanna: Africanus had noticed that parts
of the Book of Daniel as found in the Septuagint contain anomalies, such
as Greek puns which seemed unlikely to work in Hebrew. He therefore suggested
that the Susanna story might be a forgery. See also Origen's
reply. --- NA
-
Agatho, Pope of Rome, (VII Century):
-
Letters:
About monothelitism and the Sixth Ecumenical Council. Schaff-Wace translation.
--- CCEL
-
Alain de Lille, French poet and theologian, (XII/XIII Centuries):
-
The
Plaint of Nature: An elaborate allegory of human nature typical
of the "XII Century Renaissance". Moffat translation, 1908. ---
MSBP
-
Albigensianism, non-Christian European religion: See also Manich?anism.
-
Raynaldus:
Accusations against the Albigensians. Excerpt from a XIII Century
chronicle. Maitland translation, 1832. --- MSBP
-
Lateran Council III, 1179: Dealt with Albigensianism and Waldensianism,
among other matters.
-
Canons:
Tanner translation. --- St. Michael's Depot
-
Lateran Council IV, : Dealt with Joachim of Fiore, with the Eastern
Orthodox and the Eastern Rite, with Albigensianism, with Judaism, and with
many canonical issues:
-
Alexander, Patriarch of Alexandria, (IV Century):
-
Ali
ibn Abi Talib, Fourth Caliph and First Imam, (VII Century):
-
Nahjul Balagha (Peak of Eloquence): A collection of sermons,
discourses, and sayings concerning all aspects of Islam and Islamic life;
one of the masterpieces of Arabic literature.
-
Sayings (Dua-e Kumail):
-
Will:
The assassinated Caliph's final instructions to his sons; translator
not indicated. --- YUS
-
Ali ibn al-Husayn, Fourth Imam of the Shiites, (VII/VIII Centuries):
-
Ambrose
of Milan, bishop, theologian, and hymnographer, (IV Century):
-
Against Auxentius:
Sermon justifying Ambrose's refusal to turn over Orthodox church
property to the state-supported Arian Church. --- NA
-
On the Death
of his Brother Satyrus, and on Belief in the Resurrection: ---
NA
-
On the Duties
of the Clergy: --- CCEL
-
Exposition of
the Christian Faith: Link near middle of page. ---
CCEL
-
On the Holy
Spirit: --- NA
-
On the Mysteries:
--- NA
-
On Repentence:
--- NA
-
On Virgins,
to Marcellina his Sister: --- NA
-
On Widows:
--- NA
-
Seventeenth
Epistle: Opposing the desire of Symmachus to reinstall a pagan
altar in the Senate building. --- NA
-
Eighteenth
Epistle (Reply to the Memorial of Symmachus): Refutes the argument
that abandoning paganism is a threat to Rome's security. De Romestin translation,
1896. --- MSBP
-
Twentieth
Epistle (To his Sister Marcellina): Narrates the story of his opposition
to the construction of an Arian basilica in Milan. --- NA
-
Twenty-First
Epistle: Argues that only clerics have the right the right to judge
in ecclesiastical cases. De Romestin translation, 1896. ---
MSBP
-
Twenty-Second
Epistle (To Marcellina): Relates his discovery of the relics of
Saints Gervase and Protase. --- NA
-
Fortieth
Epistle (To the Emperor Theodosius): Argues that a synagogue burnt
by order of an Eastern bishop should not be rebuilt at Church expense.
--- NA
-
Forty-First
Epistle (To his Sister Marcellina): Narrates how he handled the
matter of the burnt synagogue. --- NA
-
Fifty-First
Epistle (To the Emperor Theodosius): Demands the Emperor repent
for ordering a massacre in Thessalonica. De Romestin translation, 1896.
--- MSBP
-
Fifty-Seventh
Epistle (To the Emperor Eugene): Criticizes Eugene's tolerance
of paganism. --- NA
-
Sixty-First
Epistle (To the Emperor Theodosius): Congratulating him on his
victory over Eugene, and urging mercy for the vanquished. ---
NA
-
Sixty-Second
Epistle (To Theodosius): Urges clemency for followers of the defeated
Eugene who sought refuge in churches. --- NA
-
Sixty-Third
Epistle (To the Church at Vercell?): Describes the ideal ways of
life for clergy, monks, and ordinary parishoners; also argues against some
ex-monks who, under the influence of Epicurean philosophy (but without
really understanding Epicurus), were saying that fasting and continence
are unnecessary. --- NA
-
Amphilochius, Bishop of Iconium, poet and theologian, (IV Century):
-
The
Canon of Scripture: A paragraph excerpted from the Iambics to
Seleucus. Schaff-Wace translation. --- CCEL
-
At
the Colosseum: Short poem protesting the gladiatorial games. Barrett
Browning translation, 1842. --- SPL
-
Anastasius I, Pope of Rome (IV Century):
-
Anastasius
the Librarian, scholar, politician, and antipope, (IX Century):
-
Anastasius the Monk:
-
Ancrene Wisse, collection of rules and advice for English nuns,
-
Anglo-Saxon Devotional Material and Hymnography:
-
Codex Junius
11 Contains the pre-Conquest poems Genesis A & B, Exodus,
Daniel, and Christ and Satan, sometimes attributed to the VII
Century poet-saint C?dmon. Geo. W. Kennedy translation, 1916. ---
OMACL
-
Anselm, English Scholastic philosopher, (XI Century):
-
Proof
of the Existence of God One of the most celebrated and controversial
arguments in the history of philosophy. Burr translation, 1996.
--- MSBP
-
Anterus, Pope of Rome, (III Century):
-
Anthony of Padua, Franciscan friar and preacher, (XIII Century):
-
Aphrahat the Sage, Persian Christian theologian, (IV Century):
-
Apocrypha and Pseudepigrapha:
-
The Non-Canonical Homepage
Very large and well-organized collection at Northwest Nazarene College.
-
The Lost Books of
the Bible: The much-reprinted XIX Century collection of New Testament
apocrypha and Apostolic Fathers, here enhanced with extensive marginal
notes (a feature inexplica bly rare in hypertext). --- Seraphim
Files
-
The Life
of Adam and Eve, Translated and edited by G. A. Anderson and M.
E. Stone. One of the most ambitious attempts to create a scholarly hypertext
edition of an early Jud?o-Christian work. --- University
of Virginia
-
The Apostolic Canons, early Church document, (I Century?):
-
Aristakes of Lastivert, Armenian historian, (XI Century):
-
Aristeas, Hellenistic courtier, (III Century BCE):
-
Letter
to Philocrates: Traditional account of the writing of the Septuagint
(Greek translation of the Old Testament). Authorship disputed. ---
NNC
-
Aristides, Athenian Christian philosopher, (II Century):
-
Apology:
One of the Kay translations, but it is not clear whether this electronic
edition is the Syriac or the Greek version, or just taken from Barlaam
and Ioasaph. --- NA
-
Aristotle, Greek philosopher, (IV Century BCE):
-
Collected Works
The Greek philosopher who probably exerted the strongest influence on Medi?val
thought, Christian, Jewish, and Islamic. --- Virginia Tech
-
Arius, excommunicated Libyan theologian, (III/IV Centuries):
-
Arnold of Brescia, Italian theologian and revolutionary leader, (XII
Century):
-
Secondary sources:
-
Lateran Council II, 1139: Dealt with Arnold of Brescia's attempt to
refound the Roman Republic, and with his theological views.
-
Canons: Tanner
translation. --- St. Michael's Depot
-
Arsenios of Cappadocia, Greek hermit, (XX Century):
-
Blessing-Psalter:
Suggestions on the use of the Psalms for specific situations in
life, by a famous Greek Orthodox hermit of the twentieth century; a snapshot
of Mediterranean peasant life in any era. Kollias translation, 1995. ---
SPL
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Athanasius
the Great, Egyptian theologian and Patriarch of Alexandria, (IV Century):
-
Athenagoras of Athens, Christian philosopher, (II Century):
-
Augustine,
Bishop of Hippo, African theologian and philosopher, (IV/V Centuries):
-
On
Baptism, Against the Donatists: Denies that St. Cyprian of Carthage
would have supported the Donatist movement, as the Donatists were claiming
. --- CCEL
-
Biblical Commentaries:
-
De
Bono Conjugali Defends the position that marriage is a good, not
an evil like fornication, but is a lesser good than celibacy. Also defends
Old Testament figures against critics who regard them as inferior to monks,
because married: they had to marry to become ancestors of the Messiah or
the Prophets. --- CCEL
-
De
Bono Viduitatis Letter to a young widow. Remarriage is not forbidden,
but remaining single is better. --- CCEL
-
On
Catechising the Uninstructed A ``how-to'' sort of work. Salmond
translation. --- CCEL
-
City
of God: Augustine's masterpiece, and one of the most influential
books in the history of Western culture. A Christian meditation on the
nature of time and history in response to the sack of Rome in 410, contrasting
the earthly City wi th the heavenly. Also contains Augustine's theory of
original sin, widely accepted in the Western (but never in the Eastern)
Church. ---CCEL
-
Confessions: Augustine's famous autobiographical meditation,
a classic of Latin literature.
-
To
Consentius: Against Lying (somewhere in long, not-yet-indexed file)
--- CCEL
-
On
Continence: Praises continence and the ascetic struggle, but rejects
the Manichee opinion that the flesh is by nature evil. ---
CCEL
-
On
the Correction of Donatists: Holds that the Donatists are not without
hope of salvation, but also urges the Orthodox government to put legal
pressure on them. --- CCEL
-
De
Cura Pro Mortuis (somewhere in long, not-yet-indexed file) ---
CCEL
-
On
Dialectic: A typically late-antique educational treatise on the
science of argumentation. --- JOD
-
Disputation with Fortunatus: Acts of a debate between Augustine
and a Manichee. --- CCEL
-
De
Doctrina Christiana: A textbook of Biblical theology, hermeneutics,
and homiletics. ---CCEL
-
Enchiridion:A
"handbook" of essential Christian doctrines as Augustine understood them.
Shaw translation. ---CCEL
-
Against
the Epistle of Manich?us called "Fundamental" Attack on a key document
of the Manichee sect to which Augustine once belonged. ---
CCEL
-
On
Faith of Things Not Seen We have faith in God as we do in the unseen
hearts of our friends. --- CCEL
-
Against
Faustus the Manichaean: Faustus was a Manich?an bishop, apologist,
and Biblical critic whom Augustine knew from his own days in the sect.
--- CCEL
-
De
Fide et Symbolo Expanded version of an address delivered at the
Council of Hippo-Regius in 393. --- CCEL
-
Letters:
Augustine's many correspondents included Jerome, Paulinus, and other
major figures. --- CCEL
-
De
Mendacio (somewhere in long, not-yet-indexed file) ---
CCEL
-
De
Moribus Ecclesi? Catholic?: A philosophical treatise in the Stoic
sense, praising love of God and neighbour as manifested in Orthodoxy; intended
for a Manichee audience. --- CCEL
-
De
Moribus Manich?orum: Describes and attacks Manichee doctrine and
symbolism. --- CCEL
-
On
the Nature of the Good, Against the Manich?ans: An attack on Manichee
dualism, with extracts from Mani's own works. --- CCEL
-
De
Opere Monachorum (somewhere in long, not-yet-indexed file) ---
CCEL
-
On
Patience (somewhere in long, not-yet-indexed file) ---
CCEL
-
To the
People of the Church at C?sarea: An appeal for the Donatist Emeritus
to become Orthodox; upholds the essential Orthodoxy of Emeritus' beliefs
but affirms he can still not be saved outside the Church. Copyrighted translation
by Jean Goodwin, 1996. --- Northwestern University
-
To
Petilian An open letter to the Donatist bishop of Constantine,
Algeria. --- CCEL
-
Rule
of St. Augustine Widely used from the V Century on by Latin monks,
and in modern times by the Austin Friars and Canons. Russell translation,
1976.--- JOD
-
Soliloquies
A very early work, written soon after his conversion. Augustine
himself later pointed out theological errors in it. Starbuck translation.
--- CCEL
-
De
Symbolo ad Catechumenos An explanation of the Creed for catechumens.
---
-
On
the Trinity Augustine's famous theory about the details of the
triune structure of both divine and human nature, developed over the whole
course of his life. Very influential in the Latin West, but unpopular in
the East. --- CCEL
-
On
the Two Souls, against the Manich?ans The Manichees' dualism extended
to their theory of human nature. --- CCEL
-
On
the Utility of Believing Written soon after Augustine's ordination
and addressed to a Manichee friend. An attack on the elitism and intellectualism
of the Manichee movement, which put understanding before love.---
CCEL
-
On
Virginity Praises the superiority of virginity, but also cautions
the celibate against pride. --- CCEL
-
Secondary Sources:
-
Auxentius of Durostorum, Arian apologist, (IV/V Centuries):
-
On
Wulfila Wulfila, who translated the Bible into Gothic, was Auxentius'
foster-father. This letter includes an Arian creed written by Wulfila.
Marchand translation. --- JOD
-
Awlaad al-Assal, Coptic scholarly family, (XIII Century):
B
-
Bar-Daisan, Syrian Christian (semi-Gnostic) philosopher:
-
Teachings
of Bardesan, from The Book of the Laws of Divers Countries:
Apparently from an ancient source, but no details given. A treatise on
the triumph of free will over both fate and nature, illustrated with anthropological
examples from lands as remote as Britain and the Far East. Also presents
a "scientific" argument that the world can last only 6000 years. ---
NA
-
Secondary sources:
-
Ephraim
of Syria: A Hymn Against Bar-Daisan: God is everywhere and fills
all things; everything else -- in particular, Fire -- is merely created,
and not pre-existent as Bar-Daisan must have argued. Jones translation,
1904. --- SPL
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Barlaam the Hermit of Ethiopia or Great India, (IV Century?):
-
Basil
the Great, Bishop of C?sarea, Cappadocian Orthodox theologian, (IV
Century):
-
Canons:
Schaff-Wace translation. --- CCEL
-
Epistles:
-
Complete collection.
Translator not given. --- NA
-
Second
Epistle: In praise of the monastic way of life. Newman-Jackson
translation. --- SPL
-
Seventh
Epistle A personal letter to Gregory the Theologian in which Basil
asserts that he is less suited than Gregory to the task of defending Orthodoxy.
Jackson translation. --- SPL
-
Eighth
Epistle Ostensibly a justification of Basil's withdrawing into
the country to meditate, this is is one of the finest Orthodox expositions
of the Trinity to emerge from the Arian crisis. However, since the 1920s,
most scholars have attributed this work to Evagrius Ponticus, a controversial
disciple of Basil and Gregory the Theologian whose Origenistic speculations
(in other writings) were condemned by the Fifth Ecumenical Council. The
Greek manuscripts themselves, however, ascribe the epistle to Basil. Jackson
translation. --- SPL
-
The Hex?meron:
A commentary on the creation story in Genesis, also illustrating
Basil's views on science and its relationship to theology. ---
NA
-
On the Holy
Spirit: One of the first detailed theological treatments of the
Third Person of the Trinity. --- NA
-
Secondary sources:
-
Bede the Venerable, English abbot, historian, and astronomer (VII/VIII
Centuries):
-
Beguines, radical Christian dissidents of the Middle Ages:
-
Benedict
of Nursia, Italian monastic leader, (V/VI Centuries):
-
Monastic Rule: The
single most influential document, after the Bible, in the history of Latin
monasticism. Thatcher-McNeal translation. --- OSB
-
Secondary Sources:
-
Bernard
of Clairvaux, French Cistercian monastic, (XII Century):
-
On
Loving God: A famous treatise on divine and human love. Translator
not indicated. --- CCEL
-
In
Praise of the New Knighthood Bernard had a vision of Christian
chivalry which he hoped would be embodied in the Knights Templar. Translated
by Conrad Greenia, 1977. --- ORB
-
Bible:
-
Boehme, Jakob, German mystic, (XVI/XVII Centuries):
-
Of
True Repentance: Seventeenth century English version. ---
CCEL
-
Of
Regeneration: Seventeenth century English version. ---
CCEL
-
Of
True Resignation: The light of reason by itself leads to death,
but it can be coordinated with the divine. The torment of Hell is the result
of a being created for light choosing to live in darkness. Ends with an
attack on mainstream Protestantism: faith which is mere assent to historical
facts, unaccompanied by ascetical struggle with the self, cannot save.
Seventeenth century English version. --- CCEL
-
The
Supersensual Life: The mystic's goal is to enter a "supersensual"
state mirroring that of God before the Creation of the world when there
was nothing to perceive. Also contains Boehme's two-wills theory of the
human being, and much reassurance to the nervous disciple that he will
be annihilated neither physically nor spiritually, and can dwell in both
time and eternity. Law translation. --- CCEL
-
Boethius,
Roman Christian philosopher, scholar, and government official, (V/VI Centuries):
-
The
Consolation of Philosophy: The imprisoned philosopher is taught
to see Providence in the ever-spinning wheel of Fortuna. Cooper translation.
--- University of Virginia
-
Secondary Sources:
-
Bonaventure, Italian Franciscan theologian, (XIII Century):
-
Works of disputed authorship:
-
Boniface VIII, Pope of Rome, (XIII/XIV Centuries):
-
Boniface of Crediton, English martyr and missionary in Germany and the
Netherlands, (VII/VIII Centuries):
-
Oath
of Loyalty to the Pope Boniface, an Anglo-Saxon, was strongly in favour
of canonical order and central administration -- unlike some of his missionary
colleagues who hailed from Ireland and with whom he was often in conflict.
Robinson translation. --- MSBP
-
Bonnet, Prous, French Beguine visionary, (XIV Century):
-
Brendan the Navigator, Abbot of Clonfert, (V/VI Centuries):
-
Breviaries:
-
Byzantine:
-
Coptic:
-
Agpeya ---St.
Mary's Coptic Church
-
Latin:
-
Brother-Making Rite:
-
Byzantine:
Extremely controversial document, containing the text of a service which
may have been used, perhaps without official approval, for the swearing
of blood-brotherhood oaths and, in the opinion of John Boswell, as a same-sex
marriage service. Boswell and Zymaris translations. --- MSBP
-
Byzantine Devotional Material and Hymnography:
C
-
Caedmon, English poet, (VII Century):
-
Codex Junius
11 A manuscript of religious poetry (Genesis A & B; Exodus;
Daniel; Christ and Satan) compiled in the X Century. Although the authorship
is disputed, some or a ll of these poems may be the work of the illiterate
herdsman who (at the command of angels, according to Bede) founded English
literature. Geo. W. Kennedy translation, 1916. --- OMACL
-
Secondary sources:
-
Caius, Roman Christian priest, (II/III Centuries):
-
Fragments:
Although Caius is important for his opposition to the Artemonian heresy,
his most interesting fragment for modern readers concerns the writing of
the New Testament. Salmond translation. --- NA
-
Callistus I, Pope of Rome, (II/III Centuries):
-
First Epistle
(To Bishop Benedict): Concerning the seasons for fasting, and accusations
against teachers. --- NA
-
Second Epistle
(To the Bishops of Gaul): Against ecclesiastical conspiracies,
bishops meddling in the affairs of other diocese, marriages between close
relatives and other moral and family irregularities. Also declares that
priests who have sinned may resume their duties after repenting: "Then
shall I offer a bullock upon Thy altar." --- NA
-
Carmina Gadelica:
-
Carmichael
translation, with original Gaelic In the 1800s, Alexander Carmichael
(Beachd Alastair) collected over a hundred ancient poems and prayers still
current in the Hebrides. Many unquestionably date back to the early Celtic
Church. --- ISLE OF SKYE GAELIC COLLEGE
-
Cassian, John: see John Cassian
-
Cassiodorus, Roman scholar and statesman, (VI Century):
-
Institutiones
(excerpts) A compendium of both sacred and secular learning for the
use of monks, including Goths unfamiliar with the classical heritage. ---
JOD
-
Secondary sources:
-
Catherine of Siena, Italian Dominican mystic, (XIV Century):
-
Cell of Self-Knowledge, collection of medi?val mystical treatises,
printed 1521:
-
Charlemagne, Frankish Roman Emperor of the West, (VIII/IX Centuries):
-
Clement
I, Pope of Rome, (I Century):
-
Clement V, Pope of Rome, (XIII/XIV Centuries):
-
Clement of Alexandria, Christian philosopher, (II/III Centuries):
-
Cluny, French monastery:
-
Columba of Iona, Irish abbot and missionary in Scotland, (VI Century):
-
Columbanus of Bobbio, Irish missionary in Europe, (VI/VII Centuries):
-
Boat
Song: As the editor puts it, this song "captures the mood of adventure
and robust faith that animated the Irish monks." Tierney translation. ---
MSBP
-
Secondary sources:
-
Jonas of
Bobbio: Life of St. Columban: Based on interviews with Columbanus'
disciples and friends by a monk who entered the monastery three years after
its founder's repose. Describes the saint's life in France, his miracles
(including the multiplication of beer), his amicable relations with numerous
wild animals, and his involvement in Merovingian politics. Munro translation,
1907.
-
Commodian, Roman or African Christian poet, date unknown:
-
The Instructions:
A series of acrostic poems on Christian themes, markedly apocalyptic
in tone. --- NA
-
Conrad of Saxony:
-
Works of disputed authorship:
-
Constantine I (the Great), Emperor of Rome, (III/IV Centuries):
-
Constantine VI, Emperor of the East, (VIII Century):
-
Sacra:
Schaff-Wace translation. --- CCEL
-
Coptic Devotional Material and Hymnography:
-
Cosmas Indicopleustes, Syrian monk and world traveler, (VI Century):
-
Councils of the Church:
-
Local Council of Carthage, 257:
-
Canons:
Schaff-Wace translation. --- CCEL
-
FIRST ECUMENICAL COUNCIL, Nic?a, 325: Repudiated Arianism, proclaimed
the Son of one essence with the Father, fixed the date of Pascha.
-
Local Council at Ankara, 315:
-
Canons:
Schaff-Wace translation --- CCEL
-
Local Council of Neoc?sarea, 315:
-
Canons:
Schaff-Wace translation --- CCEL
-
Local Council of Gangra, 325-381:
-
Local Council of Antioch in Enc?niis, 341
-
Local Council of Sardica, 343:
-
Canons:
Schaff-Wace translation. --- CCEL
-
Local Council of Laodicea in Phrygia Pacatiana, 343-381:
-
Canons:
Schaff-Wace translation --- CCEL
-
SECOND ECUMENICAL COUNCIL, Constantinople, 381: Completed the Nicene
Creed; defended the divinity of the Holy Spirit, opposing Macedonius.
-
Local Council of Constantinople, 394:
-
Canons:
Schaff-Wace translation. --- CCEL
-
Local Council of Carthage, 419:
-
Canons:
Schaff-Wace translation. --- CCEL
-
THIRD ECUMENICAL COUNCIL, Ephesus, 431: Declared the Virgin Mary to
be Theotokos, opposing Nestorius. Also opposed Pelagianism and other heresies.
-
Acts of the Council (excerpts): Schaff-Wace
translation (CCEL);
-
Canons:
--- CCEL
-
Letters of Cyril of Alexandria:
-
FOURTH ECUMENICAL COUNCIL, Chalcedon, 451: Declared Christ to have two
natures, contrary to Eutyches. This Council is rejected by the Non-Chalcedonian
Orthodox, who however also oppose Eutychian Monophysitism. The Latin text
of Council documents differs from the Greek.
-
Local Council of Orange, 529:
-
FIFTH ECUMENICAL COUNCIL, Constantinople, 553: Condemned Origen and
the Three Chapters.
-
Local Council of Toledo, 675:
-
Symbol
of Faith (This statement contributed greatly to the Filioque controversy.)
--- MSBP
-
SIXTH ECUMENICAL COUNCIL, Constantinople, 680-681: Proclaimed that Christ
had two wills.
-
The Quinsext Council "in Trullo", Constantinople, 692:
-
SEVENTH ECUMENICAL COUNCIL, Nic?a, 787:
-
Acts,
extracts: Schaff-Wace translation. --- CCEL
-
Dogmatic Decree and Anathemas:
-
Canons:
-
Sacra:
Schaff-Wace translation. --- CCEL
-
Local Council which Condemned Photius, Constantinople, 869: (Rejected
by Eastern Orthodox)
-
Councils of the Western Church After 1054 CE:
-
Lateran Council I, 1123: Dealt with Lay Investiture, the Crusades, ...
-
Canons:
Tanner translation. --- St. Michael's Depot
-
Lateran Council II, 1139: Dealt with Arnold of Brescia's attempt to
refound the Roman Republic, and with his theological views.
-
Canons: Tanner
translation. --- St. Michael's Depot
-
Lateran Council III, 1179: Dealt with Albigensianism and Waldensianism,
among other matters.
-
Lateran Council IV, : Dealt with Joachim of Fiore, with the Eastern
Orthodox and the Eastern Rite, with Albigensianism, with Judaism, and with
many canonical issues:
-
First Council of Lyons, 1245: Deposed and excommunicated Frederick II
and called for a Crusade under Louis IX of France against both the Muslims
and the Mongols.
-
Second Council of Lyons, 1274: Attempted re-union of Eastern and Western
Churches, added the filioque to the Creed, and regulated papal election
procedures.
-
Council of Vienne, 1311-13: Among other matters, dealt with alleged
heresies of the Knights Templar, and with the suppression of heretical
sects like the Beguines.
-
Council of Constance, (early XV Century): (Some of the decrees of this
council were annulled later on.)
-
Council of Basle, Ferara, and Florence, 1430s: An attempt to reform
the Church and to reunify East and West; the great Byzantine theologian
Mark of Ephesus was present, and later led Eastern opposition to the reunion.
The Council also dealt with the Hussite Protestant state in Bohemia:
-
Creeds:
-
Cyprian, Bishop of Carthage, African theologian and martyr, (III Century):
-
Cyril, Patriarch of Alexandria, (IV/V Centuries):
-
Cyril, Patriarch of Jerusalem, (IV Century):
D
-
Dante Alighieri, Italian poet, (XIII/XIV Centuries):
-
Divine Comedy: A vision of the afterlife, a depiction of the
Medi?val world, and one of the greatest poems ever written. In three parts:
Inferno (Hell), Purgatorio, and Paradiso.
-
Letters:
-
Secondary Sources:
-
Declan of Ardmore, monk and missionary in Ireland, (V or VI Century):
-
Demeter, Homeric Hymn to:
-
The
Didache:
-
Dionysius the Areopagite, Bishop of Athens, (I Century):
-
Dionysius the Great, Patriarch of Alexandria, (III Century):
-
Dioscorus:
-
Dominic, Spanish friar and founder of the Dominicans, (XII/XIII Centuries):
-
The Donation of Constantine:
-
Drogo, Bishop of Terouanne, (XI Century):
-
Duns Scotus, Scottish Franciscan philosopher and theologian, (XIII/XIV
Centuries):
E
-
Egeria, Western European pilgrim in East, (IV/V Centuries?):
-
Description
of the Liturgical Year in Jerusalem (excerpt) From the journal
of an early Western visitor to the East. This excerpt describes in detail
Jerusalem's Christian liturgical cycle. Modified Duchesme translation.
-- Michael Fraser
-
Einhard, Frankish official and court intellectual, (VIII/IX Centuries):
-
Life
of Charlemagne: Biography of the Emperor by one of his associates.
Turner translation, 1880. --- MSBP
-
Encyclicals of the Eastern Patriarchs, (XIX Century): (in reply to Papal
encyclicals. Although modern, these documents illustrate well the division
of East and West since medi?val times.)
-
Ephraim of Syria, Mesopotamian Christian poet, monastic, and theologian,
(IV Century):
-
Epictetus:
-
Epiphanius, Bishop of Salamis in Cyprus, (IV/V Centuries):
-
Epistle of Barnabas:
-
Epistle to Diognetus:
-
Eucherius, Bishop of Lyons, (IV/V Centuries):
-
Eugene III, Pope of Rome:
-
Eusebius of C?sarea:
-
Eustochium, Nun of Bethlehem:
-
Evagrius Ponticus, monastic writer from Asia Minor, (IV Century):
-
Works attributed to Evagrius by most XX Century scholars: Certain writings
of Evagrius were condemned by the Fifth Ecumenical Council as Origenist.
Scholars of the XX Century argued that many of his more conventional, less
speculative, works were preserved under the names of other authors to evade
condemnation. The acceptance of this theory has probably increased the
modern awareness of these particular writings; perhaps Church authorities
should should hope that scholars attribute many more patristic texts to
"condemned heretics" ... At any rate, we are now listing these works under
both Evagrius and the author whose name appears on the manuscripts, since
people may be looking for them under either.
-
Basil the Great, (author according to manuscripts): Eighth
Epistle Ostensibly a justification of Basil's withdrawing into
the country to meditate, this is is one of the finest Orthodox expositions
of the Trinity to emerge from the Arian crisis. However, since the 1920s,
most scholars have attributed this work to Evagrius Ponticus, a controversial
disciple of Basil and Gregory the Theologian whose Origenistic speculations
(in other writings) were condemned by the Fifth Ecumenical Council. The
Greek manuscripts themselves, however, ascribe the epistle to Basil. Jackson
translation. --- SPL
-
Evodius:
F
-
Fabian, Pope of Rome, (III Century):
-
Fatima, daughter of the Prophet Muhammad, (VII Century):
-
Sayings
--- YUS
-
Secondary Sources:
-
Alim Online Islamic Biography Series:
-
Fiacc, Irish bard, (V Century):
-
Firdowsi, Persian poet, (X/XI Centuries):
-
Shah-nameh: A
legendary history of pre-Islamic Persia; the national epic of Iran. Zimmern
translation. --- Virginia Tech
-
Francis of Assisi, Italian ascetic, (XII/XIII Centuries):
G
-
Gabrielia, Greek Orthodox Eldress, (XX Century):
-
Galerius (Roman Emperor):
-
Gaunilo, French philosopher, (XI Century):
-
Gelasius I (Pope of Rome):
-
Gennadius, Patriarch of Constantinople:
-
Gennadius of Marseilles, historian, (V Century):
-
George the Abbot, Syrian Christian apologist, (XII Century):
-
Al-Ghazali, Muslim mystic and scholar, (XII Century):
-
Gnostic Literature:
-
Gower, John, English poet, (XIV Century):
-
Confessio Amantis:
Tales of eartly and heavenly love. Text in Middle English ---
Online Medieval and Classical Library
-
Greek Mythology:
-
Gregory
I (the Great), Pope of Rome, (VI/VII Centuries):
-
Gregory II, Pope of Rome, (VII/VIII Centuries):
-
Gregory VII, Pope of Rome, (XI Century):
-
Gregory X, Pope of Rome, (XIII Century):
-
Gregory (Theologos) of Nazianzen, Cappadocian theologian, (IV Century):
-
Gregory, Bishop of Nyssa, Cappadocian theologian, (IV Century):
-
Gregory Palamas, Athonite mystic and theologian, (XIV Century):
-
Gregory Thaumaturgus, Orthodox missionary in Asia Minor, III Century:
-
A
Statement of Faith: An important early credal formula. Salmond translation,
1871. --- SPL
-
Canons:
Schaff-Wace translation. --- CCEL
-
Secondary sources:
-
Guido of Ivrea, Italian hymnographer, (XI Century):
H
-
The Hadiths:
-
Al-Hallaj:
-
Henry IV, Emperor of the West:
-
Hermas:
-
Hermes Trismegistus:
-
Hilary, Bishop of Poitiers, (IV Century):
-
Hilton, Walter, English mystic, (XIV Century):
-
Hippolytus of Rome, martyr, Orthodox theologian, and antipope, (II/III
Centuries):
-
History of St.
Gabriel's Monastery at Midyat (Turkey) --- D. JOHNSON
-
Homeric Hymn to Demeter:
-
Hospitaller Order of Saint John (Jerusalem/Rhodes/Malta):
-
Hussites, pre-Lutheran Protestants in Bohemia:
-
Council of Basle, Ferara, and Florence, 1430s: An attempt to reform
the Church and to reunify East and West; the great Byzantine theologian
Mark of Ephesus was present, and later led Eastern opposition to the reunion.
The Council also dealt with the Hussite Protestant state in Bohemia:
I
-
Iconoclast Literature:
-
Ignatius, Patriarch of Antioch, (I/II Centuries):
-
First Epistle to the Ephesians:
-
Second Epistle to the Ephesians:
-
Third Epistle to the Ephesians:
-
Epistle to the Magnesians:
-
Epistle to the Trallians:
-
Epistle to the Romans:
-
Epistle to the Philadelplhians:
-
Epistle to the Smyr?ans:
-
Epistle to Polycarp, Bishop of Smyrna:
-
Works of disputed authorship:
-
Secondary sources:
-
Innocent I, Pope of Rome, (IV/V Centuries):
-
Innocent III, Pope of Rome, (XII/XIII Centuries):
-
Ioasaph, Prince of Ethiopia or Great India, (IV Century?):
-
John of Damascus:
Barlaam and Ioasaph. Considered by some to be patterned on the
life of the Buddha; the name Ioasaph resembles the Persian spelling of
Bodhisattva. Authorship disp uted. Woodward and Mattingly translation,
1914. --- OMACL
-
Iren?us, Bishop of Lyons, (II Century):
-
Irene, Empress of the East, Restorer of the Ikons, (VIII Century):
-
Sacra:
Schaff-Wace translation. --- CCEL
-
Islamic Devotional Material:
-
Islamic Laws:
J
-
Jacob
of Serugh, Syriac Christian hymnographer, (V/VI Centuries):
-
Jacob of Voragine:
-
Jerome, Latin theologian and Bible translator, (IV/V Centuries):
-
Joachim of Fiore, Italian philosopher, theologian, and visionary, (XII/XIII
Centuries):
-
Secondary sources:
-
Lateran Council IV, : Dealt with Joachim of Fiore, with the Eastern
Orthodox and the Eastern Rite, with Albigensianism, with Judaism, and with
many canonical issues:
-
Joan of Arc, French warrior and visionary, (XV Century):
-
John II, Pope of Rome:
-
John I, King of England, (XII/XIII Centuries):
-
John Cassian the Roman, Daco-Romanian monastic active in Gaul, (IV/V
Centuries):
-
Conferences:
Cassian visited Egypt and interviewed the famous hermits of the
desert. Gibson translation, 1894. --- OSB
-
On the Incarnation,
against Nestorius: Gibson translation, 1894. ---
NA
-
Institutes:
A detailed first-hand account of Egyptian monastic life, which
became a major source of information about Eastern practice for monks in
the West. Gibson translation, 1894. --- OSB
-
John Chrysostom, Patriarch of Constantinople, (IV/V Centuries):
-
John of Damascus, Arab Christian theologian, (VI/VII Centuries):
-
John of Ruysbroek:
-
The Adornment of the Spiritual Marriage pdf,
text
(Available in US only.) ---CCEL
-
John
of the Cross:
-
Jonas, monk at Bobbio in Italy, (VII Century):
-
Life
of St. Columban: Based on interviews with Columbanus' disciples
and friends by a monk who entered the monastery three years after its founder's
repose. Describes the saint's life in France, his miracles (including the
multiplication of beer), his amicable relations with numerous wild animals,
and his involvement in Merovingian politics. Munro translation, 1907.
-
Jobert, Grand Master of the Knights Hospitaller, (XII Century):
-
Joseph the Hesychast, Athonite Elder, (XIX/XX Centuries):
-
Josephus:
-
Juansher, Georgian historian, (XII Century):
-
Concise
History of the Georgians: History of Georgia from Tower of Babel
to XII Century. Translated from an Armenian (but apparently diophysite)
version. Bedrosian translation, 1991. -- AHS
-
Julian of Norwich, English ascetic, (XIV/XV Centuries):
-
Junillus:
-
Justin Martyr, Hellenistic philosopher and Christian apologist, (II
Century):
-
Justinian, Emperor of the East, (V/VI Centuries):
K
-
Kabbalah, Jewish mystical tradition:
-
Kempe, Margery, English mystic, (XIV/XV Centuries):
-
Kirakos of Gandzak, Armenian historian, (XIII Century):
-
History
of the Armenians: A general history of Church and state, with particular
emphasis on the XII and XIII Centuries, including the Mongol invasions.
Bedrosian translation, 1986. --- AHS
-
The Koran
-
Kumail ibn-Zaid:
L
-
Latin Devotional Material and Hymnography:
-
Lectionaries:
-
The Lenten Triodion:
-
Leo I the Great, Pope of Rome, (V Century):
-
Tomos: Leo's famous letter defending the doctrine of Christ's
two natures: Post-Nicene
Fathers Translation (NA); Tanner
Translation (St Michael's Depot)
-
Sermon
1 (First Birthday Sermon): --- NA
-
Sermon
2 (Second Birthday Sermon): --- NA
-
Sermon
3 (Third Birthday Sermon): --- NA
-
Sermon
9 (Fourth Sermon on the Collections): --- NA
-
Sermon
10 (Fifth Sermon on the Collections): --- NA
-
Sermon
12 (First Sermon on the Fast of the Tenth Month): ---
NA
-
Sermon
16 (Fifth Sermon on the Fast of the Tenth Month): ---
NA
-
Sermon
17 (Sixth Sermon on the Fast of the Tenth Month): ---
NA
-
Sermon
19 (Eighth Sermon on the Fast of the Tenth Month): ---
NA
-
Sermon
21 (First Christmas Sermon): --- NA
-
Sermon
22 (Second Christmas Sermon): --- NA
-
Sermon
23 (Third Christmas Sermon): --- NA
-
Sermon
24 (Fourth Christmas Sermon): --- NA
-
Sermon
26 (Sixth Christmas Sermon): --- NA
-
Sermon
27 (Seventh Christmas Sermon): --- NA
-
Sermon
28 (Eighth Christmas Sermon): --- NA
-
Sermon
31 (First Epiphany Sermon): --- NA
-
Sermon
3 3 (Third Epiphany Sermon): --- NA
-
Sermon
34 (Fourth Epiphany Sermon): --- NA
-
Sermon
36 (Sixth Epiphany Sermon): --- NA
-
Sermon
39 (First Lenten Sermon): --- NA
-
Sermon
40 (Second Lenten Sermon): --- NA
-
Sermon
42 (Fourth Lenten Sermon): --- NA
-
Sermon
46 (Eighth Lenten Sermon): --- NA
-
Sermon
49 (Eleventh Lenten Sermon): --- NA
-
Sermon
51 (Sermon for Saturday before Second Sunday of Lent -- On the Transfiguration):
--- NA
-
Sermon
54 (Palm Sunday Sermon -- On the Passion, III): ---
NA
-
Sermon
55 (Holy Wednesday Sermon -- On the Passion, IV): ---
NA
-
Sermon
58 (On the Passion, VII): --- NA
-
Sermon
59 (Holy Wednesday Sermon -- On the Passion, VIII): ---
NA
-
Sermon
62 (On the Passion, XI): --- NA
-
Sermon
63 (Sermon for a Wednesday -- On the Passion, XII): ---
NA
-
Sermon
67 (Sunday Sermon -- On the Passion, XVI): --- NA
-
Sermon
68 (Wednesday Sermon -- On the Passion, XVII): ---
NA
-
Sermon
71 (Easter Vigil Sermon -- On the Lord's Resurrection, I): ---
NA
-
Sermon
72 (On the Lord's Resurrection, II): --- NA
-
Sermon
73 (First Ascension Sermon): --- NA
-
Sermon
74 (Second Ascension Sermon): --- NA
-
Sermon
75 (First Pentecost Sermon): --- NA
-
Sermon
77 (Third Pentecost Sermon): --- NA
-
Sermon
78 (First Sermon on the Pentecost Fast): --- NA
-
Sermon
82 (Sermon on the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul): ---
NA
-
Sermon
84 (On the Neglect of the Commemoration): --- NA
-
Sermon
85 (Sermon on the Feast of St. Laurence): --- NA
-
Sermon
88 (Third Sermon on the Fast of the Seventh Month): ---
NA
-
Sermon
90 (Fifth Sermon on the Fast of the Seventh Month): ---
NA
-
Sermon 91
(Sixth Sermon on the Fast of the Seventh Month): ---
NA
-
Sermon
95: On the Beatitudes: The emphasis on theosis is notable. Feltoe
translation, 1894. --- SPL
-
Letters:
--- NA
-
Ha-Levi, Yehudah, Hispano-Moorish Jewish poet, (XI/XII Centuries):
-
Liturgies:
-
Celtic:
-
Roman:
-
St. Basil:
-
Coptic
---St. Mary's Coptic Church
-
St. James:
-
St. John Chrysostom:
-
Liutprand of Cremona:
-
Lives of the Saints (First Ten Centuries):
-
General:
-
Adam and Eve:
-
The Life
of Adam and Eve, Translated and edited by G. A. Anderson and M.
E. Stone. One of the most ambitious attempts to create a scholarly hypertext
edition of an early Jud?o-Christian work. --- University
of Virginia
-
St.
Ephraim of Syria(?): The Cave of Treasures: Legendary lives
of the patriarchs who lived before the Deluge. Translated and edited by
G. A. Anderson and M. E. Stone. --- University of Virginia
-
Anthony the Great:
-
Athanasius the Great of Alexandria:
-
Babylas of Daphne:
-
Barlaam of Great India:
-
Barsamya, Bishop of Edessa, (I/II Centuries):
-
Basil the Great:
-
Benedict Biscop:
-
Benedict of Nursia:
-
C?dmon of Northumbria:
-
C?sarius, brother of Gregory the Theologian:
-
Cecilia:
-
Ceolfrid:
-
Columba of Iona:
-
Columbanus of Bobbio:
-
Jonas of
Bobbio: Life of St. Columban: Based on interviews with Columbanus'
disciples and friends by a monk who entered the monastery three years after
its founder's repose. Describes the saint's life in France, his miracles
(including the multiplication of beer), his amicable relations with numerous
wild animals, and his involvement in Merovingian politics. Munro translation,
1907.
-
Constantine and Helen:
-
Cuthbert of Lindisfarne:
-
Cyprian of Carthage:
-
Cyril of Alexandria:
-
Daniel the Stylite:
-
Declan of Ardmore:
-
Demetrius, Patriarch of Alexandria, (II/III Centuries):
-
Domnina of Antioch:
-
Easterwine:
-
Eligius (Eloi), Bishop of Noyon, French metalsmith, abbot, and opponent
of Monothelitism, (VI/VII Centuries):
-
Ouen (Dado)
of Rouen: The Life of St. Eligius. Ouen knew Eligius personally;
this life is believed however to have been reworked somewhat in Carolingian
times. The translation, (though very welcome, as this vita is a major document
of life in the Merovingian church, previously unavailable in English),
contains some minor errors, e.g. confusing Bretons with Britons. McNamara
translation, 1997. --- MSBP
-
Erendruda of Salzburg:
-
Eve the First Woman:
-
The Life
of Adam and Eve, Translated and edited by G. A. Anderson and M.
E. Stone. One of the most ambitious attempts to create a scholarly hypertext
edition of an early Jud?o-Christian work. --- University
of Virginia
-
St.
Ephraim of Syria(?): The Cave of Treasures: Legendary lives
of the patriarchs who lived before the Deluge. Translated and edited by
G. A. Anderson and M. E. Stone. --- University of Virginia
-
Felicity and Perpetua of Carthage:
-
Forty Martyrs of Sebaste:
-
Gervase and Protase of Milan:
-
Gorgonia, sister of Gregory the Theologian:
-
Gregory of Nazianzen the Elder (father of the Theologian Gregory):
-
Gregory Thaumaturgus:
-
Guria of Syria:
-
Habib of Telzeha:
-
Hilarion:
-
Huetberht:
-
Ignatius of Antioch:
-
Ioasaph of Great India:
-
James the Apostle:
-
Januarius of Benevento:
-
John the Almsgiver:
-
Justin Martyr:
-
Laurence the Deacon:
-
Liutberga of Windenhausen, German abbess, (IX Century):
-
Maccabee Family:
-
Malchus the Maronite:
-
Mark the Apostle:
-
Martin of Tours:
-
Sulpitius
Severus: Life of St. Martin: It was Martin of Tours, more than
anyone else, who was responsible for spreading monasticism in Western Europe,
and it was this biography, written while the saint was still alive, which
made Martin famous throughout the Empire. Roberts translation, 1894.
-- E. KNUTH
-
Sulpitius
Severus: The Dialogues: Sequel to the Life of St. Martin.
Roberts translation, 1894. --- CCEL
-
Martin I, Pope of Rome, (VII Century):
-
Mary of Egypt:
-
Meletius, Bishop of Antioch:
-
Nicholas of Myra:
-
Nina (Nino) of Georgia:
-
Olaf of Norway:
-
Onnophrius (Onuphrius) of the Desert:
-
Patrick of Ireland:
-
Paul the Hermit:
-
Pelagia of Caesarea:
-
Perpetua and Felicity of Carthage:
-
Peter of Alexandria:
-
Pisentius of Qift (Non-Chalcedonian):
-
Polycarp of Smyrna:
-
Protase and Gervase of Milan:
-
Quentin of Vermandois, martyr, :
-
Rupert of Salzburg:
-
Scillitan Martyrs (Carthage):
-
Shamuna of Syria:
-
Sharbil of Edessa:
-
Sigfrid:
-
Stephen the Protomartyr:
-
Thecla of Iconium:
-
Theodore the Greatmartyr:
-
Theodore of Sykeon:
-
Lives of Western Saints, (XI/XV Centuries):
-
General:
-
Francis of Assisi, Italian ascetic, (XII/XIII Centuries):
-
Goderic, English hermit, (XII Century):
-
Teresa of Avila, Spanish Carmelite nun, (XVI Century):
-
Louis IX, King of France, (XIII Century):
-
Letter
of King Louis to his Son Phillip: Munro and Sellery translation,
1910. --- MSBP
-
Secondary sources:
-
First Council of Lyons, 1245: Deposed and excommunicated Frederick II
and called for a Crusade under Louis IX of France against both the Muslims
and the Mongols.
-
Lully (Ramon Lull):
M
-
Maimonides, Jewish theologian, philosopher, and physician, (XII/XIII
Centuries):
-
Malik bin Anas:
-
Mamikonean, John, Armenian writer, (date unknown):
-
The History
of Taron: A medi?val story about Armenian knights battling the
Persians in a religiously motivated war. Although ostensibly describing
events of the VII Century, it seems far closer in spirit to the era of
the Turkish invasion of Asia Minor much later. Bedrosian translation, 1985.
--- AHS
-
Mani:
-
Manich?anism, world religion: (see also Albigensianism.)
-
Primary sources:
-
Secondary sources::
-
Corpus
Fontium Manich?orum: A project to publish (on paper) a library
of all Manichee texts. --- Macquarie University
-
Manicheism: Homepage
with strong pro-Manichee orientation. --- Norwegian Gnostics
-
Augustine's Anti-Manich?an writings:
-
On
Continence: Praises continence and the ascetic struggle, but rejects
the Manichee opinion that the flesh is by nature evil. ---
CCEL
-
Disputation with Fortunatus: Acts of a debate between Augustine
and a Manichee. --- CCEL
-
Against
the Epistle of Manich?us called "Fundamental" Attack on a key document
of the Manichee sect to which Augustine once belonged . ---
CCEL
-
Against
Faustus the Manichaean: Faustus was a Manich?an bishop, apologist,
and Biblical critic whom Augustine knew from his own days in the sect.
--- CCEL
-
De
Moribus Ecclesi? Catholic?: A philosophical treatise in the Stoic
sense, praising love of God and neighbour as manifested in Orthodoxy; intended
for a Manichee audience. --- CCEL
-
De
Moribus Manich?orum: Describes and attacks Manichee doctrine and
symbolism. --- CCEL
-
On
the Nature of the Good, Against the Manich?ans: An attack on Manichee
dualism, with extracts from Mani's own works. --- CCEL
-
On
the Utility of Believing Written soon after Augustine's ordination
and addressed to a Manichee friend. An attack on the elitism and intellectualism
of the Manichee movement, which put understanding before love. ---
CCEL
-
Marcellus:
-
Marcion:
-
Gospel
(Northwestern Nazarene College)
-
Marcus
Aurelius:
-
Maximus Margunius, Bishop of Cythera, Byzantine Renaissance humanist,
editor of the works of Chrysostom, (XVI/XVII Centuries):
-
Mark, Bishop of Ephesus, (XV Century):
-
Council of Basle, Ferara, and Florence, 1430s: An attempt to reform
the Church and to reunify East and West; the great Byzantine theologian
Mark of Ephesus was present, and later led Eastern opposition to the reunion:
-
Marthoma Devotional Material:
-
Martin I, Pope of Rome, (VII Century):
-
Martin, Bishop of Tours, Roman (Pannonian) monastic and missionary in
Gaul, (IV Century):
-
Secondary sources:
-
Sulpitius
Severus: Life of St. Martin: It was Martin of Tours, more than
anyone else, who was responsible for spreading monasticism in Western Europe,
and it was this biography, written while the saint was still alive, which
made Martin famous throughout the Empire. Roberts translation, 1894.
-- E. KNUTH
-
Sulpitius
Severus: The Dialogues: Sequel to the Life of St. Martin.
Roberts translation, 1894. --- CCEL
-
Sulpitius
Severus: Sacred History: A history of the world from Creation
to the End Times. Portions of this work were heavily criticized by other
Christian writers for factual errors, and the authenticity of the prophecies
ascribed to St. Martin has often been questioned. --- CCEL
-
Martyrdom of Perpetua and Felicity:
-
Martyrdom of Polycarp:
-
Mary, the Blessed Virgin Theotokos, (I Century BCE / I Century):
-
Works of disputed authenticity:
-
Mary of Cassobel?, Christian convert, (II Century):
-
John Mauropous, Metropolitan of Euchaita, Byzantine hymnographer, poet,
and intellectual, (XI Century):
-
Maximus of Madaura:
-
Methodius of Olympus:
-
Minucius Felix:
-
Monastic Charters:
-
Monastic Rules:
-
Muhammad, Prophet of Islam, (VI/VII Centuries):
-
First
Sermon --- K. ALIKHAN
-
Last
Sermon (Sunnite account?)
-
Last
Sermon (Shiite account?) --- K. ALIKHAN
-
Sayings
--- YUS
-
Secondary Sources:
-
Hamidullah, Muhammad:
-
Husain, Athar:
-
Husayn, S. S.
-
Rao, K. S. Ramakrishna:
N
-
Nectarius of Calama:
-
Nestorius,
-
Second Letter to Cyril:
-
Tanner translation. --- St. Michael's Depot
-
Secondary sources:
-
Nicholas of Cusa, Renaissance philosopher and cardinal, (XV Century):
-
Novatian, Roman religious leader and anti-pope, (III Century):
-
Novatian Controversy: Novatian and his followers felt that those who
lapsed during persecution should not be allowed to be rebaptized.
O
-
Oceanus:
-
Olaf II, King of Norway, (XI Century):
-
Origen, Alexandrian theologian and philosopher, later in Palestine,
(II/III Centuries):
-
Against
Celsus: Written at the request of St. Ambrose, a refutation of
the most famous pagan attack on Christianity. Celsus regarded Christians
as illiterate and superstitious peasants; Origen argues that Christianity
is instead the most profound of philosophies. --- CCEL
-
Commentary
on the Gospel of Matthew (excerpts): --- NA
-
Commentary
on the Gospel of John: --- NA
-
First Principles:
Origen's most famous work, containing his elaborate speculative
theology which was later condemned as heretical. The text is largely a
reconstruction, as no complete copies of the original seem to have survived.
Passages acceptable to Orthodoxy were published by Basil and Gregory, and
a toned-down paraphrase of the entire work was made by Rufinus; anti-Origenist
writers like Jerome quoted other, less conventional passages. ---
NA
-
Letter to
Africanus about the Book of Susanna: See also Africanus'
original letter. Africanus had noticed that parts of the Book of Daniel
as found in the Septuagint contain anomalies, such as Greek puns which
seemed unlikely to work in Hebrew. He therefore suggested that the Susanna
story might be a forgery. Origen, after summarizing differences between
the Greek and Hebrew versions of the Old Testament in general, argues for
acceptance of the Apocrypha on the grounds that God is guiding His Church,
and that the Jews have tampered with the Hebrew version. ---
NA
-
Letter
to Gregory Thaumaturgus on Classical Learning ---
MSBP
-
Secondary Sources:
-
Fifth Ecumenical Council:
-
Jerome:
-
Rufinus:
-
Otfrid of Weissenburg, German monk and poet, (IX Century):
-
Letter
about the Translation of the Gospels: Otfrid wrote a life of Christ
in rhyming German verse at the request of the noblewoman Judith. This letter
to the Archbishop of Mainz describes the work, as well the challenges of
creating one of the first long written documents in the Germanic language.
Latin original followed by Marchand translation, 1992. ---
UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS
-
Ouen (Dado), Bishop of Rouen, (VI/VII Centuries):
-
The Life
of St. Eligius. Ouen knew Eligius personally; this life is believed
however to have been reworked somewhat in Carolingian times. The translation,
(though very welcome, as this vita is a major document of life in the Merovingian
church, previously unavailable in English), contains some minor errors,
e.g. confusing Bretons with Britons. McNamara translation, 1997. ---
MSBP
P
-
Paisios, Athonite Elder, (XX Century):
-
Sayings:
A modern representative of the tradition of the Desert Fathers. ---
TheoLogic
-
Pammachius, Roman philanthropist, (IV/V Centuries):
-
Papal Encyclicals:
-
Paphnutius of the Desert:
-
Papias, Christian writer, (I/II Centuries):
-
Patrick
of Ireland:
-
Paul Silentiarius:
-
Description of Hagia Sophia:
-
Paula of Bethlehem:
-
Peter, Crown of the Martyrs, Patriarch of Alexandria, (III/IV Centuries):
-
Peter Mogila:
-
Manuel Philes, Byzantine poet, (XIV Century):
-
Philo:
-
Philokalia, anthology of patristic texts, (compiled XVIII Century)\
:
-
George Pisides, Byzantine poet and historian, (VI/VII Centuries)
-
Right
Rule Barrett Browning translation, 1842. --- SPL
-
Pius II, Pope of Rome, (XV Century):
-
Plato:
-
Plotinus:
-
Enneads:
The central text of Neoplatonism, a philosophical school which both
contended against and powerfully influenced the early Church Fathers, and
survived into modern times as the Western esoteric tradition. MacKenna
and Page translation. --- ICA
-
Pliny
the Younger:
-
Polycarp
of Smyrna:
-
Pontian, Pope of Rome, (III Century):
-
Pontius the Deacon:
-
Prayer Collections:
-
Procopius, Byzantine official and historian, (VI Century):
-
The
Secret HistoryDefamatory account of life in Justinian's court by
a far-from-unbiased insider. Atwater translation, 1927. ---
MSBP
-
Theodore Prodromus, Byzantine poet, (XII Century):
-
Protase of Milan, martyr, (date unknown):
R
-
Raymond de Puy, Grand Master of the Knights Hospitaller, (XII Century):
-
Reginald of Durham:
-
Richard of St. Victor, Scottish-born French mystic, (XII Century):
-
Benjamin:
Sixteenth century English translation. --- CCEL
-
Roger de Moulins, Grand Master of the Knights Hospitaller, (XII Century):
-
Rosaries:
-
Rufinus:
-
Rumi:
S
-
Saccho, Reinarius, (XIII Century):
-
On the Sects of Modern Heretics: A Catholic guide to heretical
beliefs current in the mid 1200s. Excerpts available:
-
Sa'di Shirazi:
-
Samuel Ha-Nagid, Vizier of Granada, Jewish official in Moorish Spain,
(X/XI Centuries):
-
Sebeos, Armenian historian, (VII Century):
-
History:
History of Armenia in the VI and VII Centuries. Bedrosian translation,
1979.
-
Sefer Yetzirah, Kabbalistic cosmological treatise, date uncertain:
-
Severus, Bishop of Al-Ushmunain, Coptic historian, (X Century):
-
History of the Patriarchs of Alexandria: Evetts translation.
--- SPL
-
Prefaces:
By the author and later scribes.
-
The
Tale of Theodosius the Jew A story with antisemitic overtones claiming
that Jesus was enrolled among the Jewish priests and known by them to be
the Messiah, embedded in a very interesting "frame story" depicting the
far from clear-cut relations of Jews and Gentiles in the Byzantine Near
East and the author's awareness of the situation's psychological complexity.
-
St.
Mark, Apostle and Evangelist: The story of the evangelization of Egypt
and of the Apostle's martyrdom.
-
St.
Demetrius, Twelfth Patriarch: Demetrius was patriarch in the time of
Origen and led the opposition to his teachings, a conflict depicted in
the second half of this work. The first half focuses on the personal life
of the saint, who was one of the last famous married bishops.
-
St.
Cyril the Great, Twenty-fourth Patriarch: Illustrates how this most
celebrated of Egyptian hierarchs and his opponent Nestorius were remembered
in the X Century. --- SPL
-
Simeon of Gesir:
-
Potter
Songs Ancient Syriac Christmas carols. Euringer-Meditz translation,
1996. ---SPL
-
Simeon Metaphrastes, Byzantine hagiographer, (X Century):
-
Sixtus II, Pope of Rome, (III Century):
-
Snorri Sturlesson, Icelandic intellectual and mythographer, (XII/XIII
Centuries):
-
Heimskringla:
The Chronicle of the Kings of the Norway, a compilation of historical sagas.
S. Laing translation, 1844. --- OMACL
-
Socrates Scholasticus, Byzantine historian, (V Century):
-
Sophronius, Patriarch of Jerusalem, (VI/VII Centuries):
-
The
Life of our Holy Mother Mary of Egypt: The story of the Egyptian
prostitute's conversion and subsequent life of miraculous asceticism is
so important to the Eastern Orthodox that it is read aloud in church during
the fifth week of Lent. Jordanville translation. --- ORTHODOX
PAGE
-
Sozomen, Byzantine historian, (V Century):
-
Steegen, Gerhardt ter, German Catholic mystic, (XIV Century):
-
Sufi (Anonymous) Material:
-
Suger, Abbot of St.-Denis, (XII Century):
-
Sulpitius Severus:
-
Life
of St. Martin: It was Martin of Tours, more than anyone else, who
was responsible for spreading monasticism in Western Europe, and it was
this biography, written while the saint was still alive, which made Martin
famous throughout the Empire. Roberts translation, 1894.
-- E. KNUTH
-
The
Dialogues: Sequel to the Life of St. Martin. Roberts translation,
1894. --- CCEL
-
Sacred
History: A history of the world from Creation to the End Times.
Portions of this work were heavily criticized by other Christian writers
for factual errors, and the authenticity of the prophecies ascribed to
St. Martin has often been questioned. --- CCEL
-
Letters:
-
Suso, Heinrich, German Catholic mystic, (XIV Century):
-
Symmachus the Prefect:
-
Synesius, Bishop of Cyrene, Christian Neo-Platonist philosopher, (IV/V
Centuries):
-
Syriac Devotional Material:
T
-
Talmudic and Rabbinical:
-
Tatian, Assyrian-born Hellenistic Christian philosopher, first Orthodox,
later Gnostic, (II Century):
-
Address to
the Greeks: Styling himself a "barbarian philosopher", the young
(Orthodox) Tatian ferociously attacks nearly all aspects of Hellenistic
civilization as corrupt or fraudulent. Ryland translation. ---
NA
-
Diatessaron:
An attempt to combine passages of all four Gospels into a single
narrative. --- NA
-
Fragments:
Emphasis is on Tatian's later heresies. Ryland translation. ---
NA
-
Teresa
of Avila:
-
Tertullian,
African theologian, first Orthodox, later Montanist, (II/III Centuries):
-
Theodore of Studium:
-
Theodoret, Bishop of Cyrrhus:
-
Theodotus:
-
Theologia Germanica (late mediaeval):
-
Theophilus of Antioch:
-
Theophilus, Patriarch of Alexandria:
---CCEL
-
Thomas
Aquinas, Scholastic philosopher and theologian, (XIII Century):
-
On
the Eternity of the World: An extremely interesting argument that
there is neither heresy nor self-contradiction in the claim that the world
could be infinitely old and yet created by God. Miller translation,
1991. --- MSBP
-
On
the Principles of Nature: Discusses causality and the nature of
being. G. Campbell translation. --- University of Toronto
-
Summa Contra Gentiles: Discusses the relationship between God
and creation.
-
Summa Theologica:
Famous attempt to reconcile church doctrine with Aristotelean philosophy;
declared in the XIX Century to be the "official theology" of the Roman
Catholic Church. Englis h Dominicans' translation. --- NEW
ADVENT
-
Secondary Sources:
-
Thomas of Celano:
-
Thomas a Kempis:
-
Timothy, Patriarch of Alexandria:
-
T'ovma of Metsob, Armenian monk and intellectual, (XIV/XV Centuries):
-
John Tzetzes, Byzantine poet, (XII Century):
U
-
Ugolino:
-
Umar, Caliph:
-
Urban I, Pope of Rome, (II/III Centuries):
-
Epistle:
On gifts to the Church from non-believers; on why bishops have special
thrones in all churches; on shunning the excommunicated. ---
NA
-
Urban II, Pope of Rome:
-
Speech at the Council of Clermont
V
-
Vigilius, Pope of Rome, (VI Century):
-
Decretal:
In support of the Fifth Ecumenical Council. Schaff-Wace translation. ---
CCEL
-
Vincent of Lérins:
W
-
Waldensianism, dissident Christian movement anticipating Protestantism:
-
Waldo, Peter, southern French Christian dissident, (XII Century):
-
William of Ockham, English philosopher and theologian, (XIII/XIV Centuries):
-
Dialogus:
Kilcullen-Scott translation, 1995. --- British Academy
-
Wulfila, Arian bishop and missionary to the Goths, (IV Century):
-
Secondary Sources:
-
Auxentius
of Durostorum: On Wulfila: Wulfila, who translated the Bible
into Gothic, was Auxentius' foster-father. This letter includes an Arian
creed written by Wulfila. Marchand translation. --- JOD
-
Wulfstan II, Archbishop of York, English political philosopher, (X/XI
Centuries):
-
Sermon
of the Wolf to the English: Jeremiad, consciously modeled on that
of St. Gildas the Wise, denouncing the corruption and chaos of English
society and making a nationalist appeal against Viking occupation. Old
English with modern English translation and extensive scholarly apparatus;
a remarkable hypertext by Melissa J. Bernstein. --- Univ.
of Rochester
Z
-
Zephyrinus, Pope of Rome, (II/III Centuries):
-
Zoroaster (Zarathustra), Persian prophet and founder of the state religion,
(date unknown, no later than VI Century BCE):
-
The Avesta, and other Zoroastrian
Texts: An extremely good library of Zoroastrian writings, including
the complete Avesta, and several ancient biographies of Zarathustra
himself. Numerous links to contemporary Zoroastrian websites are also provided.
---
![[E]](ecolent.gif)
Karen Rae Keck and Norman
Hugh Redington
Copyright © 1996, Karen Rae Keck and Norman Hugh
Redington. This file may be copied on the condition that the entire contents,
including the header and this copyright notice,
remain intact.