Early Church Documents: A
Abbo of Fleury:
The Martyrdom of St. Edmund, King of East Anglia:
Cutler translation, 1998.
--- MSBP
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 Mediæval avant garde. Bellows translation, 1922.
--- MSBP
Abraham ibn Daud, Hispano-Moorish Jewish historian, (XII
Century):
Life of Samuel Ha-Nagid, Vizier of Granada:
Samuel was both a high Moorish dignitary and the
leader of the local Jewish community. From Sefer Seder Ha-Kabbalah.
Marcus translation, 1938. --- MSBP
Adamnan, Abbot of Iona, (VII/VIII Centuries):
Life of St. Columba, Founder of Hy:
A major primary source for the Celtic Church. Reeves
translation, 1874. St. Columba
Page
Ælfric, English Benedictine, (X/XI Centuries):
Colloquy:
In Old English; includes a sound file.
--- University of Calgary
The Homily for the Feast of St. Alban:
From Verse Lives of the Saints.
--- Brit. Orth. Church
Julius Africanus, Libyan soldier, historian, and
encyclopædist, (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. --- CCEL
Agatho, Pope of Rome, (VII Century):
Letters:
About monothelitism and the Sixth Ecumenical Council.
Schaff-Wace translation. --- CCEL
Agobard, Archbishop of Lyons, Frankish theologian, (IX
Century):
On the Baptism of Slaves Belonging to Jews:
Copyrighted North translation, 1999.
--- MSBP
On Injustices to Mathfrid:
Copyrighted North translation, 1999.
--- MSBP
On the Insolence of the Jews To Louis the Pious:
Copyrighted North translation, 1999.
--- MSBP
Ailred, Abbot of Riveaux, (XII Century):
Life of St. Ninian:
--- British Orth. Church
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
Manichæanism.
Excerpt from a XIII Century chronicle. Maitland
translation, 1832. --- MSBP
Lateran Council III, 1179: Dealt
with Albigensianism and Waldensianism, among other matters.
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:
Tanner translation. --- St. Michael's Depot
Alcuin, English scholar at the court of Charlemagne,
(VII/VIII Centuries):
Life of St. Vedastus:
Describes the conversion of King Clovis to Orthodoxy.
Lasnier translation, 1996. ---
University of Kansas
Alexander, Patriarch of Alexandria, (IV Century):
Deposition of Arius: The
decree expelling the famous heretic from the Orthodox Church.
--- CCEL
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):
Wasiyyah:
A famous lecture of Imam Ali anticipating the
rise of sectarianism in Islam and suggesting a means of finding the correct
path. --- City University Islamic
Society
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):
Al-Sahifat
Al-Sajjadiyya: The prayer-manual or psalter
of Shiite Islam. --- AL-ISLAM
Ambrose of Milan,
bishop, theologian, and hymnographer, (IV Century):
Sermon
justifying Ambrose's refusal to turn over Orthodox church property to the
state-supported Arian Church. De Romestin translation, 1896.
--- CCEL
On the Death of his Brother Satyrus, and on Belief in the
Resurrection: De
Romestin translation, 1896. ---
CCEL
On the Duties of the Clergy:
De Romestin translation, 1896.
--- CCEL
Exposition of the Christian Faith:
De Romestin translation, 1896.
--- CCEL
On the Holy Spirit:
De Romestin translation, 1896.
--- CCEL
On the Mysteries: --- CCEL
On Repentence: --- CCEL
On Virgins, to Marcellina his Sister:
--- CCEL
On Widows: --- CCEL
Seventeenth Epistle: Opposing
the desire of Symmachus to reinstall a pagan altar in the Senate building.
--- CCEL
Eighteenth Epistle (Reply to the Memorial of Symmachus):
Refutes the argument of
Symmachus
that abandoning paganism is a threat to Rome's security. De Romestin
translation, 1896. --- CCEL
Twentieth Epistle (To his Sister Marcellina):
Narrates the story of his opposition to the construction of
an Arian basilica in Milan. --- CCEL
Twenty-First Epistle: Argues
that only clerics have the right the right to judge in ecclesiastical cases.
De Romestin translation, 1896. --- CCEL
Twenty-Second Epistle (To Marcellina):
Relates his discovery of the relics of Saints Gervase and
Protase. --- CCEL
Fortieth Epistle (To the Emperor Theodosius):
Argues that a synagogue burnt by order of an Eastern bishop
should not be rebuilt at Church expense.
--- CCEL
Forty-First Epistle (To his Sister Marcellina):
Narrates how he handled the matter of the burnt synagogue.
--- CCEL
Fifty-First Epistle (To the Emperor Theodosius):
Demands the Emperor repent for ordering a massacre in
Thessalonica. De Romestin translation, 1896.
--- CCEL
Fifty-Seventh Epistle (To the Emperor Eugene):
Criticizes Eugene's tolerance of paganism.
--- CCEL
Sixty-First Epistle (To the Emperor Theodosius):
Congratulating him on his victory over Eugene, and
urging mercy for the vanquished. ---
CCEL
Sixty-Second Epistle (To Theodosius):
Urges clemency for followers of the defeated Eugene who sought
refuge in churches. --- CCEL
Sixty-Third Epistle (To the Church at Vercellæ):
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.
--- CCEL
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):
Letter to Simplicianus:
Affirming the condemnation of Origenism.
---CCEL
Anastasius the Librarian, scholar,
politician, and antipope, (IX Century):
Hawkins translation, 1879.
--- SPL
Anastasius the Monk:
Concerning the Holy Fathers in Sinai
(excerpts): SGPM
translation, 1997. --- SGPM
Ancrene Wisse, collection of
rules and advice for English nuns,
Original Middle English text:
Univ. of Connecticut
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 Cædmon. 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):
Letter to the Bishops of Boetica and Toletana:
On the transfer of bishops and episcopal seats.
--- NA
Anthony of Padua, Franciscan friar and preacher, (XIII
Century):
Aphrahat the Sage, Persian Christian theologian, (IV
Century):
The Demonstrations (excerpts):
Gwynn translation. ---
CCEL
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
inexplicably 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 Judæo-Christian
work. --- University of Virginia
The Apostolic Canons, early
Church document, (I Century?):
Percival translation, 1899.
--- SPL
Aristakes of Lastivert, Armenian historian, (XI Century):
History Regarding the Sufferings Occasioned by Foreign Peoples
Living Around Us
Armenia's troubles in the XI Century. Includes information about the Tondraka
Movement in the Church. --- AHS
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 earliest apologetical works. Also appears without
attribution in Barlaam and Ioasaph. Kay translation from the Syriac
version found in St. Catherine's Monastery. --- SPL
Aristotle, Greek philosopher, (IV Century BCE):
Collected Works
The Greek philosopher who probably exerted the strongest
influence on Mediæval thought, Christian, Jewish, and Islamic.
--- Tech Classics
Arius, excommunicated Libyan theologian, (III/IV Centuries):
Alexander of Alexandria: Deposition
of Arius. The decree expelling the famous
heretic from the Orthodox Church. --- CCEL
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
Athanasius the Great,
Egyptian theologian and Patriarch of Alexandria, (IV
Century):
Schaff-Wace
translation. --- CCEL
Contra Gentes (Against the Heathen):
Critique of polytheism and nature-worship.
--- CCEL
De Decretis: In defense of the Nicene
definition. --- CCEL
De Decretis: In defense of the Nicene
definition. --- CCEL
Encyclical Epistle to the Bishops of Egypt and Libya:
--- CCEL
Encyclical Epistle to the Bishops Throughout the World:
--- CCEL
Festal Letters:
--- CCEL
Four Discourses Against the Arians:
--- CCEL
History of the Arians:
--- CCEL
On the Incarnation: One of
the most important works in Orthodox theology, describing the incarnation of
God the Word as the basis for human theosis. --- CCEL
Life of St. Anthony: A book
enormously influential in both East and West, setting the pattern for
hagiography and spreading the monastic ideal throughout Christendom.
--- MSBP
On Luke 10:22: --- CCEL
On the Sentences of Dionysius:
Arians and their sympathizers argued that the respected
Dionysius of Alexandria had anticipated their views; Athanasius disagrees.
--- CCEL
Synodical Letter to the Africans:
--- CCEL
On the Synods: ---
CCEL
Tome to the Antiochians:
--- CCEL
Personal Letters:
--- CCEL
Secondary Sources:
An
ancient life of Athanasius. --- CCEL
Gregory the Theologian: Oration 21
(On Athanasius the Great): Browne-Swallow
translation. --- CCEL
Athenagoras of Athens, Christian philosopher, (II Century):
A Plea for the Christians:
Pratten translation. --- CCEL
On the Resurrection of the Dead:
--- CCEL
Augustine, Archbishop of Canterbury, Roman missionary in
England, (VI/VII Centuries):
Bede: Ecclesiastical History:
The fullest account of Augustine's life is found in Book One,
Chapters 23-34 and Book Two, Chapters 1-3.
--- SPL
Augustine, Bishop of
Hippo, African theologian and philosopher, (IV/V
Centuries):
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 with the heavenly.
Also contains Augustine's theory of original sin, widely accepted in the
Western (but never in the Eastern) Church. Dods-Wilson-Smith translation.
---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. Shaw translation.
---CCEL
Enchiridion:
A "handbook" of essential Christian doctrines as Augustine
understood them. Shaw translation.
---CCEL
Against the Epistle of Manichæus 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 Manichæan 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. Cunningham translation.
--- CCEL
De Mendacio
(somewhere in long, not-yet-indexed file) ---
CCEL
De Moribus Ecclesiæ Catholicæ:
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 Manichæorum:
Describes and attacks Manichee doctrine and symbolism.
--- CCEL
On the Nature of the Good, Against the Manichæans:
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 Cæsarea:
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 Manichæans
The Manichees' dualism extended to their theory
of human nature. --- CCEL
O n 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):
Pages from Church History.
Hanna translation, 1996. Under ongoing construction.
--- CN
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