QUADERNI DELLA RIVISTA DI BIZANTINISTICA, 12                (ALL THE BOOKS OF THE SERIES)

Spoleto 2007, pp. VIII-216

Bishop John of Constantinople enjoys a legendary reputation in all Christian Churches. He bears the honorary title “Golden Mouth” (Chrysostom) and is venerated as one of the most important Church fathers. However, among his contemporaries he was highly controversial. In 407 A.D. he died in the exile under obscure circumstances. Immediately after the notice of his death reached Constantinople, one of his most fervent supporters delivered a brilliant speech, in which he enthusiastically praises the deceased bishop and mercilessly condemns his adversaries. This text is the oldest biographical source for this central figure in Church history. It also gives a lively picture of church and society in Constantinople, and is thus a new source of great importance for the political and social history of the capital. Finally, it is also an extraordinary piece of late antique Greek literature of considerable linguistic beauty. The editio princeps of this text, which has never before appeared in print, appears in 2007, appropriately the 1600th anniversary of John Chrysostom’s death.


ISBN 978-88-7988-122-7