I’ve briefly mentioned the Popular Patristics Series published by Saint Vladimir’s Seminary Press before. My appreciation of the volumes has only grown since then, as I’ve managed to pick up the entire series. In this post, I provide a list of the works included in each volume, and the texts utilized in their translations, and other stuff that I think useful to know. The list follows the publication order, with each volume given its number in the series. It is not hard to miss some big names among those contributing to this series, though it is somewhat surprising in a series of translations designed for the general reading public. Among the contributors is a shared love for the Church Fathers and a noble desire to spread knowledge of these treasures of Christianity which we find in their writings. I hope others will find this list as useful as I do.
1. Saint John Chrysostom — Six Books on the Priesthood
Translation and Introduction: Graham Neville
Work: On the Priesthood (complete).
Text: J. A. Nairn. De Sacerdotio of Saint John Chrysostom. Cambridge Patristic Texts. 1906.
2. Saint Cyril of Jerusalem — Lectures on the Christian Sacraments
Introduction and Greek Text: F. L. Cross
English Translation: R. W. Church
Works: Procatechesis; Mystagogical Catecheses I-V
Text: F. L. Cross, in this volume.
Note: This volume is unusual in the series in that it includes both a Greek text and an English translation. Most of the other volumes lack presentations in the original language.
3. Saint John of Damascus — On the Divine Images
Introduction and Translation: David Anderson
Work: Three Treatises on the Holy Images
Text: Migne PG 94.1231-1420
Note: This volume is unusual in that a later number in the series is a new edition of the same work, by a different translator. See number 24.
4. Saint Athanasius — On the Incarnation
Introduction: C. S. Lewis
Translation: A Religious of C.S.M.V.
Works: 1.) On the Incarnation; 2.) Letter to Marcellinus
Texts: 1.) F. L. Cross, Athanasius De Incarnatione: An Edition of the Greek Text, SPCK, 1939; 2.) Benedictine edition of 1698; Migne PG 27
5. Saint Basil the Great — On the Holy Spirit
Introduction and Translation: David Anderson
Work: On the Holy Spirit
Text: Migne PG 32
6. Saint Theodore the Studite — On the Holy Icons
Introduction and Translation: Catharine P. Roth
Work: Three Refutations Against the Iconoclasts
Text: Migne 99.328-436
7. Saint John Chrysostom — On Marriage and Family Life
Introduction: Catharine P. Roth
Translation: Catharine P. Roth [the two sermons] and David Anderson [the four homilies, slightly abridged]
Works: Homily 19 on 1 Corinthians 7; Homily 20 on Ephesians 5.22-33; Homily 21 on Ephesians 6.1-4; Homily 12 on Colossians 4.18; First Sermon on Marriage; Third Sermon on Marriage
Texts: unnoted, but likely Migne PG
8. Saint Germanus of Constantinople — On the Divine Liturgy
Translation, Introduction, and Commentary: Paul Meyendorff
Work: “Ecclesiastical History and Mystical Contemplation” (a.k.a. Commentary on the Divine Liturgy)
Text: N. Borgia, Il commentario litugico di S. Germano patriarca Constantinopolitano e versiona latina di Anastasio Bibliotecario (Grottaferrata, 1912).
Note: This volume is unusual in the series in that it includes both a Greek text and an English translation on facing pages. Most of the other volumes lack presentations in the original language.
9. Saint John Chrysostom — On Wealth and Poverty
Introduction and Translation: Catharine P. Roth
Work: Sermons 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, and 7 on Lazarus and the Rich Man. (Sermon 5 is omitted because it was begun, but changed to a different subject by St John himself, so as not to overwhelm his listeners with one subject. The translation is slightly abridged.)
Text: Migne PG 48.963-1054
10. Saint Ephrem the Syrian — Hymns on Paradise
Introduction and Translation: Sebastian Brock
Works: 1.) Hymns on Paradise 1-15; 2.) Commentary on Genesis, section 2
Texts: 1.) Dom Edmund Beck, CSCO 174; 2.) CSCO 152
11. St Isaac of Nineveh — On Ascetical Life
Introduction and Translation: Mary Hansbury
Works: Ascetic Discourses 1-6
Text: Paul Bedjan, Mar Isaacus Ninivita: De Perfectione Religiosa. Paris/Leipzig, 1909.
12. St Gregory of Nyssa — On the Soul and Resurrection
Introduction and Translation: Catharine P. Roth
Work: Dialogue on the Soul and the Resurrection
Text: J. G. Krabinger, S. Gregorii episcopi Nysseni De anima et resurrectione cum sorore sua Macrina dialogus. Leipzig, 1837.
13. St Cyril of Alexandria — On the Unity of Christ
Introduction and Translation: John Anthony McGuckin
Work: On the Unity of Christ
Texts: Migne PG 75.1253-1361; P. E Pusey, Works of S. Cyril (Oxford, 1868) 7.334-424; G. M. de Durand, Deux Dialogues Christologiques, Sources Chrétiennes 97, pp 302-514.
14. St Symeon the New Theologian — On the Mystical Life. The Ethical Discourses, Volume I: The Church and the Last Things
Introduction and Translation: Alexander Golitzin
Works: Ethical Discourses 1, 2, 3, 10, 14
Text: Jean Darrouzès, Traités théologiques et éthiques, Sources Chrétiennes 122 and 129.
15. St Symeon the New Theologian — On the Mystical Life. The Ethical Discourses, Volume II: On Virtue and Christian Life
Introduction and Translation: Alexander Golitzin
Works: Ethical Discourses 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12, 13, 15
Text: Jean Darrouzès, Traités théologiques et éthiques, Sources Chrétiennes 122 and 129.
16. St Symeon the New Theologian — On the Mystical Life. The Ethical Discourses, Volume III: Life, Times, and Theology
Author: Alexander Golitzin
Note: This volume is an introduction to St Symeon’s thought and works, not a translation.
17. St Irenaeus of Lyons — On the Apostolic Preaching
Introduction and Translation: John Behr
Work: The Demonstration of the Apostolic Preaching
Text: MS Erevan 3710; MS Galata 54; K. Ter-Mekerttschian and S. G. Wilson, with Prince Maxe of Saxony, editors and English translation; French translation by J. Bartholout: Εις επιδειξιν του αποστολικου κηρυγματος; The Proof of the Apostolic Preaching, with Seven Fragments. Patrologia Orientalis 12.5 (Paris, 1917; reprinted Brepols, 1989); A. Rousseau, Irénée de Lyon: Démonstration de la Prédication Apostolique, Sources Chrétiennes 406; also consulted was the collation between the PO text above and MS Erevan 3710 by Charles Mercier, included in L. M. Froidevaux, Irénée de Lyon: Démonstration de la Prédication Apostolique, Sources Chrétiennes 62.
18. On the Dormition of Mary: Early Patristic Homilies
Introduction and Translation: Brian E. Daley SJ
Works: 1.) “The Dormition of Our Lady, the Mother of God and Ever-Virgin Mary” by John, Archbishop of Thessalonica; 2.) “An Encomium on the Assumption of the Holy Mother of God” by Theoteknos, Bishop of Livias; 3.) “An Encomium on the Dormition of Our Most Holy Lady, Mary, Mother of God and Ever-Virgin” by St Modestus, Archbishop of Jerusalem; 4.) “On the Dormition of Our Most Holy Lady, the Mother of God, Homilies 1-3” by St Andrew of Crete; 5.) “On the Most Venerable Dormition of the Holy Mother of God” by St Germanus, Archbishop of Constantinople; 6.) “An Encomium on the Holy and Venerable Dormition of Our Most Glorious Lady, the Mother of God and Ever-Virgin Mary” by St Germanus, Archbishop of Constantinople; 7.) “On the Dormition of the Holy Mother of God” [Homily 1 on the subject] by St John of Damascus; 8.) “On the Holy and Glorious Dormition and Transformation of Our Lady Mary, Mother of God and Ever-Virgin” [Homily 2 on the subject] by St John of Damascus; Appendix I [to Homily 2]: Euthymiac History [an extract from this otherwise unknown history]; 9.) “A Discourse on the Dormition of Our Lady, the Mother of God” [Homily 3 on the subject] by St John of Damascus; 10.) “Canon for the Dormition of the Mother of God (Tone IV)” by St John of Damascus; Appendix II [to the canon]: “Metrical Pattern of John of Damascus, Canon for the Dormition of the Mother of God”; 11.) “Encomium on the Dormition of Our Holy Lady, the Mother of God” by St Theodore the Studite.
Texts: 1.) M. Jugie, Patrologia Orientalis 19: 375-436; 2.) A. Wegner, L’assomption de la T. S. Vierge; 3.) Migne PG 86.3277-3312; 4.) Migne PG 97.1045-1109; 5. and 6.) Migne PG 98.340-372; 7. through 9.) B. Kotter, Die Schriften des Johannes von Damaskus 5, pp 461-555; 10.) W. Christ and M. Paranikas, Anthologia Graeca Carminum Christianorum, 229-232; 11.) Migne PG 99.720-730.
19. Jacob of Serug — On the Mother of God
Introduction: Sebastian Brock
Translation: Mary Hansbury
Works: Homilies 1, 2, 3, and 5
Texts: Paul Bedjan, S. Martyrii, qui et Sahdona quae supersunt omnia (Paris/Leipzig, 1902): Homily 1: pp 614-639; Homily 2: pp 639-661; Homily 3: pp 661-685; Homily 5: pp 709-719.
20. Melito of Sardis — On Pascha
Introduction and Translation: Alistair Stewart-Sykes
Work: On Pascha
Text: S. G. Hall, Melito of Sardis: On Pascha and Fragments (Oxford: Clarendon, 1979).
21. St Gregory of Nazianzus — On God and Man: The Theological Poetry of St Gregory of Nazianzus
Introduction and Translation: Peter Gilbert
Works (and Texts): On the Father (PG 37.397-401); On the Son (PG 37.401-408); On the Holy Spirit (PG 37.408-415); Concerning the World (PG 37.415-423); On Providence (PG 37.424-429); Concerning Spiritual Beings (PG 37.438-446); On the Soul (PG 37.446-456); On the Two Covenants, and the Appearing of Christ (PG 37.456-464); On Providence (PG 37.430-438); Against Apollinarius (PG 37.464-470); On the Incarnation of Christ (PG 37.470-471); Concerning the Genuine Books of Scripture (PG 37.471-474); Another Prayer for a Safe Journey (PG 37.520-521); In Praise of Virginity (PG 37.521-578); A Comparison of Lives (PG 37.649-667); Conversation with the World (PG 37.752-753); On the Precariousness of Human Nature (PG 37.754); On the Precariousness of Human Nature (PG 37.754-755); On Human Nature (PG 37.755-765); On the Cheapness of the Outward Man (PG 37.766-778); On the Different Walks of Life (PG 37.778-781); Blessings of Various Lives (PG 37.781-786); Concerning Human Life (PG 37.786-787); To His Former Congregation, Anastasia (PG 37.1023-1024); Against a Demon (PG 37.1280); On his own Verses (PG 37.1329-1336); Lamentation concerning the Sorrows of his own Soul (PG 37.1353-1378); To his own Soul (PG 37.1425-1426); Epitaph on St Basil (PG 38.72).
22. Hippolytus — On the Apostolic Tradition
Introduction and Translation: Alistair Stewart-Sykes
Works: 1.) The Apostolic Tradition; 2.) Homily on the Psalms
Texts: 1.) [apparently] B. Botte, La Tradition Apostolique de Saint Hippolyte: Essai de reconstitution (Liturgiewissenschaftlichee Quellen und Forschungen 39 (Münster: Aschendorff, 1963); 2.) Pierre Nautin, Le dossier d’Hippolyte et de Méliton (Paris: Cerf, 1953)
23. St Gregory of Nazianzus — On God and Christ: The Five Theological Orations and Two Letters to Cledonius
Introduction and Notes: Lionel Wickham
Translation of Oration 27: Frederick Williams
Translation of Orations 28-31; Letters 101 and 102: Lionel Wickham
Works: Orations 27-31; Letters 101-102
Texts, Orations: Migne PG 36, etc.
Texts, Letters: MIgne PG 37, etc.
24. St John of Damascus — Three Treatises on the Divine Images
Introduction and Translation: Andrew Louth
Works: Three Treatises on the Divine Images
Text: Bonifatius Kotter, Die Schriften des Johannes von Damaskos, PTS 17 (de Gruyter, 1969-88).
25. St Maximus the Confessor — On the Cosmic Mystery of Jesus Christ
Introduction: Paul Blowers
Translation and notes, Ambiguum 7: Robert Wilken
Translation and notes for all other texts: Paul Blowers
Works (and Texts) [several abridged]: Ambiguum 7: On the Beginning and End of Rational Creatures (mIGNE PG 91.1068-1101); Ambiguum 8: On How the Creator Brings Order out of the Chaos of Bodily Existence (PG 91.1101-1105); Ambiguum 42: On Jesus Christ and the “Three Births” (PG 91.1316-1349); Ad Thalassium 1: On the Utility of the Passions (CCSG [=Corpus Christianorum Series Graeca] 7.47-49); Ad Thalassium 2: On God’s Preservation and Integration of the Universe (CCSG 7.51); Ad Thalassium 6: On the Grace of Holy Baptism (CCSG 7.69-71); Ad Thalassium 17: On Spiritual Progress in Virtue (CCSG 7.111-115); Ad Thalassium 21: On Christ’s Conquest of the Human Passions (CCSG 7.127-133); Ad Thalassium 22: On Jesus Christ and the End of the Ages (CCSG 7.137-143); Ad Thalassium 42: On Jesus Christ, the New Adam Who “Became Sin” (CCSG 7.285-289); Ad Thalassium 60: On the Cosmic Mystery of Jesus Christ (CCSG 22.73-81); Ad Thalassium 61: On the Legacy of Adam’s Transgression (CCSG 22.85-105); Ad Thalassium 64: On the Prophet Jonah and the Economy of Salvation (CCSG 22.187-241); Opusculum 6: On the Two Wills of Christ in the Agony of Gethsemane (PG 91.65-68)
26. Barsanuphius and John — Letters from the Desert
Introduction and Translation: John Chryssavgis
Works: Title, Subtitle, Prologue, Letters 1, 6, 10, 17, 18, 23, 31, 35, 37, 39, 45, 48, 49, 72, 73, 74, 78, 79, 86, 87, 105, 109, 113, 119, 125, 129, 154, 160, 170, 187, 196, 199, 203, 205, 208, 212, 240, 241, 242, 244, 268, 277, 278, 279, 280, 281, 282, 283, 287, 290, 302, 304, 314, 315, 327, 330, 339, 369, 373, 404, 405, 406, 418, 425, 427, 428, 429, 430, 431, 432, 437, 442, 443, 444, 450, 451, 453, 463, 470, 471, 472, 475, 476, 483, 496, 504, 508, 519, 520, 529, 530, 532, 554, 561, 569, 611, 613, 614, 616, 617, 618, 619, 620, 621, 622, 623, 625, 626, 627, 628, 648, 653, 654, 655, 656, 657, 658, 664, 665, 669, 670, 671, 672, 673, 679, 680, 686, 694, 695, 696, 697, 698, 699, 700, 707, 708, 709, 710, 711, 715, 717, 718, 725, 726, 736, 737, 738, 744, 750, 751, 756, 758, 759, 760, 763, 765, 773, 789, 805, 806, 807, 828, 838, 844, 845, 848.
Text: MS Bodleian Cromwell 18; MS Vatopedi 2; F. Neyt and P. de Angelis-Noah, Barsanuphe et Jean de Gaza: Correspondence I-III Sources Chrétiennes 426-427, 450-451, 468.
27. Four Desert Fathers — Pambo, Evagrius, Macarius of Egypt, and Macarius of Alexandria: Coptic Texts Relating to the Lausiac History of Palladius
Preface: Adalbert de Vogüé OSB
Introduction and Translation (works 1-5, 7-8): Tim Vivian
Translation (work 6): Rowan A. Greer
Works: 1.) The Life of Pambo; 2.) The Life of Evagrius; 3.) The Life of Macarius the Great; 4.) The Life of Macarius of Alexandria; 5.) Seven Goals of Anti-Origenism; 6.) Syriac Lausiac History [72] and [73]; 7.) Evagrius Debates Three Demons; 8.) Apa Aphou and Archbishop Theophilus Debate the Image of God.
Texts: 1. and 2.) É. Amélineau, De Historia Lausiaca, quaenam sit huius ad Monachorum Aegyptiorum historiam scribendam utilitas (Paris, 1887), 92-104; A. de Vogüé, “Les fragments coptes de l’Histoire Lausiaque: l’édition d’Amélianeau et le manuscrit” Orientalia 58.3 (1989): 326-332. 3.) M. Chaîne, “La double recension de l’Histoire Lausiaque dans la version copte” Revue de l’orient Chrétien 25 (1925-1926): 232-275; A. de Vogüé, “La version copte du chapitre XVII de l’Histoire Lausiaque: Les deux éditeurs et les trois manuscrits” Orientalia 58.4 (1989): 510-24. 4.) É. Amélineau, Histoire des monastères de la Basse-Egypte (Paris: Lernoux, 1894), 235-61; A. de Vogüé, “Le texte copte du chapitre XVIII de l’Histoire Lausiaque: L’édition d’Amélineau et le manuscrit” Orientalia 61.4 (1992): 459-62. 5.) Original work by author; 6.) René Draguet, editor and translator, Les formes syriaque de la matière de l’Histoire Lausiaque (CSCO 389-90, 398-99, Scriptores Syri 169-70, 173-74); Syriac text: 2.2 [398/173]: 368-72. 7.) J.-B. Cotelerius, Ecclesiae graecae monumenta III (Paris, 1686); É. Amélineau, De Historia Lausiaca, quaenam sit huius ad Monachorum Aegyptiorum historiam scribendam utilitas (Paris, 1887), 121-24; A. de Vogüé, “Les fragments coptes de l’Histoire Lausiaque: l’édition d’Amélianeau et le manuscrit” Orientalia 58.3 (1989): 326-332.8.) Etienne Drioton, “La Discussion d’un moine anthropomorphite audien avec le Patriarche Théophile d’Alexandrie en l’année 399” Revue de l’Orient Chrétien, 2nd series 10 (20).1 [1915-17]: 95-100, 114-15.
Note: This volume and the following were intended by the author as a pair.
28. St Macarius the Spiritbearer — Coptic Texts Relating to Saint Macarius the Great
Introduction and Translation: Tim Vivian
Works: 1.) The Sayings of Saint Macarius of Egypt; 2.) The Virtues of Saint Macarius of Egypt; 3.) The Life of Saint Macarius of Scetis
Texts: 1.) É. Amélineau, Histoire des monastères de la Basse-Egypte (Paris: Lernoux, 1894), 203-34. 2.) idem, 118-202; MS Cod. Vat. LXIV, fol 57-112. 3.) É. Amélineau, Histoire des monastères de la Basse-Egypte, 46-117.
Note: This volume and the preceding were intended by the author as a pair.
29. Tertullian, Cyprian, Origen — On the Lord’s Prayer
Introduction and Translation: Alistair Stewart-Sykes
Works: 1.) Tertullian: On Prayer; 2.) St Cyprian: On the Lord’s Prayer; 3.) Origen: On Prayer
Texts: 1.) Evans, Tertullian’s Tract on the Prayer. 2.) Réveillaud; Hartel. 3.) Kaetschau, in Griechische Christliche Schriftskeller; Delarue (1733); Bentley; Anglus (1728) [Stewart-Sykes did not include a bibliography. I may hunt these down later.]
30. St Basil the Great — On the Human Condition
Introduction and Translation: Nonna Verna Harrison
Works: 1-2.) First and Second Homily on the Origin of Humanity; 3.) Homily Explaining that God is not the Cause of Evil; 4.) Homily Against Anger; 5.) Homily on the Words “Be Attentive to Yourself”; 6.) Letter 233; 7.) Excerpts from the Long Rules (or Great Asceticon)
Texts: 1-2.) A. Smets and M. van Esbroeck, Basile de Césarée: Sur l’origine de l’homme. Sources Chrétiennes 160 (Paris: Cerf, 1970). 3.) Migne PG 31.329-354. 4.) PG 31.354-372. 5.) S. Y. Rudberg, L’homélie de Basile de Césarée sur le mot ‘Observe-toi toi-même’: Édition critique du texte grec et étude sur la tradition manuscrite, Acta Universitatis Stockholmiensis, Sudia Graeca Stockholmiensia 2 (Stockholm: Almqvist & Wiksell, 1962), 23-37. 6.) Y. Courtonne, Saint Basile: Lettres, 3 vols. (Paris: Les Belles Lettres, 1957-66), 3:39-41. 7.) PG 31.906-934
31. St John Chrysostom — The Cult of the Saints
Introduction and Translation (except for the Letter of Vigilius): Wendy Mayer
Translation (Letter of Vigilius): Bronwen Neil
Works (and Texts): On Saint Meletius (PG 50.515-520); On Saint Eustathius (PG 50.597-606); On Saint Lucian (PG 50.519-526); On Saint Phocas (PG 50.699-706); On Saints Juventinus and Maximinus (PG 50.571-578); On the Holy Martyr Ignatius (PG 50.587-596); On Eleazar and the Seven Boys (PG 63.523-530; Wenger 1987: 601-604); Homily 1 on the Maccabees (PG 50.617-624); Homily 2 on the Maccabees (PG 50.623-626); On Saints Berenike, Prosdoke, and Domnina (PG 50.629-640); On Saint Barlaam (PG 50.675-682); On Saint Drosis (PG 50.683-694); An Encomium on Egyptian Martyrs (PG 50.693-698); On the Holy Martyrs (PG 50.705-712); [Here two works are listed in the table of contents, but they are missing from my copy, with the pagination showing that an error of some sort has occurred: On Saint Romanus; On All the Martyrs.] Letter of John to Rufinus (PG 52.685-687); Letter of Vigilius to John (Migne PL 13.552-558). [These last two works are repeated in my copy. Hopefully mine is a fluke. I have informed SVS Press.]
32. St Cyprian of Carthage — On the Church – Select Treatises
Introduction, Translation and Commentary: Allen Brent
Works: 1.) To Donatus; 2.) To Demetrian; 3.) The Fallen; 4.) The Unity of the Catholic Church
Texts: 1 and 2.) CCSL 3A; 3 and 4.) CCSL 3
33. St Cyprian of Carthage — On the Church – Select Letters
Introduction, Translation and Commentary: Allen Brent
Works: Letters 8, 13, 15, 16, 21, 22, 23, 24, 27, 33, 38, 39, 43, 55, 59, 63, 72, 73, 75, 80, 81.
Texts: CCSL 3B (Letters 1-57); CCSL 3C (Letters 58-81)
34. St Gregory the Great — The Book of Pastoral Rule
Introduction and Translation: George E. Demacopoulos
Works: The Book of Pastoral Rule
Text: Sources Chrétiennes 381-382
35. Wider Than Heaven: Eighth-century Homilies on the Mother of God
Introduction and Translation: Mary B. Cunningham
Works: 1.) John of Damascus: An Oration of the Nativity of the Holy Theotokos Mary; 2.) Andrew of Crete: On the Nativity I-IV; 3.) Kosmas Vestitor: Sermon on the Holy Joachim and Anna, Glorious Parents of the Theotokos Mary; 4.) Germanos of Constantinople: On the Entrance into the Temple I-II; 5.) John of Euboea: Homily on the Conception of the Holy Theotokos; 6.) Andrew of Crete: Oration on the Annunciation of the Supremely Holy Lady, Our Theotokos; 7.) Germanos of Constantinople: Oration on the Annunciation of the Supremely Holy Theotokos; 8.) Germanos of Constantinople: Oration on the Consecration of the Venerable Church of Our Supremely Holy Lady, the Theotokos, and on the Holy Swaddling Clothes of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Texts: 1.) CPG (Clavis patrum graecorum) 8060; BHGa (Bibliotheca hagiographica Graece) 1087; B. Kotter. Die Schriften des Johannes von Damaskos, 5:169-82. 2.) Part I: CPG 8170; BHGa 1082; BHGn 1082a; PG 97.805-20. Part II: CPG 8171; BHG 1080; PG 97.820-44. Part III: CPG 8172; BHGa 1127; PG 97.861-81. Part IV: CPG 8173; BHGa 1092, 1092b; PG 97.861-81. 3.) CPG 8151; BHG 828; PG 106.1005-1012. 4.) Part I: CPG 8007; BHG 1103; PG 98.292-309. Part II: CPG 8008; BHGa 1104; PG 98.309-20. 5.) CPG 8135; BHG 1117; PG 96.1460-1500. 6.) CPG 8174; BHG 1093g; PG 97.881-913. 7.) CPG 8009; BHG 1145n-q; BHGa 1145n-r; PG 320-340; D. Fecioru, “Un nou gen de predica in omiletica ortodoxa,” Biserica Ortodoxa Romana 64 (1946): 65-91; 180-92; 386-96 [this last includes the only full copy of the text; Cunningham notes she was working on a new edition.]. 8.) CPG 8013; BHG 1086; PG 98.372-84.
36. St Gregory of Nazianzus — Festal Orations
Introduction, Translation, and Commentary: Nonna Verna Harrison
Works: Orations 1, 38, 39, 40, 41, 45
Texts: Oration 1: Jean Bernardi, Grégoire de Nazianze: Discours 1-3, SC 247. Orations 38-41: Claudio Moreschini, Grégoire de Nazianze: Discours 38-41, SC 358. Oration 45: PG 36.625-664.
What a great idea, Kevin! It’s hard not to love these books, particularly with the new, more attractive designs they’ve come up with for the covers. I confess I am sometimes disappointed by certain comments in the introductions, however. I recall not caring for Catharine Roth’s intro to St Gregory of Nyssa’s ‘On the Soul’, and I was sometimes a little annoyed by Neville’s intro to St Chrysostom’s books on the priesthood.
It’s a list I’ve been meaning to put together for a while now. I’ve only read about a quarter of them yet (mostly I’ve been going chronologically), and I wanted to know what exactly was in the several volumes that are compilations. I’m impressed with the overal quality, though. I haven’t run into the oddities you mention, as I haven’t read those yet, but I’ll keep them in mind. The series impresses me for being an inexpensive yet high quality means of immersion in Patristic reading. For such inexpensive volumes, it’s really surprising. The translations, especially the newer ones, are of a quality such as appears in the more expensive Fathers of the Church and Ancient Christian Writers series.
Now what we really need is something in English like the absolutely amazing wonderment that is the Sources Chrétiennes series: original (often critical) texts with facing page translations, with excellent introductions, in the same inexpensive format. I love the SC!
I know what you mean about the SC. Such things are widely available at low costs in Greece, but the editions are usually not as critical. I’ve got one of the Dionysian writings edited and translated by Panagiotes Chrestou.
The main problem, I think, with the introductions I mentioned is that they’re the sort of thing I’d expect from a secular or Protestant publisher, not an Orthodox seminary. Even the intro to St Athanasius, by an Anglican religious, had a more reverential approach. Of course, I’ve loved the introductory material in many other volumes of the series. Fr Louth’s intro to the new translation of St John of Damascus and Peter Gilbert’s for St Gregory the Theologian’s poems stood out for me!
There, all done!
Many thanks for doing this Kevin. It’s a great help to have it all together in one place and encourages me to broach the subject of ordering at least some of them with my abbess, something I’ve been meaning to do for a while!
You’re very welcome Sr Macrina! I’ve been meaning to put this list together for a while, since so many of the volumes are compilations, and I was curious about what was in them. This was mostly so that I could bump the really interesting looking ones to the top of the reading list, but then I decided to read through them chronologically, which is quite satisfying enough. But I was pleasantly surprised to see the quality of work that’s demonstrated throughout, and the knowledge of the material that the editor/translators display in their introductions (most of which I had to skim through in order to find the texts they translated from). I’m even more pleased and impressed with the series than I was just two days ago.
I especially recommend these, all of which include material unavailable elsewhere, and which are of especial Spiritual value:
10. Saint Ephrem the Syrian — Hymns on Paradise
14.-16. St Symeon the New Theologian — On the Mystical Life.
18. On the Dormition of Mary: Early Patristic Homilies
21. St Gregory of Nazianzus — On God and Man: The Theological Poetry of St Gregory of Nazianzus
27. Four Desert Fathers — Pambo, Evagrius, Macarius of Egypt, and Macarius of Alexandria: Coptic Texts Relating to the Lausiac History of Palladius
31. St John Chrysostom — The Cult of the Saints
35. Wider Than Heaven: Eighth-century Homilies on the Mother of God
Lists like this are very useful indeed – thank you. I didn’t know about that translation of Cyril of Alexandria.
Kevin, Many thanks for the list of these publications of which I happily possess a few in my library. Did not realize that the series has grown so large with such valuable mentors/Fathers presenting to us such powerful spiritual gifts. Of the ones that I have, they are like roses and lilacs and other flowers which the honey bee comes and delights in their nectar, as we breathe in their intoxicating myrrh. If I ever can fulfill my many, many books on my wish list, the ones that I don’t have will surely be among them!
Thank you, JThomas! I’m partial to jasmine, myself. We have a particularly thriving couple of vines arching over our front door (my idea, I admit!) that I’m always swiping clusters of blossoms from. The scent of jasmine is, for me, completely attached to Bible and Patristic reading. Δοξα τω Θεω!
Hello Kevin, I think you answered my question above, but generally speaking, do you have a recommendation on which 5-7 of these books should be read first, and in what order? Or in other words, is there advantages to reading some of these books first before others? Thanks.
Hi Jason, the ones I recommended above to Sister Macrina are a good start. They include translations that aren’t available elsewhere, and which are highly edifying, both.
I’ve found reading through the series mostly chronologically to be very satisfying. I’ve skipped around a little, but have mostly stuck to that. Some things I had already read in other translations before (like St Basil’s On the Holy Spirit, and Hippolytus’ Apostolic Tradition [which I translated myself] , both of which writings played decisive roles in my conversion to Orthodoxy).
Overall, though, I don’t think there’s a real advantage to picking some first over others. They’re all very good. But if you’ve read some of the works before in other translations, then you might want to read others you haven’t read yet. As I said, since I couldn’t really decide any kind of order, I just decided to go about reading them in chronological order. That order, too, has its benefits in that, particularly from the earliest into the later works, you’ll see the developing expression of various doctrines and such things. So a chronological reading can be a lesson in the history of the Church’s Theology, really. But other people might want to group the books differently and read through them some other way.
Thanks for your time and comments Kevin.
You’re always welcome, Jason!
Excellent work!
Nice site and useful article. Thanks.