Constantine and Christendom
The Orations of the Saints; The Greek and Latin Accounts of the Discovery of the Cross; The Donation of Constantine to Pope Silvester
Constantine and Christendom
The Orations of the Saints; The Greek and Latin Accounts of the Discovery of the Cross; The Donation of Constantine to Pope Silvester
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Publisher: Liverpool University Press
ISBN: 9780853236481
Number of Pages: 192
Published: 01/03/2003
Width: 14.7 cm
Height: 21 cm
This volume makes available three works attributed to Constantine – two of which were certainly not written by him – which are important sources for historians of the papacy, Christianity and Constantine himself. The Oration to the Saints is an intellectual defence of Christianity, which puts the case for monotheism, extols the incarnation and voluntary abasement of the Son of God, and finally declares Constantine’s personal adherence to the Saviour. The legend of the discovery of the True Cross by the empress Helena, mother of Constantine, following her conversion to Christianity is presented in translations of two variant accounts. The third text, the Edict of Constantine, presents Constantine’s supposed edict to Pope Silvester transferring lands to the papacy. An introduction considers the authorship, motivation and historical context for each of the works, and extensive annotation elucidates textual difficulties and allusions.
Acknowledgements
Introduction
Constantine: The Oration to the Saints
The Coming of the Holy Cross (Latin version)
Story of the Discovery of the Honourable and Life-giving Cross (Greek version)
The Edict of Constantine to Pope Silvester
Bibliography
Maps
The Mediterranean World in the Age of Constantine
Byzantine Jerusalem
Mediaeval Rome
Index to the Oration to the Saints
Index to texts on the Discovery of the Cross
Index to the Edict of Constantine
The Translated Texts for Historians series has rendered great service to scholarship in enabling students of ancient and medieval history to broaden their studies by reading important sources in English. The publication of these valuable texts relating to Constantine is to be welcomed unreservedly. The editor has produced three admirable annotated translations which should stimulate those who read them to explore further the possibilities of advanced research.
Ecclesiastical History