THE DIFFICULTY AND EXCELLENCE OF VIRGINITY; THE STUDY OF DOCTRINE NECESSARY FOR VIRGINS. Virginity is something supernaturally great, wonderful, and glorious; and, to speak plainly and in accordance with the Holy Scriptures, this best and noblest manner of life alone is the root(6) of immortality, and also its flower and first-fruits; and for this reason the Lord promises that those shall enter into the kingdom of heaven who have made themselves eunuchs, in that passage(7) of the Gospels i...

This anthology edited by Philip Schaff, a renowned ecclesiastic historian, includes the most important works by early Christian theologians. Their comportment and sacrifice, their lectures and preaching, their moral values, and their understanding of Christianity and its most precious messages - shaped the foundations of the Christianity, helping it spread throughout the Roman Empire and beyond its borders during the first centuries after the death of Jesus. The edition includes: Volume I:...

This meticulously edited anthology presents the complete early Christian writings from the first four centuries following the death of Christ. Edited by Philip Schaff, a renowned ecclesiastic historian, this extensive collection comprises thousands of Christian texts authored by over 60 of the most significant theologians and Church Fathers. Each author is accompanied by a detailed introduction providing insight into their life and works, illuminating their philosophical perspectives, advo...

Cyril (born Constantine, 826–869) and Methodius (815–885) were two brothers and Byzantine Christian theologians and missionaries. For their work evangelizing the Slavs, they are known as the "Apostles to the Slavs". They are credited with devising the Glagolitic alphabet, the first alphabet used to transcribe Old Church Slavonic. After their deaths, their pupils continued their missionary work among other Slavs. Both brothers are venerated...

"The Sacred Writings Of ..." provides you with the essential works among the Early Christian writings. The volumes cover the beginning of Christianity until before the promulgation of the Nicene Creed at the First Council of Nicaea. Methodius had a very comprehensive philosophical education, and was an important theologian as well as a prolific and polished author. Chronologically, his works can only be assigned in a general way to the end of the third and the beginning of the fourth centu...

A month before the date chosen to celebrate the 50th anniversary of our church I was asked to write this book. I asked all those around me for stories and anecdotes but few were forthcoming, so forgive me if my own family features a bit more than it should. I knew a little of the history of the pioneer farming families and the gum digging days, and thought this was a great way to make sure some of that history of the area and the little country church was not lost.

The Nicene Creed stands as the definitive expression of Christian belief. Initially promulgated at the First Council of Nicaea in 325, it underwent subsequent refinement at the First Council of Constantinople in 381. Within this anthology, one encounters a compendium of works, speeches, and studies authored by eminent theological figures of early Christianity. Their profound insights not only shaped the philosophical foundations but also delineated the moral ethos intrinsic to the Christia...

This historical account explores the tumultuous leadership of the Church in Constantinople, focusing on the succession of patriarchs and the controversies surrounding their appointments. It highlights key figures such as Chrysostom, Theophilus, and various emperors who influenced ecclesiastical decisions. The narrative emphasizes the impact of political machinations and heretical movements on the Church's unity, illustrating how the struggle for orthodoxy often led to schisms and conflicts...

This text serves as a theological treatise defending the practice of venerating icons in Eastern Christianity. It outlines the belief in the Holy Trinity, the divinity of Christ, and the significance of the saints, arguing that icons are not idols but representations that aid in worship and remembrance. The author emphasizes the continuity of tradition from the early Church and the teachings of the Church Fathers, asserting that the veneration of icons is essential for understanding the in...

The Nicene Creed is the defining statement of the belief of Christianity. The original Nicene Creed was first adopted at the First Council of Nicaea in 325. In 381, it was amended at the First Council of Constantinople. This anthology includes the works, speeches and studies of the most influential theological minds of early Christianity. They have set the philosophy and moral standards that became the centre stone of Christian belief system. The second part of the edition includes the wri...

The Apocalypse of Pseudo-Methodius was one of the medieval world’s most popular and widely translated texts. Composed in Syriac in Mesopotamia in the seventh century, this supposed revelation presented a new, salvific role for the Roman Empire, whose last emperor, it prophesied, would help bring about the end of the ages. In this first book-length study of Pseudo-Methodius, Christopher J. Bonura uncovers the under-appreciated Syriac origins of this apocalyptic tract, reve...

This book sheds light on a relatively dark period of literary history, the late third century CE, a period that falls between the Second Sophistic and Late Antiquity. It argues that more was being written during this time than past scholars have realized and takes as its prime example the understudied Christian writer Methodius of Olympus. Among his many works, this book focuses on his dialogic Symposium, a text which exposes an era's new concern to re-orient the gaze of a generation from ...