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A Noble Task: Entry into the Clergy in the First Five Centuries

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This book presents a rich collection of key texts from the Fathers and early councils setting out what was expected in moral and educational terms from aspirants to the clergy in the early Christian centuries. Hitherto students of the early church have had to search for this material in a variety of different publications. Here they will find it translated and discussed in a comprehensive manner. While the latest historical scholarship has been taken into account, the book's main focus is on the spiritual rather than the social role of the clergy. It is the author's deepest wish that those aspiring to the Christian priesthood might find here an accurate and vivid account of the virtuous life that should always be their goal.

Contents

Foreword

p. iv

Preface

p. viii

Preface to the Original Edition

p. xvii

Introduction

p. 1

Part One: The Forming of Criteria for Entry into the Clergy According to the Testimony of the Sources

The Early Sources

p. 23

The New Testament

p. 23

The Apostolic Fathers

p. 31

Other Sources

p. 43

Anonymous Canonical Works

p. 57

Works Dependent on the Didache

p. 57

Works Dependent on the Apostolic Tradition of Hippolytus

p. 74

Authors of the Fourth and Fifth Centuries

p. 101

Ephraim the Syrian

p. 102

Athanasius the Great

p. 105

Basil the Great

p. 111

Gregory of Nazianzus

p. 118

John Chrysostom

p. 128

Ambrose of Milan

p. 146

Other Patristic Testimonies

p. 159

Part Two: The Canonical Formulation of Criteria for Entry into the Clergy Drawn Up by the Councils

The Councils of the Fourth and Fifth Centuries 

p. 183

The Council of Ancyra

p. 185

The Council of Neocaesarea

p. 189

The First Ecumenical Council (Nicaea)

p. 195

The Council of Sardica

p. 210

The Council of Laodicaea

p. 217

The Council of Carthage

p. 223

The Fourth Ecumenical Council (Chalcedon)

p. 226

The Marriage of the Clergy and Relevant Legislation

p. 245

The Christian View of Celibacy

p. 245

The Influence of Monasticism

p. 251

The Council of Elvira

p. 255

The Council of Ancyra

p. 256

The Council of Neocaesarea

p. 258

The First Ecumenical Council (Nicaea)

p. 259

The Council of Gangre

p. 261

Later Legislation

p. 263

Prerequisites for Entry into the Clergy in the First Five Centuries on the Basis of the Sources Reviewed

p. 273

Physical Criteria

p. 273

Spiritual Criteria

p. 283

Epilogue

p. 307

Bibliography

p. 313

Index

p. 357

 

Product Description

Paperback:

364 Pages

Publisher:

Holy Cross Orthodox Press

ISBN:

978-1-885652-97-3

Product Dimensions:

6 x 9 x 1 inches

Author:

Lewis J. Patsavos

Publication Year:

2007
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