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