From Monachos.net
The Patristics Master List, Page 1
Welcome to the A-Z index of patristic and liturgical sources texts available in the Monachos.net English library as part of the Patristics Master List. This thorough listing serves as a single-source index of all source documents in our collection, as well as a connection page for documents found on other web sites.
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| B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y
| Z
A - Documents in the Monachos Library
- Adamnan, The Cain (canon) of
- Legal text from pre-schism (7th-century) Irish annals, on the Church protecting women and children.
- Agatho the Wonderworker Pope of Rome, Letter to the Emperor (Info)
- Read at the fourth session of the sixth ecumenical council.
- Agatho the Wonderworker Pope of Rome, Letter of Agatho and the Roman Synod
- Letter which served as instruction for the Roman legates at the sixth ecumenical council in Constantinople.
- Akathist Hymns (akathistoi):
- Akathist Hymn to Our Most Holy Lady Mother of God (Theotokos)
- The classic and powerful prayer to the Mother of God, read in Orthodox churches every year during Great Lent, and recited both publicly and privately in times of special need.
- Akathist Hymn to Our Sweetest Jesus Christ
- Adoration and supplication to the Saviour of humanity, the Lord Jesus Christ.
- Akathist Hymn to the Divine Passion of Christ
- The complete text of the standing hymn in honour of the life-creating passion of Christ.
- Prayer to the Lord Jesus Crucified
- The closing prayer of the akathist hymn to the Divine Passion of Christ, a supplicatory prayer of repentance and adoration.
- Akathist of Thanksgiving - In Praise of God's Creation
- A new translation, in traditional English, of the akathist hymn composed by Metropolitan Tryphon (Turkestanov), hymning the glory of God's creation of the cosmos, earth, and the human race. (An older translation, in modern English, is also available.)
- Alexander, Patriarch of Alexandria, Decree of Deposition of Arius (info)
- Bishop Alexander's letter to Alexander of Constantinople on the deposition of Arius, including his description of the 'Arian' movement; document includes signatories and several lesser epistles.
- Ambrose of Milan, On Belief in the Resurrection
- This text forms the second book of Ambrose's Two Books on the Decease of His Brother Saytrus, and is centred upon the Christian belief in the Resurrection of Christ.
- Amphilocius of Iconium, The Canon of Scripture (info)
- An excerpt from Amphilocius' poem Iambics for Seleucus, which lists the New Testament canon as Amphilocius new it.
- Amphilocius of Iconium, At the Colosseum
- Amphilocius' poem on the colosseum, translated by Elizabeth Barrett Browning.
- Anastasius I of Rome, Letter to Simplicianus (info)
- Confirming the condemndation of Origenism.
- Anastasius of Sinai ('The New Moses'), excerpts Concerning the Holy Fathers in Sinai (info)
- A collection of apothegmata containing Anastasius' recollections of the lives of the Sinaite fathers, much in the style of the Sayings of the Desert Fathers.
- Anatolios of Constantinople, Note on the Definition of Faith of Chalcedon
- A brief commentary on the council's Symbol. See also (below): the Definition of Chalcedon.
- Andrew of Crete, Great Canon of Repentance
- The lengthy and poignant canon of repentance, recited in full twice during Great Lent, and perhaps among the most moving visions of true repentance in the patristic witness.
- Andrew of Crete, Festal Hymnography and introduction
- Troparion and kontakion of St Andrew, with other materials.
- Anterus, Pope of Rome, Epistle on the translation of episcopal sees >> See Decretals, False
- Epistle on the translation of bishops between sees; purportedly of papal origin, but in fact part of the 'False Decretals'.
- Anthusa the Venerable, mother of John Chrysostom, Letter to her Son, On Ideal Friendship (info)
- An important epistle on the nature of Christian friendship as perceived in the early era.
- Antioch, Council of (AD 268), Epistle to Dionysius of Rome and Maximus of Alexandria
- Council concerned with condemnation of Paul of Samosata; fragment located in Eusebius, HE 7.30.
- Aristeas, Letter to Philocrates (info | remarks from Josephus)
- This letter contains the traditional account of the manner in which the Septuagint Old Testament was translated and came into existence.
- Aristides the Apologist, Apology (info)
- A second-century text that is among the earliest Christian apologetical works.
- Athanasius of Alexandria, On the Incarnation of the Word
- Athanasius' important tract on the incarnation as means of salvation, with essential reflections on Christological implications for the Christian conception of salvation.
- Athanasius the Great of Alexandria, Apologia for his Flight (Apologia de fuga)
- Athanasius on the nature of his own flight from his persecutors, and on the broader question of whether flight from persecution is defensible for a Christian.
- Athanasius of Mount Athos, Life A of Athanasius (info)
- The longer Life of Athanasius, founder of the Great Lavra on Mount Athos.
- Athanasius of Mount Athos, Life B of Athanasius
- The shorter Life of St Athanasius, including introductory material on both Lives.
- Athenagoras the Apologist, On the Resurrection of the Dead
- Early apology / defense of the resurrection of the dead.
- Augustine of Hippo, Excerpts on Resurrection
- Excerpted from the fifth chapter of Augustine's Treatise on Faith and the Creed. In section 11 Augustine addresses the Passion and burial of Christ, and in 12 the Resurrection, relating that event to the adoption that all humankind is offered in Christ.
B - Documents in the Monachos Library
- Barnabas, The Epistle of
- An important early witness to the changing Christian relationship with Judaism and Judaic law.
- Basil the Great of Caesarea, Oration on the Holy Spirit
- The Saint's lengthy and important treatise on the Holy Spirit. Essential reading for a proper understanding of the Spirit within the Orthodox Tradition.
- Basil the Great of Caesarea, Homily 1: 'In the beginning God made heaven and earth'
- A sermon on the initiatory moments of creation.
- Basil the Great of Caesarea, Homily 5: 'The Germination of the Earth'
- On the creation of plant life and its place in the divine purpose. A wonderful work of ecological theology.
- Basil the Great of Caesarea, Epistle 2: A Letter to St Gregory the Theologian
- On humility, inner stillness, prayer, and proper Christian mannerisms.
- Basil the Great of Caesarea, Epistle 8: To the Caesareans
- An extremely important, if not essential, work on the nature of the Holy Trinity in Orthodox theology.
- Basil the Great of Caesarea, Epistle 38: On the distinction between ousia and hypostasis
- A new translation of this foundational text in Cappadocian Trinitarian theory.
- Basil the Great of Caesarea, Prayer at the Ninth Hour
- Read at the end of the Ninth Hour, at the commemoration of Christ's Passion, imploring is compassion upon undeserving sinners.
- Basil the Great of Caesarea, A Prayer
- The famous prayer of St Basil, invoking the graciousness and clemency of God upon a weak and humble humanity.
- Basil the Great (together with John Chrysostom & Gregory the Theologian): Hymns for the Three Hierarchs
- Troparia and Kontakia for the festal celebration of the 'Three Holy Hierarchs' of Orthodox theology.
- Benedict of Nursia, The Rule of St Benedict (info | more)
- A classic text on the monastic heritage of East and West, discussing the ordering and regulation of monastic living.
- Blandina the Martyr of Lyons, The Martyrdom of Blandina (info)
- Located in Book Five of Eusebius' Ecclesiastical History.
- Boethius, Contre Eutyches (French translation of Liber Contra Eutychen et Nestorium)
C - Documents in the Monachos Library
- Caedmon the Melodist, Information and poetic works
- The first known poet of vernacular English (d. c. 680).
- Cassian, John ('the Roman'), Institutes
- One of our greatest sources of knowledge about Egyptian monastic life.
- Chalcedon, Council of (451): Definition of Faith of Chalcedon
- The most important part of the Council's proceedings was the production of this short Definition.
- Chrysostom, John >> See below, under 'J'
- Clement of Alexandria, Fragment of the Prodigal Son
- An oration on the parable of the prodigal son, by Clement and another, unknown, author.
- Clement of Alexandria, Who is the Rich Man that Shall Be Saved?
- Clement's reflections on the relationship of salvation to wealth and poverty.
- Clement of Rome, First Epistle to the Corinthians
- From the writings of the Apostolic Fathers; the authentic first letter of St Clement, bishop of Rome, to the Church in Corinth. One of the earliest post-New Testament texts, St Clement's first epistle addresses the issues of Church ministerial structure; order; humility; the relationship of faith and works; the imitation of Christ; the virtuous examples of the saints; etc.
- Coelestius (4th/5th cent.), The Defitions (so-called)
- A reconstruction, from fragments in Augustine, of the so-called Definitions of Coelestius, a follower of Pelagius, on the possibility of life without sin. It was this volume that occasioned Augustine's Concerning Man's Perfection in Righteousness.
- Coelestius (4th/5th cent.), Records from Coelestius' trial at Carthage, AD 411/412
- Records of the accusations put against Coelestius, and the portions of his trial at which they were considered in detail.
- Coelestius (4th/5th cent.), Fragments of the Unnamed Books of Coelestius
- Fragments from the unnamed book(s) written by Coelestius, quoted in various sources and read at the council against Pelagius in AD 415.
- Coelestius (4th/5th cent.), Written Statement of Belief
- The written statement of belief handed to Pope Zosimas by Coelestius in AD 417, on the examination of which the pope found him free from heresy in his belief.
- Constantine the Great, Oration on the Pascha of Christ
- From the address 'to the assembly of the saints' as penned by Eusebius.
- Constantine the Great, The 'edict' of Milan (info)
- The famous edicts of toleration of 311/313, issued by Galerius, Constantine and Licinius, which granted freedom to Christians in the Empire.
- Constantine the Great, Various edicts
- Various edicts issued by Constantine I, relating to the life of the Christians in the Empire.
- Cornelius I Pope of Rome, Epistles
- Letters by Pope Cornelius I of Rome, on the question of how the Church is to react to those Christians who lapse in times of persecution.
- Cuthbert of Lindisfarne (See Bede, Life of St Cuthbert)
- Cyril of Alexandria, Excerpt from Lecture 4: On the Resurrection
- A brief text excerpted from Cyril's fourth lecture, the whole of which is entitled 'On the Ten Points of Doctrine'.
- Cyril of Alexandria, Second Epistle to Nestorius
- Sets out correctives to the ideas of Nestorius in the attempt to direct him back to the true faith.
- Cyril of Alexandria, Third Epistle to Nestorius, with 'Twelve Anathemas'
- A lengthier letter to Nestorius, more strongly worded. Includes Cyril's famous Twelve Anathemas against Nestorius' teachings, approved by the Third Ecumenical Council at Ephesus.
- Cyril of Alexandria, Epistle to John of Antioch, Regarding Peace
- Cyril attempts to direct John back to the true faith and thereby clarifies the Church's stance on Nestorianism.
- Cyril of Alexandria >> See also below, under Formula of Union between Cyril of Alexandria and John of Antioch.
- Cyril of Jerusalem, The Baptismal Catechesis
- Nineteen orations in preparation for baptism, delivered to candidates during Great Lent. A host of theological reflection on the nature of God, man, sin, the Church, sacraments and Christian living.
- Cyril of Jerusalem, The Mystagogics (or The Mystagogical Catecheses)
- Five orations delivered to those who had just received baptism, on the nature of the mystery thus received and the new life entered into via the Church.
D - Documents in the Monachos Library
- Damascene, John >> See below, under 'J' (as 'John of Damascus')
- Desert Fathers, Selections from the Sayings
- Selected quotations from the Apothegmata Patrum, in English translation from the original Greek.
- Dionysius of Alexandria, Letters to Popes Stephen and Xystus (info)
- A collection of short third-century documents on the question of baptism / re-baptism of heretics, and on their entry into the Church.
- Dionysius the Areopagite, Ten Letters
- Ten epistles of pseudo-Dionysius, on a wide range of topics including the knowledge of God, divine darkness, love and exile. Letters are separately indexed and searchable.
- Diognetus, Epistle to (also known as the epistle 'of Mathetes')
- One of the earliest post-biblical Christian documents, the anonymous epistle to Diognetus contains what is among the first descriptions of the Christian community and way of life, as compared to the world and society in which it is situated.
E - Documents in the Monachos Library
- Egeria the Pilgrim, excerpt of Description of the Liturgical Year in Jerusalem
- Written in the fifth century by the pilgrim Egeria of whom little is known, the present text is of near-unparalleled importance as a witness to liturgical practices in the Holy Land in the fifth century AD.
- Ephesus, Council of (431): The Judgement Against Nestorius
- The condemnation of Nestorius by the council, from the Acts of its first session.
- Ephesus, Council of (431): Definition of the Faith at Nicaea
- Discussion by the Fathers of Ephesus on the Creed produced at the Council of Nicaea, including its proper use and the impossibility of changing the Creed.
- Ephesus, Council of (431): Definition Against the Messalians / Euchites
- The council's statement on Messalianism and its relationship to the faith of the Church.
- Ephesus, Council of (431): Synodical Epistle to Pope Celestine of Rome
- The council's own summary of its main activities and decisions, sent to the bishop of Rome who was not in attendance.
- Ephrem (or Ephraim) the Syrian (of Edessa) - Collection Area and Study Links
- Selected works by St Ephraim, hymnographer of the Church in Syria, including the formatted text of his Lenten Prayer with a Slavonic version. Links to Ephraim resources are also provided.
- Ephrem the Syrian, Spiritual Psalter, Psalm 120: 'How many times have I promised...'
- A hymn of repentance borne of repeated transgression.
- Ephrem the Syrian, Hymn against Bar-Daisan
- A hymnic retort against syncretistic panentheism, lauding the fact that God is 'present everywhere and fills all things', yet never confused with the created order.
- Ephrem the Syrian, Paschal Prayer (attributed)
- A poetic Paschal hymn attributed to St Ephrem of Syria.
- Ephrem the Syrian, Ephrem's prose refutations of Mani, Marcion and Bardaisan:
- The discourses to Hypatius (book 1) (books 2, 3, 4, 5)
- Against Bardaisan's 'Domnus'
- Against Marcion, book 1 (books 2, 3)
- On virginity
- Against Mani
- Eunomius of Cyzicus, First Apology (info on the MS)
- Eunomius was one of the great interlocutors of the Cappadocian Fathers, and seen by scholars as one of the chief figures of the 'neo-Arianism' of the late-fourth century.
- Eusebius of Caesarea, Oration in praise of the Emperor Constantine
- An important text on the question of the possibility of a Christian empire.
- Eutropius the Historian, A Brief of Roman History
- During the western Middle Ages, this fourth-centry text became a standard of reference to the Roman past.
- Eutyches, Information and works
- Eutyches was at the heart of the dispute leading to the Council of Chalcedon, and often regarded as the 'founding father' of Monophysitism.
F - Documents in the Monachos Library
- Fabian I Pope of Rome, First Epistle >> See Decretals, False (info)
- Epistle on not maintaining fellowship with the excommunicated; purportedly papal in origin, but in fact one of the 'false decretals'.
- Fabian I Pope of Rome, Second Epistle - To the Eastern Bishops >> See Decretals, False
- On the usage of chrism and on accusations against the clergy; purportedly papal in origin, but in fact one of the 'false decretals'.
- Fabian I Pope of Rome, Third Epistle - To Bishop Hilary >> See Decretals, False
- On bringing allegations against the clergy; purportedly papal in origin, but in fact one of the 'false decretals'.
- Fabian I Pope of Rome, Decrees >> See Decretals, False
- Collection of various decrees purportedly papal in origin, but in fact part of the 'false decretals'.
- Formula of Union between Cyril of Alexandria and John of Antioch
- This short 'formula of union' between Cyril and John formed part of the work toward reconciliation of the two parties after Chalcedon.
G - Documents in the Monachos Library
- George Gemistus Plethon >> See below, under 'P'
- Gregory I ('Dialogus, the Great') Pope of Rome, The Dialogues, book 1 (also books 2, 3, 4; preface, info)
- Gregory of Nazianzus, Orations
- A selection of Gregory's orations, including the five 'Theological Orations'
- Gregory of Nazianzus, First Epistle Against Apollinarius (Epistle 51, To Cledonius)
- Gregory's first epistle to Cledonius, on the Christological problems encountered in Apollinarius of Laodicea.
- Gregory of Nazianzus, Second Epistle Against Apollinarius (Epistle 52)
- Gregory's second epistle on Apollinarian Christology.
- Gregory Palamas, On the Holy Icons
- A short text on the proper use and spirit behind the veneration of icons by Gregory Palamas, from his longer New Testament Decalogue.
- Gregory Palamas, Homily on the Dormition
- Sermon on the nature of the Mother of God as ever-virgin and blessed by God.
H - Documents in the Monachos Library
- Hermas, The Shepherd of (sometimes called the Pastor of Hermas)
- One of the earliest writings of the Church, dating from the 1st/2nd century; 114 chapters divided into six sections of prophecy, parable, revelation and mandate.
- Hilary of Poitiers, On the Trinity
- One of the most important texts from the mid-fourth century on the articulation of Trinity in the context of Arian concerns.
I - Documents in the Monachos Library
- Innocent of Alaska, The Way Into the Kingdom of Heaven
- St Innocent of Alaska's classic introduction to the Christian faith, often used as an Orthodox catechism.
- Irenaeus of Lyons, The Demonstration (or 'Proof') of the Apostolic Preaching (preface, intro)
- Irenaeus' important shorter work, demonstrating the apostolic proclamation of the scriptures as pointing toward Christ and his work in the incarnation.
| This page contains patristic texts by authors beginning with letters A-I. |
