Philippos Monotropos in Byzantium and in the Slavonic World (original) (raw)

The Monastic Discourses constitute the largest part of the surviving literary corpus of Theoleptos of Philadelpheia. They cover a variety of genres ranging from counsels of spiritual direction to exhortations on monastic discipline and liturgical homilies. Written between the years 1307 and 1322, they are prime-of importance for the study of Byzantine spirituality just prior to the outbreak of the Hesychast and Palamite controversies; they in fact contain evidence indicating that negative criticisms of certain tendencies in spirituality were already emerging. Only the writings of St. Gregorios of Sinai are comparable in importance for this period. These texts are almost unique in that they are for the most part addressed to women, namely, to the princess Eirene-Eulogia Choumnaina and the nuns under her direction at the monastery of Philanthropos Soter in Constantinople. As such they offer some valuable insights into the life of an aristocratic religious community in the capital. Born in 1250, Theoleptos of Philadelpheia emerged on the scene as a prominent churchman after the demise of the ill-fated Union of the Churches concluded at the Council of Lyon in 1274. Already well known for his opposition to the unionist policy of the emperor, Michael vu Palaiologos, Theoleptos was elevated to the Metropolitan see of Philadelpheia in 1283. Subsequently, he played a major role in the opposition to the Arsenite schism. His two Philadelpheian Discourses, written sometime between 1285 and 1310, demonstrate the solicitude of his pastoral ministry among the people of Philadelpheia during these troubled years. These texts also offer important insights into Byzantine ecclesiology. The letters addressed by Theoleptos to Eirene-Eulogia during the years 1307 till his death at the end of 1322 provide many details regarding the complex personality of this Byzantine princess prior to her involvement with the anti-Palamite cause and the less sympathetic opinions of her held by the members of the opposing camp. Along with the Monastic Discourses, these works form one of the most important (and least known) dossiers in the corpus of Late Byzantine religious literature. The Monastic Discourses are here edited, most for the first time, and provided with an English translation and an accompanying study. The Greek text is based on the fourteenth century manuscript, Ottobonianus graecus 405 in the Vatican Library. A full set of indices is provided to assist in the study of the text.