“What agreement has the temple of God with idols?” Christian Homilies, Ancient Myths, and the “Macedonian Renaissance” (original) (raw)

“From Rhetorical Appropriation to Spiritual Transposition: The Homilies of Philagathos of Cerami and the Ancient Novels”, Byzantion 91 (2021): 111–154

Byzantion. Revue Internationale des Études Byzantines, 2021

This article charts the extensive textual appropriations from the Ancient Greek novels of Heliodoros and Achilles Tatius in the Homilies of Philagathos of Cerami. By setting forth new textual evidence, it reveals the much deeper homiletic intertextual relationship with the ancient novels than hitherto ascertained. The analysis aims to portray a practice of reading entirely governed by scripture. It shows that the homilist exploited the novels for describing various scriptural stories, miracle events, for maxims and arythmological speculation. The analysis reveals that these appropriations are not incidental or mechanical, but discreetly triggered by literal clues and mirroring situations in the source texts that suggest connections with scriptural contexts. In addition, it pays attention to Philagathos’ allegorical treatise of Heliodoros’ Aethiopika and his epigram to the novel which provides a framework within which to assess the incorporation of novelistic material in the sermons.

Oksana Nika. Ancient Greek Philosophers and Preaching Discourse Practices of Early Modern Age. Logos. A Journal of Religion, Philosophy, Comparative Cultural Studies and Art. 2022. Issue No. 111. Рр. 66-75. https://doi.org/10.24101/logos.2022.28.

Logos. A Journal of Religion, Philosophy, Comparative Cultural Studies and Art. 2022. Issue No. 111. Рр. 66-75. https://doi.org/10.24101/logos.2022.28., 2022

The article analyses the intertext of ancient Greek philosophers in the discursive practices of early modern preaching of the 17th century. It has been found that preachers usually did not leave references to the works they were referring to, because the works were familiar to them and could easily be recalled from memory. Thus, the use of "other people's words" had the character of quotation, retelling, or allusion. The article defines the range of these philosophers, compares the textual fragments in translations, reveals changes in Ruthenian expression and semantic expansion of these examples for moral guidance in preaching interpretations. It was found out that preachers often focused on Latin translations of Greek authors, which were popular in the intellectual environment of the scribes of the 17th century. The use of exempla from the works of ancient Greek philosophers in sermons on Sundays and holidays, as well as in funeral and military sermons is characterized, the discursive practices of Antonii Radyvylovskyi and Yoanykii Galiatovskyi are compared. Key Words: preaching discourse practices, intertext, ancient Greek philosophers

«Some Observations on Greek Popular Worship and the Traditional Religiosity of the Greek People», Neograeca Bohemica 18 (2018), σ. 35-51.

Man's relationship to the beyond and the supernatural as well as the systematisation of humanity's corresponding pursuit of it in religions and the elaboration of organised rituals for expressing these convictions and worshiping the divine are realities lost in the beginnings of human presence on earth. Indeed, the specialisation of these perceptions and rituals and the concomitant appearance and shaping of the particular order of the priesthood led to a delineation between offi cial and folk worship, the fi rst being studied by the discipline of theology and the second by folklore studies, specifi cally the branch of "religious folklore". For these reasons, the relevant literature is constantly expanding and corresponding folklore studies are presently fl ourishing. Th is will continue as people never stop creating culturally and adopting new viewpoints and holding events where these forms correspond to relevant psychological needs. Because of this, "religious folklore" constitutes a constantly developing branch of folklore studies with great prospects for the future and space for many young academics to carry out research. Some aspects of the main forms of Greek popular religiosity will be examined in this paper.

"Religious discourse in Hellenistic and Roman times: content topoi in Greek epigraphic cult foundations and sacred norms", Kernos 30 (2017), 187-220

In Greek inscriptions on cult foundations and regulations from the Hellenistic period onwards it is possible to see the development of an especial religious discourse that includes ancient and new hymnic elements, in addition to new topoi that do not belong to the Hymn tradition. This new religious discourse develops incorporating new features of Greco-Roman religion, strongly influenced by oriental cults, and at the same time well aware of the new philosophical trends that very much pervaded religion at this time. Some sacred inscriptions from the third century BC onwards show precedents of elements well attested in the sacred literary prose of the second century AD. In this paper, the main topoi that constitute this new religious discourse will be analyzed looking specifically at the topoi concerning the founder of the sacred institution or norms, the god or gods worshipped and the worshippers, and also the topoi concerning the content of the foundation norms and the resources used to force the observance of the norms.

The Late Antique Christian-Pagan Synthesis within St. Basil the Great's "To Young Men on Reading Greek Literature"

St Basil of Caesarea authored To Young Men on Reading Greek Literature in the later half of the fourth century. His thinking and literary output illustrated the transitional nature of Late Antiquity. In his lifetime particularly, the glory of Ancient Greek and Roman culture with all of its natural knowledge, was acquiring another dimension in light of the ascendency of Christianity. St Basil received an excellent secular education in the liberal arts and excelled especially in rhetoric. He also led an exemplary ascetical life according to Christian tradition. To Young Men on Reading Greek Literature is a defense of the use of pagan, principally Greek letters by Christians. This paper will both analyse the rhetorical structure of Basil's treatise, as well as explore the wider intellectual phenomenon of cultural synthesis of which this treatise is a part.

Rite or Metaphor? The Use of ὄργια in the Works of the Greek Christian Writers of the 4th and 5th Centuries (proof sheet)

A. Daróczi, E. Sepsi, M. Vassányi (eds.), Initiation into the Mysteries, Harmattan, Budapest, 65-80, 2020

This paper examines the semantic field of the term ὄργια in the works of Greek Christian writers of the 4th and 5th centuries. It aims to determine if the term was used by Christian authors for Church celebrations, as has been suggested by some scholars. The paper first discusses the origin of the word and the historical development of its meaning, including the first Christian author to use ὄργια positively, Clement of Alexandria. The second part of the paper examines 86 occurrences of the term in Greek Christian literature of the period. The occurrences are divided into four categories based on their meanings: 1) pagan cult, 2) Jewish and heretical worship, 3) metaphor for secret knowledge, and 4) disputable passages from Eusebius of Caesarea (H.E. 2.1.13 and V.C. 4.22.1). The paper concludes that, as far as the 4th and 5th centuries are concerned, the extant sources offer no support for the view according to which ὄργια was used for Church celebrations.