Description
Book SynopsisThis volume is part of the Berlin Topoi project re-examing the early Christian history of Asia Minor, Greece and the South Balkans, and is concerned with the emergence of Christianity in Asia Minor and in Cyprus. Five essays focus on the east Anatolian provinces, including a comprehensive evaluation of early Christianity in Cappadocia, a comparative study of the Christian poetry of Gregory of Nazianzus and his anonymous epigraphic contemporaries and three essays which pay special attention to the hagiography of Cappadocia and Armenia Minor. The remaining essays include a new analysis of the role of Constantinople in episcopal elections across Asia Minor, a detailed appraisal of the archaeological evidence from Sagalassus in Pisidia, a discussion of the significance of inscriptions in Carian sanctuaries through late antiquity, and a survey of Christian inscriptions from Cyprus.
Trade ReviewA series of nine illuminating papers treat areas that range from Armenia and Cappadocia in the east, as well as Cyprus, Pisidia and Caria, to Constantinople as the centre of a new ecclesiastical organization [...] It is clear this volume will be of great value for researchers interested in the history of early Christianity in Asia Minor. Ulrich Hüttner, BMCR, 2020 This book is a significant contribution toward a more realistic and satisfying interpretation of the place of early Christianity in the society of Asia Minor. The chapters do not assume that from the beginning Christianity had represented the future. Instead, they respect the abiding importance of traditional cults for individuals and communities, acknowledge the different rhythms and formats of Christianization in different regions. The expansion of Christianity in Asia Minor is revealed as a long, slow, and indeterminate process. Raymond van Dam, RBL 2020 Die Beiträge des Bandes zeigen auf beeindruckende Weise, wie ertragreich regional begrenzte Studien sind, da sie detaillierter das vorhandene Datenmaterial sichten können [...] Die historische Realität der Christenheit war von ihren Anfängen an und blieb divers, regional verschieden und nicht selten in Streit und Konflikt geschieden. Gerade deshalb sind die Regionalstudien dieses Bandes so wertvoll. Stefan Alkier, Theologische Revue 2021
Table of ContentsPreface List of Figures Abbreviations Notes on Contributors Introduction Stephen Mitchell and Philipp Pilhofer 1 Between Paganism and Judaism: Early Christianity in Cappadocia Margherita Cassia 2 Hagiography and the Great Persecution in Sebastea and Armenia Minor Stephen Mitchell 3 Martyrs, Monks, and Heretics in Rocky Cappadocia Gaetano Arena 4 The Origins and Development of the Cults of Saint Gordius and Saint Mamas in Cappadocia Aude Busine 5 Faith and Verse: Gregory of Nazianzus and Early Christian Village Poetry Christiane Zimmermann 6 Constantinople and Asia Minor: Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction in the Fourth Century Turhan Kaçar 7 The Rise of Christianity at Sagalassus Peter Talloen 8 Inscribing Caria: the Perseverance of Epigraphic Traditions in Late Antiquity Anna M. Sitz 9 The Christian Epigraphy of Cyprus: a Preliminary Study Daniela Summa Indices
