Basil of Caesarea, christian, humanist, ascetic: a sixteen-hundredth anniversary symposium

802 Pages·1981·156.4 MB·English

by  Saint Basil (Bishop of Caesarea)

BASIL OF CAESAREA: CHRISTIAN, HUMANIST, ASCETIC
A Sixteen-Hundredth Anniversary Symposium
edited by
Paul Jonathan Fedwick
The study of Basil's life, works, teaching and tradition reveals the
exceptional qualities of his Christian, humanistic and ascetic upbringing.
Although deeply concerned and involved in the handling of current social
and religious affairs, Basil of Caesarea is a truly ecumenical figure
belonging to all times and races. These essays commemorating the
sixteen-hundredth anniversary of his death have been written by a team of
international scholars whose expertise ranges from church history,
theology, spirituality, liturgy and iconography to classical studies,
palaeography, social history, philosophy and humanities.
The studies open with a new updated chronology of Basil's life and
works followed by a penetrating analysis of his writings within the
context of his activity as an ascetic and churchman. Since no critical
edition is as yet available of his complete works four studies are devoted to
the manuscript tradition of his writings in Greek and of all the translations
made before 1400 into Latin, Arabic, Armenian, Coptic, Georgian, Slavic
and Syriac. Basil's work Contra Eunomium, difficult to read, is here
masterfully analyzed and presented to modern readers for the first time.
His relations with classical Greek philosophy, mainly Plotinism. are
studied in the general context of third and fourth-century intellectual
history; these studies also offer several corrections and insights into the
philosophical background of the Christian world in that period. The
thorough study of Basil's knowledge and use of rhetoric exhibits a
marriage of pagan art with Christian thought, whose offspring are beauty,
clarity, and meaning.
It is argued that Basil, when fulfilling the episcopal office, excelled as
shepherd, administrator, and teacher, and as the most coherent defender
of the faith against the heresies which undermined the unity of the
Church. In his works against those who denied the divinity of the Holy
Spirit. Basil examined language, the written teaching in the apostolic
tradition, the Bible, and the tradition of the liturgy, in order to argue the
equality of the Spirit with the Father and the Son.
What made Basil so effective a leader in the church was not so much
his family wealth, his aristocratic background, or his sophisticated
education; it was rather his conviction of the power of the Christian life to
humanize and civilize, of the strength of moral law, and of the supremacy
of spiritual values in circumstances which were materially bad or morally
equivocal. Although a strict moralist, Basil never separates morality from
understanding. His monasticism, it must be noted, was not so much a
protest against existing authority in the church, but a sincere search for
spiritual revitalization.
Completing the studies are two essays, one studying Basil's contribution
to Western canonical collections, the other focusing on Basil's
iconographical representations.
This volume, it is hoped, will be a landmark in Basil studies and will
herald renewed and wider interest in a great man who belongs not just to
Caesarea and the fourth century, but to the whole world and to all time.
CONTRIBUTORS
Milton V. Anastos Roger E. Reynolds
Konstantinos G. Bonis John M. Rist
Paul J. Fedwick A. Martin Ritter
Wilma Fitzgerald, SP Stig Y. Rudberg
Jean Gribomont, OSB Thomas Spidlik, SJ
Ioannis Karayannopoulos Ramon Teja
George L. Kustas Barnim Treucker
Jaroslav Pelikan Gabriella Uluhogian
P. Wallace Piatt, CSB Sever J. Voicu

BASIL OF CAESAREA:
CHRISTIAN, HUMANIST, ASCETIC
A Sixteen-Hundredth Anniversary Symposium
Part One
edited by
PAUL JONATHAN FED WICK
PONTIFICAL INSTITUTE OF MEDIAEVAL STUDIES
Acknowledgment
The publishing program of the Pontifical Institute
is supported by the generosity of the De Rancé Foundation
CANADIAN CATALOGUING IN PUBLICATION DATA
Main entry under title:
Basil of Caesarea
Papers presented at a symposium held in Toronto, June 10-16, 1979.
Bibliography: p.
Includes index.
ISBN 0-88844-412-5
1. Basil, Saint, Archbishop of Caesarea, ca. 330-379 — Congresses.
I. Fedwick, Paul Jonathan, 1937- II. Pontifical Institute of Mediaeval Studies.
BR1720.B3B37 28Γ.4Ό924 C81-094348-4
© 1981 by
Pontifical Institute of Mediaeval Studies
59 Queen's Park Crescent East
Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5S 2C4
PRINTED BY UNI VERSA, WETTEREN, BELGIUM
The Contributors wish to dedicate these volumes
to the Congregation of the Priests of Saint Basil,
organizers and sponsors
of the Toronto St. Basil Symposium, 10-16 June 1979
Contents
Part One
Message of His Holiness, John Paul u, to the Saint Basil Symposium χι
Message of His Holiness, Demetrios 1, Ecumenical Patriarch xv
Abbreviations
1. The Works of Basil of Caesarea χιχ
—A. Works xix. —B. Dubia xxix. —C. Spuria xxix.
2. Other Works xxxn
Introduction P. Wallace Piatt, CSB XXXIX
VITA, OPERA, DOCTRINA
1. A Chronology of the Life and Works of Basil of Caesarea
Paul J. Fedwick 3
2. Notes biographiques sur s. Basile le Grand
Jean Gribomont, OSB 21
—A. La correspondance 24. —B. Les homélies 27.
—C. Les traités dogmatiques 34. —D. L'œuvre ascé
tique 40. —E. L'Ad adolescentes 43. —F. Les livres De
baptismo 44. —G. Les éloges funèbres à la mémoire de
Basile 45. —H. Basil au centre des tensions et des cri
ses 47.
3. Manuscripts and Editions of the Works of Basil of Caesarea
Stig Y. Rudberg 49
—A. The Manuscripts 49. —Β. The Editions 56.
4. Basil's Κατά Εύνομίου, A Critical Analysis
Milton V. Anastos 67
—A. Book 1 (On God the Father) 67. —B. Book 2 (On the
Son) 92. —C. Book 3 (On the Holy Spirit) 111.
—D. Conclusions 118. —Epilogue 133. —Glossa­
ry 134.
VIII CONTENTS
5. Basil's "Neoplatonism": Its Background and Nature
John M. Rist 137
I. Platonism and Christianity: 270-325:
—A. Introduction 137. —B. The Editions of Eusto-
chius. Preliminary Observations, 270-301 140.
—C. The Early History of Porphyry's Against the
Christians, De regressu animae, and Related Mat­
ters 141. —D. Eustochius, Porphyry and Euse-
bius 159. —E. Pagan Alexandria, 270-325 165.
—F. Arius 170. —G. The Early Athanasius 173.
—H. Some Concluding Remarks: 270-325 178.
II. Platonism and Christianity: 325-355:
—A. Introduction 180. —B. Iamblichus and his Pu­
pils 180. —C. Philosophy at Athens, 250-355 182.
—D. Neo-Arianism: Aetius and Eunomius 185.
—E. Porphyry, Victorinus Again, and "Candidus" 189.
—F. Conclusion: 325-355 190.
III. Basil of Caesarea:
—A. Introduction 190. —B. De spiritu and Ennead
5.1 192. —C. The Authorship of De spiritu: Some
Preliminary Remarks 193. —D. De Spiritu Sancto
outside Chapter 9 195. —E. De spiritu and De Spiritu
Sancto 9 199. —F. Other Texts of Basil 202.
—G. Basil and Plotinus: Provisional Results 207.
—H. Porphyry and Iamblichus in Basil 212.
—I. Plotinus the Philosopher and Basil the Bishop 215.
—J. Epilogue 219.
6. Saint Basil and the Rhetorical Tradition George L. Kustas 221
7. Basilios von Caesarea und die Organisation der christlichen
Kirche im Vierten Jahrhundert Konstantinos G. Bonis 281
—Α. Zur Lage der Kirche im Vierten Jahrhundert 281.
—B. Basilios' des Grossen Weg zum Wirken in der Kir­
che 292. —C. Basilios' des Grossen Anachorese 296.
—D. Ruckkehr in die Welt - Priesterlich-pastorales Wir­
ken 301. —E. Zu Basilios' Zeiten die Kirche bedrängende
Irrlehren 308. —F. Basilios der Theologe 317.
—G. Basilios der Kirchenmann 331.
8. The "Spiritual Sense" of Scripture: The Exegetical Basis for St.
Basil's Doctrine of the Holy Spirit Jaroslav Pelikan 337
CONTENTS IX
9. L'idéal du monachisme basilien Thomas Spidlik 361
—A. Un problème en forme d'objection 361. —B. La loi
écrite et la loi des faits 362. —C. La "morale du consente
ment"? 365. —D. Le souvenir continuel de Dieu 367.
—E. La sophiologie 370. —F. Les effets du souvenir de
Dieu 372. —G. Conclusion 373.
10. St. Basil's Social Activity: Principles and Praxis
Ioannes Karayannopoulos 375
11. San Basilio y la esclavitud: teoria y praxis Ramon Teja 393
12. A Note on Basil's Letters of Recommendation
Barnim Treucker 405
13. Statt einer Zusammenfassung: Die Theologie des Basileios im
Kontext der Reichskirche am Beispiel seines Charismaver-
standnisses A. Martin Ritter 411
Part Two
THE TRADITION
14. The Translations of the Works of Basil Before 1400
Paul J. Fedwick 439
—Introduction: Significance and Limitations of the Pro
blem 439. —A. Syriac Translations 444. —B. Basiliana
Latina 455. —C. Works in Armenian 473. —D. Basil in
Coptic Literature 480. —E. Basil in Arabic 485.
—F. Georgian Translations 492. —G. Old Church Slavonic
Translations 503.
15. Basil and the Early Medieval Latin Canonical Collections
Roger E. Reynolds 513
16 Notes on the Iconography of Saint Basil the Great
Wilma Fitzgerald 533
—A. Official Basil 535. —B. Popular Basil 552.
17. P. Antin 111·. Un testimone ignorato delle Erotapokriseis
brevius tractatae di Basilio Sever J. Voicu 565
18. Repertorio dei manoscritti della versione armena di S. Basilio di
Cesarea Gabriella Uluhogian 571