Origen's Philocalia
Encyclopedia
Origen's Philocalia is an anthology of Origen
's texts, probably compiled by Basil the Great and Gregory Nazianzen. It was probably compiled during their monastic retreat in Pontus in the late 350's to early 360's, or at any event early in their careers and before their own theological writings. The complete text of so much of Origen
's work is lost, and consequently the extracts in the anthology are valuable today. It should not be confused with the medieval Philokalia
.
The work is divided into twenty-seven chapters, with titles given by the compilers. About a fifth of it is taken from Contra Celsum.
Opinion is divided about who compiled the Philocalia. Basil and Gregory are described as the compilers in the Greek text itself, and this is generally accepted. Eric Junod, the editor of the French edition of chapters 21-27, accepts both as the authors without question. But M. Harl, editor of chapters 1-20 in the same series, queries this, as do others. Gregory Nazianzen sent a letter to a friend which supports the traditional attribution.
A number of medieval manuscripts preserve the work, including Codex Parisinus Graecus 456
.
Origen
Origen , or Origen Adamantius, 184/5–253/4, was an early Christian Alexandrian scholar and theologian, and one of the most distinguished writers of the early Church. As early as the fourth century, his orthodoxy was suspect, in part because he believed in the pre-existence of souls...
's texts, probably compiled by Basil the Great and Gregory Nazianzen. It was probably compiled during their monastic retreat in Pontus in the late 350's to early 360's, or at any event early in their careers and before their own theological writings. The complete text of so much of Origen
Origen
Origen , or Origen Adamantius, 184/5–253/4, was an early Christian Alexandrian scholar and theologian, and one of the most distinguished writers of the early Church. As early as the fourth century, his orthodoxy was suspect, in part because he believed in the pre-existence of souls...
's work is lost, and consequently the extracts in the anthology are valuable today. It should not be confused with the medieval Philokalia
Philokalia
The Philokalia is a collection of texts written between the 4th and 15th centuries by spiritual masters of the Eastern Orthodox hesychast tradition. They were originally written for the guidance and instruction of monks in "the practise of the contemplative life". The collection was compiled in...
.
The work is divided into twenty-seven chapters, with titles given by the compilers. About a fifth of it is taken from Contra Celsum.
Opinion is divided about who compiled the Philocalia. Basil and Gregory are described as the compilers in the Greek text itself, and this is generally accepted. Eric Junod, the editor of the French edition of chapters 21-27, accepts both as the authors without question. But M. Harl, editor of chapters 1-20 in the same series, queries this, as do others. Gregory Nazianzen sent a letter to a friend which supports the traditional attribution.
A number of medieval manuscripts preserve the work, including Codex Parisinus Graecus 456
Codex Parisinus Graecus 456
Codex Parisinus Graecus 456, designated by siglum H, manuscript of Origen's Philocalia and Contra Celsum.- Description :The manuscript contains text of Origen's Philocalia. It is very closely related to Codex Venetus Graecus 48, but not copied from it....
.
Further reading
- J. Armitage Robinson, The Philocalia of Origen: The text revised with a critical introduction and indices. Cambridge University Press/New York:Macmillan (1893), pp. XIII-XVIII