Die Schriften
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Johannes von Damaskos
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Edited by:
Byzantinischen Institut der Abtei Scheyern
An introduction to the text volume of the first critical edition of the Greek monastic novel The Life of Barlaam and Josaphat , available since the end of 2006. It deals with the question of the authorship – which can now be regarded as resolved – the sources of the text and its influence, the contents, the history of the manuscript together with the various illustration cycles, and the direct translations from the Greek. The volume is completed with a characterization of the new edition and a detailed bibliography.
A long occidental tradition has regarded the Greek monastic romance Barlaam and Josaphat as the work of John Damascene, and the first critical edition of the work appears now in the corpus of his writings. In actual fact - as became apparent during the editing - it is a work from the late 10th century, and the author is almost certainly the Georgian Abbot Euthymios from Mount Athos. The story goes back to the life of Buddha and is about the son of an Indian king, who, after instruction by a devout ascetic, himself becomes a hermit; this Greek version is regarded as the most learned treatment of material which has gone through many world religions (Buddhism, Manichaeism, Islam, Judaism and Christianity).
For the first time, this book provides a critical edition of the commentary by St. John of Damascus on the epistles of the Apostle Paul. It includes all preserved Greek textual witnesses. The source apparatus allows the reader to follow the principal source, the Pauline Commentary of John Chrysostom. The edition also pays attention to the ongoing impact exerted by the Damascene commentary on several catenas and by a radically foreshortened epitome.
The vitae of John of Damascus are a crucial document in the reception of the Greek church father. They present novel-like anecdotes and portrayals of marvelous wonders, with some of the texts exhibiting high literary quality. This volume is the first to edit three of the vitae, presenting critical editions of the others based on a thorough review of all known and recently discover text witnesses.
