Christian Illustrious Men: Christian Culture and Identity from Eusebius of Caesarea to Isidore of Sevilla

Projektinformationen

ChrisVirIll

ID Finanzhilfevereinbarung: 101025412

DOI

10.3030/101025412

Projekt abgeschlossen

EK-Unterschriftsdatum 9 März 2021

Startdatum 1 November 2021

Enddatum 31 Oktober 2023

Finanziert unter

• EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions

Gesamtkosten

€ 178 320,00

EU-Beitrag

€ 178 320,00

Koordiniert durch

KATHOLIEKE UNIVERSITEIT LEUVEN
Belgium

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - ChrisVirIll (Christian Illustrious Men: Christian Culture and Identity from Eusebius of Caesarea to Isidore of Sevilla)

Berichtszeitraum: 2021-11-01 bis 2023-10-31

Zusammenfassung vom Kontext und den Gesamtzielen des Projekts

This research project focused on the role of early Christian 'De viris illustribus' (DVI) in shaping Christian cultural identity. In contemporary scholarship, DVIs are often underexplored, primarily used for prosopographical data. However, this project highlighted their importance in understanding the literary Christian culture of late antiquity and their significance for the evolution of Western and European culture.

The main objective was to examine how knowledge was produced, institutionalized, canonized, and contested through the DVIs. This included analyzing their transformation across learning centers such as Caesarea, Bethlehem, Marseilles, Seville, and Toledo, and focusing on Pamphilus of Caesarea’s influence on Eusebius’ Historia ecclesiastica and Jerome’s DVI. The project sought to understand how these works were influenced by and reflected their political, social, cultural, and religious contexts.

The conclusion of the project revealed that DVIs were instrumental in establishing Christian cultural identity, closely linked with literary history, theology, and practice. It emphasized Pamphilus of Caesarea’s role in promoting post-biblical authors, particularly Origen of Alexandria, and preserving the Origenian legacy. The study showed that the evolution of Christian literary culture in the DVIs of Jerome, Gennadius, and others was not only influenced by Eusebius’ literary catalog but also heavily reliant on Pamphilus' scholarly practices.

Ultimately, the project determined that DVIs were more than precursors to modern patrologies. They were complex literary constructs that mirrored shifts in cultural priorities and identities within early Christian societies. The project illuminated how early Christians navigated their cultural and intellectual heritage, contributing significantly to understanding the Christianization of the Roman Empire and the legacy of Christian literary culture.

Arbeit, die ab Beginn des Projekts bis zum Ende des durch den Bericht erfassten Berichtszeitraums geleistet wurde, und die wichtigsten bis dahin erzielten Ergebnisse

My MSCA project focused on the Pamphilus-Eusebius-Jerome triad, making substantial progress in early Christian literature studies. Pamphilus of Caesarea, crucial in founding the Caesarea library, significantly influenced Eusebius and Jerome. My research, to be published in the Journal of Early Christian Studies, examines Pamphilus' impact in their catalogues.

The project explored themes like origenism, leading to a paper presented at the University of Ben Gurion, Israel, and a monograph currently being finalized for submission to prominent University Presses.

Academically, I've contributed two papers to the Society of Biblical Literature Annual Meeting in Denver, 2022, and am organizing an international conference on collective biographies at KU Leuven with Prof. Verheyden.

Significant progress was achieved across various work packages (WPs):

WP0 examined Eusebius's establishment of ecclesiastical writer catalogues, Jerome's transformation into DVIs, and Rufinus's translations and methodologies.
WP1 focused on the DVIs' societal impact, especially their readership and author inclusion/exclusion.
WP2 and WP3 analyzed the geographical origins of DVI authors and the apologetic intentions of the DVIs.
WP4 investigated the literary methods used in DVIs.

Final Report:

The final report of my MSCA project highlights significant achievements. A monograph on Pamphilus is under contract with Cambridge University Press, and three articles were published in leading journals. A co-edited volume on collective biographies is also accepted by Cambridge University Press.

Research presentations at two international conferences at KU Leuven and invitations to esteemed venues have been notable. Topics covered include Pamphilus of Caesarea, autography in late antiquity, and the evolution of Christian literary history.

My research has been recognized at various international venues, establishing my expertise. The addition of Pamphilus' study has opened new research avenues in late ancient Christianity. Furthermore, my focus on DVIs in Christian apologetic literature led to an invitation to contribute to a Cambridge Core collection volume titled "Ancient Apologetic Literature and the Bibliographic Imagination," scheduled for 2025.

Overall, this MSCA project has significantly impacted the study of late antique history and literature, demonstrating my commitment to advancing this academic field.

Fortschritte, die über den aktuellen Stand der Technik hinausgehen und voraussichtliche potenzielle Auswirkungen (einschließlich der bis dato erzielten sozioökonomischen Auswirkungen und weiter gefassten gesellschaftlichen Auswirkungen des Projekts)

In the first part of my project, I innovated by highlighting Pamphilus of Caesarea's significance in Eusebius and Jerome's literary catalogues. Often overlooked or seen merely as a librarian in scholarship, I showed his crucial role in late antique Palestine's book culture, especially for Eusebius and Jerome. Additionally, I analyzed the transformation of literary catalogues from Eusebius to Gennadius, noting Gennadius' focus on Gaul and regionalization of his catalogue, contrasting with Eusebius and Jerome's broader, diachronic perspective.

The next project phase will extend this research to Southern Spain, examining Isidore and Ildefonsus, aiming to reshape views on authorship and authority in European literature. This will challenge Western-centric perspectives, highlighting Eastern Greek knowledge transfer to the West and the Middle East's role in shaping European cultural identities.

Final report:

My MSCA project's final report covers extensive research on Pamphilus of Caesarea and the De viris illustribus (DVI). I've published two articles in leading journals and am preparing a book with Cambridge University Press on Pamphilus' influence on late antique Christian book culture. This study offers a new perspective on Pamphilus post-martyrdom and examines textuality in relation to Origen's legacy, reshaping views on the transition from classical to early Medieval Christian culture.

My research on the DVIs, to be published in an edited volume and a collective biographies volume, emphasizes their role in shaping Christian cultural identity. I contend that Jerome's DVI is a continuation of Eusebius’ Historia ecclesiastica (HE), highlighting the evolution of Christian authorship and its significance in history. Jerome's innovative approach included recognizing the translator as an author and linking Christian authorship to his persona. Gennadius' DVI differs by focusing on geographical and ethnic identification, particularly Gaul, indicating a shift to regional prominence in late antique Christianity.

In conclusion, my research reevaluates the influences of Pamphilus and Eusebius on Jerome's DVI and their collective impact on Christian intellectual history. It provides insights into the transition from classical to early Medieval Christian culture, underscoring Jerome's transformative role in European culture's evolution.

https://sites.google.com/view/christianauthorship/home
https://sinowloc.wixsite.com/collective-bios
https://theo.kuleuven.be/apps/press/theologyresearchnews/2023/09/04/exploring-early-christian-authorship-practices-representations-and-perceptions/

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