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.
