The Homilies of Photius, Patriarch of Constantinople

by Cyril Mango

The historical role of Photius has, all too often, been viewed only as it concerned the rift between the Western and Eastern Churches. He has been regarded either as the "Father of the Schism" or as the staunch defender of Greek Orthodoxy against the encroachments of Rome. It is hoped that by presenting the Homilies of Photius in English translation these one-sided views may to some extent be corrected. For, surprising though it may appear, we shall not find in the Homilies a single reference to the Papacy. When they are not purely didactic, the Homilies are dominated by such topics as the suppression of the Iconoclast movement, the re-establishment of sacred painting, the propagation of the true faith among heretics, and the quelling of internal division in the Church of Constantinople. -From the Introduction

First published January 1, 1958

About the author

Cyril Alexander Mango is a British scholar in the history, art, and architecture of the Byzantine Empire. He is a former King's College London and Oxford professor of Byzantine and Modern Greek Language and Literature. He is the brother of Andrew Mango.


source

Reviews

[Ted · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book is probably of greatest interest to Byzantine historians specializing in Photius' time period who would glean the most from the sermons. Photius has a few really good images in his sermons, but a lot is very focused on issues of his time and not relevant to us today. Several times he addresses himself to "An you, O Jew..." I doubt there were any Jews attending the liturgies where he preached, so even as a rhetorical device it comes off being anti-Semitic.

[Wyatt Graham]

My review: http://wyattgraham.com/review-of-the-...