Blessed Theodoret of Cyrus. His life and literary activity. Volume II

Ὁ πολὺς ἐν σοφίᾳ καὶ λόγοις Θεοδώρητος τὴν Κυρεστῶν ἐπετρόπευεν Ἐκκλησίαν, ἀνὴρ καὶ κατ’ ἄμφω τὰς παιδείας τῇ ϑ’ Ἑλλήνων καὶ Χριστιανῶν ἐπίσημος, καὶ πολλὰς τῇ Ἐκκλησίᾳ καταλιπών· οὗ εὐρὺ κλέος κατὰ τὴν ποίησιν. Nicephori Callisti Η.Ε. XIV, 30. 53. Theodoret as a writer. The nature and scope of his literary activity. The most famous shepherd of the Church, a broad public figure, a high moral authority, Theodoret was one of the greatest theological writers of his time, whom everyone marveled at, being unable to achieve either its universality or its depth. In this respect, he was almost completely alone, leaving all his competitors far behind him 1 . In the age of decline of theological thought, he, like the dear legacy of his fathers, preserved the traditions of the glorious past and firmly and powerfully held the banner of science. He was the last of the representatives of the golden age of church literature, was the bearer and excellent exponent of its best testaments in all areas of knowledge. His strong mind touched all subjects with equal courage and everywhere handed down to us precious monuments of his selfless efforts and his rare talent. The most illustrious of the learned theologians of our time, he was an outstanding writer in all fields of knowledge, everywhere showing equal strength of original originality, rich erudition and elegant simplicity. In view of this, for a thorough review of the literary works of the Cyrrhus Shepherd 2, we must divide them into groups in order to study them in proper detail in order to more accurately indicate their features and more clearly outline their advantages and disadvantages. We will deal first with exegesis; it will be followed by dogma with polemics and apologetics, history, preaching and letters based on it. At the end, evidence of the unsurvived writings of Theodoret and various fragments will be considered. “Theodoret,” according to Shrik (Christliche Kirchengeschichte. Th. XVIII. S. 431), “was the last, exceptionally learned and honored theologian of the ancient Greek Church. He left far behind even his contemporary, Pope Leo.” “Much more learned than Cyril, actually the most learned theologian of his age, incomparably the most skillful exegete and preacher”: this is how the same historian expresses himself about the Bishop of Cyrrhus at the beginning of his review of his life (S. 355–356). According to Newman (Historical sketches. Vol. II. London. 1885. P. 326), Theodoret occupies a place in the theological literature of the first centuries where he has no rivals. Theodoret's works were published several times, although not as many and often as the works of other great church writers, for example, his contemporary St. Kirill. Having in mind to note the editions of individual treatises known to us when reviewing them (for a more detailed bibliography, see Fabricius: Bibliotheca graeca. Ed. G. Chr. Harles. T. VIII. Hamburgi 1802. P. 279 sqq.), we will indicate here only complete editions, embracing all the works of the Cyrrhus Shepherd in their entirety. In Latin they were first printed Coloniae Agrippinae ar. Ioannem Birckmannum in 1567, in two volumes (in-folio), and the first Greek edition of them belongs to the Jesuit Jacob Sirmond, who published in 1642 Beati Theodoreti, episcopi Cyri, opera omnia, in quatuor tomos distribute, in-fol. Lutetiae Parisiorum (I: Quaestiones in Octateuchum, i.e. in Genesin, Exodum, Leviticum, Numeros, Deuterononium, Jesum Nave, libros Judicum et Ruth, – in libros Regum (Regnorum) et in libros Paralipomenon. Interpretatio in omnes Psalmos et in Cantica Canticorum. II: Interpretationis in Esaiam epitome, Interpretatio in Ieremiam, Danielem et in duodecim prophetas minores. III: Expositio in omnes epistolas B. Pauli. Ecclesiasticae Historiae libri V. Philotheus, seu Religiosa Historia. IV: Eranistes, seu Polymorphus, dialogi III, et Demonstration. per syllogismos. Haereticarum fabularum libri V. De providentia orationes X. Adversus Gentiles libri XII, sive Graecarum affectionum curatio, Euangelicaeque veritatis ex Gentilium philosophia cognitio. Appendix, in qua sunt: Oratio de divina Caritate; Librorum XXVII adversus Eutychianos argumenta; Reprehensio Anathematismorum Cyrilli; Epistola S. Leonis papae ad Theodoretum); to them in 1684, in the form of the fifth volume, was added the Auctarium Theodoreti, Cyrensis episcopi, together with the dissertations of its collector, the learned Jesuit John Garnier (Garnerius), on the Cyrrhus shepherd (Auctarium tomi I, in quo continentur Commentarii in Scripturam; Auctarium tomi IV, in quo Sermones continentur; Auctarium ad libros epistolarum: epistolae ad diversos XXXIV, inter quibus quaedam sunt Orientalium et S. Cyrilli. Ioannis Garnerii Dissertationes quinque: I – De vita Theodoreti; II – De libris Theodoreti. Theodoreti Dialogi VII: I–II – De sancta Trinitate adversus Anomoeos, III–V – Adversus Macedonianos, VI–VII – Adversus Apollinaristas. Fulvii Ursini Emendationes in libros Theodoreti "De curandis Graecorum affectibus". I. Garnerii dissertationes: III – De fide Theodoreti, IV – Critica de V Synodo Generali, V – De Theodoreti et Orientalium causa, i. e. Synodicon adversus tragoediam Irenaei. Eidherii, Tyanorum Episcopi, Sermones); after the death of the author, this part was published under the editorship of the Jesuit Gardouin (separately see Io. Garnerii Opera postuma. Francopoli, 1685, in-fol.). This rather thorough publication remained the only one for a hundred years, and only in the 70-80s of the 18th century. At the same time, two attempts were made to critically revise the text of Theodorite's works. In 1768–1775 In Galle, an edition of the works of Theodoret appeared, made by deacon Eugene Voulgaris, with a detailed, albeit brief, biography of the Bishop of Cyrrhus, in five volumes in quarto, under the title: Τοῦ μακαρίου Θεοδωρίτου [So in the ed. – Editorial of the ABC of Faith. ], Ἐπισκόπου Κύρου, ῥωμαϊστὶ ἐκδοϑέντα. Τῷ δὲ παναγιωτάτῳ καὶ σοφωτάτῳ Ἀρχιεπισκόπῳ καὶ οἰκουμενικῷ Πατριάρχῃ κυρίῳ κυρίῳ ' οὗ καὶ ἡ τοῦ Πατρὸς βιογραφία συγγραφεῖσα προσετέϑη . Ἐν Χάλῃ τῇ Μαγδεβουργικῇ, ἐν τῷ Τυπογραφείῳ τοῦ Ὀρφανοτροφείου [I (1768), 1: Questiones in Genesin – in I–II Paralipomenon; I, 2: Interpretatio in Psalmos; We did not find the following volumes in Russian libraries]. Along with this, another edition was published by Schulze and Nässelt, who, in addition to the small but good biography written by the former, added four more excellent indexes (Index graecus, vel Glossarium Theodoreteum, ad usus exeget. et critic, editum a L. Bauero. Halae. 1775. Index figurarum. Index in omnia Theodoreti opera. Index locorum biblicorum), compiled by Baver. This edition stands in the closest relationship to the Sirmond-Gardouin review (especially the third volume, edited by Nesselt), although it represents significant changes for the better, thanks to careful comparisons of texts from new manuscripts and their critical revision; the result of these works were numerous notes by Schulze (notae Schulzii), extending to Garnier's dissertations in the form of amendments (emendationes). Here is the content of this publication [V. Theodoreti, Episcopi Cyri, opera omnia ex recensione Jacobi Sirmondi denuo edidit, graeca e codicibus locupletavit, antiquiores editiones adhibuit, versionem latinam recognovit et variantes lectiones adjecit Io. Ludov. Schulze (Vol. III – Io. Aug. Noesselt). Halae. In-quarto]: I (1769), 1 – Quaestiones in Genesin – in I–II Paralipomenon; 1, 2 – Interpretatio in Psalmos. II (1770), 1 – Interpretatio in Cantica Canticorum, in Esaiam, in Ieremiam, in Baruch, in Thren. Ierem.; II, 2 – Interpretatio in Ezechielem, in Daniel, in duodecim minores prophetas. III (1771), 1 – Interpretatio XIV Epistolarum S. Apostoli Pauli; III, 2 – Historia Ecclesiastica. Historia Religiosa. De divina et sancta Charitate. IV (1772), 1 – Eranistes, seu Polymorphus. Demonstrations per syllogismos. Haereticarum fabularum compendium. De Providentia; IV, 2 – Graecarum affectionum curatio. Contra Nestorium ad Sporatium. Epistolae ad diversos CLXXXI. V (1774), 1 – Reprehensio Anathematismorum S. Cyrilli. Auctarium Theodoreteum (ad Commentaries in S. Scripturam et ad Sermones) I. Garnerii et ejusdem Dissertationes; V, 2 – De sancta Trinitate (adversus Anomoeos, Macedonianos et Apollinaristas) dialogi I–VII. Eutherii, Tyanorum Episcopi, Sermones. Addenda. Indices. The completion of all previous editions are volumes 80–84 of the Greek Patrology series, owned by the enterprising energy of the French abbot I.P. Minya [80: Schulzii Praefatio in omnia Theodoreti opera et ejusdem Dissertatio de vita et scriptis Theodoreti. Theodoreti Quaestiones in Genesin – in I, II Paralipomenon. Interpretatio in CL Psalmos. 81: Explanatio in Cantica Canticorum, in Isaiam, in Ieremiam, in Ezechielem, in Danielem, in XII prophetas minores. 82: Commentarius in omnes S. Pauli Epistolas. Historia Ecclesiastica. Historia Religiosa. Oratio de divina et sancta charitate. 83: Eranistes seu Polymorphus. Demonstrations per syllogismos. Compendium haereticarum fabularum. De Providentia. Graecarum affectionum curatio. Libellus contra Nestorium. De Trinitate. Epistolae ad diversos CLXXXI. Reprehensio duodecim anathematismorum Cyrilli (vid. Patrologiae, sen gr., t. 76, col. 391–452). 84: Ioan. Garnerii Auctarium Theodoreteum (ad Sermones et ad Commentarios in S. Scripturam). Ejusdem Dissertationes I–V. De Trinitate dialogi VII (vid. Patrologiae, ser gr., t. 28, col. 1115–1338: dial. IV et V = VI et VII Garnerii; dial. I et II inter sermonibus = IV et V Garnerii). Eutherii Tyanensis Sermones (vid. Patrologiae, gr. ser., t. 28, col. 1337–1394). Indices], Summarizing the existing works, Min did not bring anything new to the study and critical correction of the text of Theodorite's works, with the exception of borrowings from later editions of individual works of the Cyrrhus shepherd; thus, Graecarum affectionum curatio is taken from a review by Thomas Guysford, published in Oxford in 1839. Therefore, the edition of Min, without containing any special advantages over the previous ones, does not eliminate the shortcomings of the latter and raises the need for a more thorough critical review and publication of the works of Theodoret, who fully deserves to have diligence, diligence and knowledge devoted to him. As for the translation of Theodorite’s works into Russian, we do not yet have them in their entirety; Only volumes VII were published, and the most important and brilliant works of the Kirr Shepherd were left behind. We regret this all the more and all the more energetically recommend the continuation of the publication, since the works we mean are not only of high scientific and historical interest (for example, Haereticarum fabularum compendium or letters), but have not lost their significance to this day. Eranistes and Graecarum affectionum curatio, where we find a deep philosophical and theological analysis of the highest Christian truths and their solid justification, would now be a significant contribution to our theological literature. Turning to what is already available in Russian (I or XXVI volumes of the Works of the Holy Fathers, Moscow. 1855: Interpretations (Quaestiones) on the book of Genesis - I, II, III, IV books of Kings; II or XXVII volumes of the Works of the Holy Fathers., M. 1856: Explanation of Psalms 1–69; III or XXVIII volume. Creations. Holy Father, M. 1856: Explanation of Psalms 70–150; Works IV or XXIX. Holy Father, M. 1857: Interpretation of the Book of St. Daniel and the Twelve Minor Prophets: Hosea - Micah; Vol. V or XXX of the Holy Father, M. 1857: Commentary on the Twelve Minor Prophets: Nahum - Malachi. Ten words about Providence; VI vol. M. 1859: An abbreviated exposition of the divine dogmas (quintus liber Haereticarum fabularum compendii). Interpretation on the book. Ave. Jeremiah, Baruch, Lamentations of Jeremiah, on the book. Ave. Ezekiel and on I, II Chronicles; VII vol., M. 1861: Interpretation of the XIV Epistles of the Apostle Paul), we must say that this publication does not, and cannot, have any scientific significance from the side of textual criticism of the works of the Cyrrhus Shepherd. As far as we know, the translators used exclusively Sirmond’s review, and only in “Questions on Octatevkh, book. Kings and Chronicles” and in the interpretations of the Psalms some influence of the editorship of Deacon Eugene Voulgaris is noticeable. There are omissions in places (for example, in Theodorit’s instructions on the versions of Aquila, Symmachus and Theodotion) and even incorrectness in the transmission of the thoughts of the original, sometimes presented in a very ambiguous form. However, both are not so significant and are not so often found in our VII volumes of “Works of the Blessed. Theodoret”, as in individual Russian editions of some of this writer’s works. In conclusion, one may wish that the translation of the works of the Bishop of Cyrrhus be completed, at least in the same spirit in which it was begun. You might be interested in: