LOCAL FILES

The files below are those actually published by the St. Pachomius Library and maintained locally. They have been edited to our standards, and most contain internal anchors marking every paragraph for easy reference. To see a listing of all Orthodox patristic e-texts known to us, please consult the St. Pachomius Library Global Index.

• St. Amphilochius, Bishop of Iconium, poet, (IV Century):
  • At the Colosseum A short poem protesting the gladiatorial games. Barrett Browning translation, 1842. --- SPL
• Anastasius the Librarian, scholar, politician, and antipope, (IX Century):
  • Life of St. Peter of Alexandria Hawkins translation, 1879. --- SPL
• St. Aristides, Athenian Christian philosopher, (II Century):
  • Apology: One of the earliest apologetical works. Also appears without attribution in Barlaam and Ioasaph. Kay translation from the Syriac version found in St. Catherine's Monastery. --- SPL
• St. Arsenios of Cappadocia, Greek hermit, (XX Century):
  • Blessing-Psalter: Suggestions on the use of the Psalms for specific situations in life, by a famous Greek Orthodox hermit of the twentieth century; a snapshot of Mediterranean peasant life in any era. Kollias translation, 1995. --- SPL
• St. Augustine, Archbishop of Canterbury, Roman missionary in England, (VI/VII Centuries):
  • Secondary Sources:
    • St. Bede: Ecclesiastical History: The fullest account of St. Augustine's life is found in Book One, Chapters 23-34 and Book Two, Chapters 1-3. --- SPL
• St. Basil the Great, Bishop of Cæsarea, Cappadocian Orthodox theologian, (IV Century):
  • Second Epistle: In praise of the monastic way of life. Newman-Jackson translation. --- SPL
  • Seventh Epistle A personal letter to Gregory the Theologian in which Basil asserts that he is less suited than Gregory to the task of defending Orthodoxy. Jackson translation. --- SPL
  • Eighth Epistle Ostensibly a justification of Basil's withdrawing into the country to meditate, this is is one of the finest Orthodox expositions of the Trinity to emerge from the Arian crisis. Jackson translation. --- SPL
  • Two-hundred Thirty-fourth Epistle: Teaches that God's essence is unknowable. This is one of the key documents of Orthodox apophatic theology. --- SPL
• St. Bede the Venerable, English abbot, historian, and astronomer (VII/VIII Centuries):
  • Ecclesiastical History of the English People: (Under construction -- barely begun!) The famous history of the Anglo-Saxon Church from its earliest days until the VIII Century, by the most celebrated of the English Church Fathers. Hurst translation, 1814. --- SPL
• St. Benedict of Nursia, Italian monastic leader, (V/VI Centuries):
  • Secondary Sources:
    • St. Gregory Dialogos, Pope of Rome: The Dialogues (Book II): The life of Benedict by his famous contemporary. --- SPL
• St. Brendan the Navigator, Abbot of Clonfert, (V/VI Centuries):
  • Secondary Sources:
    • Mediæval Hymnography: Including a hymn by Guido of Ivrea. --- SPL
• Byzantine Devotional Material and Hymnography:
  • Elizabeth Barrett Browning (translator): Examples from the Greek Christian Poets. A remarkable anthology of Byzantine poetry, most of it religious, selected and translated in 1842 by one of the greatest poets of Victorian England. Unfortunately the electronic version includes only the poems and not Barrett Browning's witty and perceptive critical commentary. --- SPL
• St. Clement I, Pope of Rome, (I Century):
  • First Epistle: Hoole translation, 1885. --- SPL
  • Second Epistle: Wace translation. --- SPL
• St. Clement of Alexandria, Christian philosopher, (II/III Centuries): [READ WITH CAUTION: Although he is condsidered a saint (St. Photius, however, questioned this), Clement's writings reflect the influence of the Gnostics with whom he was constantly debating.]
  • The Prodigal Son: (fragment) A characteristic example of the allegorical Alexandrian school of exegesis. Partly by another, slightly later author; preserved in a work of Macarius Chrysocephalus. Wilson translation. --- SPL
• St. Cornelius, Pope of Rome, (III Century):
  • Fragments of Epistles: Against the rigorist Novatian, who opposed readmitting to the Church those who had lapsed under persecution. From Eusebius, EH vi, 43, McGiffert translation, 1890. --- SPL
• Councils of the Church:
  • Council of Antioch which condemned Paul of Samosata:
    • Epistle to Dionysius of Rome and Maximus of Alexandria: Fragments from Eusebius, HE, vii, 30. McGifford translation, 1890. --- SPL
  • Council of Ancyra, 314:
    • Canons: Morally nuanced canons dealing with the aftermath of persecution as well as more timeless moral issues. Endorsed by the Council in Trullo. Percival translation, 1899. --- SPL
  • Council of Neocæsarea, ca. 315:
    • Canons: Many of the canons deal with marital or sexual issues; others with the clergy, including a curious limitation on the number of deacons later "explained away" by the Council in Trullo, which endorsed this council. Percival translation, 1899. --- SPL
  • First Ecumenical Council (Nicea I):
    • Canons. The 20 accepted canons in full, and the titles of the additional canons attributed to the Council by the Copts. Percival translation, 1899. --- SPL
  • Second Ecumenical Council (Constantinople I):
    • Documents: Creed, canons, etc. Percival translation, 1899. --- SPL
  • Local Council at Constantinople, 382:
    • Synodical Letter: This was a "follow-up" council to the Second Ecumenical Council the year before. Percival translation, 1899. --- SPL
• St. Cyprian, Bishop of Carthage, African theologian and martyr, (III Century):
  • The Lord's Prayer: A line-by-line exposition. Wallis translation, 1886. --- SPL
• St. Cyril, Patriarch of Alexandria, (IV/V Centuries):
  • First Letter to Nestorius:
    • Pusey translation, 1872. --- SPL
  • Third Letter to Nestorius:
    • Pusey translation, 1872. --- SPL
  • Letter of Cyril to John of Antioch:
    • Pusey translation, 1872, (SPL);
  • Homilies:
    1. On St. Luke's Account of the Nativity: Smith translation, 1859
  • Secondary sources:
    • Severus of al-Ushmanain: St. Cyril the Great, Twenty-fourth Patriarch: Illustrates how this most celebrated of Egyptian hierarchs and his opponent Nestorius were remembered in the X Century. [NON-CHALCEDONIAN AUTHOR] --- SPL
• St. Cyril, Patriarch of Jerusalem, (IV Century):
  • Catechetical Lectures (Under construction) --- SPL
• The Didache:
  • The Didache: A very ancient, possibly First Century, Christian document. Describes the ethical paths to life and death in general terms, then focuses on church life in an age when evangelists and prophets still roamed from town to town. The Didascalia and Apostolic Constitutions are in the opinion of most scholars later expansions of the Didache. Hoole translation. --- SPL
• St. Dionysius the Areopagite, Bishop of Athens, (I Century):
  • Attributed Works:
    • Letters: Parker translation, 1897. --- SPL
      • Letter I To Gaius Therapeutes: God's existence is beyond existence and beyond knowledge.
      • Letter II To the same Gaius Therapeutes: Even such terms as "good" and "divine" fail to describe God.
      • Letter III To the same Gaius Therapeutes: Christ remains unknown in His essence even after the Incarnation.
      • Letter IV To the same Gaius Therapeutes: Concerning the "Theandric Energy" of the Incarnation.
      • Letter V To Dorotheus, Leitourgoros: The Divine Darkness shines forth Light, through which God may be known as fully as possible.
      • Letter VI To Sopatros, Priest: It is better to speak the truth than to attack error.
      • Letter VII To Polycarp, Hierarch: The Law of Truth (the proclamation of which is more important than the refutation of Greek errors); Response to Sophists, (especially Apollophanes, who was with Dionysius on the Day of the Crucifixion).
      • Letter VIII To Demophilos, a monk (forthcoming)
      • Letter IX To Titus, Hierarch: (forthcoming)
      • Letter X To John the Apostle: Of exile from the world and exile from God.
    • The Liturgy of St. Dionysius, Bishop of the Athenians. Based on the Areopagite mystical writings; used by the Syrian Jacobite Church. Parker translation, 1896. [A NON-CHALCEDONIAN LITURGICAL TEXT, but based on writings accepted by all Orthodox.] SPL
• St. Ephraim of Syria, Mesopotamian Christian poet, monastic, and theologian, (IV Century):
  • Epistle to a Disciple: From Coptic papyrus. Budge translation. --- SPL
  • A Hymn Against Bar-Daisan: Bar-Daisan was a celebrated intellectual whose version of Christianity incorporated Gnostic and possibly Hindu or Buddhist ideas. Jones translation, 1904. --- SPL
  • The Pearl: Seven Hymns on the Faith Morris translation. --- SPL
• St. Eucherius, Bishop of Lyons, (IV/V Centuries):
  • The Formulæ A sort of encyclopædia of biblical symbolism. Keck translation, 1999. --- SPL
  • On Contempt for the World --- SPL
• Eusebius of Cæsarea:
  • Ecclesiastical History: Apart from the New Testament, probably the single most essential document for the study of Church history before Constantine. --- SPL
• St. Fiacc, Irish bard, (V Century):
  • Hymn on the Life of St. Patrick: Very early source for life of Patrick. Anonymous 1868 translation. --- SPL
• Gennadius of Marseilles:
  • Lives of Illustrious Men
• St. Gregory I (Dialogos), Pope of Rome, (VI/VII Centuries):
  • The Dialogues (Book II) "P. W." translation, 1608. --- SPL
  • Letter to King Ethelbert: About St. Augustine of Canterbury, with interesting comment on the end of the world. From Bede's Ecclesiastical History. --- SPL
  • Letter to Vergilius of Arles: About St. Augustine of Canterbury. From Bede's Ecclesiastical History. --- SPL
• St. Gregory, Bishop of Nyssa, Cappadocian theologian, (IV Century): [READ WITH CAUTION: Although he is a truly great Eastern saint, a few of Gregory's opinions have since been rejected by the Church.]
  • Catechetical Oration: Strawley translation, 1917. Under construction. --- SPL
• St. Gregory Thaumaturgus, Orthodox missionary in Asia Minor, III Century:
  
  • A Statement of Faith: An important early credal formula. Salmond translation, 1871. --- SPL
• St. Gregory (Theologos) of Nazianzen, Cappadocian theologian, (IV Century):
  • Body and Soul Barrett Browning translation, 1842. --- SPL
  • Oration 45 (Second Paschal Oration): Browne-Swallow translation. --- SPL
• Guido of Ivrea, Italian hymnographer, (XI Century): [Lived at the time of the schism, but reflected older traditions.]
  • Hymnography for St. Brendan the Navigator: Guido came from the Irish-influenced North Italian monastic tradition. --- SPL
• St. Ignatius (Theophoros), Patriarch of Antioch, (I/II Centuries):
  • Epistle to the Magnesians:
    • Hoole translation. --- SPL
  • Epistle to the Trallians:
    • Hoole translation. --- SPL
  • Epistle to the Philadelplhians:
    • Hoole translation. --- SPL
  • Epistle to the Smyræans:
    • Hoole translation. --- SPL
• St. Jerome, Latin theologian and Bible translator, (IV/V Centuries):
  • Letter 146 About deacons, that they are not as high-ranking as priests. Seems almost to equate bishops and priests. --- SPL
• St. John Chrysostom, Patriarch of Constantinople, (IV/V Centuries):
  • The Beatitudes: Excerpt from the Commentary on Matthew. Prevost translation, 1851. --- SPL
  • The Lord's Prayer: Excerpt from the Commentary on Matthew. Prevost translation, 1851. --- SPL
  • On the Priesthood: Often considered the most important patristic account of this topic. Stephens translation, 1888. --- SPL
• St. John of Damascus, Arab Christian theologian, (VI/VII Centuries):
  • Anacreontic Hymn (extract): Barrett Browning translation, 1842. --- SPL
• St. John of Kronstadt, Russian priest, (XIX/XX Centuries):
  
  • What has the Feast of Pascha Left in our Hearts? Holidays are not an excuse for greed and drunkenness. From The Sun of Righteousness. Spruksts translation, 1983. --- SPL
  • The Word was Made Flesh: Christmas sermon by the great Russian preacher. From The Sun of Righteousness. Spruksts translation, 1983. --- SPL
• St. Justin Martyr, Hellenistic philosopher and Christian apologist, (II Century):
  
  • Secondary Sources:
    • The Martyrdom of the Holy Martyr Justin and his Companions who Suffered at Rome: --- SPL
• St. Justinian I, Emperor of the East, (V/VI Centuries):
  • Dialogue with Paul of Nisibis: Transcript of a debate between the emperor and the Persian Nestorian bishop Paul. CAUTIONARY NOTE: This document reflects a stage in the development of the Emperor's Christology and uses vague language which would be rendered more precise during the Monoenergist and Monothelite controversies of later times. Copyrighted Macdonald translation, 1998. --- SPL
• St. Leo I the Great, Pope of Rome, (V Century):
  • Sermon 95: On the Beatitudes: The emphasis on theosis is notable. Feltoe translation, 1894. --- SPL
• Lives of the Saints:
  • St. Alban, Romano-British martyr, (III Century):
    • St. Bede: Ecclesiastical History, I, 7: The only authoritative account of the protomartyr of Britain. --- SPL
  • St. Augustine, Archbishop of Canterbury, Roman missionary in England, (VI/VII Centuries):
    • St. Bede: Ecclesiastical History: The fullest account of St. Augustine's life is found in Book One, Chapters 23-34 and Book Two, Chapters 1-3. --- SPL
  • St. Barsamya of Edessa:
    • Martyrdom of Barsamya of Edessa --- SPL
  • St. Benedict of Nursia:
    • Gregory the Great: Second Dialogue --- SPL
  • St. Cyril of Alexandria:
    • Severus of al-Ushmanain: St. Cyril the Great, Twenty-fourth Patriarch: Illustrates how this most celebrated of Egyptian hierarchs and his opponent Nestorius were remembered in the X Century. [NON-CHALCEDONIAN AUTHOR] --- SPL
  • St. Demetrius, Patriarch of Alexandria, (II/III Centuries):
    • Severus of Al-Ushmunain [NON-CHALCEDONIAN WRITER]: St. Demetrius, Twelfth Patriarch: The author's desire to praise chastity perhaps goes a bit overboard. Evetts translation. --- SPL
  • St. Erendruda of Salzburg:
    • Two Lives of Saints Rupert and Erendruda of Salzburg --- SPL
  • St. Eutropius the Reader, Byzantine cleric and defender of John Chrysostom, (IV/V Centuries):
    • Sozomen: Ecclesiastical History, Book VIII, Chapter 24: --- SPL
  • St. Habib of Telzeha:
    • Martyrdom of Habib the Deacon --- SPL
  • St. Januarius of Benevento:
    • Acts of the Hieromartyr Januarius --- SPL
  • Abba John Khame [PROBABLY NON-CHALCEDONIAN]:
    • The Life of Abba John Khame: Davis translation, 1919. --- SPL
  • St. Justin the Philosopher and Companions:
    • The Martyrdom of the Holy Martyr Justin and his Companions who Suffered at Rome: --- SPL
  • St. Mark the Apostle:
    • Severus of Al-Ushmunain: Life of St. Mark Coptic source. --- SPL
  • St. Onnophrius of the Desert:
    • Paphnutius of the Desert: Life of St. Onnophrios. Budge translation. --- SPL
  • St. Palladius of Ireland, Roman missionary, (V Century):
    • St. Bede: Ecclesiastical History, 13: A brief and enigmatic reference to the man who apparently evangelized parts of Ireland before St. Patrick. --- SPL
  • St. Patrick of Ireland:
    • Fiacc: Hymn on the Life of St. Patrick --- SPL
  • St. Pelagia of Caesarea:
    • Ethiopian Life of St. Pelagia of Caesarea --- SPL
  • St. Peter of Alexandria:
    • Anastasius the Librarian: Martyrdom of Peter of Alexandria --- SPL
  • St. Peter of Canterbury, Roman monastic in England, (VI/VII Centuries):
    • St. Bede: Ecclesiastical History, 33: A brief account of the saint's death at sea. --- SPL
  • St. Pisentius of Qift [NON-CHALCEDONIAN]:
    • The Ethiopic Synaxarium: Besendyos of Keft --- SPL
  • St. Polycarp of Smyrna:
    • The Martyrdom of Polycarp: Hoole translation, 1885. --- SPL
  • St. Rupert of Salzburg:
    • Two Lives of Saints Rupert (Robert) and Erendruda --- SPL
  • St. Thecla of Iconium:
    • Acts of Paul and Thecla --- SPL
  • St. Tigrius, Byzantine priest and defender of John Chrysostom, (IV/V Centuries):
    • Sozomen: Ecclesiastical History, Book VIII, Chapter 24: --- SPL
• Maximus Margunius, Bishop of Cythera, Byzantine Renaissance humanist, editor of the works of Chrysostom, (XVI/XVII Centuries):
  • Fifth Anacreontic Hymn (excerpt): Barrett Browning translation, 1842. --- SPL
• John Mauropous, Metropolitan of Euchaita, Byzantine hymnographer, poet, and intellectual, (XI Century):
  • Ikons: Short poems inspired by ikons. Barrett Browning translation, 1842. --- SPL
  • To My Old House (extract): Barrett Browning translation, 1842. --- SPL
• St. Methodius of Olympus:
  • History of Jonah: A fragment of the lost Book on the Resurrection, attributed to St. Methodius of Olympus. ---SPL
  • Oration on Simeon and Anna --- SPL
• Paul Silentiarius:
  • Description of Hagia Sophia:
    • Extract, Barrett Browning translation --- SPL
• St. Peter, Crown of the Martyrs, Patriarch of Alexandria, (III/IV Centuries):
  • Secondary sources:
    • Anastasius the Librarian: Life of St. Peter of Alexandria Hawkins translation, 1879. --- SPL
• Manuel Philes, Byzantine poet, (XIV Century):
  • The Grecophile Herons: Barrett Browning translation, 1842. --- SPL
  • To the Holy Spirit: Barrett Browning translation, 1842. --- SPL
• George Pisides, Byzantine poet and historian, (VI/VII Centuries)
  • Right Rule Barrett Browning translation, 1842. --- SPL
• St. Polycarp, Bishop of Smyrna, martyr, (I/II Centuries):
  • Secondary sources:
    • The Martyrdom of Polycarp: Hoole translation, 1885. --- SPL
• St. Proclus, Bishop of Cyzicus in Asia Minor, (V Century):
  • Against Nestorius: Budge translation from a Coptic source.
• Prodromus, Theodore, Byzantine poet, (XII Century):
  • Life Barrett Browning translation, 1842. --- SPL
  • Providence (excerpt): Barrett Browning translation, 1842. --- SPL
• Sedulius Scotus, Irish monk, poet, and philosopher, (IX Century):
  Apologia pro Vita Sua: Keck translation, 2004. --- SPL
• Severus of Al-Ushmunain: [NON-CHALCEDONIAN]
  • History of the Patriarchs of Alexandria: --- SPL
    • Preface
    • The Tale of Theodosius the Jew
    • St. Mark I, Apostle and Evangelist
    • St. Demetrius, Twelfth Patriarch: The author's desire to praise chastity perhaps goes a bit overboard.
    • St. Cyril the Great, Twenty-fourth Patriarch:
• Simeon of Gesir:
  • Potter Songs Ancient Syriac Christmas carols. Euringer-Meditz translation, 1996. ---SPL
• St. Simeon Metaphrastes, Byzantine hagiographer, (X Century):
  • Acrostic Poem Barrett Browning translation, 1842. --- SPL
• Synesius, Bishop of Cyrene, Christian Neo-Platonist philosopher, (IV/V Centuries): [READ WITH CAUTION: The author is not canonized, and was heavily influenced by non-Christian writers.]
  • Ninth Anacreontic Ode: Barrett Browning translation, 1842. --- SPL
  • Ode to the Saviour: Barrett Browning translation, 1842. --- SPL
• St. Theodore of Studium:
  • Letter to Casia --- SPL
  • Selected Poems --- SPL
  • Twenty-Seventh Discourse from the Magna Catechesis --- SPL
  • Sixty-First Discourse from the Magna Catechesis --- SPL
  • Forty-Seventh Discourse from the Magna Catechesis On fasting, dispassion, and purity. Orthodox Life translation, 1988. --- SPL
  • Forty-Eighth Discourse from the Magna Catechesis On adorning one's eternal habitation with virtue. Orthodox Life translation, 1988. --- SPL
• John Tzetzes, Byzantine poet, (XII Century):
  • The Phoenix: Barrett Browning translation, 1842. --- SPL
• St. Vincent of Lérins:
  • Commonitory: