Alberto Ferreiro: Mourning the Dead in the Letters of St. Braulio of Zaragoza

The collection of letters from St. Braulio of Zaragoza are a unique collection from Visigothic Hispania that yield a rare personal glimpse into the mind and culture of the seventh century through this most illustrious bishop. For no other writer of the entire Late Antique-Visigothic period do we have a comparable collection. Surprisingly, in St. Braulio historiography they have received the most scant of attention in terms of their internal content. We do, however, benefit from at least two editions of the letters.  It is obvious that these letters merit a closer reading and study. In this study I will focus upon a select group of letters that address the topic of death and mourning. As bishop and pastor St. Braulio corresponded with members of his flock whom he knew personally that were mourning the death of loved ones. In addition to offering words of comfort St. Braulio expounds upon the proper manner of mourning for Christians. In this article I will also provide some of the patristic background on the topic of mourning the dead by Christians based upon Jesus' shedding of tears for Lazarus before raising him from the dead. Moreover, we do know that St. Braulio borrowed and incorporated Jerome in some of his letters.

"Apostolic Fathers and Related Early Christian Literature" at SBL, 20-24 July, 2015, Buenos Aires, Argentina

The "Apostolic Fathers and Related Early Christian Literature" unit of the Society of Biblical Literature is inviting paper proposals for sessions during the 20-24 July, 2015 international meetings to be held in Buenos Aires, Argentina. 

This year we especially invite papers concerning Jewish-Christian relations, interactions, and identity-formation within the Apostolic Fathers and related literature. Papers may address these Jewish-Christian topics through historical, literary, theological, rhetorical, or socio-cultural lenses. Beyond this particular focus, and as space permits, the program unit will also consider other papers that critically examine other topics in the so-called “Apostolic Fathers” (and related early Christian literature).  Those submitting proposals must be current members of the SBL, and the call for papers closes February 11.  For more details, please see here.

Decisions made about the submitted abstracts for the upcoming conference 2015

Dear colleagues,

In our last week's meeting, the decisions have now been made about the submitted abstracts for the forthcoming conference 2015:

- Reference numbers up to and including 0808: *unless* you have heard otherwise from the Directors, or from the convener of your proposed workshop, please assume that your abstract is accepted.

 

- Reference numbers from 0809 on: 

If your abstract is for a workshop which has been accepted, thank you!

If your abstract was for a workshop which could not be accepted, and you have asked for it to be considered as a short communication, please assume that it has been accepted.

If you submitted, after the deadline of 31 Dec 2014, an abstract for a short communication, you are on a reserve list and the Directors will tell you by the end of February whether there is space for your paper. 

The Directors regret that new submissions can no longer be considered.

 

Abstract and workshop proposal submissions for the upcoming International Conference on Patristic Studies, Oxford 2015

Dear Colleagues,

Many thanks to all who have submitted abstracts for short communications and workshop proposals by the final deadline of Dec. 31st 2014. The Directors expect to give you a decision by the end of January 2015.

There are now over 800 registrations for the conference, so if your workshop was submitted for the advance deadline and has already been accepted, please check that all your presenters have registered or are about to do so. If they have not yet registered, please ask them to put WS at the start of the paper title, and the registration number / title of the workshop in the abstract.

 

Thanks also to all those who have submitted their abstracts for short communications. Again, we try to make a decision by the end of January 2015.

 

Happy New Year, and all good wishes from the Directors.

Ecclesiastical History Society Postgraduate Colloquium 2015

Friday 6 March, 10 – 4.30

Magdalene College, Cambridge

 

Research students working on any aspect of religious history from late antiquity to the twenty-first century are warmly invited to present twenty-minute papers on their work at an informal day-long colloquium. To register, or for further enquiries, contact Dr Gareth Atkins (ga240@cam.ac.uk). Titles and abstracts of c. 100 words should be submitted by Friday 20 February.

 

Attendance is £10 and includes refreshments and lunch.

 

 

 

"The History and Text of New Testament Commentaries", Colloquium 2-5th March 2015, Birmingham, UK

Dear all,

We are glad to announce that the call for papers and booking are now both officially open for the Ninth Birmingham Colloquium on the Textual Criticism of the New Testament.

On the theme of "The History and Text of New Testament Commentaries", the colloquium will be held in Birmingham from 2-5th March 2015.

The speakers will include:

• Professor Ronald E. Heine - Origen’s Gospel Commentaries
• Professor Gilles Dorival - Biblical Catena manuscripts
• Dr Lukas Dorfbauer - The Regula Evangeliorum Quattuor of Fortunatianus of Aquileia
• Professor Alexander Andrée - The Glossa Ordinaria
• Dr William Lamb - Catenae and the Art of Memory

Proposals are invited for papers on the tradition of biblical commentary and its significance for the New Testament text. Topics might include the practice of composing and reading commentaries in antiquity, the treatment of a particular verse or passage by one or more writers, or studies of commentary and catena manuscripts. Submissions consisting of a title and brief description should be sent to H.A.G.Houghton@bham.ac.uk by 12th January 2015.

The booking form is available for download from

http://arts-itsee.bham.ac.uk/itseeweb/conferences/9Coll-booking.pdf

There is a significant reduction for bookings received and paid in full by 22nd December 2015.

We hope to welcome you to Birmingham in March.

With best wishes,

Hugh Houghton and David Parker

This announcement can also be seen online at:

http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/activity/itsee/news/2014/birmingham-colloquium-2015-booking.aspx

Rather a workshop in the strict sense - not a showcasing of research, but an intense day of reflection and peer criticism and mutual enlightenment, Joerg Ruepke, Jan Bremmer and Markus Vinzent (all at the moment MWK, Erfurt, Germany) are running this one-day workshop on 26 June 2014.
There are only 25 places available, so, if you want to take part at this workshop, please let Markus Vinzent know as soon as possible.

Date: 26. June 2014

Venue: Villa Martin, Campus of the University of Erfurt, Germany

Programme

10.00                 Opening (Jörg Rüpke/Jan Bremmer/Markus Vinzent, MWK,   Erfurt)

Part I                  Marcion’s Gospel
10:15-11:00    Marcion’s Gospel – Reconstructed (Matthias Klinghardt,
                            Dresden)
11:00-12:00    2/3 Respondents:         
                            - Angela Standhartinger, Marburg

                            - Nicola Denzey, Rhode Island
                            with discussion
12:00-13:00    Discussion of sample texts of the reconstructed Gospel

13:00-13:45    Lunch break

Part II                 Marcion – a religious entrepreneur

13:45-14:30    Marcion and Peregrinus (Jan Bremmer, MWK Erfurt)
14:30-15:15    Marcion, Founder of Christianity (Markus Vinzent, MWK Erfurt)
15:15-16:00    Marcion and the Synoptics (Eve-Marie Becker, MWK Erfurt)

16:00-16:30    Coffee/Tea Break

Part III               Marcion and the Second Century

16:30-18:30    Short papers (15/20m plus discussion):

                            Narratives and Textual Communities (Jörg Rüpke, MWK Erfurt)

                            The Pastoral Letters and Marcion (Harry Maier, MWK Erfurt) (tbc)
                            Martyrdom and Marcionites (Katharina Waldner, MWK Erfurt) (tbc)

19:00                 Dinner