Possidius of Calama : a study of the North African episcopate at the time of Augustine / Erika T. Hermanowicz.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Hermanowicz, Erika T.

Contributor:

Hazel M. Hussong Fund.

Series:

Oxford early Christian studies

The Oxford early Christian studies

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Possidius, Saint, active 370-437.

Possidius.

Augustine, of Hippo, Saint, 354-430.

Augustine.

Christian saints--Africa, North--Biography.

Christian saints.

Roman law.

North Africa.

Genre:

Biographies.

Physical Description:

xii, 254 pages ; 24 cm.

Place of Publication:

Oxford ; New York : Oxford University Press, 2008.

Summary:

Possidius, the bishop of Calama, was a life-long friend of St. Augustine and best known for writing a biography of the bishop of Hippo, the Vita Augustini. Augustine is often regarded as the dominant theologian in North Africa, but Possidius' writings reveal that Augustine's opinions often differed from those held by his episcopal colleagues. Even his close friends disagreed with him on matters such as the use of law, the efficacy of text, and the appropriate way to protect Augustine's legacy.

This book approaches Augustine from Possidius' perspective, which turns out to be very different from Augustine's own. Possidius viewed the success of Catholicism as dependent more on the promulgation of imperial laws than persuasion through debate. He also believed that the best way to ensure the survival of Augustine's writings was to try and undermine their stated purpose and mute changes in the opinions that they recorded. The Vita Augustini re-writes large portions of Augustine's life and re-casts his literary corpus in ways antithetical to how Augustine insisted on presenting his works.

This is the first book-length study that looks beyond the domineering presence of Augustine in 5th century Africa and explores a world of bishops that neither conformed to Augustine's ideas nor agreed with his decisions. Possidius of Calama changes how we look at the 5th century African episcopate.

Contents:

The Vita Augustini : Augustine's life and text according to Possidius

Possidius and the legal activities of North African episcopate.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages [229]-250) and index.

Local Notes:

Acquired for the Penn Libraries with assistance from the Hazel M. Hussong Fund.

ISBN:

9780199236350

0199236356

OCLC:

181422191