What Makes a Church Sacred? : Legal and Ritual Perspectives from Late Antiquity / Mary K. Farag.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Farag, Mary K., author.

Series:

Transformation of the Classical Heritage

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

History.

Physical Description:

1 online resource.

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

University of California Press 2021

[s.l.] : University of California Press, 2021.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

What is the purpose of a church? Who owns a church? Mary K. Farag persuasively demonstrates that three groups in late antiquity were concerned with these questions: Christian leaders, wealthy laypersons, and lawmakers. Conflicting answers usually coexisted, but from time to time they clashed and caused significant tension. In these disputes, juridical regulations and opinions mattered more than has been traditionally recognized. Considering familiar Christian controversies in novel ways, Farag's investigation shows that scholarship has misunderstood well-known religious figures by ignoring the legal issues they faced. This seminal text nuances vital aspects of scholarly conversations on sacred space, gift giving, wealth, and poverty in the late antique Mediterranean world, making use not only of Latin and Greek sources but also Coptic and Arabic evidence.

Contents:

Frontmatter

Contents

Illustrations

Acknowledgments

Abbreviations

Introduction

Part I The Legal Making of Res Sacrae

1 Res Sacrae

2 Protected Places

3. Protecting Places

Part II. The Ritual Making of Res Sacrae

4 Dedications

5 Consecrations

6 Anniversaries

Conclusion

Appendix A. The Sources of Justinian's Institutes 2.1.pr-10

Appendix B. Chronological List of Roman Legislation on Ecclesial Property

Appendix C. Chronological List of Ecclesiastical Canons on Ecclesial Property

Appendix D. Late Antique Lections for the Consecratory Ritual

NOTES

Bibliography

Index LOCORUM

GENERAL INDEX

Notes:

CC BY-NC-ND

Description based on print version record.

Description based on publisher supplied metadata and other sources.

ISBN:

9780520382015

0520382013

OCLC:

1246675488

Publisher Number:

https://doi.org/10.1525/luminos.112