Patericon
Encyclopedia
Patericon or paterikon a short form for πατερικόν βιβλίον ("father's book", usually Lives of the Fathers in English), is a genre of Byzantine literature
of religious character, which were collections of saying
s of saint
s, martyrs and hierarchs, and tales about them.
Among the earliest collections of this kind are the Αποφθέγματα των άγίων γερόντων (Apophthegmata
of Saint Elders, also known as the Alphabetical Patericon, Apophthegmata Patrum
, Sayings of the Fathers of the Desert (Sayings of the Desert Fathers) http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/01623c.htm), the Egyptian Paterikon (Historia Monachorum in Aegypto, History of Monks in Egypt) and Λαυσαϊχόν (Historia Lausiaca
, http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/11425a.htm) by Palladius
- of the 4th century. Various paterica also known in translations into a number of languages (Latin, Slavonic, Coptic, Armenian, etc.)
In Russian Orthodoxy
this kind of literature is known from the early Slavic literature, first translations, then original texts created in various monasteries.
Byzantine literature
Byzantine literature may be defined as the Greek literature of the Middle Ages, whether written in the territory of the Byzantine Empire or outside its borders...
of religious character, which were collections of saying
Saying
A saying is something that is said, notable in one respect or another, to be "a pithy expression of wisdom or truth."There are a number of specific types of saying:...
s of saint
Saint
A saint is a holy person. In various religions, saints are people who are believed to have exceptional holiness.In Christian usage, "saint" refers to any believer who is "in Christ", and in whom Christ dwells, whether in heaven or in earth...
s, martyrs and hierarchs, and tales about them.
Among the earliest collections of this kind are the Αποφθέγματα των άγίων γερόντων (Apophthegmata
Apophthegmata
Apophthegmata is the title of several collections of aphorisms :*Apophthegmata Laconica attributed to Plutarchus*Apophthegmata Patrum, sayings of the Desert Fathers*Apophthegmata Macarii Magni...
of Saint Elders, also known as the Alphabetical Patericon, Apophthegmata Patrum
Apophthegmata Patrum
The Apophthegmata Patrum is the name given to various collections of Sayings of the Desert Fathers, consisting of stories and sayings attributed to the Desert Fathers from approximately the 5th century CE....
, Sayings of the Fathers of the Desert (Sayings of the Desert Fathers) http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/01623c.htm), the Egyptian Paterikon (Historia Monachorum in Aegypto, History of Monks in Egypt) and Λαυσαϊχόν (Historia Lausiaca
Lausiac History
The Lausiac History is a seminal work archiving theDesert Fathers The Lausiac History (Historia Lausiaca) is a seminal work archiving theDesert Fathers The Lausiac History (Historia Lausiaca) is a seminal work archiving theDesert Fathers (early Christian monks who lived in the Egyptian...
, http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/11425a.htm) by Palladius
Palladius of Galatia
Palladius of Galatia was bishop of Helenopolis in Bithynia, and a devoted disciple of Saint John Chrysostom. He is best remembered for his work, the Lausiac History; he was also, in all probability, the author of the Dialogue on the Life of Chrysostom....
- of the 4th century. Various paterica also known in translations into a number of languages (Latin, Slavonic, Coptic, Armenian, etc.)
In Russian Orthodoxy
Russian Orthodox Church
The Russian Orthodox Church or, alternatively, the Moscow Patriarchate The ROC is often said to be the largest of the Eastern Orthodox churches in the world; including all the autocephalous churches under its umbrella, its adherents number over 150 million worldwide—about half of the 300 million...
this kind of literature is known from the early Slavic literature, first translations, then original texts created in various monasteries.
Some paterica
- Valaam Patericon, a paterikon of the Valaam MonasteryValaam MonasteryThe Valaam Monastery, or Valamo Monastery is a stauropegic Orthodox monastery in Russian Karelia, located on Valaam, the largest island in Lake Ladoga, the largest lake in Europe.-History:...
http://www.ticketsofrussia.ru/ru/valaam/pater/ - Romanian Patericon http://www.easternchristiansupply.biz/products.cgi/c120/c14/c100/42181 ISBN 978-0-938635-97-0
- Serbian Patericon http://www.amazon.ca/dp/0938635751 ISBN 978-0-938635-75-8
- Scete Patericon, an early Slavonic translation of Apophthegmata Patrum
- Kievan Cave Patericon, a paterikon of the Kiev Cave Monastery (13th century), :uk:Патерик Києво-Печерський
- VolokolamskVolokolamskVolokolamsk is a town and the administrative center of Volokolamsky District of Moscow Oblast, Russia, located on the Gorodenka River, not far from its confluence with the Lama River, northwest of Moscow. Population: -History:...
Patericon (16th century)
See also
- Synaxarion
- PatristicsPatristicsPatristics or Patrology is the study of Early Christian writers, known as the Church Fathers. The names derive from the Latin pater . The period is generally considered to run from the end of New Testament times or end of the Apostolic Age Patristics or Patrology is the study of Early Christian...
- Kiev Patericon reference to St. Mark of the CavesMark of the CavesThe precise dates of the lives of hermit Saint Mark of the Caves, and the two sainted brothers Theophil and John are not recorded, however, their story is preserved in the Kiev Caves Paterikon....