I.
Juris Ecclesiastici Graecorum Historia et Monumenta, jussu Pii IX. Pont. Max., Curante I. B. Pitra, S. R. E., Card. Tom. I. a primo p. C. n. ad VI. sæculum. Romæ, Typis Collegii Urbani. MDCCCLXIV. 1 vol. fol. pagg. lvi.-686.
The vast erudition which has made the name of Cardinal Mai for ever illustrious in the history of ecclesiastical literature, reappears in Cardinal Pitra, whom the wisdom of Pius IX. has lately called to be honoured by, and to do honour to, the Roman purple. The book before us is worthy of the reputation of the learned Benedictine, to whom we owe the Spicilegium Solesmense, and in whose person the best glories of the Maurini Editores have been revived. As the title imports, the volume is divided into two parts, one being devoted to the monuments, the other to the history, of the Greek ecclesiastical law. Of these monuments there are two distinct classes. The first contains all such as may be styled juris apostolici, viz., the canons of the apostles, their constitutions de mystico ministerio, their sentences, the acts of the council of Antioch, select portions of the apostolic constitutions, penitential canons, and the eight books of the constitutions. The second embraces the canons of councils held during the fourth and fifth centuries—the councils of Nice, of Ancyra, of Neo-Caesarea, of Gangre, of Constantinople, of Ephesus, and of Chalcedon. Next follow the canonical epistles of the Fathers—viz., two letters of St. Dionysius of Alexandria, one to Basilides, the second to Conon, which latter is here published for the first time. The canons of St. Peter of Alexandria, derived from two sermons on Pentecost and Easter; the canonical letter of St. Gregory of Neo-Caesarea, and his exposition of faith; three epistles of St. Athanasius; the epistles of St. Basil the Great to Amphilochius, to Gregory the Priest, to the chor episcopi, and to the bishops; the epistle of St. Gregory of Nyssa to Letorius; the canonical replies of Timothy of Alexandria; the edict of Theophilus of Alexandria, concerning the Theophaniæ; the commonitorium to Ammon; the declaration concerning the Cathari, and his replies to the bishops Agatho and Menas, all by the same Theophilus; the three letters of St. Cyril of Alexandria, to Domnus, Maximus, and Gennadius; and finally, two catalogues of the inspired books, drawn up in verse by St. Gregory Nazianzen. These precious monuments are given both in their original language and in a Latin version. The text of the original is as perfect as a patient collation of MSS. and editions could make it, and the translation which accompanies it, is either the best already known, or a new one made by the eminent author. The notes are all that can be desired.
The history of Greek Ecclesiastical law is divided by the author into five periods. The first extends from the first to the sixth century; the second, from Justinian to Basil the Macedonian; the third, from the ninth to the twelfth century; the fourth, to the fall of the Empire; the fifth, to our own day. In the first epoch Ecclesiastical jurisprudence was in a most flourishing condition. In the following periods it lost its vigour, owing to the loss of the sacerdotal spirit among the bishops who sought favour at court, to the craft of the civil lawyers, to imperial tyranny, and at last to the Ottoman yoke. The method to be pursued in tracing the history of Greek Ecclesiastical law, according to our author, is to examine in each of these epochs, first, the canons in detail; next, the collections of canons; and finally, the interpretations and comments made upon them.
The volume is furthermore enriched by copious indexes of MSS. editions and libraries, and by a collection of the most striking passages of the Fathers and Councils which prove the primacy of the Apostolic See.