Overview
This is an open access title available under the terms of a CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 International licence. It is free to read on the Oxford Academic platform and offered as a free PDF download from OUP and selected open access locations. The ancient Dormition and Assumption traditions are a collection of over sixty different narratives, preserved in nine ancient languages, that commemorate the end of the Virgin Mary's life. These traditions have long been overlooked by scholars of early Christianity, no doubt largely because this complicated corpus was insufficiently well known. The present study aims to remedy this situation with a detailed analysis of the earliest traditions of Mary's death, including liturgical and archaeological evidence as well as the numerous narrative sources. Several of the most important narratives are translated in appendices, many appearing in English for the first time. The book will be of interest to all scholars of early Christian literature.
Full Product Details
Author: Stephen J. Shoemaker (, Assistant Professor of Religious Studies, University of Oregon)
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Imprint: Oxford University Press
Dimensions:
Width: 14.60cm
, Height: 2.90cm
, Length: 22.30cm
Weight: 0.656kg
ISBN: 9780199250752
ISBN 10: 0199250758
Pages: 476
Publication Date: 16 January 2003
Audience:
College/higher education
,
Professional and scholarly
,
Undergraduate
,
Postgraduate, Research & Scholarly
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Active
Availability: To order
Stock availability from the supplier is unknown. We will order it for you and ship this item to you once it is received by us.
Reviews
`... un ouvrage superbe et fondamental d'une utilite extreme ... Ce premier volume est une promesse d'un opus a venir de grande valeur.' Journal of Ecclesiastical History `What is truly striking about this book is its meticulous and thorough research. Specialist in the Dormition materials and Marian devotion will henceforward meed to take into account Shoemaker's claims. Likewise, students and scholars of early Christianity will welcome the translations he provides in the appendices.' Church History
This is a masterful study, and the author is to be congratulated on his achievement. International Review of Biblical Studies ...Essential for the study of Mary in Early Christianity. Sandra L. Zimdars-Swartz ... impressive ... both rich and illuminating: it offers many new insights on the development of legends surrounding the departure of the Mother of God from earthly life and her sojourn in paradise thereafter ... a valuable contribution to the field. Shoemaker treats both primary and secondary sources comprehensively and skilfully, adding critical and imaginative insights to the work which has been done in the field. Sobornost ... the book's extensive bibliography is impressive ... The thesis is meticulously referenced with full and detailed footnotes ... Shoemaker's scholarship in this area will make his a name to reckon with in the future. The Journal of Theological Studies ... learned survey of the literary, archaeological, and liturgical sources for early traditions of the Dormition. Bryn Mawr Classical Review
Author Information
Stephen J. Shoemaker is Assistant Professor of Religious Studies, University of Oregon
