Overview

The five holy men and one holy woman presented in this volume represent five significant monastic figures from the years 370 to 470 whose Lives are not currently available in English translation. Isaac confronted Emperor Valens and predicted his death at Adrianople before accepting the patronage of Saturninus; Hypatius built up a community at a deserted monastery south of Chalcedon, which he led for four decades; Marcellus was the third leader of the ‘Sleepless’ monastery at Irenaeum on the Bosporus; Domnica established a female community outside the city with the support of the patriarch; Auxentius abandoned service in the imperial guards to take up residence on a hill south of Chalcedon, where he attracted both male and female devotees; and the sixth individual, John the Calybite, if he existed John the Calybite, if he existed, left the Sleepless community to place himself as a beggar outside his parents’ grand house in Constantinople, only revealing himself when near death. Their interactions, not always positive, with Constantinople’s religious and secular leadership, as well as their care for ordinary people, cast light on the life of the capital and the needs and beliefs of its inhabitants.

Full Product Details

Author:   Michael Whitby (University of Birmingham)
Publisher:   Liverpool University Press
Imprint:   Liverpool University Press
Volume:   92
ISBN:  

9781805967651

ISBN 10:   1805967657
Pages:   370
Publication Date:   15 May 2026
Audience:   Professional and scholarly ,  Professional & Vocational
Format:   Hardback
Publisher's Status:   Forthcoming
Availability:   Not yet available  
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Table of Contents

General Introduction The Origins of Monasticism Orthodoxy and Alternatives Monasticism at Constantinople: Early Years Conflicts Between Monks and Church Hierarchy Patronage, Location, and Finances Invention and Credibility in Texts and their Authors Introduction to the Life of Isaac The Person of Isaac Authorship, Date, and Text Life of Isaac translation Introduction to the Life of Hypatius Hypatius in his Life The Monastery and its Saintly Founder Credibility Authorship, Date, and Composition Manuscripts Life of Hypatius translation Introduction to the Life of Marcellus Marcellus in the Life and Beyond Marcellus as Hegumen Authorship and Date Manuscripts Life of Marcellus translation Introduction to the Life of Domnica Life of Domnica translation Introduction to the Life of Auxentius The Story of Auxentius’ Life Physical Location Doctrine and Orthodoxy Auxentius in Action Date and Authorship Manuscripts Life of Auxentius translation Introduction to the Life of John the Calybite Life of John the Calybite translation Biblical Citations and Allusions Glossary Bibliography Indices

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Author Information

Michael Whitby is Emeritus Professor at the University of Birmingham. His many publications include The Cambridge Ancient History XIV, Late Antiquity, Empire and Successors A.D. 425-600 (Cambridge University Press 2000) co-edited with Averil Cameron and Bryan Ward-Perkins; Theodore Syncellus: The Homilies 'On the Robe and 'On the Siege' (TTH 86, Liverpool Unuversity Press 2024); and (with Richard Price), Theodore of Sykeon: The Life by George and the Encomium by Nicephorus the Treasurer (TTH 87, Liverpool University Press 2024) and with Jeff Childers and Claudia Rapp, Mark the Deacon: The Life of Porphyry of Gaza (Translated Texts for Historians 89, LUP 2025).

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