Patrology

Teacher(s)

Auwers Jean-Marie;

Language

French

Prerequisites

Prerequisites: useful, but not indispensable: LRELI1170 Introduction to the History of Christianity.

Main themes

To achieve its objectives, the course will cover the following topics: information on the life and works of the main Fathers of the Church; initiation to the reading of the Greek and Latin patristic texts, whose interest in theological reflection will be shown. The course will include a practical introduction to the instruments of work in Patrology: encyclopedias, manuals, atlases, Clavis Patrum Graecorum, Clavis Patrum Latinorum.

Learning outcomes

At the end of this learning unit, the student is able to :
1	- situate in space and time the main Fathers of the Church and their major works;
2	- divide the theological content of a selection of patristic texts;
3	- use with advantage the basic tools of the Patrologist.

Content

The course is centered on the major figures of the patristic period and on the most representative works. The chronology determines the succession of materials. For the first two centuries, works are grouped by literary genre (epistolary, apologetic, martyrial, etc.); special attention will be paid to the so-called "apocryphal" writings. For the next four centuries, the man, the writer, and the great orientations of his thought are discovered for each author. The course also seeks to awaken students to the issues of attribution, transmission and translation of ancient texts.

Teaching methods

The students are put in contact with the writings of the Fathers in the first sessions, through a "portfolio of lectures" where the patristic texts are accompanied by a pedagogical guide; these texts are chosen according to their theological interest. At the end of each session, the professor instructs the students on a reading program and, possibly, exercises (individually or in subgroups) to familiarize them with the main working tools.

Evaluation methods

Oral examination

Online resources

The "portfolio of lectures" is available on line.

Bibliography

Initiation aux Pères de l'Église, 4 vol.: vol. 1-3 par J. Quasten, traduits de l'anglais par J. Laporte, Paris, 1955-1962; vol. 4: Du Concile de Nicée (325) au Concile de Chalcédoine (451). Les Pères Latins sous la direction d'A. di Berardino, traduit de l'italien par J.-P. Bagot, Paris, 1986. 
H. R. Drobner, Les Pères de l'Église. Sept siècles de littérature chrétienne, traduit de l'allemand par J. Feisthauer, Paris, Desclée, 1999.
Cl. Moreschini & E. Norelli, Storia della letteratura cristiana antica greca e latina, en 2 vol., Brescia, 1995-1996. Trad. anglaise disponible (Peabody, 2005). Trad. française du t. 1 disponible (Genève, 2000).
Histoire de la littérature grecque chrétienne, sous la direction de Bernard Pouderon, 4 vol. parus, Paris, Les Belles lettres, en cours depuis 2016.
Institutum Patristicum Augustinianum, Patrologia, 5 vol., Turin, 1978-2000

Faculty or entity

TEBI