On Pascha: With the Fragments of Melito and Other Material Related to the Quartodecimans: Translation (Popular Patristics Series)

by Melito of Sardis

Publisher:

St Vladimir’s Seminary Press

, 2016

Overview

The Quartodecimans were early Christians who maintained the tradition derived from Judaism, and observed Pascha at the same time that the Jews observed Passover. In this work, Alistair Stewart, the leading authority on Melito and the Quartodecimans, presents a unique collection of material in a formal ideal for classroom use as well as for the general reader. At the head of this newly revised collection stand the original Greek text and an updated translation of On Pascha by Melito of Sardis, a liturgical work deriving from Quartodeciman circles in Asia. Alongside this is an extensive introduction and annotation pointing out not only the parallels to Jewish practice, but also offering an analysis of the work in terms of classical rhetoric. Further, in this edition the translator has included an expanded selection of Melito’s fragments, testimonia to Melito, and other material vital for understanding the Quartodeciman liturgies from Rome, Syria, and Asia. This resource contains the English translation by Alistair Stewart.

Contents

Top Highlights

“Melito has a theory of typology according to which the type, say the first Passover, precedes the reality, the salvation worked by Jesus, which fulfils it.” (Page 42)

“For him the death of the Lord at the same time as, and in place of, the death of the Passover lambs was the fulfillment of the Pascha.” (Page 32)

“On Pascha Melito presents us with an exegetical method which may be termed ‘historical typology’: the events of the Old Testament are seen to be typified in the New Testament, and there is a correlation seen between the Old Testament events of liberation and the New Testament events of salvation.” (Page 42)

“Quartodecimans kept the Pascha in the early evening, at the same time as the Jews, whereas others, among whom Melito is probably to be included, postponed the celebration until the time at which the Jewish festivities ended.” (Pages 21–22)

“The people of Israel are as the artist’s model, a preliminary sketch for the Church. The law is the metaphor by which the gospel is elucidated.” (Page 43)

Product Details

• Title: On Pascha: With the Fragments of Melito and Other Material Related to the Quartodecimans: Translation
• Author: Melito of Sardis
• Edition: Second edition
• Series: Popular Patristics Series
• Volume: 55
• Publisher: St Vladimir’s Seminary Press
• Print Publication Date: 2016
• Logos Release Date: 2018
• Language: English
• Resources: 1
• Format: Digital › Logos Research Edition
• Subjects: Jesus Christ › Passion--Sermons--Early works to 1800; Bible. N.T. Gospels › Relation to the Old Testament; Quartodecimans; Sermons, Greek › Early works to 1800
• ISBNs: 9780881415544, 9780881415551, 15555755, 0881415545, 0881415553
• Resource ID: LLS:PSCHSCNDDTNENG
• Resource Type: Monograph
• Metadata Last Updated: 2024-03-25T20:42:15Z

About Melito of Sardis

Melito of Sardis (died c. AD 180) was the bishop of Sardis, and a highly influential early church leader. He published widely, though most of his work survives in fragments. His celebrated but untitled apology, written in AD 161, was addressed to Marcus Aurelius.