Patristische Arbeitsgemeinschaft

I’m honored to be invited to speak at the upcoming Patristische Arbeitsgemeinschaft in the Netherlands, January 2nd-5th. I will be able to present some insights into my recent dissertation on Slavery in Early Christianity.

In particular, I will speak about the attendance of slaves at Christian congregations and meals (be it agape, Eucharist or funeral meals). Considering that there are barely any sources that mention slaves, we should ask whether they were really part of the Christian cult life.

What do we make of the anonymous Vita Polycarpi §26, that mentions slaves assisting the προσφορά of Polycarp when he was εὐχαριστῶν? If there are other sources directly mentioning slaves or giving hints, please don’t hesitate to comment and indicate them.

Please note, too, that Dr. Stewart will be speaking as well, on “Group Therapy and the Construction of Text and Community in the Church Order Tradition”.

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By way of introduction

In 2009 Brepols published my version of the Didascala apostolorum. After endless hours of proof-reading checking, rechecking, by myself and by others, the volume went to press. And as I opened the author’s copy the howler jumped out at me. I asked the press about the possibility of an erratum slip… no joy. I think a number of readers have noticed the error and been kind enough to overlook it, but it was a howler of the first order. I toyed with starting a website called e-rrata.org or something similar… If a publisher is reading this then why not start it… every author would be glad, I am sure, to be able to post corrections to his/her work.
Over three years later I stumble across the obvious way of publishing this correction… but also to post more generally on the fascinating field of ancient church orders. So voila! The ancient church orders blog.