The Life of Saint Helia: Critical Edition, Translation, Introduction, and Commentary (Oxford Early Christian Texts) - Hardcover

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0199672636 ISBN 13: 9780199672639

Publisher: Oxford University Press, 2014

Synopsis

The Life of Saint Helia, a late ancient Latin hagiography of uncertain provenance, is a remarkable and virtually unknown text, of which a critical edition and English translation appear here for the first time, accompanied by an introduction and commentary. Written predominately in dialogue format, the Life records a lengthy and highly polemical debate between a young girl Helia and her mother regarding the relative merits of virginity and marriage, followed by a dialogue between Helia and a bishop and a debate between Helia and a judge. The arguments both for and against virginity are biblically based, and the text is notable for its citational density and exegetical creativity. The dramatic narrative that frames the dialogue appears to have been influenced by the apocryphal Acts of Paul and Thecla, while the speeches suggest familiarity with the virginity apologetics of Ambrose and Jerome; because the Life has is preserved in only two medieval manuscripts, both from northern Spain, a Priscillianist context of composition is possible.

About this title

About the Author

Virginia Burrus is Bishop W. Earl Ledden Professor of Religion at Syracuse University.

Marco Conti is Professor of Classics at Chicago Loyola University, John Felice Center.

Edition details

• Publisher: Oxford University Press
• Publication date: 2014
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0199672636
• ISBN 13: 9780199672639
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 226
• Editor: Burrus Virginia, Conti Marco