Dilemmas of a parent, attitudes to immigrants, choices to be made about Irelands future in Europe: these are among the themes treated in this collection of essays in moral theology, comprising theological reflections on current moral and pastoral problems. Other topics include human rights, inter-faith and inter-church dialogue, Christian values in a pluralist society, and homosexuality and the priesthood.

Since its inception at the beginning of the twentieth century, form criticism has diminished in popularity and use in recent years. Bryan H. Cribb’s studies demonstrates that, if appropriately modified, form criticism still has much to add to Old Testament studies. Using a synchronic and inductive approach to the text, Cribb engages in a form critical study of nine “death stories” in the Old Testament. In so doing, he not only provides substantial support for the existence of this genre, but he also shows how remarkably fruitful such a study can be in revealing the messages of these accounts.

This monograph presents an unpublished historical resource in the form of a register of dues collected for the Syriac Orthodox Patriarchate during the second half of the nineteenth century. Bcheiry provides the original text, an English translation, and an extensive socio-economic study.

This comprehensive study offers a critical, comparative analysis of the sources available on Bardaisan and a reinterpretation of his thought. The study highlights the profound points of contact between Bardaisan, Origen, and their schools; the role of Plato’s Timaeus and Middle Platonism in Bardaisan’s thought, and Stoicism. Bardaisan’s thought emerges as a deeply Christian one, depending on the exegesis of Scripture read in the light of Greek philosophy. Positive ancient sources present him as a deacon or even a presbyter, as an author of refutations of Marcionism and Gnosticism, and as a confessor of the faith during persecution.

An emerging consensus maintains that the exile was not as extensive as the Old Testament claims. However, that it held singular importance for the book of Jeremiah is beyond question. Modine argues that Jeremiah represents a range of options for understanding and responding to the events surrounding the destruction of Jerusalem and its temple. This volume reads the diverse contents of Jeremiah as a kind of dialogue between competing perceptions of the exile. The author argues that coherence is to be found precisely in the incoherent, as it reflects the communal trauma of exile.

The Malabar Independent Syrian Church is the smallest of the jurisdictions into which the St Thomas Christian community is divided today. It has, however, played a crucial role in the development of the Syrian Churches, whose stories can not be told without it. The present work shows how the bishops of this tiny, one-Diocese Church, now largely forgotten, once stood at the centre of the events that shaped the present ecclesiastical situation.

The main purpose of the book is to demonstrate that as early as the first phase of his activity (386-393 AD), Augustine did make use of some Origenian works, and that basic elements of his early theology were derived from the Alexandrian master.

This book argues that it is the rejection of Paul’s claims to be an apostle in the same sense as the other apostles that ultimately underlies his “mission to the Gentiles.” This argument is advanced through a careful analysis of Paul’s references to his “conversion” in Galatians 1:15-17 and 1 Corinthians 15:8, paying particular attention to Paul’s evocative use of the language of abortion. The contextualization of this curious self-description in 1 Corinthians 15:8 draws upon a growing body of work concerning an area of ancient life that continues to fascinate and perplex moderns; the exposure of unwanted infants.

This book argues that the genre of the seven messages in Revelation 2–3 is a hybrid prophetic oracle. This oracle is influenced by the Old Testament covenantal elements functioning as a set of lawsuit exhortations. Graves defends this by demonstrating the influence of the Ancient Near Eastern vassal treaty structure in the seven messages. Written in a readable format this work is both an excellent introduction to the book of Revelation as well as a fitting work for the apocalyptic specialist.

This study provides an English translation of the texts for initiation in the Byzantine tradition, drawing on early manuscripts of the euchology and the typikon of the Great Church (Hagia Sophia). This includes texts for the enrollment of children in the rites of the eighth and fortieth days, catechesis and prayers during Lent, final preparations, including consecration of Chrism and the rites of apotaxis and syntaxis on Good Friday, Baptism at the Easter Vigil, postbaptismal rites and rites of closure, and provisions for the other baptismal feasts.

Twenty-four contributions on matters dealing with Byzantine and Oriental lands, people, and cultures through different perspectives, including history, maritime trade, documents, travelers, and art. These essays trace the history of the relations between the Greeks and the peoples of the Middle East from Late Antiquity up to the seventeenth century.

Is the Bible history or parable? Is it relevant to life in the twenty-first century? What does it all mean? This is an exploration into spirituality for young people, tackling such questions as above, answers to which can often prove elusive. This book applies scripture to everyday life; bringing the Bible firmly into the contemporary world as a resource for young adults who want to know more about spirituality while dealing with issues such as loneliness, peer pressure, and maturity.

When a loved one is seriously ill in hospital, the phyiscal, mental and emotional strain on the family is considerable. However, there are facilities available to make that traumatic ordeal a little more manageable. In the case of Marguerite Kiely, the availability of accommodation at An Bró Columbanus meant that she and her husband could be near their son Aaron while he was undergoing treatment at Cork University Hospital. An Bró (meaning hostel) is a home from home established by the Order of the Knights of Columbanus and maintained by a team of volunteers. The family of patients at Cork hospitals can take rest and comfort in a safe, warm and caring environment. In Aarons Legacy, Marguerite now pays homage to An Bró for the refuge and comfort it afforded her and her husband in their time of loss. Charting the development of An Bró and highlighting the fact that this is the only hostel of its kind in Ireland, Marguerite Kiely issues a rallying call for more such centres. In doing so, she not only pays homage to An Bró Columbanus, but to the memory of Aaron.

The suffering woman, Blandina, emerges as an archetypal figure of the martyrs of Lyon. This slave-woman ultimately arises to engage in battle with the powers of the Roman Empire. Through the application of Bowen Family Systems Theory and the writings of Michel Foucault the book explains the function of anxiety, and the dynamics at work in the system that result in the failure of Roman authority to use power to quell the rise of Christianity. The reactions of those who might appear to be the most powerful are essential in gifting power to this lowly slave.

This book is for men who want to be better dads. It respects and honours a fathers importance to their childs well-being and is perfect for busy dads with children of all ages, and also useful for grandfathers and uncles! Fathers are invited and encouraged to be active dads; to build on what they already know and be their childs first life coach. First Coach provides them with the knowledge and skills they need to enable their child to become a confident, independent, responsible adult with good self-esteem and strong core values. It has been shown that effective fathering is a powerful, protective factor for children, improving their health, emotional well-being and educational achievement. It is never too late to learn and apply effective parenting skills.

The breadth and depth of the loss that the untimely death of a mother invokes can hardly be imagined. It is an event that changes the whole course of life. It is difficult to fully comprehend what it is like to be shaped by the experience of this kind of adversity in early life. When we witness the impact of early loss on those who are close to us, we can see the devastating blow it is and the indelible mark it leaves. The loss of a mother in early life remains a live issue in the hearts and minds of those who live their lives with perpetual loss and pervasive grief. This is the first book of its kind to give a voice to daughters bereaved of their mother in early life in Ireland. Written with insights gained through ground-breaking research, it contains powerful and compelling testimonies. It helps us to understand the meaning of early maternal loss through the direct experience of those who have suffered it. It also aims to provide all those who find it helpful, with hope for the future. This eye-opening book raises the profile of early bereavement in Ireland. It will be of interest to all those with a personal history of early loss, and to those who are interested in finding out more about the meaning of loss in the early life of a child.