volume 13, issue 1, 2021, pages 1-19

DOI: https://doi.org/10.64438/sbsBZCW7521
Published online: 2021-06-01
Published in print: 2021-06-30

Abstract: The essay examines the references (or their lack) to the book of Judith in the works of the Church Fathers living in different areas of the Christian East in the fourth century CE: Methodius, Eusebius, Cyril, and Epiphanius in Palestine; Serapion and Athanasius in Egypt; Basil and Amphilochius in Cappadocia; and John Chrysostom in Syria. Unlike in Western Christianity, the works of the Church Fathers of Eastern Christianity do not testify to a secure reception and wide circulation of the book of Judith. This seems to be due to the influence of the Hebrew biblical canon, which did not contain the Greek book of Judith, although the Greek biblical canon was known. In that period the Fathers of the Eastern Church provide few but significant quotations from the book of Judith: it is not quoted to be commented in itself, but the passages chosen serve as support for theological and moral argumentation.