By St. Thomas Aquinas
The Book of Causes was an Arabian version of Proclus' "Elements of Theology." This work has St. Thomas Aquinas, who was the first to figure this out, comment on the philosophy found within the text itself.
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Commentary on the Book of Causes
By St. Thomas Aquinas
The Book of Causes was an Arabian version of Proclus' "Elements of
Theology." This work has St. Thomas Aquinas, who was the first to figure this out,
comment on the philosophy found within the text itself.
Five Texts on the Mediaeval Problem of Universals; Porphyry, Boethius,
Abelard, Duns Scotus, Ockham
Trans. by Paul Spade
The medieval controversy of realism and nominalism, in the light of
several key texts on the subject. An important collection for one interested in medieval
philosophy.
Platonic Doctrines of Albinus
This text is a translation of Albinus's handbook on Platonic
Philosophy, one of the few Middle Platonic texts left for the student of philosophy to
read.
Apuleius' Golden Ass & Other Philosophical Writings
Apuleius, especially in his discussion of Platoninc Philosophy, was a
major influence in Western Philosophy as being one of the primary authors to which
Platonic ideas were transmitted in the Medieval world.
Select Works of Porphyry
Three works of Porphyry, the successor to Plotinus.
Porphyry's Letter to His Wife Marcella Concerning the Life of Philosophy
& the Ascent to the Gods
A letter Porphyry wrote to his wife, to encourage her into philosophy
Iamblichus' Exhortation to Philosophy; Including the Letters of Iamblichus
and Proclus' Commentary o
Iamblichus was one of the teachers of Julian the Apostate, but he was
also highly influential in philosophical circles. This work is his explanation of why
philosophy should be one's chief pursuit in life.
Proclus' Commentary on Plato's "Parmenides"
The Parmenides of Plato is one of the key texts on ontology, but it is
also a very difficult work for the modern reader. Here is one of antiquities greatest
Platonic Successors, and the commentary he wrote on this dialogue.
Proclus Elmts of Theology
This is a real concise work written by Proclus on the study of
Metaphysics and theology. It is both very good, but also very difficult.
Proclus Theology of Plato
Not as concise as Elements of Theology, but it is nonetheless another
key text of Platonic Metaphysics.
Proclus' Commentary on the Pythagorean Golden Verses
Proclus here comments on the verses of poetry which antiquity
attributed to be from the pen of Pythagoras.
Christian Platonists of Alexandria; Eight Lectures Preached before the
University of Oxford
by Charles Bigg
This is a famous work describing the Platonic elements of the Catechetical School of
Alexandria, and those who it taught (St. Clement of Alexandria, Origen, St. Athanasius,
etc.). The School of Alexandria, being the first great theological school of thought for
the Church, has influenced the shape of Christian philosophy and theology.
Shankara's Crest-Jewel of Discrimination (Viveka-Chudamani)
One of the key elementary texts of Sri Shankara, one of the principle
philosophers of India.
Brahma Sutras SRI Ramanuja
Ramanuja, another key Hindu philosopher, provides his commentary on the
Brahma Sutras.
What Has Athens to Do with Jerusalem?: Timaeus & Genesis in Counterpoint
by Jaroslav Pelikan
This is a great work of Pelikan, looking at the influence of Timaeus in
Christian theology. The Cappadoceans, known for the fulfillment of Trinitarian dogmatics,
are given a full detailed examination in the light of Timaeus, as is the later Latin
theological response.
Lectures on Divine Humanity (Godmanhood)
by Vladimir Solovyov
One of the ground-breaking works of Russian philosophy, it is also a
key work on Sophiology by the founder of the Russian Sophiological School of thought.
Pillar and the Ground of Truth: An Essay in Orthodox Theodicy in Twelve
Letters
By Pavel Florensky
This work is one of the major works of Russian Orthodox theology and
philosophy produced this century. Fr. Pavel Florensky was a true polymath: he knew
linguistics, philosophy, engineering, chemistry, theology, and mathematics; in his major
work, he uses them all together to form his own theological viewpoint. Fr. Florensky
follows Vladimir Solovyov in the Sophiological Tradition, but provides more historical and
theological evidence for Sophiology. Highly recommended!
Essays in Diakonia: Eastern Catholic Theological Reflections
By Father Robert Slesinski
Fr. Robert Slesinski is one of the american experts on 20th century
russian philosophical thought; this is a collection of several essays he wrote, some
dealing with the Byzantine Catholic heritage, others dealing with Russian philosophy and
theology.
Maximus the Confessor (Early Church Fathers)
by Andrew Louth.
This book has two parts to it. The first, is a biography and study on
the theology of St. Maximus the Confessor. Andew Louth provides a fair assesment on the
theology of St. Maximus. Part II, however, is what makes this work invaluable. It provides
key texts (selections, not whole texts) from theological writings of St. Maximus the
Confessor which otherwise have not been made available into English: Commentaries on Sts
Gregory the Theologian and Dionysius the Areopigate, as well as some texts from the work,
Theologica et Polemica, which is a collection of several small theological works by St.
Maximus.A very valuable work on St. Maximus.
Maximus Confessor; Selected Writings
Classics of Western Spirituality Edition
This work has several small theological and spiritual works written by
St. Maximus. Most of the texts are quite common in English in several translations, but
this work also includes his Mystagogy, which is his interpretation of the Divine Liturgy.
Microcosm & Mediator: The Theological Anthropology of Maximus the
Confessor
by Lars Thunberg
This is probably the key study on the thougth and life of St. Maximus
the Confessor. If one wanted one work that would describe St. Maximus's theology and the
sources for his thought, this work is the one to get.
Life of St. Maximus the Confessor
This small work is a translation of the life of St. Maximus written by
one of his disciples.
Free Choice in St. Maximus the Confessor
by Joseph Farrell
This work is an examination into the thought and spirituality of St.
Maximus the Confessor, to address one key theological question: Free Will. Since one of
St. Maximus' primary philosophical establishments was an understanding of what the will
is, and the relationship between the will and Christ, this work is an invaluable aid into
the study of the question in relation to how it affects Christology.
Disputation with Pyrrhus of Our Father among the Saints Maximus the
Confessor
trans. by Joseph Farrell
One of the key texts that St. Maximus wrote in the monothelite crises,
the text offers several surprises to the reader, including a defence of Pope Honorius. St.
Maximus demonstrates that he is fully established into the knowledge of the Christological
controversy, and provides several insightful answers to an otherwise very difficult topic.
On the Dormition: Early Patristic Homilies
This collection of homilies by St. Vladimir's Seminary Press
demonstrates the earliest thoughts on the death and Assumption of Mary. The two events are
intricately linked, and are a representation of the resurrection to come.
On Free Choice of the Will: Augustine
St. Augustine's discussion of free will and the fall of man; a work to
indicate that St. Augustine was not a predeterminist as many Reformers would like him to
be.
Metaphysics and Morals in Marius Victorinus' Commentary on the Letter to the
Ephesians; A Contribution
Marius Victorinus is important in the history of Latin theology, as
being the primary philio-theological predecessor to St. Augustine. He has tremendous
influence on the theology of Sts. Ambrose and Augustine.
Philokalia: The Complete Text (vol 1)
The Philokalia is one of the major works of spirituality which has come
from the Christian East. It is a compilation of texts taken from the 4th-15th centuries.
Philokalia: The Complete Text (vol 2)
This volume is mostly composed of works written by St. Maximos the
Confessor. One of the best volumes of the series.
Philokalia: The Complete Text (vol 3)
Philokalia: The Complete Text (Vol 4, hardback)
Philokalia: The Complete Text (vol 4, paperback)
Volume 4 of the series contains works from Sts. Symeon the New
Theologian and Gregory Palamas. My second favorite volume of the set.
St. Symeon, the New Theologian: Theological & Practical Discourses &
Three Theological Discourses
St. Symeon the New Theologian, the immediate predecessor to St. Gregory
Palamas for defending Eastern monastic spirituality, is here shown in light of two small
works he wrote: one which is ascetic, and one which is theological (Trinitarian).
Gregory Palamas the Triads
St. Gregory Palamas' Triads is one of the key texts for explaining and
defending Eastern Christian Monastic practices. It is a key theological text from the
East, and anyone who wants to understand the theology and spirituality of the East needs
to read his writings, of which this is central.
St. Gregory Palamas: Treatise on the Spiritual Life
A short work written by St. Gregory Palamas. I have not read it, but
because of the value of Palamite studies, I have included it on my list of suggested
books.
Biographical Dictionary of the Saints; With a General Introduction on
Hagiology
by Holweck
This is the best single-volume collection of Saints available in
English. The attempt was made to detail Saints from all possible traditions, and to
indicate their feast days on every possible calendar. Though it is a bit expensive, the
work is worth the cost! There is no other work in English which comes close to its value.
If you are interested in a work on Saints, which will tell you where one can look for more
details, and one which is more than just the most famous Saints, this is the work for you.
Classical Language Studies
Athenaze: An Introduction to Ancient Greek (vol 1)
Athenaze: An Introduction to Ancient Greek (vol 2)
These two texts are used by many universities for the teaching of first
year Greek. Suggested for anyone interested in learning Classical Greek.
Intermediate Greek-English Lexicon
Liddel and Scott Greek Lexicon: the best general Greek lexicon produced.
Grammar of Septuagint Greek
Because the Septaugint text of the Old Testament was used by the
writers of the New Testament, the study of the Septuagint is important for New Testament
studies. The Greek structure of the Septuagint is complex, because of its nature of being
a Hebrew-Greek crossbreed.
Cassell's Latin Dictionary: Latin-English, English-Latin
A nice Latin Dictionary.
Wheelock's Latin
One of the most used works to teach Latin.
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