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Hugoye: Journal of Syriac Studies is an electronic journal dedicated to the study of the Syriac tradition, published semi-annually (in January and July) by Beth Mardutho: The Syriac Institute. Published since 1998, Hugoye seeks to offer the best scholarship available in the field of Syriac studies.
Catenae traditions which has
already resulted in a number of extremely useful volumes,
including editions of the Sinai Catena material on
Genesis and Exodus (CCSG 2, 1977), the Coislin Catena
material on Genesis (CCSG 15, 1986), a four volume edition of
all the Catena material on Genesis (TEG 1-4, 1991-96),
and two of three projected volumes of an edition of the
Catena material on Exodus (TEG 10-11, 2001-02). The
volume under review here comprises those Catena
fragments on the text of Exodus attributed to Severus,
patriarch of Antioch and one of the leading theologians of the
Monophysite party (c. 465-538).
Catena tradition. The composition
of the Catena on Exodus clearly underwent three clearly
discernible stages in its transmission. The initial compilation
was made around the middle of the fifth century, while it is
the secondary stage that is characterized by the insertion of
those quotations attributed to Severus of Antioch. The third
and final stage is then marked by the further
insertion—into the secondary stage of transmission
only!—of a collection of texts built up around the
Quaestiones of Theodoret of Cyrrhus along with a
reworking of the earlier materials, including those fragments
attributed to Severus. It seems likely that the Catena
fragments attributed to Severus, found for nearly all the books
of the bible both Old and New Testament, were all added in at
this second stage of redaction—it was also the case for
the fragments on Genesis—but final conclusions must await
publication of critical editions of all the Catena
materials.
Catena on Exodus, the stages
of transmission, the sources of the fragments in the vast
œuvre of Severus, as well as a brief discussion of
Severus' theological position. The succinct discussion of each
of these matters reflects Petit's great learning and intimate
familiarity with the Catenae traditions.
Édition
Intégrale. Of those that can be identified, the
predominant majority of the fragments, forty-six, are from the
Cathedral Homilies, five from the largely unedited
Letters, and three are from the polemical tracts
Against Julian of Halicarnassus. Of the remaining
fragments twenty-two are repetitions, four can not be
identified, and there are eight that are falsely attributed to
Severus. In addition to a critical edition of the Greek
fragments, Petit appends on facing pages a new French
translation of each fragment. Tables of Biblical References and
of the occurrences of the Homily fragments by homily
complete this section (pp. 105-109).
Cathedral Homilies (fragments
of earlier Syriac translations have survived, most notably
those of Paul of Callinicos from the sixth century, but barely
80 of the known 125 homilies have survived and have yet to be
edited; it is this later translation of Jacob that has survived
in a relatively complete version and is the only one that
exists in modern critical editions [various PO vols.,
1906-1977; cf. CPG 7035]). Van Rompay has limited his
discussion to the Exodus Catena fragments that are from
the Cathedral Homilies, so does not consider other
extant Greek fragments such as Hom. 77 which has survived in a
complete Greek version or those fragments recently published by
Allen and Dorival, but his discussion still improves and
expands the earlier attempt of C.J.A. Lash to describe Jacob's
translation technique.
PO translations of the
Syriac. While these fragments can in no way be considered a
running commentary on Exodus—Severus was after all a
theologian, not a biblical commentator à la Jerome or
Chrysostom—it is nevertheless very instructive to see how
Severus exegetes such pericopes as the burning bush (frags
69-86), the manna in the jar (fr. 511), or the description of
the Ark of the Covenant (frags. 764-768). With this slim volume
Petit has rendered a great service to scholars of Severus and,
together with the sections by Van Rompay, has added
significantly to the study of Syriac translation of Greek
works.
Catena
fragments on Genesis attributed to Severus in a separate
monograph (p. xi). After seeing this volume, it would seem, to
this reviewer at least, highly unlikely that anyone would
complain if she were to go back and publish these fragments. At
the very least, it seems that Ms. Petit will continue to
publish many more editions of Severus' Greek fragments, in
addition to her complete editions of the Catenae
materials, to which we can all eagerly look forward.