Esoteric Orthodoxy in East Rome: Jonathan Greig on Maximus the Confessor

Pal.gr.123

This work forces a confrontation with the limits of human knowledge. Maximus argues that God is not a being among beings but a cause that transcends essence itself. By stripping away our reliance on sensory data and rational concepts, we can approach the unapproachable. He presents a vision where th

Vat.gr.508

This manuscript acts as a primary record of the seventh-century fight for the soul of the Church. Maximus argues that if Christ did not possess a fully human will, he could not truly save humanity. He separates the natural capacity to act from the hesitant moral choices that define our fallen state.

Origen, Homiliae in Psalmos (29 homilies, discovered 2012)

These homilies represent a rare direct encounter with Origen's preaching voice. He treats the Psalms not as ancient poetry, but as a map for internal warfare and divine union. The text challenges the reader to categorize their own thoughts and desires as either fleeting shadows or eternal seeds. Ori

Vat.gr.506

Vat.gr.506 demands that we stop viewing ethics and biology as separate fields. It argues that the soul is not trapped by fate but is shaped by deliberate, repeated actions. Maximus provides a rigorous framework for understanding how our passions physically stain our character. The text refuses to se

Maximos the Confessor (Cambridge, Trinity College, MS O.3.48)

This text presents the intellectual defense of a theologian fighting to keep the Church focused on the union of divine and human natures. Maximus rejects the sloppy thinking that leads to heresy and instead uses precise logic to map the relationship between essence and personhood. He argues that the

Pal.gr.39

This manuscript acts as a guide to the mechanics of deification. Maximus argues that human existence is a constant movement toward a state of unity with the Divine. He treats evil not as a physical substance but as a mere lack of goodness. Through a blend of Christian dogma and ancient philosophy, h

Maximos the Confessor, treatises and letters (Cambridge, University Library, MS Dd.2.22)

In this profound exploration of the prophets Haggai and Zephaniah, Maximus the Confessor offers a daring fusion of mathematics and theology. He posits a universe where numbers are not merely tools for counting but symbols of spiritual reality, where odd numbers represent the indivisible unity of God

Contra Celsum (1481 editio princeps)

This editio princeps reveals more than a theological argument. It captures the tension between Humanist scholarship and the existential dread caused by the Ottoman advance into Italy. Origen argues that Christianity survives not through the ornate rhetoric of philosophers, but through the lived powe

Philocalia (First Edition, Tarinus 1618)

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This text provides a rigorous guide for those interested in the architecture of spiritual warfare and the logic of the incarnation. Maximus argues that the devil traps humanity through the simple lures of food, money, and glory. He insists that the only way to escape this cycle is through a radical

Against Celsus

This 1658 edition presents the definitive intellectual struggle between early Christian thought and pagan philosophy. Origen systematically dismantles the arguments of Celsus by shifting the debate from mere rhetoric to the moral transformation of the human soul. He argues that the life and death of

Dialogue Against the Marcionites, Exhortation to Martyrdom (Wettstein 1674)

This 1674 edition of Origen’s work serves as a foundational pillar of early Christian apologetics, offering a masterclass in theological debate and spiritual endurance. Through a rigorous dialectic between the character Adamantius and the heretic Marcion, Origen defends the integrity of the physical

Origen Philocalia (Greek)

In this definitive collection edited by William Spencer, readers encounter the first great synthesis of Greek philosophy and Christian theology. Origen does not merely rebut charges of magic and sedition; he builds a comprehensive metaphysical framework that justifies 'simple faith' as a moral medic

Opera Omnia I (Delarue-Lommatzsch)

This volume of Origen’s 'Opera Omnia' offers a rare synthesis of rigorous textual criticism and soaring spiritual exegesis. Drawing from ancient manuscripts across the Vatican, Stockholm, and Cambridge, the text reconstructs Origen’s masterful commentary on the entry into Jerusalem. Origen argues th

Complete Works XVIII: Against Celsus I-IV (Lommatzsch)

In 'Contra Celsum I-IV,' Origen provides a groundbreaking response to the first major intellectual assault on Christianity. Rather than relying solely on tradition, Origen deconstructs Greek mythology as morally bankrupt while elevating the historical and ethical superiority of the Mosaic law and th

Complete Works XIX: Against Celsus V-VIII (Lommatzsch)

This work captures a master of Greek logic turning his focus toward his fiercest opponent. Origen refuses to retreat into silence; he dissects every charge Celsus brings against the Christian faith. He tackles the paradox of the incarnation, the validity of biblical allegory, and the nature of human

Patrologia Graeca vol. 12: Origenes II

This text presents the early church's most intense battle over how to read the Bible. Origen argues that the literal meaning often collapses into absurdity, forcing the reader to search for a deeper, allegorical truth. He connects the soul's journey to the events of Genesis and Exodus, claiming the

On Various Difficult Passages of the Holy Fathers Dionysius and Gregory

Maximus argues that Christ is the key to reconciling the divisions between the created and the uncreated. He rejects simplistic explanations, preferring to lead the reader through the logic of the Hypostatic Union and the process of deification. This work challenges the reader to move beyond literal

Theological and Polemical Opuscula

This work serves as a sharp-edged defense of the two wills of Christ against those who sought to simplify the mystery of the Incarnation. Maximus asserts that without a human will, Christ is not truly human and therefore cannot heal humanity. He cuts through linguistic obfuscation to prove that natu

Remains of the Hexapla, Vol. I (Field Critical Edition)

Frederick Field’s work is the definitive guide to the scattered fragments of Origen’s Hexapla. It moves beyond standard historical accounts to identify the specific translation philosophies of figures like Aquila, Symmachus, and Theodotion. The text argues that ancient translators were driven by com

Philocalia (Robinson Greek Edition)

The Philocalia serves as a vital rescue mission for the theology of Origen of Alexandria. Compiled by Basil and Gregory, this collection preserves original Greek texts that were systematically erased by later critics. Origen argues that the Bible contains a hidden, spiritual wisdom that remains clos

Origenes: Contra Celsum (Greek Critical Edition)