The Hypotyposis of the Monastery of the Theotokos Evergetis, Constantinople (11th-12th Centuries): Introduction, Translation and Commentary

This book forms part of the Evergetis Project which aims to investigate all surviving texts associated with the Monastery of the Theotokos Evergetis founded in 1049 near Constantinople. A book-length introduction sets out the historical significance of the house for the development of Byzantine monasticism and discusses its administration, liturgy and way of life. An English translation of the Hypotyposis (the monastery's foundation document) is provided, accompanied by detailed notes. Previous scholarship on the authorship of the Hypotyposis and the evolution of the text is discussed and linguistic analysis used to suggest that traces of the original foundation document by Paul Evergetinos can be identified within it. The Hypotyposis was widely used as a model for later Byzantine and Slavonic typika and the precise relationship of these documents one to the other is demonstrated in detail. The volume also includes prosopographical material on the known patrons of the monastery, a discussion of its library, English translations of later Greek and Latin texts referring to the monastery and a suggested reconstruction of Paul Evergetinos' original foundation document.

Table of Contents:
Contents: Preface; Introduction A: History: The Evergetis dossier; The history of the Evergetis monastery; The Evergetis and Byzantine monasticism in the 11th and 12th centuries. Introduction B: Administration and Life: The double hegoumenate; Monastic officers at the Evergetis; Status and possessions of the Evergetis; Liturgical practice at the Evergetis; Fasts, feasts and commemorations at the Evergetis; Reading and books at the Evergetis; Manuscript and book production: an Evergetis scriptorium. Introduction C: Text: The making of Paul's Typikon; Codex Atheniensis graecus 788; The final additions; Insertions in the Hypotyposis; The Hypotyposis: chapters and their titles; The Hypotyposis: an earlier structure; A Pauline Hypotyposis?; The influence of the Evergetis Hypotyposis; Exposition and hypotyposis for the life of the monks in the monastery of the most holy Theotokos Evergetis handed down by Timothy the monk and priest who became kathegoumenos after the founder of thesame monastery; Appendices; Glossary of monastic terms; Bibliography; Index.

About the Author :
Until his retirement, R.H. Jordan was Assistant Director of the Institute of Byzantine Studies at the Queen's University of Befast, UK. Rosemary Morris taught at the University of Manchester from 1974 to 2003, and is now Visiting Fellow at the University of York, UK.

Review :
'This long-awaited volume... will be required reading for all scholars of cenobitic monasteries in Byzantium.' Speculum 'L’ouvrage est une indéniable réussite, qui tire profit ... des acquis d’un projet d’équipe mené depuis plusieurs années mais aussi ... de travaux très récents ou en cours parus à l’étranger, notamment en langue française. ... pour avoir pris très largement en compte le contexte du monachisme byzantin à partir du 11e siècle ainsi que l’ensemble du dossier documentaire, les auteurs nous offrent bien plus qu’un paratexte à la traduction de l’Hypotyposis: il s’agit là du meilleur guide pour aborder aujourd’hui l’histoire du célèbre monastère de l’Évergétis.' [The book is an undeniable success, which benefits ... from the knowledge gained by a team project over several years but also ... from very recent or ongoing works published abroad, especially in French. ... in taking very much into account the context of Byzantine monasticism from the 11th century as well as the documentary record, the authors offer us much more than a paratext of the translation of Hypotyposis: it is the best guide to date dealing with the history of the famous monastery of Évergétis.] Revue des études byzantines 'In this volume ... one finds not only this finely crafted exposition, but also, with measured voice, a careful unpacking and persuasive analysis of difficult texts concerning the Evergetis.' The Medieval Review 'By the standards of Byzantine studies, the Evergetis dossier is rich and worthy of scholarly attention, particularly for an understanding of liturgical practices, monastic organisation, discipline and daily life, spirituality, patronage, books and learning, and textual transmission and reception. The Hypotyposis is essential reading for all of these questions and much more, as both the translated text itself and the nearly monograph-length Introduction to this volume make convincingly clear... Together, [Jordan