Andreas of Caesarea

Andreas of Caesarea (Greek: Ἀνδρέας Καισαρείας; 563 – 637) was a Greek theological writer and bishop of Caesarea in Cappadocia. Krumbacher assigned him to the first half of the sixth century. He is variously placed by other scholars, from the fifth to the ninth century. However, today it is unquestionable that his life spanned the late sixth/early seventh centuries.

Works

His principal work is a commentary on the Book of Revelation (Patrologia Graeca vol. 106, cols. 215–458 and 1387–94) and is the oldest Greek patristic commentary on that book of the Bible. The very first Greek commentary on Revelation barely predates Andrew's work and is attributed to "Oikoumenios." Oikoumenios is not a recognized Father of the Church. Therefore, Andrew of Caesarea's work is correctly identified as the earliest Greek Patristic commentary on the Apocalypse. Most subsequent Eastern Christian commentators on Revelation have drawn heavily upon Andrew and his commentary was preserved in nearly 100 complete Greek manuscripts, as well in translation in numerous Armenian and Slavic manuscripts. Andrew's most important contribution was that he preserved many existing Eastern traditions associated with Revelation, both oral and written. His commentary was so influential that it preserved a specific text type for Revelation, known as the Andreas type.

An unpublished study of the work, including an English translation, was made as a thesis by Dr. Eugenia Constantinou in 2008. The English translation of Andrew's commentary has been published by Catholic University of America Press as part of the Fathers of the Church series and became available in November 2011.

External links

Guiding to a Blessed End: Andrew of Caesarea and His Apocalypse Commentary in the Ancient Church, Eugenia Scarvelis Constantinou, The Catholic University of America Press, 2013.

Andrew of Caesarea, Commentary on the Apocalypse, translated by Eugenia Scarvelis Constantinou, Fathers of the Church series, Catholic University of America Press, volume 123, 2011. This book also contains an extensive and informative introduction to the person of Andrew and the commentary.

• Eugenia Constantinou, Andrew of Caesarea and the apocalypse in the ancient church of the East: Studies and Translation. PhD thesis, Quebec: Université Laval (2008)

References

Attribution

Much of what is provided in the Catholic Encyclopedia online version is outdated and incorrect. Use that reference with caution.

•  This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Herbermann, Charles, ed. (1913). "Andrew of Caesarea". Catholic Encyclopedia. Robert Appleton Company.