Review of: Panteleev A. D. Early Martyrdom. Translations, Comments, and Research. (Via Sacra. III). St. Petersburg: IC «Humanitarian Academy», 2017. 384 p. ISBN 978-5-93762-116-0

Abstract

The history of early Christianity was marked by various persecutions by the Roman authorities. Hagiographic monuments describing the exploits of Christian martyrs play an important role in understanding the circumstances of Church life at that time and are works of enduring moral significance to Christians. The edition of the Early Martyrology texts, edited by Alexei D. Panteleev (b. 1979), Associate Professor of History at St. Petersburg State University, is a definite contribution to the study of ancient Church life. The choice of texts and commentary in this edition is highly dependent on G. Muzurillo's The Acts of the Christian Martyrs. Muzurillo's edition covers sources up to the beginning of the fourth century, but the present edition is limited to the period from the middle of the second century to the first half of the third century.