We all know Origen’s Contra Celsum, which preserves the lost anti-Christian pamphlet of Celsus, with Origen’s common-sense replies.
Not so many people are aware of Cyril of Alexandria’s Contra Iulianum, which fulfils the same role for Julian the Apostate’s similar work. This is because it has never received a critical edition, and still less a translation into any modern language.
Christoph Riedweg in Switzerland began such an edition some years ago, with German translation, but nothing has appeared. It seems that he has since moved to the Istituto Svizzero di Roma (ISR), and that his edition has not progressed much in the last year. He tells me that perhaps it might appear in 2010?
Let us hope so. I have for some time meditated on commissioning an English translation of the work, and naturally I would prefer to use a properly edited Greek text.
Yes, an English translation would be very interesting. Keep us posted if you move ahead with any of your commissioning plans.
I will. My estimate is that the text is probably 100,000 words, and therefore (at 10c a word) will come out at around $10,000. That is a large sum, but not an impossible one so long as one could sell copies to get some of it back.
When I publish my Eusebius translation, I shall find out if I can sell books!
Please please do so this is VERY important text, I can’t help but to think its has been deliberately ignored.
OH, since you are probably one to know, where can I find it in Latin, at least? Is there anywhere that the text can be found at least in Latin? Ive been having a hard time trying to track it down.
It is very curious that it has been ignored. I translated the introductory letter and a large chunk of book 2 myself. They are here and here.
The Greek text with renaissance Latin translation is in Migne, Migne volume 76, col. 509.
Christoph Riedweg told me they are planning on presenting the edition (or at least part of it) at the next Oxford patristics conference.
Interesting – thank you for the update! That’s this summer (although I don’t intend to attend).
I believe the edition has appeared, and I know that an English translation is in progress.