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Fotopoulos John, Sacrificial Banquets in Roman Corinth, (trnsl. M. Goutzioudis), Thessaloniki: P. Pournaras Publications, 2006.

             The study of J. Fotopoulos deals with the sacrificial banquets in Roman Corinth on the pretext of ap. Paul’s reference to A’ Cor. 8:1-11:1 for different cases that Christians came in contact with idolothytes.

            The paper is divided in nine chapters.

            In the first chapter, the writer makes an introduction to the problematic and the survey of the research, which has preceded, analyzing the work of: Johannes Weiss, C.K. Barrett, J.C.Hurd, Hans Conzelmann, Gerd Theissen, Jerome Murphy-O’Connor, Gordon Fee, Wendell Lee Willis, Ben Witherington, Peter D. Gooch, Khiok-Khng Yeo, Derek Newton, Alex T. Cheung, Joop F.M. Smith.

            The second chapter deals with Asklepieion of Corinth, presenting the worship of Asklepios, the description of  Asklepieion of Corinth, the procedure of sacrifices and answers the question whether the Christians of Corinth dined at Asklepieion.

           The third chapter is about the temple of Demeter and Kore in Corinth. The author examines the worship of Demeter and Kore, their mysteries and celebrations, the archeological survey of their temple and, finally, answers the question of how often the Christians dined at the temple of Demeter and Kore.

          The fourth chapter presents the temples of Isis and Sarapis in Corinthia, the mysteries and rites connected to them, as well as the archeological material and the testimonies for banquets that are found in papyri.

          The fifth chapter deals with the rest of the temples, inside and around Corinth, such as the buildings/temples of the market, the grounds of Apollo, the temple of Athena Chalinitida, the temple of Capitolian Zeus, the temple of Aphrodite in Akrocorinth, Kranio, the temple of Poseidon and Palemonio in Isthmia etc.. 

          The sixth chapter analyzes the issue of the relationship between food, wine and sexual relations. The author, scrutinizing his sources, maintains that the Greek-Roman banquet was something more than just a meal. In the last unit of the chapter, he locates the repercussions of the Roman banquets in the interpretation of A’ Cor. 8:1-11:1.

          In the seventh chapter, the writer deals with the socio-rhetorical issues of A’ Cor. 8:1-11:1. According to him, two important issues affect the interpretation of the text: a) the relationship between the decision of the Apostolic Synod with Paul’s directions regarding idolothytes in A’ Corinthians and b) if two different groups, which were distinguished concerning the consumption of idolothytes inside the Church of Corinth really existed.

         In the eighth chapter, the author attempts to hermeneutically analyze A’ Cor. 8:1-11:1 and in the ninth chapter the socio-rhetorical conclusions of the study are presented.

          The book closes with an extensive bibliography, an index of sources, names and topics.

Galanis Ioannis, Biblical Hermeneutics and Theological Studies, Pournaras Press: Thessalonica 2004, pages 792.

The volume is a collection of thirty six (36) studies about hermeneutical and theological issues of the New Testament, often in relation to the Old Testament. These are articles that the writer had first published in journals and honorary volumes or introductions in various conferences and elsewhere over the last twenty years.

          The book is divided in six smaller units, according to the content of the various studies.

            In the first unit, there are studies dealing with general problems of the Holy Scripture, such as: the private use and reading of the Holy Scripture in the Orthodox Tradition, the Holy Scripture in the writings of John Damascenes, the Holy Scripture in the work of Maximus the Confessor and, finally, Nicodemus of Mount Athos (Agioritis) as interpreter of the Holy Scripture.

            In the second unit, there are studies dealing with issues of the whole New Testament, such as: Right-Left. The use of words in the New Testament and its environment, the use of the term “myth” in the New Testament, the meaning of Diaspora in the New Testament; testimony and deaconatein the thought and life of the Fathers of the Eastern Church.

            The third unit includes studies on issues of the Gospels, such as: the miracle of the multiplication of bread and fish in the hermeneutic tradition of the Church; the sotiriology of the Gospels in the spiritual life of the Orthodox Church; the Gospel of Luke in modern research; basic presupposition of being a disciple of Jesus. Hermeneutic approach to Luke 14,26; the hermeneutic principles of Kyrillos of Alexandria in the Gospel of Luke; the “εκδεξιώνκαιεξευωνύμων” (on the right and on the left) in the 25^th chapter of Matthew’s Gospel; Virgin Mary in the evangelist John; “τιεστίναλήθεια;” (what is truth?). Comment on John 18, 37-38.

            The fourth unit includes studies on issues of the Epistles of ap. Paul, such as: atheists and idolaters, enemies of God in Paul’s theology; the sighs and pains of the creation and man in Paulian theology; the New Testament background of the relations of man and creation during the devotional act of the Church; ecology and Church; ap. Paul and Thessalonica; the theological character of the interpersonal relations of ap. Paul with the Church of Thessalonica; the theological context of A’ Thess. 5, 15; the “possessor” (κατέχων) and the “possession” (κατέχον) in the B’ Epistle of Apostle Paul to the Thessalonians; «οιμηδένεργαζόμενοιαλλάπεριεργαζόμενοι» (those who do not work, but only loiter) in the Church of Thessalonica. An interpretation of B’ Thess. 3,11-12; Church and world in the Epistle to Colossians by Apostle Paul; «ίδετεπηλίκοιςυμίνγράμμασινέγραψετηεμήχειρί» (you see what a large letter I have written to you) (Gal. 6, 11).

            The fifth unit includes papers on issues of the Acts of the Apostles, such as: the particular chara­cte­ristics in the narration of the Acts about Paul’s transition and work in the Philippi in relation to the writer; the meeting of Christianity with the Gentile and Jewish world in Greece, according to the Acts of the Apostles; a comparative examination of the Acts (17, 1-10) and A’, B’ to Thessalonians about the foundation of the Church of Thessalonica; the contribution of the synagogues of the Jewish diaspora to the propagation of Christianity among the Gentiles; “Greek women…” of Veroia; “and a lot of the respected Greeks…” (καιτωνσεβομένωνΕλλήνωνπλήθοςπολύ…).Τhe meeting of Christianity with the idolatrous world.

            In the last unit, there are studies on issues of John’s Revelation, such as: modern “prophesies” and “revelations” through interpretations and misinterpretations of the book of the Apocalypse; the relation of man and creation, according to John’s Apocalypse.   

Manuel Gedeon, Sanctifications, Pournaras, Thessaloniki, 1984, pp. 125.

The present book constitutes an epitome of the hagiologic works that this great chronicler, historian and Great Sacristan of the Great Church of Christ, wrote. A work of maturity, as noted by late professor I. Foundoulis in the introduction of the book, it did not lose its timeliness, since in our century the Church had the holy benefaction of the existence within it of enough newfangled saints and was, thus, led to the “renewal” of its Feast Calendar.

In this work, the Great Sacristan uses various passages from the earlier, more voluminous, as he himself confesses, work under the title: “Byzantine Feast Calendar” and attempts to cover gaps and questions expressed over time about the issue of recognizing saints. Thus, his work is complementary, but, at the same time, radiates outwards to the whole spectrum of history and the adventures of eastern Christianity. From the feast days of the ancient Greeks, the early Christians, the martyrs of Persia and the martyrs in the hands of Muslim Arabs, the martyrs of Turkish occupation and Iconoclastic wars up to the sanctifications of emperors and bishops, as well as of ecclesiastic artists (painters, poets and musicians), these are all included in this  short project.

It is noteworthy that although the author was probably self-taught on these issues, a faithful cleric, not a specialised academic and although the era during which he wrote was a period of instability and uncertainty for all, Manouel Gedeon will not hesitate to stand with a critical eye towards some sanctifications. Mostly the sanctifications of emperors, bishops and ecclesiastical artists are not, in his opinion, devoid of various expediencies. Furthermore, sanctifications during the Turkish occupation and the Iconoclastic wars preserved along with their ecclesiastical – theological criterion the service of local interests, mostly of cohesion and prominence and less of economics. Thus, even though the work of Gedeon is old and unrefined, it maintains an unaffected importance and the beginnings of a critical – academic consideration.