Oecumenius
Oecumenius (
Oecumenius was once believed to have been a bishop of Trikka (now Trikala) in Thessaly writing about 990.[1] Scholars have, however, redated his Commentary on the Apocalypse to the early seventh or late sixth century, and have located its author in Asia Minor.[2] The name Pseudo-Oecumenius is sometimes used in light of the uncertainty.
Writings
Manuscripts of the eleventh century contain commentaries on the
The commentary on St. Paul's Epistles is a compromise between the usual kind of commentary and a
The Commentary on the Apocalypse was first edited by
The most recent edition was published by Marc De Groote in 1999 (in: Traditio exegetica graeca 8, Leuven).
Theology
Impeccability of Mary
Oecumenius is known to have been an early proponent of the sinlessness of the Virgin Mary:
He calls the mother of God a "cloud" on whom he rode, honoring her who is his mother according to the flesh. For, indeed, Isaiah foresaw her in this manner, saying, "Behold, the Lord is seated on a swift cloud, and he will come to Egypt, and the idols of Egypt will tremble at his presence." Interpreting this saying, Aquila says that the cloud is a "light material." "Material," as I think, because she was a human being and flesh, and "light" because of her purity and blamelessness and because not even one sin weighed her down, yet also because of the excellence and heavenward character of her soul.
— Commentary on the Apocalypse 14.14-16
References
Writings
- The complete commentary of Oecumenius on the Apocalypse: Now printed for the first time from manuscripts at Messina, Rome, Salonika, and Athos, (University of Michigan studies. Humanistic series), University of Michigan (1928)
- Oecumenii commentarius in Apocalypsin, Oecumenius, Marc De Groote, Lovanii : Peeters, 1999. ISBN 9789042902367
- Commentary on the Apocalypse (Fathers of the Church), 2006, Oecumenius, John N. Suggit, tr., Catholic University of America Press, ISBN 9780813201122. Review by Marc De Groote, Byzantion 78 (2008), 488–498.
Sources
- Herbermann, Charles, ed. (1913). "Œcumenius". Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company.
This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Herbermann, Charles, ed. (1913). "Œcumenius". Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company.