The Greek text CPG 4408, “Homilia in sanctum pascha”, is one of quite a number of homilies on Easter attributed to John Chrysostom. According to the most recent editor this one is not genuine, but rather a production of the end of the 6th century to the middle of the 8th.[ref]SC 561, p.232.[/ref] It was composed around extracts from the works of Chrysostom, for use as part of church services during Easter.
The Greek text appears in the Patrologia Graeca 52, columns 765-772, with the usual Latin translation. Rather remarkably a modern critical edition with French translation exists, made by Nathalie Rambault, “Jean Chrysostome, Homélies sur la Résurrection, l’Ascension et La Pentecôte, t. 1”, Sources Chrétiennes 561, Paris: Cerf (2013), pp.267-301. In this volume Dr. Rambault is editing a set of Chrysostom homilies which appear together in the manuscript tradition, and this spurious item formed part of that collection.
The text exists in three recensions; a long recension, a revised version preserved only in one manuscript, and a short recension.[ref]The short recension is also edited and translated in SC 561.[/ref] There is also a translation into Old Slavonic.[ref]So the CPG.[/ref]
A colleague was asking whether a translation existed. In fact I was unable to locate any English translation, although Dr. R. states that an English translation was proposed back in 1992 in J. Fotopoulos, “John Chrysostom: On Holy Pascha,” Greek Orthodox Theological Review 37 (1992): 123-34. This is not accessible to me, but no such translation could be found using Google.
So, just for fun, last night I quickly converted the French translation by Dr Rambault into English. All the mistakes are my fault, of course. But it might be helpful to others, so here it is:
- Chrysostom-ps-Homilia in sanctum pascha CPG 4408-2025 (PDF)
- Chrysostom-ps-Homilia in sanctum pascha CPG 4408-2025 (Word .docx)
Happy reading!
UPDATE: A kind colleague has sent me the 1992 Fotopoulos article and… it contains a complete English translation! Oh well!
Do any scholars say which portions of the Homily are really from John Chrysostom or not? Where does Nathalie teach today? Is there a way to contact her?