Claudia Rapp. Brother-Making in Late Antiquity and Byzantium: Monks, Laymen, and Christian Ritual.
Shaun Tougher
Returning to a topic made famous, or infamous, by John Boswell in his Same-Sex Unions Pre-Modern Europe (1994), Claudia Rapp Brother-Making Late Antiquity and Byzantium: Monks, Laymen, Christian Ritual seeks provide her own explanation for, interpretation of the significance of, rite brother-making (adelphopoiesis) Byzantium. Aware sensitivity subject matter, which some have seen as form gay marriage, treads path this “minefield” (1) very carefully, even tentatively, setting out clearly approach it. She meticulously defines structure book, reiterates regularly argument. For Rapp, had its origins Byzantine monasticism, from it spread wider society. It is striking that largest chapter “The Origins: Small-Group Monasticism Antiquity,” focuses on key aspect thesis. This flanked one side an introduction each social structures (chap. 1) adelphopoiesis 2), other chapters practice 4), prescriptions restrictions 5), cases beyond Byzantium 6). Three appendixes follow chapters, all concerning prayers for preserved euchologia (prayer books), earliest extant dating eighth century latest sixteenth century. Sixty-six manuscripts are listed, sixteen different appear, translations these provided, so function excellent resource their right. Rapp’s book also distinguished provision series four case studies can be explored more depth. They consist “Symeon Fool Other Examples Hagiography” (157–160); “Emperor Basil I John, Son Danelis” (201–210); “Demetrios Chomatenos, Legal Expert Bishop Thirteenth-Century Epiros” (242–246); “Kapetan Michalis Nuri Bey” (249–252). Of fifth particularly distinctive engagingly wisely adopts question-and-answer texts order deal with rules regulations adelphopoiesis.
The American Historical Review