Western Medieval Manuscripts : Dialogus de vita Johannis Chrysostomi

Palladius, Bishop of Aspuna, -approximately 430

Western Medieval Manuscripts

<p style='text-align: justify;'>This fragment consists of about half of a folio, which was probably copied in the late 10th century. It contains part of a dialogue composed in the early 5th century by the Anatolian bishop Palladius to defend his recently deceased mentor John Chrysostom, Patriarch of Constantinople (347-407), who had been accused of various doctrinal errors and deposed from office at the instigation of the emperor Arcadius (377/8-408). Palladius wrote this work while in exile, having been banished himself for his support of the ousted patriarch.</p><p style='text-align: justify;'>The folio this fragment belonged to was probably divided in two to be reused for endleaves in a smaller book. Much of the available blank space in its margins has been used for notes by a variety of later hands. One of these wrote a list of items belonging to a priest named Theodoros, including articles of clothing, pieces of cloth and two Gospel books, while another recorded two recipes for medicine for haemorrhoids.</p><p style='text-align: justify;'>Dr Christopher Wright</p>