Brother-Making in Late Antiquity and Byzantium: Monks, Laymen, and Christian Ritual (Onassis Series in Hellenic Culture)

Synopsis

Among Medieval Christian Societies, Byzantium Is Unique In Preserving An Ecclesiastical Ritual Of Adelphopoiesis, Which Pronounces Two Men As Brothers. It Has Its Origin As A Spiritual Blessing In The Monastic World Of Late Antiquity, Becomes A Popular Social Networking Strategy Among Laypeople From The Ninth Century Onwards, And Still Finds Application In Recent Times. Located At The Intersection Of Religious And Social History, Brother-making Exemplifies How Social Practice Can Become Ritualized And Subsequently Subjected To Attempts Of Ecclesiastical And Legal Control. The Purpose And Application Of Adelphopoiesis Can Be Studied Within Three Large, And Partially Overlapping, Contexts: Within The Context Of Male-male Relations, As A Way To Formalize A Partnership; Within The Context Of Ritual Kinship Strategies, As A Way To Expand One’s Family Circle; And Within The Context Of Byzantine Christianity, As A Way For The Church To Exercise Influence And Control.-- Social Structures. A. Brotherhood Language ; B. Kinship And The Family ; C. Other Forms Of Brotherhood And The Significance Of Oaths ; D. Friendship And Christianity ; E. Homosociability In Byzantium -- The Ritual Of Adelphopoiesis. A. Ritual Practice : A Present-day Blessing Among Pilgrims To Jerusalem ; B. The Manuscript Evidence In Byzantine Prayer Books (euchologia) ; C. The Ritual Of Adelphopoiesis As Evidence For Its Social Context ; D. The Prayers : History And Purpose -- The Origins : Small-group Monasticism In Late Antiquity. A. Monastic Beginnings ; B. Small Monastic Groups And Paired Monks In Documents ; C. Small Groups Of Monks In The Monastic Literature ; D. Temptations And Challenges ; E. Sharing Spiritual Capital And The Same Tomb ; F. Case Study: Symeon The Fool And John And Other Examples From Hagiography ; G. Byzantine Continuations Of Paired Monasticism -- The Social Practice Of Brother-making In Byzantium. A. Seventh-century Transitions ; B. Spiritual Brotherhood Beyond The Monastery ; C. Case Study: Emperor Basil I And John, The Son Of Danelis ; D. Brother-making In Practice : Middle And High Society -- Prescriptions And Restrictions In Byzantium. A. Rules And Regulations ; B. Case Study: Demetrios Chomatenos, Legal Expert And Bishop In Thirteenth-century Epiros -- Beyond Byzantium. A. Case Study: Kapetan Michalis And Nuri Bey -- Appendix 1: Table Of Manuscripts -- Appendix2: Table Of Prayers -- Appendix 3: Prayers In Translation. Claudia Rapp. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 303-334) And Index.