Includes bibliographical references and index.

Preliminary Material / Mary B. Cunningham and Pauline Allen -- Introduction / Mary B. Cunningham and Pauline Allen -- Reflections on Problems Raised by Early Christian Preaching / O.S.B. Alexander Olivar -- Hermas the Prophet and Hippolytus the Preacher: The Roman Homily and its Social Context / Alistair Stewart-Sykes -- Origen the Scholar and Pastor / Adele Monaci Castagna -- The Three Cappadocians on Beneficence: A Key to Their Audiences / S.J. Anthony Meredith -- John Chrysostom: Extraordinary Preacher, Ordinary Audience / Wendy Mayer -- Forms of Communication in the Homilies of Severian of Gabala: A Contribution to the Reception of the Diatribe as a Method of Exposition / Karl-Heinz Uthemann -- Proclus of Constantinople: A Popular Preacher in Fifth-Century Constantinople / Jan H. Barkhuizen -- The Sixth-Century Greek Homily: A Re-assessment / Pauline Allen -- Anastasios of Sinai: Speaking and Writing to the People of God / S.J. Joseph Munitiz -- St John Damascene: Preacher and Poet / Andrew Louth -- Andrew of Crete: A High-Style Preacher of the Eighth Century / Mary B. Cunningham -- Historicity and Poetry in Ninth-Century Homiletics: The Homilies of Patriarch Photios and George of Nicomedia / Niki Tsironis -- Homiletic Activity in Constantinople Around 900 / Theodora Antonopoulou -- Biblical Index / Mary B. Cunningham and Pauline Allen -- Index of Ancient Authors / Mary B. Cunningham and Pauline Allen -- Index of Modern Authors / Mary B. Cunningham and Pauline Allen -- Subject Index / Mary B. Cunningham and Pauline Allen.

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This volume brings together thirteen studies on Greek-speaking preachers and audiences in a period from the beginning of the second century A.D. to the beginning of the tenth century which has largely been neglected in the modern literature. The chapters represent a collection of case studies of individual preachers or periods of homiletic activity and cover themes including the identity of Greek-speaking preachers, the circumstances of delivery, the different genres of homiletic, the adaptation of the tropes of Classical approaches, the preparation, redaction and transmission of sermons, and the interaction between preacher and audience. Each chapter is accompanied by a summary bibliography of the most important primary sources and secondary literature.