The Pilgrimage of Egeria: A New Translation of the Itinerarium Egeriae with Introduction and Commentary

by Anne McGowan, Paul F Bradshaw

Overview

This new version of the late fourth-century diary of journeys in and around the Holy Land known as the Itinerarium Egeriae provides a more literal translation of the Latin text than earlier English renderings, with the aim of revealing more of the female traveler’s personality. The substantial introduction to the book covers both early pilgrimage as a whole, especially travel by women, and the many liturgical rites of Jerusalem that Egeria describes. Both this and the verse-by-verse commentary alongside the translated text draw on the most recent scholarship, making this essential reading for pilgrims, students, and scholars seeking insight into life and piety during one of Christianity’s most formative periods.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780814684214
Publisher:	Liturgical Press
Publication date:	07/17/2018
Edition description:	Translatio
Pages:	248
Sales rank:	207,823
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.60(d)

About the Author

Anne McGowan is assistant professor of liturgy at Catholic Theological Union in Chicago.  A graduate of the University of Notre Dame, she is the author of Eucharistic Epicleses, Ancient and Modern (Liturgical Press, 2014).

 

Paul F. Bradshaw is emeritus professor of liturgy at the University of Notre Dame and an Anglican/Episcopal priest. The author or editor of over thirty books and of more than 120 articles and essays, he is also a past president both of the North American Academy of Liturgy and of the international Societas Liturgica. From 1987 to 2005 he was editor-in-chief of the scholarly journal Studia Liturgica.

 

Table of Contents

Contents
 
Preface vii
Acknowledgments ix
Abbreviations xi

INTRODUCTION 1
The Identity of This Diary and Its Author 2
     1. The Manuscript 2
     2. The Author and Her Status 3
     3. Her Education and Literary Style 13
     4. Her Route 15
     5. Where Was Her “Home”? 20
     6. The Date of Her Journey 22
Pilgrimage in Early Christianity 27
     1. Travel and Travelers in Late Antiquity 27
     2. What Constituted a Pilgrimage? 33
     3. The Origins of the Christian Practice 39
     4. Visiting Living Saints 45
     5. Reactions to Holy Places 50
     6. Egeria and Worship in the Holy Places 53
Jerusalem and Its Ecclesiastical Buildings 57
     1. Sion 59
     2. The Rotunda of the Resurrection (Anastasis) 61
     3. The Martyrium or Major Church 61
     4. Eleona 66
     5. Other Churches 67
The Liturgies of Jerusalem 68
     1. Daily Worship 70
     2. Vigils 75
     3. Eucharist 79
     4. Christian Initiation 83
The Liturgical Year in Jerusalem 86
     1. Epiphany 88
     2. Lent 88
     3. Great Week 91
     4. The Easter Season 96
     5. Octaves 98
     6. Other Festivals 99

TRANSLATION AND COMMENTARY 103

Appendix A: The Pilgrim from Bordeaux 197
Appendix B: The Letter of King Abgar 205
Appendix C: Fragments of Egeria’s Text 207
Select Bibliography 209
Index of Biblical References 215
Index of Other Ancient Sources 221
Index of Modern Authors 224
Index of Places 227
Index of Persons and Subjects 230
 

Editorial Reviews

"Finally, here is a fresh, new, contemporary translation into English, with a richly detailed introduction and scholarly commentary, of Egeria's travelogue. McGowan and Bradshaw's volume does ample justice to the many recent insights from pilgrimage studies and gender theory found in this crucial early Christian text. Their Pilgrimage to Egeria has been highly anticipated, and I am delighted to recommend it enthusiastically."
Teresa Berger, Professor of Liturgical Studies and Thomas E. Golden Jr. Professor of Catholic Theology, Yale Divinity School and Yale Institute of Sacred Music

"A vital text for examining the history of ecumenism."
Catholic Library World

"The commentary itself is a masterpiece of concision and, thankfully, it is placed at the foot of the page in question in the form of lengthy footnotes. This will surely become the standard text of Egeria for English-readers for many years to come, and no doubt will generate renewed interest in this precious glimpse into the liturgy of Jerusalem 1600 years ago."
Anaphora


"This new translation of Egeria, in clear, readable English, is a very welcome work for all who study pilgrimage, travel, liturgy, late antique churches, and the Holy Places. The introduction and commentary are thorough and up-to-date. I particularly enjoyed the discussion of the liturgies and buildings of Jerusalem in the introduction. McGowan and Bradshaw should be commended for clarifying the thorny issues of dating, authorship, and manuscript tradition of the work now called the Itinerarium Egeriae. The appendices include not only a translation of the Letter of King Abgar and the text of the Bordeaux Pilgrim, but also fragments of Egeria's account missing from the surviving text. This is the translation of Egeria's work that I will be using and assigning in my courses."
Maribel Dietz, Louisiana State University

"What these editors have accomplished is truly significant. The engaging style of their introduction and commentaries is perceptive, unpretentious despite vast erudition, and fair in their assessment of previous scholarship even when it has to be set aside. This will be the standard reference tool for a generation to come."
The International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage


"This fresh translation of Egeria's pilgrimage diary will be indispensable for anyone wishing to study the liturgy in fourth-century Jerusalem and early Christian worship in general. Thoroughly informed by the most up-to-date scholarship, the introduction and notes provide a treasure-trove of material on the identity of Egeria, pilgrimage, and other issues associated with her description of the liturgy."
John F. Baldovin, SJ, Boston College School of Theology & Ministry

"This volume belongs in every theological library due to the excellent contemporary scholarship applied to a key document on the late ancient church and its liturgical practices in the locales Egeria visited. The diary is a delightful read that introduces contemporary Christians to a new friend, one who went before us and cheerfully left for us a detailed and still lively account of her impressive travels."
Questions Liturgiques


"An exceptional guide-a true map of the spiritual pilgrimage of this light from the fourth century."
Pastor John Thomas Lane, SSS, Emmanuel


"A superb new edition of the pilgrim account of Egeria. The authors' extensive and informative introduction take up the questions of Egeria's identity, her status in life, her origin, and the historical context of her travels. Those interested in early Christian history, in pilgrimage to the Holy Land, and in early Christian liturgy will appreciate this fine work of scholarship."
The Bible Today

“McGowan and Bradshaw’s text is without a doubt a more faithful translation, avoiding the imposition of excessive interpretation where such is unwarranted. This new translation is highly recommended as a textbook for classes on Christian liturgy and Late Antiquity.”
Worship


"This foundational account has a contemporary character, and this new translation will help today's pilgrim's benefit from their experience and recognize how they are part of a long tradition of Christian pilgrimage and worship."
Church Times


"The greatest value in the work lies in bringing the most recent thinking on Egeria and the liturgies she describes into an accessible and convenient format. Insofar as this version will tend to replace Wilkinson as the standard English version it is to be welcomed."
The Journal of Theological Studies


"This book is a treasure that will be valuable for a long time."
Catholic Press Association

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