Chronicles of Christendom

We finish Chretien de Troyes’ romance today, this time we focus on the last section that focuses on Gawain. However I’m going to argue throughout that although Perceval may be absent as a character, the structure of Perceval’s story is shaping how Gawain’s story plays out. We then get to all-so-abrupt incomplete ending and lament how this great story is unfinished. I’m using the William Kibler translation published by Penguin. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit chroniclesofchirstendom.substack.com

We continue our story of Perceval and the grail, the medieval romance written by Chretien de Troyes. We learn some more lore about the grail and the bleeding lance, as well as spend some time with Gawain before we hear of Perceval one last time. Will Perceval redeem himself from the failure at the Fisher King’s castle? We’ll see…I’m using the William Kibler translation published by Penguin.Here’s a link to the article I mentioned that I wrote some time ago going into detail about the meaning of the grail and lance procession and why I believe that Perceval did, in fact, finish his quest: https://momcilon.substack.com/p/chret...Here’s the analysis of Erec Rhomer’s movie “Perceval le Gallois” which is very faithful to Chretien’s poem: https://momcilon.substack.com/p/erec-... This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit chroniclesofchirstendom.substack.com

We take a look at the first part of Perceval, or the Story of the Grail. Written towards the end of the 12th century, Chretien de Troyes introduced for the first the notion of the grail as we understand it today. Although this work is incomplete, probably due to Chretien's death, his incomplete story would spawns several continuations and prologues. Reading this story it's not surprising why. It's one of the best works of medieval literature that exists. The story is very intriguing and several plot points and tantalizingly left unsolved. I'm using the William Kibler translation published by Penguin.Here's a link to the article I mentioned that I wrote some time ago going into detail about the meaning of the grail and lance procession: https://momcilon.substack.com/p/chretien-de-troyes-and-perceval This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit chroniclesofchirstendom.substack.com

Livistros and Rodamni is a mid 13th century Greek Romance written during the time of the Latin occupation of Constantinople. One of several Greek romance stories, in this narrative the Latin ruler Livistros learns to love after encountering the Lord of Love in an apocalyptic dream and has to win the love of princess Rodamni. The translation I'm using is Gavin Betts' translation called "Livistros and Rodamni" found in book "Three Medieval Greek Romances" re-published by Routledge in 2018.There is a better translation, so I'm told, translated by Panagiotis A. Agapitos. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit chroniclesofchirstendom.substack.com

In this podcast we look at the early 7th century text "On the Nature of Things" by St. Isidore of Seville. This work has been described as eclectic, since it combines both Christian and Pagan works on cosmology into a whole, but in many ways is quite representative of the cosmological views of the time. Isidore talks. Version I'm Using: "On the Nature of Things" by Isidore of Seville. Translated by Calvin Kendall and Faith Wallis. Liverpool UP (2016). This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit chroniclesofchirstendom.substack.com

We look at a beast epic from 13th century Netherlands about the sly fox, Reynaert. Written in Middle Dutch by a certain “Willem die Madocke maecte,” this Beast Epic offers a satirical view of the middle ages through talking animals. This story is in a long line of other beast epics, which probably have their origin in Aesop’s fables, surrounding the character of Reynard the Fox.The translation I’m using: “Of Reynaert the Fox” translated by Thea Summerfield, and published by Amsterdam University Press (2009). This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit chroniclesofchirstendom.substack.com

We go to Medieval Iceland today with the Ere-Dweller saga. This story tells about families in the Snæfellsnes peninsula, feuds, ghost hauntings, witches, trials, murders, arson, and the coming of Christianity into Iceland. I’m using the Hermann Palsson & Paul Edwards translation published by Penguin as Eyrbyggja SagaThere is an older out of copyright version: https://sagadb.org/eyrbyggja_saga.en This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit chroniclesofchirstendom.substack.com

We’re finally going to talk about Dante Alighieri. We won’t be covering the Divine Comedy, there’s a million people who’ve done that, but we’re going to cover a story he wrote in his earlier career where he first mentions Beatrice. This story, The New Life or perhaps The Youthful life, mixes both prose and poetry together and provides a fascinating look at how you can view history, including your own personal life, through a deeply allegorical lense.The translation I’m using the translation from Dante Gabriel Rossetti which can be found here: https://www.gutenberg.org/files/41085/41085-h/41085-h.htm This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit chroniclesofchirstendom.substack.com

Part 2! In this episode we finishing looking at Ulrich von Zatzikhoven’s Lanzelet. It’s an early German language Arthurian poem (c. 1200) centering on the figure of Lanzelet (AKA Lancelot), however it’s not the adulterous Lancelot we’re most familiar with. Instead Lanzelet is a naive knight raised on an island of Fairy women trying to figure out his name. In this podcast we finish up the story. The translation I’m using is a prose translation by Thomas Kerth titled Lanzelet published in 2005 by Columbia UP.The translation I’m using is a prose translation by Thomas Kerth titled Lanzelet published in 2005 by Columbia UP. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit chroniclesofchirstendom.substack.com

In this episode we look at Ulrich von Zatzikhoven’s Lanzelet. It’s an early German language Arthurian poem (c. 1200) centering on the figure of Lanzelet (AKA Lancelot), however it’s not the adulterous Lancelot we’re most familiar with. Instead Lanzelet is a naive knight raised on an island of Fairy women trying to figure out his name. In this podcast we get through about half of the story and we’ll finish in the next episode.The translation I’m using is a prose translation by Thomas Kerth titled Lanzelet published in 2005 by Columbia UP. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit chroniclesofchirstendom.substack.com

Today we go to Bohemia, modern day Czechia, to look at two texts. The first is a German language text written in about 1401 by Johannes von Tepl (also known as von Saaz) called The Ploughman from Bohemia or sometimes known as The Husbandman and Death. The second text is a short Pastiche written just a couple years after by an unknown author in the Czech language called The Little Weaver (Tkadleček). In The Ploughman the personification of Death debates a Widower mourning his wife, where God presides as the final judge. In The Little Weaver, the personification of Misfortune gives a monologue to a widower mourning his wife.Michael Haldane’s Translation of the Husbandman and Death (aka the Ploughman from Bohemia) - https://www.michaelhaldane.com/HusbandmanandDeath.htmThe Little Weaver can be found in “The Czech Reader” (Duke University Press, edited by Jan Bažant, Nina Bažantová, and Frances Starn) under the chapter called “Tkadleček” The Gospel of Nicodemus (aka the Acts of Pilate) can be found here - https://sacred-texts.com/bib/lbob/lbob10.htm This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit chroniclesofchirstendom.substack.com

At the end of the 6th century Gregory the Great / Gregory the Dialogist wrote his 4 famous Dialogues during a very tumultuous time in Italy: depopulation, disease, famine, foreign invasion, the collapse of trade, and the fall of the Western Roman Empire. In the Dialogues he shows that despite the tumult God is still active in history and has not forsaken Italy as evidenced by the numerous lives of Italian saints that he recalls. The translation I used is the Odo John Zimmerman translation (Catholic University of America - Fathers of the Church - Volume 39) Older translation of the text can be found here: https://www.saintsbooks.net/books/Pope%20St.%20Gregory%20the%20Great%20-%20Dialogues.pdf This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit chroniclesofchirstendom.substack.com

9/10th century hagiography written in Georgian: The Balavariani. This story covers the lives of Sts. Iodasaph king of India and his monastic guide, Balahvar. In Greek these saints are known as Ioasaph and Barlaam, and in the West they’re generally known as Josaphat and Barlaam. I’m using David Marshall Long’s translation of the story called The Balavariani (Barlaam and Josaphat), a Buddhist Tale from the Christian East published by University of California Press. You can find a link to it on archive.org: https://archive.org/details/LangBalavariani/ This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit chroniclesofchirstendom.substack.com

We finish our mini-series on the Mabinogi covering the 4th branch regarding Math, Lleu, and the magical women he has to deal with. We concludes with some comments on all the branches as a whole offering a Christian perspective as opposed to the mainstream academic view. Will Parker’s translation of the fourth branch with extensive footnote commentary from his own website: https://mabinogi.net/math.htm. I strongly disagree with some of his commentary, but some has been invaluable to me in my research.For Fr. Paul (Alfred) Siewers Article mentioned see: https://thegreenworld2015.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/iconofland-3-15.pdf This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit chroniclesofchirstendom.substack.com

On the third branch of the Mabinogi we pick up just where the 2nd branch left us off with the burying of Bran’s head. This branch primarily focuses on Manawydan, and a curse/enchantment placed over Wales in the cantrefs of Dyfed. Will Parker’s translation of the third branch with extensive footnote commentary from his own website: https://mabinogi.net/manawydan.htm. I strongly disagree with some of his commentary, but some has been invaluable to me in my research. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit chroniclesofchirstendom.substack.com

We continue with the Welsh Mabinogi. This time we look at the 2nd branch and look into a war between the Irish and Welsh, involving a giant king, and a magic cauldron. Will Parker’s translation of the second branch with extensive footnote commentary from his own website: https://mabinogi.net/branwen.htm. I strongly disagree with some of his commentary, but some has been invaluable to me in my research. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit chroniclesofchirstendom.substack.com

For the next few episodes we’re going to be spending time in Wales looking at a Universal History work from Wales: The Four Branches of the Mabinogi. I hope to release one podcast a week to get through all 4 parts instead of the normal 3 week waiting period.Will Parker’s translation of the first branch with extensive footnote commentary from his own website: https://mabinogi.net/pwyll.htm. I strongly disagree with some of his commentary, but some has been invaluable to me in my research. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit chroniclesofchirstendom.substack.com

In this episode we head to the land of Rus to talk about saints Boris and Gleb, the first canonized saints of Rus. Sources:“The Narrative, Passion and Encomium of Boris and Gleb” found in Medieval Slavic Lives edited and translated by Marvin Kantor (1983).The Russian Primary Chronicle translated by Samuel Hazzard Cross and Olgerd P. Sherbowitz-Wetzor (1953) This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit chroniclesofchirstendom.substack.com

In this episode we talk about the Byzantine Epic Poem “Digenes Akritas”“Digenes Akrites” translated by John Mavrogordato, 1956, Oxford University PressSource and translation for the poem mentioned at the end in description of this video Illustrated and narrated summary of poem along with some background history (I don’t agree with everything here but it is well put together) This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit chroniclesofchirstendom.substack.com

In this episode we wrap up our discussion on Erec and Enide by Chrétien de Troyes“Erec and Enide” translated by Carleton W. Carroll found in “Chrétien de Troyes: Arthurian Romances” edited by William W. KibblerFind on Substack: https://chroniclesofchirstendom.substack.com/Find on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@CofChristendomYou can also find this podcast anywhere podcasts are found (Apple, Spotify, Podbean etc.)Intro Music: Troubador by Derek Fiechter (Used with generous permission) This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit chroniclesofchirstendom.substack.com

In this episode we cover Erec and Enide. Not only is this the first Arthurian Romance, it is also the first French Arthurian story.Source:“Erec and Enide” translated by Carleton W. Carroll found in “Chrétien de Troyes: Arthurian Romances” edited by William W. KibblerFind on Substack: https://chroniclesofchirstendom.substack.com/Find on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@CofChristendomIntro Music: Troubador by Derek Fiechter (Used with generous permission) This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit chroniclesofchirstendom.substack.com

In this episode we talk about the Latin life of St Stephen of HungarySources:“Hartvic, Life of King Stephen of Hungary” translated by Nora Berend found in Medieval Hagiography: An Anthology edited by Thomas Head“Saint Emeric” translated by Cristian Gaşpar found in The Sanctitity of Leaders: Holy Kings, Princes, Bishops, and Abbots from Central Europe (Eleventh to Thirteenth Tenturies) edited by Gábor Klaniczay and Ildikó CsepregiFind on Substack: https://chroniclesofchirstendom.substack.com/Find on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@CofChristendomIntro Music: Troubador by Derek Fiechter (Used with generous permission) This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit chroniclesofchirstendom.substack.com

Text Source:“The Life of St. Guthlac of Crowland (Guthlac A)” translated by Ophelia Hostetter. Available online: https://oldenglishpoetry.camden.rutgers.edu/guthlac-a/Other Texts Mentioned:The Latin life of St Guthlac published as Felix’s Life of Saint Guthlac translated and edited by Bertram Colgrave The Old English translation of the Latin life published as The Anglo-Saxon Version Of The Life Of St. Guthlac, Hermit Of Crowland translated by Charles GoodwinSupplementary: Interesting video about the archeology of Crowland:Find on Substack: https://chroniclesofchirstendom.substack.com/ Find on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@CofChristendomIntro Music: Troubador by Derek Fiechter (Used with generous permission) This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit chroniclesofchirstendom.substack.com

The ScopeWelcome everyone to this new podcast — the Chronicles of Christendom. By the time you’re reading or listening this there should be three episodes already available for listening, more if you come across this later. This podcast is a place for me to showcase really cool medieval stories.To be more specific I am going to cover medieval literature that has a certain mythopoetic nature to it which is going to include works of universal history and hagiographies alongside fictional works such, of course, Arthurian literature, but also epics, poems, lays, romances, and anything else that I find interesting and symbolically rich. I am also not opposed to potentially cover some philosophical and nonfiction works as well. What do I mean exactly by medieval? Well, people debate what the exact time frame for the medieval period is, but we will define through a chiastic pattern by pinning its beginnings at the fall of Roman Empire in the west in 476, and mark the end as the fall of the eastern Roman Empire in 1453. This gives about one thousand years to work with. Now in terms of geographical scope I am going to include Europe plus the rest of the Mediterranean, so this means I won’t be covering the Oriental world during this period, as much as that stuff is interesting.As the name “Chronicles of Christendom” suggests, there is going to be a particular Christian emphasis in this podcast. I’m not saying we will never cover any works which are non-Christian, but I can say pretty confidentially we will not be reading Maimonides or Islamic jurisprudence. While they both fit the geographic and temporal scope they don’t fit the thematic scope. Likewise as the subtitle — “a survery of Medieval literature” — suggests I want to be pretty broad. I don’t just want to focus on Anglo-Saxon poetry or just read Arthurian legends. I instead want to buck the academic trend of specialization and do a little bit of everything that falls within the thematic, temporal and geographical parameters. In the three pilot episodes released with this podcast we cover an Anglo-Saxon poem, a latin Hagiography from Hungary, and a French Arthurian poem. What this means, however, is that I am not an expert in any one of these texts. I’m an English monolingual, so while I will occasionally reference the original language for clarification or more nuance, it will basically be me either reading what someone else has to say about it or dictionaries which puts me at the whim of the competency, or lack there of, of other people. But the purpose of this podcast is not to give a definitive guide to any text. It exists to give you an introduction.Methodology and Hermeneutics When it comes to reading, and interpreting texts I am of the school that love is the most important thing you need. There is a time and a place to pick a text up and just tear it apart, with some of my other projects I have done more than my fair share of this. But when it comes to learning from texts, and this is what I hope I’ll accomplish, I am not going to apply the academic gaze which seeks to deconstruct texts and keep us down to earth. Rather, with loving these texts and seeking to learn from, instead of seeking to correct and lecture, we will allow these texts to take us up to heaven.Practically speaking what this means is that I will read these texts in order to draw meaning out of them, not just data for an academic paper to publish. I will come at these works from a traditional Christian perspective and try to find the ways in which they tell us something about the structure of reality, in other words there will be a lot symbolic analysis. When weird things pop up I am going to assume that this is an opportunity to learn something, rather than apply a materialistic lens which brushes it off as mere superstition or fantasy. I hope that in the course of this podcast I will be able to impart this to y’all. However, as I am an Orthodox Christian reading what will often be texts from the post-Schism Christian west. There will be still be things I disagree with, but my quibbles will be from (hopefully) an Orthodox perspective, and not the handwaving academic perspective which I see in medieval studies all too often stemming from an alleged position of superiority. Podcasting PhilosophyI have listened to a lot of podcasts in the past. Several years ago I was probably listening to 20-30 hours of content a week. It was almost a full time job just keeping up with everything I was listening to. I have also been on the other end producing content. In 2018 I ran a mildly successful academic style history podcast.However, this was at a time when I didn’t have a full time job so it was much easier. Now that I have more obligations I don’t listen to nearly as much content and have become more more picky about what I listen to.One thing I realized when I had to become more selective is that so many podcasts have a really good premise but are just bad podcasts. The main culprit is that they don’t know how to balance information density. Either podcasts are way too dense and would serve better in some written form, but much more often I find podcasts to just be extremely informationally sparse. Podcasting fills a great niche in terms of information density from radio talk shows designed for an audience that’s tuning in and out, and more informationally dense mediums such as audio books that will brutally punish you for even a moment’s lapse in attention. The middle ground is being able to walk, drive, work out, or wash dishes with being able to break attention for a few moments and then return without being totally lost. Momentary lapses in attention shouldn’t be punishing when listening to a podcast, however attentive listening should also be rewarded. This is the goal for this podcast.I’m outlining this to also keep myself in check. I hope that this podcast will fulfill these goals. I encourage you to check out the catalog of episodes. Thank you so much! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit chroniclesofchirstendom.substack.com