Joseph Patrich, Baptism in the Holy Land (4th–7th Centuries). The Literary Evidence and the Archaeological Context (Collectio Minor 49), Milano 2025
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Baptism is a Christian rite of passage. Its theological significance and practice were discussed by the Church Fathers of the 2nd and 3rd c. in both the East and West. In the first three centuries it was conferred outdoors in a stream, a spring, or in a private bath, leaving no identifiable physical traces. The earliest full-fledged baptistery in the Christian East is that uncovered in the Domus Ecclesiae in Dura Europos that was built before the mid-3rd c. CE. Monumental baptisteries throughout the Christian world are known only from the 4th c. on.
The present study on baptism, which focuses on the Holy Land, relates to the archaeological aspects and literary sources, of various genres. All the baptisteries in the Holy Land recorded to date – 98 installations in 90 churches – are addressed here.
The first two chapters of Part A address the literary evidence (Chapter 1), and the archaeological context (Chapter 2). Chapter 3 is devoted to infant baptism in the prism of these two aspects. Part B comprises an Inventory of the Baptisteries, arranged alphabetically and accompanied by plans and figures.
Contents
Introduction
Part A. The Synthesis
1. The Literary Evidence
The Didache; The Letter to the Armenians of Macarius of Jerusalem; Catechetical Discourses; Mystagogical Lectures; Itinerarium Egeriae
Ranks of Christians with Regard to the Baptismal Rite
Locales and Activities
The Curriculum/Syllabus
Pre-Chalcedonian Sources: Vita Porphyrii; Cyril of Scythopolis, VitaEuthymii; Revelatio Sancti Stephani
Post-Chalcedonian Sources: The Testamentum Domini
“The House of the Catechumens” and its Location
Post-Chalcedonian Sources: The Hierarchia Ecclesiastica; Leimonarion; The Edicts of Justinian (529 CE)
Time Appropriate for Baptism
2. The Archaeological Context
Quantitative Survey
Nomenclature
Geographical Distribution
Location of Baptistery Relative to the Church
Variations among Sees?
Catechetical Lectures in Non-Urban Churches?
Layout
Chronology: Dates of Installation
Chronology: Architectural Evolution
Chronology: Architectural Elaboration and Embellishment
The Baptismal Course
Getting in and out of the Font
Font Types
Font Dimensions
3. Infant Baptism (Pedobaptism)
Summary and Conclusions
Part B: Inventory of Baptisteries
Summary Tables: Churches with Baptisteries
Tables of baptisteries split according to provinces,alphabetically arranged
Bibliographies
A. Abbreviations
B. Literary sources
C. Dictionaries
D. Baptism, Liturgy and Theology
E. Archaeological Studies
Illustrations Credits