Medieval History

Select Sources Full Texts Saints' Lives Law Texts Maps Search Help

Internet Medieval Sourcebook

Selected Sources: Byzantium

Contents

• General
• Foundations
• Justinian (b.483- r.527-d.565)
  • Justinian and Theodora
  • Government
  • Society and Economy
  • Church Policy
  • Wars
  • Buildings
  • Laws
• After Justinian
• Iconoclasm
• Byzantine Imperial Centuries (843-1204)
  • Macedonian Dynasty
  • Eleventh Century Conflicts
  • The Komnenoi
• The Final Centuries
  • The Nicean Period
  • The Palaiologoi
  • The Peloponnese and Mistra
  • Trebizond
  • The Fall of Constantinople and Aftermath
  • After Byzantium
• Byzantine Religion
  • General Religion
  • Ecclesiastical Organization
  • Theology
  • Spirituality
  • Liturgy
  • Sanctity
  • Monasticism
  • Heresy and Dissent
• The Byzantine Commonwealth
  • Syria
  • Armenia
  • Bulgaria
  • Serbia/Montenegro
  • Vikings
  • Inner Asia
• The Byzantine Commonwealth: Russia
• Accounts of Byzantium by Others

• WEB Byzantium: The Byzantine Studies Page
• WEB Dumbarton Oaks Byzantine Collection: Selected Images [At DO]
• WEB Dumbarton Oaks Byzantine Collection: Slide List of the Dumbarton Oaks Byzantine Collection [At DO]
• WEB Dumbarton Oaks Electronic Texts [Uses Acrobat]
  Byzantine, Landscape Architecture and Pre-Columbian etext.
• Paul of Aigina: The Epitome, excerpts. [a medical text]
• A Byzantine Mathematics Textbook, 888: [Page image]
  With Euclidean theorems.
• The Suda: Entries on Grammarians, Rhetoricians ands Sophists, [At Leeds]
  The Suda was a Byzantine "encyclopedia".
• Elizabeth Barrett Browning: Greek Christian Poetry. [At St. Pachomius Library]
  A collection of translations, including poems by: Clement of Alexandria, Gregory Nazianzen, Amphilochius of Iconium, Synesius of Cyrene, Paul Silentiarius, George Pisidia, John Damascene, Simeon Metaphrastes, John Maurpous of Euchaita, Theodore Prodromus, John Tzetzes, Manuel Philes, and Maximus Margunius.
• Legislation Affecting the Jews, 300 to 800 CE
  Index to Roman, Western and canonical laws
• Byzantine Homosexuality texts are available at the People With a History site

• Sozomen (d. c. 450 CE): Constantine Founds Constantinople, 324, from Ecclesiastical History 2.3
• Notitia Dignitatum (Register of Dignitaries)
  A list of all the officials in the Roman Empire, East and West, c.400

• Justinian and Theodora
  • [Tierney 22.2] Procopius: On Justinian. , from Secret History. The full text of the Secret History is also available.
• Government
  • Procopius: On the Racing Factions, from On the Wars .
  • Procopius: Procopius: On the Nika Revolt, from The Wars.
  • Theophanes: On the Racing Factions, from ths Chronicle. See also Catholic Encyclopedia: St. Theophanes
• Society and Economy
  • Procopius: The Roman Silk Industry, c. 550, from On the Wars
  • Procopius: The Plague, 542, History of the Wars, II.xxii-xxxiii:
• Church Policy
  • Justinian I (b.483- r.527-d.565): Dialogue with Paul of Nisibis, translated by Dr. Jeffrey Macdonald, 1998 [At Pachomius]
    Justinian's "dialogue" with a Nestorian.
• Wars
  • Procopius: The Reconquest of Africa, 534, from On the Wars IV:9.
    A description of Belisarius' triumph, with Gelimer, King of the Vandal's in tow.
• Buildings
  • [Tierney 22.1] Procopius: Justinian, from Buildings.
  • Procopius: Description of Hagia Sophia from De Aedificiis. See also Catholic Encyclopedia: Byzantine Architecture
  • Paul the Silentiary: Description of Hagia Sophia fromDescriptio S. Sophiae
    • [Tierney 12] Corpus Iuris Civilis [selections]
    • Corpus Iuris Civilis: Institutes, 535, very extensive selections, in English.
    • Corpus Iuris Civilis: Institutes, Books 1-IV, [in Latin][At The Latin Library]
    • Corpus Iuris Civilis: Digest: D. 1.1.1 Ulp 1 inst. [In Latin] [At Roman Law Page]
    • Corpus Iuris Civilis: Roman Law Texts [In Latin] [At Roman Law Page]
      A selection of medium length excerpts from, among others, the Corpus Iuris Civilis
    • Corpus Iuris Civilis: The Digest and Codex on Marriage
    • Codex Justinianus: Protection of Freewomen Married to Servile Husbands, c. 530 [Vll.24.i.]
    • Codex Justinianus: Return of Fugitive Slaves & Coloni, c. 530 [Xl.48.xii.]
    • Codex Justinianus: Application of Patria Potestas to the Coloni, c. 530 [Xl.48.xiii]
    • Codex Justinianus: Children of the Unfree, c. 530 [Xl.48.xxi.]
    • Codex Justinianus: Protection of Freemen and Coloni, c. 530 [Xl.48.xxii.]
    • Codex Justinianus: Children of Mixed Marriages, c. 530 [Xl.48.xxiv.]
    • Codex Justinianus: Coloni Bound to the Soil, c. 530 [Xl.51.i]
    • Codex Justinianus: Violation of the Thracian Land Law, c. 530 [XI.52.i.]
    • Justinian I (b.483- r.527-d.565): Novel 137: Regulating Church Ritual.
    • Justinian I (b.483- r.527-d.565): Novel 77, [538 CE] and Novel 141, [544 CE], [At PWH]
      Includes texts of earlier Roman legislation on homosexuality.
    • Justinian (b.483- r.527-d.565): Novella 146: On Jews

• John of Nikiu: On the Factions in Egypt.
• Antiochus Strategos: The Sack of Jerusalem, 614.
  An account of the Persian conquest. Also an example of Byzantine Antisemitism, and a version of the Blood libel.
• Sophronius Patriarch of Jerusalem. Two Poems on the Holy City (Anacreontica XIX and XX) - ca. 600 A.D. [At Christus Rex] 
• Elliott Horowitz: "The Vengeance of the Jews Was Stronger Than Their Avarice": Modern Historians and the Persian Conquest of Jerusalem in 614, Jewish Social Studies Volume 4, Number 2
• Huneberc of Heidenheim: The Hodoeporican of St. Willibald, 8th Century.
  Describes a pilgrimmage to Jerusalem in this period.

• John of Damascus: In Defence of Icons, c 730, extracts from On the Holy Icons and the Fount of Wisdom. See also Catholic Encyclopedia: John Damascene, Saint, Catholic Encyclopedia: Iconoclasm, and Catholic Encyclopedia: Veneration of Images.
• John of Damascus: Apologia Against Those Who Decry Holy Images
• Iconoclast Council of Constantinople, 754, full text.
• Second Council of Nicea: Decree on Icons, 787.

• Macedonian Dynasty
  • The Farmer's Law, 7-8th Century.
  • Symeon Logothete: Chronicle, excerpts on the Reign of Constantine VII, trans, Paul Stephenson [At Paul Stephenson's website]
  • Theophanes Continuatus: Chronicle, excerpts on the Reign of Romanos I Lekapenos, trans. Paul Stephenson [At Paul Stephenson's website]
  • Constantine VII Porphygenitus: De Ceremonies Aulae Byzantinae: A Diplomatic Stylesheet: Protocols and Forms of Address for Foreign Potentates, (De Ceremoniis, bk 2, cc. 46-48), trans. Paul Stephenson [At Paul Stephenson's website]
  • Constantine VII Porphyrgenitus: De Administrando Imperio: Relations with Northern Peoples in the 10th Century, excerpts, trans. Paul Stephenson [At Paul Stephenson's website]
  • Liutprand of Cremona (c.922-c.972): Report on Mission to Constantinople, 963. full text
  • Liutprand of Cremona (c.922-c.972): Report on Mission to Constantinople, 963, excerpts.
  • An Arab Ambassador in Constantinople, (late 10th Century).
  • John Skylitzes: Synopsis Historion, trans. Paul Stephenson [At Paul Stephenson's website]
    With an account of  the Battle of Kleidion, 29 July 1014.
  • Heron of Byzantium: Siegecraft: Two Tenth-Century Instructional Manuals PDF Format [At DO]
  • Ibn Battuta (1307-1377 CE): Travels in Asia and Africa 1325-1354
• Eleventh Century Conflicts
  • Theodoros Skoutariotes: The Emperors of the 11th Century, from the Synopsis Chronika.
  • Michael Psellus (1018-after 1078): Chronographia, full text.
    The history of the Roman Empire 976-1078 by one of the liveliest writers of the middle ages.
• The Komnenoi
  • Anna Comnena (1083-after 1148): The Alexiad. [Full text]
    The account of her father, the Byzantine Emperor Alexius I, by Princess Anna Comnena is perhaps the most important historical work by a woman writer written before the modern period.
  • Anna Comnena(1083-after 1148): The Alexiad, Books 10 and 11 (on the Crusades).
    See also Catholic Encyclopedia: Anna Comnena for somewhat dismissive comments.
  • The Great Fair at Thessalonica, mid 12th Cent.
  • Geoffry de Villehardouin (c.1160-c.1212): Chronicle of the Fourth Crusade and The Conquest of Constantinople. full text

• The Nicean Period
• The Palaiologoi
  • Patriarch Anthony: Defending the Position of the Emperor, 1395.
  • Hesychasm: Selected Readings
• The Peloponnese and Mistra
• Trebizond
• The Fall of Constantinople and Aftermath
  • James M. Ludlow: The Tribute of Children, 1493 [At this Site]
    On the origins of the Janissaries.
• After Byzantium

• WEB St. Pachomius Library: Global Index, for listing of Orthodox documents online.
• General Religion
• Ecclesiastical Organization
  • Theodore Balsamon: On the Powers of the Patriarch of Constantinople, end 12th Century.
• Theology
  • WEB Ephrem the Syrian (early 4th cent--373): Writings Extant only in Greek. [At Anastasis]
    New texts are always being added to the Anastasis website.
    • Fifty Five Beatitudes
    • Three Short Discourses
    • Sermon on the Fathers who have completed their course
    • Sermon in Heptasyllabics
  • John Chrysostom
    • John Chrysostom (c.347-407): Easter Sermon. See also St. John of Antioch: the Golden Mouth [At Internet Archive, from OP.ORG]
    • John Chrysostom (c.347-407): Homilies Against the Jews
    • John Chrysostom: Treatise on the Priesthood, full text [At CCEL]
    • John Chrysostom (c.347-407): Letters to Olympias [At ccel]
      • Letter I
      • Letter II
      • Letter III
      • Letter IV
      • Letter VII
    • John Chrysostom (c.347-407): Letter to certain Presbyters of Antioch [At CCEL]
    • John Chrysostom (c.347-407): Correspondence with the Bishop of Rome [At CCEL]
      • Letter I to Innocent, Bishop of Rome
      • Letter II to Innocent, Bishop of Rome
      • From Innocent, Bishop of Rome to St. John
      • From Innocent to the People of Constantinople
    • John Chrysostom (c.347-407): Homilies on Saint Ignatius and Saint Babylas [At CCEL]
    • John Chrysostom (c.347-407): Concerning the Power of Demons - Three Homilies [At CCEL]
      • Homily 1
      • Homily 2
      • Homily 3
    • John Chrysostom (c.347-407): On Eutropius the Eunuch, Patrician and Consul - Homily 1 and Homily 2 [At CCEL]
    • John Chrysostom (c.347-407): Concerning Lowliness (Humility) of Mind [At CCEL]
    • John Chrysostom (c.347-407): Homily on the Paralytic Let Down Through the Roof [At CCEL]
    • John Chrysostom (c.347-407): Against Publishing the Errors of the Brethren [At CCEL]
    • John Chrysostom (c.347-407): A Treatise to Prove that No One Can Harm the Man Who Does Not Injure Himself [At CCEL]
    • John Chrysostom (c.347-407): Against Marcionists and Manichaeans [At CCEL]
    • John Chrysostom (c.347-407): Homilies on the Statues [At CCEL]
      • Introduction
      • Homily 1
      • Homily 2
      • Homily 3
      • Homily 4
      • Homily 5
      • Homily 6
      • Homily 7
      • Homily 8
      • Homily 9
      • Homily 10
      • Homily 11
      • Homily 12
      • Homily 13
      • Homily 14
      • Homily 15
      • Homily 16
      • Homily 17
      • Homily 18
      • Homily 19
      • Homily 20
      • Homily 21
  • Professions of Faith Extracted from Jews on Baptism, Visgothic and Byzantine
  • Pseudo-Dionysius the Areopagite (2nd half 5th century): Letters [At St. Pachomius]
    See Catholic Encyclopedia: Dionysius the Pseudo-Areopagite
  • Justinian I (b.483- r.527-d.565): Dialogue with Paul of Nisibis, translated by Dr. Jeffrey Macdonald, 1998 [At Pachomius]
    Justinian's "dialogue" with a Nestorian.
  • Mar Narsai (5th-6th Cent.): An Exposition of The Mysteries. [At U. Oregon]
  • John of Damascus
    • John of Damascus: Apologia Against Those Who Decry Holy Images , full text
    • John of Damascus: Three Sermons on the Dormition (koimhsiV) of the Virgin, full text,
  • Peter Moghila of Kiev: Orthodox Confession of the Faith, 17th century, [At UMD]
    Perhaps the most Western "Orthodox" confession ever written
• Spirituality
  • John Moschos: An Angel Story from the Spiritual Meadow .
  • Theodore of Studium
    • Theodore of Studium (d.826): Twenty-Seventh Discourse.
    • Theodore of Studium (d.826): Sixty First Discourse.
    • Theodore of Studium (d.826): Selected Poems, with the Letter to Casia.
  • Hesychasm: Selected Readings
  • Gregory Palamas
    • Gregory Palamas: On the Dormition of the Virgin Mary .
    • Gregory Palamas: On Unceasing Prayer, from the Life of St. Gregory Palamas, Archbishop of Salonica, Wonderworker (this is taken from the comments of St. Nikodemos of the Holy Mountain, editor of the Philokalia). [At Saint Gregory Palamas Greek Orthodox Monastery]
  • St. Arsenios of Cappodocia: Blessing Psalter, 20th cent.
• Sanctity
  • Palladius: The Lausiac History [extended excerpts]
    Includes lives of a number of saintly women.
  • Gregory of Nyssa (c.335-d.c.395): Life of Macrina, trans. W.K. Lowther Clarke [full text].
    One of the most important lives of a female saint. This is an account of Gregory's strongminded sister, Macrina (c.327-379)
  • The Life of Daniel the Stylite [Full text], the fifth-century saint who spent 33 years on a pillar in Constantinople. See also Catholic Encyclopedia: Stylites.
  • Life of Matrona of Perge, d.c. 510-515, trans Khalifa Ben Nasser, [full text of Metaphrastic Life: selections from Vita Prima].
    An example of a "transvestite" saint who was also a historical figure.
  • The Life of Theodore of Sykeon, Full text.
    This Life of seventh-century saint is a major source for Byzantine rural and social history, as well as about the cult of saints.
  • Leontius of Neapolis (7th Century): The Life of John the Almsgiver [Full text].
  • Life of Irene, Abbess of the Convent of Chrysobalanton, trans. Jan Olof Rosenqvist
  • Life of Mary the Younger, d.c. 903, trans Paul Halsall, [First five chapters, and concluding prayer].
  • The Life of St. Thomaïs of Lesbos, full text in Greek [Unicode]
  • The Life of Lazaros of Mt. Galesion: An Eleventh-Century Pillar Saint [At DO]  A good part of the published translation. In PDF Format
  • Gregory of Constantinople: Life of St. Romylos, A 14th Century Hesychast saint. [full permission pending]
  • Holy Women of Byzantium: Ten Saints' Lives in English Translation [At DO] 
    Complete texts of translations of female saints lives.
    The texts are all in PDF form [for which you need the free Acrobat reader, downloadable from the index page]. Although it is possible to read these within the browser with Acrobat as a plugin, that often seems to destabilize a system. I recommend downloading the files onto a hard disk, and then opening them with Acrobat running independantly of the Browser.
    • Front Matter, General Introduction, Acknowledgments, List of Abbreviations / 183 k
    • A. Nuns Disguised as Monks
      • 1. Life of St. Mary/Marinos / translated by Nicholas Constas / 92 k
      • 2. Life of St. Matrona of Perge / Jeffrey Featherstone and Cyril Mango / 305 k
    • B. Female Solitaries
      • 3. Life of St. Mary of Egypt / Maria Kouli / 183 k
      • 4. Life of St. Theoktiste of Lesbos / Angela C. Hero / 153 k
    • C. Cenobitic Nuns
      • 5. Life of St. Elisabeth the Wonderworker / Valerie Karras / 153 k
      • 6. Life of St. Athanasia of Aegina / Lee Francis Sherry / 153 k
      • 7. Life of St. Theodora of Thessalonike / Alice-Mary Talbot / 458 k
    • D. Pious Housewives
      • 8. Life of St. Mary the Younger / Angeliki E. Laiou / 305 k
      • 9. Life of St. Thomaïs of Lesbos / Paul Halsall / 214 k
    • E. A Saintly Empress
      • 10. Life of St. Theodora of Arta / Alice-Mary Talbot / 92 k
    • Indexes / 122 k
      Index of People and Places; General Index Index of Notable Greek Words
• Monasticism
  • Theodore of Studium (d.826): Reform Rules. See also Catholic Encyclopedia: Studion
  • Byzantine Monastic Foundation Documents [At DO]
    A Complete Translation of the Surviving Founder's Typika and Testaments. Edited by John Thomas and Angela Constantinides Hero with the assistance of Giles Constable.
    The texts are all in PDF form [for which you need the free Acrobat reader, downloadable from the index page]. Although it is possible to read these within the browser with Acrobat as a plugin, that often seems to destabilize a system. I recommend downloading the files onto a hard disk, and then opening them with Acrobat running independantly of the Browser.
    • Preface, Giles Constable / 153k
      • Acknowledgements / 31k
      • Abbreviations / 61k
    • Introduction / 122k
    • Early Monastic Rules / 122k
    • Chapter One: Traditional Private Religious Foundations / 61k
      • Introduction
      • Seventh Century
        • 1. Apa Abraham: Testament of Apa Abraham, Bishop of Hermonthis, for the Monastery of St. Phoibammon near Thebes, Egypt (trans. Leslie S. B. MacCoull) / 61k
      • Eighth Century
        • 2. Pantelleria: Typikon of John for the Monastery of St. John the Forerunner on Pantelleria (trans. Gianfranco Fiaccadori) / 61k
      • Ninth Century
        • 3. Theodore Studites: Testament of Theodore the Studite for the Monastery of St. John Stoudios in Constantinople (trans. Timothy Miller) / 92k
        • 4. Stoudios: Rule of the Monastery of St. John Stoudios in Constantinople (trans. Timothy Miller) / 153k
      • Tenth Century
        • 5. Euthymios: Testament of Euthymios for the Monasteries of Psamathia and Ta Agathou (trans. Patricia Karlin-Hayter) / 31k
        • 6. Rila: Testament of John of Rila (trans. Ilija Iliev) / 61k
        • 7. Latros: Testament of Paul the Younger for the Monastery of the Mother of God tou Stylou on Mount Latros (trans. Gianfranco Fiaccadori) / 61k
      • Eleventh Century
        • 8. John Xenos: Testament of John Xenos for the Monastery of the Mother of God Antiphonetria of Myriokephala on Crete (trans. Gianfranco Fiaccadori) / 31k
        • 9. Galesios: Testament of Lazarus of Mount Galesios (trans. Patricia Karlin-Hayter) / 92k
        • 10. Eleousa: Rule of Manuel, Bishop of Stroumitza, for the Monastery of the Mother of God Eleousa (trans. Anastasius Bandy) / 122k  
    • Chapter Two: Athonite Monasteries / 61k
      • Introduction
      • Tenth Century
        • 11. Ath. Rule: Rule of Athanasios the Athonite for the Lavra Monastery (trans. George Dennis) / 153k
        • 12. Tzimiskes: Typikon of Emperor John Tzimiskes (trans. George Dennis) / 92k
        • 13. Ath. Typikon: Typikon of Athanasios the Athonite for the Lavra Monastery (trans. George Dennis) / 122k
        • 14. Ath. Testament: Testament of Athanasios the Athonite for the Lavra Monastery (trans. George Dennis) / 61k
        • 15. Constantine IX: Typikon of Emperor Constantine IX Monomachos (trans. Timothy Miller) / 61k  
    • Chapter Three: The Protectorate / 92k
      • Introduction
      • Tenth Century
        • 16. Mount Tmolos: Typikon of Nikephoros Erotikos for the Monastery of the Mother of God and the Old Age Home called Ta Derma on Mount Tmolos (trans. John Thomas) / 31k
        • 17. Nikon Metanoeite: Testament of Nikon the Metanoeite for the Church and Monastery of the Savior, the Mother of God and St. Kyriake in Lakedaimon (trans. Anastasius Bandy) / 61k
      • Eleventh Century
        • 18. Nea Gephyra: Testament of Nikodemos for the Monastery of Nea Gephyra near Lakedaimon (trans. Stephen Reinert) / 31k
        • 19. Attaleiates: Rule of Michael Attaleiates for his Almshouse in Rhaidestos and for the Monastery of Christ Panoiktirmon in Constantinople (trans. Alice-Mary Talbot) / 214k
        • 20. Black Mountain: Regulations of Nikon of the Black Mountain (trans. Robert Allison) / 214k
        • 21. Roidion: Typikon of Nikon of the Black Mountain for the Monastery and Hospice of the Mother of God Tou Roidiou (trans. Robert Allison) / 92k
    • Chapter Four: Early Reform Monasteries of the Eleventh Century / 92k
      • Introduction
      • 22. Evergetis: Typikon of Timothy for the Monastery of the Mother of God Evergetis (trans. Robert Jordan) / 244k
      • 23. Pakourianos: Typikon of Gregory Pakourianos for the Monastery of the Mother of God Petritzonitissa in Backovo (trans. Robert Jordan) / 244k
      • 24. Christodoulos: Rule, Testament and Codicil of Christodoulos for the Monastery of St. John the Theologian on Patmos (trans. Patricia Karlin-Hayter) / 183k  
    • Chapter Five: Imperial and Royal Monasteries of the Twelfth Century / 61k
      • Introduction
      • 25. Fragala: Testaments of Gregory for the Monastery of St. Philip of Fragala in Sicily (trans. Patricia Karlin-Hayter and Timothy Miller) / 92k
      • 26. Luke of Messina: Typikon of Luke for the Monastery of Christ Savior (San Salvatore) in Messina (trans. Timothy Miller) / 61k
      • 27. Kecharitomene: Typikon of Empress Irene Doukaina Komnene for the Convent of the Mother of God Kecharitomene in Constantinople (trans. Robert Jordan) / 305k
      • 28. Pantokrator: Typikon of Emperor John II Komnenos for the Monastery of Christ Pantokrator at Constantinople (trans. Robert Jordan) / 244k
      • 29. Kosmosoteira: Typikon of the Sebastokrator Isaac Komnenos for the Monastery of the Mother of God Kosmosoteira near Bera (trans. Nancy Patterson Sevcenko) / 336k
    • Chapter Six: Early Reform Monasteries of the Twelfth Century / 61k
      • Introduction
      • 30. Phoberos: Rule of John for the Monastery of St. John the Forerunner of Phoberos (trans. Robert Jordan) / 336k
      • 31. Areia: Memorandum and Typikon of Leo, Bishop of Nauplia, for the Monastery of the Mother of God in Areia (trans. Alice-Mary Talbot) / 92k
      • 32. Mamas: Typikon of Athanasios Philanthropenos for the Monastery of St. Mamas in Constantinople (trans. Anastasius Bandy) / 275k
      • 33. Heliou Bomon: Typikon of Nikephoros Mystikos for the Monastery of the Mother of God ton Heliou Bomon or Elegmon (trans. Anastasius Bandy) / 214k  
    • Chapter Seven: Independent and Self-Governing Monasteries of the Thirteenth Century / 61k
      • Introduction
      • 34. Machairas: Rule of Neilos, Bishop of Tamasia, for the Monastery of the Mother of God of Machairas in Cyprus (trans. Anastasius Bandy) / 275k
      • 35. Skoteine: Testament of Maximos for the Monastery of the Mother of God at Skoteine near Philadelphia (trans. George Dennis) / 122k
      • 36. Blemmydes: Typikon of Nikephoros Blemmydes for the Monastery of the Lord Christ-Who-Is at Ematha near Ephesos (trans. Joseph Munitiz) / 61k
      • 37. Auxentios: Typikon of Michael VIII Palaiologos for the Monastery of the Archangel Michael on Mount Auxentios near Chalcedon (trans. George Dennis) / 122k
      • 38. Kellibara I: Typikon of Michael VIII Palaiologos for the Monastery of St. Demetrios of the Palaiologoi-Kellibara in Constantinople (trans. George Dennis) / 92k
      • 39. Lips: Typikon of Theodora Palaiologina for the Convent of Lips in Constantinople (trans. Alice-Mary Talbot) / 153k
      • 40. Anargyroi: Typikon of Theodora Palaiologina for the Convent of Sts. Kosmas and Damian in Constantinople (trans. Alice-Mary Talbot) / 61k  
    • Chapter Eight: Later Private Religious Foundations / 61k
      • Introduction
      • Twelfth Century
        • 41. Docheiariou: Rule of Neophytos for the Monastery of St. Michael the Archangel of Docheiariou on Mount Athos (trans. Robert Allison) / 61k
        • 42. Sabas: Founder's Typikon of the Sabas Monastery near Jerusalem (trans. Gianfranco Fiaccadori) / 61k
        • 43. Kasoulon: Rule of Nicholas for the Monastery of St. Nicholas of Kasoulon near Otranto (trans. Timothy Miller) / 61k
        • 44. Karyes: Typikon of Sabbas the Serbian for the Kellion of St. Sabbas at Karyes on Mount Athos (trans. George Dennis) / 61k
      • Thirteenth Century
        • 45. Neophytos: Testamentary Rule of Neophytos for the Hermitage of the Holy Cross near Ktima in Cyprus (trans. Catia Galatariotou) / 153k
      • Fourteenth Century
        • 46. Akropolites: Testament of Constantine Akropolites for the Monastery of the Resurrection (Anastasis) in Constantinople (trans. Alice-Mary Talbot) / 61k
        • 47. Philanthropos: Typikon of Irene Choumnaina Palaiologina for the Convent of Christ Philanthropos in Constantinople (trans. Alice-Mary Talbot) / 61k
        • 48. Prodromos: Testament of Neilos for the Monastery of St. John the Forerunner (Prodromos) on Mount Athos (trans. Stephen Reinert) / 31k
        • 49. Geromeri: Testament of Neilos Erichiotes for the Monastery of the Mother of God Hodegetria in Geromeri (trans. George Dennis) / 61k
        • 50. Gerasimos: Testament of Gerasimos for the Small Monastery of St. Euthymios in Jerusalem (trans. George Dennis) / 31k
        • 51. Koutloumosi: Testaments of Chariton for the Monastery of Christ Savior of Koutloumousi on Mount Athos (trans. George Dennis) / 122k
        • 52. Choumnos: Rule and Testament of Makarios Choumnos for the Nea Mone of the Mother of God in Thessalonike (trans. Alice-Mary Talbot) / 92k
        • 53. Meteora: Canonical Rule of Athanasios the Meteorite for the Monastery of the Transfiguration (Metamorphosis) (trans. George Dennis) / 61k
      • Fifteenth Century
        • 54. Neilos Damilas: Testament and Typikon of Neilos Damilas for the Convent of the Mother of God Pantanassa at Baionaia on Crete (trans. Alice-Mary Talbot) / 92k  
    • Chapter Nine: Independent and Self-Governing Monasteries of the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Centuries / 61k
      • Introduction
      • Fourteenth Century
        • 55. Athanasios I: Rule of Patriarch Athanasios I (trans. Timothy Miller) / 61k
        • 56. Kellibara II: Typikon of Andronikos II Palaiologos for the Monastery of St. Demetrios-Kellibara in Constantinople (trans. George Dennis) / 31k
        • 57. Bebeia Elpis: Typikon of Theodora Synadene for the Convent of the Mother of God Bebaia Elpis in Constantinople (trans. Alice-Mary Talbot) / 275k
        • 58. Menoikeion: Typikon of Joachim, Metropolitan of Zichna, for the Monastery of St. John the Forerunner on Mount Menoikeion near Serres (trans. Timothy Miller) / 153k
      • Fifteenth Century
        • 59. Manuel II: Typikon of Emperor Manuel II Palaiologos for the Monasteries of Mount Athos (trans. George Dennis) / 61k
        • 60. Charsianeites: Testament of Patriarch Matthew I for the Monastery of Charsianeites Dedicated to the Mother of God Nea Peribleptos (trans. Alice-Mary Talbot) / 183k
        • 61. Eleousa Inv.: Inventory of the Monastery of the Mother of God Eleousa in Stroumitza (trans. Anastasius Bandy, with Nancy Sevcenko) / 61k
    • Glossary / 61k
    • Appendix A: Concordance with Previous Lists / 31k
    • Appendix B: The Regulation of Diet in the Byzantine Monastic Foundation Documents / 92k
    • Appendix C: Topical Interrelationships of the Families of the Typika of the Byzantine Monastic Reform Movement / 31k
    • General Bibliography / 92k
• Liturgy
  • The Divine Liturgy of John Chrysostom as used in Orthodox Churches.
  • Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom , in form used by Eastern Catholic churches. [At UMD]
  • The Liturgy of the Assyrian Rite.
    See also Catholic Encyclopedia: Assyrian Rite
  • The Akathistos Hymn.
  • The Lenten Triodion. Full English text of Byzantine Lenten services.
  • The Lenten Triodion. Alternative off site link. [At OCF]
  • Orthodox Prayers. [At OCF]
  • The Ecloga on Sexual Crimes, 8th Cent.
  • The Contract of Marriage, in the Ecloga of Leo III, 726.
  • Two Versions of the Rite of Adelphopoiia.
• Heresy and Dissent
  • Anna Comnena: The Bogomils, c. 1110

• Syria
  • Ch'ing-Tsing: Nestorian Tablet: Eulogizing the Propagation of the
    Illustrious Religion in China, with a Preface, composed by a priest
    of the Syriac Church, 781 A.D.
  • Bar Sauma (c. 1278-1313):  The Monk of Kublai Khan, Emperor of China; or The History of the Life and Travels of Rabban Sawma, Envoy and Plenipotentiary of the Mongol Khans to the Kings of Europe and Markos who as Yahbh-Allaha III Became Patriarch of the Nestorian Church. Translated by E.A. Wallis Budge,   London: The Religious Track Society, 1928.  [At Traveling to Jerusalem/U Sth Colorado]
• Armenia
  • WEB  Armenian/Georgian Historical Resources Site,
    Various full text translations by Robert Bedrosian.
    • P'awstos Buzandac'i'. History of the Armenians, 5th century, full text, trans. Robert Bedrosian, [At Arm. Hist. Resources]
    • Ghazar P'arbec'i'. History of the Armenians, 5th century, full text, trans. Robert Bedrosian, At [Arm. Hist. Resources]
    • Sebeos: History, 7th century, full text, trans. Robert Bedrosian, [At Arm. Hist. Resources] [this is the first of a series of files].
    • John Mamikonean: History of Taron, 10th century, full text, trans. Robert Bedrosian, [At Arm. Hist. Resources] [this is the first of a series of files].
    • Aristakes Lastivertc'i': History, 11th-century, full text, trans. Robert Bedrosian, [At Arm. Hist. Resources]
    • The Georgian Chronicle, 12-13th century, full text, trans. Robert Bedrosian, [At Arm. Hist. Resources][this is the first of a series of files].
    • Kirakos Gandzakets'i': History of the Armenians, 13th-century, full text, trans. Robert Bedrosian, [At Arm. Hist. Resources] [this is the first of a series of files].
    • T'ovma Metsobets'i': History of Tamerlane and His Successors , full text, trans. Robert Bedrosian, [At Arm. Hist. Resources] [this is the first of a series of files].
• Bulgaria
  • Pope Nicholas I: Responses to the Questions of the Bulgars A.D. 866 (Letter 99), trans. W. North, full text.
• Serbia/Montenegro
  • Chronicle of the Priest of Duklja (Letopis' Popa Dukljanina), Partial Translation by Paul Stephenson [At Paul Stephenson's Website]
    "Also known as the Bar Genealogy, was originally composed in Slavonic in the late twelfth century, but has been preserved only in a sixteenth-century Latin translation. It was probably the work of Grgur (Gregory), bishop of Bar from 1172 to c. 1196, who championed the rights of the bishopric of Bar to preside over all the lands south of the river Cetina. A Major source for the Balkan history of the period."
  • Old Serbian Tales: Marko and the Turks, c. 1450 [At this Site]
    A Serbian poem about the fight with the Turks.
• Vikings
  • Snorri Sturlson: Heimskringla or The Chronicle of the Kings of Norway. [OMACL Text], [Contains inter alia, King Harold's Saga]
• Inner Asia
  • Description of the Tartars [Mongols], 13th century.

• The Chronicle of Nestor.
• The Chronicle of Novgorod.
• Privileges Granted to German Merchants at Novgorod, 1229
• Russian Primary Chronicle: Ruskaia Pravda. [At Univ.Durham]
  An early Law code
• Russian Primary Chronicle: The Founding of the City of Kiev. [At Univ.Durham]
• Nestor: The Martyrdom of Boris and Gleb, d. 1015. [At Univ.Durham]
• Russian Primary Chronicle: The Christianisation of Russia, 988. [At Univ.Durham]
• Russian Primary Chronicle: The Varangians (Normans). [At Univ.Durham]
• Russian Primary Chronicle: Prince Oleg's Campaign Against Constantinople. [At Univ.Durham]
• Daniel (1106-1107): The Pilgrimage of the Russian Abbot Daniel in the Holy Land, 1106-1107 A.D., annotated by Sir C. W.Wilson (London, 1895) [At Traveling to Jerusalem/U Sth Colorado]
• Metropolitan Hilarion: Sermon on Law and Grace. [At Univ.Durham]
• Russian Primary Chronicle: The Testament of Vladimir Monomakh. [At Univ.Durham]
• The Lay of Igor's Raid. [At Univ.Durham]
• Life of Sergius of Radonezh, (c.1314-1392). [At Durham]
• Filofei: Moscow as the Third Rome. [At Univ.Durham]
• Prince Andrew Kurbskii: First Epistle Written to the Tsar and Grand Prince of Moscow in Consequence of His Fierce Persecution . [At Univ.Durham]
• The Domostroi: How to Educate Children and Bring Them Up In the Fear of God, excerpts, mid-16th century. [At Univ.Durham]
• The Code of Law of 1649 (Ulozhenie), excerpts. [At Univ.Durham]

• Liutprand of Cremona (c.922-c.972): Report on Mission to Constantinople, 963. full text
• Liutprand of Cremona (c.922-c.972): Report on Mission to Constantinople, 963, excerpts.
• An Arab Ambassador in Constantinople, (late 10th Century).
• Ibn Battuta: Travels in Asia and Africa 1325-1354
  Includes an account of Constantinople.
• Chinese Accounts of Rome, Byzantium and the Middle East, c. 91 B.C.E. - 1643 C.E.
• Chu Yuan-Chang: Manifesto of Accession as First Ming Emperor, 1372 C.E. Sent to the Byzantine Emperor.
• Benjamin of Tudela (1160-1173): The Itinerary of Benjamin of Tudela Critical Text, Translation and Commentary by Marcus Nathan Adler. [At Traveling to Jerusalem/U Sth Colorado]
• Felix Fabri (1480 & 1483-84): The Book of the Wanderings of Felix Fabri (Circa 1480-1483 A.D.) trans. Aubrey Stewart. 2 vols. London: Palestine Pilgrims' Text Society, 1896 [At Traveling to Jerusalem/U Sth Colorado]
• Pietro Casola (1494): Canon Pietro Casola's Pilgrimage to Jerusalem in the Year 1494. trans. Mary Margaret Newett. Manchester: The University Press, 1907. [At Traveling to Jerusalem/U Sth Colorado]