Center for Byzantine Studies, Katowice; Silesian University in Katowice oder via Zoom (24.-25.6.2025)

Commentaries on the six days of Creation have played important roles in theological and philosophical discourses across the centuries. Scholars have long sought to define and categorize hexaemeral literature, with one of the earliest and most influential attempts being that of Frank E. Robbins. In his foundational—though now somewhat dated (1912)—study, he offers the following definition:
“Hexaemeron is the title of certain treatises and series of sermons written by the Fathers of the Christian church commenting on the story of the creation of the world as told in Genesis, sometimes a simple exegesis and sometimes an allegorical version of the scriptural story. The use of the name may be extended to cover the whole body of literature dealing with the subject, including formal or incidental accounts of the creation in the world, based upon Genesis, and poetical versions of the narrative.”
This broad definition underscores the diverse nature of hexaemeral writings, which encompass not only theological commentaries but also poetic retellings and philosophical reflections on the biblical account of Creation. Hexaemeral literature comprises a wide range of texts written in multiple languages —including Hebrew, Greek, Syriac, Latin, Slavonic, Georgian, Armenian, Ethiopic, Old English and Arabic—spanning several centuries. While some of these texts remain unedited and untranslated into modern languages, others have yet to receive comprehensive scholarly attention.
Of these, two hexaemeral texts have received the majority of scholarly attention: the works of Basil of Caesarea (in Greek) and Ambrose of Milan (in Latin). Basil’s writings in particular were not only widely translated, but also extensively imitated by numerous later authors over the centuries.

We welcome contributions that go beyond the well-trodden ground of Basil and Ambrose, ideally shedding light upon lesser-known or previously unexplored works of hexaemeral literature up to late Middle Ages. Our central question is: How is the created world—nature, animals—depicted and understood in these writings? We are particularly interested in how cultural, social, and political contexts shaped different interpretations of the hexaemeron, whether in adaptations of Basil’s work or entirely original compositions.

Please send a short abstract (up to 150 words) along with a brief bio (up to 70 words) to bizancjum@us.edu.pl by March 31, 2025. This will be a hybrid conference, so please indicate whether you plan to participate in person or online. For those opting to attend in person, we will cover the cost of an economy-class flight and accommodation for up to three nights.

Organisers: Ryan Denson, Przemysław Marciniak, Katarzyna Piotrowska, Max Ritter
Kontakt: bizancjum@us.edu.pl