In the Face of Adversity explores the dynamics of translating texts that articulate particular notions of adverse circumstances. The chapters illustrate how literary records of often painful experiences and dissenting voices are at risk of being stripped of their authenticity when not carefully handled by the translator; how cultural moments in which the translation of a text that would have otherwise fallen into oblivion instead gave rise to a translator who enabled its preservation while ultimately coming into their own as an author as a result; and how the difficulties the translator faces in intercultural or transnational constellations in which prejudice plays a role endangers projects meant to facilitate mutual understanding. The authors address translation as a project of making available and preserving a corpus of texts that would otherwise be in danger of becoming censored, misperceived or ignored. They look at translation and adaptation as a project of curating textual models of personal, communal or collective perseverance, and they offer insights into the dynamics of cultural inclusion and exclusion through a series of theoretical frameworks, as well as through a set of concrete case studies drawn from different cultural and historical contexts. The collection also explores some of the venues that artists have pursued by transferring artistic expressions from one medium into another in order to preserve and disseminate important experiences in different cultural settings, media and arts.

Is the Church a community of friends? Steve Summers explores the significance of friendship for our understanding of the church today. Since Jesus' statement in St John's gospel "I call you friends" the concept of friendship has had a huge influence on the Christian understanding of community. But is the historical understanding of friendship enough to serve the needs of the church in a post-modern age? Steve Summers explores the limits of the concept as well as it's possible use in contemporary ecclesiology.

Papers presented at the Twelfth International Conference on Patristic Studies held in Oxford 1995 (see also Studia Patristica 29, 30, 31 and 32). The Twelfth International Conference on Patristic Studies met in Oxford from 21 to 26 August 1995. These gatherings have assembled at four-yearly intervals since 1951. At each the number of papers presented has been greater than the previous occasion, and the size of the assembly is now limited only by the capacity of the buildings available. Some 650 scholars attended the 1995 Conference, including delegates from Russia, Georgia, India, Japan, South Africa, New Zealand, and Australia, as well as from North America and most countries in Europe. Papers were given in English, French, German, Italian or Spanish, and are normally printed in the language in which they were delivered. Some were fully developed lectures lasting for nearly an hour; the majority were communications of 12 minutes' duration: and a few came in between. These volumes contain 284 of the papers, including most of the lectures given in full session, viz. the Inaugural Address by Dr. H.D. Saffrey on 'Theology as a Science'; Prof. Dr. Suso Frank, 'John Cassian on John Cassian'; Prof. Dr. O. Skarsaune; 'Is Christianity Monotheistic ? Patristic Perspectives on a Jewish-Christian Debate'; and Prof. A. Louth, 'St. Maximus the Confessor: Between East and West'. Others report the finding of unpublished texts, deal with particular points, or present broad interpretations, sometimes original in character. For the first time a number of illustrations are included, reflecting the growing interest in iconography.