New Books Network Christopher J. Bonura, "A Prophecy of Empire: The Apocalypse of Pseudo-Methodius from Late Antique Mesopotamia to the Global Medieval Imagination" (U California Press, 2025)
Jan 19, 2026
Christopher J. Bonura, a historian at Mount St. Mary’s University, dives into the medieval world of apocalyptic literature with a focus on the fascinating text from the 7th century, Pseudo-Methodius. He discusses how this text reimagines the Roman Empire's role in the end times amidst the rise of Islamic rule. Their conversation explores the text's Syriac origins, its broad influence across cultures, and its reception in Byzantine and Armenian contexts. Bonura also sheds light on how different societies have used the prophecy to reflect their own political realities.
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Empire As Eschatological Actor
- The Apocalypse of Pseudomethodius reframes Roman/Byzantine empire as a salvific axis in end-times thought.
- Its political eschatology shaped medieval imaginaries across languages and regions.
Research Sparked By Repeated Encounters
- Christopher J. Bonura encountered Pseudomethodius repeatedly across disparate texts during graduate research.
- That recurring encounter motivated him to expand his dissertation chapter into a full book.
Syriac Origin Reorients Context
- Pseudomethodius was written in Syriac by a Christian under Islamic rule, not in Greek for Byzantium.
- Its Syriac origins explain unique textual features and non-Byzantine perspectives.
