New Books in Islamic Studies 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, an Assistant Professor of History and expert in late antique apocalyptic literature, discusses the influential Apocalypse of Pseudo-Methodius. He reveals how this seventh-century text reflected Christians' political realities under Islamic rule. The conversation dives into its Syriac origins, the narrative's impact across cultures, and how it reshaped perceptions of the Roman Empire in apocalyptic thought. Bonura also highlights the text's adaptations in Byzantine and Armenian contexts, showcasing its enduring relevance in political theology.
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Empire As Eschatological Actor
- The Apocalypse of Pseudo-Methodius reframes empire as central to salvation rather than purely oppressive.
- Its political eschatology shaped medieval readers' views on the role of Rome in the end times.
Syriac Origin, Not Byzantine Birth
- Pseudo-Methodius is a Syriac text written within the Islamic Caliphate, not a Byzantine Greek composition.
- Its Syriac origins reframe it as a response by Christians under Islamic rule rather than Byzantine propaganda.
Manuscript Clues Reveal Language
- Linguistic and textual evidence (names, biblical citations, Peshitta wording) indicate Syriac primacy for Pseudo-Methodius.
- Early 20th-century manuscript finds helped overturn the assumption of a Greek original.
