Library of the Church Fathers
The Library of the Church Fathers (BKV) is a book series of patristic works in German translation, which is available in three different editions. Many works were first made accessible to a wider reading public by the BKV. Even today, the BKV is still helpful despite its age, as it contains the texts in fluent German that still meets scientific standards.
Print editions
- The series “All works of the church fathers, translated from the original texts into German” (1831–1854; SWKV), also published by Kösel-Verlag, Kempten, prepared the two editions of the Church Fathers Library in Kösel-Verlag. The 39 volumes published only contain texts by Irenäus, Cyprian, Hilarius, Athanasius, Basilius, Ephräm and Gregory of Nyssa.
- The first edition comprises 80 volumes and was published under the direction of Franz Xaver Reithmayr and Valentin Thalhofer in the years 1869-88 in Engelmann-Verlag, Leipzig and Kösel-Verlag , Kempten (BKV1). There is a two-volume register of persons and subjects for this edition (edited by Ulrich Uhl).
- The second edition comprises 81 volumes and was published under the direction of Otto Bardenhewer , Th. Schermann and Carl Weyman in two series (series I: 61 volumes, 1911–31; series II: 20 volumes, 1932–38; BKV2) exclusively in Kösel -Publisher, Kempten. There is only a general register for the first row (edited by Johannes E. Stöckerl). This edition is also from 1968ff. a reprint appeared.
- The third edition is currently being published by Marixverlag , Wiesbaden, 2005ff. and still contains very few volumes. However, these are not new translations, but reprints of individual texts that appeared in earlier editions.
Library of the Church Fathers on the Internet
In the project "Library of the Church Fathers on the Internet" under the direction of Gregor Emmenegger (Theological Faculty of the University of Friborg (Switzerland) ) the parts of the BKV that are no longer protected by copyright are digitized and are available online (or also for download as .rtf ) . The second edition (BKV2) is almost completely available in this project, the first edition (BKV1) and works from the SWKV series are continuously being expanded.
content
Christian writings from antiquity and the early Middle Ages are published.
- Apostolic Fathers (e.g. Ignatius of Antioch , Didache )
- Early Christian apologists (e.g. Tatian , Justin the Martyr , Clement of Alexandria )
- Liturgies
- Church fathers of the Eastern and Western Churches (e.g. Augustin , Athanasius , Boethius )
- Church fathers of the oriental churches (Syrian, Armenian etc.)
- The Summa theologica of Thomas Aquinas
