试析苏克拉底斯及其《教会史》

Socrates and His Ecclesiastical History

苏克拉底斯是拜占庭帝国5世纪时期著名史学家,其所著《教会史》涵盖了自拜占庭帝国君士坦丁一世时代到塞奥多西二世统治前期的诸多重大历史事件。苏克拉底斯生活在罗马帝国向帝国过渡的初期阶段,长期居住于地中海世界东部地区,这一时代背景与地域因素既决定了他的著史心态,也影响了他的写作特点。苏克拉底斯的《教会史》之价值不仅在于它是有关这段历史时期的最重要文献资料之一,同时也有利于我们认识教会史发展的不同路径,对它进行研究也有助于更为全面地把握当时地中海世界知识界的精神氛围。

Ecclesiastical History by Socrates,a history work of the Byzantine Empire in the fifth century,explores many important historic events from the times of Constantine Ⅰ of the Byzantine Empire to Theododios Ⅱ.Socrates lived in the early stage of the transition from the Roman Empire to the Byzantine Empire and stayed in the eastern Mediterranean world for a long period of time.The historical background of this period and the regional factor had an impact on both his writing mood and his work characteristics.The historical value of Ecclesiastical History of Socrates not only lies in the fact that it is one of the most important literature materials of this historical period,but also helps us understand the different development courses of the church history.Meanwhile,a study of Ecclesiastical History will give us a more comprehensive picture of spiritual atmosphere of the intelligentsia in the Mediterranean world at that time.