Research: Fakes and literary frauds in the Arian controversy. The case of the Luciferians
PROFILE
Roberto Vella carries out PhD research activities in the Department of History, Anthropology, Religions, Art History, Media and Performing Arts of the University of Rome La Sapienza and has been a contract lecturer in Ancient Christian Literature at the Altioris Latinitatis Institute of Rome. R.V. also holds a Master’s degree in Historical-Religious Studies (LM. 64). He completed his specialist studies in Christian and Classical Literature, with special emphasis on the history of Christianity. He prefers the direct examination of ancient Christian sources, investigated with philological method and attention to the historical-doctrinal processes. He studies the history of the tradition of Christian texts and is also interested in the religious history of Islam.
EXPERIENCE
2021 - ongoing. PhD in History Anthropology Religions (Religious Studies curriculum) at the University of Rome La Sapienza; p.le A. Moro 5, 00185 Roma.
2019/2021. Teaching assistance of the Ancient Christian Literature Chair (Prof. M. Sajovic) at the Altioris Latinitatis Institute of Rome; p.zza Ateneo Salesiano 1, 00139 Rome (see https://latinitas.unisal.it/corso/LC0118 or https://www.unisal.it/list/docente-corsi/301028).
2018/2019. Assignment by the scientific Council of the Institut des Sources Chrétiennes, Lyon: edition of the ‘Contra Auxentium’ and ‘Ad Constantium II’ of Hilary of Poitiers (CPL 462, 460; PL 10, 609 sq., 563sq. or CSEL 65, 193sq.) collaborating with Denis Dupont-Fauville. Editorial project, concerning preface and critical text constitution, approved by unanimous votes on 29/03/2019. (see https://www.sources-chretiennes.mom.fr/index.php?pageid=volumes_preparation).
From 2020. Collaboration with ‘Frontisterion, Centro linguistico culturale e pedagogico’ (Italian Language and Culture for foreigners, Latin and Greek, Philology, Religious History); l.go L. Visconti 16, 00139 Rome (see https://www.frontisterion.com/chi-siamo).
PUBLICATIONS (papers, contribution in conference papers, dictionary entries, critical edition, book chapter, collective monograph chapter, reviews)
Life and works of «Piccolomini, Enea (1844 - 1910)», in Dizionario dei Grecisti italiani del XX secolo, edited by M. Iodice – R. Spataro, next publication LAS, Roma, ca. 15 col.
«Ilario nella storia della cultura. Vicende dell’edizione a stampa di Ilario di Poitiers. Postilla su alcuni loci testuali dell’Epistula contra Auxentium (CPL 462; PL 10, 609-617)», in Ad fidem testis. Studi su Ilario di Poitiers (Oi cristianoi - Sezione antica), A. Nugnes – S. Tanzarella (acc.), Pontificia Facoltà teologica dell’Italia meridionale, imminent publication for Il pozzo di Giacobbe, Napoli 2023, ca. 40 pp.
«Lattanzio, il “Cicerone cristiano”, e altri grandi scrittori cristiani», in Latino. Una lingua immortale (Flumina ex Fontibus 23), edited by R. Spataro, LAS, Roma 2022, VII cap., 167-209 [version chosen by the ed. and incomplete].
«Conflitti religiosi nella Milano imperiale. Ilario di Poitiers e il programma neoniceno in Occidente. Aussenzio di Milano e una reliquia dell’omeismo latino», Adamantius. Journal of the Italian Research Group on Origen and the Alexandrian Tradition 27 (2021), 287-349.
«La partecipazione di Eusebio di Vercelli ai fatti di Milano del 364», Adamantius 27 (2021), 344-346.
«Cessit sanguini fides! Pater et patrimonium, seu materiale seu immateriale, apud scriptum Salviani Massiliensis c.t. Ad Ecclesiam», in La figura e il ruolo del padre nell’antichità classica e cristiana. Papers presented at the International Conference of the Pontificium Institutum Altioris Latinitatis of Rome, Rome 23 October 2020 (Flumina ex Fontibus 22), edited by C. Cheung - P. Mbote Mbote, LAS, Roma 2021, 281-291.
Life and works of «Perelli, Luciano (1916 – 1994)», in Dizionario dei Latinisti italiani del XX secolo, edited by M. Iodice – R. Spataro, LAS, Roma 2021, 164-173, 19 col.
Life and works of «Ramorino, Felice (1852-1929)», in Dizionario dei Latinisti italiani del XX secolo, edited by M. Iodice – R. Spataro, LAS, Roma 2021, 191-196, 12 col.
Life and works of «Ussani, Vincenzo senior (1870-1952)», in Dizionario dei Latinisti italiani del XX secolo, edited by M. Iodice – R. Spataro, LAS, Roma 2021, 235-240, 10 col.
«Nota sugli studi cristiani di Vincenzo Ussani. La fortuna di Egesippo e il testimonium Flauianum», Salesianum 83 (2021), 432-440 (see https://www.unisal.it/page/15-salesianum).
SUBMITTED FOR INITIAL REVIEW /IN PROGRESS
«Epistula Apostolorum. Alcune questioni aperte», ca. 14 pp.
Hilaire de Poitiers, Livre à l’empereur Constance II et Contre Auxence de Milan, Introduction historique et sur la tradition manuscrite par D. Dupont-Fauville – R. Vella, texte critique par R. Vella, traduction et notes par D. Dupont-Fauville et index par les deux, à paraître aux Éditions du Cerf, Paris, SC.
«Il Contra Felicianum arrianum di Vigilio di Tapso negli apocrifi di Agostino. Ricognizione dei testimoni», ca. 12 pp.
Review of ‘G.M. Vian, I libri di Dio. Breve storia dei testi cristiani (Quality paperbacks 580), Carocci, Roma 2020’.
Review of ‘M. Ovey, Hilary of Poitiers, his life and impact (Early Church Fathers), Christian Focus Publications, Oxford 2024’.
UNPUBLISHED
«De utraque editione quarti capitis tractatus De Unitate Cypriani Carthaginiensis. L’autenticità del Primatus textus negli studi di inizio Novecento», ca. 50 pp.
«Io xxi, 1-11 nel Tractatus 122 di Agostino, con note di esegesi patristica comparativa», ca. 24 pp.
CONFERENCES, STUDY MEETINGS AND EQUIVALENT
AS A RAPPORTEUR OR SPEAKER
2022. Seminar ‘The historical-doctrinal course of religious controversy in the fourth century II. The synods, from text to history’ as part of the monographic course of Ancient Latin Christian Literature on Hilary of Poitiers’ De synodis, Altioris Latinitatis Institute of Rome - Rome 12/15/2022.
2022. Seminar ‘The historical-doctrinal course of the religious controversy in the fourth century I. The premises of the Arian question’ as part of the monographic course of Ancient Latin Christian Literature on De synodis of Hilary of Poitiers, Altioris Latinitatis Institute of Rome - Rome 24/10/2022.
2022. ‘Mediterranean, 35th parallel: border sea between religions. The double cult in Lampedusa’. Speech at the SAR advanced seminar ‘Migrating through history, anthropology, religions’, organized by C. Bischetti – M. Protoghiringhelli – O. Ovidi – C. Fratin – R. Vella at the SARAS Department La Sapienza, guest A. Musarra (La Sapienza), Rome 27/05/2022.
2020. ‘Material paternity and spiritual paternity in the Ad Ecclesiam of Salvianus of Marseille’. Report for the Conuentus inter nationes de patris persona eiusque munere apud antiquos classicos christianosque scriptores, section of Christian literature, organised by the Altioris Latinitatis Institute of Rome, Rome 23/10/2020(seehttps://www.academia.edu/41462626/Convegno_2020_Da_genitor_teque_ne_amplexu_subtrahe_nostro,Aeneis_VI_698_._La_figura_e_il_ruolo_del_padre_nellantichità_classica_e_cristiana._Pontificium_Institutum_Altioris_Latinitatis._Roma_27_marzo_2020).
2019. ‘The origin of the Epistula Apostolorum. Some open questions’. Report for the Biblical and Apocryphal Literature course by C. Zamagni – G.M. Vian, Cultures and Religions a.y. 2019/2020, SARAS Department La Sapienza, Rome 16-19/12/2019.
2019. Presentation of the book written by R. Spataro: ‘Theotokos. Quindici lezioni per una introduzione al greco biblico-patristico, LAS, Roma 2019’, Rome 18/11/2019 (see UPS Yearbook for a.y. 2019/2020 LXXX from foundation, 129-30 and https://latinitas.unisal.it/article/3581-il-cardinal-angelo-amato-presenta-il-libro-theotokos).
Several conferences AS A PARTICIPANT (see Italian front page). Especially the following conferences.
2021. ‘Human Resources Strategy for Researchers’ - Sapienza training offer on soft skills for researchers, organized by the University of Rome La Sapienza and CIVIS European Civic University (HR Excellence in Research): «The main European funding programs, Databases and digital tools for research available in Sapienza, Catalog of IRIS publications: purposes and methods of use, Open Access of publications and research data, Communication of scientific results, Ethics and Science, Third Mission of the University and Public Engagement», Rome 5/11-15/12/2021.
2019. ‘Hieronymus noster’. International Symposium on the 1600th Anniversary of Jerome’s Death organized by Slovenska Akademija Znanosti in Umetnosti, Central European University, International Network of Excellence “Europa Renascens”, Danubius Project (Univ. de Lille) e Institut des Sources Chrétiennes, Ljubljana 24-26/10/2019 (see UPS Yearbook for a.y. 2019/2020 LXXX from foundation, 130 and https://latinitas.unisal.it/article/3579-faculty-delegation-to-ljubljana).
ACADEMIC TITLES
2019/2021. Master’s Degree in Historical-Religious Sciences, awarded with honours on 26/03/2021 at the University of Rome La Sapienza. Thesis in Patristic Philology prepared under the direction of Prof. A. Camplani (full professor of Ancient Christian Literature), co-supervisor Prof. G.M. Vian (full professor of Patristic Philology): «Ilario di Poitiers, Contra Auxentium. Studio della tradizione, testo critico, commentario storico-dottrinale», pag. 171.
2017/2019. Fulfilment of the doctorate course in Christian Literature at the Altioris Latinitatis Institute of Rome, which will be followed by defence and publication of extracts. Tutors: Prof. M. Sajovic (full professor of Latin Christian Literature) and Prof. D. Dupont-Fauville (full professor of Dogmatic Theology at the Collège des Bernardins in Paris).
2015/2017. Licentiate (two-year specialist degree) in Christian and Classical Literature, awarded with honours on 31/03/2017 at the Altioris Latinitatis Institute of Rome. Thesis in Patristic Philology developed, with Latin preface, under the direction of Prof. A. Fusi (Latin Literature, Tuscia Univ.).
2011/2019. Guest student for various master classes at the Pontifical Institute of Oriental Studies and the Augustinianum Patristic Institute in Rome.
CLASSICAL AND ORIENTAL LANGUAGES
Latin (written and oral).
Greek.
Elements of Coptic (Sahidic), Syriac, Arabic (classical).
RESEARCH TOOLS
EARLY CHRISTIAN STUDIES AREA - ECDOTIC PRAXIS
The tools indicated and studied in the manuductio written by B. Gain, «Instruments de travail pour l’étude de la Littèrature grecque chrétienne ancienne» and by M. Wallraff, «Histoire des grandes éditions patristiques», in Histoire de la littérature grecque chrétienne, edited by N. Norelli – B. Pouderon, Les Belles Lettres, Paris 2008, 265-293 and 295-400; as well as by L. Holtz – J. Delmulle, De la recherche des manuscrits à l’édition d’un texte latin, Lyon 2019; by M. Cassin, De la recherche des manuscrits à l’édition d’un texte grec, Lyon 2019; by G.M. Vian, Bibliotheca diuina. Filologia e storia dei testi cristiani, Carocci, Roma 2001; by J. de Ghellinck, Patristique et Moyen Age. Études d’histoire littéraire et doctrinale, J. Duculot / Édition universelle / Desclée de Brouwer, Gembloux – Bruxelles 1946-1948.
Attendance at the following libraries: Apostolica Vaticana (since 2014), Alessandrina, Angelica, Salesiana of Rome, Vallicelliana and the libraries of the Pontifical Institute of Oriental Studies and the Augustinianum Patristic Institute in Rome. Visits to the Bibliothèque nationale de France in Paris.
CYBERNETIC TOOLS FOR PHILOLOGICAL AND HISTORICAL-RELIGIOUS RESEARCH
Catalogues and repertories of reviewed and reproduced handwritten-codes, collections of sources and studies, lexicographic indexes, databases, bibliographic repertories.
DISCIPLINES AND TOPICS OF INTEREST
The main interests concern the constitutio textus of ancient Christian writings (Hilary of Poitiers: master’s thesis, African authors 5th-6th century). The researches carried out move in these historical contexts and thematic areas: Arian crisis, synodal season of the 4th century, contributions of Latin authors to neo-Nicenism, comparative analysis of Christian creeds (profession of Auxentius of Milan: master’s thesis), development of relations between Christians and imperial institutions in the 4th century. Controversies after the council of Chalcedon, question of the three Chapters, theopaschism (master’s thesis). Christian environments and authors from the beginning to the 3rd century. History of studies in early Christian literature.