This 3-volume encyclopedia, produced by the Institutum Patristicum Augustinianum, comprises 3,220 entries by a team of 266 scholars from 26 countries, covering 8 centuries of the Christian church and addressing such topics as archaeology, art and architecture, biography, culture, doctrine, ecclesiology, geography, history, philosophy, and theology. The Encyclopedia of Ancient Christianity includes: Unparalleled, comprehensive coverage of persons, places and ideas from ancient Christianity, including: cultural currents events and movements philosophy iconography and architecture archaeology texts and translations theological terms doctrines liturgy spirituality monasticism Christian sects heresies controversies councils A-Z coverage from "Aaron (iconography)" to "Zosimus, pope" 3,220 articles by 266 contributors from 26 countries (and representing a variety of Christian traditions Chronological coverage extending from Christian origins to Bede (d. 735) in the West and John of Damascus (d. ca. 749) in the Greek East Detailed emphasis on the first 4 centuries of Christian history Geographical coverage including North Africa Mauretania Numidia Africa Proconsularis Byzacena Libya Egypt Nubia Ethiopia Asia Adiabene Armenia Bithynia & Pontus Georgia Cappadocia Lycia and Pamphylia Phrygia Syria Mesopotamia Arabia Palestine Persia China Europe Gaul Spain & Portugal Italy Germany Britain and Ireland Scotland Pannonia Dalmatia Macedonia Moesia Thrace Cyprus Crete Updates and expands on previous Italian and English-language editions with the addition of more than 500 articles, including the following 30 articles exclusive to this new English-language edition: apostolic see Capua Carmen de synodo Ticinensi China cosmopolitanism death diakonia/diaconate Dialogi de sancta Trinitate IV-V doorkeeper (porter) dynamis/energeia eternity forgiveness freedom/free will good Hierotheus incubatio infinity/infinitude libelli miraculorum love Mara bar Serapion (letter of) oikeiosis old age presanctified Serapeion (Serapeum) subdeacon Theosebia Triumphus Christi heroicus Tychon unity Virgo Parens Extensive cross-referencing for ease in exploring related articles Helpful bibliographies, including primary sources (texts, critical editions, translations) and key secondary sources (books and journal articles) Translated from Nuovo dizionario patristico e di antichita  cristiane (2006-2008), produced by the Institutum Patristicum Augustinianum, the world's foremost center for partristic studies, under the direction of Professor Angelo Di Berardino Updates and expands on Oxford/James Clarke Encyclopedia of the Early Church (1992) The Encyclopedia of Ancient Christianity is packaged and sold primarily as a three-volume set. For exceptions, please telephone or email to InterVarsity Press.