The homily "On the Succession of the Kings and the End of Times"
attributed to bishop Methodius of Patara (died ca. 311) is one of the
most influential non-biblical apocalyptic texts both in Eastern and in
Western Christianity. Written about 692 in Iraq by a Syriac-speaking
Christian, it was soon translated into Greek and Latin, and subsequently
into many other languages in East and West. The present edition offers
the first critical text based on all extant Syriac textual witnesses,
including references to the forthcoming new edition of the oldest Greek
and Latin recensions by W.J. Aerts and G.A.A. Kortekaas in the Subsidia
of CSCO. The present volume also includes the facsimile edition of the
text (difficult of access) in the Oriental manuscripts Mardin Orth. 368
and Mardin Orth. 891. The German translation is provided with a
comprehensive apparatus of explanatory notes and preceded by and
introductory essay discussing the historical, religious and literary
aspects of this important text, which may be considered as one of the
earliest Christian responses to the rise of Islam.