The last few decades have witnessed a resurgence of interest in the roles and status of the late antique bishop. The transformation of episcopal power from the fourth century onwards is one of the defining characteristics of late antiquity, and in turn provides a lens through which to view the wider social and religious developments set in motion following Constantine's conversion to Christianity. Episcopal elections in late antiquity, a collection of papers emerging from an international conference held in Leuven in October 2009, offers a valuable new contribution to this growing field. Far more extensive in scope than the volume's title alone might suggest, the papers gathered here range from individual case studies and civic and regional surveys to thematic analyses, providing insight into the changing late antique world from the crucial and often contested moment of episcopal election.

In the preface the editors declare their intention to approach episcopal election from ‘the broadest possible perspective’, and the diversity of the volume does full justice to that claim. But the collection is far from random, and is given structure and a theoretical framework by the thought-provoking introduction provided by Peter van Nuffelen and Johan Leemans. The election of a new bishop was shaped by many factors, from doctrinal controversies and imperial politics to local tradition and popular will. Sometimes the different influences came together harmoniously, at other times they led to conflict and even violence. Van Nuffelen and Leemans rightly warn against the dangers of generalisation and imposing uniformity from the great Fathers and sees which dominate our evidence. The stated aim of this volume, on the contrary, was ‘to take stock of the sheer variety and to explore possible approaches so as to provide crucial building blocks for a future synthesis’.

The case studies presented more than fulfil that aim. The elections of several well-known figures are reassessed, including Ambrose of Milan (T. D. Barnes), Meletius of Antioch (O. Hihn), and Proclus of Constantinople (J. Rist). The subjects of other contributions are less renowned but merit closer scholarly attention, from Severinus of Noricum (V. Rosenberger) and Eusebius of Cappadocian Caesarea (F. Fatti) to the Egyptian bishop Pesynthios of Koptos (R. Dekker) and the Armenian Catholicos Sahak i (O. Shchuryk). These individual analyses stand alongside papers offering a broader civic or regional viewpoint. Here again the collection strikes an impressive balance between a traditional Greco-Roman Mediterranean focus and engagement beyond the frontiers of the later Roman Empire. Alexandria (P. Blandeau), Antioch (P. Allen) and Rome (E. Wirbelauer and C. Hornung) naturally receive attention. But alongside Syria (G. A. Bevan and F. Alpi) and Egypt (E. Wipszycka), Merovingian Gaul (B. Dumézil) and Vandal north Africa (C. Nicolaye) are not neglected and nor are Mesopotamia (P. Bruns) and Armenia (A. Mardirossian). These diverse contributions do not seek or achieve universal coverage, but rather highlight the different influences at work in each unique case study against the background of the underlying elements defined in the introduction.

Interspersed with the individual and regional papers are studies of a more thematic interest. Some stretch the broad perspective of the volume to the fullest, taking episcopal election as a springboard to discuss questions as wide-ranging as Christian euergetism (R. Haensch), clerical marriage (D. G. Hunter) and even bishop numbers and life expectancy (R. Van Dam). Others take their lead from contemporary conciliar debates in late antiquity concerning the correct procedure for the election of a bishop, debates reflected in the expanding body of canon law. The tension between the ideals laid down in canonical legislation and the complex realities of Christian life are explored in a number of contributions, both at a theoretical level (P. Van Nuffelen and A. Thier) and in the specific contexts of Italy and Gaul (G. D. Dunn and S. Loftus). Ideal and reality are also at stake in the papers that revisit the much-debated relationship between the model bishop and the holy man (D. Alt and J. Maxwell), while the rhetorical construction of episcopal elections is particularly significant when attention turns to the role that such elections played in the conflicts dividing the late antique Church. Disputed ordinations figured prominently in the clash between Epiphanius and John of Jerusalem in the Origenist Controversy (Y. R. Kim) and in the Laurentian Schism in Rome (D. McOmish). Competing episcopal genealogies emerged in a number of sees, perhaps most significantly in Alexandria (S. W. J. Keough), and even a single election in Bourges required careful handling from the presiding bishop Sidonius Apollinaris (J. A. van Waarden). The issues involved in these various conflicts should be familiar to most readers of this Journal but the focus on the moment of election opens new avenues for interpretation. And once again the collection includes studies that look beyond the traditional limits of patristic history, both geographically for the disputed see of Edessa (C. Rammelt) and chronologically with the election of Paul the Jew in Antioch in 519 (D. I. Viezure).

A summary outline such as this can hardly do justice to a collection whose chief strength lies in the breadth of evidence and insight offered. It is a tribute to the editors and their process of selection and organisation that their volume holds together so well and remains focused on the twin aims of diversity and synthesis laid down in the introduction. Certainly, any attempt to create such a synthesis in the future must now take into account the different perspectives and methodological approaches represented here. Yet one might equally conclude that a synthesis is not necessarily the major goal, for the greatest value of Episcopal elections in late antiquity lies rather in its contribution to our increasing understanding of the sheer diversity of the late antique world.