Anastasios was probably the author of the Hexaemeron,(1) an extensive commentary on the first three chapters of Genesis.(2) In addition to mutual references between this work and others in Anastasios's recognized canon,(3) there are correspondences in style and in thematic material, such as a defense of the Chalcedonian creed, arguments against heresies, discussions of the nature of Christ, and a devotion to the spiritual wellbeing of the Church.(4) One reason for doubts about the Hexaemeron’s authenticity is the absence of any manuscript copied before the end of the fifteenth century.(5) More than two dozen surviving manuscripts attest to its popularity in the sixteenth century, especially around the time of the Council of Trent (1563). |