Primary source · Latin

Concerning Virgins (De Virginibus)

Name: Concerning Virgins (De Virginibus)
Author: Ambrose of Milan

Ambrose of Milan · AD 377

Patrologia Latina, vol. 16 (Migne) — manuscript witness to Concerning Virgins (De Virginibus) — Patrologia Latina, vol. 16 (Migne) — 1845https://vk.com/docs · Public domain · Commons

What this text is

Three books to his sister Marcellina, opening with Agnes — twelve years old, 'a new kind of martyrdom' — the West's founding treatise on consecrated virginity.

Profile of Ambrose of Milan →

Public-domain translations

H. de Romestin (NPNF, 1896)

It is the birthday of St. Agnes… A new kind of martyrdom! Not yet of fit age for punishment, yet already ripe for victory; a bride hastening to her wedding could not go so gladly as this virgin to the place of her death.

Manuscript witnesses

Milanese and Carolingian tradition

9th c. onward

De virginibus in the standard Ambrose corpus.

PRINCIPAL WITNESSES

Patrologia Latina, vol. 16 (Migne)

1845

Standard pre-critical text of the corpus.

PRINTED PROXY

Provenance

Milan, AD 377, addressed to Marcellina — his first work

Editions & scholarship

Critical editions and standard translations behind the text above.

Ambroise de Milan: De virginibus (SC 663)
(ed.) A. G. Nocilli / Gori (Opera omnia), 1989–2022
Critical editions with translation.
Ambrose (The Early Church Fathers)
Boniface Ramsey, 1997
Introduction with translation of De virginibus.

Figures named in this text (2)

Complete public-domain text ↗