New Books in Religion · New Books Network

Christopher J. Bonura, "A Prophecy of Empire: The Apocalypse of Pseudo-Methodius from Late Antique Mesopotamia to the Global Medieval Imagination" (U California Press, 2025)

January 19, 2026·1 hr 16 min·5 clips

The King of the Greeks defeats Arab invaders, then surrenders his crown on the cross to trigger the apocalypse.

Christopher Bonura discusses his book on the Apocalypse of Pseudo-Methodius, a 7th-century Syriac text that spread globally and reshaped Christian views of the Roman Empire's role in eschatology. The conversation explores its origins under Islamic rule, its political theology, and its influence from Ethiopia to the Holy Roman Empire.

As heard by us

Apocalyptic prophecy becomes a lens for reading empire, Daniel, and Revelation across late antique interpretation.

The conversation treats apocalyptic prophecy as a serious lens through which late antique and early Christian readers made sense of empire and scripture.

Read the full review in PlayNext →

Why you'd press play

Want a serious guide to Daniel, Revelation, and empire?

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →

Listen to the show on

Apple Podcasts Spotify

Play clips from this episode More from New Books in Religion