David N. Bell (1943-2025) was professor emeritus of religious studies and dean of theology at Queen's College, St. John's, Newfoundland, and canon theologian in the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in St. John's. He is the author of a number of books published by Cistercian Publications, including The Very Devout Meditations attributed to Bernard of Clairvaux, Handmaid of the Lord: Mary, the Cistercians, and Armand-Jean de Rancé (CS293, 2021), Everyday Life at La Trappe under Armand-Jean de Rancé (CS274, 2018), and A Saint in the Sun: Praising Saint Bernard in the France of Louis XIV (CS271, 2017).

• ContentsList of Abbreviations   vTHE LIFE OF ISAAC OF ALEXANDRIAIntroduction   1The Historical and Theological Background   1The Dates of the Patriarchate of Isaac   22The Biography and the Biographer   26Notes to the Introduction   31The Life of Isaac of Alexandria   41Notes to the Translation   77THE MARTYRDOM OF SAINT MACROBIUSIntroductionThe Historical Background   97The Literary Form of the Martyrdoms   102Notes to the Introduction   109The Martyrdom of Saint Macrobius   111Notes to the Translation   128Select Bibliography   135Index of Proper Names   143Index of Principal Words Discussed(Arabic, Coptic, Ethiopic, Greek, Latin, and Syriac)   146

David N. Bell (1943-2025) was professor emeritus of religious studies and dean of theology at Queen's College, St. John's, Newfoundland, and canon theologian in the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in St. John's. He is the author of a number of books published by Cistercian Publications, including The Very Devout Meditations attributed to Bernard of Clairvaux, Handmaid of the Lord: Mary, the Cistercians, and Armand-Jean de Rancé (CS293, 2021), Everyday Life at La Trappe under Armand-Jean de Rancé (CS274, 2018), and A Saint in the Sun: Praising Saint Bernard in the France of Louis XIV (CS271, 2017).

• ContentsList of Abbreviations   vTHE LIFE OF ISAAC OF ALEXANDRIAIntroduction   1The Historical and Theological Background   1The Dates of the Patriarchate of Isaac   22The Biography and the Biographer   26Notes to the Introduction   31The Life of Isaac of Alexandria   41Notes to the Translation   77THE MARTYRDOM OF SAINT MACROBIUSIntroductionThe Historical Background   97The Literary Form of the Martyrdoms   102Notes to the Introduction   109The Martyrdom of Saint Macrobius   111Notes to the Translation   128Select Bibliography   135Index of Proper Names   143Index of Principal Words Discussed(Arabic, Coptic, Ethiopic, Greek, Latin, and Syriac)   146

David N. Bell (1943-2025) was professor emeritus of religious studies and dean of theology at Queen's College, St. John's, Newfoundland, and canon theologian in the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in St. John's. He is the author of a number of books published by Cistercian Publications, including The Very Devout Meditations attributed to Bernard of Clairvaux, Handmaid of the Lord: Mary, the Cistercians, and Armand-Jean de Rancé (CS293, 2021), Everyday Life at La Trappe under Armand-Jean de Rancé (CS274, 2018), and A Saint in the Sun: Praising Saint Bernard in the France of Louis XIV (CS271, 2017).

• ContentsList of Abbreviations   vTHE LIFE OF ISAAC OF ALEXANDRIAIntroduction   1The Historical and Theological Background   1The Dates of the Patriarchate of Isaac   22The Biography and the Biographer   26Notes to the Introduction   31The Life of Isaac of Alexandria   41Notes to the Translation   77THE MARTYRDOM OF SAINT MACROBIUSIntroductionThe Historical Background   97The Literary Form of the Martyrdoms   102Notes to the Introduction   109The Martyrdom of Saint Macrobius   111Notes to the Translation   128Select Bibliography   135Index of Proper Names   143Index of Principal Words Discussed(Arabic, Coptic, Ethiopic, Greek, Latin, and Syriac)   146