ABSTRACT
The chapter discusses the exegetical function of dialogue in Byzantine preaching. Judit Kecskemeti laid the groundwork for this field in a series of articles in which she explores the uses of dialogue from a didactic point of view, especially in early Greek homilies. She examines three topics in connection with the use of dialogue in Byzantine preaching. The first of these concerns the rhetorical function of dialogue: she explores how the techniques of both intra- and extra-textual dialogue reinforce the authority of the preacher and render his message more effective. The second topic is that of the theological or exegetical function of dialogue in Byzantine homilies. The third topic relates to the historical circumstances of Byzantine preaching. The most obvious type of dialogue, which characterizes the 'dramatic' homilies referred to above, vividly recreates the stories of Christian tradition.
