PhDr. Petr Kitzler Ph.D., DSc.

Foto pracovníka Petr Kitzler

kitzler@ics.cas.cz, kitzler@flu.cas.cz
+420 221 183 201

Department of Biblical Studies
director of the Institute of Philosophy / senior scholar
ASEP
Bibliography

Research focus

  • early Christianity; early Christian literature, especially apologetics and hagiography; early Christian theological and philosophical anthropology, doctrine of the soul and related questions
  • Tertullian of Carthage
  • early Christian martyrological literature, Passio Perpetuae

After graduating in Classical Greek and Latin at the Institute of Classical Studies at the Faculty of Arts in Brno (M.A. 2003, PhDr. 2005), he studied Latin Medieval Studies at the Faculty of Arts in Brno (under prof. Jana Nechutová), Philosophy at the Faculty of Arts in Prague (under prof. Lenka Karfíková), and Classical Philology at the Institute of Greek and Latin Studies, Faculty of Arts, Charles University in Prague (Ph.D. 2013).  In 2018, he was awarded the title of Research Professor (Res. Prof.) in social sciences and humanities by the Scientific Council of the Czech Academy of Sciences on the basis of his dissertation From Passio Perpetuae to Acta Perpetuae. Recontextualizing a Martyr Story in the Literature of the Early Church (Berlin – Boston: Walter De Gruyter 2015). In 2008 and 2011, he was a Mellon Research Fellow at the Warburg Institute, School of Advanced Study, University of London, and a Visiting Research Fellow at the same institution in 2019 and 2022. From 2002 to 2018, he worked as a research fellow at the Centre for Patristic, Medieval and Renaissance Texts, first at the Faculty of Arts, MU in Brno, and since 2005 at the CMTF UP in Olomouc (under the grant scheme for research centres and centres of excellence). In 2005, he also joined the Centre for Classical Studies at the Institute of Philosophy of the CAS in Prague, in 2007–2015 as managing editor of the journal Listy filologické and in 2007–2013 also of the international journal Eirene. Studia Graeca et Latina, of which he was appointed editor-in-chief in 2013. Currently he is a senior researcher in its Department of Biblical Studies. From 2013–2016 he was the Scientific Secretary of the Institute of Philosophy, and from 2016–2023 he was the Head of the Centre for Classical Studies at the Institute of Philosophy of the CAS, as well as the statutory deputy director. In October 2023 he was appointed Director of the Institute of Philosophy of the CAS. He is a member of the doctoral boards of Classical Philology at the Faculty of Arts, Masaryk University in Brno and Philosophy of Religion at the ETF UK in Prague, a member of the Commission for the Defence of the Research Professor Degree in Philosophy and the Commission for the Defence of the Research Professor Degree in Classical Studies (he was its chairman in 2021–2023) at the Czech Academy of Sciences, a member of the Board of the Institute of Philosophy (he was its vice-chairman in 2017–2022) and a member of the editorial boards of the publishing houses Filosofia and OIKOYMENH, where he has also been the head of the book series “Library of Early Christian Tradition” since 2015. In 2019–2022 he was a member of the expert panel of CSF P 406 “Linguistics and Literary Sciences”.

His research interests have long been mainly in Latin early Christian literature, especially the works of Tertullian of Carthage and early hagiography, and the thought of the early church. He is the author of three scholarly monographs, six annotated book-length translations of early Christian literature, editor or co-editor of seven other books, and the author of numerous chapters and studies published in the Czech Republic and abroad (e.g. in Hermes, Journal of the Warburg and Courtauld Institutes, Vetera Christianorum, Vigiliae Christianae, Wiener Studien, and Zeitschrift für Antikes Christentum). Since 2019, he has been a regular review contributor to the Revue d’études augustiniennes et patristiques. He has also translated some of Friedrich Nietzsche's early works from German (including The Birth of Tragedy, Prague: OIKOYMENH 2024). His bibliography currently numbers over 170 items, which have accumulated more than 550 citations (H-index 12).


Academic websites profile (academia.edu etc.)

academia.edu
Google Scholar
researchgate.net
Scopus
Web of Science

Education

2018 (February): appointed Research Professor (Res. Prof.) in social sciences and humanities by the Czech Academy of Sciences in Prague

2010–2013: Ph. D. in classical philology, Charles University, Prague. Project: „The Passio Perpetuae and Its Reception in the Literature of Early Church“, supervised by Dr. Martin Bažil

2005–2010: philosophy, Charles University, Prague. Project: „Tertullians Concept of the Soul“, supervised by prof. Dr. Lenka Karfíková

2005 (January): first doctorate in ancient Greek and Latin, Masaryk University, Brno (PhDr.; equal to MPhil.)

2003–2006: Latin mediaevistics, Masaryk University, Brno. Project: „The Beginnings of Latin Hagiography“, supervised by prof. Dr. Jana Nechutová

1997–2003: classical Greek and Latin, Masaryk University, Brno (MA, summa cum laude)


Employment history

2023 (October) - today: Director of the Institute of Philosophy, CAS

2016 (August) - 2023 (September): Head of the Centre for Classical Studies at the Institute of Philosophy, CAS, Prague

2016 (August) - 2023 (September): Deputy director of the Institute of Philosophy, CAS, Prague

2013-2016: scientific secretary of the Institute of Philosophy, CAS, Prague

2011 (May-August): Andrew W. Mellon Research Fellow, Warburg Institute, SAS, University of London. Project: „Passio Perpetuae and Its Later Interpreters: From Exemplum Fidei to Admirandum, Non Imitandum“

2008 (October-December): Andrew W. Mellon Research Fellow, Warburg Institute, SAS, University of London. Project: „Tertullian’s Concept of the Soul“

2006 - today: researcher at the Centre for Classical Studies, CAS, Prague (2007-2015 managing editor of journal Listy filologické - Folia philologica; 2007-2013 managing editor of journal Eirene. Studia Graeca et Latina; since 2018 senior researcher and Research Professor)

2003-2011: researcher at the Centre for Patristic, Mediaeval and Renaissance Texts, first based at the Masaryk University Brno, and later at the Sts Cyril and Methodius Faculty of Theology, Palacký University Olomouc

2000-2002: external cooperation with the Centre for Patristic, Mediaeval and Renaissance Texts, Masaryk University, Brno


Grants

2020-2023: PI of the project ‘Development of Environment for Professional Growth of the Employees of the Institute of Philosophy of the CAS’ (reg. no. CZ.02.2.69/0.0/0.0/18_054/0014626), funded by EU

2019-2021: research collaborator on the Czech Science Foundation grant no. GA19-02741S: "Transmission and Transformation of Ideas: Hellenism, Early Judaism and Early Christianity" (PI: Doc. Mgr. Jiří Hoblík, Th.D.)

2012-2018: research collaborator within the Czech Science Foundation Centre of excellence "History and interpretation of the Bible", P401/12/G168, Sts Cyril and Methodius Faculty of Theology, Palacký University, Olomouc

2016: work on the team project Gnadenlehre in der Schrift und Patristik (within the project Handbuch der Dogmengeschichte, Herder Verlag, Freiburg im Breisgau), supervised by prof. L. Karfíková

2012-2013: PI of the research grant of the Grant Agency of the Charles University (GA UK), Prague, no. 501112 „The Passio Perpetuae and Its Reception in the Literature of Early Church“

2007: publication grant of the Ministry of Culture of the Czech Republic for publishing the volume „World Literature – World in Literature“ (within the Civic Association for Iliterature)

2005: PI of the research grant of the Ministry of Education of the Czech Republic, FRVŠ 1518/G5 „Literary Continuity between the Ancient and Medieval Literature (the Latin passiones of the 3rd to 12th Centuries“)


Fellowships and research stays

2022: Visiting Research Fellowship, Warburg Institute, School of Advanced Study, University of London, UK (three and a half months, mobility project funded by the Czech Ministry of Education)

2019: Visiting Research Fellowship, Warburg Institute, School of Advanced Study, University of London, UK (one month)

2011: Mellon Research Fellowship, Warburg Institute, School of Advanced Study, University of London, UK (three months)

2008: Mellon Research Fellowship, Warburg Institute, School of Advanced Study, University of London, UK (three months)

each year: short term research stays (one to three weeks) at the Karl-Franzens-Universität Graz (Austria), Bayerische Nationalbibliothek München (Germany), University of Wien (Austria), Humboldts-Universität Berlin (Germany), Warburg Institute London (UK)


Conference papers and lectures abroad

October 2022: London, School of Advanced Study, Warburg Institute, University of London (Work in Progress): lecture "Between Philosophy, Theology, and Medicine: Tertullian and His Treatise De anima"

19. - 22. 7. 2017: Montreal Quebec, Celtic Conference in Classics, panel Self, Consciousness and Conscience in Late Antiquity: paper: "From Soul to Self: Tertullian’s Doctrine of the Soul and Its Legacy" (in absentia)

May 2011, London, Warburg Institute , School of Advanced Study, University of London (Director´s Work-in-Progress Seminar: lecture "Passio Perpetuae and Its Later Interpreters: From Exemplum Fidei to Admirandum, Non Imitandum"

November 2008, London, Warburg Institute, School of Advanced Study, University of London (Director´s Work-in-Progress Seminar): lecture "Tertullian´s Concept of the Soul and his Corporealistic Ontology"

21.-26. 7. 2008, Lisboa, Portugal; converence "ICAN IV / International Conference on the Ancient Novel: Crossroads in the Ancient Novel: Spaces, Frontiers, Intersections"; paper: "Viri mirantur faciulius quam imitantur: Passio Perpetuae in the Literature of Ancient Church"

29.-30. 3. 2006, Banská Bystrica, Slovakia ; conference "Svätec a jeho funkcie v spoločnosti"; paper: "Passio Perpetuae a Acta Perpetuae: Mezi tradicí a inovací" (in absentia)


Conference papers and lectures in the Czech Republic

22. 10. 2024, a public debate "Tertullian. A Heretic and/or a Misogyne?", Dominikánská 8, Praha (together with V. Hušek, P. Koronthály and D. Vopřada).

21. 2. 2018, Prague, Faculty of Arts, Charles university, a lecture "The Beginnings of Latin Christian Hagiography"

23. 10. 2014, Jednota klasických filologů (The Association of Czech Classical Philologists), Masaryk University, Brno - lecture: "Nejstarší latinská hagiografie ve vrstvách paměti" ("The oldest Latin hagiography in the layers of memory")

8. 5. 2014, Praha, Charles Univeristy, international conference "The Process of Authority" within the centre of excellence "History and interpretation of the Bible" - paper: "Passio Perpetuae and Acta Perpetuae: Tradition, Authority, and the Rewriting of Martyrdom"

27. 3. 2014, Jednota klasických filologů (The Association of Czech Classical Philologists), Charles University, Prague - lecture "Athletae Christi. Nejstarší latinská hagiografie" ("Athletae Christi. The oldes Latin hagiography")

12. 11. 2013, Palacký University, Olomouc - lecture "Počátky latinsky psané křesťanské literatury" ("The Beginnings of Latin Christian Literature)

17. 6. 2010, Praha, Charles University - conference "Nauka o milosti v raném křesťanství" ("The Doctrine of Grace in Early Christianity"), paper: "Tertullianovo pojetí milosti" ("Tertullian's concept of divine grace")

20. 11. 2003, Zlín. Moravian-Silesian Christian Academy - lecture "Polozapomenuté postavy církevních dějin - Q. S. F. Tertullianus" ("Half-forgotten figures of early Church - Tertullian")

11. 11. 2003, „10th Meeting of doctoral students“ organized by the Centre for Medieval Studies, Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, paper „Tertullian’s De spectaculis“

7.-9. 2. 2001, Palacký University, Olomouc - conference of the Centre for Patristic, Medieval and Renaissance Texts, paper "Q. S. F. Tertullianus - De spectaculis"


Popularization

02 / 2025: on the basis of an own translation a preparation of and performing in the Czech radio programme "Friedrich Nietzsche: Optimism that feels without limits!", ČRo Vltava, Essay series, premiere 1. 2. 2025, web pages of the programme

10 / 2024: participation in a public debate with a topic "Tertullian. A Heretic and/or a Misogyne?", Dominikánská 8, Praha (together with V. Hušek, P. Koronthály and D. Vopřada, 22. 10. 2024), on-line record.

2015-2023: member of the committee of the Council for Popularization of the Institute of Philosophy, CAS


Editorial positions

Eirene. Studia Graeca et Latina, Prague, editor-in-chief (since 4/2013; 2007-2013 managing editor)

Listy filologické - Folia philologica, Prague,  member of the editorial board (since 1/2016; 2007-2015 managing editor)

publishing house Filosofia, Prague, member of the editorial board (since 2013)

the editor of the series "Knihovna raně křesťanské tradice" ("The Library of Early Christian Tradition") in the publishing house OIKOYMENH, Prague (since 2015, together with s L. Karfíková)

publishing house OIKOYMENH, Prague, member of the editorial board (since 2/2017)

anonymous peer-reviewer for Church History: Studies in Christianity and Culture (Cambridge); Eirene. Studia Graeca et Latina (Prague); Graeco-Latina Brunensia (Brno); Journal of Early Christian Studies (Baltimore); Journal of Late Antiquity (Baltimore); Listy filologické (Prague); Studia Religiologica (Kraków); Vigiliae Christianae (Leiden)


Membership in universities’ subject area boards

  • member of the Ph.D. subject area board "Philosophy of Religion", Faculty of Protestant Theology, Charles University, Prague (since 2016)
  • member of the Ph.D. subject area board "Classical Philology", Faculty of Arts, Masaryk University, Brno (since 2021)
  • member of the board of studies Ancient Greek Language and Literature, Masaryk University, Brno (since 2019)

Memberships in academic associations and other academic bodies

  • academic bodies and panels

2021 - present: member of the Comission for defending Research Professor Theses (subject: classics), Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague (2021-2023: chair)

2021-2023: member of the Committee for the Support of CAS Publishing Activities

2019-2022: member of the evaluation panel P 406 "Linguistics and Literature", Czech Science Foundation (GA ČR), Prague

2019 - present: member of the Comission for defending Research Professor Theses (subject: philosophy), Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague

2018 - present: member of the expert evaluator board according to Methodology for Evaluating Research Organisations and Research, Development and Innovation Earmarked Aid Programmes (M17+), Office of the Government of the Czech Republic, Prague

2017 - present: member of the Board of the Institute of Philosophy, CAS, Prague (2017-2021: deputy chair)

2017: member of the International Evaluation Committee (social sciences and humanities) of the large research infrastructures of the Czech Republic, Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports of the Czech Republic, Prague

  • academic and professional associations

2019 - present: review collaborator of the Chronica Tertullianea et Cyprianea (part of the Revue d'études augustiniennes et patristiques), L'Institut d'Études Augustiniennes, Paris

2009 - present: North American Patristics Society (Baltimore; member)

2009 - present: Association des Études Patristiques (Paris; member)

2008 - present: The Patristic Society of the Czech Republic (Olomouc; member)

2006 - present: Association of the Czech Classical Philologists (Prague; member)

2005 - present: Czech Literary Translators’ Guild (Prague; member; 2009-2017 member of the Committee)


Honors and awards

2024: The main prize in the category of translation of a scientific or popular scientific work in the 16th year of the Academia Publishing House Awards for the translation of Tertullian's On the Soul (De anima)

2015: Honorable mention of the Rector of the Palacký University, Olomouc, for the book Tertullian, De carne Christi

2014: Otto Wichterle Award by the President of the Czech Academy of Sciences for the research on early Christian literature

2005: third prize of the Czech Literary Translators’ Guild for the Czech translation of F. Nietzsche’s Homers Wettkampf (Jiří Levý Competition)

2004: second prize of the Czech Literary Translators’ Guild for the Czech translation of F. Nietzsche’s Homer und die klassische Philologie (Jiří Levý Competition)

2004: Jan Hus Foundation Scholarship, Brno

1997: Honorable Mention of the Czech Literary Translators’ Guild for the Czech translation of F. Nietzsche’s book of poems Dionysische Dithyramben (Jiří Levý Competition)


Current projects

  • Tertullian of Carthage; early Christian literature
  • article "Quo peruersius quid dici potest? Tertullian’s De anima and Its Reception in the Literature and Thought of the Early Church", in: Zeitschrift für Antikes Christentum / Journal of Ancient Christianity, 29/3, 2025 (accepted for publication).
  • chapter "Tertullian", in: Ilaria L.E. Ramelli (ed.), The Cambridge History of Patristic Philosophy (contracted; to by submitted by the end of 2025)