Summary
The early Christian library about which the greatest amount of trustworthy data has been saved until nowadays was located in northern Africa, in the town of Hippo. It belonged to Aurelius Augustine (354-430), the bishop of this town. The initial fund of the library was formed sometime around the 387 AD. It is well known that the library had been developing until Augustine’s death, and that it was not destroyed in the invasion of the Vandals in 431 AD, but we know nothing of its subsequent destiny. It is also unknown what was its total fund, since the only catalog that has survived contains the list of 1.030 works of Augustine. In his library Augustine had possessed works of non-Christian and Christian writers (Greek and Latin), synodal correspondence, ecclesiastical and legal debates, official decrees, as well as books intended for liturgical use. A complete catalog of all writings which is assumed to be existed has unfortunately not been saved. Existence of so well-equipped and organized library was not common, especially in provincial towns such was Hippo. All merits for its reputation amongst early Christian libraries belong to the productivity and desire for knowledge of its founder.

Keywords:
early Christian libraries, North Africa, Cirta, Hippo, Augustine of Hippo, Possidius, manuscripts, distribution

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