Saints of Ninth- and Tenth-Century Greece

Saints of Ninth- and Tenth-Century Greece collects funeral orations, encomia, and narrative hagiography to illuminate the obscure period of Greek history when holy men played central roles. The Lives include accounts of Peter of Argos and Theodore of Kythera, offering insight into episcopal authority and piracy.

Format: Hardback
Length: 384 pages
Publication date: 31 May 2019
Publisher: Harvard University Press

Saints of Ninth- and Tenth-Century Greece is a collection of funeral orations, encomia, and narrative hagiography that sheds light on one of the most enigmatic periods in Greek history. During this time, holy men played crucial roles as the Byzantine administration reasserted control over southern and central Greece in the aftermath of Avar, Slavic, and Arab attacks, as well as the collapse of the late Roman Empire. The bishops of the region provided much-needed leadership and institutional stability, while ascetics established hermitages and bravely faced invaders.

The Lives included in this volume offer valuable insights into the episcopal authority in medieval Greece. For instance, the account of Peter of Argos provides valuable information on the role of bishops in the Byzantine Empire during this period. On the other hand, the Life of Theodore of Kythera is an important source for the history of piracy in the Aegean Sea.

This volume showcases the literary diversity of saints' Lives by presenting Byzantine Greek texts written by locals in the provinces and translated into English for the first time. It provides a unique window into the cultural and religious landscape of this period, offering a deeper understanding of the complex and fascinating history of Greece in the ninth and tenth centuries.

Weight: 496g
Dimension: 205 x 135 x 24 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780674237360