| Abstract | Paper -a:
Warrior Saints, who are among the most venerable saints in the Christian world, are manifested in all fields of the Medieval Christian culture: hagiography, iconography, architecture, and tradition. The paper will explore changing perceptions of Warrior Saints' images from beginning of the cult of saints to the emergence of knighthood and of the crusading movement. Eastern and western Christian interpretations of the solders of Christ, focused on the issues of spiritual and holy war, on sin and eternal salvation, on defeating the evil and overcoming the death, on physical and spiritual weapon, on pilgrimage and initiation, are discussed in this report. The paper considers the origin of the Warrior Saints' cult that dates back to the period before Byzantine Empire was established - and its development is connected to the establishment of the feudalism and the institutions of chivalry. These processes confirm that the image of the Warrior Saints embodies the spirit and the values of those times.
Paper -b:
This paper assesses Byzantine attitudes towards western European mercenaries as expressed in the historical account of John Kantakouzenos. Western European troops made up a substantial part of the 14th-century Byzantine armies. They played a significant role in all major operations undertaken by the Byzantine state. They feature prominently in the work of John Kantakouzenos who was the commander-in-chief of the Byzantine army and emperor for more than three decades. Therefore, the analysis of the views of John Kantakouzenos about foreign soldiers is very important for understanding their position in Byzantine society and their influence on Byzantine military culture, practice, and ideas.
Paper -c:
This paper will look at the life and posthumous cultural reputation of the First Crusader, Godfrey of Bouillon [1060-1100]. It will focus on three aspects of his abilities: his skill as a soldier; his talents as a leader; and his aptitude for politics. It is hoped that this paper will contribute to our understanding of the man who later came to symbolise the success of the First Crusade.
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