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IMC 2020: Sessions

Session 848: Hagiography without Borders: Fragmentary Saints' Lives across Medieval Europe

Tuesday 7 July 2020, 16.30-18.00

Moderator/Chair:Anna Maria Migdal, École Doctorale Sciences Sociales, Université Lumière Lyon II
Paper 848-aSt Adalbert of Prague on the Border of Three Nations
(Language: English)
Tomáš Weissar, Department of Classical Studies Masarykova univerzita Brno
Index terms: Ecclesiastical History, Language and Literature - Latin, Liturgy, Religious Life
Paper 848-bCrossing the Borders: St Beuno at Strata Florida Abbey
(Language: English)
Anna Gusakova, Department of Medieval History, Lomonosov Moscow State University
Index terms: Ecclesiastical History, Monasticism, Politics and Diplomacy, Religious Life
Paper 848-cCaterina da Siena: Challenging the Borders of Modern Historiography
(Language: English)
Astrid Checchia, Dipartimento di Studi Umanistici Università degli Studi di Napoli - Federico II
Index terms: Ecclesiastical History, Gender Studies, Historiography - Medieval, Religious Life
Abstract

Paper -a:
Saint Adalbert, a bishop of Prague and a missionary to the Hungarians, Poles, and Prussians - by whom he was martyred in 997 - became a patron-saint of three nations. The paper is going to introduce his story, to examine his veneration in the medieval Europe and to compare his portraits obtained from Latin spiritual poems of Bohemian, Polish, and Hungarian origin.

Paper -b:
An important role in the revival of the cult of St Beuno in the 14th century was played by the Cistercian Abbey of Strata Florida. From here comes the only surviving text of the life of this saint. But besides life itself, there are no relics in the abbey related to the cult of this saint. Moreover, this area was away from the main places associated with St Beuno. Ceredigion has traditionally been the main center for the cult of another Welsh saint, David. Apparently, the cult of St Beuno was brought here from outside.

Paper -c:
My research argues that historians have often presented fragmented and incomplete portraits of the figure of Santa Caterina da Siena. The main obstacle encountered by traditional historiography was to explain Caterina’s capacity to cross the borders separating religious and political life and the spiritual and material dimensions of existence. However, this capacity was exactly the main reason she acquired such power and importance in the religious and political arena of the historical period in which she lived. Challenging the conceptual borders of traditional historiography could help us to present an exhaustive understanding of Caterina da Siena and of her times.