Christian Martyrdom in Late Antiquity (300-450 AD): History and Discourse, Tradition and Religious Identity

book: Christian Martyrdom in Late Antiquity (300-450 AD)

Open Access Published by De Gruyter 2012

Christian Martyrdom in Late Antiquity (300-450 AD)

History and Discourse, Tradition and Religious Identity

Edited by: Peter Gemeinhardt and Johan Leemans

Volume 116 in the series Arbeiten zur Kirchengeschichte

https://doi.org/10.1515/9783110263527

Overview
Contents

About this book

The present volume’s focus lies on the formation of a multifaccetted discourse on Christian martyrdom in Late Antiquity. While martyrdom accounts remain a central means of defining Christian identity, new literary genres emerge, e.g., the Lives of Saints (Athanasius on Antony), sermons (the Cappadocians), hynms (Prudentius) and more. Authors like Eusebius of Caesarea and Augustine employ martyrological language and motifs in their apologetical and polemic writings, while the Gesta Martyrum Romanorum represent a new type of veneration of the martyrs of a single site. Beyond the borders of the Roman Empire, new martyrs’ narratives can be found. Additionally, two essays deal with methodological questions of research of such sources, thereby highlighting the hitherto understudied innovations of martyrology in Late Antiquity, that is, after the end of the persecutions of Christianity by Roman Emperors. Since then, martyrology gained new importance for the formation of Christian identity within the context of a Christianized imperium. The volume thus enlarges and specifies our knowledge of this fundamental Christian discourse.

Author / Editor information

Peter Gemeinhardt, Georg-August-University of Göttingen, Germany; Johan Leemans, Catholic University Leuven, Belgium.

Supplementary Materials

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Frontmatter Open Access Download PDF	i
Contents Open Access Download PDF	v
Christian Martyrdom in Late Antiquity: Some Introductory Perspectives Open Access Download PDF	1
A. General Questions
Early Christian Hagiography and the Roman Historian Open Access Download PDF	15
Zur Entstehung der Märtyrerlegende Open Access Download PDF	35
B. Greek Hagiography
Author and Authority: Literary Representations of Moral Authority in Eusebius of Caesarea's The Martyrs of Palestine Open Access Download PDF	51
Vita Antonii oder Passio Antonii? Biographisches Genre und martyrologische Topik in der ersten Asketenvita Open Access Download PDF	79
Gregor von Nyssa über die Vierzig und den ersten Märtyrer (Stephanus) Open Access Download PDF	115
C. Latin Martyrology
Christliche Märtyrer als Träger römischer Identität. Das Peristephanon des Prudentius und sein kultureller Kontext Open Access Download PDF	135
Augustine's Homiletic Definition of Martyrdom. The Centrality of the Martyr's Grace in his Anti-Donatist and Anti-Pelagian Sermones ad Populum Open Access Download PDF	155
"Eloquia Divina Populis Legere": Bible, Apologetics and Asceticism in the Passio Pollionis Open Access Download PDF	179
D. Crossing Borders
The Martyrdom of Sabas the Goth: History, Hagiography and Identity Open Access Download PDF	201
Der Tod des Einsiedlers für einen Verbrecher beim heiligen Isaak von Ninive und im Liber Graduum: Ein neues Zeugnis für die „Märtyrer der Liebe“? Open Access Download PDF	225
List of Contributors Open Access Download PDF	237
Index Open Access Download PDF	239

(Deutsch)

Language: English
Publisher: De Gruyter
Audience: Academics, Libraries, Institutes
Pages
- Front matter: 6
- Main content: 259
Keywords: Martyrdom; Hagiography; Late Antiquity

eBook

Published: July 4, 2012
ISBN: 9783110263527

Hardcover

Published: June 14, 2012
ISBN: 9783110263510

Paperback

Published: June 26, 2017
ISBN: 9783110552430