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A Relic In Spe: Theodoret’s Depiction of a Philosopher Saint

Westergren, Andreas LU (2013) Vol. 16: From the Fifth Century Onwards (Greek Writers). p.25-29
Abstract
The following article is an interpretation of a narrative in Theodoret of Cyrrhus’ collective biography about the history of the monks of Syria, the Philotheos historia. The most well-known saint of Theodoret’s own diocese was James of Cyrrhestica. His biography has a central place in the PH, but has not received as much attention as that of his name- sake James of Nisibis, or Symeon the Stylite. It is my intention to analyse this vita, and address specifically how the dual images of the ascetic as both a philosopher and a martyr are combined. Moreover, I hope to display how focus is shifted from the living saint to the dead saint. As the text was written, the saint was (supposedly) still very much alive, and deeply involved in the matters... (More)
The following article is an interpretation of a narrative in Theodoret of Cyrrhus’ collective biography about the history of the monks of Syria, the Philotheos historia. The most well-known saint of Theodoret’s own diocese was James of Cyrrhestica. His biography has a central place in the PH, but has not received as much attention as that of his name- sake James of Nisibis, or Symeon the Stylite. It is my intention to analyse this vita, and address specifically how the dual images of the ascetic as both a philosopher and a martyr are combined. Moreover, I hope to display how focus is shifted from the living saint to the dead saint. As the text was written, the saint was (supposedly) still very much alive, and deeply involved in the matters of the church. Still, I suggest that he is made a relic in spe, and thereby brought close to the cultic practices of the church in the city. (Less)
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author
organization
publishing date
type
Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding
publication status
published
subject
host publication
Studia Patristica LXVIII: Papers presented at the Sixteenth International Conference on Patristic Studies held 
in Oxford 2011
editor
Vinzent, Markus
volume
Vol. 16: From the Fifth Century Onwards (Greek Writers)
pages
25 - 29
publisher
Peeters Publishers
language
English
LU publication?
yes
additional info
The information about affiliations in this record was updated in December 2015. The record was previously connected to the following departments: Centre for Theology and Religious Studies (015017000)
id
1f6b7211-07cc-4d73-808f-1d02eaf2a59e (old id 4064833)
date added to LUP
2016-04-04 12:23:34
date last changed
2018-11-21 21:10:41
@inbook{1f6b7211-07cc-4d73-808f-1d02eaf2a59e,
  abstract     = {{The following article is an interpretation of a narrative in Theodoret of Cyrrhus’ collective biography about the history of the monks of Syria, the Philotheos historia. The most well-known saint of Theodoret’s own diocese was James of Cyrrhestica. His biography has a central place in the PH, but has not received as much attention as that of his name- sake James of Nisibis, or Symeon the Stylite. It is my intention to analyse this vita, and address specifically how the dual images of the ascetic as both a philosopher and a martyr are combined. Moreover, I hope to display how focus is shifted from the living saint to the dead saint. As the text was written, the saint was (supposedly) still very much alive, and deeply involved in the matters of the church. Still, I suggest that he is made a relic in spe, and thereby brought close to the cultic practices of the church in the city.}},
  author       = {{Westergren, Andreas}},
  booktitle    = {{Studia Patristica LXVIII: Papers presented at the Sixteenth International Conference on Patristic Studies held 
in Oxford 2011}},
  editor       = {{Vinzent, Markus}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  pages        = {{25--29}},
  publisher    = {{Peeters Publishers}},
  title        = {{A Relic In Spe: Theodoret’s Depiction of a Philosopher Saint}},
  volume       = {{Vol. 16: From the Fifth Century Onwards (Greek Writers)}},
  year         = {{2013}},
}