Holy Fools in Byzantium and BeyondOUP Oxford, 2006 M04 6 - 492 pages There are saints in Orthodox Christian culture who overturn the conventional concept of sainthood. Their conduct may be unruly and salacious, they may blaspheme and even kill - yet, mysteriously, those around them treat them with even more reverence. Such saints are called 'holy fools'. In this pioneering study Sergey A. Ivanov examines the phenomenon of holy foolery from a cultural standpoint. He identifies its prerequisites and its development in religious thought, and traces the emergence of the first hagiographic texts describing these paradoxical saints. He describes the beginnings of holy foolery in Egyptian monasteries of the fifth century, followed by its high point in the cities of Byzantium, with an eventual decline in the twelfth to fourteenth centuries. He also compares the important Russian tradition of holy fools, which in some form has survived to this day. |
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Page 7
... clothes and began to make as if he was possessed by demons (ðïØå ̃Øí Æıôeí äÆØìïíØæüìåíïí), shouting incoherently.' Horror-struck, the thief confessed his transgressions, and the fake demoniac 'began to Introduction 7.
... clothes and began to make as if he was possessed by demons (ðïØå ̃Øí Æıôeí äÆØìïíØæüìåíïí), shouting incoherently.' Horror-struck, the thief confessed his transgressions, and the fake demoniac 'began to Introduction 7.
Page 8
... clothes and dressed himself decently'.14 Although this pretence takes place in a church, and even in the name of a ... clothing, ate in public'. And he kept up his pretence until somone else was consecrated bishop.15 Obviously one cannot ...
... clothes and dressed himself decently'.14 Although this pretence takes place in a church, and even in the name of a ... clothing, ate in public'. And he kept up his pretence until somone else was consecrated bishop.15 Obviously one cannot ...
Page 26
... clothes and throw them down beneath your feet like little children ... only then will you see the Son of Him who lives.'34 A Greek papyrus fragment of an unidentified Gospel (which is apparently close to the Semitic tradition) puts it ...
... clothes and throw them down beneath your feet like little children ... only then will you see the Son of Him who lives.'34 A Greek papyrus fragment of an unidentified Gospel (which is apparently close to the Semitic tradition) puts it ...
Page 27
... Clothing Metaphors as a Means of Theological Expression Tradition', in M. Schmidt (ed.), Typus, Symbol, Allegorie bei den O ̈ in stlichen Syriac Vätern und ihrer Parallelen im Mittelalter (Regensburg, 1982), 22. 38 Liber graduum, ed. M ...
... Clothing Metaphors as a Means of Theological Expression Tradition', in M. Schmidt (ed.), Typus, Symbol, Allegorie bei den O ̈ in stlichen Syriac Vätern und ihrer Parallelen im Mittelalter (Regensburg, 1982), 22. 38 Liber graduum, ed. M ...
Page 28
... clothes or food except for the day, then say: 'This is for me, this is what I must imitate.' And when you see that in his insanity he converses with everybody, and makes it a rule not to be angry or abusive and to despise the worldly ...
... clothes or food except for the day, then say: 'This is for me, this is what I must imitate.' And when you see that in his insanity he converses with everybody, and makes it a rule not to be angry or abusive and to despise the worldly ...
Contents
1 | |
11 | |
2 Insane Saints | 49 |
3 Lechers and Beggars | 66 |
4 Holy Scandal | 104 |
5 The Second Edition of Holy Foolery | 139 |
6 The New Theologians | 174 |
7 Balancing at the Edge | 195 |
10 The Iurodivyi and the Tsar | 285 |
11 Iurodstvo in an Age of Transition | 311 |
12 Iurodstvo Meets Modernity | 345 |
13 The Eastern Periphery | 359 |
14 The Western Periphery | 374 |
Conclusion | 399 |
Bibliography | 415 |
Index | 457 |
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Common terms and phrases
According already Andrew appears asked became become began behaviour believe blessed Byzantine called canon century Christ Christ’s sake Christian church clothes cultural death demons early elder Emesa episode example fact father foolishness gave give God’s Greek hagiographer hand Hieromonk holy fool holy foolery Ibid icon insanity Ioann iurodivyi iurodstvo Ivan John late later legend Leningrad Leontios lived look madman manuscripts means mentioned monastery monk Moscow motif naked never ŒÆd once original Paris Paul person playing popular possessed pretended prophet referred regarded righteous Russian saint salos sanctity secret seems sense servants spiritual St Petersburg story Studies Symeon tale tells things took town tradition transl translated tsar turned Vasilii vita walked woman women Zhitie