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 vi
... insanity. In the modern language, therefore, all these words have different meanings, yet the point at which their semantic paths intersect is in the multivalent concept of the iurodivyi, whose very essence is in his volatility: now he ...
... insanity. In the modern language, therefore, all these words have different meanings, yet the point at which their semantic paths intersect is in the multivalent concept of the iurodivyi, whose very essence is in his volatility: now he ...
Page 1
... insanity, pretends to be silly, or who provokes shock or outrage by his deliberate unruliness. However, the term does not apply to all such behaviour. Extravagant conduct may qualify as holy foolery only if those who watch it assume ...
... insanity, pretends to be silly, or who provokes shock or outrage by his deliberate unruliness. However, the term does not apply to all such behaviour. Extravagant conduct may qualify as holy foolery only if those who watch it assume ...
Page 6
... insanity can be compared to the kenosis of Christ, who, according to the New Testament, 'made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men' (Phil. 2:7). That there is an element ...
... insanity can be compared to the kenosis of Christ, who, according to the New Testament, 'made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men' (Phil. 2:7). That there is an element ...
Page 7
... insanity can be deemed holy foolery. Instances of feigned stupidity for non-religious purposes are beyond the scope of our study. Moreover, a Christian context in itself is not sufficient grounds for inclusion. One Byzantine text, for ...
... insanity can be deemed holy foolery. Instances of feigned stupidity for non-religious purposes are beyond the scope of our study. Moreover, a Christian context in itself is not sufficient grounds for inclusion. One Byzantine text, for ...
Page 8
... insanity feigned for the sake of modesty. For example, when Ephrem Syrus was threatened with being consecrated a bishop, he decided to simulate insanity so as to avoid this honour. He 'rushed into the square and began to act the ...
... insanity feigned for the sake of modesty. For example, when Ephrem Syrus was threatened with being consecrated a bishop, he decided to simulate insanity so as to avoid this honour. He 'rushed into the square and began to act the ...
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