Holy Fools in Byzantium and Beyond

Oxford Studies in Byzantium

by Sergey A. Ivanov, Simon Franklin (Translator)

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.

Genres: Religion, History, Nonfiction, Russia, Christianity

479 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1994

Reviews

[Ryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thorough investigation into the interesting cultural phenomenon of holy foolery. Decided to read after I heard about holy foolery and wanted to learn more. Very satisfied with what this book provided

[Tony Gualtieri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Essentially a collection of biographies with minimal analysis, this illuminates a streak in Orthodox belief that is not often explored in Englis