Hagiography
Hagiography is the study of the lives of saints and other religious figures. The term originates from the Greek words "hagios" meaning "holy" and "graphein" meaning "to write." Hagiographies are often written to promote the veneration of saints and to provide moral examples for the faithful.
History[edit | edit source]
The tradition of hagiography dates back to the early Christian church. Early hagiographies were often written by contemporaries of the saints and were intended to serve as inspirational texts. Over time, the genre evolved to include more elaborate and embellished accounts of the saints' lives, miracles, and martyrdoms.
Purpose[edit | edit source]
Hagiographies serve several purposes:
- **Edification**: They provide moral and spiritual lessons for readers.
- **Veneration**: They promote the veneration of saints and encourage the faithful to seek their intercession.
- **Historical Record**: They preserve the history and traditions of the Church.
Structure[edit | edit source]
A typical hagiography includes:
- **Biography**: A detailed account of the saint's life, including their birth, upbringing, and significant events.
- **Miracles**: Accounts of miracles performed by the saint, both during their life and posthumously.
- **Martyrdom**: If applicable, a description of the saint's martyrdom and the circumstances surrounding their death.
- **Veneration**: Information on how the saint is venerated, including feast days and associated rituals.
Notable Hagiographies[edit | edit source]
Some of the most famous hagiographies include:
- The Golden Legend by Jacobus de Voragine
- Life of Saint Anthony by Athanasius of Alexandria
- Confessions by Augustine of Hippo
Modern Hagiography[edit | edit source]
In modern times, hagiography has expanded beyond the Christian tradition to include the lives of holy figures from other religions. It has also become a subject of academic study, with scholars analyzing hagiographies for their historical, literary, and theological significance.
Related Pages[edit | edit source]
Navigation: Wellness - Encyclopedia - Health topics - Disease Index - Drugs - World Directory - Gray's Anatomy - Keto diet - Recipes
Search WikiMD
Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro / Zepbound) available.
Advertise on WikiMD
WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.
Translate this page: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
தமிழ்,
తెలుగు,
Urdu,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
বাংলা
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
Greek,
português do Brasil,
polski,
română,
русский,
Nederlands,
norsk,
svenska,
suomi,
Italian
Middle Eastern & African
عربى,
Turkish,
Persian,
Hebrew,
Afrikaans,
isiZulu,
Kiswahili,
Other
Bulgarian,
Hungarian,
Czech,
Swedish,
മലയാളം,
मराठी,
ਪੰਜਾਬੀ,
ગુજરાતી,
Portuguese,
Ukrainian
Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD