"A hagiography is a biography of a saint or an ecclesiastical leader, as well as, by extension, an adulatory and idealized biography of a preacher, priest, founder, saint, monk, nun, or icon in any of the world's religions."
A religious biography of a saint or holy person.
Definition and History of Hagiography: The study of the lives of saints and the history of hagiography as a genre of literature.
The Role of Religion in Hagiography: The importance of religion in the lives of saints and how it affects hagiographical writing.
Types of Hagiography: The various forms of hagiography, including biographies, legends, and miracles.
Manuscripts and Bibliography of Hagiography: The study of hagiographical manuscripts and their history, along with bibliographies of important works.
Sources of Hagiography: The historical, literary and artistic sources for hagiographical writing, including the Bible, martyrologies, and liturgical texts.
The Cult of Saints: The development of the veneration of saints and their relics in Christianity and other religions.
Theology of Saints: The study of the doctrine of saints, their status in the Church, and their role as intercessors.
Hagiographical Figures: A study of the most important hagiographical figures in Christianity and other religions, including St. Augustine, St. Francis of Assisi, and St. Teresa of Avila.
Iconography of Saints: The study of the visual representation of saints, including the symbols and attributes associated with them.
The Hagiographical Method: The techniques used in hagiographical writing, including narrative structure, rhetoric, and thematic motifs.
Hagiographical Themes: The common themes that emerge from hagiographical writing, including the role of suffering and the struggle between good and evil.
Hagiography and Society: The relationship between hagiographical writing and social structure, including the role of saints in medieval society and the impact of hagiography on popular piety.
Saint's Lives: These are hagiographies that focus on the lives of Christian saints, including their birth, miracles, spiritual struggles, and death. Examples include the "Life of Saint Benedict" and "Life of Saint Francis of Assisi".
Martyrologies: These are accounts of Christian martyrs who suffered and died for their faith. They often include accounts of the tortures and persecutions endured by the martyrs. Examples include "Acts of the Martyrs" and "The Passion of Saint Perpetua and Saint Felicity".
Ecclesiastical Histories: These are hagiographies that cover the history of the Church and its notable figures. Examples include "The Ecclesiastical History of the English People" by Bede and "The History of the Franks" by Gregory of Tours.
Religious Biographies: These are hagiographies that focus on the lives of religious figures who are not considered saints, such as theologians or reformers. Examples include "Confessions" by Augustine of Hippo and "Luther's Preface to the Complete Edition of Luther's Latin Writings".
Divine Comedy or Mystical Literature: These are hagiographies which speak about divine encounters, visions from prophets, and greater philosophy. Examples of this would be Dante's "Divine Comedy" or Rumi's "Masnavi".
Non-Christian Hagiographies or Biography of Mythological or Historical figures-These hagiographies deal with the life events and stories of religious personalities, historical or mythological: Examples include "The Life of Gautama Buddha" and "The Life of Muhammad".
Folklore and Popular Practice: These hagiographies might be biographies of popular or regional figures, who can be seen as miraculous in their immediate community. They can include dargahs, pilgrimages, and community festivals.
Legend/Story Cycle/Mythology: Folk tales, tales of Gods and their relationships, legendary heroes, and warriors. Examples would be Arthurian Legends, King Vikramaditya.
"[...] from Ancient Greek ἅγιος, hagios 'holy', and -γραφία, -graphia 'writing'."
"Early Christian hagiographies might consist of a biography or vita, a description of the saint's deeds or miracles, an account of the saint's martyrdom, or be a combination of these."
"[...] Other religious traditions such as Buddhism, Hinduism, Taoism, Islam, Sikhism, and Jainism also create and maintain hagiographical texts (such as the Sikh Janamsakhis) concerning saints, gurus, and other individuals believed to be imbued with sacred power."
"Christian hagiographies focus on the lives, and notably the miracles, ascribed to men and women canonized by the Roman Catholic Church, the Eastern Orthodox Church, the Oriental Orthodox churches, and the Church of the East."
"Hagiographic works, especially those of the Middle Ages, can incorporate a record of institutional and local history, and evidence of popular cults, customs, and traditions."
"[...] Buddhism, Hinduism, Taoism, Islam, Sikhism, and Jainism also create and maintain hagiographical texts."
"[...] from Latin vita, life, which begins the title of most medieval biographies."
"Early Christian hagiographies might [...] include an account of the saint's martyrdom (called a passio)."
"Hagiographic works [...] create and maintain hagiographical texts concerning saints, gurus, and other individuals believed to be imbued with sacred power."
"When referring to modern, non-ecclesiastical works, the term hagiography is often used today as a pejorative reference to biographies and histories whose authors are perceived to be uncritical or excessively reverential toward their subject."
"[...] the Roman Catholic Church, the Eastern Orthodox Church, the Oriental Orthodox churches, and the Church of the East."
"An account of the saint's martyrdom (called a passio)."
"Hagiographic works [...] incorporate a record of institutional and local history, and evidence of popular cults, customs, and traditions."
"[...] an adulatory and idealized biography of a preacher, priest, founder, saint, monk, nun, or icon in any of the world's religions."
"Christian hagiographies focus on the lives, and notably the miracles, ascribed to men and women canonized by the Roman Catholic church, the Eastern Orthodox Church, the Oriental Orthodox churches, and the Church of the East."
"[...] Buddhism, Hinduism, Taoism, Islam, Sikhism, and Jainism also create and maintain hagiographical texts."
"The term hagiography is often used today as a pejorative reference to biographies and histories whose authors are perceived to be uncritical or excessively reverential toward their subject."
"[...] from Latin vita, life."
"[...] an adulatory and idealized biography of a preacher, priest, founder, saint, monk, nun, or icon in any of the world's religions."