What is it about?
This article explores how Paul the Hermit, also known as Paul of Thebes—a man who lived alone in the Egyptian desert and was once visited by Antony the Great—became one of Christianity's most renowned saints.
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Why is it important?
I argue that Paul's popularity was largely influenced by how the Life of Paul was remembered and shared by various people, through different forms, media and memory practices. Essentially, it highlights the importance of collective memory and cultural transmission in maintaining and spreading Paul's legacy.
Perspectives
This article would not have been possible without the collection and translation of the various Lives of Paul in different languages published in First in the Desert: St Paul in Text and Tradition, along with the accompanying essays. I hope this monograph will inspire others to collate and publish hagiographic dossiers and explore the complex and fascinating dynamics between hagiography, memory, and cult.
Katherin Papadopoulos
St Athanasius College, University of Divinity, Melbourne, Australia
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Paul’s Traveling Memory, December 2024, Brill,
DOI: 10.1163/9789004702226_014.
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