Anglo-Saxon Saints' Legends

Literary/ Cultural Context Essay

Rachel Anderson (Grand Valley State University)
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Cults of saints originated in Late Antiquity, when the graves of holy men and women became holy places of veneration and the sites of eventual shrines and churches. Worshippers made pilgrimages to these sites, where the intercession and pity of the once-human saints was thought to be obtained. Texts devoted to relating the lives of these saints developed into a form collectively referred to as “hagiography” (from the Greek

hagio

– “saint” and –

graph

“writing”). One early text is the late fourth-century

vita

(life) of St. Martin of Tours by Sulpicius Severus. This work, which became a prototype for the form, introduces the common theme of the saint’s good deeds and miracles that show his power.

Hagiographic texts served three main functions: to promote the cult; to

2517 words

Citation: Anderson, Rachel. "Anglo-Saxon Saints' Legends". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 11 July 2003 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/stopics.php?rec=true&UID=1291, accessed 19 March 2024.]

1291 Anglo-Saxon Saints' Legends 2 Historical context notes are intended to give basic and preliminary information on a topic. In some cases they will be expanded into longer entries as the Literary Encyclopedia evolves.

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