Holy Fools in Byzantium and Beyond |
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| Author:
| Ivanov, Sergey A.
Franklin, Simon |
| Series title: | Oxford Studies in Byzantium Ser. |
| ISBN: | 978-0-19-927251-8 |
| Publication Date: | Jun 2006 |
| Publisher: | Oxford University Press, Incorporated
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| Book Format: | Hardback |
| List Price: | USD $230.00 |
Book Description:
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The image of St. Basil's Cathedral in Moscow's Red Square is a familiar Russian landmark. Yet few people know what made Basil so famous. He was a saint who wandered about naked, bullied passers-by, brawled in the market-place, and once even smashed a revered icon. Saints such as Basil overturn the conventional concept of sainthood--what, we may ask, is saintly about them? This book aims to solve the mystery by exploring the figure of the holy fool in Byzantium and in later Russian history.
The image of St. Basil's Cathedral in Moscow's Red Square is a familiar Russian landmark. Yet few people know what made Basil so famous. He was a saint who wandered about naked, bullied passers-by, brawled in the market-place, and once even smashed a revered icon. Saints such as Basil overturn the conventional concept of sainthood--what, we may ask, is saintly about them? This book aims to solve the mystery by exploring the figure of the holy fool in Byzantium and in later Russian history.