| Popis: |
The hagiological texts of the late byzantine period, written by literate writers in a climate of intellectual development and deep religiousness, abound in laudatory descriptions (ekphraseis). Most of them concern the birthplace of the saint to whom the texts are dedicated, despite the frequent initial reserve on the writers’ part about the advisability of the observance of the laws of rhetoric. According to an old rhetorical rule, a person should first be praised because of his birthplace. In the current of the hagiological account, the writers incorporate laudatory descriptions of various cities, mainly Constantinople and Thessaloniki. The elements stressed all derive from centenary rhetorical theory and tradition, with an emphasis on certain elements expressing the new climate of the time: the eternal and universal Constantinople, the inhabitants’ praise because of their occupations and virtues - with an emphasis on the orthodox faith of course. Another example is the frequent trend for the idealization and spirituality of the cities, such as references to the antiquity and idyllic descriptions of nature, inspired by the spirit of Renaissance. Laudatory descriptions are also encountered about the Holy Mountain, the utmost religious centre of that time. The descriptions regarding monasteries and churches in various cities are also interesting, the most important being those of Hagia Sophia and Pege in Constantinople, the Acheiropoietos and Saint Demetrios church in Thessaloniki. Here also the idealization is noted as a main element of the description, a traditional element that comes mainly from the 6th century (Procopius and Paulus Silentiarius). Descriptions of the surrounding nature are also characterized by lyrical tones that create a spiritual uplift. From the gathering of all the descriptions (ekphraseis) in the hagiological texts of the late byzantine period it can be seen that the descriptions regarding cities outweigh others not only in number and size but also in rhetorical mannerism. This should initially be interpreted by the saints’ relationship with the city. The saints were the protectors – patrons of the cities, so their link with the city was close and unbreakable. The disturbed historical environment of the late byzantine period justifies the emphasis on the saints’ protection of the cities. Moreover, many of the hagiological texts are connected with a celebration or with the inauguration of a church, which were official events for the cities themselves and were addressed to the upper class attendant at the reading of the text itself. The Speech was also made to a part of the people, who were interested in their salvation. Because of the breaking of the empire, the cities constitute, at this time, small states that find a parallel in the Italian cities. Thus the rhetorical descriptions (ekphraseis) of the hagiological texts are of interest not only for their literary value, but also because they express the particular historical circumstances of the late byzantine period. |
