«ТАЙНЫЙ» АСКЕТИЗМ СВ. РАДЕГУНДЫ: КОНСТРУИРОВАНИЕ СВЯТОСТИ В АГИОГРАФИИ РАННЕГО СРЕДНЕВЕКОВЬЯ
“SECRET” ASCETICISM OF ST. RADEGUND: CREATING HOLINESS IN EARLY MEDIEVAL HAGIOGRAPHY

Summary/Abstract: This paper critically examines the hagiographical image of St. Radegund, the patroness of Poitiers, Frankish queen, and the foundress of one of the first convents, in the Vita written by Venantius Fortunatus. The author of this paper concludes that the hagiographers represented ascetic practices and, thus, saint-hood itself differently. It depends on many factors: the author’s personality, inner intentions, and self-interest; hagiographers’ social status and their potential auditory. Special attention is paid to the motif of “secrecy” in the description of the ascetic practices of Radegund, as well as to the explanation of V. Fortunatus’ attention to the aspect of the holiness of Radegund. Similar motives for secrecy are not found, either in other Vitae by V. Fortunatus or in the spiritual biographies of other holy women of the period compiled by different authors. In our opinion, this is largely explained by the following reasons: 1. Firstly, the hagiographer wanted to glorify the heroine and to establish and promote her cult. The motif of secrecy was one of the ways to emphasize the Christian virtues and humility of Radegund. 2. Furthermore, V. Fortunatus wanted to show that he knew something that was hidden from others. Thus, the motif of “secret” asceticism is used to emphasize the influence and significance of the Vita’s author. 3. Finally, the writing of the sacred biography of Radegund might have promoted V. Fortunatus’ own career. He became the bishop of Poitiers a few years after the writing of the life of Radegund, the famous and powerful queen-nun of this region.

• Details
• Contents