"A Brief History of Saints" follows the rise of the cult of saints in Christianity from its origin in the age of the martyrs down to the present day. It refers to both well-known saints, such as Joan of Arc, and lesser-known figures like the 'holy fools' in the Orthodox tradition. It ranges over subjects as diverse as the history of canonization processes, the Reformation critique of the cult of saints, and the role of saints in other religious traditions. It discusses the relevance of sainthood in the postmodern era Two appendices describe patron saints and the iconography of saints in art.
- ISBN10 1405114010
- ISBN13 9781405114011
- Publish Date 9 November 2004
- Publish Status Active
- Publish Country GB
- Publisher John Wiley and Sons Ltd
- Imprint Wiley-Blackwell (an imprint of John Wiley & Sons Ltd)
- Format Hardcover
- Pages 186
- Language English