Portrait of Lord Melvyn Bragg, host of In Our Time

Christian hagiographers

A hagiography (from Ancient Greek ἅγιος, hagios 'holy', and -γραφία, -graphia 'writing') is a biography of a saint or an ecclesiastical leader, as well as, by extension, an adulatory and idealized biography of a founder, saint, monk, nun or icon in any of the world's religions. Early Christian hagiographies might consist of a biography or vita, a description of the saint's deeds or miracles (from Latin vita, life, which begins the title of most medieval biographies), an account of the saint's martyrdom (called a passio), or be a combination of these.

3 episodes

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  1. Alcuin

    Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the cleric, educator and poet from York who put learning for its own sake at the heart of the Carolingian Renaissance

    30 January 2020

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    Featuring: Joanna Story, Andy Orchard, Mary Garrison

     
  2. Gerald of Wales

    Melvyn Bragg and his guests discuss the medieval scholar Gerald of Wales, the author of colourful and influential works about his journeys around Ireland and Wales.

    4 October 2012

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    Featuring: Henrietta Leyser, Michelle Brown, Huw Pryce

     
  3. The Venerable Bede

    Melvyn Bragg discusses the Venerable Bede, who revolutionised history and scholarship, and became adopted by Rome as the last of the founding fathers of Christian religion.

    25 November 2004

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    Featuring: Richard Gameson, Sarah Foot, Michelle Brown