Depicting the lives of the saints in an array of factual and fictional stories, The Golden Legend was perhaps the most widely read book, after the Bible, during the late Middle Ages. Arranged according to the order of saints’ feast days, these fascinating stories are now combined into one volume.

Who wrote The Golden Legend?

Jacobus de Varagine
Golden Legend/Authors
It was compiled around 1260 by Jacobus de Voragine, a scholarly friar and later archbishop of Genoa, whose purpose was to captivate, encourage, and edify the faithful, while preserving a vast store of information pertaining to the legends and traditions of the church.

What is a Legenda or vita in relation to a medieval saint?

After the 13th century, the word legenda was regarded as the equivalent of vita (Life) and passio (suffering), and, in the 15th century, the liber lectionarius is comprised under what is known as “legend”. Thus, historically considered, legend is the received story of the saints.

Who is the author of Aurea?

The Golden Legend (Latin: Legenda aurea or Legenda sanctorum) is a collection of hagiographies by Jacobus de Varagine that was widely read in late medieval Europe. More than a thousand manuscripts of the text have survived.

What are place dealing with the lives of the saints?

hagiography, the body of literature describing the lives and veneration of the Christian saints.

What are the religious biographies are called?

Answer: Religious Biographies are called Hagiography.

What does the Bible say about praying to saints?

“Scripture does not teach calling on the saints or pleading for help from them. For it sets before us Christ alone as mediator, atoning sacrifice, high priest, and intercessor.”—Augsburg Confession (Lutheran), Article XXI.

What is the difference between biography and hagiography?

As nouns the difference between biography and hagiography is that biography is a person’s life story, especially one published while hagiography is (uncountable) the study of saints.

What kind of information do we get from hagiographies?

A hagiography is a type of biography that puts the subject in a very flattering light. Hagiographies are often about saints. The two halves of hagiography refer to holiness and writing, and it is something written about holy people.

When was the Golden Legend written?

The Golden Legend ( Latin: Legenda aurea or Legenda sanctorum) is a collection of hagiographies by Jacobus de Varagine that was widely read in late medieval Europe. More than a thousand manuscripts of the text have survived. It was likely compiled around the years 1259–1266, although the text was added to over the centuries.

What is the Golden Legend by Jacobus?

The Golden Legend ( Latin: Legenda aurea or Legenda sanctorum) is a collection of hagiographies by Blessed Jacobus de Varagine that was widely read in late medieval Europe. More than a thousand manuscripts of the text have survived.

What is the Golden Legend of Saint George?

Golden Legend. The story of Saint George and the dragon is one of many stories of the saints preserved in the Golden Legend. The Golden Legend (Latin: Legenda aurea or Legenda sanctorum) is a collection of hagiographies by Blessed Jacobus de Varagine that was widely read in late medieval Europe.

What is the origin of the word legend?

Legend is a loanword from Old French that entered English usage circa 1340. The Old French noun legende derives from the Medieval Latin legenda.