Can human beings know the hour of their own death or of the death of others? A ninth-century controversy and its historical context
Between the seventh and the ninth century holy men acquired a new role. They no longer just exorcised demons and healed diseases but also foretold people when they would die. This development was caused by a shift in religious belief. Under the influence of relentless preaching, people had...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | Bulgarian |
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Institute for Byzantine Studies of the Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts
2016-01-01
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| Series: | Zbornik Radova Vizantološkog Instituta |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.doiserbia.nb.rs/img/doi/0584-9888/2016/0584-98881653063K.pdf |
| Summary: | Between the seventh and the ninth century holy men acquired a new role. They
no longer just exorcised demons and healed diseases but also foretold people
when they would die. This development was caused by a shift in religious
belief. Under the influence of relentless preaching, people had come to think
that salvation or damnation was determined by the state in which one found
oneself at the moment of death. What was feared was a sudden death, which
would not leave time for the necessary preparation through repentance and
almsgiving. Contemporary holy men responded to this fear by offering their
services as prophets. These activities incurred the criticism of coenobitic
monks who were opposed to them for moral and metaphysical reasons. |
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| ISSN: | 0584-9888 2406-0917 |