Nec silentio praetereundum : the significance of the miraculous in the Anglo-Saxon church in the time of Bede
This thesis is based on a study of miracle stories recorded by Anglo-Saxon ecclesiastical writers in the early part of the eighth century. It responds to a number of previous works which have concentrated solely on the miracle stories told by Bede, and argues that the stories of all the writers are the product of the historical situation. The idea that such stories were produced in order to respond to claims made in Irish or Continental hagiography, or by Anglo-Saxon paganism, is rejected; instead, we need to accept the assertion of the authors that these events were recorded because they were believed to have happened and to be of historical importance. Therefore, they provide an insight into the way that these authors approached the writing of history; an analysis of those involved in the stories, of the circumstances of the events, and of the likely transmission, suggests a close-knit circle of mainly noble monastics on whom the writers depended for information, and for whom they wrote. The miracle stories disclose that this approach to history was heavily informed by theological ideas, and by the bias of the author and his/her community. Precisely because the miracle material is to modern eyes unusual
Hustler, Jonathan Richard
Hagiography; Ecclesiastical history
Nec silentio praetereundum : the significance of the miraculous in the Anglo-Saxon church in the time of Bede. This thesis is based on a study of miracle stories recorded by Anglo-Saxon ecclesiastical writers in the early part of the eighth century. It responds to a number of previous works which have concentrated solely on the miracle stories told by Bede, and argues that the stories of all the writers are the product of the historical situation. The idea that such stories were produced in order to respond to claims made in Irish or Continental hagiography, or by Anglo-Saxon paganism, is rejected; instead, we need to accept the assertion of the authors that these events were recorded because they were believed to have happened and to be of historical importance. Therefore, they provide an insight into the way that these authors approached the writing of history; an analysis of those involved in the stories, of the circumstances of the events, and of the likely transmission, suggests a close-knit circle of mainly noble monastics on whom the writers depended for information, and for whom they wrote. The miracle stories disclose that this approach to history was heavily informed by theological ideas, and by the bias of the author and his/her community. Precisely because the miracle material is to modern eyes unusual
significance miraculous anglo_saxon church time bede base study miracle story record anglo_saxon ecclesiastical writer early_part respond number previous_work concentrate solely miracle story tell bede argue story writer product historical_situation idea story produce order respond claim_make irish continental hagiography anglo_saxon paganism reject instead need accept assertion author event record believe happen historical importance therefore_provide insight way author approach write_history analysis involve story circumstance event likely transmission suggest close_knit circle mainly noble monastic writer depend information write miracle story disclose history heavily inform theological idea bias author his_her community precisely miracle material modern eye unusual