Saints and Their Lives on the Periphery ─ Veneration of Saints in Scandinavia and Eastern Europe (C.1000-1200)

Despite increased interest in recent years, the study of medieval Scandinavia and Eastern Europe is still confined mainly to local monographs. This compilation, stemming from a 2008 conference held in Bergen, breaks new ground in looking at the conversion of both areas in the period from 1000-1200. Antonsson and Garipzanov divide the essays into two sections: the localization of cults of saints and the form of hagiography developed in each area. A concluding essay looks at the saints venerated in East Central Europe but the rest concentrate on Scandinavia and Rus. The adaptation of foreign or universal saints in both areas is examined but the creation of native saints is of primary interest. Most of them, such as St. Olaf or saints Boris and Gleb, were nobles associated with conversion. The contributors harmonize well in their topics, giving an overall impression of the similarity between Greek and Latin Christian conversions and the diversity among the several regions in how they incorporated the saints and themselves into Christendom. Distributed in North America by The David Brown Book Co, Annotation c2011 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)