What is a hagiography?

BaronBatty

Hagiography (IPA: /hægi'ɒgrəfi/) is the study of saints. A hagiography refers literally to writings on the subject of such holy people, and specifically the biographies of ecclesiastical and secular leaders. The word comes from Greek (h)ağios (ἅγιος, "holy" or "saint") and graphē (γραφή, "writing"). The term hagiology is also current in English, though less common. (This in fact follows original Greek practice, where ἁγιογραφία refers to visual images of the saints, while their written lives (βίοι or vitæ) or the study thereof are known as ἁγιολογία.) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hagiography Jul 05 08, 4:16 AM

zbeckabee

The combining form "- graphy' comes from the Greek word "graphein,' meaning "to write.' "Hagio-' comes from a Greek word too - one that means "saintly' or "holy.' The word "hagiography,' first recorded in 1821, originally referred to biographies of saints, but these days you are apt to see the word applied more broadly to any idealizing or idolizing biography. In other words, a hagiography is a biography that treats its subject as if he or she were a saint. http://www.jewishworldreview.com/0903/dictionary_men092303.asp Jul 05 08, 7:17 PM

jk18	Hagiography: A biography of a saint. The term was often described the study of saints. It has history in christian culture. http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-a-hagiography.htm Jul 16 08, 12:47 PM