The Warrior Saints in Byzantine Art and Tradition

Christopher Walter's study of the cult and iconography of Byzantine warrior saints - George, Demetrius, the two Theodores, and dozens more - is at once encyclopaedic and interpretative, and the first comprehensive study of the subject. The author delineates their origins and development as a distinctive category of saint, showing that in its definitive form this coincides with the apogee of the Byzantine empire in the 10th-11th centuries. He establishes a repertory, particularly of their commemorations in synaxaries and their representations in art, and describes their iconographical types and the functions ascribed to them once enrolled in the celestial army: support for the terrestrial army in its offensive campaigns, and a new protective role when the Byzantine Empire passed to the defensive. The survey highlights the lack of historicity among the Byzantines in their approach to the lives of these saints and their terrestrial careers. An epilogue briefly treats the analogous traditions in the cultures of neighbouring peoples. Walter draws attention to the development of an echelon of military saints, notably in church decoration, which provides the surest basis for defining their specificity; also to the way in which they were depicted, generally young, handsome and robust, and frequently 'twinned' in pairs, so calling attention to the importance of camaraderie among soldiers. At the same time, this work opens a new perspective on the military history of the Byzantine Empire. Its ideology of war consistently followed that of the Israelites; protected and favoured by divine intervention, there was no occasion to discuss the morality of a 'just war'. Consequently, when considering Byzantine methods of warfare, due attention should be given to the important role which they attributed to celestial help in their military campaigns. Christopher Walter's Study Of The Cult And Iconography Of Byzantine Warrior Saints - George, Demetrius, The Two Theodores, And Dozens More - Is At Once Encyclopaedic And Interpretive, And The First Comprehensive Study Of The Subject. The Author Delineates Their Origins And Development As A Distinctive Category Of Saint, Showing That In Its Definitive Form This Coincides With The Apogee Of The Byzantine Empire In The Tenth To Eleventh Centuries. He Establishes A Repertory, Particularly Of Their Commemorations In Synaxaries And Their Representations In Art, And Describes Their Iconographical Types And The Functions Ascribed To Them Once Enrolled In The Celestial Army: Support For The Terrestrial Army In Its Offensive Campaigns, And A New Protective Role When The Byzantine Empire Passed To The Defensive. The Survey Highlights The Lack Of Historicity Among The Byzantines In Their Approach To The Lives Of These Saints And Their Terrestrial Careers. An Epilogue Briefly Treats The Analogous Traditions In The Cultures Of Neighbouring Peoples. Walter Draws Attention To The Development Of An Echelon Of Military Saints, Notably In Church Decoration, Which Provides The Surest Basis For Defining Their Specificity; Also To The Way In Which They Were Depicted, Generally Young, Handsome And Robust, And Frequently 'twinned' In Pairs, So Calling Attention To The Importance Of Camaraderie Among Soldiers. At The Same Time, This Work Opens A New Perspective On The Military History Of The Byzantine Empire. Its Ideology Of War Consistently Followed That Of The Israelites; Protected And Favoured By Divine Intervention, There Was No Occasion To Discuss The Morality Of A 'just War'. Consequently, When Considering Byzantine Methods Of Warfare, Due Attention Should Be Given To The Important Role Which They Attributed To Celestial Help In Their Military Campaigns.--jacket. Part One. History And Antecedents: The Christian And Antique Background. The Old Testament. The New Testament. Pagan Antiquity. The Early Patristic Period. The Contribution Of Popular Piety To The Conception Of The Warrior Saint --^ Part Two. The Byzantine Warrior Saints. The Major Warrior Saints: The Etat-major: St Theodore Tiron And St Theodore Stratelates. St Demetrius. St Procopius. St Mercurius. St George. Other Major Warrior Saints: Sts Sergius And Bacchus. St Eustathius. St Kyrion And The Xl Martyrs Of Sebasteia. St Hieron And The Martyrs Of Melitene. St Menas Of Egypt. St Artemius. St Arethas. St Martin Of Tours. St Phanourios. The Minor Warrior Saints: St Christopher. St Cornelius The Centurion. The Holy Five Of Sebasteia With Sts Orestes And Eustratius. St Joannicius. Sts Juventinus And Maximinus. St Longinus Of Caesarea. Sts Nestor And Lupus. St Nicetas (nikita) The Goth. St Philotheus Of Antioch. St Phoibammon. Sts Polyeuctus Of Melitene And Nearchus. St Sabbas Stratelates. St Sisinnius Of Antioch. Sts Speusippus, Elasippus And Melesippus. St Zosimus Of Apollonia --appendix: Additional Minor Warrior Saints: St Alexander. St Andrew Stratelates. St Anicetus. St Athanasius Of Clysma. Sts^ Basiliscus, Cleonicus And Eutropius. Sts Bonosus And Maximilianus. St Callinicus. St Callistratus. Dasius. Sts Emeterius And Chelidonius. St Eudocimus. St Eusignius. Gaza, The Xl Defenders Of. St Gordius Of Caesarea. Sts John And Paul. St Justus. Marcellus Of Tangier. St Maurice Of Agaunum And Companions. Sts Probus, Tarachos And Andronicus. St Sebastian. Sts Trophimus, Dorymedon And Sabbatius. St Typasius. St Varus Of Egypt. Sts Victor And Vicentius -- Part Three. Conclusion: Towards A Characterization Of The Warrior Saint: The Terrestrial Career Of Warrior Saints. The Beginnings Of The Cult Of Warrior Saints. The Early Iconography Of Warrior Saints. The Emergence Of An Echelon Of Warrior Saints. The Function Of Warrior Saints In The Lives Of Terrestrial Men. The Aesthetics Of Warrior Saints. Christopher Walter. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 295-306) And Index. List of Plates ix Foreword by George Huxley xv Introduction 1 PART ONE HISTORY AND ANTECEDENTS 1 The Christian and Antique Background 9 The Old Testament 9 The New Testament 12 Pagan Antiquity 15 The early Patristic period 22 The contribution of popular piety to the conception of the warrior saint 33 PART TWO THE BYZANTINE WARRIOR SAINTS 2 The Major Warrior Saints: The Etat-Major 41 I St Theodore Tiron and St Theodore Stratelates 44 II St Demetrius 67 III St Procopius 94 IV St Mercurius 101 V St George 109 3 Other Major Warrior Saints 145 VI Sts Sergius and Bacchus 146 VII St Eustathius 163 VIII St Kyrion and the XL Martyrs of Sebasteia 170 IX St Hieron and the Martyrs of Melitene 177 X St Menas of Egypt 181 XI St Artemius 191 XII St Arethas 195 XIII St Martin of Tours 200 XIV St Phanourios 206 4 The Minor Warrior Saints 213 XV St Christopher 214 XVI St Cornelius the Centurion 217 XVII The Holy Five of Sebasteia with Sts Orestes and Eustratius 219 XVIII St Joannicius 222 XIX Sts Juventinus and Maximinus 224 XX St Longinus of Caesarea 226 XXI Sts Nestor and Lupus 227 XXII St Nicetas (Nikita) the Goth 231 XXIII St Philotheus of Antioch 234 XXIV St Phoibammon 235 XXV Sts Polyeuctus of Melitene and Nearchus 236 XXVI St Sabbas Stratelates 239 XXVII St Sisinnius of Antioch 241 XXVIII Sts Speusippus, Elasippus and Melesippus 243 XXIX St Zosimus of Apollonia 244 Appendix: Additional Minor Warrior Saints 245 XXX St Alexander 245 XXXI St Andrew Stratelates 245 XXXII St Anicetus 246 XXXIII St Athanasius of Clysma 247 XXXIV Sts Basiliscus, Cleonicus and Eutropius 247 XXXV Sts Bonosus and Maximilianus 247 XXXVI St Callinicus 247 XXXVII St Callistratus 248 XXXVIII Dasius 249 XXXIX Sts Emeterius and Chelidonius 249 XL St Eudocimus 250 XLI St Eusignius 251 XLII Gaza, The XL Defenders of 251 XLIII St Gordius of Caesarea 251 XLIV Sts John and Paul 252 XLV St Justus 253 XLVI Marcellus of Tangier 253 XLVII St Maurice of Agaunum and companions 254 XLVIII Sts Probus, Tarachos and Andronicus 254 XLIX St Sebastian 254 L Sts Trophimus, Dorymedon and Sabbatius 255 LI St Typasius 256 LII St Varus of Egypt 256 LIII Sts Victor and Vicentius 258 PART THREE CONCLUSION 5 Towards a Characterization of the Warrior Saint 261 The terrestrial career of warrior saints 261 The beginnings of the cult of warrior saints 266 The early iconography of warrior saints 270 The emergence of an echelon of warrior saints 274 The function of warrior saints in the lives of terrestrial men 277 The aesthetics of warrior saints 285 Epilogue 291 Bibliography 295 Index 307