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Norse Hagiography Network @networknorse.bsky.social · 5h

I think that would depend on where the encounter took place. In a lot of French depictions, for example, it is very difficult to distinguish between the two based on the amount of skull being transported.

Norse Hagiography Network @networknorse.bsky.social · 6h

The legend conflates the C1 Dionysius the Aeorpagite (cf. Acts 17:34) & Denis of Paris. References to the saint & his martyrdom are abundant in Old-Norse Icelandic literature, especially in texts influenced by French romance epics (e.g., Karlamagnúss saga ok kappa hans, Mírmanns saga). (6/6)

-DSa

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Norse Hagiography Network @networknorse.bsky.social · 8h

St Dionysius was also co-patron of the churches at Reykholt and at the nearby Engey. A Norse version of the saint’s life, Dionysius saga, is extant in two large C15 legendaries (AM 235 fol. & - pictured here - Stock. Perg. fol. no. 2). (5/n)

Stock. Perg. fol. no. 2. Beginning of the chapter on St Dionysius, showing a large capital P in red ink.

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Norse Hagiography Network @networknorse.bsky.social · 8h

In Norway, melodies of the office of St Dionysius were recycled for the C12 office for St Olaf. Moreover, the saint was the dedicatee of a now-lost church in Roskilde before 1266.
In Iceland, Dionysius figures as the co-patron of an altar at Viðey monastery (founded in 1225). (4/n)

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Norse Hagiography Network @networknorse.bsky.social · 8h

The cult of St Dionysius most likely arrived in the Norse world during the Christianisation period, & as a result of Scandinavian intellectuals studying in Paris. It does not appear, however, that St Dionysius was widely important before the C14, when he was counted among the 14 holy helpers. (3/n)

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Norse Hagiography Network @networknorse.bsky.social · 8h

Denis was beheaded. His legend states that he picked up his head & walked to the place where he subsequently died. In medieval art, he is often depicted as carrying his head or the crown of his head. Thus he is represented in a modern copy of a medieval statue from Trondheim cathedral. (2/n)

Statue showing the holy bishop carrying his head on his fingertips. The bishop is bearded and his eyes are closed to demonstrate that he is dead. On his head, he is wearing a mitre. The statue is placed within a niche on the front of the cathedral. The niche is a product of modern masonry modelled on medieval exemplars.

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Norse Hagiography Network @networknorse.bsky.social · 8h

Today is the feast of St Denis of Paris, also known as St Dionysius. According to Gregory of Tours, Denis was one of the 7 bishops sent to Gaul by Pope Clement during the reign of Emperor Decius (r. 249-51). Denis preached in the region of Paris together with Rusticus & Eleutherius. (1/n)

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Norse Hagiography Network @networknorse.bsky.social · 17d

Re-upping this in case you have missed our saint-of-the-month thread.

Norse Hagiography Network @networknorse.bsky.social · 17d

Today is the feast St Mauritius, the officer of the Theban Legion. He was martyred with his 6666 men at Agaunum in the upper Rhône valley c.286-7 for refusing to sacrifice to the gods. His cult flourished due to the 10th-century eastward expansion of the Ottonians.

[1/n]

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Norse Hagiography Network @networknorse.bsky.social · 17d

The only dedication to St Maurice was preserved at the church Bær in Borgarfjörður, consecrated by St Þorlakur. Sturlunga saga preserves the date of Snorri Sturluson’s death; he is said to have been killed on the night after the Mass of St Maurice (1241).

[6/6]

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Norse Hagiography Network @networknorse.bsky.social · 17d

Two Icelandic redactions of Máritíuss saga do not mention etymology or the saint’s skin but focus on the moral economy of obedience & martyrdom, the geography of Agaunum, & the miracles worked at the shrine. Law & liturgy meet in Grágás, whose calendar grades Mauricius’ day as leyfisdagr.

[5/n]

An image showing parts of three pages from different Icelandic manuscripts containing redactions of Máritíuss saga, all showing sign of wear and grime, being at times difficult to read. The initials of the top and lower right pages are modest yet intricately decorated with floral patters in tones of red and blue.

Top image: AM 655 4to X (ca. 1250–1300).

Lower left-hand image: AM 235 fol. (ca. 1400).

Lower right-hand image: Stock. Perg. fol. no. 2 (ca. 1425–45, defective).

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Norse Hagiography Network @networknorse.bsky.social · 17d

The depiction of St Maurice is a Black man stems from Legenda Aurea's etymological play on mauron (“black”). Since the C15, depiction of Maurice as black was predominant, especially in Livonia, where he became co-patron for the Teutonic Order & the patron of the Black Heads guild.

[4/n]

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Norse Hagiography Network @networknorse.bsky.social · 17d

In the late C12, Valdemar the Great minted coin types with the image of Mauritius, imitating Magdeburg models. In church art, he appears both as a white man (e.g. Vittskövle church (15th c) & Skive old church (early 16th c)), & as a Black African (e.g. Roskilde Cathedral (c.1465-75).

[3/n]

In the background, a page from Necrologium Lundense, containing an inscription for September 22 with the text "Mauritius, our patron, and companions". In the foreground are two images of late medieval fresco cycles. On the left-hand side is a roundel showing an armoured knight with white skin, holding a spear with a banner. On the right-hand side is an armoured knight with black skin, holding a spear with a banner. They are both seen against a floral pattern.

The sources are as follows: Necrologium Lundense fol. 160v, Vittskövle church mural, Roskilde Cathedral mural.

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Norse Hagiography Network @networknorse.bsky.social · 17d

In Denmark, St Maurice surfaces early in Lund: the cathedral chapter’s Memoriale fratrum (c. 1120s) records “Mauricii patroni nostri” on 22 September (likely copied from an older source), & an altar of St Maurice is listed at Lund Cathedral at its dedication on 1 September 1145.

[2/n]

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Norse Hagiography Network @networknorse.bsky.social · 17d

Today is the feast St Mauritius, the officer of the Theban Legion. He was martyred with his 6666 men at Agaunum in the upper Rhône valley c.286-7 for refusing to sacrifice to the gods. His cult flourished due to the 10th-century eastward expansion of the Ottonians.

[1/n]

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Norse Hagiography Network @networknorse.bsky.social · Sep 8

Yet another reminder that the deadline for our joint call for papers together with @celtichagiography.bsky.social for next year's @imc-leeds.bsky.social is extended until September 15. Join us in Leeds!

[Alt text in replies to the quoted post]

Norse Hagiography Network @networknorse.bsky.social · Aug 5

CfP for @imc-leeds.bsky.social 2026, organised together with @celtichagiography.bsky.social.

Deadline: August 31.

[Alt text in thread]

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Reposted by Norse Hagiography Network

Norse Hagiography Network @networknorse.bsky.social · Sep 4

Deadline extended to September 15! There is still time to send us your abstracts, & we look forward to hearing from you.

[Alt text can be found in the replies to the quoted post]

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Norse Hagiography Network @networknorse.bsky.social · Sep 4

Deadline extended to September 15! There is still time to send us your abstracts, & we look forward to hearing from you.

[Alt text can be found in the replies to the quoted post]

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Norse Hagiography Network @networknorse.bsky.social · Aug 22

Deadline is Sunday next week, so please send us your abstracts, we look forward to reading them!

#IMC2026

Norse Hagiography Network @networknorse.bsky.social · Aug 5

CfP for @imc-leeds.bsky.social 2026, organised together with @celtichagiography.bsky.social.

Deadline: August 31.

[Alt text in thread]

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Norse Hagiography Network @networknorse.bsky.social · Aug 22

Only two days left to submit your abstracts for this session! We look forward to reading them!

#IMC2026

Norse Hagiography Network @networknorse.bsky.social · Aug 5

CfP @imc-leeds.bsky.social 2026:

New Studies in Old Norse Hagiography

Session Jointly Sponsored by the Norse Hagiography Network and the Viking Society for Northern Research

Deadline: August 24.

[Alt text in thread]

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Reposted by Norse Hagiography Network

Norse Hagiography Network @networknorse.bsky.social · Aug 5

CfP @imc-leeds.bsky.social 2026:

New Studies in Old Norse Hagiography

Session Jointly Sponsored by the Norse Hagiography Network and the Viking Society for Northern Research

Deadline: August 24.

[Alt text in thread]

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Reposted by Norse Hagiography Network

Norse Hagiography Network @networknorse.bsky.social · Aug 5

CfP for @imc-leeds.bsky.social 2026, organised together with @celtichagiography.bsky.social.

Deadline: August 31.

[Alt text in thread]

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Norse Hagiography Network @networknorse.bsky.social · Aug 5

Proposals for papers of up to 15-20 minutes should be sent to Natasha Bradley ([email protected]) and Courtney Selvage ([email protected]) by 31st August 2025.

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Norse Hagiography Network @networknorse.bsky.social · Aug 5

Papers that engage with lesser-studied saints’ Lives composed in Latin or any of the relevant vernacular languages, or that consider multiple Lives comparatively would be especially welcomed.

(5/n)

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Norse Hagiography Network @networknorse.bsky.social · Aug 5

hagiography continues to offer a valuable window as to how the authors of these texts interacted with their material and sought to authenticate their saints’ Lives through the remembrance of the past.

(4/n)

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Norse Hagiography Network @networknorse.bsky.social · Aug 5

Whether through conversion motifs, reconstructions of the pagan past or “paganesque,” genealogical manipulation, reuse of earlier medieval material, or even blatant blaspheming of pre-Christian Gods (Clemens saga/Martinus Saga I),

(3/n)

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