This article explores the diffusion of texts and traditions on Emperor Constantine’s Vision of the Cross and stories on the Discovery of the True Cross in late antique Armenia. It compares the Greek originals and translation of the relevant hagiographical sources to Armenian with versions of the same narratives incorporated by Armenian authors in their works, such as Łazar P‘arpec‘i, Movsēs Xorenac‘i and P‘ilon Tirakac‘i who reworked the original Armenian translations of Socrates Scholasticus’ Ecclesiastical History together with the Life of Sylvester. Based on these sources it argues that the Judas-Kyriakos version of the Discovery of the Cross by Helena and Constantine’s Vision on the Danube were probably the most popular text-types of these narratives, similar to what is attested in other eastern Christian linguistic traditions. The work signals the lack of proper scholarly editions of several hagiographies as a serious gap that often hampers the advancement of studies on these texts and their diffusion. Finally, the author hopes that part of the analyses will contribute to a better understanding of Movsēs Xorenac‘i’s sources and their use by him when recounting legends about the Cross.

VISIONS OF THE CROSS AND THE DISCOVERY OF THE TRUE CROSS: TRANSLATION, RECEPTION, COMPOSITION IN LATE ANTIQUE ARMENIA / Zaroui Pogossian. - STAMPA. - (2024), pp. 161-190.

VISIONS OF THE CROSS AND THE DISCOVERY OF THE TRUE CROSS: TRANSLATION, RECEPTION, COMPOSITION IN LATE ANTIQUE ARMENIA

Zaroui Pogossian
2024

Abstract

This article explores the diffusion of texts and traditions on Emperor Constantine’s Vision of the Cross and stories on the Discovery of the True Cross in late antique Armenia. It compares the Greek originals and translation of the relevant hagiographical sources to Armenian with versions of the same narratives incorporated by Armenian authors in their works, such as Łazar P‘arpec‘i, Movsēs Xorenac‘i and P‘ilon Tirakac‘i who reworked the original Armenian translations of Socrates Scholasticus’ Ecclesiastical History together with the Life of Sylvester. Based on these sources it argues that the Judas-Kyriakos version of the Discovery of the Cross by Helena and Constantine’s Vision on the Danube were probably the most popular text-types of these narratives, similar to what is attested in other eastern Christian linguistic traditions. The work signals the lack of proper scholarly editions of several hagiographies as a serious gap that often hampers the advancement of studies on these texts and their diffusion. Finally, the author hopes that part of the analyses will contribute to a better understanding of Movsēs Xorenac‘i’s sources and their use by him when recounting legends about the Cross.
2024
Նուրբ եւ լայն գրեանք. Տոնագիր նվիրված Էռնա Մանեա Շիրինյանի 70-ամյակին / Sublte and wide writings: Festschrift in honor of Erna Manea Shirinian’s 70th anniversary
161
190
Zaroui Pogossian
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Utilizza questo identificatore per citare o creare un link a questa risorsa: https://hdl.handle.net/2158/1409236
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