This collection of essays is about sanctity, demonstrating the multiplicity of aspects this condition had in Western medieval Christianity. The studies concentrate on the complex set of the socio-cultural phenomena of the cult of saints, in a variety of regions from Egypt to Poland, with a focus on Italy and Central Europe. The subjects of the contributions range in time from Pope Damasus in the fourth until St. Christopher in the eighteenth century. The diversity of approaches adopted by the contributors-from literary analysis and historical anthropology to archaeology and art history-represents the open and multidisciplinary historical research that characterizes the medievalist community at the Central European University. Top erudition and scholarly precision meets the mystical world of Catholic saints. Some of the essays contain numerous black and white illustrations.

The studies in this volume concentrate on a complex set of socio-cultural phenomena, the cult of saints, in a variety of regions from Egypt to Poland, with a focus on Italy and Central Europe. The subjects of the contributions range in time from the fourth until the eighteenth century. The diversity of approaches adopted by the contributors-from literary analysis and historical anthropology to archaeology and art history-represents that open and multidisciplinary historical research that characterizes the work of Gabor Klaniczay to whom these essays are dedicated.