Hagiographic biography

Hagiography is the writing of saints' lives. It comes from the Greek words άγιος; and γραφή = "holy writing" or "writing about the holy (ones)."

• Hagiography refers literally to writings on the subject of such holy persons; specifically, the biographies of persons publicly glorified (canonized) by the Church.

• Hagiology, by contrast, is the study of saints collectively, without focusing on the life of an individual saint.

Hagiography as a form of biography

Hagiography is unlike other forms of biography in that it does not necessarily attempt to give a full, historical account of the life of an individual saint.

Hagiographic biography example

Rather, the purpose of hagiography is soteriological—that is, the life of the saint is written so that it might have a salvific effect on those who encounter it.

As such, hagiography often fails to include details which are standard for most biographical works, such as birthdate, childhood, career, and so forth.

Rather, the details inclu