The student will acquire deepened and detailed knowledge of remarkable questions of the history of the Christianity in different epochs, analyzing sources of different typology and facing the bibliographical debate. The student will also acquire scientific tools of search, the necessary methodological principles for reading the sources, critical ability in collecting and interpreting the data, so that to express and to communicate in a language scientifically correct autonomous judgments on the analyzed matters.
Curriculum
teacher profile teaching materials
The first module is titled History of Ancient Christianity (Master’s level), and the second History of Contemporary Christianity (Master’s level). Together, they will explore the theme of holiness through examples drawn from both ancient and contemporary periods.
Module I
Course title for the academic year 2025–2026:
Saint Sebastian and Saint Cecilia: Two Roman Martyrs Between History and Legend
This course aims to reconstruct the early stages of the veneration of Saint Sebastian and of Saint Cecilia. Sebastian is first mentioned in the Depositio martyrum of 354, under the date of January 20, as having been buried on the Via Appia ad catacumbas, at the site of the Memoria Apostolorum (later the Basilica Apostolorum under Constantine). He is later briefly mentioned by Ambrose in his Commentary on Psalm 118 and eventually becomes the central figure of the Passio Sancti Sebastiani, written between 430 and 450 by Arnobius the Younger, an African monk contemporary with Augustine, who lived in the monastery established next to the Basilica Apostolorum.
Cecilia, on the other hand, is not mentioned in the Depositio martyrum nor in other early sources. However, mainly through the Passio dedicated to her—also attributed to Arnobius the Younger—she came to be one of the most venerated and remembered martyrs, especially from the sixth century onwards.
The course focuses in particular on the analysis of these two passiones, which had a wide and lasting influence. Their literary, theological, and devotional aspects will be examined, along with possible connections to archaeological evidence.
G. P. Maggioni., La santità in Occidente. Introduzione all’agiografia medievale, Carocci, Roma 2021 selected chapters)
L’immaginario devoto tra mafie e antimafia 1. Riti, culti e santi, a cura di Tommaso Caliò e Lucia Ceci, Viella, Roma 2017
Further bibliography willl be provided during the course
Programme
The course consists of two modules of 6 ECTS each (for a total of 12 ECTS).The first module is titled History of Ancient Christianity (Master’s level), and the second History of Contemporary Christianity (Master’s level). Together, they will explore the theme of holiness through examples drawn from both ancient and contemporary periods.
Module I
Course title for the academic year 2025–2026:
Saint Sebastian and Saint Cecilia: Two Roman Martyrs Between History and Legend
This course aims to reconstruct the early stages of the veneration of Saint Sebastian and of Saint Cecilia. Sebastian is first mentioned in the Depositio martyrum of 354, under the date of January 20, as having been buried on the Via Appia ad catacumbas, at the site of the Memoria Apostolorum (later the Basilica Apostolorum under Constantine). He is later briefly mentioned by Ambrose in his Commentary on Psalm 118 and eventually becomes the central figure of the Passio Sancti Sebastiani, written between 430 and 450 by Arnobius the Younger, an African monk contemporary with Augustine, who lived in the monastery established next to the Basilica Apostolorum.
Cecilia, on the other hand, is not mentioned in the Depositio martyrum nor in other early sources. However, mainly through the Passio dedicated to her—also attributed to Arnobius the Younger—she came to be one of the most venerated and remembered martyrs, especially from the sixth century onwards.
The course focuses in particular on the analysis of these two passiones, which had a wide and lasting influence. Their literary, theological, and devotional aspects will be examined, along with possible connections to archaeological evidence.
Core Documentation
Michael Lapidge (ed.), The Roman Martyrs, Oxford 2018.G. P. Maggioni., La santità in Occidente. Introduzione all’agiografia medievale, Carocci, Roma 2021 selected chapters)
L’immaginario devoto tra mafie e antimafia 1. Riti, culti e santi, a cura di Tommaso Caliò e Lucia Ceci, Viella, Roma 2017
Further bibliography willl be provided during the course
teacher profile teaching materials
The first module is titled History of Ancient Christianity (Master’s level), and the second History of Contemporary Christianity (Master’s level). Together, they will explore the theme of holiness through examples drawn from both ancient and contemporary periods.
Module I
Course title for the academic year 2025–2026:
Saint Sebastian and Saint Cecilia: Two Roman Martyrs Between History and Legend
This course aims to reconstruct the early stages of the veneration of Saint Sebastian and of Saint Cecilia. Sebastian is first mentioned in the Depositio martyrum of 354, under the date of January 20, as having been buried on the Via Appia ad catacumbas, at the site of the Memoria Apostolorum (later the Basilica Apostolorum under Constantine). He is later briefly mentioned by Ambrose in his Commentary on Psalm 118 and eventually becomes the central figure of the Passio Sancti Sebastiani, written between 430 and 450 by Arnobius the Younger, an African monk contemporary with Augustine, who lived in the monastery established next to the Basilica Apostolorum.
Cecilia, on the other hand, is not mentioned in the Depositio martyrum nor in other early sources. However, mainly through the Passio dedicated to her—also attributed to Arnobius the Younger—she came to be one of the most venerated and remembered martyrs, especially from the sixth century onwards.
The course focuses in particular on the analysis of these two passiones, which had a wide and lasting influence. Their literary, theological, and devotional aspects will be examined, along with possible connections to archaeological evidence.
G. P. Maggioni., La santità in Occidente. Introduzione all’agiografia medievale, Carocci, Roma 2021 selected chapters)
L’immaginario devoto tra mafie e antimafia 1. Riti, culti e santi, a cura di Tommaso Caliò e Lucia Ceci, Viella, Roma 2017
Further bibliography willl be provided during the course
Programme
The course consists of two modules of 6 ECTS each (for a total of 12 ECTS).The first module is titled History of Ancient Christianity (Master’s level), and the second History of Contemporary Christianity (Master’s level). Together, they will explore the theme of holiness through examples drawn from both ancient and contemporary periods.
Module I
Course title for the academic year 2025–2026:
Saint Sebastian and Saint Cecilia: Two Roman Martyrs Between History and Legend
This course aims to reconstruct the early stages of the veneration of Saint Sebastian and of Saint Cecilia. Sebastian is first mentioned in the Depositio martyrum of 354, under the date of January 20, as having been buried on the Via Appia ad catacumbas, at the site of the Memoria Apostolorum (later the Basilica Apostolorum under Constantine). He is later briefly mentioned by Ambrose in his Commentary on Psalm 118 and eventually becomes the central figure of the Passio Sancti Sebastiani, written between 430 and 450 by Arnobius the Younger, an African monk contemporary with Augustine, who lived in the monastery established next to the Basilica Apostolorum.
Cecilia, on the other hand, is not mentioned in the Depositio martyrum nor in other early sources. However, mainly through the Passio dedicated to her—also attributed to Arnobius the Younger—she came to be one of the most venerated and remembered martyrs, especially from the sixth century onwards.
The course focuses in particular on the analysis of these two passiones, which had a wide and lasting influence. Their literary, theological, and devotional aspects will be examined, along with possible connections to archaeological evidence.
Core Documentation
Michael Lapidge (ed.), The Roman Martyrs, Oxford 2018.G. P. Maggioni., La santità in Occidente. Introduzione all’agiografia medievale, Carocci, Roma 2021 selected chapters)
L’immaginario devoto tra mafie e antimafia 1. Riti, culti e santi, a cura di Tommaso Caliò e Lucia Ceci, Viella, Roma 2017
Further bibliography willl be provided during the course