Scrinium· 2026Q2
Ruler-Apostle Chosen by God: Legitimization of Power and Identity Formation in Byzantine and Georgian Narratives on the Christianization of Georgia/K‘art‘li
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- Q2SCImago
- 2026year
Short summary
Byzantine and Georgian narratives on Georgia's Christianization present converted rulers as 'ruler-apostles' chosen by God, mirroring Eusebius's portrayal of Constantine.
AI-generated from the title and abstract; the full text is not read.
Key points
- Byzantine and Georgian narratives on Georgia's Christianization feature rulers as 'ruler-apostles'.
- This concept is linked to Eusebius of Caesarea's portrayal of Emperor Constantine.
- The 'ruler-apostle' motif legitimizes the ruler's power and influences identity formation.
- The study compares Byzantine and Georgian sources on the conversion of the Iberian king by a captive woman.
AI-generated from the title and abstract; the full text is not read.
Abstract
Abstract Almost every story related to the conversion of a ruler is related to the topoi fashioned by the earliest narratives that reflect this process. Eusebius of Caesarea, recounting a tale about the conversion of the emperor Constantine, develops his own concept of ruler’s apostolicity. He presents Constantine as equal to the apostles. Later ecclesiastical historiographers also ascribe apostolic activities to the converted kings alongside acknowledging the missions of evangelizers of various countries. By juxtaposing the Byzantine and Georgian narratives recounting a story about the conversion of the Iberian king to Christianity by a certain captiva Christi, I will try to elucidate what these sources have to say with respect to the concept of a ruler preacher/apostle chosen by God.
The authors' abstract, as published at the source. Scrinium, 2026 · DOI ↗
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Field: Classics
ClassicsArts and Humanities