Byzantine and Medieval Slavic Theological Aesthetics, sessions at the 54th International Congress on Medieval Studies, Western Michigan University, May 9–12, 2019

Often remarked upon, the distinctive emphasis on beauty as an organizing principle in Orthodox Christian theology, spirituality, and worship is a subject deserving of further academic inquiry. Towards that end, we have organized two sessions at the upcoming ICMS organized around the broad theme of beauty, as it is realized and addressed in the worship, theology, philosophy, art, and cultures of the Orthodox world. We welcome contributions from a wide variety of disciplines, including but not limited to art history, history, philosophy, religious studies, and theology.

In addition to studies rooted in the Byzantine and Slavic traditions we would be delighted also to consider papers on topics connected to theology and aesthetics in the Arab, Armenian, Coptic, Ethiopian, Georgian, Syriac, and other Eastern Christian cultural communities in late antiquity and the middle ages as well. Comparative work with other religious traditions is also welcome, so long as it demonstrates a firm grasp of the various traditions it addresses.

Session Organizer
Sean C. Stidd, Wayne State University