'Invitado por el emperador y la Augusta, el santo se sentó a la mesa con ellos' (Vida de Teodoro de Sykeon, 97): Brechas en la invisibilidad y reclusión de las emperatrices bizantinas (ss. IV-VII)

Abstract

The aim of this article on ‘Invited by the Emperor and the Augusta, the saint sat at the table with them (Life of Theodore of Sykeon, 97): gaps through invisibility and seclusion of Byzantine empresses (4th-7th centuries)’ aims to qualify the commonly accepted idea that the Byzantine empresses lived isolated in the Court with little or no contact with the external world. By means of some hagiographic sources (4th to the 7th centuries), we intend to demonstrate that very often the Augustae broke their enclosure to receive visits from holy-reputed monks as to enjoy their presence and benefit from their prophetic or miraculous charisms. The texts analysed in this article are the “Life of Martin of Tours” by Sulpicius Severus of Western origin, the “History of the Monks of Syria” by Theodoret of Cyrrus, the “Life of Porphyry of Gaza” by the deacon Marcus, the “Life of Hypatius by Callinicus”, the “Life of Sabas” by Cyril of Scytopolis and the “Life of Theodore of Sykeon” written by his disciple George.