From April 3rd to 5th 2025, I was able to take part in the conference “New Research on Hagiographical Questions” at the Academy of the Diocese of Rottenburg-Stuttgart in Stuttgart-
Hohenheim. The event, organized by the working group for hagiographical questions, offered an intensive discussion of current perspectives on the study of saints. The interdisciplinary focus and the involvement of young scholars made the conference a particularly valuable experience for me - both professionally and personally.

Hagiography as a lively field of research

The introduction by the organizing team already showed that hagiography is understood in today's research as an interdisciplinary field of research that not only describes holiness, but also analyses it as a culturally shaped, medially mediated and socially effective practice. The contributions at the conference impressively illustrated how versatile and up-to-date hagiographic topics can be. The friendly and constructive atmosphere was fostered not least by the methodological openness of the conference: Historians, theologians, literary and art scholars as well as representatives of religious studies discussed on an equal footing. As a young researcher, I found the open-mindedness towards innovative questions and alternative research approaches particularly motivating.

Insights into current research projects

With regard to my own research topic, the lectures on gender issues in late medieval saints' vitae were of particular interest to me. The lecture “Religious Charismatics and Social Change” dealt with the role of charismatics in the 9th-11th centuries. The quantitative and qualitative analysis of the sources illustrated how the perception of charismatics and their influence on political and social structures were
documented and interpreted. I found the methodology presented in the lecture, which involved the use of a data analysis tool for the first systematic and quantitative evaluation of the source texts, particularly interesting. The contributions on the stories of the saints Henry and Cunegonde and on the connection between prophecy and holiness in female charismatics of the 14th century shed particular
light on the genre problem. The analyses showed the differing emphases in relation to gender roles that were negotiated in the texts with regard to chastity and prophecy. Subsequent discussions were stimulating and sometimes controversial, but always characterized by respect and constructive exchange.

Exchange and networking

After the presentations, there was always enough time for personal exchange. During the coffee breaks, over lunch and on walks through the Hohenheim Palace Park, there were stimulating conversations with other doctoral students, postdocs and established researchers. I will incorporate the ideas, suggestions and perspectives I gained from these discussions into my future research and pursue them further.

Hagiography as an interdisciplinary meeting place

The conference made me very aware of how fruitful interdisciplinary approaches can be with regard to hagiographical issues. Hagiographical sources provide insights into the social history and the world of ideas of their time and are a cultural repository in which questions of power, faith, identity and society are negotiated. Analyzing them with today's tools also means building new bridges - between past and present as well as between disciplines and areas of thought.