Fall Term, 2012

Thursday, November 1, 5:00 PM Gerlinger Lounge

2012 GASTON LECTURE

CELEBRITY IN EARLY CHRISTIANITY: THE CASE OF EPIPHANIUS OF CYPRUS

Andrew Jacobs is Professor of Religious Studies at Scripps College in Claremont, CA. 

Why is one of the most celebrated Christian bishops of the late fourth century one that so few people have heard of? Even scholars of late antiquity know Epiphanius, archbishop of Cyprus, mainly as an intolerant, hostile, narrow-minded heresy-hunter. Yet in his day and time, Epiphanius was (simply put) famous. In this talk, Andrew Jacobs examines the phenomenon of celebrity in early Christianity through the life, career, and fame of Epiphanius: how does celebrity work? what can it do? and how did it shape Christianity in its early imperial period?

This event is FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.