Hagiographical discourse in Medieval Arabic Christianity : A study of Anthony al Qurashi and Bulus ibn Raja as a discourse of parrhesia

Abstract: Scholars have faced many challenges in the classification of the literary genre of the hagiographical texts. In addition to their various styles and structures, hagiographical texts tend to move beyond the classical rhetorical approach. So, it is preferable to regard hagiography as a discourse which was mainly written for the purpose of the production of new heroes through the imitation of Christ and His holy men/women. The hagiographical discourse continued in Early Medieval Arabic Christianity, yet its purpose has expanded to address both Christians and Muslims. Through the examination of the Arabic hagiographical texts of two neo-martyrs, Anthony al-Qurashi and Būlus ibn Raja, it has been revealed that Christians pursued the figure of speech of parrhesia to address the mixed audience. On the one hand, to urge Christians to behold to their faith and, on the other hand, to encourage Muslims to convert.