Italian Association for the Study of Sanctity, Cults and Hagiography

The Associazione italiana per lo studio della santità, dei culti e dell'agiografia (AISSCA) is an Italian scholarly association founded in 1996 by Sofia Boesch Gajano and a group of Italian scholars. It grew out of years of individual and collective research, both Italian and international, that was rooted in the long tradition of scientific hagiography promoted since the seventeenth century by the Société des Bollandistes. The association was created to foster collaboration among scholars at an international level through conferences, seminars and a network for bibliographic and project information. AISSCA is distinguished by a diachronic and multidisciplinary approach to the study of sanctity and cults. Its historical focus is mainly on Christianity from its origins to the contemporary age, considered in relation to other civilizations — Jewish, Greek, Roman, Germanic, Muslim — and to the civilizations of the lands where Christianity spread. Its sources and methods draw on different disciplines: literature, social and institutional history, anthropology, liturgy, law and iconography. From 1996 to 2003 AISSCA published an annual Bollettino informativo containing the statute, a list of members with their bibliographies and notices of initiatives. In 2004 the Bollettino became the journal Sanctorum, which in 2015 was transformed into a book series. The association's activity is documented by numerous conferences, seminars and meetings, and by the related publications. Its website provides access to a news archive and an Agiographic Library section where members' recent publications are announced.

AISSCA was founded in 1996 by Sofia Boesch Gajano and a group of Italian scholars. Its origins lie in years of individual and collective research, Italian and international, that were grafted onto the long and consolidated tradition of scientific hagiography promoted from the seventeenth century onward by the Société des Bollandistes. This research constituted one of the most innovative strands of historiography in recent decades. The association's purpose was to promote collaboration among scholars at an international level, organizing conferences and seminars and creating a network for bibliographic and project information. AISSCA is characterized by a diachronic and multidisciplinary approach to the study of sanctity and cults. The historical scope considered is predominantly Christian, from the origins to the contemporary age, examined in its relations with other civilizations: Jewish, Greek, Roman, Germanic, Muslim, and then all the civilizations of the lands where Christianity spread. Its sources and methodologies are those proper to different disciplines: literature, social and institutional history, anthropology, liturgy, law and iconography. From 1996 to 2003 AISSCA published an annual Bollettino informativo (statute, list of members with their bibliographies, notices of initiatives). In 2004 the Bollettino was transformed into the journal Sanctorum, and subsequently, in 2015, it became a book series. The association's activity is documented by numerous conferences, seminars and meetings, and by the related publications. Its website maintains a news archive and an Agiographic Library section that publishes the latest titles reported by members.

• 2015

  Sanctorum becomes a book series.

• 2004

  Bollettino transformed into the journal Sanctorum.

• 1996

  AISSCA founded by Sofia Boesch Gajano and a group of Italian scholars.

• 1996

  Start of annual Bollettino informativo publication (continued until 2003).

A scholarly association promoting diachronic and multidisciplinary study of sanctity, cults and hagiography, with an international and collaborative orientation.

• Bollettino informativo

  Annual bulletin published from 1996 to 2003, containing the statute, member list with bibliographies and notices of initiatives.

• Sanctorum (journal)

  Journal that replaced the Bollettino in 2004.

• Sanctorum (book series)

  Book series that the journal became in 2015.

1. 1AISSCA – Associazione Italiana per lo Studio della Santità, dei Culti e dell'Agiografiaaisscaweb.it
2. 2L'associazione – AISSCAaisscaweb.it
3. 3Associazione italiana per lo studio della santità, dei culti e dell'agiografiawikidata.org