Call for Papers for Session

Denying and undermining sainthood in the Middle Ages

International Medieval Congress, Leeds, 6-9 July 2026)

Due by 15 September 2025

Ever since Christianity began recognising sainthood, there has also been a parallel phenomenon of its denial. The uncovering of a false martyr’s tomb by St. Martin, and the Dominican inquisitor’s campaign against the cult of Guinefort, the holy greyhound, are among the most well-known examples of such interventions.

The session will discuss the phenomenon of denying and undermining sainthood in Latin Christianity throughout the Middle Ages, its various manifestations and aspects. Potential themes may include, but are not limited to:

- undermining sainthood and refusal to recognise a cult by official church authorities

- questioning sainthood as part of the canonisation process

- refusal to worship approved saints and lack of worship of figures eligible for sainthood

- undermining and diminishing the sanctity of holy patrons by competing ecclesiastical institutions, social groups, political communities, etc.

- questioning sainthood as an element of religious conflicts and a part of heterodox groups’ doctrine and teaching

- questioning the authenticity of relics and sceptical discourse towards the cult of relics

- destroying images of saints and artistic expressions of denying sainthood

To propose a paper

Please submit a paper title and abstract (max 200 words) with your name, email address and academic affiliation to Grzegorz Pac (gl.pac@uw.edu.pl) by 15 September 2025

The session is organised as part of the project RECOGNISING SAINTS in the High Middle Ages: Local and Papal Formalisation of Cults Reconsidered, funded by the National Science Centre, Poland, and hosted by the Faculty of History, University of Warsaw.