Hagiography is a noun that refers to a biography or an account of the lives of saints or holy persons. The term originated from the Greek words “hagios,” meaning holy, and “graphē,” meaning writing. Thus, hagiography can be understood as "holy writing."
In its most common usage, hagiography typically portrays saints, martyrs, and religious figures in a reverent and idealized manner. It often focuses on the miraculous or extraordinary aspects of their lives, emphasizing their virtuous acts and spiritual achievements. Hagiographies have been written in various religious traditions, including Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, and Buddhism, among others.
Hagiographies can take various forms, including books, manuscripts, or even oral narratives. They often serve religious purposes, such as inspiring devotion, promoting religious ideals, or presenting models of extraordinary piety and pious behavior.
However, the term "hagiography" can also be used more broadly to describe uncritical or excessively flattering biographical accounts of any person, not just saints or religious figures. In this extended sense, hagiography refers to a biography that excessively praises or glorifies its subject, emphasizing their achievements and virtues while downplaying or ignoring their flaws.
Therefore, hagiography can either refer specifically to accounts of saints and holy individuals or more generally to any biographical work that presents an idealized and uncritically positive view of its subject.
