Textul hagiografic şi valenţele lui multiple: alte patru perspective asupra vieţii Sfântului Ioan cel Nou de la Suceava
The Hagiographic Text and Its Multiple Dimensions: Four Additional Perspectives on the Life of Saint John the New of Suceava

Summary/Abstract: If, in the 15th century, the passio Ioannis was primarily intended to establish the cult of Saint John and to present a framework designed to enhance the prestige of the voivodeship and affirm the autocephaly of the Metropolis of Moldavia following a difficult process of recognition by Constantinople, it can be observed that in the 17th century, the narrative is dominated by a strong anti-Catholic polemic and centered on the political reality of the time: Ottoman rule and the various pretexts used to force Christians to apostatize and convert to Islam. In particular, the Greek versions written by Patriarch Nichifor and Meletios Syrigos emphasize the doctrinal conflict between the merchant from Trebizond and the “Latin” sailor, an incident that serves as a catalyst for the latter’s slanderous denunciation. The anti-Catholic tone becomes even more pronounced in the mid-18th century in Patriarch Calinic’s version, while toward the end of that same century the emphasis shifts primarily to the moralizing aspect, with Saint Nicodimus seeking to make the martyrdom of Saint John and the other 85 martyrs mentioned in the New Martyrology examples of steadfastness in the faith, to be emulated by every Christian who might face a similar situation.

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