Il culto coreutico dei martiri fra IV e V secolo

This essay investigates Christian choreutic devotions related to the refrigerium in honor of the saints. These religious phenomena developed inside Eastern and Western sacred spaces between the fourth and the fifth century despite the prohibitions imposed by the ecclesiastical hierarchy. These rituals were in fact in continuity with pagan parentalia and expressed a direct form of communication with afterlife without mediation of the Church. This widespread practice was therefore particularly dangerous for the ecclesiastical hierarchy, deprived of its control over sacred spaces and over the cult of saints.