Project organizes in collaboration a workshop “New perspectives on St Birgitta and the Birgittine movement in medieval Finland and beyond: materiality, senses, and emotions”
Symposium 30–31.3.2023, Turku Centre for Medieval and Early Modern Studies
(University of Turku) & Åbo Akademi University
Thursday 30.3.2023 (University of Turku, Publicum, Room: Pub.5)
14:00 Opening words (Anna-Stina Hägglund & Marika Räsänen)
14:15 Laura Saetveit Miles (British Literature, University of Bergen): “Birgitta of Sweden’s Influence on Vernacular Devotional Literature in Medieval England”
15:00 Panel a) The dissemination of Birgittine ideas: Texts
Chair: Laura Saetveit Miles
Sari Katajala-Peltomaa (History, Tampere University): ‘”To the treasures on earth” Pilgrimage ethos in Birgittine sermons,
Mikko Kauko (Scandinavian Languages, University of Turku): ‘Jöns Budde’s Birgittine Version of St. Mechtild of Hackeborn’s “Liber specialis gratiae”’
Elise Pihlajaniemi (Open University and Continuous Learning, Turku): ‘The Smallest Ant in Your Kingdom” — Approaching St. Birigtta´s Concepts of Hope Through Contemplation and Bodily Practices’
16:30 Coffee
17:00 Panel b) Birgittine bonds of friendship: Networks
Chair: Sari Katajala-Peltomaa
Päivi Salmesvuori (Church History, Åbo Akademi University): ‘Birgitta’s Ideal Christian: Mary and Martha together’
Jyrki Nissi (History, Tampere University): ‘Knut Posse, Ingeborg Tott and the Cult of Birgitta in the Häme Castle Region’
Anna-Stina Hägglund (Tampere University): ‘Creating bonds through prayers. Adopted women joining the Birgittine community in Nådendal’
Friday 31.3.2023 (Åbo Akademi, Theologicum, Room: Runda rummet)
09:00 Panel c) Imagining St Birgitta through art and relics: Materiality
Chair: Anu Mänd
Elina Räsänen (Art History, University of Helsinki): ‘Pyhä Prikitta, Briitta Kurki, and the remaining medieval wood sculptures. Reshaping and stirring the memory of St Birgitta in Finland’
Sofia Lahti (Art History, University of Helsinki/History, Tampere University): ‘Four ostrich eggs and other reliquaries in Naantali: Lost treasures in a Birgittine context.’
Marika Räsänen (TUCEMEMS, University of Turku): ‘Materiality of Birgitta’s healing relics’
10:30 Coffee
11:00 Anu Mänd (Art History, University of Tallinn): ‘Material culture of the Birgittine convent in Mariendal (Pirita)’
11:45 Concluding discussion
The symposium is organized by the Turku Centre for Medieval and Early Modern Studies (University of Turku), Åbo Akademi University, and the reseach project ”Lived Religion in Medieval Finland” (Tampere University)