Monks and the Formation of Island Identities in Byzantium

Monasticism shaped the cultural landscapes of Byzantine islands. This paper will address aspects of the development of Byzantine monasticism in island settings and the ways the establishment of monastic communities helps to define the cultural identity of local communities and societies. Foundational and hagiographic narratives, monasteries, local cults and pilgrimage traditions established flourishing monastic communities and supported the efforts of the Byzantine state to rule and control insular spaces as well as to exploit their resources. Using the island of Cyprus as my primary example along with comparative material from Chios, Patmos, Paros and other islands in the Eastern Mediterranean, I will attempt to trace the deeds of monks and their patrons in relation to the establishment of monastic traditions which effectively secured the influence of Byzantine rule and culture on island societies. Religious practice and ritual combined with economic, political and even military activities reflect the multi-faceted roles of monastic communities and their leaders.