The Papess Joanne (Greek: Ἡ Πάπισσα Ἰωάννα, romanized: Hē Pápissa Iōánna) is a 1866 novel by Greek writer Emmanuel Rhoides. Published with the subtitle "medieval study",[a] the novel is an exploration of the European legend of Pope Joan, a woman who allegedly ascended the church hierarchy and reigned as pope in disguise some time in the late 9th century. Though a romance with satirical overtones, it has been described as having elements of a chronicle because of the writer's extensive research of historical sources.[1] Due to its religious commentary, the novel attracted criticism from the Greek Orthodox Church which resulted to its excommunication by the Holy Synod. The Papess Joanne became the most famous of Rhoides' works and has been established as a classic of Modern Greek literature; It got translated into several languages, earning Rhoides international recognition and praise.[2][3][4]
The Papess Joanne
Papissa Ioanna, front cover of the first edition, Athens 1866
The premise of the work is the medieval European legend of a woman named Joan who ascended the church hierarchy and allegedly assumed the papal throne disguised as a man (sometimes identified as Pope John VIII) during the late 9th century. The story first appeared in chronicles in the 13th century and subsequently spread throughout Europe. Though previously believed by many, it is regarded as fictional in modern scholarship.[5] Expanding upon this legend, Rhoides gives an account of the heroine's life.
Born to missionary parents, Joan grows to become an intelligent and attractive woman, deeply devoted to faith and with great knowledge of the scriptures.[4] She elopes with a young monk named Frumentius, with whom she is involved romantically and resides (disguised as a man called "John") in a monastery in Fulda, Germany; they later go on to share many adventures travelling around Western Europe. After settling and spending many years in Athens, she separates from him in pursuit of higher things. Joan arrives in Rome where she is eventually elected as Pope. There, she soon reveals her identity to the chamberlain Florus, the son of Leo IV, with whom she maintains a secret affair. Joan's sex is finally revealed when she gives birth to their child in the middle of a litany, whereupon she dies. The event brings an end to a series of plagues that had beset apon the city.[6][7]
Rhoides wrote that he first heard about the legend in Genoa as a child. Intrigued by the story, he did extensive research in Germany, Italy, and finally the National Library of Greece, and collected significant material on the period in which the storyline takes place. Ιn the preface of his book, Rhoides includes a number of references, notes, and footnotes, wanting to give a scientific appearance to his work.[1][8] As emphasized by the subtitle "medieval study", the author asserted the novel contained evidence that Pope Joan truly existed and that the Catholic Church had been attempting to cover up the fact for centuries.[9] In his long introduction, he listed a number of spokesmen in favour of the legend and declared his attempt to provide a "delineation of the state of religion, as well as of the customs and traditions of the 9th century". In reality, however, the novel constituted a caustic satire on the shortcomings of the Church, including the levels of illiteracy, abuses of power, and commercialism.[2]
Receptionedit
The Papess Joanne is one of the few modern Greek books that gained acceptance in Europe,[4] and the only Greek novel of the 19th century to have found a place in the European canon.[10] It gained international audience and it was translated into several languages, including French, German, English, and Russian.[2] Classified as one of the few comic masterpieces of modern Greek literature, it diverged significantly from the conventions of fiction at the time.[10]
Upon its publication, the work caused debate in the Athenian press and immediate controversy in religious circles. This response undoubtedly helped to establish the novel's enduring reputation.[6] The controversy was centered around the explicit language, erotic scenes, and Rhoides' critical commentary on the Orthodox Church. The issue was eventually introduced to the Holy Synod which characterized the novel as blasphemous. Rhoides responded to criticism by the Church initially with satirical commentaries on the press, followed –on a more serious tone– by the piece "A few words in response to the aphoristic circular of the Synod". Rhoides satirically stated that the controversy boosted the popularity of the novel, which otherwise would only be known in a small circle of scholars.[11][2] After his death in 1904, there was debate on whether the Synod had excommunicated the novel or Rhoides as well.[12] As it was stated by his nephew and biographer, Rhoides himself was in fact never excommunicated, continued to follow religious practices, and received the typical Orthodox burial.[13]
^""Ολίγαι λέξεις εις απάντησιν της υπ' αριθμ. 5688 εγκυκλίου της Ιεράς Συνόδου κατά της "Παπίσσης Ιωάννας"". anemi.lib.uoc.gr (in Greek). Retrieved 2023-09-24.
^"Digital Library - Η κηδεία του Ροΐδου". efimeris.nlg.gr. 1904. Retrieved 2023-09-24.
^Andreades, Andreas Michael (1911). Εμμ. Ροΐδης : Βιογραφικόν Σημείωμα. Athens: Βασιλικόν Τυπογραφείον Νικολάου Χιώτη. pp. ε΄–ο΄.
Sourcesedit
Patrides, C.A. (2014). Premises and Motifs in Renaissance Thought and Literature. Princeton University Press. ISBN9781400856367.
Andreades, Andreas Michael (2010). Ροϊδικά μελετήματα: 1911-1934. Morphōtiko Hidryma Ethnikēs Trapezēs. ISBN978-9602504321.
Beaton, Roderick (1999). Introduction to Modern Greek Literature. Clarendon Press. ISBN0198159749.
Mastrodimitris, P. D. (2004). . Nea Estia. pp. 591–599. Archived from the original on 2012-01-27.
Dragoumis, Mark (2004). . Athens News. Archived from the original on 2007-09-27.
Rustici, Craig (2006). The Afterlife of Pope Joan, Deploying the Popess Legend in Early Modern England. University of Michigan Press. ISBN9780472115440.
External linksedit
Papess Joanne and other works by Emmanuel Rhoides in digital format, Σπουδαστήριο Νέου Ελληνισμού.
January 01, 1970
papess, joanne, this, article, about, 19th, century, greek, novel, other, uses, pope, joan, disambiguation, greek, Πάπισσα, Ἰωάννα, romanized, pápissa, iōánna, 1866, novel, greek, writer, emmanuel, rhoides, published, with, subtitle, medieval, study, novel, ex. This article is about the 19th century Greek novel For other uses see Pope Joan disambiguation The Papess Joanne Greek Ἡ Papissa Ἰwanna romanized He Papissa Iōanna is a 1866 novel by Greek writer Emmanuel Rhoides Published with the subtitle medieval study a the novel is an exploration of the European legend of Pope Joan a woman who allegedly ascended the church hierarchy and reigned as pope in disguise some time in the late 9th century Though a romance with satirical overtones it has been described as having elements of a chronicle because of the writer s extensive research of historical sources 1 Due to its religious commentary the novel attracted criticism from the Greek Orthodox Church which resulted to its excommunication by the Holy Synod The Papess Joanne became the most famous of Rhoides works and has been established as a classic of Modern Greek literature It got translated into several languages earning Rhoides international recognition and praise 2 3 4 The Papess JoannePapissa Ioanna front cover of the first edition Athens 1866AuthorEmmanuel RhoidesOriginal titleἩ Papissa ἸwannaCountryGreeceLanguageGreek Katharevousa GenreRomance SatirePublication date1866 Contents 1 Overview 2 Reception 3 Footnotes 4 Sources 5 External linksOverview editSee also Pope Joan nbsp Pope Joan giving birth Woodcut from a German translation of Giovanni Boccaccio s De mulieribus claris British Museum The premise of the work is the medieval European legend of a woman named Joan who ascended the church hierarchy and allegedly assumed the papal throne disguised as a man sometimes identified as Pope John VIII during the late 9th century The story first appeared in chronicles in the 13th century and subsequently spread throughout Europe Though previously believed by many it is regarded as fictional in modern scholarship 5 Expanding upon this legend Rhoides gives an account of the heroine s life Born to missionary parents Joan grows to become an intelligent and attractive woman deeply devoted to faith and with great knowledge of the scriptures 4 She elopes with a young monk named Frumentius with whom she is involved romantically and resides disguised as a man called John in a monastery in Fulda Germany they later go on to share many adventures travelling around Western Europe After settling and spending many years in Athens she separates from him in pursuit of higher things Joan arrives in Rome where she is eventually elected as Pope There she soon reveals her identity to the chamberlain Florus the son of Leo IV with whom she maintains a secret affair Joan s sex is finally revealed when she gives birth to their child in the middle of a litany whereupon she dies The event brings an end to a series of plagues that had beset apon the city 6 7 Rhoides wrote that he first heard about the legend in Genoa as a child Intrigued by the story he did extensive research in Germany Italy and finally the National Library of Greece and collected significant material on the period in which the storyline takes place In the preface of his book Rhoides includes a number of references notes and footnotes wanting to give a scientific appearance to his work 1 8 As emphasized by the subtitle medieval study the author asserted the novel contained evidence that Pope Joan truly existed and that the Catholic Church had been attempting to cover up the fact for centuries 9 In his long introduction he listed a number of spokesmen in favour of the legend and declared his attempt to provide a delineation of the state of religion as well as of the customs and traditions of the 9th century In reality however the novel constituted a caustic satire on the shortcomings of the Church including the levels of illiteracy abuses of power and commercialism 2 Reception editThe Papess Joanne is one of the few modern Greek books that gained acceptance in Europe 4 and the only Greek novel of the 19th century to have found a place in the European canon 10 It gained international audience and it was translated into several languages including French German English and Russian 2 Classified as one of the few comic masterpieces of modern Greek literature it diverged significantly from the conventions of fiction at the time 10 Upon its publication the work caused debate in the Athenian press and immediate controversy in religious circles This response undoubtedly helped to establish the novel s enduring reputation 6 The controversy was centered around the explicit language erotic scenes and Rhoides critical commentary on the Orthodox Church The issue was eventually introduced to the Holy Synod which characterized the novel as blasphemous Rhoides responded to criticism by the Church initially with satirical commentaries on the press followed on a more serious tone by the piece A few words in response to the aphoristic circular of the Synod Rhoides satirically stated that the controversy boosted the popularity of the novel which otherwise would only be known in a small circle of scholars 11 2 After his death in 1904 there was debate on whether the Synod had excommunicated the novel or Rhoides as well 12 As it was stated by his nephew and biographer Rhoides himself was in fact never excommunicated continued to follow religious practices and received the typical Orthodox burial 13 Footnotes edit Greek mesaiwnikh meleth a b Papissa Iwanna 2008 04 20 Archived from the original on 2008 04 20 Retrieved 2023 09 24 via e Alexandria a b c d Patrides 2014 p 179 Beaton 1999 p 60 61 a b c Dragoumis 2004 Rustici 2006 p 8 a b Beaton 1999 p 61 Patrides 2014 p 180 Mastrodimitris 2004 p 592 Andreades Andreas Michael 2010 Roidika melethmata 1911 1934 in Greek Morphōtiko Hidryma Ethnikes Trapezes ISBN 978 960 250 432 1 a b Beaton 1999 p 60 Oligai le3eis eis apanthsin ths yp ari8m 5688 egkyklioy ths Ieras Synodoy kata ths Papisshs Iwannas anemi lib uoc gr in Greek Retrieved 2023 09 24 Digital Library H khdeia toy Roidoy efimeris nlg gr 1904 Retrieved 2023 09 24 Andreades Andreas Michael 1911 Emm Roidhs Biografikon Shmeiwma Athens Basilikon Typografeion Nikolaoy Xiwth pp e o Sources editPatrides C A 2014 Premises and Motifs in Renaissance Thought and Literature Princeton University Press ISBN 9781400856367 Andreades Andreas Michael 2010 Roidika melethmata 1911 1934 Morphōtiko Hidryma Ethnikes Trapezes ISBN 978 9602504321 Beaton Roderick 1999 Introduction to Modern Greek Literature Clarendon Press ISBN 0198159749 Mastrodimitris P D 2004 H ais8htikh ths istorias sthn Papissa Iwanna toy Emmanoyhl Roidh Nea Estia pp 591 599 Archived from the original on 2012 01 27 Dragoumis Mark 2004 Roidis delightful irreverence Athens News Archived from the original on 2007 09 27 Rustici Craig 2006 The Afterlife of Pope Joan Deploying the Popess Legend in Early Modern England University of Michigan Press ISBN 9780472115440 External links editPapess Joanne and other works by Emmanuel Rhoides in digital format Spoydasthrio Neoy Ellhnismoy Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title The Papess Joanne amp oldid 1211523573, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
