La figura di Zosima, padre "autorevole", nella leggenda di Maria Egiziaca

[automatically translated] The Legend of Mary of Egypt has enjoyed great success in the eastern and western hagiographic tradition from the sixth-seventh century. up to the High and Late Middle Ages. Character fundamental and co-star of the legend is true Father Zosima, who meets Mary of Egypt in the Palestinian desert and with it establishes a relationship of devotion, until the death of the woman and her burial. This officer receives, in the various versions of the story, a different treatment by different authors: often, in fact, are dedicated to him excerpts, especially at the beginning of the story, sometimes while the narrative is centered almost exclusively on the history of conversion and of redemption former prostitute Mary of Egypt, leaving little space to the figure of Zosima. Through specially chosen examples (taken mainly from "blessed Life Marie Egiptiace" of Hildebert and "De Maria et Aegyptiaca Zozima» Flodoardo of Reims), trying to give light to the theme of '' auctoritas "- in the sense of ' "authority" of "pater" spiritual - of Zosima. A figure double, her, that one side takes on the characteristics, in fact, the "spiritual father" of the woman (according to a widespread form hagiography), on the other those of "disciple", in devotion and reverence that bind him to holy hermit.