IU Alumni, Diane Fruchtman, gave a talk on Feb 27th on the concept of martyrdom according to Caesarius of Arles and Augustine. Fruchtman explained that though generations of readers have overlooked Augustine’s understanding that martyrdom does not require death, an early admirer of his, Caesarius of Arles (468-542), understood what Augustine was arguing, agreed with it, and incorporated it into the sermons and instructions he offered his own contemporaries. But the differences showcase the two bishops’ differing priorities, audiences, and historical circumstances.
Dr. Fruchtman received her Ph.D from Indiana University in 2014. Her dissertation examined the attempts of fifth century Latin authors to make martyrdom accessible to the masses, despite the end of official persecution. She is currently working on a book, Surviving Martyrdom: Martyrdom without Death in the Late Ancient Latin West and Beyond, that will expand upon this research. She is currently an Associate Professor of Religion at Rutgers University, New Brunswick.
Fruchtman Presents on Living Martyrdom
Thursday, February 27, 2025
The College of Arts