Monte Cassino Abbey: The Watchtower of Religion or Culture?

Date
to
Location
7-152

Global Friday Presents
Dr. Kriston Rennie
Dean, Faculty of Indigenous Studies, Social Sciences and Humanities (FISSSH)
University of Northern British Columbia

ABSTRACT:  The Benedictine abbey of Monte Cassino (est. 529) stands today as a rich and symbolic lesson in history. Its manifold experience with destruction and recovery over 1400 years reveals a profound transformation of meaning and value. This presentation explores the formation of Monte Cassino’s cultural and historical identity, asking how the abbey assumed its role as the lighthouse of western civilisation and the symbol of a united Europe.

SPEAKER'S BIO: Dr. Kriston Rennie is an historian of religion who specializes in the Middle Ages. Much of his work has centered on the Roman Church, the medieval papacy, ecclesiastical representation and diplomacy, the production and dissemination of law and legal texts, and the construction of religious identity and heritage. 

Dr. Rennie holds a BA in History and Religious Studies from the University of Lethbridge; an MLitt in Mediaeval History from the University of St Andrews; a PhD in History (Medieval) from King’s College London; and a Licence in Mediaeval Studies (LMS) from the Pontifical Institute of Mediaeval Studies in Toronto. He is an elected Fellow of the Royal Historical Society, a proud alumnus of the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, and the recipient of research fellowships in Canada, Germany, Belgium, the USA, Australia, and England. 

Also available Online via Zoom Webinar:  https://unbc.zoom.us/j/67369815652?pwd=QmNZaUlhRWFnb1VSY3J6M2k5UG9NZz09  Passcode: 914916

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