Friendship in the Letters of Alcuin of York
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.48162/rev.35.047Keywords:
Friendship, caritas Christi, fidelitas, affection, holinessAbstract
The epistolary work of Alcuin of York provides a profound insight into friendship in the Early Middle Ages, where it was not only an emotional bond but also a means of spiritual growth and closeness to God. Inspired by the Patristic tradition, Alcuin develops his concept of friendship through caritas Christi, seeing in his friends a reflection of the divine. His correspondence reveals that friendship played a crucial role in the social and political structure of the time, involving abbots, monks, kings, and laypeople. In his letters, he emphasizes fidelitas as the cornerstone of true friendship, highlighting the need for trust, sincerity, and mutual commitment. Additionally, his epistolary style is marked by intense affection, conveyed through metaphors and biblical references. For Alcuin, friendship is not merely a gift from God but a path to holiness, a spiritual treasure that endures beyond earthly life.
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