AREAS OF SPECIALIZATION
Latin Ancient Christianity (Augustine, Niceta of Remesiana, Ambrose, Paulinus of Nola)
Latin Medieval Christianity (esp. twelfth-century Cistercians)
Medieval Reception of Early Christian Authors
EDUCATION
| 2005-2010 | Ph.D., Classics and Theology, University of St Andrews, UK |
| 2000-2001 | M.A., Classics and Theology, University of Durham, UK |
| 1996-2000 | B.A., Classics, West University of Timisoara, Romania |
| 1998-1999 | M.A., French Studies, West University of Timisoara, Romania |
| 1994-1998 | B.A., French-Romanian, West University of Timisoara, Romania |
ACADEMIC APPOINTMENTS
| 2023-2026 | DFG Research Fellow, Faculty of Theology Georg-August University Göttingen, Germany |
| 2021-2022 | Gerda Henkel Fellow, Department of Medieval History Georg-August University Göttingen, Germany |
| 2019-2020 | DFG Research fellow at the CRC 1136 ‘Education and Religion in Cultures of the Mediterranean and its Environment from Ancient to Medieval Times’ Georg-August University Göttingen, Germany |
| 2016-2018 | Postdoc at the Forum for Interdisciplinary Religious Studies (FIRSt) Georg-August University, Göttingen, Germany |
| 2013-2016 | Dorothea Schlözer Postdoctoral Fellow Faculty of Theology, Georg-August University, Göttingen, Germany |
| 2010-2013 | Postdoc Department of Culture and Society, University of Aarhus, Denmark |
VISITING POSITIONS
| 2008-2009 | Visiting Researcher Faculty of Theology, Albert-Ludwigs University, Freiburg, Germany |
| 2007 | Visiting Researcher Faculty of Theology, University of Aarhus, Denmark |
GRANTS, PROJECTS, FELLOWSHIPS AND ACADEMIC HONOURS
| 2021-Present | Gerda Henkel Fellowship Project: ‘Caute Legatur:’ The Historical Reception of Origen in the Twelfth Century Latin West |
| 2019-2020 | CRC 1136 Education and Religion Christian Appropriation of Ancient Knowledge: Teaching through Images in Late Antiquity and the Early Middle Ages |
| 2016-2018 | Forum for Interdisciplinary Religious Studies (FIRSt) Project: Defining the Holy: Textual Representations of Sacred Bodies, Sounds and Spaces in Latin Ancient Christianity |
| 2016 | Fritz Thyssen Conference Grant Episcopal Networks in Late Antiquity: Connection and Communication across Boundaries, Göttingen 28-30, September 2016 – 10,000 Euros. |
| 2013-2016 | Dorothea Schlözer Fellowship Georg August University, Göttingen, Germany Project: Beyond East and West: Niceta of Remesiana and Episcopal Networking in the Late Roman Empire |
| 2010-2013 | Velux Grant Department of Culture and Society, Aarhus, Denmark Project: The Long Journey Back to God: Augustine Conversion’ Account between Historical Truth and Fictional Narrative |
| 2010 | Nominated for St-Andrews-University Principal’s Medal on grounds of academic excellence |
| 2008-2009 | Baden Württemberg Fellowship Faculty of Theology, Albert-Ludwigs University Freiburg, Germany |
| 2007 | Research Fellowship Faculty of Theology, Aarhus University, Denmark |
| 2005-2008 | Leverhulme Research Grant School of Classics, University of St Andrews, UK Project: The Reception of Augustine in the Mystical Thought of Bernard of Clairvaux and William of St Thierry |
| 2000-2001 | Society of Sacred Mission Scholarship Departments of Classics and Theology, Durham University, UK |
| 1997 | Tempus Scholarship, Department of Romance Languages, State University of Antwerp, Belgium |
CONFERENCE ACTIVITY/PARTICIPATION
Organizations of Conferences/Workshops/Conference Sessions
| 2022 | International Workshop on the Vita Prima the hagiographical account of Bernard of Clairvaux’s life, 5-8 December, Pontificio Ateneo Sant’ Anselmo, Rome (with Laurence Mellerin). |
| 2022 | Conference Sessions “Transcending Language Boundaries: The Reception of Greek Christian Texts in the Twelfth Century Latin West,” International Medieval Congress, 4-8 July, Leeds, UK (with Laurence Mellerin). |
| 2016 | International conference Episcopal Networks in Late Antiquity: Connection and Communication across Boundaries, 28-30 September, Göttingen, Germany (with Peter Gemeinhardt). |
| 2012 | International conference Conversion and Initiation in Antiquity: Shifting Identities - Creating Change, December 1-4, Ebeltoft, Denmark (with Birgitte Bøgh, Anders-Christian Jacobsen, Jakob Engberg and Rubina Raja). |
| 2006 | Postgraduate Conference Augustine and His Readers, November 13, School of Classics, University of St Andrews, UK (with Karla Pollmann and Jochen Schultheiss). |
Selected Papers
‘The Making of a Saint: Literary Representations of Bernard of Clairvaux’s Holiness in the Vita Prima,” Essere un santo a metà del XII secolo: Intorno alla Vita Prima di Bernardo Chiaravalle, Rome, 5-8 December, 2022.
‘The Wisdom of the Greeks: The Greek Sources of Peter Abelard,’ International Medieval Congress, Leeds, 4-7 July, 2022.
‘Friends and Adversaries in Twelfth-century Western Theological Debates,’ Göttingen Weekend for Advanced Patristic Studies. Waldschlösschen, 1-3 March, 2022.
‘Reading Origen in the Twelfth-century Schools.’ The Meeting of Societas Mediaevistica, Göttingen, 17-18 February, 2022.
‘Diversa sed non Adversa: Reading Conflicting Authorities in the Cloister and Medieval Schools in the Early Twelfth Century.’ Annual Meeting of the Göttingen and Aarhus Patristic Scholars, Sandbjerg, October, 2021.
‘Auctoritas Patrum and the Boundaries of the Christian Tradition: 12th century Debates over the Use of Religious Textual Authorities.’ International Medieval Congress, Leeds, 5-9 July, 2021.
‘Caute Legatur: The Historical Reception of Origen in the Twelfth Century Latin West,’ Zoom presentation for the Research Seminar Themen und Tendenzen der Mittelalterforschung, Göttingen, 10 June, 2021.
‘Conflict and Authority: Peter Abelard and William of St Thierry as Readers of Origen.’ Zoom presentation for the international conference The Reception History of the Biblical and Patristic Heritage, organized by Miriam Decock, Aarhus University, 9 April, 2021.
‘Notissima sanctitas loci: Paulinus of Nola and the Making of Christian Sacred Space.’ Cultural Identity and Transmission in Early Christian Literature. Aarhus, 12-14 June, 2019.
‘Memory and Experience in Augustine’s Confessions Book 8.’ Narratologie und Intertextualität. Göttingen, 24-26 October 2018.
‘Between Authority and Innovation: William of St Thierry’s Use of Augustine for his View on Sensus Amoris.’ Guillaume de Saint-Thierry: histoire, théologie, spiritualité. Reims, June 4-7, 2018.
‘Theoretical Approaches to the Notion of Sacred Space.’ Religious Materiality as Boundary Making Workshop. Göttingen, August 29, 2017.
‘Multis enim notissima est sanctitas loci: Paulinus of Nola and the Making of Latin Christian Sacred Space.’ North-American Patristic Society Conference. Chicago, May 25-27, 2017.
‘Reading Origen in the Twelfth Century Latin West: The Case of Bernard of Clairvaux.’ Ancient Thought from a Global Perspective: Human Freedom and Dignity, Canterbury, 26-28 February, 2017.
‘Niceta of Remesiana and his Visits to Nola: Between Sacred Travel and Political Mission.’ Episcopal Networks in Late Antiquity: Connection and Communication across Boundaries. Göttingen, Germany. September 28-30, 2016.
‘Ambrose of Milan and the Art of Teaching.’ Lehrer und Lehrerinnen im spätantiken Christentum. Bovenden, 10-12 August, 2016.
‘Sex, Gender, Shame: Basil of Caesarea and Niceta of Remesiana’s Treatise-Letters to the Fallen Virgins.’ Annual Meeting of the Göttingen and Aarhus Patristic Scholars. Sandbjerg, Denmark. April 27-29, 2016.
‘A Fourth-century Latin Treatise on Virginity: Niceta of Remesiana, De lapsu virginis.’ Göttingen Weekend for Patristic Studies. Duderstadt, Germany. February 5-6, 2016.
‘Episcopal Interactions in the Late Antique West: Ambrose of Milan and Niceta of Remesiana.’ International Conference on Patristic Studies. Oxford, England. August 10-14, 2015.
‘Episcopal Leadership in Fourth Century Illyricum: The Curious Case of Niceta of Remesiana.’ Medial (Re) presentations-Various Messages: Ideology, Leadership and Crowds in the Roman Empire of the Fourth Century. Göttingen, Germany. February 19-21, 2015.
‘Greek Thought in Latin Language: Niceta of Remesiana’s View on the Church.’ Patristische Arbeitsgemeinschaft. Duderstadt, Germany. January 2-5, 2015.
‘Niceta of Remesiana and ‘pro-Nicene’ Christianity in the Last Decades of Fourth Century Illyricum.’ Linking the Mediterranean: Regional and Trans-regional Interactions in Times of Fragmentation. Vienna, Austria. December 11-14, 2014.
‘Niceta of Remesiana and ‘pro-Nicene’ Christianity in the Last Decades of Fourth Century Illyricum.’ Göttingen Weekend for Advanced Patristic Studies. Waldschlosschen, Germany. September 2-4, 2014.
‘Learning Greek in the Twelfth Century Latin West: The Early Cistercians and Their Means of Access to Greek Sources.’ Education and Theology in Medieval Times. Göttingen, Germany. June 19-21, 2014.
‘Memory, Narrative and the Making of Truth: Understanding Augustine’s Conversion.’ Centre for the Study of Antiquity and Christianity Seminar. Århus, Denmark. May 21, 2013.
‘Change and Continuity: Reading Anew Augustine’s Conversion.’ Conversion and Initiation in Antiquity: Shifting Identities-Creating Change. Ebeltoft, Denmark. December 1-4, 2012.
‘Neoplatonism and Conversion in Augustine’s Confessions and in the Cassiciacum Dialogues.’ International Society of Neoplatonic Studies (ISNS) Conference. Haifa, Israel. March 22-25, 2011.
‘The Normative Dimension of Confessions 8.’ Normativity, Ideology and Reception. Århus, Denmark. January 20-22, 2011.
‘Augustine’s Conversion Revisited.’ Religion, Identity and Education in Late Antiquity. Göttingen, Germany. October 4-6, 2011.
‘Sensus Amoris: William of St. Thierry on the Union of the Soul with God.’ Min(d)ing Augustine through the Ages. NIAS, Wassenaar, Netherlands. November 13, 2008.
‘Unum and Unus spiritus: Bernard of Clairvaux on the Union of the Soul with God’, Classical Association Conference. Liverpool, England. March 27-31, 2008.
‘Qui adhaeret Deo unus spiritus est (1 Cor 6:17): Augustine and Bernard on the Soul’s Union with God.’ Postgraduate Conference of the Ecclesiatical History Society. Manchester, England. March 1, 2008.
‘What is Augustinian in Richard of St. Victor’s Teaching on Contemplation?’, International Medieval Congress. Leeds, England. July 9-12, 2007.
‘Ipse prior dilexit nos (1 Jo 4:10): Augustine and Bernard of Clairvaux on Loving God.’ Postgraduate Conference for Divinity and Religious Studies at the Scottish Universities. Aberdeen, Scotland. June 21, 2007.
‘Rereading Confessions, Book VII, in the Light of the Early Dialogue Contra Academicos.’Antiquity and Christianity: Conflict or Conciliation. Ljubljana, Slovenia. May 10-12, 2007.
‘Augustine and the Medieval Mystical Writers.’ Gender and Transformation Seminar, Ph.D. Seminar. Oslo, Norway. March 8-10, 2007.
‘Re-interpreting Augustine: Self-knowledge and Interiority in the Spiritual Writings of Richard of St.Victor.’ Jews, Christians and Pagans in Antiquity - Critique and Apologetic, PhD. Seminar. Ebeltoft, Denmark. January 22-26, 2007.
‘Augustine and Richard of Saint Victor on Active and Contemplative Life’, Augustine and His Readers, PG Conference. St. Andrews, Scotland. November 13, 2006.
‘The Wisdom of the Greeks: The Greek Sources of Peter Abelard,’ International Medieval Congress, Leeds, 4-7 July, 2022.
‘Friends and Adversaries in Twelfth-century Western Theological Debates,’ Göttingen Weekend for Advanced Patristic Studies. Waldschlösschen, 1-3 March, 2022.
‘Reading Origen in the Twelfth-century Schools.’ The Meeting of Societas Mediaevistica, Göttingen, 17-18 February, 2022.
‘Diversa sed non Adversa: Reading Conflicting Authorities in the Cloister and Medieval Schools in the Early Twelfth Century.’ Annual Meeting of the Göttingen and Aarhus Patristic Scholars, Sandbjerg, October, 2021.
‘Auctoritas Patrum and the Boundaries of the Christian Tradition: 12th century Debates over the Use of Religious Textual Authorities.’ International Medieval Congress, Leeds, 5-9 July, 2021.
‘Caute Legatur: The Historical Reception of Origen in the Twelfth Century Latin West,’ Zoom presentation for the Research Seminar Themen und Tendenzen der Mittelalterforschung, Göttingen, 10 June, 2021.
‘Conflict and Authority: Peter Abelard and William of St Thierry as Readers of Origen.’ Zoom presentation for the international conference The Reception History of the Biblical and Patristic Heritage, organized by Miriam Decock, Aarhus University, 9 April, 2021.
‘Notissima sanctitas loci: Paulinus of Nola and the Making of Christian Sacred Space.’ Cultural Identity and Transmission in Early Christian Literature. Aarhus, 12-14 June, 2019.
‘Memory and Experience in Augustine’s Confessions Book 8.’ Narratologie und Intertextualität. Göttingen, 24-26 October 2018.
‘Between Authority and Innovation: William of St Thierry’s Use of Augustine for his View on Sensus Amoris.’ Guillaume de Saint-Thierry: histoire, théologie, spiritualité. Reims, June 4-7, 2018.
‘Theoretical Approaches to the Notion of Sacred Space.’ Religious Materiality as Boundary Making Workshop. Göttingen, August 29, 2017.
‘Multis enim notissima est sanctitas loci: Paulinus of Nola and the Making of Latin Christian Sacred Space.’ North-American Patristic Society Conference. Chicago, May 25-27, 2017.
‘Reading Origen in the Twelfth Century Latin West: The Case of Bernard of Clairvaux.’ Ancient Thought from a Global Perspective: Human Freedom and Dignity, Canterbury, 26-28 February, 2017.
‘Niceta of Remesiana and his Visits to Nola: Between Sacred Travel and Political Mission.’ Episcopal Networks in Late Antiquity: Connection and Communication across Boundaries. Göttingen, Germany. September 28-30, 2016.
‘Ambrose of Milan and the Art of Teaching.’ Lehrer und Lehrerinnen im spätantiken Christentum. Bovenden, 10-12 August, 2016.
‘Sex, Gender, Shame: Basil of Caesarea and Niceta of Remesiana’s Treatise-Letters to the Fallen Virgins.’ Annual Meeting of the Göttingen and Aarhus Patristic Scholars. Sandbjerg, Denmark. April 27-29, 2016.
‘A Fourth-century Latin Treatise on Virginity: Niceta of Remesiana, De lapsu virginis.’ Göttingen Weekend for Patristic Studies. Duderstadt, Germany. February 5-6, 2016.
‘Episcopal Interactions in the Late Antique West: Ambrose of Milan and Niceta of Remesiana.’ International Conference on Patristic Studies. Oxford, England. August 10-14, 2015.
‘Episcopal Leadership in Fourth Century Illyricum: The Curious Case of Niceta of Remesiana.’ Medial (Re) presentations-Various Messages: Ideology, Leadership and Crowds in the Roman Empire of the Fourth Century. Göttingen, Germany. February 19-21, 2015.
‘Greek Thought in Latin Language: Niceta of Remesiana’s View on the Church.’ Patristische Arbeitsgemeinschaft. Duderstadt, Germany. January 2-5, 2015.
‘Niceta of Remesiana and ‘pro-Nicene’ Christianity in the Last Decades of Fourth Century Illyricum.’ Linking the Mediterranean: Regional and Trans-regional Interactions in Times of Fragmentation. Vienna, Austria. December 11-14, 2014.
‘Niceta of Remesiana and ‘pro-Nicene’ Christianity in the Last Decades of Fourth Century Illyricum.’ Göttingen Weekend for Advanced Patristic Studies. Waldschlosschen, Germany. September 2-4, 2014.
‘Learning Greek in the Twelfth Century Latin West: The Early Cistercians and Their Means of Access to Greek Sources.’ Education and Theology in Medieval Times. Göttingen, Germany. June 19-21, 2014.
‘Memory, Narrative and the Making of Truth: Understanding Augustine’s Conversion.’ Centre for the Study of Antiquity and Christianity Seminar. Århus, Denmark. May 21, 2013.
‘Change and Continuity: Reading Anew Augustine’s Conversion.’ Conversion and Initiation in Antiquity: Shifting Identities-Creating Change. Ebeltoft, Denmark. December 1-4, 2012.
‘Neoplatonism and Conversion in Augustine’s Confessions and in the Cassiciacum Dialogues.’ International Society of Neoplatonic Studies (ISNS) Conference. Haifa, Israel. March 22-25, 2011.
‘The Normative Dimension of Confessions 8.’ Normativity, Ideology and Reception. Århus, Denmark. January 20-22, 2011.
‘Augustine’s Conversion Revisited.’ Religion, Identity and Education in Late Antiquity. Göttingen, Germany. October 4-6, 2011.
‘Sensus Amoris: William of St. Thierry on the Union of the Soul with God.’ Min(d)ing Augustine through the Ages. NIAS, Wassenaar, Netherlands. November 13, 2008.
‘Unum and Unus spiritus: Bernard of Clairvaux on the Union of the Soul with God’, Classical Association Conference. Liverpool, England. March 27-31, 2008.
‘Qui adhaeret Deo unus spiritus est (1 Cor 6:17): Augustine and Bernard on the Soul’s Union with God.’ Postgraduate Conference of the Ecclesiatical History Society. Manchester, England. March 1, 2008.
‘What is Augustinian in Richard of St. Victor’s Teaching on Contemplation?’, International Medieval Congress. Leeds, England. July 9-12, 2007.
‘Ipse prior dilexit nos (1 Jo 4:10): Augustine and Bernard of Clairvaux on Loving God.’ Postgraduate Conference for Divinity and Religious Studies at the Scottish Universities. Aberdeen, Scotland. June 21, 2007.
‘Rereading Confessions, Book VII, in the Light of the Early Dialogue Contra Academicos.’Antiquity and Christianity: Conflict or Conciliation. Ljubljana, Slovenia. May 10-12, 2007.
‘Augustine and the Medieval Mystical Writers.’ Gender and Transformation Seminar, Ph.D. Seminar. Oslo, Norway. March 8-10, 2007.
‘Re-interpreting Augustine: Self-knowledge and Interiority in the Spiritual Writings of Richard of St.Victor.’ Jews, Christians and Pagans in Antiquity - Critique and Apologetic, PhD. Seminar. Ebeltoft, Denmark. January 22-26, 2007.
‘Augustine and Richard of Saint Victor on Active and Contemplative Life’, Augustine and His Readers, PG Conference. St. Andrews, Scotland. November 13, 2006.