Trauma and Recovery in Early North African Christianity

Embedded within the texts of (1) The Scilitan martyrs , (2) The account of Montanus, Lucius, and their Companions , (3) The martyrdom of Marian and Jame s, (4) and The martyrdom of Cyprian of Carthage there is a powerful guide for living in the aftermath of trauma. These stories offered pathways to essential elements for recovery to its historical readership. These include beliefs and a number of positive religious coping strategies that revolved around a sense of safety, re-establishing community relationships, an integrated sense of the self, and the use of the body. This book vividly demonstrates that hagiographies played a vital role for helping trauma survivors recover and live in the aftermath of disaster.