Рецепција новозаветних мотива у Алексијади Ане Комнине у сврху назначења апостолског карактера Алексија Комнина (1081–1118)

Despite the overall narative frame in presenting her father’s life, patterned after the Homeric epic, Anna Comnena articulates the ruling ideology of her father by the reception of certain New Testament texts, comparing Alexius to Apostle Paul. Alexius’ apostleship, according to Anna, is reflected foremost in his theological discussions with heretics, Manicheans and Bogomils. Alexius possessed an extraordinary knowledge of the Scriptures, which he uses as the main means in the discussions with the heretics. Anna is not limited to the explicit parallelism of her father with Apostle Paul since in Alexiad there are numerous veiled implications which serve to strengthen the association between Alexius and Apostle Paul. For instance, Alexius’ preaching to the heretics evokes Paul’s preaching in Acts 20:7, while Alexius’ affection toward Christians, confirmed by the list of misfortunes, reminds on the Pauline apostolic autobiographical reflection in Rom 8:35-39.