Hagiology

[hag-ee-ol-uh-jee, hey-jee-] /ˌhæg iˈɒl ə dʒi, ˌheɪ dʒi-/

noun, plural hagiologies for 2, 3.
1.
the branch of literature dealing with the lives and legends of the saints.
2.
a biography or narrative of a saint or saints.
3.
a collection of such biographies or narratives.
/ˌhæɡɪˈɒlədʒɪ/
noun (pl) -gies
1.
literature concerned with the lives and legends of saints
2.

3.
an authoritative canon of saints
4.
a history of sacred writings
n.

“study of saints’ lives,” 1807, from Greek hagios “holy, devoted to the gods” + -ology. First element perhaps from PIE *yag- “to worship, reverence,” and cognate with Greek agnos “chaste,” Sanskrit yajati “reveres (a god) with sacrifices, worships,” Old Persian ayadana “temple.” Related: Hagiologist (1805).