We are delighted to announce that the COST Action CA23143 Participation through Prayer in the Late Medieval and Early Modern World (PRAYTICIPATE) has approved its first Short-Term Scientific Mission (STSM). The inaugural grant has been awarded to Dr Despina Iosif, a historian of the Greco-Roman world from College Year Athens and the Hellenic Open University in Athens.

Dr Iosif will carry out her STSM at Durham University, UK, where she will conduct research on the topic “Prayer Inside Prisons According to the Christian Martyr Acts.” Her project explores how early Christian narratives portray prayer as a vital source of strength, identity, and divine intervention for imprisoned believers facing persecution.

Through these martyrdom accounts—crafted to inspire faith and spiritual resilience—Dr Iosif seeks to understand the role of prayer in shaping theological interpretations of suffering, reinforcing communal bonds, and expressing hope in the face of death. Her study also aims to shed light on how these texts contributed to the development of Christian piety and the conceptualization of prisons as sacred spaces.

Ultimately, this research will deepen our understanding of the religious, psychological, and cultural functions of prayer within the transformative and often harrowing context of early Christian martyrdom.

We are proud to support Dr Iosif’s important and timely work, which aligns with PRAYTICIPATE’s mission to explore the many dimensions of prayer and devotional life in the premodern world.

Interested in applying for a COST Action Grant?
The COST Action Participation through Prayer in the Late Medieval and Early Modern World (CA23143) offers a range of funding opportunities for scholars working on topics related to prayer, devotion, and religious experience.

📌 Learn more: [COST Action CA23143]

For any funding-related inquiries, please contact our Grant Awarding Manager:
Dr Carolin Gluchowski (University of Hamburg)
✉️ carolin.gluchowski@uni-hamburg.de