query: subclass_of bollandist
supports: The Bollandists are an association of scholars , philologists , and historians ( originally all Jesuits , but now including non-Jesuits ) who since the early seventeenth century have studied hagiography and the cult of the saints in Christianity . Their most important publication has been the Acta Sanctorum ( The Lives of the Saints ) . They are named after Jean Bolland or Bollandus ( 1596 -- 1665 ) . Heribert Rosweyde (20 January 1569, Utrecht  5 October 1629, Antwerp) was a Jesuit hagiographer. His work, quite unfinished, was taken up by Jean Bolland who systematized it, while broadening its perspective. This is the beginning of the association of the Bollandists. A saint, also historically known as a hallow, is a term used for a person who is recognized as having an exceptional degree of holiness or likeness to God. Depending on the context and denomination, the term also retains its original Christian meaning, as any believer who is "in Christ" and in whom Christ dwells, whether in Heaven or on Earth. In Anglican, Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Lutheran, and Oriental Orthodox doctrine, all of their faithful deceased in Heaven are considered to be saints, but some are considered worthy of greater honor or emulation; official ecclesiastical recognition, and consequently veneration, is given to some saints through the process of canonization in the Catholic Church or glorification in the Eastern Orthodox Church. Jean Bolland (18 August 1596  12 September 1665) was a Jesuit priest and prominent Flemish hagiographer. Acta Sanctorum ("Acts of the Saints") is an encyclopedic text in 68 folio volumes of documents examining the lives of Christian saints, in essence a critical hagiography, which is organised according to each saint's feast day. The project was conceived and begun by Jesuit Heribert Rosweyde. After his death in 1629, the Jesuit scholar Jean Bolland ('Bollandus', 15961665) continued the work, which was gradually finished over the centuries by the Bollandists, who continue to edit and publish the "Acta Sanctorum".
candidates: association christianity church cult day death degree eastern orthodox church hagiographer official person priest process publication saint term text work
answer: hagiographer