Dr. Kati Ihnat

Biography

Kati Ihnat is an Associate Professor specializing in Ancient Medieval History at Radboud University. Her research interests focus on medieval religious culture, with a particular emphasis on the ways ritual and theology interact to shape group identities. Ihnat's primary geographical focus over the years has been medieval Iberia, where she has studied the religious traditions of the area and the dynamics of its communities. Her work explores liturgical practices, especially how they contribute to identity-building processes. Ihnat analyzes diverse sources, including sung texts, prayers, theological treatises, and biblical stories, to understand the messages communicated to Christian populations during religious holidays. Her latest research projects, funded by the AHRC and NWO, investigate the cult of saints in medieval Iberia, examining the ways saints shaped symbols of Christian orthodoxy and identity. Ihnat is part of interdisciplinary teams studying the interplay of music, hagiography, and material culture in constructing meanings of martyrdom during the early medieval period. She has contributed to significant projects such as the ERC-funded 'Old Hispanic Office project' and the AHRC-funded study on the cultural expression of saints' cults.

Research Interests

Experience