103 VALDES OF LYON AND THE SELF-IDENTIFICATION OF THE MEDIEVAL WALDENSES 1 Aliaksandra Valodzina* Abstract: The study analyses the role of Valdes, founder of the Waldensian religious movement, and his position vis-a-vis the Roman Catholic Church in the group’s self- identification. His followers’ recognition that Valdes’ primary aspiration was to se- cure the papal approval prevented open separation of the Waldenses, during their first two centuries, from orthodox Catholics, especially in France. In regions where Valdes was less known (Italy) or totally unknown (the German-speaking lands), Waldenses withdrew more quickly and spread legends about Sylvestrian poisoning of the Church. Later, in the situation of total separation of the Waldensian commu- nity, the figure of Valdes was reconsidered to emphasise the movement’s unique right to salvation. He was transformed from a real 12 th -century citizen of Lyon into the descendant of St. Peter, bearer of his name, who alone led the Waldenses to salvation. Апстракт: Студијата ги анализира улогата на Валдо, основачот на валдензин- ското религиозно движење, и неговата позиција визави Римокатоличката црква во однос на самоидентификацијата на групата. Признанието на неговите след- беници дека основната заложба на Валдо била да обезбеди папско одобрување * Interdisciplinary Centre for Baltic Sea Region Research, University of Greifswald, research fellow, a.v.valodzina@gmail.com 1 Some ideas of this article were first discussed at the International Conference “‘Ours’ vs ‘Theirs’: Identity in Societies of the Ancient Times and the Middle Ages”, October 27–28, 2022, Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv (Ukraine), presentation “The Formation of Self-Identification in the Medieval Waldensian Religious Movement: Emergence of the Division into ‘Ours’ (Waldenses) and ‘Theirs’ (Catholics)” (in English).