medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
Today (5. January) is the feast day of:
Apollinaris Syncletica (d. c. 450) Likely a figure more of romance than of
history, Apollinaris was one of the "transvestite saints" of the Egyptian
desert. She is supposed to have been a woman of high birth who, disguised
as a boy, lived in an Egyptian hermitage as a disciple of one of the saints
named Macarius.
Simeon Stylites (d. 459) The greatest of the pillar-sitting saints, Simeon
was the son of a shepherd. He entered a monastery as a servant. He was
kicked out of his second monastery for excessive asceticism (he nearly died
of wearing a rope so tightly around his body that it grew there). Then he
became a hermit, nearly killing himself by going an entire Lent without
either food or drink---he was revived only by the Eucharist and lettuce.
Then he chained himself inside a cave. After all this, it's hardly
surprising that Simeon set up housekeeping on a series of pillars, where he
spent the rest of his life (the last was 60 feet tall and six feet wide).
It's also hardly surprising that he attractedmany visitors, who seem to
have been amazed by his practices---one visitor counted and reported that
Simeon had made 1244 prostrations in one day. He became a very popular
preacher.
Convoyon of Redon (d. 868) The Breton Convoyon was deacon of Vannes, then
a monk at Glanfeuil, then in 831 founded the monastery of St. Savior near
Redon. Driven out by Viking attacks, he died in exile.
Gerlac of Valkenberg (d. c. 1170) A Dutch soldier and brigand, Gerlac
converted when his wife died. He went to Rome, where he spent seven years
in penance and nursing the sick. He then returned to Holland, distributed
all his possessions to the poor, and became a hermit living inside a hollow
tree on his estate.
Dr. Phyllis G. Jestice
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