medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
Today (28. June) is the feast day of:
Irenaeus of Lyons (d. c. 200/202) One of the most important authors of the
early Church in the West, Irenaeus was originally from Asia Minor. From c.
170 on, his presence is attested as a priest in Lyons. He became bishop of
Lyons in 177/178. He was an active missionary, and had great success. He
died in Lyons sometime around the year 200; according to some sources he
was a martyr. His relics were destroyed by Huguenots.
Potamiaena and Basilides (d. c. 208) Eusebius tells of these two martyrs
of Alexandria. Potamiaena was a virgin who, when summoned before the
prefect and questioned about her beliefs, insulted the Roman religion. She
was sentenced to death and reviled by the crowd, but Basilides, a soldier,
protected her. She thanked him and promised her prayers before her
death---apparently by being covered with boiling pitch. Basilides then
declared his Christian faith, and announced that he had seen Potamiaena in
a vision. He was imprisoned and then beheaded.
Paul I (d. 767) Paul succeeded his brother Stephen II as pope in 757,
despite the efforts of a pro-Byzantine group that tried to block his
election. Paul I was a strong supporter of papal primacy.
Heimerad (d. 1019) Born a serf, Heimerad became a priest at his lady's
orders. Despite pilgrimages to the Holy Land and to Rome, he had a great
deal of difficulty winning acceptance as a hermit from contemporary church
authorities---perhaps because of his low rank. In time, however, he
appears to have won acceptance as a "holy fool" and to have become a
popular spiritual advisor. His vita, written in c. 1080, portrays him as
an early standardbearer for ecclesiastical reform.
Dr. Phyllis G. Jestice
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