medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
Today (13. August) is the feast day of:
Hippolytus of Rome (d. 236) His feast is celebrated on 30. January by the
Greek Orthodox Church. Hippolytus probably came from Asia Minor. By c.
200 he had an influential position among the Roman clergy, especially noted
as a preacher. He had hopes of becoming pope in the election of 217, and
when the slave Calixtus I was chosen instead, Hippolytus set himself in
opposition as antipope. After a bitter conflict between the two (and
Calixtus' successors), Emperor Maximinus banished Hippolytus in 234 to
Sardinia, where he died after two years at hard labor breaking stones.
Hippolytus was one of the most important Christian writers of his time.
Cassian of Imola (d. c. 305) A largely legendary vita reports that Cassian
was martyred in Imola, but according to a more entertaining account he was
stabbed to death by his students with their pens.
Radegunde of Thuringia (d. 587) Radegunde, the daughter of Thuringian king
Berthachar, was born in 518. In 531 she was taken as a hostage by the
Frankish king Chlothar I, who had conquered Thuringian and killed most of
Radegunde's family. After Chlothar's wife died, Radegunde was forced to
marry him in 536. When Chlothar had Radegunde's brother murdered in 555,
she abandoned the court and fled to Bishop Medard of Noyon, who consecrated
her as a nun. To avoid her husband, in 560 Radegunde went on t Poitiers,
where she founded a nunnery, which she herself entered as a simple nun.
Maximus Confessor (d. 662) Maximus was one of the leading theologians of
the early Middle Ages. He was born in Constantinople in c. 580, and in c.
613 became a monk in a nearby monastery. After a time in Africa he came to
Rome in 649, where he took part in a synod that ruled against
monotheletism. He also wrote many works against this heresy. The eastern
emperor Constans II, against whom the synod was aimed, accused Maximus of
treason and banished him to Thrace. This did not silence him, though, so
the emperor had his tongue cut out and his right hand cut off. Maximus
died, still in exile, in 662.
Wigbert (d. 737/738) Wigbert was born in Wessex in c. 680. He became a
monk, and eventually joined Boniface in his work in Germany. Boniface
named Wigbert abbot of the monastery of Fritzlar in Hesse. Wigbert also
reorganized the Thuringian monastery of Ohrdruf and created a missionary
school there. He was noted for his pastoral care.
Ludolf of Corvey (d. 983) Ludolf was abbot of Corvey from 971 until his
death. The monastery flourished under his leadership, and numerous
miracles were reported at his tomb.
Radegunde (Radiana) of Wellenburg (d. c. 1290) This Radegunde was a
servant at Welenburg castle in the thirteenth century. In her free time
she cared for the poor and sick of the area, as well as the lepers in a
nearby leper house. One day on her way to visit the sick she was set upon
by two wolves and badly wounded; she died three days later. The locals
erected a chapel on the site of her injury, which received privileges from
bishops and cardinals. In 1812 her relics were transfered to the parish
church of Waldberg near Augsburg.
Dr. Phyllis G. Jestice
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