medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
Today (18. August) is the feast day of:
Florus and Laurus (d. sometime between 117 and 138) In Russia these
martyrs are known as "the holy horse-herders." According to legend, they
were twin brothers who destroyed idols in Illyricum, and then were
martyred. They especially attracted veneration in Russia.
Helena (d. c. 330) Helena is often taken as the model for a female
Christian ruler. She was born in c. 255 in Bithynia. Her union with
Constantius I Chlorus led to the birth of her son Constantine; Helena was
either never legally married or was set aside as a political liability when
Constantius became important. When Constantine became caesar and then
augustus, Helena supported him. She converted to Christianity in 312, when
it became legal. Helena went on to have many churches built in the Holy
Land, Rome, Constantinople, and Cologne. On a pilgrimage to the Holy Land
she is credited with discovering many sites associated with Jesus, and most
notably the hiding place of the True Cross.
Rainald of Ravenna (d. 1321) (blessed) A voice of reason in the turbulent
political and ecclesiastical affairs of the early fourteenth century,
Rainald was born in c. 1252 in Milan. In 1296 he became bishop of
Piacenza. After serving as papal legate and negotiating peace between
England and France, in 1303 he was named archbishop of Ravenna. He worked
especially for a solution to the controversy over the Knights Templars.
Rainald was already venerated during his lifetime; his cult was officially
approved in 1852.
Paula of Montaldo (blessed) (d. 1514) Paula was born in 1443 in Montaldo
near Mantua. At the age of 15 she became a Poor Clare; three times she was
elected abbess. She was highly honored as a mystic. Her cult was approved
1866.
Dr. Phyllis G. Jestice
[log in to unmask]
**********************************************************************
To join the list, send the message: join medieval-religion YOUR NAME
to: [log in to unmask]
To send a message to the list, address it to:
[log in to unmask]
To leave the list, send the message: leave medieval-religion
to: [log in to unmask]
In order to report problems or to contact the list's owners, write to:
[log in to unmask]
For further information, visit our web site:
http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/medieval-religion.html
|