medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
Today (26. September) is the feast day of:
Cosmas and Damian (d. c. 303) Accounts of the (twin?) brothers Cosmas and
Damian are largely legendary. Tradition reports that they worked together
as physicians in Syria (or Arabia) in the 3rd century, caring especially
for the poor and animals. They were tortured and eventually beheaded in
the Great Persecution. There is evidence of their cult in the East already
from the fifth century; a church built over their tomb in Syria became a
pilgrimage goal of sick people seeking healing. The cult also spread
quickly in the West; already in the sixth century Gregory of Tours had
relics of the pair. In the sixth century they became the first eastern
saints adopted into the Roman canon of the mass. Cosmas and Damian are
patrons of Florence, and also of apothecaries, physicians, dentists, and
hair stylists, and are invoked against epidemics and diseases of horses.
Cyprian of Antioch (d. 304) The passio of Cyprian may be completely
legendary. It repeats that Cyprian was a non-Christian magician, who was
converted through his love of a Christian woman (Justina) After some years
of penitence, Cyprian became bishop of Antioch. His death year is given as
304; he is supposed to have been killed along with Justina.
Nilus of Rossano (d. 1004) Nilus was born in c. 910 to a Greek family in
Rossano (Calabria). He married, but in c. 940 became a Basilian monk,
founding a Basilian monastery near Rossano. He was soon venerated by the
people for his miracles. In 981 Nilus and his community left Calabria
because of Saracen invasions and resettled on land belonging to Monte
Cassino. He went on to found more Basilian monasteries.
Meginhard (d. 1059) Meginhard was a notable Bible scholar. He was a monk
and then abbot of Hersfeld in Hesse.
Dr. Phyllis G. Jestice
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