medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
>> Pelagia of Antioch (c. 283 or perhaps c. 300) Also commemorated on 9.
>> June. Pelagia was a fifteen-year-old girl of Antioch, caught up in
either
>> Numerian's or Diocletian's persecution. The prefect sent soldiers to
>> arrest her, upon which she asked for a few minutes to put on her best
>> clothes. She then when upstairs and threw herself to her death. John
>> Chrysostom praised her courage and faith.
>
>
>How does *this* square with the usual prohibition on suicide and its
>definition as a mortal sin ?
>
>Brenda M. C.
>
>**********************************************************************
One of St. Ambrose's relatives of the previous generation, Soteria, died in
a similar manner and he argued that it was justified because it preserved
her from the inevitable rape that would precede death. Self-mutilation was
also considered justified in similar circumstances, a subject explored in an
old article by Jane Schulenberg. Sorry I haven't got the exact citation at
hand.
Jo Ann
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