medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
Today (17. November) is the feast day of:
Dionysios the Great of Alexandria (d. 264/265) Dionysius was born in c.
170 in Egypt. He became a student of Origen, and later head of the
Alexandian school. Dionysios became bishop of Alexandria in 247/48. He
fled from Decius persecution, and only returned after several years. When
he returned, fought the rest of his life to spread Christianity and
establish the Alexandria community on a firmer footing.
Gregory the Thaumaturge (d. c. 272) Gregory was born in c. 213 in Caesarea
on the Black Sea. In the mid-third century he became the first bishop of
the city. Later accounts tell of the many miracles that he worked.
Several of his writings are also extant, including what may have been the
earliest Christian autobiography.
Acislus and Victoria of Cordoba (d. c. 304/305) According to legend, the
siblings Victoria and Acisclus were martyred in Diocletian's persecution.
Aciscius became a major saint of Cordoba; Victioria appears to have been
largely forgotten.
Gregory of Tours (d. 594) Gregory became bishop of Tours in 573. He
served very actively, building a new basilica over the tomb of St. Martin
(who may or may not be the patron saint of France). He is most famous as
an author, especially for his History of the Franks.
Hilda of Whitby (d. 680) Hilda was born in 614, a relative of King Edwin.
In 614 she was baptized, and in 647 entered the convent of Hartlepool,
becoming abbess in 649. In 657 Hilda founded the great double monastery of
Whitby. She won a great reputation of patroness of culture and education,
but is most famous for hosting the synod of Whitby.
Elisabeth of Thuringia (d. 1231) Elisabeth, born in 1207, was the daugher
of Hungarian king Andrew II and his queen, Gertrude. Elisabeth was
betrothed to the landgrave of Thuringia, Ludwig IV, at the age of 4, and
married him in 1221. The marriage produced three children. Elisabeth
cared intensively for her family and for the poor, and also supported the
Franciscan order. Mocked by the nobles of Thuringia for her very visible
piety, Elisabeth's husband defended and supported her---but after Ludwig
died in 1227 on crusade, his brother drove Elisabeth from court and robbed
her of her dower rights. She resettled in Marburg, where she founded a
hospital, becoming a Franciscan tertiary and giving up care of her
children. After her early death, her cult spread rapidly; Elisabeth was
canonized in May of 1235.
Salomea (blessed) (d. 1268) Salomea, the daughter of the duke of Cracow,
was born in c. 1210. She married a Hungarian prince, but the couple lived
chastely together. After her husband's death, Salomea joined the Clarissan
order.
Gertrude the Great of Helfta (d. c. 1301/1302) Although never formally
canonized, Gertrude was added to the Roman martyrology in the seventeenth
century. Gertrude entered the nunnery of Helfta in 1256, at the age of
five. In 1281 she had her first vision, and from that time until her death
lived a deeply visionary and mystical life. From 1289 on, Gertrude
committed her mystical experiences to writing.
Dr. Phyllis G. Jestice
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