medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
Today (14. January) is the feast day of:
Felix of Nola (d. 260) Felix was tortured but not killed during the Decian
persecution, and afterwards was a successful evangelist. His church in
Nola was a popular pilgrimage center from the fourth century on.
Felix in Pincis (?) According to tradition, Felix was a Roman priest,
martyred by his own students on Monte Pincio in Rome, who jabbed him with
their sharpened styluses. No more is known. The church of S. Felice in
Piazza in Florence is supposed to have been dedicated to him.
Macrina the Elder (d. c. 340) Macrina the Elder was the grandmother of
Basil the Great, Gregory of Nyssa, and Macrina the Younger. She and her
husband had to flee in the great persecution and lived for about seven
years on the banks of the Black Sea. After her retturn to her home in Asia
Minor, she continued to be persecuted for her faith. The whole family won
great honor and interest for their dedication to Christianity.
Sabas of Serbia (d. 1235) Sabas (Sava) is the national saint of Serbia and
is accounted the founder of the Serbian national church. Sava was born in
c. 1175 as son of King Stephan Nemnaja of Serbia. At a young age, Sava
became a monk at Mount Athos, where he took the name Sava. Together with
his father (who in 1197 voluntarily gave up his throne and also became a
monk on Mt. Athos), Sava founded a monastic colony that became a center of
spiritual life for centuries. Sava returned to his homeland to intervene
in his brothers' dispute over whether Serbia should ally itself with the
eastern or western church, and in 1219 succeeded in having an independent
Serbian archbishopric created, which he served as first archbishop.
Odorico of Pordenone (blessed) (d. 1331) Odorico was born in c. 1285 near
Pordenone (Italy). He became a Franciscan in c. 1305. He was sent by the
order (and at his own wish) to the missionary field in Asia. He spent over
15 years on missionary journeys through Russia, Asia Minor, Persia,
Mesopotamia, Egypt, Ceylon, India, and China, after which he returned to
Pordenone. On his return, Odorico dictated a report of his work which
remains an important testament to medieval missionary work in the far east.
He was beatified in 1755.
Dr. Phyllis G. Jestice
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