medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
The mission of two brothers St. Cyril and St. Methodius happens in a crucial
moment for the future development of Europe, from Middle Age up until today.
The mission, in fact was religious and political at the same time, in
accordance with the political and religious vision of the Byzantine Emperor.
So the diffusion of new alphabet, and the translation of Byzantine laws
(Corpus Iuris Civilis and other) and liturgy in Slavic language was decisive
for the future of East Europe. In fact the people that accepted the mission
of two brothers, entred in the "Byzantine Commonwealth", recognizing the
political and religious authorithy of the Byzantine emperor. So today some
people of East Europe write in Cyrillic Alphabet and follow the Byzantine
liturgy, in their own mother tongue. The Catholic Church has applied the
national languages only after the Council Vatican II. To see more:
Ostrogowski, The Byzantine Commonwealth, Laterza (It.ed.); Conte F., Les
Slaves. Aux origines des civilisation d'Europe, Einaudi (It. ed.)
Dr. Claudio Attardi
www.medio-evo.org
----- Original Message -----
From: "Phyllis Jestice" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Thursday, February 14, 2002 2:38 AM
Subject: [M-R] saints of the day 14. February
> medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
>
> Today (14. February) is the feast day of:
>
> Valentine of Terni (d. c. 268) The most probable account of Valentine is
> that he was bishop of Terni in central Italy, and was martyred there in c.
> 268. Although no specifics are known of his martyrdom, his cult developed
> early in the area of Terni as well as Rome. There may have been a second
> Valentine celebrated on this day, a Roman priest martyred on the Flaminian
> Way under Claudius. Neither has a connection with lovers; "St.
Valentine's
> Day" became a romantic holiday because of the belief that the birds mate
on
> 14. February---a belief that goes back at least to the 14th century. Some
> authorities, however, believe that the association of lovers with this day
> goes back to the Roman Lupercalia of mid-February.
>
> Maron of Syria (d. c. 410/430) The Maronite Church takes its name from
> Maron. He was a monk, friend of John Chrystostom. Maron lived as a
> hermit near Apamea (Syria) on the bank of the Orontes. After his death,
> his disciples founded the monastery of St. Maron on the site of his
> hermitage and grave. The monastery then gave its name to a majority of
> Syrian Christians.
>
> Abraham of Harran (d. c. 422) Abraham was a Syrian hermit. He is
credited
> with converting a village in Lebanon by borrowing the money to pay the
> villagers' taxes (thus winning their good will, he spent three years
> instructing them in Christianity). Abraham later became bishop of Harran
> in Mesopotamia.
>
> Auxentios (d. 473) Auxentios was a soldier, then became a hermit on a
> mountain near Chalcedon (Asia Minor). He became a model of piety and
> asceticism, and his hermitage became a center of monastic life.
>
> Cyril and Methodius (d. 869 and 885) (feast formerly celebrated on 7.
July)
> Cyril and Methodius were brothers from Thessalonike. In 862 Emperor
> Michael III sent them as missionaries to Moravia, after the ruler there
had
> asked for priests who could speak Slavic. Their mission enjoyed
> considerable success, not least because they created a Slavic alphabet and
> translated the Bible and liturgy into Slavic. Caught up in
> German-Byzantine political manoeuvers for control of Moravia, C & M went
> to Rome and won papal approval. Cyril died in Rome on this day in 869,
but
> Methodius was named archbishop of Pannonia and Moravia. He returned to
the
> mission field, only to be captured and imprisoned for 2-1/2 years by the
> bishop of Salzburg, who thought Methodius was poaching on his territory.
> The pope finally won his release, and M. returned to his mission work. In
> 1981 John Paul II named C & M joint patrons of Europe, along with Benedict
> of Nursia. They have also been official patrons of all the Slavic peoples
> since 1863.
>
> 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
**********************************************************************
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
|