medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
Today (6. February) is the feast day of:
Titus (d. c. 100) Titus, recipient of Paul's epistle of that name, was a
disciple and companion of Paul. After the year 65, Titus appears to have
remained the rest of his life on Crete working as a missionary and head of
the nascent Chrisitan community.
Julianus of Emesa (d. 283/284) According to legend, Julianus was a
physician in Emesa, martyred by having nails driven through his hands,
feet, and head.
Dorothea (d. c. 304) The virgin Dorothea was martyred in Caesarea
(Cappadocia) by decapitation. The legend (I start wondering about the
unimaginativeness of people as far as virgins are concerned) tells that
Dorothea, daughter of a Christian family, refused the advances of the Roman
governor. He therefore ordered her to be tortured and beheaded. On the
way to her place of execution, Dorothea repeatedly murmured the name of
Christ, her "bridegroom." A bystander mocked her, suggesting that she ask
her "bridegroom" for fruit and flowers. Thereupon an angel (child)
suddenly appeared with a basketfull. Dorothea's cult was especially
popular in late medieval Germany. She was removed from the Roman calendar
in 1969.
Silvanus of Emesa (d. c. 311) Silvanus was the first known bishop of Emesa
(Homs, Syria). He was imprisoned and then martyred with a deacon and a
lector in the Persecution.
Mel (Melchno) (d. c. 490) An uncertain tradition makes Mel the first
abbot-archbishop of Ardagh (Ireland), one of four nephews of St. Patrick
and one of Pat's companions in his missionary work.
Vedastus (Vaast) (d. 540) Vedastus became bishop of Arras in c. 500. He
seems to have held his diocese together in one of history's more testing
eras, winning a popular esteem that continues to the present in the Arras
area. His tomb became a much-visited pilgrimage site, and later the great
monastery of St-Vaast erected at the cite became an important cultural
center. Under the name "Foster," Vedastus' cult was also popular in
England.
Amandus (d. 679) Amandus, born in Gascony, became a monk and lived for
fifteen years as a recluse in Bourges, then went on to Luxeuil. In 636 he
visited Rome, where the pope consecrated him as bishop and sent him as a
missionary to northern Francia. Amandus also undertook missionary journeys
to the Slavs and Basques. In Belgium Amandus founded numberous
monasteries, all dedicated to St. Peter. An uncertain tradition reports
that for some years Amandus was also bishop of Maastricht. He is known as
the "apostle of the Belgians."
Guarinus of Palestrina (d. 1158) Guarinus was born in Bologna in c. 1080.
He became an Augustinian canon, leading a strongly ascetic cloistered life.
Then in 1144 the pope made Guarinus cardinalbishop of Palestrina. He was
canonized soon after his death because of the holiness of his life.
Dr. Phyllis G. Jestice
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