medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
Today (15. March) is the feast day of:
Zebedee (1st cent.) Zebedee was a fisherman and father of the apostles
James the Elder and John. He is sometimes equated with Aristobulus, one of
the 72 disciples. Aristobulus/Zebedee, according to legend, evangelized
Britain and was martyred there.
Longinus (1st cent.) According to tradition, Longinus was the soldier who,
at the Crucifixion, pierced Jesus' side with his spear. Legend reports
that he was the centurian who supervised the crucifixion, later converted,
and became a bishop in Cappadocia. Yet another story recounts that
Longinus preached in Cappadocia and was martyred there in the mid-first
century. Perhaps the best legend is that Longinus collected Jesus' blood
in a chalice and brought it to Mantua (unless of course it was Joseph of
Arimathea).
Menignus the Dyer (d. 251) Menignus, a citizen of Perium on the
Hellespont, tore down the imperial edict issued by Decius against the
Christians. Menignus had his fingers chopped off for this bit of civil
disobedience, and was later beheaded.
Nicander the Physician (d. c. 304) During the early stages of Diocletian's
persecution, Nicander ministered to the Christians who were imprisoned in
Alexandria, and buried the dead. He was denounced as a Christian,
arrested, and martyred.
Matrona of Thessalonica (d. c. 350) Matrona was the servant of a wealthy
Jewish woman of Thessalonica. Legend reports that when her employer
discovered that Matrona was a Christian she had her scourged to death.
Zacharias (d. 752) Zacharias was the last Greek pope. He was born in the
late seventh century, and became pope in 741. Most of Z's pontificate was
occupied in trying to arrange lasting peace with the Lombards, eventually
effected by his elevation of Pepin the Short to the throne of the Franks,
and Pepin's subsequent campaign against the Lombards on the pope's behalf.
Leocritia (Lucretia) of Cordoba (d. 859) The daughter of of Moorish Muslim
family, Leocritia converted to Christianity---which was a capital offense
in Muslim Spain. Her parents drove her from her home, she was arrested by
the authorities and executed.
Dr. Phyllis G. Jestice
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