medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
Today (5. March) is the feast day of:
Eusebius of Cremona (d. 423) Eusebius was a disciple and friend of Jerome.
Eusebius accompanied Jerome on his journeys, and lived with him in his
monastery in Bethlehem. After 398 Eusebius lived in Rome, where he
popularized Jerome's teachings.
Gerasimos (d. 475) Gerasimos, born in Lycia, became one of the most famous
anchorites of Asia Minor and later Palestine. He is said to have founded a
great eremitical colony on the banks of the Jordan near Jericho. Legend
reports that Gerasimos was accompanied wherever he went by a lion whom he
had healed.
Piran (d. c. 480) Piran, originally from Wales or Ireland, became a hermit
near Padstow in Cornwall. In the Middle Ages there was a pilgrimage to his
tomb, and his cult spread from Cornwall to the rest of England, Wales, and
France.
Kieran (Ciaran) of Saighir (d. c. 530) Kieran, who has been called the
"first-born of the saints of Ireland," is one of the mysterious Christian
figures that were active in Ireland before the time of St. Patrick.
According to a much later tradition, Kieran received his belief and baptism
directly from heaven, before the faith came to Ireland. He was then told
in a vision to go to Rome to be baptized and study "under the abbot of
Rome." After 30 years in Rome, the saint was consecrated bishop and sent
back to his homeland. According to some tales, he was consecrated as
bishop after his return, by St. Patrick. Upon his return to Ireland,
Kieran became a hermit at Seirkieran (Saighir) near Birr (Co. Offaly).
Gradually he attracted disciples, and founded a monastery on the site,
which may have been important in pre-Christian religion-there is said to
have been a perpetual fire burning there for centuries, as at Kildare.
Like many Irish saints, in his hermitage, Kieran was attended by wild
animals, over whom he had great influence. In fact, Kieran's first monks
were animals: a wild boar cleared the site for the monastery of Saighir
with its tusks, as well as cutting and dragging timber; a badger, a wolf,
and a fox soon joined them. In one tale, the fox suffered from temporary
apostasy and stole Kieran's shoes. Kieran sent the badger to root the fox
out of his lair and bring him back, then enjoined monastic penance on the
fox for its bad behavior.
Dr. Phyllis G. Jestice
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