medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
Today (5. June) is the feast day of:
Dorotheus of Tyre (d. 362) According to a largely legendary passio,
Dorotheus was a priest of Tyre (Lebanon) who was driven out, returned, and
became bishop. He was martyred under Julian the Apostate.
Boniface (Wynfrith) (d. 754) Boniface, the Apostle to the Germans, founded
more bishoprics and monasteries than anyone else in history. His cult was
immediate and very strong after his death; already in 756 he is attested as
a patron saint of England, besides his cult in Germany. Wynfrith was born
in c. 674 in Wessex, and became a monk there. At about the age of 40 he
decided to become a missionary, going with several companions to Frisia in
716. In 718 Wynfrith traveled to Rome, where the pope gave him the name
Boniface and sent him as a missionary to Thuringia. In the following
years, Boniface worked throughout Germany with the patronage of the
Carolingians. He established the dioceses of Regensburg, Freising,
Wurzburg, Passau, Eichstatt, Erfurt, and Salzburg. Boniface became a
missionary bishop himself in 722, and in 732 archbishop and papal vicar; in
746/747 he became archbishop of Mainz. In 754 Boniface made his last
missionary journey to Frisia, where on this day he and 52 companions were
martyred in Dokkum (Netherlands).
Eoban (d. 754) Eoban was a monk and priest, probably from Ireland. He
became a companion of Boniface perhaps as early as 718, and in 736 became
auxiliary bishop of Utrecht. He was martyred along with Boniface.
Adalar (d. 754) Adalar (Aethelhere) was an English priest and companion of
Boniface. He became bishop of Erfurt. He was killed along with Boniface
and companions.
Felix of Fritzlar (d. c. 790) Felix was a monk of Fritzlar (founded by
Boniface in 724). He was apparently killed by Saxons while doing
missionary work.
Meinwerk (d. 1036) The Saxon Meinwerk was born in c. 976. His kinsman
King Henry II made Meinwerk bishop of Paderborn. Meinwerk became one of
the greatest German churchmen of the eleventh century, building up his
diocese (the cathedral school became famous in his time, and M. also
erected numerous churches, winning the nickname "the building bishop").
Ferdinand the Steadfast (blessed) (d. 1443) Ferdinand was a son of King
Juan I of Portugal and brother of Henry the Navigator; he was born in 1402.
After an expedition to North Africa Ferdinand was left as a hostage. He
spent six years as a slave, badly abused the whole time (for political
reasons his family neglected to free him). He finally died in Fez in 1443.
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
|