medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
Today (25. July) is the feast day of:
James the Greater (d. 44) James was the son of Zebedee and brother of
John, and definitely a Very Important Apostle. He was also the first
apostle to be martyred, by King Herod Agrippa. In the seventh century the
story developed that James had evangelized in Spain; in the ninth century
the story began to circulate that he was buried there. If I remember
correctly, after being beheaded in Palestine, James is supposed to have
picked up his head, walked to the seashore, and gotten aboard a boat (made
of stone, I believe), which carried his corpse to Compostella, where it was
later discovered.
Christopher (3rd cent.?) Nothing historical is known of Christopher except
the fact of his martyrdom in Asia Minor. His name (Christ-bearer),
however, became the basis for a very rich legend. Christopher, says
legend, was a Canaanite giant who decided to serve Christ. A hermit told
him to live near a river and help travelers across it. One day a child
came and asked for assistance, but as Christopher carried him he became
heavier and heavier. The kid then revealed that he was Christ, and that
Christopher had just carried the weight of the whole world. Our friendly
giant then went on to preach Christianity, but arrested, perhaps in the
Decian persecution. Two women were sent to seduce him in prison, but he
converted them instead. Chris was then beaten with iron rods, shot at, and
finally beheaded. In 1969 Chris' feast was reduced to local cult status,
provoking a sharp reaction (and I recall that over a decade later the
Vatican gift shop stll sold St. Christopher medals).
Dr. Phyllis G. Jestice
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