medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
Today (9. October) is the feast day of:
Demetrios of Alexandria (d. c. 231) Demetrios, born in the mid-second
century, became the first historically attested bishop of Alexandria in
189. He was a sponsor of Origen, appointing him to lead the catechumen
school of Alexandria when O. was only 18 years old. Demetrios is supposed
to have died at the ripe age of 105.
Denis (d. c. 250) According to Gregory of Tours, Denis (Dionysius) was a
native of Italy, sent along with five other bishops to convert Gaul. He
preached successfully in Paris and established a Christian community there.
Denis was imprisoned and beheaded along with his companions Rusticus and
Eleutherius, and their bodies dumped into the Seine (actually, according to
legend, Denis picked up his head and carried it himself to the place he
wanted to be buried). They were recovered and especially Denis became the
center of a major cult, which became even more important when he was
conflated with Pseudo-Dionysius the Areopagite (noted neo-Platonist
mystical author of the 5th century) and with the original Dionysius the
Areopagite (disciple of Paul).
Domninus (d. 304) Domninus was an imperial chamberlain employed in his
native city of Parma in c. 300, not a good time for a Christian to be in
imperial service. Domninus was arrested and beheaded in the persecution.
Gunther of Niederaltaich (d. 1045) Gunther was a noble German, a kinsman
of Emperor Henry II. After a career as a knight, at the age of about 45 he
became a monk at Herford. Seeking a more intensive life, however, he and
some companions became hermits in 1008 at Rinchnach in the Bavarian Forest.
Gunther spent 30 years there---bulding roads and bridges, acting as
spiritual advisor, mediating in disputes. Finally he got annoyed at the
growing number of disciples he attracted and withdrew to a hermitage deeper
in the woods, where he died at an advanced age. Gunther was canonized in
1402.
Dr. Phyllis G. Jestice
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