medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
Today (8. November) is the feast day of:
Four Crowned Martyrs (early 4th cent.) Two groups of early martyrs
venerated in Rome on this day are called the "crowned martyrs": a group of
five Persian stonemasons and a group of four Roman soldiers. The prefered
version of the legend makes them Persian sculptors (4 zealous Christians
and a fifth who joined them because he thought their faith must be
miraculously helping them carve so well), who were hired to make a series
of statutes for the emperor but refused to carve Aesculapius. Arrested for
refusing to sacrifice to the gods, they were executed by drowning after the
officer leading the inquiry died suddenly and the five Christians were
blamed. I can't find any reason why they are called "crowned."
Cybi (6th cent.) Cybi was founder and first abbot of the monastery of
Holyhead in Anglesey. He may originally have been from Cornwall and lived
as a hermit at various times in several places that bear his name.
Although there's a lot to be said for the 13th-century vita, which tells
that he went to Jerusalem, stayed with St. Hilary for fifty years, was
consecrated as a bishop, went to Ireland for several years, and finally
turned up in Anglesey.
Deusdedit I (d. 618) Deusdedit was elected pope in 615. He is especially
notable for his encouragement of the secular clergy, and for his care of
the needy after a disastrous earthquake and then outbreak of plague in 618.
Willehad (d. 789) Willehad was a Northumbrian educated at York, where he
became a friend of Alcuin. In c. 766 he set off for the Frisian missionary
field. In 780 he moved on (at Charlemagne's request) to preach in Saxony,
but was expelled in Widukind's revolt. When the rebellion was suprressed
W. returned, becoming bishop of Bremen in 787.
Godfrey of Amiens (d. 1115) Godfrey was a child oblate, and in time became
a monk and a priest. In 1096 he was appointed abbot of Nogent-sous-Coucy,
which at that time was much decayed and only had six monks. G. thoroughly
reformed it and won such a great reputation in the process that he was made
bishop of Amiens in 1104. He proved to be a divisive leader: his zealous
attacks on simony and clerical unchastity won him many admirers, but also a
series of threats against his life. Finally Godfrey retired to the
Grande-Chartreuse to get away from it all, but was soon forced to return to
his see.
Dr. Phyllis G. Jestice
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