medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
Today (27. November) is the feast day of:
Barlaam and Josaphat (fictional) While there was a historical St. Barlaam,
martyred in c. 304, the tale of Josaphat is a wonderful case of cultural
borrowing---Josaphat's tale is that of Siddartha Gautama, the Buddha.
According to the legend, Josphat was the son of an Indian king, kept in
careful seclusion so he wouldn't become a Christian. But he was converted
by the ascetic Barlaam, who snuck in disguised as a merchant, upon which
Josaphat gave up his birthright and took to asceticism too.
James Intercisus (d. 421) James "cut to pieces" won his nickname in the
Persian anti-Christian purge launched by Yezdigerd I. James was a courtier
of Yezdigerd's who, when persecution began in 420, apostasized. His family
succeeded in making James so ashamed of himself that he pulled a double
apostasy and returned to Christianity. Yezdigerd's successor Bahram did
his best to make J. change his mind, finally having him hung from a beam
and slowly cut apart.
Congar (6th cent.) Congar was probably a native of Pembrokeshire. He was
one of the Welsh missionaries who founded Christian communities in Somerset
and Devon.
Fergus (early 8th cent.) Fergus was an Irish bishop who evangelized large
areas of Scotland (winning himself the nickname in Ireland of "the Pict").
He may have taken part in a council in Rome in 721.
Virgil of Salzburg (d. 784) One of the very few canonized Irish saints,
Virgil was a monk, perhaps educated by St. Samthann. He went to the
continent, reaching the court of Pepin the Short, for whom he undertook a
peacemaking mission to Bavaria. There he attracted the interest of Duke
Odilo, who made Virgil abbot of St. Peter's, Salzburg (and bishop a few
years later). Boniface suspected Virgil of heresy---especially because of
his professed belief in the existence of another world under this one (it's
unclear if he believed in the Antipodes or in the Irish fairy world).
Virgil was also known fr his missionary endeavors among the Slavs of
Carinthia. He was canonized in 1233.
Gregory of Sinai (d. 1346) Gregory was carried off in a Turkish raid at a
young age, but was ransomed by neighbors. After that he became a monk at
Mt. Sinai, but was discontent, and then at Mt. Athos, but the community was
dispersed by piratical raids. In c. 1325 Gregory went on to establish a
monastery on Mt. Paroria (west coast of the Black Sea). He was noted as a
teacher of prayer, especially emphasizing the usefulness of physical aids
such as breath control. His work had considerable influence in the eastern
church.
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
|