medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
Today (6. January) is the feast day of:
Epiphany. In the Eastern Church the emphasis of this festival is on the
baptism of Jesus; in the West it is particularly associated with the coming
of the "three kings" to the newborn Jesus. The magi of the gospel account
were identified as kings starting in the third century; in the sixth they
were first given names---Thaddadia, Melchior, Balytora; from the eighth
century on they have been known as Melchior, Caspar, and Balthazar.
According to legend, long after returning to the East the wise men were
baptized by the apostle Thomas. All three became bishops, and all died on
the same Christmas day. Their bones were found by St. Helena and
transported to Constantinople, whence they made it to Milan and then
Cologne, where they are enshrined in one of the great masterpieces of
medieval goldsmithery.
Edeyrn (6th cent.) According to legend, Edeyrn was a Breton, connected
with King Arthur. He ended his days as a hermit in Brittany. He is shown
in art as a hermit riding on a stag (I'd like to know the story behind
that).
Peter of Canterbury (d. 607) Peter was the first abbot of the monastery at
Canterbury, at that time called SS. Peter and Paul. He seems to have acted
as an envoy for Augustine, carrying missionary news to Gregory the Great.
Later on a mission to the kingdom of the Franks Peter was drowned in the
English Channel.
Erminold of Prufening (d. 1121) Erminold was a child oblate at the
monastery of Hirsau. He was made abbot of Lorsch, but abdicated when he
discovered that simony had been involved in his election. In other words,
a reformer. He became first prior and then first abbot of Prufening. In
1121 he met an undignified martyrdom when a disgruntled lay brother whacked
him on the head with a piece of timber.
Gertrude van Oosten (blessed) (d. 1358) Gertrude was a serving woman of
Delft. She entered the beguinage in that city after being jilted by a
lover, and soon became a mystic---one of the goodly number at that time who
received the stigmata. She got her nickname "van Oosten" because she
constantly repeated the hymn "Het daghet in den Oosten" (day breaks in the
East).
Andreas Corsini (d. 1374) A native of Florence, Andreas studied in Paris
and Avignon before becoming a Carmelite in his home town. He was noted for
his great asceticism, and in 1349 when he became bishop of Fiesole he
continued them with even greater devotion. A. also gained a great
reputation for his care of the poor and work as a mediator. He was
credited with many miracles during his lifetime, which continued after his
death. Andreas' body is still intact.
Dr. Phyllis G. Jestice
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