medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
Today (22. April---I hope with no more delays from a faulty server) is the
feast day of:
Soter (d. 174) Soter became bishop of Rome in c. 166. He was known for
his charity and kindness, especially for his care of the victims of
religious persecution who were in the mines and prisons of Rome. S. also
condemned the leaders of the Montanist movement. He may have been
martyred.
Leonides of Alexandria (d. 202) Leonides was a noted philosopher, martyred
in Alexandria. he was also the father of seven children, including
Origen---who so badly wanted to go and be martyred with dad that his
clothes had to be hidden to keep him from leaving the house.
Mareas and Companions (d. 342) A large number of Persian victims of Shapur
II are commemorated on this day. Mareas was martyred along with 21 other
bishops, 250 priests, and a large number of monks, nuns, and laypeople,
nearly destroying Christianity in Persia. (I begin to get the impression
that the Persians were much better at the persecution business than the
Romans were. A major reform of Zoroastrianism at the time had a strongly
fundamentalist and puritanical spirit, introducing persecution of other
religions for the first time. Unfortunately, several Persia shahs were
sold on the idea.)
Acepsimas of Hnaita (d. 376) Acepsimas was bishop of Hnaita (Assyria).
When 80 years old he was arrested in a new burst of Zoroastrian revivalism,
and was racked and then flogged to death after insulting the king's
religion. We have an account of his trial and death by a near
contemporary.
Agapitus I (d. 536) Agapitus was archdeacon of Rome before becoming pope
as an old man in 535. He died while on a mission to Constantinople on
behalf of King Theodahad---trying vainly to convince Justinian not to
invade Italy. Although he failed in that task, A. succeeded in convincing
the emperor to depose the monophysite patriarch of Constantinople.
Theodore of Sykeon (d. 613) The scion of a family of circus acrobats and
prostitutes, Theodore was a pious child who was particularly attracted to
the cult of St. George. He became a hermit, then a monk, and finally
bishop of Anastasiopolis (Galatia). He specialized in flamboyant
asceticism, including living in an iron cage suspended in the air, within
which he wore an iron breastplate as well as iron rings for wrists, ankles,
neck, and waist. Theo was a noted miracle worker. He hated being bishop
and resigned after 10 years.
Dr. Phyllis G. Jestice
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