medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
Today (12. April) is the feast day of:
Julius I (d. 352) Julius became pope in 337. He combatted Arianism,
especially supporting Athanasius against his Arian opponents and working
for his restoration to his see. J. also built several churches in Rome,
besides living a life of personal piety.
Zeno of Verona (d. 371) Zeno was an African. He became bishop of Verona
in 362. During his administration, Z. was an active church-builder,
Arian-persecutor, and preacher. He was also an early proponent of
nunneries.
Sabas the Goth (d. 372) Sabas was converted to Christianity while still
young and became a lector. When the Gothic king Athanaric began to
persecute Christians in c. 370, S. publicly acknowledged his faith. He was
arrested once and released as an insignificant nobody, but continued to
criticize the royal policy and was arrested again. A nearly contemporary
letter reports how S. was dragged naked from his bed and through brambles,
etc., then was tortured---but without showing any injury. Finally he was
tied to a pole and held down in the river Buzau until he died. About fifty
other Christians died in the same persecution.
Alferius (d. 1050) Alferius was a Norman, in service to the duke of
Salerno. He was sent on an embassy to France, but fell ill along the way
and became a monk at Cluny. The duke insisted that A. return home to
reform the monasteries of Spoleto---which a. tried to do but failed. So he
went and founded a new monastery, La Cava (near Salerno), which became the
head of a reforming congregation that numbered 100's of confederate houses.
A. himself is believed to have lived to the age of 120 (which sounds
suspiciously like Moses to me).
Mechtildis (Matilda) (d. c. 1200) This Scottish woman was a hermit in the
wilderness of Lappion.
Dr. Phyllis G. Jestice
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