medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
Today (22. July) is the feast day of:
Mary Magdalen (1st cent.) Mary was one of Jesus' disciples. She had made
his acquaintance while having "seven devils" driven out of her (Mark 16:9).
After being one of the first witnesses of the resurrection, things become
more confusing. In the Middle Ages, she was equated with the sinful woman
of Luke 7:37 and with Mary of Bethany. So she appears in art as a
penitent, carrying a jar of ointment---after sailing to Gaul with her
"brother and sister" Lazarus and Mary, she is supposed to have become a
hermit to repent her sins.
Protomartyrs of the West (d. c. 60??) This group of thirty-eight martyrs
is venerated at Nepi in Tuscany. The story is that they were thrown over a
cliff there---before Nero persecuted the Christians in Rome.
Unfortunately, the whole thing seems to have been a piece of wishful
thinking by the medieval Nepians; the whole tale is unhistorical.
Joseph of Palestine (d. c. 356) Joseph was a Jew, a disciple of Rabbi
Hillel at Tiberias. In fact, Joseph was head of the synagogue there, but
converted to Christianity and was baptized in 326. After that, J. became
an imperial official, thanks to the good graces of Constantine; he was
assigned to Scythopolis, where he became a noted church-builder.
Wandrille (Wandregisilus) (d. 668) The Frankish Wandrille was a courtier;
he became count of the palace to King Dagobert I. After a pilgrimage to
Rome, he and his wife separated to become a monk and nun. W. was a monk at
several houses before he founded the monastery of Fontenelle (in what was
later Normandy) in 648. The monastery became a missionary and educational
center.
Theophilus the New Martyr (d. 789) Theophilus was a Byzantine officer,
stationed in Cyprus when the Arabs invaded. He was taken prisoner in
battle. After he continued refusing to become a Muslim for a full year, he
was executed.
Dr. Phyllis G. Jestice
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