medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
Today (23. August) is the feast day of:
Claudius, Asterius, Neon, and companions (d. 303) These were three
brothers who lived in Aegea (Cilicia). Their evil step-mother, coveting
their property, denounced them as Christians, after which they were either
crucified or beheaded (or both?)
Sidonius Apollinaris (d. c. 488) One of the last great classical
scholar/bishops of late antiquity, SA was a Gallo-Roman aristocrat of high
enough rank to marry a daughter of Emperor Avitus and become prefect of
Rome. He retired to his estate in 469 (a good time to avoid politics), but
while still a layman was made bishop of Clermont-Ferrand in 472. He had to
deal with invading Goths, but today is mostly famous for his extant poems
and letters.
Justinian (Iestin) of Ramsey) (6th cent.) A native of Brittany, Iestin
became a hermit in Wales on the isle of Ramsey. He was murdered there by
robbers (although the Isle of Man also claims him).
Altigianus and Hilarinus (d. 731) A and H were two monks, killed during a
great Moorish raid into the kingdom of the Franks. They died at
St-Seine-l'Abbaye, near Dijon.
Ebba the Younger and companions (d. c. 870) A bunch of very dedicated
nuns. Matthew Paris (who is the only source of the legend) tells that Ebba
was abbess of Coldingham (Scotland). When vikings raided, she cut off her
upper lip to make it less likely that she would be raped---and talked all
the members of her community into doing the same. The disgusted Danes
burned the convent with the nuns inside.
Ascelina (d. 1195) Ascelina was a relative of Bernard of Clairvaux. She
was a nun at Boulancourt and was renowned as a mystic.
Philip Benizi (d. 1285) Philip was a Florentine noble who studied
medicine, became a doctor, but in 1253 became a Servite lay brother
(pretending to be uneducated). When his learning was discovered, he was
forced to accept ordination. PB became a great preacher, and in 1267
superior-general of the order. He was one of many to attempt to make peace
between Guelfs and Ghibellines. PB was canonized in 1671, but his cult was
reduced to local calendars in 1969.
Dr. Phyllis G. Jestice
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