medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
Today (8. September) is the feast day of:
Adrian of Nicomedia (d. c. 304) According to legend, Adrian was an army
officer at Diocletian's court. Although not a Christian himself, he helped
Christian prisoners, and was arrested (after which his work was taken up by
St.Natalia, his wife). Adrian was executed with the prisoners he had tried
to help, after which his wife is said to have taken his relics to
Argyropolis, whence they made it to Rome. Adrian is a patron of butchers
(!) and soldiers, but was reduced to local standing in the calendar reform
of 1969.
Eusebius, Nestabus, Zeno, and Nestor (d. 362) This valiant foursome led a
destructive attack on the temple at Gaza during the reign of Julian the
Apostate---when it was safe and legal for the locals to fight back against
Christian vandals. They were lynched by the townspeople.
Disibod (d. c. 700) Supposedly an Irish bishop, Disibod went with
companions to Germany, where he evangelized the Mainz region and founded
the monastery of Disenberg. He is mostly remembered because that
foundation, later a nunnery, was the home of St. HIldegard, who wrote D's
vita---apparently a good work of creative fiction.
Sergius I (d. 701) Sergius was a Greek by culture, born in Palermo to
refugee parents. He became pope in 687, but despite his Greek speech and
customs is most famous for the firm stand he took against the Byzantine
emperor's efforts to impose eastern customs and decisions. He refused to
sign the decrees of the 692 council of Constantinople, and fought against
the prohibition of representing Christ as a lamb by introducing the Agnus
Dei into the Roman liturgy.
Ina and Ethelburga (d. 727) Ina and Ethelburga were king and queen of the
West Saxons. After 38 years on the throne, Ina abdicated, and the couple
made a pilgrimage to Rome. They died there after founding a hospice for
English pilgrims.
Corbinian (d. 730) The eighth century is certainly going strong today.
The Frank Corbinian was a hermit, but in 709 he went to Rome. After
several years the pope made him a missionary bishop for Bavaria. Corbinian
established a center for missionary work at Freising, and also founded the
monastery of Obermais.
And after that, the first interesting saints venerated today are a large
number of Japanese martyrs in the seventeenth century.
Dr. Phyllis G. Jestice
[log in to unmask]
**********************************************************************
To join the list, send the message: join medieval-religion YOUR NAME
to: [log in to unmask]
To send a message to the list, address it to:
[log in to unmask]
To leave the list, send the message: leave medieval-religion
to: [log in to unmask]
In order to report problems or to contact the list's owners, write to:
[log in to unmask]
For further information, visit our web site:
http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/medieval-religion.html
|