medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
Today (1. January---a happy new year to everyone!) is the feast day of:
Elvan and Mydwyn (2d cent.) Two fictional characters, subjects of one of
several medieval attempts to connect England to early Christianity. The
story tells that a British king sent E. and M. to Pope Eleutherius, asking
for a mission to Britain; they themselves were sent back with other
missionaries.
Gregory Nazianzen the Elder (d. 374) Gregory was a Cappodocian, a pagan
civil servant until his wife (St. Nonna) converted him. They became a very
saintly family, producing SS. Gregory, Caesarius, and Gorgonia. G. became
bishop of Nazianzos in 328 (three years after his conversion).
Almachus (Telemachus) (d. 391) Almachus was an eastern hermit and
spoilsport: while in Rome he publicly protested against gladiatorial games.
The prefect ordered A. killed, but Emperor Honorius is said to have
abolished gladiatorial shows as a result.
Euphrosyne (?) Euphrosyne's legend, a suspiciously common one in
hagiography, tells that she was a young Alexandrine woman who disguised
herself as a man and became a monk. After many years of transvestism, her
sex was discovered as she was dying.
Fulgentius of Ruspe (d. 527 or 533) Fulentius was a Carthaginian. He
became abbot of Byzacene but went to Rome because of trouble with the Arian
rulers of North Africa. He returned and became bishop of Ruspe in 502 or
507, but was exiled twice by the Vandal king. While in exile on Sardinia,
he wrote a lot, becoming one of the most important western theologians of
the sixth century (I'm trying to think of other significant 6th-century
western theologians; all I can come up with Greg. the Great).
Fanchea Garbh (d. c. 585) Fanchea was an Irishwoman from Co. Louth, a
sister of St. Enda. She is credited as the abbess-founder of convents at
Rossory (Co. Fermanagh) and Killany (Co. Louth).
Adalbero of Liege (blessed) (d. 1128) Adalbero was bishop of Liege, where
he founded the monastery of St. Giles.
William of Dijon (d. 1031) William was an Italian noble who became a
Benedictine at Locedio (near Vercelli) and moved on to Cluny in 987. Wm.
was sent to restore the monastery of St. Benignus in Dijon, which became an
important center of Cluniac reform. Wm. also refounded the monastery of
Fecamp in Normandy.
Zdislava Berka (d. 1252) Canonized in 1995, Zdislava Berka was a Czech
noblewoman. She follows a model that seems to have been popular for
thirteenth-century saints: she married and had four children, all the while
being so generous to the poor that her husband resented it---but she one
him over with the help of "heroic patience." She founded the priory of St.
Lawrence at Jabbone and retired there as a Dominican tertiary.
Dr. Phyllis G. Jestice
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