medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
Today (31. January) is the feast day of:
Cyrus and John (d. c. 303) Among the most popular martyrs of the Coptic
church, Cyrus was a physician and John a soldier; they met in the desert
after they had fled persecution in Alexandria. But they returned to the
city together to help an imprisoned woman and her daughters---they were
caught and martyred. Their shrine near Canopus became a famous pilgrimage
site.
Marcella of Rome (d. 410) One of Jerome's famous circle of pious Roman
noblewomen, Marcella was widowed at a young age and took to the religious
life. Jerome was her houseguest for three years, and under his
encouragement she took to Bible study, charity, etc. By the time the Goths
sacked Rome, M. had given away all her wealth---but a group of Goths
thought she just had the loot hidden and whipped her to make her show the
hiding place. She died of her injuries shortly afterward.
Aidan of Ferns (d. 626) Aidan was from Connacht. As a young man he became
a monk in Wales under St. David, but returned to Ireland to found the
monastery of Ferns in Co. Wexford, where he became bishop as well as abbot.
Ado of Jouarre (d. c. 650) Ado was a disciple of Columbanus, and was the
founder of the great double monastery of Jouarre (east of Paris).
Adamnan of Coldingham (d. c. 680) Adamnan was an Irish pilgrim who became
a monk at Coldingham (near Berwick, Scotland). Oddly, his cult was
confirmed in 1898.
Hemma (Emma) (d. 876) Hemma was the wife of Louis the German; her children
were Charles the Fat and Bl. Irmengard. H. founded the convent of
Obermunster near Regensburg, and became abbess herself after she was
widowed.
Eusebius of St. Gall (d. 884) Eusebius was another Irish pilgrim; he
became a monk at St. Gall (Switzerland), moving on from there to become a
hermit. He met his end at the hands of an irate peasant with a scythe;
legend says he was killed because he criticized the poor religious habits
of the area. He is venerated as a martyr.
Athanasius of Modon (d. c. 885) Athanasius was a Catanian (Sicily) He
fled to Patras (Greece) when the Muslims invaded his homeland. Once there,
he became a monk and in time bishop of Modon (modern Methoni).
Dr. Phyllis G. Jestice
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