medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
Today (11. January) is the feast day of:
Hyginus (d. c. 142) A former saint, suppressed in 1969. Tradition says
Hyginus was bishop of Rome from 138 until his death, but that is uncertain.
Legend also says that he was a martyr, but that is doubtful.
Leucius of Brindisi (d. c. 180) Legend says that Leucius was the first
bishop of Brindisi, a missionary sent from Alexandria. Modern hagiologists
have suggested that perhaps he came in the form of relics, and had been a
bishop somewhere in Egypt during his life.
Ethenia and Fidelmia (d. 433?) Their story sounds like pious legend.
Ethenia and Fidelmia were (the story goes) daughters of an Irish king,
converted and veiled as nuns by St. Patrick (there wasn't monasticism in
Ireland yet, of course), who then died immediately after receiving their
first communion (and this tale is supposed to *encourage* conversion??)
Their shrine was at Armagh.
Honorata (d. c. 500) Honorata was the sister of Bishop Epiphanius of
Pavia, where she was a nun. Soldiers of King Odoacer kidnapped her---but
her brother ransomed her back, and it is to be presumed that she spent the
rest of her life in conspicious piety.
Theodosius the Cenobiarch (d. 529) Theodosius was from Cappodocia. He
went to Jerusalem to be a monk, but then in 479 fled to the desert to avoid
becoming abbot. His abbacy caught up with him, though: several hundred
disciples eventually joined him, and he created a very thoroughly organized
Judaean monastery, with a church for each language group of monks (Greeks,
Armenians, Arabs), and excellent facilities for hospitality and charity.
He was so successful that the patriarch of Jerusalem appointed T visitor to
all the monasteries of the Holy Land.
Vitalis of Gaza (d. c.625) Vitalis was a scandal in his time---an elderly
monk who left his monastery and went around consorting with prostitutes in
an attempt to convert them. He was vindicated after his death.
Dr. Phyllis G. Jestice
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