medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
Today (1. March) is the feast day of:
Martyrs of Rome (d. 269) One of several groups of "Roman martyrs," this
group consisted of 260 Christians who were rounded up and put to slave
labor in sandpits on the Salarian Way. When they had finished their labors
they were used for archery practice in the amphitheatre.
Felix II (d. 365) An antipope who managed to make the Roman Martyrology,
although his cult was limited to local calendars in 1969. Felix was
elected ope by the Arian faction in Rome and confirmed by a council, but
when the exiled Pope Liberius returned F. was driven into exile. A
tradition reports that F. ended up martyred for opposing an emperor.
Albinus of Angers (d. 550) Albinus was a native of Vannes (France). He
became a monk and then abbot near Angers, then in c. 529 became bishop of
Angers. A. was important at the third council of Orleans (538) and also
won a significant posthumous cult: the monastery of St. Aubin at Angers was
dedicated to him and he also has a shrine at St. Aubin de Moeslain.
David (d. c. 600) David, the patron saint of Wales, is unfortunately a
figure only known through a much later vita (written c. 1090) that set out
to defend the rights of the bishop of St. David's against encroachment by
Canterbury. It is hard to doubt, though, that D. founded a monastery (at
the site of the city now named after him) and became its first bishop. D's
cult won papal approval in 1120, an interesting and rare case of seeking
papal approval for an early saint, and his shrine became a great center of
pilgrimage. Unfortunately some modern cynic has recently proven (I don't
know how) that the relics kept there aren't actually David's.
Marnock (d. c. 625) Marnock was an Irish monk at Iona who became a
missionary bishop in Scotland. He died in Annandale and had an active cult
along the Scottish border; Kilmarnock is named after him.
Monan (d. c. 874) Monan was a missionary in Fife (Scotland), associated
with St. Adrian of May. M. was killed by Danish raiders.
Leo Carentanus (d. 900) A somewhat dubious legend tells that Leo was
bishop of Rouen, but then became a missionary to the Basques, only to be
beheaded by pirates near Bayonne. He is now the patron of that city.
Rudesind (Rosendo) (d. 977) Rudesind was a Galician noble who became
bishop of Mondonedo at the age of eighteen (but later was transferred to
the see of Compostela after a bad bishop was kicked out. He organized
resistance to Viking and Muslim raids, but before long was deposed by the
bishop he had replaced. So R. went off and founded the monastery of
Celanova, where he became a monk, as well as other monasteries. R. was
canonized in 1195.
Christopher of Milan (d. 1484) (blessed) Christopher was a Dominican who
became a famous preacher in the territories of Genoa and Milan. A friary
was founded for him at Taggia (near Ventimiglia). His cult was confirmed
in 1875.
Dr. Phyllis G. Jestice
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