medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
Today (14. February) is the feast day of:
Valentine of Rome (d. c. 269) An unreliable legend tells that Valentine
was a priest and physician in Rome. He may have been martyred in the reign
of Claudius II; a church was built over his tomb on the Flaminian Way in
350. His cult was limited to local calendars in 1969. He seems to be
identical with Valentine of Terni.
Abraham of Carrhae (d. c. 422) Abraham was a Syrian hermit, most noted for
converint a whole Lebanese village to Christianity by borrowing money to
pay its taxes. He became bishop of Carrhae (Harran) in Mesopotamia, and
won influence over Emperor Theodosius II and his court.
Maro (d. c. 435) Another Syrian hermit, Maro lived on the bank of the
Orontes river. He won many admirers in his lifetime but is perhaps most
significant posthumously: the monastery of Beit-Marun was built around his
tomb and became the center of a Monothelite sect in the seventh century.
The group fled to Lebanon because of persecution, and eventually became the
Catholics of the Maronite rite.
Cyril and Methodius (d. 869 & 885) The apostles of the Slavs. C and M
were brothers from Thessalonika. In 863 they went as missionaries to
Moravia, the beginning of an extremely influential mission that included
the translation of the Bible and liturgical texts into Slavonic. They ran
into trouble with the German clergy who claimed authority over the same
region, so went to Rome to get papal support. They got approval, but
Methodius continued to be harassed by Germans (Cyril died in Rome). In
1980 C and M were declared co-patrons of Europe, along with Benedict of
Nursia.
Conrad of Bavaria (blessed) (d. 1154) Conrad was a son of a duke of
Bavaria who studied at Cologne but, instead of going on to a cushy
benefice, became a monk, first at Morimond and then at Clairvaux. He went
to the Holy Land and became a hermit there. But on his way back to visit
his old abbot Bernard on his deathbed, C. himself died in Apulia. His cult
was confirmed in 1832.
Jordan of Saxony (blessed) (d. 1237) Jordan was a German noble who joined
the nascent Dominicans in 1220. He became second master-general of the
order, proving himself to be a good administrator as well as a great
preacher. While sailing to the Holy Land he was shipwrecked and drowned.
J's cult was confirmed in 1828.
Dr. Phyllis G. Jestice
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