medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
Today (5. February) is the feast day of:
Agatha (?) One of the great virgin martyrs, Agatha met her end in Catania
(Sicily). Legend tells that she was killed off quite gruesomely, including
having her breasts hacked off by the executioners. Displaying an odd sense
of humor on someone's part, A. is the patroness of bell-founders and
wet-nurses.
Avitus of Vienne (d. 519) Avitas was from the Auvergne. He was the son of
St. Hesychius, and succeeded him as bishop of Vienne. He was a significant
writer (many of his letters are extant), a popular bishop, and succeeded in
converting King Sigismund of the Burgundians from Arianism to catholic
Christianity.
Indract (d. c. 700) Legend tells that Indract was an Irish chief who went
on pilgrimage to Rome; on his return, he, his sister St. Dominica, and
other companions were killed by pagan Saxons near Glastonbury. Another
layer of legend makes them contemporaries of St. Patrick.
Modestus of Carinthia (d. c. 722) Virgil of Salzburg sent Modestus as
missionary bishop to convert the Carinthian Slavs (at the request of their
ruler). He was a very successful evangelist.
Adelheid of Vilich (d. c. 1015) Adelheid's father was count of Gelder, and
his pious schemes included his daughter. He founded two nunneries: Vilich
(near Bonn) and Sa. Maria im Kapitol (in Cologne), and A. was abbess of
each in turn. Her cult was confirmed for Cologne in 1966.
Dr. Phyllis G. Jestice
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