medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
Today (11. February) is the feast day of:
"The Guardians of the Holy Scriptures" (d. c. 303) A group of north
African Christians who died rather than hand over sacred texts to
government authorities during Diocletian's persecution. The fact that
other African Christians were more accommodating led to the Donatist
schism.
Lucius of Adrianople and companions (d. 350) Lucius was a leading opponent
of Arianism, for which he was exiled twice. Then he was imprisoned in a
purge of Athanasius' supporters, and died in prison. Some of his
supporters were killed in the disturbances at the time of his arrest.
Jonas the Gardener (4th cent.) Jonas was a monk at Demeskenyanos (Egypt).
He was the gardener for his community for 85 years, working day and night
and singing lots of psalms, while living on a nourishing diet of raw
vegetables and vinegar.
Caedmon (d. c. 680) Caedmon was a Northumbrian shepherd, "discovered" by
Hilda of Whitby to be a poet of deep spirituality. He was the first
Christian Saxon poet (unfortunately only a fragment of his work is extant).
Benedict of Aniane (d. 821) The "other" Benedict, whose central role was
ensuring the dominance of the Benedictine Rule in western Europe.
Originally named Witiza, B. was a Visigoth who served at the Frankish court
before becoming a monk in 773. In 779 he founded the monastery of Aniane
on his own estate in Languedoc. Louis the Pious was very impressed by B of
A, and in 817 had him preside over the council of abbots that imposed the
RB and common customs on all monasteries in the Frankish empire.
Theodora (d. 867) Theodora was wife of Theophilus, the last iconoclast
emperor, and when he died was regent for her son (Michael III, with the
unfortunate soubriquet "the drunkard"). T. ended iconoclasm in 842. Her
son deposed her in 856 and sent her to a convent.
Adolf of Osnabruck (d. 1224) Adolf was a Westphalian noble whose family
got him a canonry at Cologne. But he resigned to become a Cistercian, and
went on to be bishop of Osnabruck in 1216. He was so famous for charity
that he got the nickname "the almoner of the poor." Adolf Hitler was named
after him.
Dr. Phyllis G. Jestice
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