medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
Today (15. March) is the feast day of:
Longinus (1st cent.) Longinus is the name traditionally given to the
soldier who pierced Jesus' side with a spear to make sure he was
dead. Legend tells that L. converted, was cured of blindness, and
was eventually martyred in Cappodocia.
Aristobolus (1st cent.) Aristobulus appears in Romans 16:11 and
tradition further reports that he was one of the 72 disciples. A
later fiction identified A. with Zebedee (father of James and John)
and connected him with Britain.
Menignus (d. 251) Menignus was a dyer who lived in Parium on the
Hellespont. When the imperial edict against the Christians was
posted, M. tore it down. Clearly one didn't mess with imperial
edicts with impunity---M's fingers were cut off to make that point
before he was executed.
Matrona (d. c. 350) Legend tells that Matrona was a slave belonging
to a rich Jewish woman of Thessalonika. When her mistress discovered
that M. had converted to Christianity, she had M. whipped to death.
Zacharias (d. 752) Zacharias was born in Calabria to a Greek family.
He became pope in 741 and his pontificate proved to be one of the
most influential in papal history. Z's opposition to the Byzantine
emperor's iconoclast policy led him to make an alliance with the
Franks, with long-term results we doubtless all know about. It was
Z. who authorized the coronation of Pepin the Vertically Challenged
as king of the Franks.
Leocritia (Lucretia) (d. 859) Leocritia was a woman of Cordoba.
When she converted to Christianity her parents drove her from their
home, after which she took shelter with St. Eulogius. She was found
there, and both were flogged and beheaded.
Raymund of Fitero (d. 1163) Raymund was from Aragon. He started his
career as a cathedral canon at Tarazona, but then became a
Cistercian. He was founding abbot of Fitero (Navarre). R. also
played an important role in the Christian reconquista of Spain: in
1158, when the city of Calatrava was threatened by Muslims, he
founded the military order of Calatrava in defense---it was
successful there and in other reconquista fights. R's cult was
confirmed in 1719.
Monaldus of Ancona & companions (d. 1286) Monaldus and two fellow
Franciscans were on a missionary journey when killed in western
Armenia (modern Turkey). Their cult has not been formally approved.
--
Dr. Phyllis G. Jestice
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