medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
Today (12. June) is the feast day of:
Onuphrius (d. c. 400) Legend tells that Onuphrius was an Egyptian, a
hermit for seventy years in the Thebaid. His cult was very popular
in both east and west in the Middle Ages (although it's since been
questioned whether he existed at all). He is the patron saint of
weavers---although all he wore was his own hair---and perhaps a
loincloth made of leaves. In art he's shown naked, with a very, very
long beard.
Ternan (5th cent.?) Ternan was an early missionary bishop who worked
among the Picts in Scotland. Legend says that he founded the
monastery of Culross in Fife.
Leo III (d. 816) I confess that this one surprised me. Leo was a
Roman who became pope in 795 but was accused of all sorts of
interesting immorality attacked by his enemies, imprisoned, and
mutilated. He escaped and went north, where he asked Charlemagne for
help. Charlemagne came and put L back on the papal throne---and
event that looms large in western civ. classes because L. then
crowned Chuck as emperor (Christmas day, 800). Leo was canonized in
1673.
Eskil (d. c. 1080) Eskil is supposed to have accompanied St. Sigfrid
from England to Sweden as a missionary; there he became bishop of
Strangnass (near Stockholm). He met his end when some of his
converts snuck off to a pagan festival---Eskil followed them there to
protest, and they stoned him.
Christian of Clogher (d. 1138) Much less famous than his brother St.
Malachy of Armagh, Christian was bishop of Clogher (Co. Tyrone,
Ireland) from 1126 until his death. His shrine was at Armach.
Juan Gonzalez of Sahagun (d. 1479) Juan was from Sahagun near Leon
(Spain). He became a cathedral canon at Burgos (along with several
other benefices), but had a guilty conscience over the whole
pluralism business and resigned all his offices except a chaplaincy
at Salamanca. In 1463 J became an Augustinian friar. He was an
extremely influential preacher, especially vehement on the issue of
sex outside of marriage. This finally did him in---a woman whose
lover abandoned her after hearing one of J's sermons poisoned him.
He was canonized in 1690, but demoted to local cult status in 1969.
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