medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
Today (16. August) is the feast day of:
Arsacius (d. 358) Arsacius was a Persian soldier in the Roman army. He survived the persecution of Licinius and went and became a hermit on a tower in Nicomedia. He was famous for his miracles and prophecies. He predicted the earthquake that killed him.
Armel (d. c. 570) Armel seems to have been Welsh; he went to Brittany with Abbot Carentmael and became a missionary. Eventually A. founded a monastery near Rennes and another at Ploermel.
Stephen of Hungary (d. 1038) The Magyar Vaik was baptized in 985 at the age of ten (at the same time as his father), when he received the name Stephen. He became ruler of the Magyars and in 1001 the first king of Hungary. Stephen encouraged Christianity, organizing an ecclesiastical hierarchy, building churches and monasteries, imposing tithes, and organizing Hungary into a quite centralized monarchy. S. was canonized in 1083.
Roch (d. 1378) Roch, despite his late date, is a quite legendary figure. He was perhaps born at Montpellier, son of the governor there. When he grew up he devoted himself to caring for the victims of plague; he himself fell ill but recovered. So far so good. But things get rather odd after that in the legend: R. is supposed to have returned to Montpellier, where his uncle the current governor failed to recognize him and imprisoned him for five years as a spy. R. died in prison and was finally recognized by a birthmark (a cross on his chest). A popular cult developed.
A modern saint: Juan of St. Martha (blessed) (d. 1618) The Spanish Juan was a Franciscan missionary to Japan. He was arrested in 1615 (this was the time of the great persecution in Japan) and imprisoned for three years before being beheaded. J. was beatified in 1867.
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