medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
Today (8. October) is the feast day of:
Simeon (1st cent.) Simeon was one of the key players in Jesus'
presentation in the Temple. An old man, he got his wish granted to
see the messiah before he died, as he happily proclaims in the Nunc
dimittis (Luke 2: 25-35).
Pelagia (?) Pelagia (aka Margaret) was an Antiochene actress. She
was converted by listening to one of Bishop Nonnus of Edessa's
sermons. P. then gave her worldly possessions to the poor, disguised
herself as a man, and became a hermit in Jerusalem. She was known as
"the beardless monk" until her sex was discovered at her death. At
least the legend says all of that. There *was* an adolescent girl
named Pelagia martyred at Antioch in the fourth century, but the rest
appears to be fictional.
Thais (?) Another highly legendary holy woman, Thais became a famous
prostitute in Alexandria, converted by St. Paphnutius---who then
locked her up as a recluse, the better to perform penance. After 3
years Paphnutius released her to live with other women in a convent,
but she died fifteen days later. Hroswith of Gandersheim's retelling
of this story is particularly noteworthy for her vivid evocation of a
recluse's cell.
Demetrius (4th cent.?) Demetrius was a deacon martyred at Sirmium
(Mitrovic, in whatever country that's in now). Accounts of his death
vary from murder by Emperor Maximian to service as a soldier that
culminated in martyrdom. He was extremely popular in the Middle Ages
as one of the great patrons of crusaders and other fighting men.
Keyna (6th cent.) Keyna, says legend, was a Welsh princess, one of
the 24 children of King Brychan. She refused to marry and became a
hermit on the banks of the Severn. Eventually her nephew, St. Cadoc,
persuaded her to return to Wales after she had spent years traveling
and founding churches.
A modern saint: Giovanni Leonardi (d. 1609) Giovanni was a secular
priest of Lucca who worked with prisoners and the sick. He and other
secular priests and laymen founded a congregation called the Clerics
Regular of the Mother of God (formally approved in 1595). In the
interesting political situation of the time, G. found himself accused
of forming this group for his own self-aggrandizement, and was
banished from Lucca for life. Fortunately Philip Neri helped him in
his exile---even giving him a cat (!) In his later years, G.
published a compendium of Christian doctrine that remained in use
until the nineteenth century. He died in 1609 of disease contracted
while tending to plague victims. G.L.'s canonization process was
well spread out: venerable status in 1701, beatification in 1861, and
canonization in 1938.
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