medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
Today (12. February) is the feast day of:
Marina (?) A pious fiction tells that Marina was the daughter of a
man who became a monk; he took M. with him to the monastery dressed
as a boy. When (s)he grew up, M. was accused of impregnating a local
woman and, still disguising her sex, was dismissed for it. She was
readmitted five years later and put to work at the lowliest tasks as
penance. M's sex was only revealed at her death.
Julian the Hospitaler (?) Another piously fictive character who was
very popular in the Middle Ages was Julian the Hospitaler. His story
tells that J. was of noble birth. A prophetic hart reproached him
for hunting and told him he would kill his parents. Sure enough, he
did---once when he was away mom and dad came to visit and J's
hospitable wife tucked them up in her own bed. Julian got home late
at night, thought he had discovered his wife with a lover, and killed
them. And then of course he was sorry. He and his wife built a
hospice for travelers and a hospital for the poor. J. received proof
that his sin was forgiven when he helped a leper and gave up his own
bed for the guy---the leper of course turned out to be a messenger
from God.
Meletius of Antioch (d. 381) Meletius was an Armenian elected
archbishop of Antioch in 361 as a compromise candidate between Arians
and catholics. He soon proved to be too catholic for Arian tastes
and was exiled. M. was recalled by the trouble-making Julian the
Apostate, but was exiled again several times as the faction-fighting
raged in his diocese. He was finally reinstated in 378.
Antony Kauleas (d. 901) (Antony was a Constantinopolitan abbot who
became patriarch in 893. He seems to have spent his patriarchate
reconciling theological factions. A worthy goal.
Ludan (d. c. 1202) Legend tells that Ludan was the son of a Scottish
prince named Hiltebol. When his dad died, L. gave his inheritance to
the poor and built a hospice. He then went on a pilgrimage to
Jerusalem. On his way back home he had a dream near Strassburg
telling that he was about to die. He was given communion by an
angel, then died. Then all the bells in neighboring churches pealed
miraculously to mark his death.
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