medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
Today (23. February) is the feast day of:
Polycarp (d. c. 155) Polycarp was bishop of Smyrna, a disciple of
the apostle John. At the age of 80 (says Eusebius), P. was arrested
and sentenced to death by burning (finished off with a spear when the
fire wouldn't take hold properly). The "Martyrdom of Polycarp" is
apparently an eyewitness account, and is the oldest martyr account
outside of the New Testament.
Serenus the Gardener (d. c. 302) Serenus (or Cerneuf) was probably a
fiction. His legend tells that he was a Greek who moved to Sirmium
(modern Metrovica). He hid for a while from persecution, but soon
got into trouble on his return, according to legend because he
insulted a lady for trampling up his garden and she complained to her
husband, an imperial guardsman. The emperor found S. innocent of
insult but guilty of being a Christian. He was beheaded.
Alexander Akimetes (d. c. 430) Alexander studied at Constantinople
before becoming a hermit in Syria, then going as a missionary to
Mesopotamia. He established several monasteries, and seems to have
founded a system of round-the-clock monastic worship, the monks
working in shifts.
Boisil (d. 664) Boisil was a disciple of St. Aidan. He became a
monk at Melrose and in time became abbot. B. was a biblical scholar
and famous preacher. He died in the great plague that swept the
British Isles in the seventh century.
Milburga (early 8th cent.) M was a daughter of an Anglian prince and
the Kentish princess St. Ermenburga. Her sisters were SS Mildred and
Mildgytha. Milburga was the abbess/founder of the convent of
Wenlock. She was famous for miracles and the gift of levitation.
Willigis of Mainz (d. 1011) One of the great bishop/administrators
of the central Middle Ages, Willigis was a canon at Hildesheim who
became chaplain to Otto II, chancellor of Germany, and archbishop of
Mainz. Willigis played an important role in Germany during the
minority of Otto III and was also central in getting Henry II elected
after Otto's death. W. was also an active churchman in his spare
time. He sent missionaries to Scandinavia, rebuilt his cathedral,
founded churches, etc.
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