medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
Today (30. June) is the feast day of:
The martyrs under Nero (d. 64-68) This feast, celebrated on this day
since 1969, celebrates all the other Christians who died in the same
persecution as Peter & Paul (see June 29). It all started with a
very big fire in Rome that started on 19. July, 64 and ruined 2/3 of
the city. Nero (who didn't fiddle, since bowed instruments didn't
exist yet) was suspected of arranging the fire himself, and responded
by finding a convenient bunch of scapegoats---the Christians. Some
were crucified, some used as human torches, while others were sewn
into animal skins for use in beast shows. Tacitus describes the
brutality and how it roused sympathy for the victims.
Martial of Limoges (d. c. 250) Martial was a third-century bishop of
Limoges, according to a sixth-century story one of seven missionaries
sent from Rome to Gaul. A more entertaining eleventh-century
account, apparently fabricated by Adhermar of Chabannes, tells that
Martial was a contemporary of Jesus, converted by Jesus' preaching at
a young age. M. of course appeared several times in scripture: he
was the boy with the loaves and fishes, he carried the towel when
Jesus washed the disciples' feet, he also provided table service at
the Last Supper, etc. This extravagant account goes on to tell that
M. was one of the 72 original disciples, sent by Peter to preach in
Gaul. He worked an awful lot of miracles, specializing in
resurrecting the dead.
Bertrand of Le Mans (d. 623) Bertrand was a priest and archdeacon in
Paris before becoming bishop of Le Mans in 587. He was a supporter
of the Neustrian kings against the Austrasians, and was driven from
office several times. B. founded several monasteries, a pilgrim
hospice, and a church.
Theobald of Provins (d. 1066) Theobald (Thibaut) was the son of a
count of Champagne. He refused to do the usual warlike tasks of a
noble, instead wanting to be a hermit. Dad finally agreed, so T. and
a companion dressed as beggars and wandered until they got to the
forest of Pettingen (Luxembourg) where they set up as hermits, hiring
themselves out as day laborers to earn food. After a while they went
off on several pilgrimages and resettled in a remote area of northern
Italy. The companion died, and T. died slowly with what is called
leprosy in the sources. He was canonized less than seven years after
his death.
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