medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
Today (29. December) is the feast day of:
Trophimus (3rd cent.?) Trophimus was a missionary in Gaul, based in
Arles, which he seems to have served as first bishop.
Marcellus Akimetes (d. c. 485) The "Akoimetoi" ("not-resters") were
a branch of eastern monasticism. Marcellus was the third abbot of a
monastery near Constantinople. He was a very ascetic abbot,
insisting on physical labor and not even allowing food supplies to be
stored up. Under M., the community numbered about 300 monks from all
over the empire.
Ebrulf (d. 596) Ebrulf (Evroul) was born in what is now Normandy and
raised at the court of Childebert I. Despite success at court and
marriage, E. decided to become a monk (his wife became a nun).
Retreating to a hermitage with a few companions, E. soon attracted
disciples and ended up founding about fifteen monasteries.
Thomas Becket (d. 1170) Thomas of London was of Norman stock, the
son of a burgher of London. He became archdeacon of Canterbury in
1154 but was soon passed on to the service of the new English king,
Henry II. Tom soon became chancellor of England and did a very good
job at it, living a very rich and secular life. Everything changed
when Henry decided to make Tom archbishop of Canterbury in 1162. Tom
started reforming his life and got pious, soon taking a stand for
papally-sponsored ecclesiastical rights in England---against the
king. The story is doubtless familiar: Tom fled into exile, was
finally reconciled with the king in 1170, returned home and at least
appeared to break his agreement with Henry by excommunicating those
who had harmed Canterbury in his absence. The king got mad, and four
knights took the hint and went and murdered Tom in his own cathedral.
Thomas was rapidly canonized as a martyr. His shrine was destroyed
by order of Henry VIII in 1538.
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