medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
Today (4. December) is the feast day of:
Fare (Burgundofara) (d. 657) Fare was a Frankish noblewoman, sister
of two other saints. Soon after her birth she was dedicated to God,
although her father later tried to make her marry to his political
advantage. Eventually, though, dad built a double monastery for F.
F. served as abbess for 37 years.
Sigiramnus (d. 655?) Sigiramnus (Cyran) was a noble Frank who served
as royal cupbearer, but gave it up and became a monk. S. built
several monasteries.
John of Damascus (d. 749) John, despite a training in theology, at
first entered the caliph's service (Damascus of course being under
Muslim rule by this period). A new caliph, though, was less
favorably inclined toward Christians, so J. resigned. He gave his
goods to the poor and went off to become a monk. At the laura of St.
Sabas near Jerusalem, J wrote the treatises that have won him
recognition as a doctor of the church. He was able to write three
major treatises against iconoclasm, since he was protected from the
iconoclast Byzantine emperors by the fact that he lived under Muslim
rule. His greatest work, though is a major treatise entitled *On the
Orthodox Faith*. Most of his writings were only translated and
published in western Europe in the sixteenth century. He was named a
doctor of the church in 1890.
Anno (d. 1075) Anno was a scion of the minor nobility who was
educated at Bamberg, caught the attention of Emperor Henry III, and
was made archbishop of Cologne and chancellor of Germany in 1056. He
served for a time as regent for Henry IV, but HIV disliked A. and
kept him out of public affairs when he (HIV, that is) grew up. So A.
spent most of his time caring for his diocese. He built a number of
churches, helped the poor, and reformed monasteries. He retired for
the last year of his life to a monastery. A. was canonized in c.
1136.
Osmund (d. 1099) Osmund was a kinsman of some sort to William the
Conqueror. He came to England and became chancellor in 1072. In
1078 he was made bishop of Salisbury. He reorganized his diocese,
put the Sarum (Salisbury) liturgical books into order, and
established a body of cathedral clergy in the cathedral that he
built. He was canonized in 1457, which, by the way, was the last
canonization of an English saint until 1935.
Bernard of Parma (d. 1133) Bernard was a member of Florence's Uberti
family. He became a Vallombrosan monk, then abbot of San Salvio,
then abbot general of the order. Urban II made him a cardinal and
used him as a legate. Paschal II established B as bishop of Parma.
B's support of the gregorian reform program was staunch; he was
forced into exile by opponents for two years.
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