medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
Today (5. February) is the feast day of:
Agatha (?) There is good evidence of Agatha's early cult, although
nothing is known of her historical existence. Her Acta tell that A.
was a wealthy (beautiful) young woman, a consecrated virgin. Various
versions tell that she was born in either Palermo of Catania. A
consul fell in lust with her, and used an imperial edict against
Christians to try to have his wicked way with her. Didn't work. So
he had her put in a brothel. That didn't work either. Then she was
tortured, described in disturbingly sexually-charged accounts that
end with hacking off her breasts.
Avitus of Vienne (d. c. 525) Avitus a native of the Auvergne. He
succeeded his father as bishop of Vienne in 490. A. is known for his
successful missionary work among both non-Christians and Arian
Christians; he was also famous in his time for his learning and
writings.
Bertulf (d. c. 705) Bertulf was born to a non-Christian family
somewhere in "Germany," but moved to Flanders at a young age. He
became a Christian and steward to a count. The count was so
impressed by B. that he made him heir to estates at Renty. After the
count's death, B. founded a monastery at Renty and retired there
himself. B's relics are famous. They were put in an iron casket in
Ghent, and for centuries it was believed that when danger threatened,
the dead abbot would knock against the side of the shrine in warning.
He doesn't do so any more, because the Huguenots scattered his bones
in 1578.
Adelheid of Vilich (d. c. 1015) Adelheid was the daughter of Count
Megengose of Guelder. Dad founded the convents of Vilich on the
Rhine and St. Mary's in Cologne. A. served as abbess of both. She
made her nuns learn Latin, did a great deal to help the poor, and was
regularly consulted by the archbishop of Cologne. Her cult was
confirmed in 1966.
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