medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
Today (2. June) is also the feast day of:
Guido (Wido) of Acqui (d. 1070). G. belonged to a wealthy noble family,
became a cathedral canon of Acqui -- today's Acqui Terme (AL) in
Piedmont --, and was elected its bishop in 1034. His Vita (BHL 8873),
written around 1260 and ascribed to one Laurentius Calceatus (or Lorenzo
Calciati), sounds the chimes on his various virtues, tells us that he
had been a student at the university of Bologna (not founded until 1088,
so that's a bit of a stretch), has some factual information about his
family, and notes the one thing for which he's still remembered at
Acqui: completing construction of the present cathedral. It goes on to
add a few postmortem miracles underscoring G.'s sanctity. G.'s cult was
confirmed in 1853. He is Acqui Terme's patron saint.
Acqui's cathedral, consecrated in 1067, has been rebuilt several times.
Its transept and apses preserve their early, "romanesque" form. The
belltower is originally of the thirteenth century. A few exterior views:
http://www.ilmonferrato.info/ov/acqui/duomo.jpg
http://tinyurl.com/nzpft
http://www.thais.it/architettura/romanica/schede/scm_00047.htm
The cathedral is dedicated to the Virgin of the Assumption. A sculpture
from 1481 in the lunette over the main portal illustrates this subject:
http://tinyurl.com/pwzbo
Inside, fragments of a late eleventh- or early twelfth-century mosaic
floor (very similar to the twelfth-century one in the cathedral of
Novara) have been found in the presbytery. Views of four of these,
including one naming Guido, are here (top two; the bottom two are
parallels from Novara):
http://tinyurl.com/js6g9
and here:
http://tinyurl.com/zwmzk
There's a sculpted portrait of G. next to the cathedral's main portal:
http://santiebeati.it/immagini/Original/90996/90996A.JPG
There's another representation of him, from 1400, on the Bishop's Palace:
http://www.lancora.com/monografie/san_guido/san_guido_sismondi.jpg
Laurentius Calceatus' Vita of G. is published in full in Giovanni
Battista Moriondo, ed., _Monumenta Aquensia_ (Taurini [Torino]: Ex
Typographia Regia, 1789-1790), vol. 2, pp. 89-103; the final chapter
(the postmortem miracles) is also in G.'s treatment in the _Acta
Sanctorum_. For a recent study of G. in his historical context see
Romeo Pavoni, "San Guido: un vescovo e una cittą durante la Riforma", in
Giuseppe Sergi and Giuseppe Caritą, eds., _Il tempo di San Guido vescovo
e signore di Acqui. Atti del convegno di studi, Acqui Terme, 9-10
settembre 1995_ (Acqui Terme: Impressioni grafiche, 2003), pp. 57-78.
Pavoni's article is also downloadable from _Reti Medievali_ at:
http://centri.univr.it/RM/biblioteca/scaffale/p.htm
Whereas today is both G.'s _dies natalis_ and his day in the RM, in the
diocese of Acqui the practice is to celebrate him on the second Sunday
of July.
Best,
John Dillon
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