medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
Today (12. June) is the feast day of:
Onuphrius (d. c. 400) An Egyptian hermit, Onuphrius' tale was
recounted by one of the several Egyptian monks named Paphnutius.
Paphnutius found O. out in the desert---clothed only in hair and
beard that reached to the ground and a loincloth made of leaves. As
reported, O. had lived as a solitary for 70 years, and it turns out
that God had sent Paphnutius just in time: O. died the next day, and
P. buried his body.
Ternan (5th or 6th cent.) Ternan is a Scottish saint. He worked to
convert the Picts and was one of their earliest bishops. One account
of his life tells that T. was a monk of Culross. Some of his relics
were at Aberdeen Cathedral, which was probably originally dedicated
to him.
Odulf (d. 855) Odulf was a Brabantine priest active in the Frisian
missionary field. He built a church and monastery at Stavoren. A
cult rose after O's death, and Evesham Abbey claimed to have gotten
his relics after they were stolen by Viking pirates early in the 11th
century.
Eskil (d. c. 1080) Eskil was a kinsman of Bishop Sigfrid, and
accompanied him when he was sent from England to Norway at the
request of Olaf Trygvasson. Eskil worked as a missionary in Sweden
and was consecrated bishop at Strangnas (not far from modern
Stockholm). King Inge supported E's work, but there was a violent
anti-christian reaction under his successor Sweyn the bloody (what a
great name!) A major traditional festival was held at Strangnas and
E. tried to keep baptized Christians from taking part. That didn't
work, so he prayed for a sign from God and a violen hailstorm
immediately destroyed the altar and sacrifices. The king said it was
magic, ordered that E. be killed, and the crowd stoned him to death.
John of Sahagun (d. 1479) John was a member of an influential family
that acquired a canonry for him at Burgos at a young age, as well as
several other livings. But J. was ascetically inclined, took to
poverty, and won fame as a preacher and spiritual director. In 1464
he became an Augustinian friar. He was canonized in 1690.
--
Dr. Phyllis G. Jestice
Associate Professor & Chair
History Department
University of Southern Mississippi
118 College Dr. #5047
Hattiesburg, MS 39406
(601) 266-5844
**********************************************************************
To join the list, send the message: join medieval-religion YOUR NAME
to: [log in to unmask]
To send a message to the list, address it to:
[log in to unmask]
To leave the list, send the message: leave medieval-religion
to: [log in to unmask]
In order to report problems or to contact the list's owners, write to:
[log in to unmask]
For further information, visit our web site:
http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/medieval-religion.html
|