medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
Doctissimi,
two trivial notes:
let me specify that the 'victory over the Turks' was the important
victory of Nandorfehervar (Belgrade), under the military command of
Janos Hunyadi, governor of Hungary and Giovanni da Capistrano, the
leader of the crusaders specially convening to meet Mehmed II the
Conqueror. After the Belgrade defeat the Turkish incursions to Europe
stopped for about six decades. There are celebrations in this year of
the 550th anniversary of the battle. Pope Callixtus III ordered the
ringing of the bells of the churches at noon - a custom you can still
hear in Hungary every day.
As to the more important Transfiguration. I can not add to the issue on
the origin, but the date in the Orthodox church is the 6th of August,
too (my handbooks at home do not indicate a change in the assignment) -
19th for those with the Old Calendar. My sources tell me that the feast
was promoted with great emphasis by Justinian. Two great mosaics testify
to his policy: the Transfiguration apse mosaics in St. Catherine's in
the Sinai, and the St. Apollinare in Ravenna. As Cyrill of Jerusalem (d.
386) had been engaged in a debate over the identification of Mt. Thabor
as the place of the Transfiguration, the interest, and most likely the
feast must have been in existence by then.
It is interesting to read the OT passages in the Menologion for August:
Ex 24, 12-18; Ex 33, 11-23; Ex 34, 4 - 36, 8; 1 Ki 19, 3-9; 11-13;
15-16; very nice examples of typological readings.
Valete,
George
>>> [log in to unmask] 08/04/06 10:56 PM >>>
medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and
culture
Dear List members,
One of my many small unanswered questions: why was the feast of the
Transfiguration celebrated on August 6th: I see on line that it was
placed there definitively for the western church by Pope Calixtus III to
celebrate a Christian victory over the Turks, 6 August, 1456.
However, this date (and a few others, equally mysterious) seems to have
predated Calixtus's designation by some centuries. Does anyone know why
this particular date was originally widely used?
(I've always thought that the Reformation, in moving the day to the
Sunday before Lent, made one of its few admirable liturgical changes).
thanks,
JBW
**********************************************************************
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
**********************************************************************
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
|