medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
Today, February 21, is the feast day of:
Maximianus of Ravenna (d. 556) Maximianus, probably from Pula (Croatia),
became bishop of Ravenna (Italy) in 546. He was a close friend of Justinian
and Theodora, and carried out the rulers' plans to restore Ravenna as an
imperial showcase. The most important churches of Ravenna go back to
Maximianus; he consecrated S. Vitale and S. Apollinare in Classe, and also
built S. Stefano and S. Andrea. Maximianus' ivory chair is a prized
possession of the Museo Arcivescovile in Ravenna.
Pepin of Landen (640): Mayor of the palace to kings Clotaire II, Dagobert I,
and Sigebart III. He was grandfather of Pepin of Herstal, great-grandfather
of Charles Martel. He was part of a very saintly family - his wife was St.
Ida of Nivelles, and his daughters were SS Begga and Gertrude of Nivelles.
Pepin was a peace-lover and known for his justice. His cult was popular at
Nivelles. According to Butler: 'Pepin protected the Christian communities of
the north against the invasions of the Slavs, worked hard for the spread of
the Christian faith, and chose only virtuous and learned men to fill the
bishoprics.'
Germanus and Randoaldus (d. ca. 675) Germanus came from a senatorial family
of Trier and had been educated by that city's bishop St. Modoardus. One of
Germanus' brothers became a high official under kings Dagobert I and
Sigebert. Germanus wished a religious life and joined St. Arnulph of Metz at
the latter's monastery on the Horenberg where he became a monk and stayed
for a while before passing on to the future Remiremont.
Germanus, who soon brought his younger brother Numerianus to Remiremont,
began while there to attract disciples drawn by his lifestyle of fasts,
prayer vigils, and hard labor. In time Germanus and his companions passed on
to Luxeuil, where abbot St. Waldebert, who had Germanus ordained priest,
received them. When Waldebert was asked by a high noble named Gundonius /
Gundoin (the first duke of Alsace) to found a monastery on land he would
donate in the diocese of Basel, Germanus was chosen to be its first abbot.
Randoaldus, who would become the monastery's first prior, accompanied
Germanus to the site (Grandval).
Things went well at first at Grandval and Germanus was put in charge of
two other monasteries as well. But a successor of Gundonius whom Bobolenus
calls both Bonifacius and Cathicus (really two people; Cathicus, who is
better known as Adalrich or Eticho, seems to have been the one who is meant)
began to harrass the monks and clearly intended to make their territory his
own. In a parley at Jura Germanus reproved him and for his pains was then
run through with a lance, Randoaldus murdered with him, by Cathicus'
soldiers. After a few days of searching monks found the bodies of their
abbot and their prior and brought that of Germanus back to Grandval, where a
healing miracle soon confirmed his sanctity. The disposition of Randoaldus’
his remains is not mentioned. In Delémont, the Musée jurassien d'art et
d'histoire houses a wooden crozier ornamented in a Merovingian fashion in
cloisonné enamel, with filaments of gold and silver, that came from Grandval
and that traditionally is known as Germanus' crozier.
Thus far Germanus' Vita. In this text Randoaldus is not yet considered a
saint and the disposition of his remains is not mentioned. The monastery at
Grandval had a chequered history in the Middle Ages and was closed for good
in 1534, when in consequence of the Reformation in Basel its community (who
were then canons regular) moved to Delémont in today's canton Jura. The
église paroissiale Saint-Marcel there (until 1792 these canons' church)
houses what are said to be relics of both Germanus and Randoaldus.
In the same city, the Musée jurassien d'art et d'histoire houses a wooden
crozier ornamented in a Merovingian fashion in cloisonné enamel, with
filaments of gold and silver, that came from Grandval and that traditionally
is known as G.'s crozier (as well it might have been, the ornamentation
being of course later). Herewith some views of this object, said to be the
world's oldest surviving crozier:
http://www.encyclopedie-universelle.com/images/Image302 ,
http://www.mjah.ch/IMG/arton21.jpg
A French-language discussion of these and other relics or putative relics
of Germanus and Randoaldus is here:
http://www.moutier.ch/new/navig/general/histoire/tresor.htm
George of Amastris (d. c825) was born near Amastris (on the Black Sea). He
became a hermit on Mt. Sirik, then went on to a monastery, and c800 was
elected bishop of Amastris. George refused the job but was carried off by
force. He finally proved to be a very good bishop of Amastris, leading the
successful defense against a Muslim attack.
Peter Damian (d. 1072) wait for February 23. :)
happy reading,
Terri
--
"If you can't get rid of them ugly old skeletons in the closet, at least
teach 'em how to dance funny."
- Billy C. Wirtz
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