Today, 17 June, is the feast of ...
* Nicander and Marcian, martyrs (fourth century) - were soldiers who
converted to Christianity; they are supposed to have died in: Durostorum
(Bulgaria), Tomi (Romania), Alexandria (Egypt) and Venafro (Italy)
* Bessarion (fourth century) - he was known for being a disciple of St
Antony, then of St Macarius
* Hypatius, abbot (446?) - a priest heard the young Hypatius singing to
his sheep, and decided to teach him the Psalter and how to chant - invoked
in the Greek church as a protector against harmful beasts
* Avitus, abbot (530?) - buried near Orleans; Gregory of Tours relates
miracles that took place at the tomb
* Nectan (sixth century?) - medieval cult was fostered by the Augustinian
canons who were custodians of his tomb in Devon
* Herve or Harvey, abbot (sixth century) - one of the most popular Breton
saints; invoked for eye-trouble
* Botulf or Botolph, abbot, and Adulf (c. 680) - relics were preserved in
Boston (i.e. 'Botulf's Stone'), Lincolnshire
Last year, Georges Whalen asked:
Does anyone know how (and maybe which) of Botolph's relics got to
Boston? the Bury St Edmunds documents (edited by Thomas Arnold in the
Rolls Series in 1896) talk of how parts of the relics went (from Blythburg
I believe) to Bury early in the eleventh century - there are links with
Edgar as well, who kept part of the saint in his treasury, so that Cnut
was then able to grant it out. (if it sounds confused, it may be as much
my interpretation as that in the sources which isn't totally
straightforward) But did it then get to Boston later?
George Ferzoco replied:
Thanks for your message. I was far too hasty in saying that Botolph's
relics ARE in Boston. They WERE there for a few centuries, until they were
divided between Thorney, Ely and Westminster; this according to the
*Bibliotheca Sanctorum*. I didn't know about Cnut's unusual use of a royal
treasury; but that's simply my ignorance: anyone know of other cases of
such treasuries being used to preserve holy relics?
* Moling, bishop in Leinster (697) - during his later life he fasted every
day, except when entertaining guests
* Rainerius of Pisa (1160) - Pisa's principal patron; he seems to have
preached, but there is no record of him receiving holy orders - from the
use he made of holy water in his miracles of healing he was nicknamed 'De
Aqua'
* Teresa and Sanchia of Portugal (1250 & 1229) - daughters of Sancho I,
king of Portugal; their sister Mafalda was also known for her holiness
* Pietro da Pisa (1435) - founder of the Hermits (or Poor Brothers) of St
Jerome, whose members became so few that it was suppressed in 1933 (thus
lasting much longer than most medieval congregations)
Carolyn Muessig
[log in to unmask]
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
|