Today, 22 October, is the feast of ...
* Abercius, bishop of Hieropolis (c. 200)
- according to legend, his fame as bishop reached Marcus Aurelius,
who arranged for Abercius to visit him; while there, he exorcised a
devil from the emperor's daugher, Lucilla
* Philip, bishop of Heraclea, and companions, martyrs (304)
- despite Diocletian's edicts resulting in his church being
sealed, Philip continued to preach outdoors
- description of martyrdom of Philip, Hermes and Severus is very
detailed, and among the best attested of the episodes of the Diocletian
persecution
* Mallonus (or Mellon), bishop of Rouen (fourth century?)
- nothing is known of him, except that he is supposedly the first
bishop of Rouen; but according to legend, he was a pagan Briton (native
of Cardiff) who converted in Rome and was sent by pope Stephen I to
preach to the Gauls
* Nunilo and Alodia, virgins and martyrs (851)
- sisters, living at Huesca, who devoted their lives to being
Christian virgins; authorities tried to corrupt them by forcing them to
live with wicked women, but this didn't work so their heads were chopped
off
* Donatus, bishop of Fiesole (c. 876)
- an Irishman who, returning to his home from a pilgrimage to
Rome, happened to pass through this town while everyone was in the
square deciding on a new bishop; as Donatus entered, the bells began to
ring, and it was he who was chosen
* * * * * * * *
Dr Carolyn Muessig
Department of Theology and Religious Studies
University of Bristol
Bristol BS8 1TB
UK
phone: +44(0)117-928-8168
fax: +44(0)117-929-7850
e-mail: [log in to unmask]
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