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Today, 10 July, is the feast of ... * the Seven Brothers, and Felicity, martyrs (second century?) - although Felicity's feast is normally observed on 23 November, it is often commemorated along with that of the seven brothers who were her children, essentially given over to the death sentence by their mother (she chose that they die as Christians rather than live as pagans) * Rufina and Secunda, virgins and martyrs (257?) - buried at a place called 'Silva Nigra', that became known as 'Silva Candida'; this in turn became an episcopal see and appurtenant to the cardinalate * Amalburga, widow (c. 690) - born in Brabant, she became an ascetic nun at Mauberge * Amalburga, virgin (c. 770) - born in the Ardenne; king Pepin tried to get her to marry his son Charles ( -> Charlemagne), but the young beauty chose to enter the religious life; she is invoked for the cure of bruises * Antony and Theodosius Pechersky, abbots of the caves of Kiev (1073/1074) - founded the first notable Russian monasteries ***************** 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] %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%