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Today, 25 September, is the feast of... Firmin, bishop and martyr (4th century): True identity is unclear. Was probably a missionary bishop in Gaul. Cadoc, abbot (575): Miraculously relived a famine by the discovery of an unknown store of wheat. Aunacharius or Aunaire, bishop of Auxerre (605): Zealous for discipline in his diocese, Aunacharius forbade Christians to use churches for dancing and to sing ribald songs. Nor were the people in his diocese to dress themselves up as stags or calves on New Year's day, or to make vows before "holy" bushes, trees and wells, or to practice sympathetic magic. Finbar, bishop (633): Upon this death, the sun did not set for a fortnight. Ceolfrid, abbot of Wearmouth (716): Abbot during Bede's time. Bede writes: "I was ordained deacon in my nineteenth year, and priest in my thirtieth, receiving both these orders at the hands of the most reverend Bishop John at the direction of Abbot Ceolfrid." Herman the Cripple, monk (1054): Born in Swabia of the house of Altshausen in 1013, as a child he entered the abbey of Reichenau on an island of Lake Constance. Among his works is one of the earliest medieval world-chronicles, a long unfinished poem on the deadly sins, and a mathematical/astronomical treatise which begins: "Herman, the rubbish of Christ's little ones, lagging behind the apprentices of philosophy, more slowly than a donkey or a slug..." Also crafted astronomical and musical instruments. (Perhaps Frank Shaw, world expert of world chronicles can add something about Herman?) Sergius of Radonezh, abbot (1392): Popular among the people. Sergius spent most of his monastic time working with the poor and advising monarchs. *************************** Carolyn Muessig Department of Theology and Religious Studies University of Bristol 3 Woodland Road Bristol BS8 1TB UK fax: +44.117.929.7850 phone: +44.117.928.8168 [log in to unmask] %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%