 |
 |
medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture Today (4. December) is the feast day of: Barbara (d. 306?) According to legend, Barbara lived in the third century in Nicomedia, where she was raised as a pagan. She became a very beautiful young woman and had many suitors, but Barbara was instead attracted to a group of Christians. When Barbara's father saw her interest, he had his daughter imprisoned in a tall tower that he had built beside his house. But when Barbara informed him that she had already been baptized, he took her to the governor of the city and denounced her. Barbara was tortured, including having her breasts cut off, but refused to renounce her faith, so was eventually beheaded---by her own father. Barbara was deleted from the Roman Calendar in 1969 because of the lack of historical evidence of her existence---but who could doubt a story like this! Maruthas (d. c. 415) Maruthas was one of the most important saints of Syria. In c. 400 he became bishop of Tagrite in Mesopotamia and devoted himself to reorganizing the church in Persia and parts of Syria. Maruthas was especially concerned to further the cult of the many Syrian and Persian martyrs who had been killed by the Persian ruler Shapur; to that end; Maruthas wrote many hymns, besides collecting their relics. John of Damascus (d. c. 750/752) John is one of the great theologians of Christianity, and is the last of the Greek fathers of the Church, as well as a Doctor of the Church for western Christians. He is most famous for his defense of icons. John was born in c. 650 in Damascus. He became a noted poet and author there. When persecution of the Christians became acute, though, John and his family left Damascus. In c. 700 John and his brother settled in a cave of the monastery of Mar Saba near Jerusalem. He became an important advisor to the patriarch and several bishops. In legend, the caliph had John's hand hacked off, but the Virgin Mary re-attached it, whereupon John decided to become a monk. Anno II of Cologne (d. 1075) The Swabian Anno was educated in Bamberg and became a court chaplain to the emperor Henry III in 1046. In 1056 the emperor named him archbishop of Cologne. As archbishop, Anno cared for the poor, built monasteries, and tended to the possessions of his church, but repeatedly came into conflict with his flock. He was canonized in 1183. Osmund (blessed) (d. 1099) Osmund was a Norman nobleman who accompanied William to England in 1066. In 1071, William made Osmund his chancellor, promoting him in 1072 to the bishopric of Exeter and in 1078 to the bishopric of Salisbury (Old Sarum). Osmund is regarded as a co-author of the Sarum Rite. He was beatified in 1457. Bernard of Parma (d. 1133) Bernard was the second founder of the Vallombroasan order after John Gualbert. He was born in c. 1050 in Florence, and entered the young order in 1080/1085. Bernard soon became an abbot and in 1099 general abbot of the entire order, in which position he is credited with giving the Vallombrosans their organization. Besides this, the pope named him to the cardinalate and used him as a legate in northern Italy. In 1106 Bernard became bishop of Parma. Pietro Pettinaio (d. 1289) (blessed) Pietro was born in Campi (near Siena) in c. 1200. He was a craftsman, but after his wife died, he entered the Franciscan order as a tertiary. He became so noted for his care for the poor and sick that he was already honored as a saint in his lifetime. Pietro was a very charismatic figure, and also had mystical experiences. His cult was approved in 1802. Dr. Phyllis G. Jestice [log in to unmask] ********************************************************************** To join the list, send the message: join medieval-religion YOUR NAME to: [log in to unmask] To send a message to the list, address it to: [log in to unmask] To leave the list, send the message: leave medieval-religion to: [log in to unmask] In order to report problems or to contact the list's owners, write to: [log in to unmask] For further information, visit our web site: http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/medieval-religion.html