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medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture Today (13. January) is the feast day of: Leontius of Caesarea (d. 337?) Leontius, bishop of Caesarea in Cappadocia in the first half of the 4th century, was a leading figure at the council of Nicaea in 325. Noted for his skill at negotiation and compromise, Leontius was one of the most influential bishops of his time. Hilary of Poitiers (d. 367) Hilary remains today one of the highly venerated saints of France. He is the first known hymn-writer of the Latin church, besides writing other important religious works. Hilary was born in c. 315 in Poitiers, the son of a non-Christian patrician family. He studied philosophy and rhetoric and married at a young age. At the age of 30, Hilary then was baptized and turned to a full-time Christian life. In 350 he was elected bishop (perhaps the first) of Poitiers. His opposition to Arianism led to his exile from 356 to 361. After his return, Hilary lived communally with his clergy, from which the first monastic community in the West developed. Much of his intellectual activity was devoted to linking western theology with that of the east that he had come to know during his years of exile. In 1851 he was named a doctor of the Church. Remigius of Rheims (d. 532/533) Remigius (Remi) is called the "apostle of the Franks." He was born in 436 near Laon, to a noble family that produced many saints. He was highly educated and at the age of only 22 was elected bishop of Rheims, an office he held for 75 years. Remigius spent his life trying to convert non-Christians as well as Arians to catholic Christianity, a process greatly aided by his friendship and cooperation with the Frankish king Clovis. It was Remigius who eventually baptized Clovis in c. 500. Remigius is responsible for founding the dioceses of Laon, Therouanne, Arras, Tournai, and Cambrai. Kentigern Mungo (d. 603) Kentigern is recognized as the apostle of northwest England and southwest Scotland; he may have been the first to establish Christianity in Scotland in the sixth century. Kentigern, whose nickname Mungo means "beloved," was especially active in the region around Glasgow; we know nothing of his background. At one point he was driven out of the Glasgow region by enemies, went to Wales as a missionary for a few years, but then return to Scotland. Kentigern still appears in the city coat of arms of Glasgow, which suggests that he was patron of the city before the Protestant reformation. Yvetta (d. 1228) Not formally canonized, but a cult attested. Yvetta (Jutta) was born in 1158 in Huy (Belgium). After her husband's death, she entered the Cistercian order and lived for 40 years as a recluse next to the lazar house in Huy. Veronica of Binasco (blessed) (d. 1497) Veronica Negroni was born in Binasco (Italy) in 1445. In 1466 she became a laysister at the house of Augustinian hermitesses in Milan. Until her death she experienced many visions and ecstasies, the accounts of some of which still survive today. 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