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medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture Today (3. April) is the feast day of: Niketas of Medikion (d. 824) Niketas was abbot of Medikion in Bithynia (Turkey). He was one of the bravest icon defenders of his time, and on that account was imprisoned for six years by Emperor Leo V and then banished. After Leo died (820), Niketas lived for several years as a hermit near Constantinople. Liutbirg (d. c. 880) Liutbirg was a famous recluse. She had herself enclosed in c. 830 by the monastery of Wendhausen in Saxony. In her cell, Liutbirg instructed neighborhood girls in music, embroidery, etc. She was a famous spiritual advisor. Joseph the Hymnodist (d. 886) Joseph was born in Syracuse (Sicily, not NY) in 816, and became a monk in Thessalonike. From there he went to Constantinople, where he built a monastery near the tomb of John Chrysostom. There he lived and wrote some of the most impressive an beautiful hymns of the Greek church, except for a spell of banishment from 858 to 867. Richard of Chichester (d. 1253) Richard was born in c. 1198 in Droitwich (England) He studied in Paris, Bologna, and Oxford, and in 1235 became chancellor of Oxford University. He went on to become chancellor to Archbishop Edmund of of Canterbury, who was his close friend. After Edmund died, Richard studied theology and became a priest. In 1244 he became bishop of Chichester---elected over royal opposition. He managed to establish himself and became a notable pastor and model of clerical life. Richard died in Dover while preaching the crusade. His tomb in Chichester was a popular pilgrimage site until the Reformation; he was canonized in 1262. Gandolf of Binasco (blessed) (d. 1260) Gandolf was born in c. 1200 in Binasco (near Milan), and entered the Franciscan order during the lifetime of Francis. Gandolf spent most of his active life in Sicily, working for decades as a successful preacher. He was beatified in 1881. 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