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medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture I'll be off at a conference for the next few days. This mailing is for anyone who, like me, enjoys knowing saints' days on the feast days themselves. 26. September is the feast day of: Cosmas and Damian (?) Cosmas and Damian were martyred at Cyrrhus. A great basilica was built there in their honor, and their cult spread throughout the Christian world. But there is no historic information about their lives or deaths. A late legend made them twin brothers, physicians who practiced without asking for fees; many healing miracles are attributed to them. Cyprian and Justina (d. c. 300) This pair were martyred in Antioch. According to legend, Cyprian was a magician who tried to seduce the Christian Justina; insted, Justina converted him. Cyprian later became a bishop and Justina an abbess. Their feast was suppressed in 1969. Nilus (d. 1005) Nilus was a Greek born in Calabria. He became a treasury official, but became a monk in time. He became famous for his austerity, holiness, and erudition, besides as a composer of hymns. Elzearius (d. 1323) Elzearius was a count of Arian (France). He and his wife became Franciscan tertiaries. Both were famed for their good works, which were apparently a family tradition. E's godson---Pope Urban V---canonized him in 1369. 27. September is the feast day of: Flavian I of Antioch (d. 404) Flavian was an active opponent of Arianism. He was also a strong defender of his diocese, most notably when rioting Antiochenes so antagonized Emperor Theodosius that he decided to send an army against the city, but Flavian managed to persuade him not to. Barry (6th cent.) Barry was a disciple of St. Cadoc. He settled on the Glamorgan island now called Barry Island after him. Barry's chapel there became a famous pilgrimage center. Dietrich I of Naumburg (d. 1123) As bishop of Naumburg (Germany), Dietrich was a very active supporter of monasticism, founding the monasteries of Bosau and Riesa besides reforming others. He was murdered while praying in a monastic church. 27. September is the feast day of: Eustochia (d. c. 419) Eustochia was a daughter of Paula, and like her a disciple of Jerome. E. learned Hebrew and Greek and assisted Jerome with his translation of the Bible. She succeeded her mother as abbess of a newly founded convent in Bethlehem. Lioba (d. 782) Lioba was born to a noble West Saxon family. She became a nun. After some years of correspondence with her kinsman St. Boniface, Lioba went to help him in the evangelization of Germany, along with about 30 nuns. They settled at Tauberbischofsheim, with Lioba as abbess. Wenceslas (d. 929) Wenceslas became duke of Bohemia at a young age, and was educated mainly by his devoutly Christian grandmother Ludmilla. He encouraged the spread of Christianity in his duchy, and also increased ties between Bohemia and Germany. It is not clear which policy more provoked the reaction to his rule that culminated in Wenceslas' assasination by his brother Boleslav's followers. Wenceslas' cult was celebrated from 985 on, and by the early eleventh century he was acknowledged as Bohemia's patron saint. Eberhard of Tuntenhausen (2nd half 14th cent.) Eberhard was a shepherd and, reputedly, a wonder worker. Among other miracles, his shepherd's crook took root and grew into a tree. For centuries farmers took earth from his tomb and mixed it with fodder to cure sick animals. But his tomb was closed in 1933. Bernardino of Feltre (d. 1494) Bernardino was a Franciscan and a highly popular preacher in Italy. He also gained a great reputation as a protector of the poor. 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