 |
 |
medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture Today (17. March) is the feast day of: Joseph of Arimathea (1st cent.) A Jewish counsellor, secret follower of Jesus, and provider of Jesus' tomb. Medieval legend declared that Joseph was a distant relative of Jesus, a native of Cornwall (where Jesus apparently went for a summer vacation once while a teen!). Legend reports that, using the chalice from the Last Supper, Joseph caught Jesus' blood as it flowed during the crucifixiion. J. then took this cup (aka "the holy grail") with him back to Britain, where it could later inspire King Arthur's knights. He is supposed also to have founded a religious community at what later became Glastonbury---his staff took root there, and a descendent of the Holy Thorn still grows by the cathedral. Patrick (sometime or other in the 5th century; the question has perhaps generated more controversy than it deserves) Patrick was, of course, The Apostle of Ireland, converting the island single-handed during breaks from persecuting poor innocent snakes and druids. At least if one believes the medieval Armagh accounts. More historically, Patrick was *an* early missionary in Ireland, a native of Britain who spent part of his youth enslaved on the Emerald Isle, and, although he escaped, later went back to evangelize the place. Gertrude of Nivelles (d. 659) Gertrude was a daughter of Pepin the Elder and Itta. Her mother built a double monastery at Nivelles and installed Gertrude as abbess. In her short life (she died at the age of 33), G. became famous for her hospitality and generosity; she resigned her position the last three years of her life to devote herself to prayer. G's cult was popular in the Netherlands. Fine weather on her feast day is supposed to be the sign to start garden work. Withburga (d. c. 743) Withburga was an East Anglian princess, a sister of St. Etheldreda. She became a solitary. Her fame seems really to have begun when she was exhumed 50 years after her death, and the body was found to be incorrupt. In 974 the monastery of Ely stole the body under rather exciting circumstances (pursuit by the men of Dereham, escape by boat). Paul of Cyprus (d. 777) Paul was an opponent of the iconoclast emperor Constantine Copronymus. When he refused to trample a crucifix, P. was tortured, and then hung upside down over a fire and slowly roasted to death. 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