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medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture Today (5. December) is the feast day of: Sabas the Great (d. 532) Sabas was from Cappodocia. At a young age he became a monk, finally founding a laura in the Judaean Desert (named Mar Saba)---which, by the way, has been a continuously functioning monastery from Sabas' time to the present. S. served as archimandrite over all the monasteries of the Holy Land, in which position he played an important role fighting monophysites. The Venetians stole S's incorrupt body in the Middle Ages, but it was returned to his monastery in 1965; in 1969 his cult was confined to local calendars in the Roman church. Nicetius of Trier (d. 566) Nicetius was a monk and abbot, a Gallo-Roman who became bishop of Trier in 532. He didn't get along well with the Frankish rulers of the region, excommunicating two for "disgusting behavior" (says my source) and getting exiled in return. He also founded a school and rebuilt the cathedral in Trier. John the Thaumaturge (d. c. 750) John was bishop of Polyboton (Phrygia). He was a very outspoken opponent of the imperial iconoclast policy---but was so famous as a miracle worker that the emperor didn't dare attack him. Gerald of Braga (d. 1109) Gerald was from near Cahors; he became a monk at Moissac. He went on from there to be chief cantor at the cathedral of Toledo and in 1096 became archbishop of Braga (Portugal), reestablishing the ecclesiastical hierarchy in Portugal as Muslim rule there ended. Christina of Markyate (d. 1161) Christina was a noble Englishwoman whose parents wouldn't let her become a nun, so she ran off and became a recluse instead. In time she gathered enough disciples to form a convent of her own. Galganus (d. 1181) Galganus was a native of Siena, a wastrel as a young man until he converted to the religious life. He became a hermit near the city, and a popular spiritual figure for the area. A church was built on the site of his hermitage, which became a Cistercian monastery two decades after G's death. Bartholomew Fanti (blessed) (d. 1495) This famed preacher, spiritual director, and healer was a native of Mantua and member of the Carmelite order. -- Phyllis G. Jestice Associate Professor History Department University of Southern Mississippi Hattiesburg, MS 39406-5047 ********************************************************************** 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