medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture saints of the day 9. February
Today (9. February) is the feast day of:

Apollonia (d. c. 249)  Apollonia was a deaconness of Alexandria, seized in the Decian persecution.  In their efforts to get her to a more proper understanding of divine forces, the Roman authorities had her tortured, knocking out all her teeth (which is why she's the patron saint both of dentists and of those who suffer from toothache).  Finally they built a large fire and threatened to burn her alive---but she spoiled their sport by jumping into the fire of her own free will.  Augustine says that A didn't usurp the divine prerogative in what was essentially suicide by saying that she must have gotten special direction from the Holy Spirit.  A lot of churches in Europe have one of A's teeth.

Teilo (6th cent.)  Teilo was a Welsh monk and bishop.  His very late legend tells that he spent time in Brittany with Samson, but returned to Wales, where he was probably based at Llandeilo Fawr in Powys.  Because of a dispute between three communities over who should get his body, T's relics miraculously mutiplied into three complete sets.

Cronan of Roscrea (d. c. 626)  Cronan was from central Ireland.  He is credited with founding fifty monasteries (or at least hermitages).

Marianus Scotus (blessed) (d. c. 1080)  Muiredach Mac Robhartaigh was an Irish peregrinus to the Continent.  He was heading for Rome, but never made it past Regensburg.  MS stayed there for the rest of his life, winning fame as a scribe.  Other Irish monks came along, and in time the first "Scottish" monastery of Germany was founded.
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