Today, 11 November, is the feast of ... * Martin of Tours, bishop (397) - among the most renowned early medieval saints, there are well over 50 extant Latin vitae and related sources dealing with him - oldest extant church in England bears his name - in parts of Italy, traditionally, 'the feast of St Martin' is associated with moving from one house to a new one - last year, Marija-Ana Duerrigl ([log in to unmask]) added this to our discussions: 'In these parts of Central Europe the feast of St Martin is traditionally associated with "baptizing young wine", a colourful and merry occasion at which "bishop Martin" and his ministers perform the "transforming" of must into wine in numerous vineyard cottages...' * Mennas, martyr (?) - although his existence is fairly certain due to the localized, wide-spread and early cult, his story is of late fabrication; anyone know any good Mennas episodes? * Theodore the Studite, abbot (826) - greatly venerated in the East, noted for his monastic legislations and defending of icons and of authority of see of Rome * Bartholomew of Grottaferrata, abbot (c. 1050) - a companion of St Nilus, founder of the monastery, noted for its teaching and its production of manuscripts * * * * * * * * * George Ferzoco %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%