medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
Today (6. December) is the feast day of:
Nicolas of Myra (d. sometime in early 4th cent. (?)) Nicholas (aka Santa
Claus) is one of the most beloved popular saints of both the eastern and
western Church. It seems almost certain that Nicholas was born in Patras
(Greece) and was raised by his uncle, the bishop of Myra. Nicholas
succeeded his uncle in the bishopric. An enormous Nicholas legend has
developed over the centuries. According to some accounts, Nicholas was
tortured in Maximinus' persecution and, still bearing the marks, took part
in the council of Nicaea. The Nicholas cult began to spread in the sixth
century, reaching Slavic lands in the eighth century and western Europe
along with the empress Theophanu in the 970s. In 1087 Italian merchants
stole Nicholas' relics from Myra and carried them to Bari. The most famous
Nicholas legend tells how a nobleman sent his three daughters to a brothel
to earn their dowries. But when Nicholas heard of this, he threw a purse
full of gold in the window during the night, so the girls could marry.
Dionysia (d. 484) Dionysia was a Tunisian, a Catholic Christian. She
refused the Vandal king Hunerich's order to shift to Arianism, upon which
she was tortured and executed. On the same day died Leontia, another
Catholic killed in the Arian persecution.
Majoricus (d. 484) Majorica was born in 480, the son of Dionysia. He was
killed along with his mother.
Abraham of Krateia (d. after 557) Abraham was born in Emesa in 474. He
became a monk, at first in his homeland, and from 500 on priest and abbot
at Krateia in Bithynia. As more and more disciples flocked to him, Abraham
fled in 511 to a monastery in Jerusalem. He was convinced to return to
Krateia, however, and became bishop there in 518. However, he fled to
Jerusalem again in 536, and spent the rest of his life there.
Pedro Pascualez (d. 1300) (blessed) Pedro was born in 1227 in Valencia
(Spain). He became bishop of Jaen in 1296, which at that time was under
Muslim rule. Despite this, he was active in freeing Christian prisoners
and preached against Islam. Not surprisingly, he was imprisoned by the
authorities and beheaded soon afterwards. His cult was approved in 1673.
Dr. Phyllis G. Jestice
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