medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
Today (23. April) is the feast day of:
George (d. c. 304/305) The historic George, patron saint of England
(formally declared at the synod of Oxford in 1222), Genoa, Limberg,
farmers, soldiers, etc., etc., was a Christian of Cappadocia. He became a
soldier in c. 300 in the imperial army, but was caught up in the Great
Persecution and beheaded. A strong cult arose at an early age, spreading
throughout the near east and north Africa and soon to the west. The Greeks
honor George as "archmartyr." In legend, George was a high-ranking soldier
in Cappadocia when a dragon started ravaging, only appeased by the offering
of two sheep per diem. When all the sheep had been eaten, the dragon
demanded human offerings. The lot fell first of all on the king's
daughter. But George valiantly attacked the dragon, wounded the poor
hungry creature badly, and then paraded him on a chain, promising to kill
the beast only when all the people of the land had accepted baptism. They
agreed.
Ibar (d. c. 500) According to tradition, Ibar was an Irish saint from
before the arrival of St. Patrick. He may be the "Ibarus" who is listed
second on medieval lists of bishops of Kildare. There is no extant vita of
Ibar, so we do not have a detailed legend of this saint. He is said to
have founded many churches, of which the only one well-attested was on
Beggery Island in Wexford Harbor. This was one of the southern Irish ports
that traded with the Continent, so an early Christian community there makes
sense. Later tradition makes the church there a monastery, which is
unlikely that early. It is, however, likely that he had at least some
disciples, which in legend include St. Abbán. Ibar is supposed to have
been the most obstinate of the native Irish clerics in opposing St.
Patrick's mission, apparently on the grounds that Patrick was a foreigner.
Pusinna (6th cent.) Pusinna is still honored in Westfalia, where her
relics were translated to the convent of Herford in 860 and she became
patroness of the community. Pusinna was a hermitess near Corbie.
Gerard I of Toul (d. 994) Gerard was from Cologne. In 963 he became
bishop of Trier and served his diocese very actively until his death. I
mostly included him because of the curious fact that he was formally
canonized in 1050---by his successor in office, Bishop Bruno of Toul (aka
Pope Leo IX).
Adalbert of Prague (d. 997) Adalbert was a Bohemian nobleman, born in c.
956. After a reasonably dissolute youth, Adalbert reformed and in 983 was
consecrated bishop of Prague. Adalbert came into almost immediate conflict
with the pagans of his diocese, and in 989 gave up and went to Rome and
became a monk. He was forced to return to his office in 992 by the pope,
however, but with the promise that he could become a missionary if he
couldn't win acceptance in his own diocese. From 996 on, Adalbert
evangelized the Prussians, who killed him in 997. His martyrdom caused a
great sensation in a martyr-starved age, not least because Adalbert had the
esteem of the young emperor Otto III. In 999 Adalbert was canonized, and
Otto himself visited his tomb in Gniezno in the following year. Adalbert's
vita, by Bruno of Querfurt, is the most moving work of hagiography I've
ever read (and I think I'm up to c. 200 of the things).
Jon Ogmundsson (d. 1121) Not formally canonized. Jon was born in c. 1052
in Breidabolsstadur in Iceland, and in 1106 became the first bishop of
Holar in Iceland. He founded the cathedral church and school and
established the monastery of Thingeyri (the oldest monastery in Iceland).
His relics were formally elevated in 1198.
Dr. Phyllis G. Jestice
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