medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
Today (7. May) is the feast day of:
Serenedus and Serenikus (d. c. 669/675) Serenedus and Serenikus were
brothers, born to a noble family of Spoleto. Both became monks and in the
mid-seventh century traveled to northwest France, where they then lived
separately as hermits. Serenikus attracted over 100 disciples, the core of
the monastery Hiesmes, which Serenikus led as abbot.
John of Beverley (d. 721) John was born in Harpham (England) in the
mid-seventh century. He became a monk at Whitby, in 687 bishop of Hexham,
and in 705 archbishop of York. In 718 he abdicated and spent the rest of
his life at the monastery of Beverley, which he had founded. There may
have been a papal canonization in 1307.
Boris of Bulgaria (d. 907) Boris was the first Christian ruler of
Bulgaria, and devoted himself to Christianizing his land. When the pope
refused Boris' request for a Bulgarian patriarchate, in 870 Boris
transferred his affections to the eastern church. In 890 Boris abdicated
and entered a monastery. He is the national saint of Bulgaria.
Gisela of Hungary (d. 1060) Never formally canonized, Gisela is venerated
as a saint in Hungary, and a canonization is expected in the near future.
Gisela was born in c. 985, the daughter of Duke Heinrich II of Bavaria and
sister of the later Emperor Heinrich II. At the age of 10, Gisela was
married to King Stephen of Hungary. Gisela played a large role in the
conversion of Hungary (as did, of course, her husband and her son
Emmerich), founding churches and monasteries with rich endowments. After
Stephen's death, Gisela was persecuted by the pro-pagan party, and finally
even imprisoned. Emperor Heinrich III arranged her release, after which
Gisela entered the Bavarian convent of Niedernburg (in Passau).
Dr. Phyllis G. Jestice
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