medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
Today (17. July) is the feast day of:
Martyrs of Scillium (d. 180) Scillium was somewhere in North Africa, and
the early acta of these martyrs is an important source for early Christian
martyrdom. These martyrs were a group of twelve Christians, taken for
interrogation to Carthage. The acta tell how the Roman proconsul tried to
convince the Christians to denounce their beliefs, including a reprieve of
thirty days to consider the matter. Finally they were beheaded.
Alexis (?) Alexis probably never existed, but his legend was very popular.
It tells how the Roman Alexis abandoned his wife on their weding night,
went on a long pilgrimage, and returned to Rome, living for seventeen years
as a beggar in his own father's house. His identity was only discovered
after his death.
Kenelm (Cynhelm) (d. 812 or 821) Kenelm was a prince of Mercia. He died
before his father, possibly fighting the Welsh. By the second half of the
tenth century he was regarded as a martyr. By the eleventh century, the
legend had developed to the point that Kenelm was seven years old and
reigned for a few months as his father's successor, but was murdered at the
instigation of a jealous sister. Better yet, his tomb was discovered
thanks to a document (written in Old English) that was dropped by a dove
onto the high altar of St. Peter's in Rome. Perhaps oddest of all, the
evil sister received divine punishment: while reciting a psalm backwards,
her eyes fell out.
Leo IV (d. 855) Leo was a Benedictine monk, elected pope in 847. His most
pressing task was defence of Rome against Muslim attack and repair of the
damage they had caused in the sack of 846. Besides strengthening and
rebuilding walls, Leo organized the fleets of Naples, Amalfi, and Gaeta and
defeated the Muslims in a naval battle just off Ostia. Leo's pontificate
saw an important reassertion of papal authority, most notably growing
independence from the benevolent protectorship (or something like that) of
the Franks. Leo's feast has now been suppressed.
Narses of Lampron (d. 1198) Narses was an Armenian, who became archbishop
of Tarsus. His greatest work was an attempt to draw the Armenian church
from its isolation, and before his death the bishops of Armenia west of the
Euphrates entered communion with the Roman church. Narses also translated
the Benedictine Rule and Gregory's Dialogues into Armenian.
Dr. Phyllis G. Jestice
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