medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
Today (29. January) is the feast day of:
Julian the Hospitaller (?) Almost certainly mythical, with no country or
tomb ever attributed to him. Thanks to Jacopo della Voragine, Antoninus of
Florence, and Gustave Flaubert, however, his tale is widely known. The
legend reports that Julian, as a young noble, was hunting when a deer told
him he was destined to kill his father and mother. Julian fled the country
to avoid his fate, becoming wealthy and marrying in his new land. But J's
parents came searching for their son; J's dutiful wife gave them her own
bed to sleep in, since J. wasn't home at the time. So of course J came
home unexpectedly, and found what he thought was a strange man in bed with
his wife---and killed both of them. Discovering his error, J. was stricken
with remorse and went and built a hospital at a river crossing. He became
a patron saint of hospitals and travellers.
Sabinian of Troyes (d. c. 275) Sabinian was a native of Samos, but,
unhappy with the moral climate at home, went to Gaul. When he was in
Troyes he converted to Christianity and remained there the rest of his
life, first assisting the bishop and then taking over when the bishop was
martyred. S. in turn was martyred under Aurelian, after a successful
career preaching and baptizing in the upper Seine region.
Sabina of Troyes (d. c. 275) The half-sister of Sabinian, legend reports
that she left home to seek her brother. An angel told her in a dream to go
to Troyes, but she arrived there only to find that he had already been
martyred. Sabina found Sabinian's tomb, and died while praying at it.
Gildas (d. c. 570) Gildas was a monk of Llaniltud in south Wales. He
attracted disciples from both Wales and Ireland. But G. went on to become
a hermit, then ended his life in a monastery he founded in Brittany. He is
probably best-known today for his De excidio Britanniae, on the evils of
Britain in his time and the Germanic advances on the island.
Aquilinus of Milan (d. c. 650) The Bavarian Aquilinus became a wandering
preacher to escape high ecclesiastical office. He especially focused his
efforts against the Arians---a group of whom assassinated him in Milan.
Bathild (d. 680) Bathild was an Anglo-Saxon slave who attracted the
interest of the Frankish King Clovis II and married him in 649. When
Clovis died, B. acted as regent for her eldest son, and in her spare time
founded the monasteries of Corbie and Chelles besides promoting the work of
several religious figures. After a palace coup in 665, she became a nun at
Chelles, where she was noted for her humility
Dr. Phyllis G. Jestice
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