medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
Today (30. May) is the feast day of:
Basil the Elder & Emmelia (d. c. 370) Basil and Emmelia were the
parents of 4 saints (Basil the Great, Gregory of Nyssa, Peter of
Sebaste, and Macrina the Younger) and six other children. They were
citizens of Caesarea in Cappodocia.
Isaac of Constantinople (d. c. 410) Isaac was most famous for
publicly denouncing the Arian emperor Valens---and surviving to tell
the tale. He became abbot-founder of a monastery in the city.
Walstan (11th cent.?) Legend tells of this English saint that
Walstan was a prince who exiled himself to live with ordinary people,
becoming a farmworker at Taverham who was famous for his chairty.
W's shrine at Bawburgh (Norfolk) was popular before the Reformation.
He appears in art as a king with a scythe and a scepter, followed
around by calves.
Ferdinand III of Spain (d. 1252) Ferdinand became king of Castile in
1217, at the age of 19. He added to this the kingdom of Leon in
1230. He was in a very good position to follow up on the great
defeat of the Muslims at Los Navos de Tolosa in 1212, and conquered
Cordoba, Murcia, Jaen, Cadiz, and Seville. He provided Christian
infrastructure for the new lands, including founding the university
of Salamanca. A wise and just ruler, F. was notable for his
tolerance toward his Muslim and Jewish subjects. F's cult was
confirmed in 1655.
Joan of Arc (d. 1431) Finally canonized in 1920, Joan was perhaps
the most controversial holy person of the Middle Ages. A peasant
girl who heard voices, she was ordered to take up arms and lead the
French army against the English invaders besieging Orleans, and to
see that the dauphin was crowned king at Rheims. After a series of
military successes, J. was captured and turned over to the
English---who of course had to prove that she *hadn't* been inspired
by God. She was condemned as a heretic and burned at Rouen. By the
way, she claimed that Margaret of Antioch and Catherine of Alexandria
spoke to her---but the modern RC church has declared these saints
never existed.
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