medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
I have recently read an old book called "El Escándalo del Islam" (The
Scandal of Islam) by the well-known Spanish author José María Gironella
(1917-2003). Gironella stated that the very first religious person who
promised a "paradise full of virgins" was not a Muslim but it was a
Christian, and that person was Ephrem the Syrian, that he promised a life in
Paradise with virgins as servants to whosoever lived a lifetime of
abstinence.
Does anybody know where (besides the Vatican Library) can all of Ephrem's
writings be found? I am curious because it was rather odd to me, yet
interesting, and I would like to see the writing in its entirety.
Regards,
Aida
«Non dimitere credere pro credere, sed pro intelligere» (Ramon Llull)
----- Original Message -----
From: "Phyllis Jestice" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Wednesday, June 09, 2004 1:25 AM
Subject: [M-R] saints of the day 9. June
> medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
>
> Today (9. June) is the feast day of:
>
> Pelagia of Antioch (d. c. 311) A rather controversial saint, Pelagia
> was a fifteen-year-old girl who was a disciple of St. Lucian.
> Soldiers were sent to arrest her, but to avoid being raped P. jumped
> from her roof and killed herself. John Chrysostom said she was
> divinely inspired; Augustine said suicide in such circumstances is
> not permitted.
>
> Ephrem the Syrian (d. 373) Ephrem was from Nisibis in Mesopotamia.
> He became a refugee when his city was annexed by the Persians in 33
> and ended up in Edessa (now in Turkey) where he became a monk. E. is
> the most famous of the Syrian fathers, especially famous for his
> exegesis and Syriac hymns. He was declared a doctor of the church in
> 1920.
>
> Columba of Iona (Colum Cille) (d. 597) Columba, the "apostle of
> Scotland" as he's often called, was a member of the O'Neill clan of
> Ireland. He became a monk in Ireland and founded the monasteries of
> Derry and Durrow there. But when about 42 years old (in 563), he and
> twelve companions migrated to the island of Iona off the coast of
> Scotland (a rather dubious legend tells that this was in penance for
> causing a bloody war). It isn't clear how much missionary work C
> himself did, but certainly Iona monks were very active evangelizing
> the various peoples of Scotland as well as Northumbria.
>
> Diana, Cecilia & Amata (blessed) (13th cent.) This threesome founded
> the first Dominican nunnery in Bologna. Diana de Andelo was a
> Bolognese noblewoman who entered a local convent against her parents'
> wishes (the parents kidnapped her, but she managed to get back to the
> conventual life). Amata and Cecilia Romana were brought in from the
> Dominican house in Rome to teach the rule to the new community.
> Their cult was confirmed in 1891.
>
> Sylvester Ventura (blessed) (d. 1348) The subject of an unofficial
> cult, Sylvester was a Florentine who became a Camaldolese lay
> brother. He was the monastery cook but seems to have spent a lot of
> his time having mystical experiences---it was said that angels came
> and did his cooking for him. He was a widely acclaimed spiritual
> advisor.
>
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