medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
Today (8. June) is the feast day of:
Maximinus of Aix-en-Provence (1st cent.??) This sounds like a nice
case of medieval wishful thinking. Maximinus was apparently the
first bishop of Aix, and legend declared that he lived in the first
century and was involved in the journey of Mary Magdalen to
Marseilles; he was also identified with the man born blind described
in John 9.
Melania the Elder (d. c. 410) A Roman patrician, Melania was part of
the ascetic craze that swept Rome in 340 when Athanasius and his
monks visited. Left a widow at the age of 22, Melania was free to
live an ascetic life: she was one of the first Roman women to visit
the Holy Land and in 378 founded a double monastery at Jerusalem
(along with Rufinus of Aquilea).
Severinus of Septempeda (d. 540) Severinus and his brother St.
Victorinus were nobles who gave their inheritance to the poor and
became hermits near Livorno. Pope Vigilius forced S. to become
bishop of Septempeda in 540 (Septempeda is now called Sanseverino
after S). Victorinus, who apparently became bishop of Camerino, is
also commemorated today.
Medard (d. c. 558) Medard was a nobleman of Picardy who became
bishop of Vermand in 530 and transferred the see to Noyon because
that city was more defensible. He later also became bishop of
Tournai, which was united with Noyon until 1146.
Eustadiola (d. 690) Eustadiola was a noblewoman of Bourges. After
she was widowed she spent her wealth to restore churches and was the
founding abbess of Moyenmoutier in Bourges.
William Fitzherbert (d. 1154) William was a nephew of King Stephen
of England. He became a canon at York and archbishop in 1142. There
was a rival candidate, though, a Cistercian named Murdac, and the
Cistercians supported their candidate in declaring W's appointment to
be simoniacal. W. got papal approval and was consecrated archbishop
in 1143, but his partisans celebrated with a bit too much
enthusiasm---they burned down Fountains Abbey to celebrate---and W.
was deposed and his rival consecrated after all. W. retired to
Winchester, living a penitential life. After Murdac died W. was
restored to the see of York, but he died almost immediately (perhaps
poisoned). He was canonized in 1226.
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