medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
Today (23. July) is the feast day of:
The Magi (1st cent.) This really does seem to be the main feast of
the wise men, rather than Epiphany. My guess is that it's the day of
their relics' translatio to Cologne in the late twelfth century.
Modern scholars thing they were astrologers from either Babylonia or
Arabia.
Apollinaris of Ravenna (1st cent.?) Legend tells that Apollinaris
was a native of Antioch. He became a disciple of St. Peter and was
"appointed" first bishop of Ravenna. He is supposed to have
converted many people, suffered shipwreck, was exiled three times,
fled during Vespasian's persecution, was caught and beaten by a mob,
but survived the experience.
John Cassian (d. c. 433) John was probably from Provence. He went
to Palestine as a young man and became a monk, then went on to Egypt
to learn about hermits. Eventually he became a follower of John
Chrysostom. He ended up back in Gaul, though, founding two
monasteries in c. 415 and writing for them two books of instruction
based on his experiences in the east.
Anne (Susanna) (d. c. 918) This saint, known both as Anne and
Susanna, was born to a wealthy family of Constantinople. She fled
when a marriage was arranged for her and became a hermit in Epirus.
Bridget of Sweden (d. 1373) Bridget was the daughter of a wealthy
Swedish landowner. She started having visions at a young age, but
still married at age 14 and had eight children. She became a
lady-in-waiting to Queen Blanche. But after some family troubles B.
gave up her court position and went on pilgrimage, first to the
shrine of St. Olaf at Trondheim and then to Compostela. She had more
and more visions and in 1344 founded a monastery, the beginning of
the Brigettine order, at Vadstena. But B. made herself unpopular at
court (among other things by denouncing King Magnus' crusade against
the Letts and Estonians as a "marauding expedition") and went to Rome
in 1349. She was famous for her prophecies and endless attempts to
get the pope to move back to Rome. B. was canonized in 1391 and is
the patron saint of Sweden.
Some modern saints: Nicephorus Tejerina and companions (blessed) (d.
1936) This group was the superior and brethren of the Passionist
community near Ciudad Real in Spain. The community was raided during
the Spanish Civil War; Nicephorus and 25 others were taken away in
groups and shot at various times and places in the nearby region.
They were beatified in 1989.
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