medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
Today (27. November) is the feast day of:
Barlaam and Josaphat (?) These saints (at least as Christians) are a
fiction: the tale of Barlaam and Josaphat is a slightly adapted
retelling of the enlightenment of Siddartha the Buddha. In the
story, Josaphat is an Indian prince whose father imprisoned him,
since it was prophesied that he would become a Christian. Sure
enough, he did, converted by Barlaam. The king tried to get J. to
change his mind, but when he failed *he* converted to Christianity
and became a hermit. J. became king but later resigned and joined
Barlaam in his hermitage.
James Intercisus (d. c. 421) James was a favorite of Shah Yezdigerd
I of Persia. J. was a Christian, but renounced his faith when the
king started persecuting Christians. But when the king died, J.
repented and declared himself a Christian. The new king, Bahram,
didn't like Christians any better than his dad had, and when J.
refused to apostasize again was executed by being cut apart piece by
small piece, thus earning the nickname intercisus (= cut to pieces).
Secundinus (Sechnall) (d. 447?) An early saint of Ireland, legend
tells that Secundinus was sent from Gaul to help Patrick with
missionary work. He became the first bishop of Dunslaughlin in
Meath. Several hymns are attributed to S, most notably "Audites,
omnes amantes Deum" in honor of Patrick.
Fergus "the Pict" (8th cent.) Fergus was an Irish bishop who went to
Scotland as a missionary. He settled at Strathearn (Perthshire) and
founded several churches. A Fergustus, "bishop of the Scots,"
attended a synod in Rome in 721 and may be the same man.
Virgil (Ferghil) of Salzburg (d. 784) Virgil was an Irish monk who
in c. 743 went on pilgrimage to the Holy Land. Instead of going
home, he found his way to Bavaria, where he became abbot of St.
Peter's, Salzburg and then bishop in c. 765. Boniface clearly didn't
think highly of V., denouncing him twice to the pope; both times V.
was exonerated. V. was a missionary in Carinthia and is regarded as
the apostle of the Slovenes. He was canonized in 1233.
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