medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
Today (23. January) is the feast day of:
Asclas (3rd cent.) A legendary account tells that Asclas was a
native of the Thebaid, denounced as a Christian. He was brought
before the governor and tortured. But he seemed to get the better of
the governor---who tried to cross the Nile one day, only to have
Asclas put a spell on him so he couldn't get to the other side until
he had acknowledged the Christian god in writing. The governor did
so. . . but as soon as he had gotten across the river he had A.
tortured some more and then thrown into the Nile with a rock tied to
his neck. I'm not sure what the moral of this story is supposed to
be.
Emerentiana (d. c. 304) The Roman Martyrology tells that Emerentiana
was the foster sister of St. Agnes and a catechumen; she was stoned
to death while praying at Agnes' tomb.
John the Almsgiver (d. c. 619) John was a son of the governor of
Cyprus. He married, but when his wife and child died J. gave his
income to the poor and settled down to the religious life. He became
patriarch of Alexandria in 608 and started dishing out his new
diocese's wealth to the poor, especially helping refugees from the
Persian invasion. He worked for a peaceful resolution of the
monophysite crisis, and also combatted simony.
Ildephonsus (d. 667) Ildephonsus, a native of Toledo, became a monk
and in time abbot of Agli (Agalia). Named archbishop of Toledo in c.
657, he was a noted theologian and devotee of the Virgin Mary. I. is
honored as a doctor of the church in the Spanish church.
Bernard of Vienne (d. 842) Bernard was a member of Charlemagne's
court. While still a married layman he founded the monastery of
Ambronay and eventually became a monk (and then abbot) there. B. was
appointed archbishop of Vienne in 810, and founded the monastery of
Romans in c. 837.
Lufthildis (d. c. 850) A rather obscure saint, Lufthildis is
supposed to have been mistreated by her stepmother because she was
too charitable to the poor, after which she became a hermit near
Cologne. Many miracles are said to have occurred at her tomb.
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