medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
Today (5. August) is the feast day of:
Addai and Mari (d. c. 180) Addai, Aggai, and Mari are credited with
spreading Christianity through Mesopotamia, Adiabene, and Persia.
They were probably active in the second half of the second century.
Emygdius (d. 304) Emygdius (Emidius) is widely venerated in Italy
for protection against earthquakes. His cult is also alive and well
in San Francisco and Los Angeles. His acta tell that E. was a German
convert who visited Rome, where he went into a temple of Aesculapius
and smashed the cult statue. The bishop protected E by ordaining him
and sending him off to evangelize in the area of Ascoli Piceno. He
and three companions were beheaded during Diocletian's persecution.
Nonna (d. 374) Nonna was the wife of St. Gregory Nazianzen the Elder
and the mother of SS Gregory Nazianzen the Younger, Gorgonia, and
Caesarius.
Oswald (d. 642) Oswald was a son of King Aethelfrith of Northumbria.
He fled to Scotland when Edwin seized the throne, converted to
Christianity there, and in 634 came back to win both parts of
Northumbria. Thanks to some divine help at the battle of
Heavenfield, he succeeded, and set about converting his territory
with the help of St. Aidan. In 642 he was killed in battle against
Penda of Mercia. Since Penda wasn't a Christian, Oswald's death was
regarded as a martyrdom. The image fit the better since Penda had
O's corpse chopped apart and put the pieces on stakes as a sacrifice
to Woden.
Margaret the Barefooted (d. c. 1395) Margaret was born to a poor
family of San Severino. She married at age 15 and seriously annoyed
her husband by not only helping beggars but going barefoot to be more
like them. After some years, the abusive husband died and M. spent
the rest of her life praying and doing charitable works.
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