medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
Today (25. February) is the feast day of:
Nestor (d. 251) Bishop Nestor of Magydus (Pamphylia) was arrested
and executed during the Decian persecution, after stiffening
Christian resistance to making the mandatory sacrifices to the state
gods. He was crucified.
Caesarius of Nazianzen (d. 369) The less famous brother of Gregory
of Nazianzen, mostly known from Gregory's funeral oration. C.
studied medicine to such good effect that he became Emperor Julian's
chief physician. C's father and brother finally convinced him to
resign the post, but he returned to imperial service in the reign of
Jovian and Valens. He was baptized in 368 after nearly being killed
in an earthquake, turning to a life of renunciation until he died the
following year---when he left all he had to the poor.
Walburga (d. 779) Walburga was a sister of SS Willibald and
Winnibald. She was a nun who went to Germany in response to
Boniface's call for helpers, settling at Tauberbischofsheim. When
Winnibald established a doubled monastery at Heidenheim, he put W in
charge of the nuns there, later governing both sexes. Oddly, the
feast of her translatio (1. May) became associated with the witches'
sabbat.
Gerland of Girgenti (1100) (I confess that I remember a discussion
about this city's name, but can't remember which the current form
is.) Gerland was a Burgundian, apparently of Norman blood and a
relative of Robert Guiscard. When the Normans conquered Sicily, G.
was made bishop of G, where he rebuilt the cathedral and converted a
lot of Muslims.
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