medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
Today (16. April) is the feast day of:
The Resurrection of Christ. Happy Easter, everyone!
The Innumerable Martyrs of Zaragoza (aka "St. Optatus and companions)
(d. 304) Eighteen victims of Diocletian's persecution. Prudentius
tells of them in a hymn.
Fructuosus of Braga (d.665) Fructuosus was a son of a wealthy
Roman-Iberian family; his father was a general in Visigothic service.
When his parents died, F. gave his wealth to found religious houses
and help the poor (as well as the family's manumitted slaves). He
became a priest and monastic founder. He went on to be bishop of
Dumio and in 656 archbishop of Braga.
Magnus of Orkney (d. 1116) Magnus was a son of one of the dual
viking earls of Orkney and took to good viking-style piracy as a
young man. He converted to Christianity, though, and refused to
fight any more---until his cousin Haakon tried to claim sole rule of
the Orkneys. The two ended up ruling together for a time, until
Haakon had his pious rival murdered. Although the reason for his
death seems to have had nothing to do with religion, M. is regarded
as a martyr. His cult became popular in northern Scotland, Iceland,
and the Faroes.
Drogo (d. 1189) Drogo, from Artois, was an orphan from birth---his
father had died before he was born, and his mother died giving birth.
He grew up with a very serious guilt trip about his mom's death, and
by about the age of 18 took to a lifestyle of penitential
pilgrimages. He finally settled down at Sebourg, working as a
shepherd and winning fame for his holiness. After a few years he
took to traveling again, and ended up as a recluse in Sebourg, where
he lived the last 40 years of his life. Once his church and cell
were destroyed in a fire (legend says); D. refused to leave, and was
found safe and sound afterwards, kneeling in the ashes and rubble.
--
Dr. Phyllis G. Jestice
Associate Professor, History
University of Southern Mississippi
Hattiesburg, MS 39406-5047
(601) 266-5844
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