medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
Today (17. April) is the feast day of:
Simeon Barsabae and companions (d. 341) Simeon became bishop of
Seleucia-Ctesiphon in 324. When Sapor II started persecuting
Christians in 340 he ordered the churches closed and demanded double
tax from all Christians. Most of S's flock was poor, so he refused
to collect the money as ordered. He was brought to the king and
refused to be a good Zoroastrian, so was imprisoned, along with about
100 other Christians. All were executed.
The Persian martyrs (d. 344) 120 Persian Christians, mostly priests
and monks, with some holy women too. They were executed as
Christians and probably also as Roman collaborators.
Donnan and companions (d. 618) Donnan was a follower of St. Columba.
He went on from Iona to found a monastery on Eigg in the Inner
Hebrides, along with 52 fellow monks. The island was attacked during
the Easter Vigil mass. The monks were shoved into the refectory,
which was then set on fire. A cult grew up quickly.
Robert of Chaise-Dieu (d. 1067) Robert, a noble from Auvergne, was
raised to become a canon of St. Julian, Brioude. But R. grew
discontent with the life there. He thought of becoming a monk of
Cluny, but was talked out of it. He went on pilgrimage to Rome and
on his return became a hermit. There, R. attracted so many disciples
that he had to found a monastery for them, the abbey of Chaise-Dieu,
in 1043. The place became so popular that R. went on to found a
large number of daughter houses. R. was canonized in 1070.
Clare of Pisa (blessed) (d. 1419) Theodora (this saint's original
name) was born in either Venice or Florence, the daughter of leading
citizens of Pisa. She was married at a young age, but her husband
died in an epidemic when she was 15. She refused to marry again and
joined the Poor Clares, taking the name of their founder. Dad forced
her to come home, but gave in and let her join a Dominican convent.
He eventually built a new convent for her, which she made a center of
strict observance. Clare's cult was approved in 1830.
--
Dr. Phyllis G. Jestice
Associate Professor, History
University of Southern Mississippi
Hattiesburg, MS 39406-5047
(601) 266-5844
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