medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
With apologies for my abrupt absence. . .
Today (30. May) is the feast day of:
Basil and Emmelia (d. c. 370) The parents of an impressive number of
major saints, Basil the Great, Gregory of Nyssa, Peter of Sebastea,
and Macrina the Younger. B & E were exiled during the Galerian
persecution, but otherwise their claim to sainthood appears to be
either general Christian life or ability to procreate saints.
Isaac of Constantinople (d. c. 410) Isaac started his religious life
as a hermit, but left the hermitage to reproach Emperor Valens for
favoring Arians. Valens scorned him, but Isaac had the last word
when V. was defeated and killed at Adrianople---as I had foretold.
I. was never able to return to the desert, because the disciples he
had collected wouldn't let him, so he founded the first monastery in
Constantinople.
Dympna (7th cent.) The subject of a folkloric tale, which one
*hopes* isn't true. The story goes that Dympna was a Celtic
princess, who grew up bearing a remarkable resemblance to her
deceased mother. Her father decided that incest was the way to go;
D. and her confessor fled to the Antwerp area. But Dad caught up
with them, and murdered both. When the relics were translated in the
13th century, a large number of epileptics and lunatics were cured,
and D. has been patron saint of the insane ever since.
Hubert of Liege (d. 727) Hubert succeeded the murdered St. Lambert
as bishop of Maastricht in 705. Even before that, he was noted for
his missionary work. He moved the center of his diocese to Liege, of
which he is now principal patron. H. is also patron saint of hunters
and he's the proper saint to solicit for help with hydrophobia. The
hunter connection dates to the 14th century, when a hagiographer
borrowed from the legend of St. Eustace the story of a conversion on
Good Friday, when the hunting future saint saw a crucifix mounted
between the antlers of a stag.
Ferdinand of Castile (d. 1252) Ferdinand became king of Castile in
1217 and of Leon in 1230, uniting the two Christian kingdoms for a
major onslaught against Muslim-held regions of Spain, conquering
about 1/3 of the present area of Spain in the process. This massive
reconquest enjoyed the personal assistance of Santiago at the battle
of Xeres (Jerez). F. was very enlightened in his treatment of the
conquered, and was famous for his justice. A popular cult started
immediately after F's death, although he wasn't canonized until 1671.
Joan of Arc (d. 1431) I expect everyone on the list knows the story.
--
Dr. Phyllis G. Jestice
Associate Professor & Chair
History Department
University of Southern Mississippi
118 College Dr. #5047
Hattiesburg, MS 39406
(601) 266-5844
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