Christina from Bolsena
Christina von Bolsena lived in the area of the Roman city of Bolsena in the 3rd century . She is venerated as a virgin and martyr in the Catholic Church .
history
In 1880 the foundations of a Christian basilica were uncovered near the city of Bolsena in Italy . There was also a cemetery with Roman - dedicated to Apollo - and Christian graves. An ancient marble urn with the relics of the saints was discovered in the exposed high altar of the basilica . The altar plate bears the inscription: † IRQESCPBATXM This inscription is interpreted as the abbreviation for Hic requiescit corpus Beatae Xristinae Martyris ("Here rests the body of the blessed martyr Christina"). The bones contained in the urn are those of a young girl. According to archaeological finds - remains of walls, coins and other inscriptions - the church was built in the 10th century.
The widespread veneration of the saints was facilitated by the fact that Bolsena Station was on the pilgrimage route of the Via Francigena (which here is identical to the course of the Via Cassia ) to Rome - pilgrims brought the stories of the martyr throughout the Christian world. The formation of legends was probably also influenced by other saint stories; Parallels to the legend of St. Barbara suggest confusion. The feast day of St. Christina has been celebrated in the Catholic Church on July 24th since the 8th century . St. Christina is one of the city patrons of Palermo .
Lore
Christina grew up in a very wealthy family. Although she was very beautiful and many wanted to take her as their wife, her parents refused to give her to anyone because they wanted to dedicate the virgin to the service of the Roman gods . As a precaution, her father locked her in a tower with twelve servants and gave her silver and gold images of gods.
One of her servants, who was a Christian, taught her the Christian faith . The other servants told Christina's father that she did not want to make the usual incense offerings to the gods. Her father persuaded her not to sacrifice to just one god, because this would anger the other gods. Christina replied that she only offered her sacrifice to the Triune God . Then she broke her father's images of gods and distributed the gold and silver to the poor. Upon hearing this, her father became so angry that he had Christina whipped with rods and taken to prison. Miraculously, Christina's body showed no traces of the blows. Her father could only explain this with magic and had Christina taken to a ship, where they wanted to sink her into the sea with a millstone around her neck. But angels hurried to help, who kept her afloat and led her back to land. There she was thrown into a glowing furnace, in which she survived for five days and nights. Snakes were later let loose on them. The poisonous ones licked her feet, the others wrapped themselves around her neck without causing her any harm. In the end, her tongue was torn out, but Christina did not lose her speech. In the temple of Apollo, the idols fell into the dust at her prayer.
Then Christina was pierced with two arrows. One hit her in the heart, the second in the side, whereupon the martyr died. She is considered the patroness of millers, sailors and archers.
literature
- Friedrich Wilhelm Bautz : Christina von Bolsena. In: Biographisch-Bibliographisches Kirchenlexikon (BBKL). Volume 1, Bautz, Hamm 1975. 2nd, unchanged edition Hamm 1990, ISBN 3-88309-013-1 , Sp. 1004-1005.
- Drogo de Altovillari: Vita cum passione sanctae Christinae . Edited by Norbert Schulz; Edition with second texts. (= Vivarium; Series latina medii aevi; Volume 1). MMO, Butjadingen-Burhave 2007, ISBN 978-3-9811144-1-6
Web links
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Christina from Bolsena |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | christian martyr |
| DATE OF BIRTH | 2nd century or 3rd century |
| DATE OF DEATH | 3rd century |