religion
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Perhaps you know that Friday 13th came to be considered unlucky because of the Knights Templar. The story goes: On the morning of Friday, October 13, 1307, King Philip IV. had many Templars arrested, including the order’s Grand Master, Jacques de Molay. In the days and weeks after that fateful Friday, more than 600 Templars…
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I sometimes have huge sympathy for Henry II’s heartfelt desire to be rid of his turbulent priest, see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Will_no_one_rid_me_of_this_turbulent_priest%3F. Meddling churchmen were rife back in medieval times. Kings were both supported and beset by them, and Richard III was beset by at least two of the tiresome traitorous ticks, John Morton (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Morton_(cardinal)) and Richard Foxe…
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Anthony the Great (c. 12 January 251 – 17 January 356) was a Christian monk from Egypt, revered since his death as a saint. He is also known as the Father of All Monks. The biography of Anthony’s life by Athanasius of Alexandria helped to spread the concept of Christian monasticism. He is often erroneously considered…
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Most people know of the murder of Thomas a Becket in Canterbury Cathedral, but far fewer know that, in the mid-15th century, another bishop was murdered in the quiet priory church of Edington in Wiltshire. Edington is a peaceful place today; however, it was anything but in medieval times. Its most famous event was when,…
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Lady Godiva (or Godgifu, meaning gift of God), was not just a legend – she was real! And, what’s more, she was Richard III’s ancestor. Here’s how: From Sibyl de Neufmarché, follow the pink dots back (right to left) through Richard’s family tree. Lady Godiva, was a late Anglo-Saxon noblewoman who was the wife of…
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Sky news reports: A medieval church tower has been suspended 45ft (14 metres) above the ground as part of a building project in the City of London. The tower of the 700-year-old All Hallows Staining Church was balanced on stilts in what developers called a “never seen before feat of engineering”. It was raised above…
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Summary of a talk by Laura Cardy Shortly after joining the Richard III Society, I was invited to contribute to The Missing Princes Project, initiated by Philippa Langley. My task focused on an intriguing question: might St John’s Abbey in Colchester have played a role in the fate of Richard of York, the younger of…
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York is a city full of history, wherever you look and Lendal Cellars is one such place. If you have ever visited the Cellars, you’re entering right into York’s medieval undercroft. It has wonderful vaulted brick ceilings and chunky stone blocks that are all that remains of the Austin Friary that was once on the…
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Today is St Andrew’s Day, 30th November. St Andrew was one of Jesus’ apostles. and is also the patron saint of Scotland and other countries like Romania and Greece. His feast day celebrates him as one of Jesus’s first disciples and is marked by cultural celebrations in Scotland, whose national flag is the saltire, a…
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When a medieval craftsman was denied his wages, he turned to stone to exact his revenge in a way that would echo through centuries. Atop Freiburg Minster resides a notorious gargoyle that serves a dual purpose: not only does it effectively channel rainwater, but it also embodies a spirit of defiance. According to historical accounts,…
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