Martyrs: Saint Ursula the Leader of 11,000 Virgins

09/24/24 • 43 min

6 Listeners

Episode six is about a saint whose name means little bear. She’s a British saint, a princess from Britannia, the name of the British Isles when England and Wales were part of the Roman Empire. Her legend is based around a pilgrimage that included an entourage of 11,000 virgins as well as an additional 15,000 hangers on. They met their end in modern-day Germany and inspired a movement among 13th-century women who rejected traditional female roles to live unmarried in communal groups without the influence of men! The saint's legend also gave birth to a monastic order of nuns whose chapter in Loudon, France, was scandalised by demonic possessions and a witch trial. This is the story of Saint Ursula the Leader of the 11,000 Virgins.

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Martyrs: Saint Margaret the Gender-Bending Dragon Slayer

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Episode 3 of Saint Podcast's Martyrs series is about Saint Margaret. She's one of the most popular saints globally, despite having been declared fictional by the Catholic Church in the 5th century. Nevertheless, her legend as a vanquisher of dragons has made her a perennial favourite. Tune in to hear the story of this gender-bending saint, known as Saint Marina/Marino to Eastern Christians - and find out what Saint Margaret has in common with Sleeping Beauty, Aphrodite, and margaritas.

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Martyrs: Saint Stephen the Protomartyr

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Since this is the debut episode of Saint Podcast, it seems only appropriate to begin with the story of Saint Stephen, the protomartyr - or first martyr. Saint Stephen is one of the few saints whose story has a Biblical source, but his tale continues beyond the Bible in medieval legends, traditional celebrations, and even a French football club. Discover how the bones of a Roman citizen of Greek descent changed the face of Christianity. Find out why wrens are considered treacherous birds by Celts and Vikings. And why many people around the world have Saint Stephen to thank for that public holiday on Boxing Day.