August 21

The 160 Jewish martyrs of Chinon (d. 1321)
In 1321, the one hundred and seventy members of the Jewish community of the town of Chinon, near Tours in central France, were accused of having poisoned wells in order to bring about an epidemic.

The 160 Jewish martyrs of Chinon (d. 1321)

In 1321, the one hundred and seventy members of the Jewish community of the town of Chinon, near Tours in central France, were accused of having poisoned wells in order to bring about an epidemic.
Without being given a trial, they were burned alive on a pyre erected just outside of the city, on an island in the river Vienne. The site is still known today as the "island of the Jews."

A READING

O unfortunate folk, great is the evil that assails them
but it is not their fault if anger strikes them,
for among those who burn at the stake, many are worthy men
who were not able to redeem their lives.

(Jewish lament in medieval French)

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THE CHURCHES REMEMBER...

WESTERN CATHOLICS:
Pius X (d. 1914), pope (Roman and Ambrosian calendars)

COPTS AND ETHIOPIANS (15 misra/nahasse):
Marina (5th cent.?), nun (Coptic Church)

LUTHERANS:
Geert Grote (d. 1384), preacher in Netherlands

MARONITES:
Bassa and her sons of Hellespontus (4th cent.), martyrs; Samuel (11th cent. BCE), prophet

ORTHODOX CHRISTIANS AND GREEK CATHOLICS:
Thaddeus (Addai) of Edessa, apostle
Bassa, Theogonius, Agapius and Pistus of Hellespontus, martyrs
Relocation of the relics of Zosimas and Sabbatius of Solovki (1566 and 1992; Russian Church)
Donatus and Silvanus, deacons, Romulus, priest, and companions (3rd-4th cent.), martyrs (Romanian Church)
Euthimius Mcedelascivili (d. 1804), monk (Georgian Church)