WHAT'S IN A NAME?

I was christened with the names Peter (primary) and John (secondary).
These apparently are pretty good names in the Christian churches' hierarchy as they are the names of two of the twelve apostles. Apostles were the very best mates of Jesus who got invited to all the best parties. Being named after two of these jokers puts me into a kind of special club - like a secret society.

I also have a Confirmation name which is Michael. Michael wasn't an apostle but he was an archangel which is pretty cool.

Scuttlebut of the time hinted that Michael was actually the true father of Jesus. Old Joseph didn't impregnate Mary apparently and certainly not that deviant The Holy Ghost. The story about Mary being a virgin and that Jesus was miraculously conceived was an early form of PR.

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I did some investigation into the christian names of other bloggers in the community and discovered that neither Richard nor Robert have names of apostles or even of the early 'who's who' of christendom. In the later centuries the whole concept of saints was diluted and any old beggar could be given the title and in far flung outposts of christianity.

Nope. No Richards or Roberts here

Richard's primary christian name - Richard is derived from Richard of Chichester. Well, I guess it's better that being Bill from Taita but only just:

Richard of Chichester Saint
Richard of Chichester, also known as Richard de Wych, is a saint who was Bishop of Chichester. In Chichester Cathedral a shrine dedicated to Richard had become a richly decorated centre of pilgrimage.
Born 1197, Droitwich Spa, UK
Died 3 April 1253, Dover, UK

Robert's primary christian name - Robert is derived from Robert Bellarmine an Italian doctor

Saint Robert Bellarmine, S.J. was an Italian Jesuit and a Cardinal of the Catholic Church. He was one of the most important figures in the Counter-Reformation.
Born 4 October 1542, Montepulciano, Italy
Died 17 September 1621, Rome, Italy.

No doubt that Richard will be jealous to learn that Robert has Italian connections and that Montepulciano produces a pretty good red wine.

Richard's secondary christian name is Stephen. Stephen was almost an apostle but had the misfortune to not be born early enough.

Saint Stephen is traditionally venerated as the first martyr of Christianity,. He was according to the Acts of the Apostles ,a deacon in the early church at Jerusalem who aroused the enmity of members of various synagogues by his teachings.

Born 5 AD - no-one knows where
Died 34 AD, Jerusalem

Robert's secondary christian name is Maurice (don't laugh. Maurice was a Roman legionnaire so would stab you at the drop of a hat).

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Saint Maurice.
Saint Maurice was according to tradition the leader of the legendary Roman Theban Legion in the 3rd century, and one of the favorite and most widely venerated saints of that group.

Born: Thebes, Egypt
Died: 287 AD, Agaunum, Switzerland

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