So, I'm sick and I promised myself that I wouldn't blog today and focus my meager energies on the handful of things that absolutely need to get done.
But then I thought, wait, don't I need to remark on a dream from Agnellus of Ravenna?
41. Meanwhile, when in that time the mother of Valentinian, the Empress Galla Placidia, was building the church of the Holy Cross our Redeemer, her niece, by the name of Singledia, was advised one night by a vision, in which a man in white vestiments stood there, adorned with a grey-haired head and a beautiful beard, and said, "In such and such a place not far from this church of the Holy Cross, which your aunt is having built, as far as a bowshot, build me a monasterium, as you will find it traced out. And where you find the likeness of a cross in the ground, there let an altar be consecrated, and dedicate it in the name of Zacharias, the father of the Precursor.
Waking at once, she ran swiftly to the place, where its outline had been shown; she found that a foundation had been dug as if by the hand of man. Running forward at once, she told the empress with great joy and requested workmen from her; and [Galla] gave her thirteen builders. And at once she started to build as she had found it drawn out; and in thirteen days she built in all and brought it to completion. And she consecrated it and endowed it with gold and silver and golden crowns and most precious gems and gold chalices, which come out in procession on the Nativity of the Lord...
trans. D. M. Deliyannis (who also has fascinating new book called Ravenna in Late Antiquity)
I know that I feel better now.
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