November 27, 2009
Today is the feast of St. Bilhildis, widow of Duke Hetan I of Thuringia, who, after her husband's death, founded the monastery of Altmünster near Mainz. She was abbess of the large community until her death in 734.
(This Orthodox site, in German, has information near the bottom about a recent scientific examination of a skull, preserved as a relic of St. Bilhildis through the centuries. The age is right -- 60, and the date of death -- 750-815, is right.)
