Chrysolius | |
---|---|
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Martyr | |
Born | Armenia |
Died | ~300 AD Belgium |
Venerated in | Roman Catholic Church |
Feast | 7 February |
Patronage | Komen |
Saint Chrysolius ( French: Chrysole, Chryseuil) the Armenian is the patron saint of Komen/Comines, today in Belgium and France; [1] his relics were venerated in the basilica of St Donatian, Bruges. [2]
According to tradition, he was a native Armenian who fled to Rome during the persecution of Christians by Diocletian, was received by Pope Marcellus I and sent to northeast Gaul, where he evangelized at Verlengehem. [1] According to his legend, he then became a spiritual student of Saint Denis and was sent with Saint Piatus to evangelize the area of Cambrai and Tournai. [3] Chrysolius then became a bishop [4] [5] and was subsequently stopped by Roman soldiers and condemned to be decapitated; the top of his skull was sliced off. [3] According to his legend, the piece of his skull broke into three smaller pieces, and where each piece fell, a miraculous spring gushed out. [3] Chrysolius, after recovering the top of his cranium, walked to Komen and died there, after crossing the ford at the river Deûle that now bears his name. [3]
The waters of the springs where pieces of his head are said to have fallen were believed to cure ailments of the throat and eyes. [3]
The rosette in the façade of the church of Saint-Vaast at Wambrechies depicts Chrysolius, along with saints Hubert, Benedict, and Bernard. [3]
The church of Saint-Chrysole was rebuilt in neo-Byzantine style between 1922 and 1929, after its predecessor was destroyed in World War I.
Chrysolius | |
---|---|
![]() | |
Martyr | |
Born | Armenia |
Died | ~300 AD Belgium |
Venerated in | Roman Catholic Church |
Feast | 7 February |
Patronage | Komen |
Saint Chrysolius ( French: Chrysole, Chryseuil) the Armenian is the patron saint of Komen/Comines, today in Belgium and France; [1] his relics were venerated in the basilica of St Donatian, Bruges. [2]
According to tradition, he was a native Armenian who fled to Rome during the persecution of Christians by Diocletian, was received by Pope Marcellus I and sent to northeast Gaul, where he evangelized at Verlengehem. [1] According to his legend, he then became a spiritual student of Saint Denis and was sent with Saint Piatus to evangelize the area of Cambrai and Tournai. [3] Chrysolius then became a bishop [4] [5] and was subsequently stopped by Roman soldiers and condemned to be decapitated; the top of his skull was sliced off. [3] According to his legend, the piece of his skull broke into three smaller pieces, and where each piece fell, a miraculous spring gushed out. [3] Chrysolius, after recovering the top of his cranium, walked to Komen and died there, after crossing the ford at the river Deûle that now bears his name. [3]
The waters of the springs where pieces of his head are said to have fallen were believed to cure ailments of the throat and eyes. [3]
The rosette in the façade of the church of Saint-Vaast at Wambrechies depicts Chrysolius, along with saints Hubert, Benedict, and Bernard. [3]
The church of Saint-Chrysole was rebuilt in neo-Byzantine style between 1922 and 1929, after its predecessor was destroyed in World War I.