|
Icon of Our Holy Father
Eligius, Bishop of Noyon
Feast: December 1
In the
icon above, St. Eligius (Eloi, in French) appears on the left.
St. Eligius was master of the
mint under Clotaire II. Noted for his hard work and piety, he was
generous to the poor, ransomed slaves (including St. Teilo of
Solignac), built churches and monasteries, and was a friend and
associate of St. Owen of Rouen. Later he served under king Dagobert I.
It was said one could always find the house of Eligius by following the
crowds of poor whom he relieved in charity. In 641, one year after his
ordination as priest, he was made the Bishop of Noyon and Tournai. He
built the basilica of St. Paul, and he encouraged the making of
reliquaries and himself discovered the relics of Sts. Quentin, Piatus,
and Lucian of Beavais. He worked many miracles and had the gift of
clairvoyance. St. Eligius reposed in 660, having foretold the day of
his own death.
St. Eligius, our holy father,
pray to God for us!
Icon is from www.amdg.be (our thanks to Jean-Michel
Dossogne). The icon is at the Coptic parish in Lillios. Underneath
appears the Saint's signature, from the document establishing the great
monastery at Solignac, in time of Dagobert I. The letters ELIGIUS are
visible between MIN (minister) and EPS (episcopus, Bishop).
|
