Genevieve of Paris
Our venerable mother Geneviève of Paris was a nun originally from Nanterre who lived in France circa 500 A.D. She is considered the patron saint of the city of Paris, together with St. Denis. Her feast day is celebrated on January 3.
Contents
Fight for vocation
Bishop St Germain, going to England to combat the heresy claiming one can be saved without baptism, passed by Nanterre. He laid his hands on eight year old Geneviève, and asked her if she wanted to give herself to the Lord, she said yes. Her mother opposed the vocation, she was angry with her mother, who went blind, but was healed when she forgave her.
Ascetism
When old she ate only bread with milk and only sundays and thursdays. The milk was added by insistance of the bishops.
St Symon the Stylite
Sent her a letter after seeing her in a vision.
Saving Paris
When Attila the Hun approached, she upbraided the cowardly men who wanted to leave town: they stayed, and Attila did not come there.
Exorcisms
She worked them using holy oil blessed by the bishop.
(source for additions: Latin Vita Stae Genovefae, Jan 3 in Acta Sanctorum, by Bollandists, citing from memory)
External Links
- An icon of St. Geneviève
- St. Geneviève of Paris
- St. Geneviève (Genofeva)
- First celebration of All Saints of the British Isles by Metropolitan Anthony of Sourozh
- Geneviève on Wikipedia
- Troparion and Kontakion (in French) to St. Geneviève on La France orthodoxe
- Moleben (in French) to St. Geneviève from Notre Dame Joie des Affligés et Ste. Geneviève in Paris
- Life of St. Geneviève from the Golden Legend of William Caxton, 1483
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