Genevieve
Patron saint of Paris / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Genevieve (French: Sainte Geneviève; Latin: Sancta Genovefa, Genoveva; c. 419/422 AD – 502/512 AD) is the patroness saint of Paris in the Catholic and Orthodox traditions. Her feast is on 3 January.
Genevieve | |
|---|---|
Saint Genevieve, seventeenth-century painting, Musée Carnavalet, Paris | |
| Virgin | |
| Born | c. 419–422 Nanterre, Western Roman Empire |
| Died | 502–512 (aged 79–93) Paris, Francia |
| Venerated in | Catholic Church Orthodox Church |
| Canonized | Pre-congregation |
| Feast | 3 January |
| Attributes | lit candle, bread, keys, herd, cattle |
| Patronage | Paris |
Genevieve was born in Nanterre. After encountering Germanus of Auxerre and Lupus of Troyes, she moved to Paris (then known as Lutetia) and dedicated herself to a Christian life.[1] In 451 she led a "prayer marathon"[2] that was said to have saved Paris by diverting Attila's Huns away from the city. When the Germanic king Childeric I besieged the city in 464, Genevieve acted as an intermediary between the city and its besiegers, collecting food and convincing Childeric to release his prisoners.[1]
Her following and her status as patron saint of Paris were promoted by Clotilde, who may have commissioned the writing of her vita. This was most likely written in Tours, where Clotilde retired after her husband's death, as evidenced also by the importance of Martin of Tours as a saintly model.[1]