Saint Chrysolius
Martyr
BornArmenia
Died~300 AD
Belgium
Venerated inRoman Catholic Church
Feast7 February
PatronageKomen

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 of Armenia 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.[3] 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.[4] Chrysolius then became a bishop[5] and was subsequently stopped by Roman soldiers and condemned to be decapitated; the top of his skull was sliced off.[4] According to his legend, the piece of his skull broke into three smaller pieces, and where each piece fell, a miraculous spring gushed out.[4] 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.[4]

Veneration

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.[4]

The rosette in the façade of the church of Saint-Vaast at Wambrechies depicts Chrysolius, along with saints Hubert, Benedict, and Bernard.[4]

The church of Saint-Chrysole was rebuilt in neo-Byzantine style between 1922 and 1929, after its predecessor was destroyed in World War I.

References

  1. ↑ William Smith and Henry Wace, A Dictionary of Christian Biography, Literature, Sects and Doctrines, 1877, vol. I s.v. "Chrysolius"
  2. ↑ St. Chrysolius.
  3. ↑ ; Smith and Wace.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Casteleyn, Maryse. (February 9, 2008). "Saint Chrysole a donné son nom à plus d'un lieu à Wambrechies". La Voix du Nord. Retrieved September 22, 2008.
  5. ↑ According to André du Saussay, Martyrologium gallicanum (Paris 1637), noted in Smith and Wace. The historical bishoprics of this region date to the sixth century.
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