|
Icon of the Holy Recluse &
Martyr Gengulph (Gangulf) of Varennes (+ 760)
Feast: May 11
Born to an illustrious
Burgundian family, the Saint's education was provided by his virtuous
Christian parents. As a youth, Gengulph was known for his great
honesty, chastity, and propriety. He visited churches and read
religious texts, avoiding the company of libertines. When his parents
died, he became a model landowner, taking care of the household economy
with ease and industry and also providing for the churches and the poor
on his land. When it came time to marry, he chose a woman who did not
share his virtues.
As an important nobleman, Gangulphus participated in the wars of the
time, but also dedicated himself to preaching the Gospel in Frisia.
On a journey back to Burgundy, he found a property at Bassigny upon
which stood a fountain that issued fresh and good water. St. Gengulph
bought the property. However, his friends mocked him because this
property's fountain would not serve back at home. However, when
Gengulph returned home, he pushed a stick into the soil. The next day,
he instructed his servant to pull the stick out of the soil. Out of the
soil emerged a new fountain, from which gushed fresh water.
During his absence, his wife had committed adultery with a priest. His
wife protested her innocence, but Gengulph wished her innocence to be
judged by God. Thus, he had her dip her hand into the very same source
of water he had created on his property. His wife’s hand was completely
and miraculously scalded by the water. Gengulph was fairly lenient: he
forbade his wife from ever sharing his marriage bed and also ordered
the priest to go abroad.
Gengulph meanwhile withdrew to his castle at Avallon, near Vézelay,
performing works of penance and charity.
However, his wife soon had her lover return. Hurrying back, the priest,
wishing to decapitate Gengulph, attacked the saint as he slept.
However, the priest missed and injured Gengulph's thigh. The wound
eventually led to death and the Saint received the Most Holy Mysteries
on May 11, 760, reposing in the grace of Christ.
The murderous priest fled the country with Gengulph's widow. Miracles
soon took place at Gengulph's tomb. His wife and her illicit lover soon
suffered illness and died.
St. Gengulph's relics were translated to Varennes-sur-Amace in the
diocese of Langres, whence devotion to him spread afar. His name is
found in numerous martyrologies of the 10th and 11th centuries, in
France as well as in Germany, and later in England and Italy. His Life
was probably written at Varennes. Hrosvit of Gandersheim wrote a
version of his life around 960.
Some of the Saint's relics, consisting of part of his head, can be
found at the Gangolfskirche in Bamberg. The Gangolfskirche in Hollfeld
developed as a daughter church of the Bamberger church. On the
Milseburg, in the Rhön Mountains, rises a Gangolfkapelle, as well as at
Wolpertswende in Upper Swabia. There is also a Sankt Gangloff in
Thuringia.
Holy Martyr Gengulph, pray to
God for us!
Icon: by the hand of
iconographer Marie Lavie.
Beneath the icon: A picture of the reliquary of St. Gengulph at
Florennes.
|
