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Icon of St. Wandragesil
(Wandrille), Abbot (+ 668)
Feast: July 22
This holy abbot-saint was born
near Verdun in France to a noble family. He was a kinsman of Blessed
Pippin of Landen. Sent to the court of Dagobert I of Austrasia, he
married after his family's wishes. But in 628, after a pilgrimage to
Old Rome, he and his wife separated by mutual agreement, so that each
could enter the angelic life. After he had dwelt for some time in
eremitic life, he entered the monastery of Montfaucon in Champagne,
struggling further under the Rule of Our Holy Father Benedict of
Nursia. He lived in this coenobium for 10 years, then left it to become
a hermit in the Jura mountains at S.-Ursanne. Then he went to
Roumain-Moutier (or "minster") where he was ordained. He founded the
renowned monastery of Fontanelle in Normandy, which became a centre of
learning and evangelism in the Norman Orthodox lands, and one of the
highly respected abbeys of France. St. Wandragesil was profoundly
venerated throughout England and his feast features prominently on the
Old English calendars. Holy Father Wandragesil, pray to God for us!
Icon: of unknown provenance.
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