Famian of Gallese

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The holy Famian von Gallese or Famianus (* 1090 in Cologne , † August 8, 1150 in Gallese on the Tiber ) is venerated as a saint of the Cistercian order and is the patron saint of the city of Gallese.

Depiction in the sacristy of Heiligenkreuz Abbey

Life

Famian was born in Cologne in 1090 under the name Gerhard or Quardo (also Wardo or Suardus ) as the son of parents Gottschalk and Guimara. Because of her name, his mother is believed to have been of Italian or Spanish descent. At the age of 18 he began his first pilgrimage over the Alps and reached Rome on September 27, 1114. In 1115 he left Rome, spent three years in the Spanish province of Galicia in a monastery consecrated to St. Anthony before he made his pilgrimage in 1118 to Santiago de Compostela continued. Then Famian lived as a hermit in the north of Spain, near the river Minon, for 25 years .

In 1144, at the age of 54, he finally joined the newly founded Cistercian order in the Oseira monastery in Galicia. The abbot García allowed Famian not to spend his novitiate in the monastery as usual, but as a hermit in a small church not far from the monastery. In 1146 Famian took the religious vows and was ordained priest in the same year. Shortly afterwards, Famian went on another pilgrimage, this time to the Holy Land . This lasted three years; Famian died on the way back in Gallese (Italy). A basilica was built over his grave in 1285 .

In 1154 he was canonized by Pope Hadrian IV under the name Famianus as the first Cistercian.

Tradition and legend

On the way back from Palestine, Famian returned to Rome in 1150. There the princes of the apostles Peter and Paul are said to have appeared to him in a dream, who exhorted him to leave for Gallese. According to tradition, on the way there he struck a spring from the rock with his water stick.

Famianus got his name (“the famous”) because many miracles are said to have occurred at his grave in Gallese. For example, two deaf people are said to have regained their hearing there.

Remembrance day

His feast day is August 8th.

Attributes

Famian is usually depicted in pilgrim dress, hitting water out of a stone with a stick or with Peter and Paul .

literature

Web links

personal data
SURNAME Famian of Gallese
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Famianus
BRIEF DESCRIPTION First canonized monk from the Cistercian order
DATE OF BIRTH 1090
PLACE OF BIRTH Cologne
DATE OF DEATH August 8, 1150
Place of death Gallese