Saint Faith

Faith of Agen, Saint Faith English, French Sainte Foy, Spanish Santa Fe, was a Christian martyr who suffered at the beginning of the 4th century in Agen in the French region of Aquitaine martyrdom. As a year of death are given 287 or 303. The latter year would fall in the persecution of Christians by Emperor Diocletian.

Life

Fides is first mentioned in the 6th century in the Martyrology Hieronymianum - no more than that she died of a 6th October in Agen.

Even earlier, probably in the 5th century, a report on her death, a Passio was written; but come the oldest surviving manuscripts of the Passio from the 10th century. After that she came from a distinguished family. She had still been a young girl when she before the Roman governor Dacian ( otherwise not known) were ordered. He asked them to sacrifice to Diana, because the correspond to their age. She said she knew of the fathers, that all the gods of the Gentiles are demons, and he wanted to persuade them to sacrifice them? The governor let them bind to a bronze grate and light the fire underneath. A Christian named Caprasius, who had been hiding, watching what was happening. He prayed that God would glorify the Tortured. As he saw her wearing in radiant white robe, a crown with precious stones and pearls; a dove flew out of the clouds and sat on her head. He knew now that she had the prize, the eternal salvation won, took courage, left his hiding place and was also tortured. Finally, both were beheaded in a temple. Dulcidius Bishop of Agen, adds the Passio, have Faith's bones converted into a church (probably in the early 6th century).

So with additions and the Passio was passed.

Worship

To 880 reached the bones, according to a report from the 11th century due to theft, in the Benedictine monastery at Conques in France's Midi-Pyrénées region. The relics of famous saints promised her owner a powerful heavenly intercessor, prestige and donations. Thus benefited Conques, especially as the end of the 10th century, a miracle happened. From 1010 traveled Bernard, a clergyman and scholar from Angers, who had studied in Chartres, repeatedly to Conques and drew until his death in 1020 the miracles in two books Liber Sancte miraculorum Fidis on, especially intended for readers in northern France. In the humanists in the library stored in Schlettstadt copy contains the first book 34, the second 15 reports of miracles.

The first miracle man got in Conques named Guibert on the Intercession of the Fides new eyes after him his master, a clergyman, had his eyes " with the same fingers with which he otherwise the holy body of Christ touched ," torn. Larger than even Christ miracle of healing a man born blind (Jn 9.1 to 12 EU) finds Bernard Guibert healing. Fides even condescended to helpful rogue pieces. A knight had his liege a hunting hawk loan with the condition that he could not return the animal, his entire property would be forfeited to the feudal lord. The hawk flew away. The knight desperate. His wife advised him of the Holy Faith to promise a candle and confidently to put dinner. " When meal but - how nice to report that - a tame goose flew through the open window into the room. It was followed immediately lost the Falcon and attacked them at a rapid approach. What joy ... how much gratitude that the knight could now keep his property, rather than to transfer it to his master. "

After Bernard's death translated monks of Conques the Liber miraculorum continued, so that it comprised four books at the end. Faith's reputation as a mediator of miracles spread, especially Conques was due to a Way of St James to Santiago de Compostela. From 1041 it was necessary to build a larger church, Ste -Foy de Conques. Relics came to Sant Cugat del Vallès west of Barcelona in Spain, the Benedictine abbey of St. Gallen in Switzerland, where the Church of St. Fiden, and after Schlettstadt in Alsace, where Ste -Foy de Sélestat was built. Many places in the French language area are named after " Sainte Foy " in the Spanish language section for " Santa Fe ".

1070 Faith's story was in a chanson de geste, verses, set in altokzitanischer language, known as Chanson de Sainte Foy.

Patroness German churches is St. Faith and St. Mark in Sölden (Black Forest ) and St. Fides in Grafenhausen in the Black Forest.

Iconography

Fides is usually depicted with a crown of martyrdom, palm of victory and the rust of their ordeal.

Especially famous are two sculptures in Conques. One, the oldest representation of the saints, at the end of the 9th century and later started further decorated, is a 85 cm high statue relics of wood, gold and silver-gilt plate in the museum of the town. Fides sits stiff, frontal, of downright hypnotic charisma.

The other, from the beginning of the 12th century, is situated in the tympanum of the west portal of Sainte -Foy. The tympanum represents the Last Judgment dar. figure- rich ' In the left part of Christ blessing with his right hand the blessed. On a stepped cross- bar is: "SIC datur Electis AD CELI GAUDIA VINCTIS / GLORIA PAX requies PERPETUUSQUE THIS " - " So the is united for the joys of heaven elect glory, peace, peace and eternal light bestowed. " Bears a shallow pediment including the inscription: " CASTI Pacifici MITES pietatis AMICI / SIC STANT GAUDENTES SECURI NIL METUENTES " - " the pure, peaceable, mild ones, pious are so happy, safe and without fear. " on the cross bar below Blessed to Christ, led by Mary and Peter. Under the flat gable provide staggered six arcades, of which hanging lamps, the New Jerusalem represents a angel leaves a the blessed; in the middle two Blesseds sit on the lap of Abraham. The cross bar and the flat gable form two gusset. In the right help angel dead at the resurrection from the grave. In the left Fides kneels before hand of God, reaching out to her from clouds. Behind her, damaged, the throne from which it has risen to genuflection. Three arcades behind Fides indicate the abbey church. Between the pillars hanging chains, of which Fides freed prisoners. On an altar is the chalice of the Eucharist. Fides and her throne thus represent the relics statue, which mediates between the earthly Church and God in the afterlife.

Fides, Spes and Caritas

To be distinguished from Agenzia Fides of Agen is the sisters Fides, Spes and Caritas, they died in the 2nd century in Rome as Märtyrinnen. A historical value comes their Passio not. Perhaps the three virtues of the first letter to the Corinthians ' faith, hope and love "( 1 Cor 13:13 EU) were designed legendary.