Saint Eligius
Saint Eligius (born c. 588 AD in Chaptelat, near Limoges, Gaul; died December 1, 660 AD in Noyon, France) was the master goldsmith of the Frankish court, one of the most skilled craftsmen of the Merovingian era, who became Bishop of Noyon and a great evangelizer of northern France and Flanders. He is one of the most beloved saints of medieval France and the patron saint of goldsmiths, metalworkers, and horses. His feast day is December 1.
Stored in Cargo: Saint Eligius
| Saint Eligius | |
|---|---|
| Feast Day | December 01 |
| Profession | Goldsmith; bishop; missionary; royal counselor |
| Rel. Affiliation | Catholic Church; Bishop of Noyon-Tournai 641–660 |
| Patronage | Goldsmiths; metalworkers; blacksmiths; jewelers; coin collectors; watchmakers; veterinarians; horses; Belgium; France; farriers; gas station workers; electricians; prisoners |
| Attributes | Bishop's vestments; goldsmith's tools; horseshoe; detached horse leg; anvil; coin |
| Birthplace | Chaptelat, near Limoges, Gaul (modern France) |
| Death Place | Noyon, Oise, France |
| Cause of Death | Natural causes |
| Primary Shrine | Cathedral of Noyon, Noyon, Oise, France — his episcopal see; his relics were kept here |
| Liturgical Class | Optional Memorial (Roman Calendar) |
| Historic Class | Feast |
Biography
Eligius was born around 588 in Chaptelat, a village in the Limousin region near Limoges. He was apprenticed to the master craftsman Abbo, treasurer of Limoges, and learned the art of goldsmithing. He then went to Paris, where he attracted the attention of Bobbo, the royal treasurer, and through him to King Clotaire II. His genius was immediately recognized at court.
Under Clotaire and then his son Dagobert I (reigned 629–639), Eligius became the principal goldsmith of the Frankish kingdom and a trusted royal counselor. He produced extraordinary work: the throne of Clotaire II, reliquaries for the remains of saints at the Basilica of Saint-Denis and elsewhere, a cover for the tomb of Saint Martin of Tours, and a golden coffin for Saint Germanus of Paris. His reliquaries became the model for medieval sacred art. He used his court wealth generously: he purchased and freed enslaved people, particularly Anglo-Saxons brought as slaves to Gaul.
In 641, after the death of Dagobert, Eligius became a priest and was consecrated Bishop of Noyon-Tournai — a vast diocese covering much of northern France and the area of modern Belgium. He was an energetic missionary, particularly in Flanders (modern Belgium), where paganism persisted. He worked with the missionary Saint Amandus of Maastricht.
He died on December 1, 660, at Noyon, beloved by his flock. His principal biographer was Saint Dado (Audoin) of Rouen, his close friend at court.
His French name is Saint Éloi; he is named in the well-known French song Il était un' bergère ("She called for Eligius") — Au clair de la lune and others honor him. A hospital in Paris bears his name.
Significant locations
Legend
Birth location: Chaptelat, near Limoges, Gaul (modern France)
Death location: Noyon, Oise, France
Notable location: His episcopal see; he served as Bishop of Noyon-Tournai from 641 until his death; the Romanesque cathedral still stands as a landmark of early French ecclesiastical architecture (Cathedral of Noyon, Noyon, Oise, France)
Notable location: His birthplace; a village near Limoges; honored here as the native son who rose to become the greatest craftsman of his age (Chaptelat, Haute-Vienne, France)
Notable location: He served at the Frankish royal court as master goldsmith under Kings Clotaire II and Dagobert I; he made reliquaries and thrones for the court; Saint-Eloi (his French name) is honored in Paris (Paris, France)
Notable location:
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Dynamic content
Parishes
No parishes dedicated to Eligius have been added to the database yet.
Media
| Media | Length | AuthorCreator |
|---|---|---|
| Daily Prayer to St. Eligius | Under 5 minutes | Joy of Heaven |
| Powerful Prayer to Saint Eligius | Under 5 minutes | Joy of Heaven |
| Prayer to Saint Eligius | Under 5 minutes | Joy of Heaven |
| Prayer to St. Eligius | Under 5 minutes | Joy of Heaven |
| Saint Eligius : The Goldsmith of God and Patron of Integrity | Under 5 minutes | Joy of Heaven |
| Story of Saint Eligius | Under 5 minutes | Joy of Heaven |
| The Story of Saint Eligius | Under 5 minutes | Joy of Heaven |
| Saint Eligius - December 1st | Under 5 minutes | Saint of the Day |
| Who Was Saint Eligius? The Story of the Patron Saint of Goldsmiths | 15–30 minutes | Sanctus |
Shrines
Dynamic shrines
No results
No shrines where this saint is the primary saint.
Known shrines
- Cathedral of Noyon, Noyon, Oise — his episcopal see; relics kept here.
- Basilica of Saint-Denis, Paris — his reliquaries for the royal tombs; he is venerated in the Île-de-France.
Feast day
December 1
Veneration
Saint Eligius is venerated in the Roman Catholic Church with an Optional Memorial on December 1. He is one of the patron saints of Belgium.
Prayers
Authored
There are prayers authored by this saint in prayers list yet.
Intercessory
There are no prayers asking for this saint's intercession in prayers list yet.