Saint+Genevieve

Saint Genevieve was born in Nanterre, France between 419-422. She is the patron saint of Paris in both the Roman Catholic and the Eastern Orthodox traditions. She was described as a peasant girl in her hagiography (the writing of the lives of saints). Her hagiography states that when Germanus of Auxerre stopped at Naterre, she told him that she wished to live only for God and he encouraged her to do so. At the age of fifteen she became a nun and after the deaths of her parents, Genevieve went to live with her godmother Lutetia in Paris. There she devoted her time to charities and became a vegetarian, which allowed her to eat supper only twice per week.

In her life time, Genevieve has had numerous visions of saints and angels. She would share her visions and prophecies until her enemies planned to drown her in a lake of fire. Thankfully, with the help of Germanus, she remained safe. In time, the Bishop of Paris appointed her to look after the virgins who had dedicated their lives to God. With her help, they were able to gain a high degree of sanctity. Before Attila the Hun attacked Paris in 451, Genevieve and Germanus managed to calm everyone down and convinced them to pray to God for help. As the story goes, it is thanks to the intercession of Genevieve's prayers that Attila's army attacked Orleans instead. In 464 during the Childeric's siege, Genevieve passed through the lines in a boat trying to send grain into the city of Troyes. She was dedicated to helping people in any way possible.

Saint Genevieve passed away between the ages of 79-93 in Paris, France sometime between c. 502-512. The abbey where Genevieve was buried (Abbey of Saint Genevieve) was destroyed by the Vikings in 847 and wasn't rebuilt completely until 1177. In 1129, the city was infested with a "burning sickness" which disappeared when St. Genevieve's relics were carried through the city in a public parade. The carrying of the relics in a parade is now repeated annually. The old church was taken over in 1791 by the National Assembly and was renamed the Pantheon. It became an important monument in Paris. Even though Genevieve's relics where burned in the French Revolution, the Pantheon was restored to Catholic Church in 1821.