Saint Genevieve

Daughter of peasants Severus(Gallo- Roman) and Geroncia(Greek)

AD 419- 512

Born: Nanterre, France

Died: Paris, France

Miracles: Visions, prophesies, prayer marathon that turned Attila the Hun from attacking Paris

Patron Saint of Paris

At the age of 15 Saint Genevieve dedicated her life to becoming a nun after the death of her parents. Having once met Germanus of Auxerre, the bishop of Gaul, at the age of 7 her path was solidified in the ways of her pious faith. After the death of her parents Genevieve moved to Paris from Nanterre to live with her Grandmother where she lived out her faith serving the community through performing acts of charity. She is most known to mobilize a prayer marathon to ward off Attila the Hun from attacking Paris. The prayer worked and the Huns moved on to take over the city of Orleans.

Shown with a loaf of bread under her arm is not only very Parisian but also is traditionally depicted for the symbolism of her consistent generosity of caring for the poor. Wearing the patriotic colors of France, Genevieve loved her God and her country and as an example is known to have traveled to Troyes during a great famine in Paris to return with several boats of corn. Holding the candle of enlightenment Genevieve is shown as a figure with knowledge to be shared. That sacred knowledge is represented in the lamb of God that lays against her feet. The trinity surrounds Genevieve in the fleur de lis that is engraved in the panels that lay on top encasing the illustrated figure.Genevieve understood the importance of the relationship that she had with each part of her triune God.