Chrysolius

Saint Chrysolius
Martyr
Born	Armenia
Died	~300 AD Belgium
Honored in	Roman Catholic Church
Feast	7 February
Patronage	Komen

Saint Chrysolius (French: Chrysole, Chryseuil) the Armenian is the patron saint of Komen, in Belgium;^[1] his relics were venerated in the basilica of St Donatian, Bruges.^[2] According to tradition, he was a native of Armenia who fled to Rome during the persecution of Christians by Diocletian, was received by Pope Marcellus I and sent to northeast Gaul, where he evangelized at Verlengehem.^[3] According to his legend, he then became a spiritual student of Saint Denis and was sent with Saint Piatus to evangelize the area of Cambrai and Tournai.^[4] Chrysolius then became a bishop^[5] and was subsequently stopped by Roman soldiers and condemned to be decapitated; the top of his skull was sliced off.^[4] According to his legend, the piece of his skull broke into three smaller pieces, and where each piece fell, a miraculous spring gushed out.^[4] Chrysolius, after recovering the top of his cranium, walked to Komen and died there, after crossing the ford at the Deule River that now bears his name.^[4]

Veneration

The waters of the springs where pieces of his head are said to have fallen were believed to cure ailments of the throat and eyes.^[4]

The rosette in the façade of the church of Saint-Vaast at Wambrechies depicts Chrysolius, along with saints Hubert, Benedict, and Bernard.^[4]

The church of Saint-Chrysole was rebuilt in neo-Byzantine style between 1922–1929, after its predecessor was destroyed in World War I.

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  Church of St.-Chrysole, Komen

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  Construction of the church of St.-Chrysole, Komen

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  Church of St.-Chrysole, Komen

References

1. ^ William Smith and Henry Wace, A Dictionary of Christian Biography, Literature, Sects and Doctrines, 1877, vol. I s.v. "Chrysolius"
2. ^ St. Chrysolius.
3. ^ [1]; Smith and Wace.
4. ^ ^{a b c d e f} Casteleyn, Maryse. (February 9, 2008). "Saint Chrysole a donné son nom à plus d'un lieu à Wambrechies". La Voix du Nord. http://www.lavoixdunord.fr/Locales/Marcq_en_Baroeul/actualite/Autour_de_Marcq_en_Baroeul/Wambrechies_Saint_Andre_Bondues/2008/09/02/article_saint-chrysole-a-donne-son-nom-a-plus-d.shtml. Retrieved September 22, 2008. 
5. ^ According to André du Saussay, Martyrologium gallicanum (Paris 1637), noted in Smith and Wace. The historical bishoprics of this region date to the sixth century.

External links

• Saint Chrysole
• (French) Saint Chrysole a donné son nom à plus d'un lieu à Wambrechies

Persondata
Name
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth
Place of birth	Armenia
Date of death
Place of death	Belgium