St. Eligius,
as a Goldsmith, Hands the Wedding Couple a Ring
by Petrus
Christus |
St. Eligius was
born in Limousin. He started life as a goldsmith, and thanks to his talent
was taken to the court of Clotar II, Merovingian King, eventually he became
the king's treasurer. Dagobert, who succeeded Clotar II in 629, took Eligius
into service as his chief counselor and entrusted him with many missions.
At Dogobert’s death, in 639, Eligius became a priest, then bishop of Nayon.
He spent the last 20 years of his life administering his parish, one of
the largest in the Kingdom, devoting himself to the poor and freeing slaves.
St. Eligius is the patron saint of goldsmiths and blacksmiths; saint protector
of horse and patron of all equestrian crafts. In fine arts he is depicted
as a bishop with mitre and crosier; as a goldsmith, with a chalice or a
piece of gold work; as a blacksmith with pincers, hammer, anvil or horseshoe.
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