St. Onuphrius
(also known as Onouphrius of Egypt; Onuphrius; Onofrio; Onofre; Humphrey;
Onuphrius the Great). St. Onuphrius lived for 70 years as a hermit in the
desert near Thebais, Upper Egypt. He lived on the fruits of a date palm-tree
that grew near his cell. He wore nothing, but a loin-cloth of leaves and
closed his body with his abundant hair. His cult was popular in the Middle
Ages, initially with monks, and then in general. St. Onuphrius died c.400
and was buried by St. Paphnutius who had come to him to learn if the hermit's
life was for him. A hole in the mountain, where St. Onuphrius was buried,
immediately disappeared. St. Onuphrius is a patron saint of weavers. In
fine arts he is usually depicted as an old man dressed only in long hair
and a loincloth of leaves; hermit with an angel bringing him the Eucharist
or bread; hermit being buried by two lions (his story was sometimes confused
with Saint Jerome's). |
