Serenicus
7th-century Italian Benedictine monk
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Saint Serenicus (French: Céneri or Sérène; c. 620 – c. 669) was an Italian Benedictine monk. He was an early evangelist in Normandy, and founded a monastery and a chapel in a village in Orne that later took the name of Saint-Céneri-le-Gérei.
_Église_Fresque_2.jpg)
Serenicus | |
|---|---|
Saint Serenicus shown in the Church of Saint-Céneri-le-Gére | |
| Born | c. 620 Spoleto, Italy |
| Died | c. 669 (aged approx. 48–49) Saint-Céneri-le-Gérei, France |
| Feast | May 7 |
Serenicus is venerated as a saint. His feast day is celebrated on May 7 with his brother Serenidus of Saulges, or locally on August 16. He is a patron against skin diseases, colic, and infertility.[1]
Background
Born into a noble family in Umbria around 620, Serenicus travelled to the province of Maine in 649 during the reign of the Merovingian king Clovis II with his brother, Serenidus, to live a life of contemplation and penance.[2] At first, he lived with Serenidus as a hermit and an ascetic near Saulges in the diocese of Le Mans.[3]
At some point, Serenicus departed Saulges and began to live near a village in Orne near the Sarthe river. He started accepting disciples and found a church dedicated to Martin of Tours and an accompanying monastery. He ended up accepting a few disciples and built a church dedicated to Saint Martin of Tours and a monastic establishment.[3] The church was completed by Bishop, and saint, Milehard de Sées.[1]
It is said that after a long journey Serenicus settled in Orne, where he experienced a miracle in answer to his prayer for water to quench his thirst. According to legend a spring, located near the banks of the Sarthe, sprang up in answer to his prayer. It is believed that the water from the spring has the ability to cure eye problems.[4]
Serenicus is thought to have died around 669.[5]
Further reading
- Cerenicus, S. (in German). Vol. 1. Augsburg: Vollständiges Heiligen-Lexikon. 1858. p. 596.
See also
- Church of Saint-Cénéry de Parigné-sur-Braye
- Church of Saint-Céneri-le-Gerei