Orthodox New Year - St Giles the Hermit-Priest of Provence


September 1. Feast of St. Giles the Hermit-Priest of Provence and Septimania St. Giles, originally coming from a noble family in Greece in the 600s, was an holy priest and monk. The name "Giles" is a French form of the Greek name "Aegidius". Once when St. Giles came to church, he saw a sick man, who begged alms. St. Giles gave him his coat, and by a miracle the sick begger was healed. In time his parents reposed in the Lord However, he fled Greece to seek solitude in a distant land; he came to Arles, but, even in this city, so distant from his home, he left further, and came deep into the forest, where he dwelt unknown by man (but known by angels) for several years. 

Here in the solitude of his forest, he had the companionship of a kindly red deer, which by a miracle likened unto that of Adam in Paradise, gave him milk. St. Giles ate only the herbs of the forest, again living like Adam; for he would eat nothing, fish or otherwise, that was living. His water was from a well near-by. Here St. Giles remained. However, his time to be made known by others was soon. Once, King Wamba, the King of Hispania [Spain] and Septimania [part of Southern France or Gaul], was hunting in the forest with his companions. During the hunt for deer, King Wamba saw the red deer, the friend of St. Giles, and pursued her. In great distress, the deer fled to St. Giles, with the hounds close upon her. However, St. Giles, seeing the deer come to him with great distress, prayed for the creature. The hounds then turned back. 

The King and his companions approached the area; one of his warriors foolishly let loose an arrow into the brush; the arrow hit and wounded St. Giles. Finally, when King Wamba and his men made their way through the brush, they found the injured St. Giles with the deer. King Wamba was greatly sorry for the injury to the holy old man; the King sent for physicians who came and treated St. Giles. Then the King sent for the local Bishop. There they conversed with St. Giles and learned of his origin and life. King Wamba oft visited St. Giles, offering him many gifts, but, St. Giles refused them as inappropriate. However, St. Giles admonished King Wamba that he should build a monastery for monks in the area. 

The King asked St. Giles that he should take the abbacy, but, St. Giles initially refused. But, at last, he consented. Thereafter, St. Giles, at the urging of King Wamba, came out of his solitude. St. Giles, with the help of King Wamba and the local Bishop, built a monastery, in which St. Giles adopted the Rule of St. Benedict, and gathered a great host of monks to him. Many miracles were worked by him and great sanctity was known in him. After several years, St. Giles reposed in the Lord; at his repose those near saw the Angels taking the soul of St. Giles to heaven. He reposed in the year 720 AD.

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