Ferjus of Grenoble
Saint Ferjus of Grenoble (or Ferreol) was bishop of Gratianopolis (current Grenoble) in the 7th century.[1][2][3] He was assassinated about 660, probably by Clotaire III or the mayor of the palace, Ebroin, like other bishops who defied his authority.
Hagiography
A summary of his life written in the seventeenth century recounts that "Saint Ferjus, martyr, was preaching at Mount Esson(Current Mont Rachais above Grenoble.) on the divinity of the Word and the need of the grace of Christ, was struck on the head and thrown into a neighboring oven, where his body was soon consumed; his soul ascended to heaven; his sacred bones were buried in the church dedicated in his name, near Grenoble ... ".
Another theory is that he was assassinated about 660, probably by Clotaire III or the mayor of the palace Ebroin, like other bishops who defied his authority. His feast day is 12 janvier2.
Legacy
The town of Grenoble's current Tronche, in the suburbs of Grenoble, where his relics were preserved in fact, carried to the Revolution the name of St. Ferjus.
Until 1935, the bell tower of St. Mary in Grenoble carried Saint-Bruno, Saint-Hugues, St. Ferjus and St. Francis de Sales. In 1935 the tower threatened to collapse and was removed. These four sculptures disappeared, only that Francis de Sales was found in 2007 in Thiers Street, in the garden of the sanatorium which closed down.[4] The statue of Ferjus remains lost.
References
- ↑ Jean-Joseph-Antoine Pilot Thorey,History of Grenoble and surrounding area from its foundation as the Cularo until today (Baratier brothers, 1829) page 304.
- ↑ Albert DU BOYS, Life of Saint Hughes, (notice chronologique sur les évêques de Grenoble (1837). p333.
- ↑ Bernard Bligny (dir.), Le diocèse de Grenoble, Beauchesne, Paris, 1979.
- ↑ http://www.musee-dauphinois.fr/2073-nouvelles-acquisitions.htm