St. Genevieve’s Day January 3rd

St Genevieve of Nanterre has her feast day today. Nanterre is an ancient settlement swallowed up by modern Paris. Genevieve is a most remarkable woman who met St Germanus of Auxerre on his way to Britain and became a ‘consecrated virgin’ at the age of 15.

St Germanus is significant for post Roman studies because his life, written in the 5th Century, is one of the few written records of life in post-Roman Britain. He was sent to Britain because the Pelagian Heresy was endangering the Catholic version of Christianity.

Germanus was sent to Britain, where he confronted Pelagian converts in a public debate which took place in a disused Roman amphitheatre. if the River is the Thames.

For more about Germanus and his visit to Britain click here:

As for Geneviève, she went on to lead an aesthetic life of fasting and prayer. In 451, she led the Parisians in prayer on the approach of the Huns led by Attila, and is credited with his decision not to attack the City. She lived to 89.

Incidently, Nanterre has an interesting prehistory. The name in Celtic means ‘enduring sacred site’, and a big cemetery found there makes it possibly the original site of Paris, or at least an important early site. Julius Caesar attended an assembly with local Gallic leaders in the area. The topography of Nanterre fits as well for the story as the Île de la Cité some argue.

Caesar went on to write a book about his experiences in Gaul and Britain, so some credence can be given to what he says about the Druids. This is an excerpt photographed from my book.

‘In Their Own Words – A Literary Companion To The Origins Of London‘ D A Horizons, 2009.  Kevin Flude

To buy the Kindle version, click here.  To buy a paperback (£7.00 including P&P) click on the PayPal link below or  email kpflude AT anddidthosefeet.org.uk

First written in January 2023, revised and republished January 2024.