Saint Germanus, Bishop of Paris

Commemorated on May 28.

Saint Germanus was born near Autun in 496. He was abbot of Saint Symphorian’s monastery at Autun, and was made Bishop of Paris around 536. He was tireless and courageous in his efforts to end civil strife and to restrain the viciousness of the Frankish kings, though he was not very successful in this. Saint Radegund (August 13) appealed to him for protection from her cruel husband King Chlotar I.

Saint Germanus founded a monastery at Paris, and was buried in its church after his death in 576. This is the renowned monastery of Saint Germaine-des-Pres.

Troparion

Holy Germanus, as bishop of Paris you remained the monk you always were,
cherishing the beauty of the Liturgy and developing the cult of the saints.
Your miracles merited your veneration by young and old alike.
It was thus that you exercised a happy influence over the powerful,
and prevailed on them to free slaves and release prisoners.
And in the name of Christ, in the Church of Gaul you made concord and peace to reign.