Germanus of Normandy

Germanus of Normandy, remembered also as Germanus the Scot, is a saint especially honored in Normandy, though the details of his birth and early homeland are not preserved with certainty. Tradition holds that he became a disciple of Saint Germanus of Auxerre and, receiving baptism from him, took the name Germanus as a sign of new life in Christ and devotion to his spiritual father. His memory in Normandy is wrapped in vivid legends that point to a life of courageous faith. In sacred art he is often shown with a wheel, recalling the story that he crossed the English Channel in a miraculous way and came ashore near Flamanville. He is also depicted with a dragon, echoing the tale that he overcame a fearsome seven-headed beast at Trou Baligan in the Cotentin—an image of the Gospel’s triumph over evil. The faithful have long invoked Saint Germanus for relief from fevers and for the healing of children. He is also honored as patron of Orzivecchi. His feast day is May 2.