ST. VERENA,

ST. VERENA,

In the midst of this terror, there stands an inexplicable element: Maximian whom even Diocletian described as "a barbarian" spared the nurses accompanying the Theban Legion. Among them was a young lady whose name was Verena, a native of Garagoz, a town not far from Thebes. As she meditated on the strange circumstances that brought her so far away from her native land, she concluded that Almighty God must have had as a mission for her the teaching of the people among whom she stayed. Consequently she spent the rest of her life in present - day Switzerland, educating the people to become Christians & at the same time teaching them the principles of hygiene. To this day her icon depicts her holding a water jug in one hand and a comb in the other.

When Verena had run her race, and died in peace, the people of Zurzach where she lived built a church in her name, and buried her in it: but this church was later destroyed by the Germanic tribes. In the nineth century, the Benedictines built a monastery in its place, and it still bare St. Verena's name. The monastery was transformed into a Bishopry but was burnt in 1279 A. D. , then rebuilt as a church once more when the Unionists won the victory in which they adjoined Zurzach to the Duchy of Baden. Following that, all the thermal baths were put under her auspices, and her church became a center of pilgrimmage. Another church in her name was built in the city of Baden itself, together with a chapel. On being victorious in 1712 A. D. the Protestants destroyed the church, but spared the chapel which remained until the nineteenth century. Then the chapel was also destroyed & the bath bearing St. Verena's name was closed. And thus it was many centuries after she departed this earthly life that the last chapter in her story ended. However she has not been forgotten, and in the town of Soleure, a church named after her still stands. It was built after she had visited the city to medidate over the tombs of St. Urs and St. Victor, two of the officers of the Theban Legion martyred and buried there.

A contemporary eminent Swiss journalist, writing about her not so long ago, related her amazing story; and concluded by saying that through her utter consecration and her devoted Christian service, Verena the native of Garagoz in Upper Egypt, & the one - time nurse in the Theban Legion, became the 'matron' Saint of housewives &. 3The Healer of lepers in Switzerland "[(4)].



Table Of Contents
Table Of Contents