Description
Saint Alexius
Feast day: July 17th.
The name originates from Greek and means ‘to ward off, to defend.’
The life of Saint Alexius is one of the more dramatic stories of saints. Although he decided to dedicate his life to God, his parents forced him into marriage. On his wedding night, Alexius revealed his plan for a life of celibacy and set out for Mesopotamia, where he lived as a beggar in front of a church for 17 years. Due to his life of penance, the local people began to venerate him, which he disliked, and he preferred to return home. Because he didn’t want to reveal himself at home either, he spent the next 17 years as a beggar in his own house. It was only after his death that he was recognized and buried as a saint.
Patron saint of: Pilgrims, beggars, wanderers; porters; the sick; the city of Innsbruck; protects against lightning, earthquakes, bad weather; infectious diseases.
