Beatus of Lungern

Beatus of Lungern
The coat of arms of Beatenberg, depicting Saint Beatus' fight with the dragon
Monk and Hermit "Apostle of Switzerland"
Born	unknown Ireland or Scotland
Died	c. 112 Mount Beatenberg, Switzerland
Venerated in	Eastern Orthodox Church Roman Catholic Church
Feast	9 May
Attributes	As an old man reading in a mountain cave; a monk fighting a dragon

Beatus of Lungern, known also by the Apostle of Switzerland or as Beatus of Beatenberg or Beatus of Thun, was a probably legendary monk and hermit of early Christianity, and is revered as a saint. Though his legend states that he died in the 2nd century, it is likely that his story has been with , especially Beatus of Vendôme, and an Abbot Beatus who received a charter in 810 from Charlemagne to confirm that Honau Abbey would be administered by Irish monks.

While legend claims that he was the son of a Scottish king, other legends place his birth in Ireland. Beatus was a convert, baptized in England by Saint Barnabas. He was allegedly ordained a priest in Rome by Saint Peter the Apostle, whereupon he was sent with a companion named Achates to evangelize the tribe of the Helvetii. The two set up a camp in Argovia near the Jura Mountains, where they converted many of the locals.

Beatus then ventured south to the mountains above Lake Thun, taking up a hermitage in what is now known as St. Beatus Caves, near the village of Beatenberg, probably in the ninth century. Tradition states that this cave is where he fought a dragon. Saint Beatus' grave is located between the monastery and the cave entrance. He died at an old age in 112.

An Augustinian monastery was established near the mouth of the St. Beatus Caves. Today, approximately one kilometer of the cave system has been opened and illuminated for tourist access; the monastery site now also houses a restaurant and gift shop for the convenience of tourists.