Saint Maurice
| Saint Maurice | |
|---|---|
Saint Maurice by Matthias Grünewald
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| Martyr | |
| Born | 3rd century Thebes, Egypt |
| Died | 287 Agaunum, Switzerland |
| Venerated in |
Coptic Orthodoxy, Oriental Orthodoxy, Roman Catholic Church Eastern Orthodox Church |
| Canonized | Pre-Congregation for the Causes of Saints |
| Major shrine | Abbaye de Saint-Maurice d'Agaune (until 961), Cathedral of Magdeburg (961-present) |
| Feast |
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| Attributes | banner; soldier; soldier being executed with other soldiers, knight; indigenous African in full armour, bearing a standard and a palm; knight in armour with a red cross on his breast, which is the badge of the Order of Saints Maurice and Lazarus |
| Patronage | alpine troops; Appenzell Innerrhoden; armies; armorers; Burgundians; Carolingian dynasty;Austria; clothmakers; cramps; dyers; gout; House of Savoy; infantrymen; Lombards; Merovingians;Piedmont, Italy; Pontifical Swiss Guards; Saint-Maurice-en-Valais; St. Moritz;Sardinia; soldiers; Stadtsulza, Germany; swordsmiths; weavers; Holy Roman Emperors |
Saint Maurice (also Moritz, Morris, or Mauritius) was the leader of the legendary Roman Theban Legion in the 3rd century, and one of the favorite and most widely venerated saints of that group. He was the patron saint of several professions, locales, and kingdoms. He is also a highly revered saint in the Coptic Orthodox Church and Oriental Orthodox churches.
According to the hagiographical material, Maurice was an Egyptian, born in AD 250 in Thebes, an ancient city in Egypt near the site of the 20th-century Aswan Dam. He was brought up in the region of Thebes (Luxor—Egypt)
Maurice became a soldier in the Roman army. He was gradually promoted until he became the leader of the Theban legion, formed of 6600 soldiers. He was an acknowledged Christian at a time when the Church was considered to be a threat to the Roman Empire. Yet, he moved easily within the pagan society of his day.
The legion, entirely composed of Christians, had been called from Thebes in Egypt to Gaul to assist Emperor Maximian to defeat a revolt by the bagaudae. The Theban Legion was dispatched with orders to clear the St. Bernard Pass across Mt. Blanc. Before going into battle, they were instructed to offer sacrifices to the pagan gods and pay homage to the emperor. Maurice pledged his men’s military allegiance to Rome. He stated that service to God superseded all else. To engage in wanton slaughter was inconceivable to Christian soldiers he said. He and his men refused to worship Roman gods.
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