5th century

Saint Georgia (Georgette) of Clermont

Summary

A 6th-century virgin living in Clermont, Georgia refused marriage to dedicate herself to God in solitude and prayer. Upon her death, a flock of white doves escorted her body to the church, symbolizing her angelic purity.

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    Guided reading

    3 reading sections

    SAINT GEORGIA OR GEORGETTE OF CLERMONT (6th century).

    Life 01 / 03

    Retreat and ascetic life

    Georgia refuses the marriage imposed by her parents to dedicate herself to God in a solitude near Clermont, practicing fasting and prayer.

    In the year 500, there lived in Clermont, in Auvergne, a holy girl na med Geo Géorgie A 6th-century saint who lived in Auvergne, known for her virginity and eremitic life. rgia. So as not to be turned away from the fidelity she had promised to God by the marriage to which her parents were pushing her, she withdrew into a solitude quite near the city where her only occupation was to fast, to pray, and to mortify her body to make it a reliquary of virginity.

    Miracle 02 / 03

    The miracle of the doves

    During her funeral, a flock of white doves accompanied her body and kept watch on the roof of the church until the burial.

    When she had departed from this world and while her body was being carried to the earth, her body, "purer than a beautiful lily," a great flock of doves "as white as white swans," accompanied her to the church and perched on the roof until the divine office had been completed and this virginal relic had been placed in the bosom of the earth; afterwards, they took flight so high into the air that they were lost from sight. It was undoubtedly a legion of angels descended from heaven to honor the funeral of this sp ouse of Jesus Christ w épouse de Jésus-Christ A 6th-century saint who lived in Auvergne, known for her virginity and eremitic life. ho had lived in a purity similar to their own.

    Source 03 / 03

    Sources of the narrative

    The text relies on the writings of Jacques Branche, which themselves originate from the works of Gregory of Tours in the 6th century.

    Excerpt from the Saisons d'Auvergne, by Messire Jacques Branche, who wrote based on Gregory of Tou Grégoire de Tours Bishop and historian who mentions the martyrdom of Antolian. rs, D e Gloria Martyr Glorio Martyrum Hagiographical work by Gregory of Tours. um, ch. 34.

    Official source Les Petits Bollandistes, by Mgr Paul GUÉRIN, chamberlain to His Holiness Pius IX.

    Iconography

    Signs and attributes

    white doves Traditional attribute associated with representations of this figure. lily Traditional attribute associated with representations of this figure.

    Entities

    Narrative network

    The names, places, and concepts most present in the entry, weighted by centrality in the text.

    100 Saint Georgia Saint 84 Clermont Place 76 Auvergne Region 67 Gregory of Tours Saint 50 De Gloria Martyrum Work 50 Jacques Branche Person 48 Saisons d'Auvergne Work

    The supernatural in their life

    The miracles of Saint Georgia (Georgette) of Clermont

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    ToposCertainty: Hagiographic topos
    Illustration to come
    Sign / wonder
    Escort of the body by doves
    « Escort of the body by a flock of white doves to the church during her funeral »
    Saint Georgia (Georgette) of Clermont·Clermont En Auvergne·6th century

    Annexes & related entities

    Structured data for exploration: events, miracles, quotes, places, attributes, patronages, and important entities cited in the text.

    Key Events

    1. Refusal of the marriage imposed by her parents
    2. Retreat in a solitude near Clermont
    3. Life of fasting, prayer, and mortification
    4. Funeral accompanied by a flock of white doves

    Quotes

    • purer than a beautiful lily Jacques Branche
    • as white as white swans Jacques Branche

    Iconographic Attributes