Chrysolius

Saint Chrysolius (French: Chrysole, Chryseuil) the Armenian is the patron saint of Komen/Comines, today in Belgium and France;^[1] his relics were venerated in the basilica of St Donatian, Bruges.^[2]

Saint Chrysolius
Martyr
Born	Armenia
Died	~300 AD Belgium
Venerated in	Roman Catholic Church
Feast	7 February
Patronage	Komen

Life

According to tradition, he was a native Armenian who fled to Rome during the persecution of Christians by Diocletian, was received by Pope Marcellus I and sent to northeast Gaul, where he evangelized at Verlengehem.^[1] According to his legend, he then became a spiritual student of Saint Denis and was sent with Saint Piatus to evangelize the area of Cambrai and Tournai.^[3] Chrysolius then became a bishop^[4][5] and was subsequently stopped by Roman soldiers and condemned to be decapitated; the top of his skull was sliced off.^[3] According to his legend, the piece of his skull broke into three smaller pieces, and where each piece fell, a miraculous spring gushed out.^[3] Chrysolius, after recovering the top of his cranium, walked to Komen and died there, after crossing the ford at the river Deûle that now bears his name.^[3]

Veneration

The waters of the springs where pieces of his head are said to have fallen were believed to cure ailments of the throat and eyes.^[3]

The rosette in the façade of the church of Saint-Vaast at Wambrechies depicts Chrysolius, along with saints Hubert, Benedict, and Bernard.^[3]

The church of Saint-Chrysole was rebuilt in neo-Byzantine style between 1922 and 1929, after its predecessor was destroyed in World War I.

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  Church of St.-Chrysole, Komen
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  Construction of the church of St.-Chrysole, Komen
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  Church of St.-Chrysole, Komen
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  St Chrysole, Komen. interior
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  St Chrysole, Komen. interior
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  St Chrysole, Komen. Altar and ciborium
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  St Chrysole, Komen. interior