An Irish monk of the 7th century and disciple of Saint Fursey, Algis settled in Thiérache to evangelize the rural populations. He founded a monastery there before making a pilgrimage to Rome. Having died in 676, his tomb became a site of miracles, giving rise to the village that bears his name.
Guided reading
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SAINT ALGIS, MISSIONARY (670).
Origins and Vocation
Originally from Ireland and of noble lineage, Algis became a disciple of Saint Fursey, who initiated him into the monastic life and the priesthood.
In the Laonnois part of the diocese of Soissons (Aisne), ten kilometers from Vervins, lies the village of Sain t-Algis, ne Saint-Algis 7th-century Irish missionary, founder in Thiérache. ar the Oise river. It took its name from that of a Saint who lived and died in this place.
Saint Algi s or Adalgis was origi Saint Algis ou Adalgis 7th-century Irish missionary, founder in Thiérache. nally from Ireland and belonged to a noble family. He was a disciple of Saint Furse y, who taug saint Fursy Spiritual master of Saint Algis. ht him the rules of monastic life and conferred the priesthood upon him. Feeling a keen desire to evangelize the rural populations and to visit the tombs of the apostles Saint Peter and Saint Paul, he communicated his plan to Saint Fursey, who approved it.
Establishment in Thiérache
Having arrived in Gaul, he founded a monastery and an oratory dedicated to Saint Peter in the forest of Thiérache, quickly attracting disciples.
Algis first came to the Gauls with a few companions and chose for his retreat a deserted place in the fore st of Thiérache, n forêt de Thiérache Historical region where the village of Pleine-Selve is located. ear the mountain then called Saint-Julien. There he built an oratory and a small monastery in honor of Saint Peter and all the Saints. The holy and mortified life he led there soon attracted a few disciples to him.
Mission and evangelization
Algis dedicated himself to the conversion of local rural populations, turning them away from paganism to lead them to the Christian faith.
Full of zeal for the salvation of the populations that surrounded him, he urged them to renounce the superstitions of paganism and to embrace the Christian faith. He succeeded in persuading a great number of them and won them over to Jesus Christ.
Pilgrimage to Rome and end of life
After a pilgrimage to Rome from which he brought back relics, he died in 676 and was buried in his church.
Towards the end of his life, he went Rome Birthplace of Maximian. to Rome to visit the tombs of the holy Apostles, and brought back some relics of Saint James and other Saints, which he placed in the chapel of his monastery. He died on June 2, 676. His body was buried in his church.
Cult, miracles, and posterity
His tomb became a place of miracles leading to the creation of the village of Saint-Algis; his relics were later transferred to the Abbey of Saint-Michel.
The Lord performed so many healings at his tomb that, from the gathering of the people, the village we mentioned above was formed. In 946, his body was transferred to t he Abbey of Saint-Michel in Thiérac abbaye de Saint-Michel en Thiérache Site of the translation of the saint's body in 946. he, of the Order of Saint Be Ordre de Saint-Benoît Religious order occupying the monastery of Honnecourt. nedict; but, having been often hidden during the wars that devastated this country, it was never found again.
Liesse and the Abbey of Maroilles once possessed some bones of the missionary saint. In the present year 1866, a relic of the same Saint is still honored at Saint-Algis.
M. Conguet, D M. Conguet Dean of the cathedral chapter of Soissons and source of the text. ean of the Chapter of the Cathedral of Soissons.
Annexes & related entities
Structured data for exploration: events, miracles, quotes, places, attributes, patronages, and important entities cited in the text.
Key Events
- Monastic training and priesthood received from Saint Fursey
- Arrival in Gaul with companions
- Foundation of an oratory and a monastery in the Thiérache forest
- Evangelization of local pagan populations
- Pilgrimage to Rome to the tombs of the Apostles
- Translation of the relics to the Abbey of Saint-Michel in Thiérache in 946
Miracles
- Numerous healings performed at his tomb after his death