Grace Thompson
St. Columba of Sens was a virgin and nun born to a noble pagan family in the northwest of the Iberian Peninsula in 257. She received the baptismal name Columba, meaning dove in French. She settled in Sens, France, where she was noticed by the Roman emperor Aurelian, who tried to force her to marry his son. When she refused, she was imprisoned and later beheaded. St. Columba is venerated throughout France, with a chapel built over her relics and the Abbey of Sens, which was once a pilgrimage site in her honour. She is also believed to be the patron saint of Andorra and the parish church of Chevilly in the Diocese of Paris. While she is widely regarded as a Catholic saint, some specialists suggest that she may be the same woman as Columba of Spain, a famous witch in Spanish Galicia.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of birth | c. 257 |
| Place of birth | Spain |
| Date of death | 273 |
| Place of death | Sens, France |
| Cause of death | Beheading |
| Feast day | 31 December |
| Patron saint of | Andorra, Chevilly Church in Paris, bears, rain |
| Portrayed as | Crowned maiden in chains, with a dog or bear on a chain, holding a book and a peacock's feather, with an angel on a funeral pyre, or beheaded |
| Associated with | Virgin martyr, Abbey of Sens, Chapel of Sens, Saint Columba cult |
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What You'll Learn
- St. Columba of Sens is believed to have been beheaded near a fountain called d'Azon
- She was buried by a man named Aubertus, who had regained his sight by invoking her
- She is the patron saint of Andorra and possibly Chevilly Church in Paris
- St. Columba is venerated as a saint in the Catholic Church
- She is also worshipped as a witch in some parts of Spain
St. Columba of Sens is believed to have been beheaded near a fountain called d'Azon
St. Columba of Sens, also known as Eporita, was a virgin and nun who was born to a noble pagan family in the northwest of the Iberian Peninsula, in modern-day Spain. She left her homeland as a child to escape persecution for her Christian beliefs and settled in Sens, France, where she received the baptismal name Columba, meaning "dove" in French.
According to Christian legend, St. Columba was a martyr who suffered and was murdered towards the end of the third century, likely under the rule of Emperor Aurelian. She is said to have refused the emperor's request to marry his son, leading to her imprisonment and eventual beheading. The execution is believed to have taken place near a fountain called d'Azon, and her body was left by her murderers on the ground.
Later, her body was recovered and buried by a man named Aubertus, who attributed the restoration of his sight to her. A chapel was built over her relics, and the Abbey of Sens, a pilgrimage site in her honour, was eventually constructed there. St. Columba is often portrayed "as a crowned maiden in chains", accompanied by a dog or a bear, holding a book and a peacock's feather, with an angel on a funeral pyre.
The cult of St. Columba flourished during the Middle Ages, particularly in France, where she was venerated. However, there are differing interpretations of her legacy. While some considered her a saint, others in Spain and Galicia worshipped her as a witch or patron saint of witches. The legend of St. Columba highlights the power of her story, which has endured and evolved over time.
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She was buried by a man named Aubertus, who had regained his sight by invoking her
St. Columba of Sens was a virgin and nun who was born to a noble pagan family in the northwest of the Iberian Peninsula. She left Gallaecia for Gaul as a child to escape being denounced as a Christian. She settled in Sens, France, where she was martyred in 273.
Columba was noticed by the Roman Emperor Aurelian, who tried to force her to marry his son. When she refused, he imprisoned her. She was protected from being burned alive by a female bear and a miraculous rain shower but was eventually beheaded near a fountain called d'Azon. Her body was left on the ground by her murderers, and her head was thrown into the Guadalquivir river.
According to tradition, her body was then buried by a man named Aubertus, who had prayed for the restoration of his sight and attributed his recovery to her. Aubertus buried Columba in thanksgiving for the restoration of his sight through her intercession.
A chapel was later built over her relics, and the Abbey of Sens became a pilgrimage site in her honour. St. Columba was venerated throughout France and was also the patron saint of Andorra and possibly Chevilly Church in Paris. She is often portrayed as a "crowned maiden in chains", with a dog or bear on a chain, holding a book and a peacock's feather, with an angel on a funeral pyre, or beheaded. Her principal attribute is a she-bear, and her feast day is December 31st.
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She is the patron saint of Andorra and possibly Chevilly Church in Paris
St. Columba of Sens was a Catholic who, according to tradition, was beheaded near a fountain called d'Azon towards the end of the third century, possibly under Emperor Aurelian. A chapel was built over her relics, and the Abbey of Sens rose later, becoming a pilgrimage site honouring her. She is also said to have been the patroness of the Chevilly Church in the Diocese of Paris, though her history is largely legendary.
Chevilly Church in Paris is dedicated to St. Columba of Sens, who is also said to have been beheaded and then buried by a man named Aubertus. St. Columba is also believed to have been the patron saint of the Chevilly Church in Paris, which is located in the Diocese of Paris.
The patron saint of Andorra is the Virgin of Meritxell, whose saint's day is on September 8th. She has been the patron saint of the Principality since 1873 and was declared the protector of Andorra by the General Council of the Valleys of Andorra. The story goes that on the way to Canillo to listen to a special mass, villagers from Meritxel found an image of the Virgin and Child surrounded by flowers, despite the freezing winter weather. This was interpreted as a sign from the Virgin, and a chapel was built in her honour.
The Virgin of Meritxell is an iconic symbol of Andorra's history, and her sanctuary is located in the parish of Canillo. The Meritxell religious complex, with its old and new sanctuaries, serves as a bridge between the past and the present, demonstrating the country's continued devotion to its patron saint.
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St. Columba is venerated as a saint in the Catholic Church
St. Columba of Sens, also known as Eporita, was a virgin and nun born to a noble pagan family in the northwest of the Iberian Peninsula, in modern-day Spain, in c. 257. To escape the cult of the gods, she left her family and travelled to Gaul (France) as a child, first settling in Vienne, where she received baptism, and then moving to Sens.
In Sens, the Roman Emperor Aurelian noticed her and tried to force her to marry his son. When she refused, she was imprisoned. She was protected from being burned alive by a female bear and a miraculous rain shower but was ultimately beheaded near a fountain called d'Azon in 273. Her body was left on the ground by her murderers until it was buried by a man called Aubertus, who had been restored to sight after invoking her.
A chapel was later built over her relics, and the Abbey of Sens, once a pilgrimage site in her honour, was eventually constructed there. She was also said to have been the patroness of the parish church of Chevilly in the Diocese of Paris. St. Columba was venerated throughout France and was once one of the most famous and revered martyrs in the Middle Ages. Her principal attribute is a she-bear, and she is often portrayed as a "crowned maiden in chains", with a dog or bear on a chain, holding a book and a peacock's feather, with an angel on a funeral pyre, or beheaded. Her feast day is celebrated on 31 December, though in Sens, due to a local festival, it is also celebrated on 27 July.
St. Columba of Sens is distinct from St. Columba of Spain (also known as Columba of Córdoba), a virgin and nun who was martyred by Muslim rulers in Spain around 853. St. Columba of Spain is also venerated as a saint in the Catholic Church.
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She is also worshipped as a witch in some parts of Spain
St. Columba of Sens, a virgin and nun, was born to a noble pagan family in the northwest of the Iberian Peninsula, in modern-day Galicia, Spain. She left Gallaecia for Gaul as a child to escape religious persecution and settled in Sens, France, where she was martyred in 273. She received the baptismal name Columba, meaning "dove" in French.
In Sens, the Roman Emperor Aurelian noticed her and tried to force her to marry his son. When she refused, he imprisoned her. She was protected from being burned alive by a female bear and a miraculous rain shower but was ultimately beheaded near a fountain called d'Azon.
A chapel was later built over her relics, and the Abbey of Sens, which was once a pilgrimage site in her honour, was constructed. She is also said to have been the patroness of the parish church of Chevilly in the Diocese of Paris.
While St. Columba is venerated as a saint in the Catholic Church, particularly in France, where her cult is centred, she is also worshipped as a witch in some parts of Spain. In Spanish Galicia, she is known as the patron saint of witches. According to old Galician sources, St. Columba, or Comba, was a famous witch who met Jesus Christ on the road. He told her she would not enter his kingdom, so she decided to change her life. However, she remained a witch while also being a Christian, a common mixture in the early days of Christianity.
In some parts of Spain, she acts as an intercessor on behalf of witches, while others pray to her to defend themselves against witches. This duality reflects the comfort Galegos have with the presence of witches in their midst.
The cult of St. Columba is thus associated with two contrasting figures—a saint in France and a witch in certain regions of Spain. This discrepancy may be due to the combination of two virgin martyrs with similar names: Columba of Spain (who died in 853) and Columba of Sens.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, St. Columba of Sens was beheaded near a fountain called d'Azon.
Yes, St. Columba was once venerated throughout France. She is said to have been the patron saint of Andorra and the patroness of the parish church of Chevilly in the Diocese of Paris.
St. Columba of Sens is venerated as a saint in the Catholic Church.
