Saint Foi, Virgin
and Martyr - 2nd-3rd century
St. Foi's martyrdom at the age of
twelve has been variously reported as occurring in 287 or 303 in
the town of Agen in Gaul. The legend is that the proconsul
Dacien had her placed on a hot griddle, but a dove flew down from
Heaven to extinguish it so he had her beheaded instead.
Thus, in portraits her
attributes are a dove and a griddle or gridiron, as
well as a crown. In one statuette
she also holds the sword with which she was beheaded.
Feast day: October 6
Alternate
names: "Foy" or "Foi" is French for "faith." St. Foy is
known in England as St. Faith, in Spanish-speaking countries as
Santa Fe, in some Latin-leaning sources as St. Fides.
The photo above is a detail from the west tympanum of the Church
of St. Foi, Conques, France
Other images:
Statue from
St. Marcel, Aveyron
Hagiography:
see The
Book
of St. Foy
The Passion of SS. Faith,
Caprasius, Primus, and Felicianus, Acta Sanctorum
October vol. 8, 823-26
The Metrical Passion of SS.
Faith and Caprasius, ibid., 826-29
Menu