Swiss monk and hermit
Beatus of Lungern
, known also by the
honorific
Apostle of Switzerland
or as
Beatus of Beatenberg
or
Beatus of Thun
, was probably a legendary
monk
and
hermit
of early
Christianity
, and is revered as a
saint
. Though his legend states that he died in the 2nd century, it is likely that his story has been
conflated
with
other saints of the same name
, especially
Beatus of Vendome
, and an Abbot Beatus who received a charter in 810 from
Charlemagne
to confirm that
Honau
Abbey would be administered by
Irish monks
.
[1]
Life
[
edit
]
While legend claims that he was the son of a
Scottish
king,
[1]
other legends place his birth in
Ireland
. Beatus was a
convert
,
baptized
in
England
by
Saint Barnabas
. He was allegedly ordained a priest in
Rome
by
Saint Peter the Apostle
,
[2]
whereupon he was sent with a companion named Achates to evangelize the tribe of the
Helvetii
. The two set up a camp in
Argovia
near the
Jura Mountains
, where they converted many of the locals.
[3]
Beatus then ventured south to the mountains above
Lake Thun
, taking up a hermitage in what is now known as
St. Beatus Caves
, near the village of
Beatenberg
, probably in the ninth century. Tradition states that this cave is where he fought a
dragon
. Saint Beatus' grave is located between the monastery and the cave entrance. He died at an old age in 112
CE
.
[2]
Monastery
[
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]
An Augustinian monastery was established near the mouth of the
St. Beatus Caves
. Today, approximately one kilometer of the cave system has been opened and illuminated for tourist access; the monastery site now also houses a restaurant and gift shop for the convenience of tourists.
Veneration
[
edit
]
Beatus is primarily remembered as the first apostle to
Switzerland
. The cultus of Beatus was widespread in the
Middle Ages
and survived even the hostility of the
Reformation
period when
pilgrims
were driven back from his cave at spear-point by
Zwinglian
Protestants.
[3]
After this period of turmoil, Beatus' relics, and the focus of his cultus, were transferred to the chapel at
Lungern
,
Obwalden
.
[2]
The mountain where he resided until his death is still a place of pilgrimage, and bears his name: Beatenberg.
[3]
Historicity
[
edit
]
The earliest recorded accounts of St. Beatus' life date no earlier than the 10th and mid-11th centuries and have not been historically authenticated. So, some would hesitate to endorse the tradition that calls St. Beatus the "Apostle of Switzerland". Indeed,
Saint Gall
probably more justly deserves this honor.
[3]
Gallery
[
edit
]
-
Grave of Saint Beatus at the entry to the Beatus Caves, Beatenberg, Switzerland
-
Lake Thun and the surrounding mountains, where legend contends that Beatus had his hermitage and fought a dragon
-
Monastery site from below
-
St. Beatus Caves, 1785
References
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]
External links
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]
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