Hélier of Jersey
Hélier (in Latin, Helerius ) is a monk of the 6th century originating in Tongres in Belgium which became hermit with Jersey and gave its name to Saint-Hélier, principal parish of the island.
Having left its native land, Hélier arrived at the monastery of Marcoulf saint at Nanteuil. Marcoulf sent it with a companion, Romard, in the island of Jersey whose inhabitants of Jersey asked of the assistance against the pirate raids. Once arrived at Jersey, Hélier was installed on a rock in the bay of Saint-Aubin from where he saw the veils of the ships of the pirates to far and could announce to the inhabitants to run away himself.
After thirteen years of prayers and miracles, the pirates seized the hermit and decapitated it. According to the legend, the saint took his head in his hands and the terrorized pirates are flee. His/her Romard companion would have found the body of the saint and would have transported it to Bréville-on-Sea (Manche). The Relique S of the saint were kept with Beaubec-la-Rosière until the destruction of the abbey during the French revolution.
A Chapelle built on the rock inhabited by the saint is a place of municipal Pèlerinage in Jersey at the time of the employers' Fête.
Churches dedicated to Hélier saint exist with Beuzeville, Rennes, Amécourt, Monhoudou.
Famous fountains of Hélier saint healers are with Bréville-on-Sea, Saint-Hellier (Seine-Maritime), Saint-Jouan-of-Guérets the (Ille-et-Vilaine).
The festival of Hélier saint is the July 16th.
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