IN TODAY’S LIVES OF THE SAINTS AND MARTYRS THE SAINT KNOWN AS THE GEOMETER

Winchester, VA – Born around 700 in Ireland, Vergilius came from a noble family and was named the Abbot of Aghaboe. He was referred to as the Geometer because of his extensive knowledge of geography. While en route to the Holy Land around 745, Vergilius settled in France and ended up being an advisor to Pippin the Younger, Mayor of the Palace under Childeric the III of Franconia. Vergilius spent two years near Compiegne, and then went to Bavaria, where he founded the monastery of Chiemsee. Two years later he was named Abbot of St. Peters at Salzburg, and is credited with having converted the Alpine Slavs, and evangelizing Hungary. Vergilius had multiple run-ins with Saint Boniface, especially over his  insistence that the earth was round, but Vergilius was always exonerated. After St. Boniface’s martyrdom, Vergilius was named Bishop of Salzburg, and served for nearly 20 years until his death in 784. St. Vergilius, pray for us!