Saint Domitian of Maastricht
Bishop of Tongeren and later Maastricht in the 6th century, Domitian distinguished himself by his holiness at the Council of Orléans and his charity towards the poor during a famine. He is famous for having delivered the city of Huy from a monster (or dragon) and for converting idolaters there. His body was found intact during the reign of Charlemagne.
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SAINT DOMITIAN, BISHOP OF MAASTRICHT (circa 560).
Episcopate and pastoral zeal
Elected Bishop of Maastricht after having held the see of Tongeren, Domitian distinguished himself by his piety at the Council of Orleans and his charity during a miraculously resolved famine.
Saint Domitian was born i n Fran ce at the end of the 5th century. He was first raised to the episcopal se e of To ngeren; the see of Maa stricht having become vacant, the people and clergy of that city, who knew his merit and the reputation he enjoyed, elected him as bishop of their city. Domitian accepted this new dignity against his will, but he fulfilled the duties it imposed upon him with indefatigable zeal. By his knowledge and his holiness he was, literally, the light of the world and the salt of the earth: this was something that was noted at the fi fth Council of Orleans, hel d in 541. During an extraordinary famine that devastated his flock, as the rich ceased their alms for fear of lacking the necessities themselves, Domitian sharply reproached them for their hardness and their lack of faith, imploring them not to let their brothers die of hunger; and so that they would have nothing to fear for themselves, he assured them that the coming harvest, despite appearances to the contrary, would suffice for all needs; which is what came to pass.
Miracles and death
The saint delivers the city of Huy from a monster, converts the idolaters, and dies in 560 after visiting the tomb of Saint Servatius.
By his prayers, he delivered the inhabitants of Huy from an extraordinary animal that had caused great devastation, and spent some time in this city, where he converted many of those who were still idolaters. Domitian knew by revelation the time of his death, and, towards the end of his life, he visited out of devotion the tombs of several saints, among others that of S aint Servatiu s, Bishop of Tongeren. He died on May 7, 560, and his body was buried in Huy, of which he is the patron. A great number of miracles occurred at his tomb, and his body, having been raised from t he earth un der Charlemagne, was found whole and well preserved.
Cult and symbolism
Having become the patron saint of Huy, he is invoked against fevers and depicted with a dragon symbolizing the triumph of baptism over the demon.
Every year, a procession is still held to the fountain near which Saint Domitian is said to have killed the monster, the dra gon, a s our fathers used to say. This fountain is probably the one where the Saint baptized, and therefore it is not surprising that the demon, whose function is to turn men away from baptism first, and from all good thereafter, was depicted in the guise of a dragon. — Saint Domitian is therefore represented with this allegorical or real dragon at his feet and is invoked against fevers.
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Who was Saint Domitian of Maastricht?
Bishop of Tongeren and later Maastricht in the 6th century, Domitian distinguished himself by his holiness at the Council of Orléans and his charity towards the poor during a famine. He is famous for having delivered the city of Huy from a monster (or dragon) and for converting idolaters there. His body was found intact during the reign of Charlemagne.