The medieval period gave rise to some of the most well-known saints, but there are countless others whose stories are equally compelling, if a little stranger. These saints were revered for their piety, their miracles, and sometimes their eccentricities, though many of their tales have faded from common memory. Here are ten medieval saints whose stories are worth rediscovering.
Wilgefortis – The Bearded Saint
Saint Wilgefortis, with scenes from her legend and donor portraits, 1513
In the Later Middle Ages, the cult of St. Wilgefortis gained popularity in northern Europe. Known as Uncumber in England, Débarras in France, and Kümmernis in German-speaking lands, she was said to be a teenage noblewoman from Portugal.
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When her father arranged for her to marry a pagan king, Wilgefortis took a vow of virginity and prayed to become repulsive. Her prayers were answered when she grew a beard. The marriage was called off, but her enraged father had Wilgefortis crucified. Her popularity declined in the 16th century when these stories were revealed as baseless legends.
Gerald of Aurillac – A Blind Saint with the Power to Heal
Stained glass window in a French church featuring Gerard – Photo by Père Igor / Wikimedia Commons
Gerald of Aurillac, who lived from circa 855 to 909, was a French count. Despite being in poor health for most of his life and eventually going blind, he became a model of pious lay behaviour. Gerald even wished to become a monk, but instead had himself secretly tonsured. He gave away his possessions, took a vow of chastity, and founded an abbey on his lands. It was said that the water Gerald used to wash his hands could restore sight to the blind.
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Roch – The Pilgrim Saved by a Dog
Painting of St Roch by Bartolomeo Vivarini (1430–1499)
St. Roch was reportedly the son of the Governor of Montpellier, but at the age of 20, he gave away all his wealth and embarked on a pilgrimage to Rome. When plague struck Italy, Roch devoted himself to healing the sick until he, too, became infected. He withdrew to the woods, where a dog befriended him, bringing him bread and licking his wounds until he recovered.
Later, Roch returned to Montpellier but kept his identity hidden. Accused of being a spy, he was imprisoned, and until his death a few years later, he treated sick prisoners. Roch’s faithful dog remains one of the more unusual but touching aspects of his legend.
Bénézet – The Boy Who Built a Bridge
The statue of Saint Bénézet in Notre Dame des Doms, Avignon – photo by Przemysław Sakrajda / Wikimedia Commons
Bénézet (c.1163–1184) was a shepherd boy who, during an eclipse in 1177, had a vision instructing him to build a bridge over the Rhône River at Avignon. When local authorities refused to assist him, Bénézet began building the bridge himself. To the astonishment of onlookers, he carried a massive stone and set it as the bridge’s foundation.
Witnessing this miracle, the local community rallied to complete the bridge, and other miracles were soon reported at the site. After Bénézet’s death, he was buried inside the bridge, where he rested for nearly 500 years.
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Sunniva – The Saint Who Was Sealed in a Cave
Late Gothic sculpture of Saint Sunniva from the Austevoll altarpiece (c. 1520, now in Bergen Museum). Photo by Nina Aldin Thune / Wikimedia Commons
Sunniva was said to be a 10th-century Irish princess. When a pagan king invaded her lands, she and her followers fled to a cave on the Norwegian island of Selja. The Viking ruler Hakon Jarl Sigurðarson sought to capture them, but Sunniva prayed to God for deliverance. Rocks fell, sealing the cave and preventing their capture.
In 996, the Christian king Olaf Tryggvason excavated the cave, finding Sunniva’s body miraculously intact. Her legend remains a powerful reminder of faith and divine protection.
Notburga of Rattenberg – The Sickle Suspended in Air
Rattenberg (Tyrol). Lane in the old town ( Pfarrgasse ) – Bay window: Relief of Notburga of Rattenberg. Photo by Wolfgang Sauber / Wikimedia Commons
Notburga of Rattenberg (c.1265–1313) lived in Austria, where she worked as a cook for Count Henry of Rattenberg. Although he ordered her to feed leftovers to the pigs, she secretly gave them to the poor. One day, when the Count caught her carrying something, he demanded to see it. Instead of food and wine, he saw only shavings and vinegar.
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Later, Notburga worked for a peasant farmer under the condition that she could attend church on evenings before Sundays and festivals. When her master once urged her to continue working in the field, she threw her sickle into the air, saying, “Let my sickle be judge between me and you.” The sickle supposedly remained suspended in the air, marking her devotion to God.
Rose of Viterbo – The Child Prophet
15th century painting of Rose of Viterbo by Piero di Cosimo
Rose of Viterbo (c.1233–1251) demonstrated her holy abilities from an early age. At three, she reportedly raised her aunt from the dead, and by seven, she was living as a recluse. By the age of 10, Rose was preaching in the streets of Viterbo.
She also had prophetic abilities, foretelling the death of Emperor Frederick II a week before it occurred. Though she died young at 17, in 2010, researchers examining her remains concluded that she had suffered from a heart condition known as Cantrell’s syndrome.
Jón Ögmundsson – The Bishop Who Renamed Days of the Week
Jón Ögmundsson (1052–1121) was the first Bishop of Holar, the northern diocese of Iceland. He worked to eradicate remnants of paganism and even changed the names of the days of the week – Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday (named after Norse gods) became Third Day, Midweek Day, and Fifth Day.
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Though his legacy has been overshadowed by Iceland’s first saint, Thorlak Thorhallsson, Jón’s life is preserved in a 13th-century account known as Jóns Saga.
John the Silent – The Man Who Chose Silence
Icon of Saint John the Silent from the Menologion of Basil II
John the Silent (454–558) came from a wealthy Armenian family but lived a devout life. By 28, he had become the Bishop of Colonia, but soon yearned for a simpler, quieter existence. He joined the Monastery of St. Sabas, where his true identity was kept secret, and he lived without speaking, except for a few words to those who brought him food.
At times, he left the monastery to live in the wilderness, where he spoke only to God and survived on wild roots and herbs. John reportedly lived to the age of 104, a testament to his ascetic and devout lifestyle.
Guinefort – The Dog-Saint
In the 13th century, Stephen de Bourbon discovered that peasants near the French city of Lyons were praying at the grave of a dog named Guinefort, claiming he performed miracles, particularly for infants.
The story behind this devotion was extraordinary. Here is what Stephen reported:
There was a certain castle whose lord had a baby son from his wife. But when the lord and lady and the nurse too had left the house, leaving the child alone in his cradle, a very large snake entered the house and made for the child’s cradle. The greyhound, who had remained there, saw this, dashed swiftly under the cradle in pursuit, knocking it over, and attacked the snake with its fangs and answering bite with bite. In the end the dog killed it and threw it far away from the child’s cradle which he left all bloodied as was his mouth and head, with the snake’s blood, and stood there by the cradle all beaten about by the snake.
When the nurse came back and saw this, she thought the child had been killed and eaten by the dog and so gave out an almighty scream. The child’s mother heard this, rushed in, saw and thought the same and she too screamed. Then the knight similarly once he got there believed the same, and drawing his sword killed the dog. Only then did they approach the child and find him unharmed, sleeping sweetly in fact. On further investigation, they discovered the snake torn up by the dog’s bites and dead. Now that they had learned the truth of the matter, they were embarrassed that they had so unjustly killed a dog so useful to them and threw his body into a well in front of the castle gate, and placing over it a very large heap of stones they planted trees nearby as a memorial of the deed.
Though many of these saints have faded into relative obscurity, their stories continue to offer insights into the medieval imagination, where miracles, faith, and the power of the divine intertwined with everyday life. Whether inspiring devotion or simply intriguing the curious, these saints remind us that history is full of forgotten wonders waiting to be rediscovered.
Curious to learn more about other obscure medieval saints? Explore our archives for even more miraculous stories that shaped the faith of the Middle Ages.
Top Image: Bibliothèque de l’Arsenal, Ms-603 réserve, fol. 387r.
The medieval period gave rise to some of the most well-known saints, but there are countless others whose stories are equally compelling, if a little stranger. These saints were revered for their piety, their miracles, and sometimes their eccentricities, though many of their tales have faded from common memory. Here are ten medieval saints whose stories are worth rediscovering.
Wilgefortis – The Bearded Saint
In the Later Middle Ages, the cult of St. Wilgefortis gained popularity in northern Europe. Known as Uncumber in England, Débarras in France, and Kümmernis in German-speaking lands, she was said to be a teenage noblewoman from Portugal.
When her father arranged for her to marry a pagan king, Wilgefortis took a vow of virginity and prayed to become repulsive. Her prayers were answered when she grew a beard. The marriage was called off, but her enraged father had Wilgefortis crucified. Her popularity declined in the 16th century when these stories were revealed as baseless legends.
Gerald of Aurillac – A Blind Saint with the Power to Heal
Gerald of Aurillac, who lived from circa 855 to 909, was a French count. Despite being in poor health for most of his life and eventually going blind, he became a model of pious lay behaviour. Gerald even wished to become a monk, but instead had himself secretly tonsured. He gave away his possessions, took a vow of chastity, and founded an abbey on his lands. It was said that the water Gerald used to wash his hands could restore sight to the blind.
Roch – The Pilgrim Saved by a Dog
Bartolomeo Vivarini (1430–1499)
St. Roch was reportedly the son of the Governor of Montpellier, but at the age of 20, he gave away all his wealth and embarked on a pilgrimage to Rome. When plague struck Italy, Roch devoted himself to healing the sick until he, too, became infected. He withdrew to the woods, where a dog befriended him, bringing him bread and licking his wounds until he recovered.
Later, Roch returned to Montpellier but kept his identity hidden. Accused of being a spy, he was imprisoned, and until his death a few years later, he treated sick prisoners. Roch’s faithful dog remains one of the more unusual but touching aspects of his legend.
Bénézet – The Boy Who Built a Bridge
Bénézet (c.1163–1184) was a shepherd boy who, during an eclipse in 1177, had a vision instructing him to build a bridge over the Rhône River at Avignon. When local authorities refused to assist him, Bénézet began building the bridge himself. To the astonishment of onlookers, he carried a massive stone and set it as the bridge’s foundation.
Witnessing this miracle, the local community rallied to complete the bridge, and other miracles were soon reported at the site. After Bénézet’s death, he was buried inside the bridge, where he rested for nearly 500 years.
Sunniva – The Saint Who Was Sealed in a Cave
Sunniva was said to be a 10th-century Irish princess. When a pagan king invaded her lands, she and her followers fled to a cave on the Norwegian island of Selja. The Viking ruler Hakon Jarl Sigurðarson sought to capture them, but Sunniva prayed to God for deliverance. Rocks fell, sealing the cave and preventing their capture.
In 996, the Christian king Olaf Tryggvason excavated the cave, finding Sunniva’s body miraculously intact. Her legend remains a powerful reminder of faith and divine protection.
Notburga of Rattenberg – The Sickle Suspended in Air
Notburga of Rattenberg (c.1265–1313) lived in Austria, where she worked as a cook for Count Henry of Rattenberg. Although he ordered her to feed leftovers to the pigs, she secretly gave them to the poor. One day, when the Count caught her carrying something, he demanded to see it. Instead of food and wine, he saw only shavings and vinegar.
Later, Notburga worked for a peasant farmer under the condition that she could attend church on evenings before Sundays and festivals. When her master once urged her to continue working in the field, she threw her sickle into the air, saying, “Let my sickle be judge between me and you.” The sickle supposedly remained suspended in the air, marking her devotion to God.
Rose of Viterbo – The Child Prophet
Rose of Viterbo (c.1233–1251) demonstrated her holy abilities from an early age. At three, she reportedly raised her aunt from the dead, and by seven, she was living as a recluse. By the age of 10, Rose was preaching in the streets of Viterbo.
She also had prophetic abilities, foretelling the death of Emperor Frederick II a week before it occurred. Though she died young at 17, in 2010, researchers examining her remains concluded that she had suffered from a heart condition known as Cantrell’s syndrome.
Jón Ögmundsson – The Bishop Who Renamed Days of the Week
Jón Ögmundsson (1052–1121) was the first Bishop of Holar, the northern diocese of Iceland. He worked to eradicate remnants of paganism and even changed the names of the days of the week – Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday (named after Norse gods) became Third Day, Midweek Day, and Fifth Day.
Though his legacy has been overshadowed by Iceland’s first saint, Thorlak Thorhallsson, Jón’s life is preserved in a 13th-century account known as Jóns Saga.
John the Silent – The Man Who Chose Silence
John the Silent (454–558) came from a wealthy Armenian family but lived a devout life. By 28, he had become the Bishop of Colonia, but soon yearned for a simpler, quieter existence. He joined the Monastery of St. Sabas, where his true identity was kept secret, and he lived without speaking, except for a few words to those who brought him food.
At times, he left the monastery to live in the wilderness, where he spoke only to God and survived on wild roots and herbs. John reportedly lived to the age of 104, a testament to his ascetic and devout lifestyle.
Guinefort – The Dog-Saint
In the 13th century, Stephen de Bourbon discovered that peasants near the French city of Lyons were praying at the grave of a dog named Guinefort, claiming he performed miracles, particularly for infants.
The story behind this devotion was extraordinary. Here is what Stephen reported:
There was a certain castle whose lord had a baby son from his wife. But when the lord and lady and the nurse too had left the house, leaving the child alone in his cradle, a very large snake entered the house and made for the child’s cradle. The greyhound, who had remained there, saw this, dashed swiftly under the cradle in pursuit, knocking it over, and attacked the snake with its fangs and answering bite with bite. In the end the dog killed it and threw it far away from the child’s cradle which he left all bloodied as was his mouth and head, with the snake’s blood, and stood there by the cradle all beaten about by the snake.
When the nurse came back and saw this, she thought the child had been killed and eaten by the dog and so gave out an almighty scream. The child’s mother heard this, rushed in, saw and thought the same and she too screamed. Then the knight similarly once he got there believed the same, and drawing his sword killed the dog. Only then did they approach the child and find him unharmed, sleeping sweetly in fact. On further investigation, they discovered the snake torn up by the dog’s bites and dead. Now that they had learned the truth of the matter, they were embarrassed that they had so unjustly killed a dog so useful to them and threw his body into a well in front of the castle gate, and placing over it a very large heap of stones they planted trees nearby as a memorial of the deed.
Though many of these saints have faded into relative obscurity, their stories continue to offer insights into the medieval imagination, where miracles, faith, and the power of the divine intertwined with everyday life. Whether inspiring devotion or simply intriguing the curious, these saints remind us that history is full of forgotten wonders waiting to be rediscovered.
Curious to learn more about other obscure medieval saints? Explore our archives for even more miraculous stories that shaped the faith of the Middle Ages.
Top Image: Bibliothèque de l’Arsenal, Ms-603 réserve, fol. 387r.
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