St German Patronal fair 13th July (OS) (July 24th NS)
Confused with St Germanus, Bishop of Auxerre (died 448), who
was better known within Roman church e.g. Bull of Gregory IX
was written on July 30th which was the eve of the feast day
of this saint - hence alternative spelling of
Germain. This Germanus became associated with Britain
when sent, at the request of the British, to refute the
Pelagian heretics. On a second visit, again to refute
Pelagianism, this time successfully, he directed British
forces in battle against Picts and Saxons. Feast widely
celebrated in England.
As the various references to German are chronologically
impossible to reconcile with the better known Germanus there
has been several, highly conjectural, lives of which one was
that he was born in Brittany c.410, went to Ireland to stay
with St Patrick, came to Wales c.440, returned to Ireland
and became Bishop of Man c.466.
D.H.Farmer
The Oxford Dictionary of Saints 1978
