“Saint Vitus, don’t let it rain, so that we will lack no barley!” That’s an old brewers’ proverb connected to St. Vitus’ feast day. Welcome to St. Vitus, a place where history and legend intertwine.
St. Vitus is closely linked to Freising. According to legend, St. Vitus was born in Sicily. He was the son of a Roman senator during Emperor Diocletian’s time. Raised in the Christian faith, he performed miracles as a child. His father, angered by his faith, had him beaten.
Brought before the court, Vitus refused to renounce his beliefs. This caused the judge’s and henchmen’s arms to wither. His father tried to kill him. But his wet nurse and tutor fled with him to Lucania. An eagle miraculously provided them with bread.
They were eventually discovered and taken to Emperor Diocletian. Though Vitus healed the emperor’s possessed son, he refused to sacrifice to Roman gods. He was imprisoned. Heavy iron plates failed to crush him. He emerged unharmed from a cauldron of boiling oil. A wild lion lay tamely at his feet. Lightning destroyed torture instruments. Angels then saved him and his companions. They brought them to Lucania. Immersed in prayer, the martyrs died peacefully.
Veneration of Vitus began early. Pope Gelasius I consecrated the first church to him. His story spread from Lucania to Upper Italy, France and Germany around the year 600. Pope Gregory I mentioned monasteries in Sicily bearing his name. Abbot Fulrad acquired relics for his monastery in St. Denis. Corvey Abbey became a center for Vitus veneration.
There are over a thousand churches in Germany dedicated to St. Vitus. These churches exist in Braunschweig, Hildesheim and Nuremberg. Many places in Bavaria bear his name.
Bishop Hitto of Freising founded a Benedictine monastery dedicated to St. Vitus around 833. It stood halfway up Weihenstephan Hill. In 1020, Bishop Egilbert converted it into a secular canonical monastery. “St. Veit” was one of Freising’s three parishes until secularization. One of the city gates was called “Veitstor” or Vitus Gate. Today it is the “Adlerapotheke” pharmacy. In 1802, the churches closed and the buildings were demolished.
Rahewin was the monastery’s most famous provost. He served as secretary to Bishop Otto I of Freising. Otto was a famous historian. He documented the deeds of Emperor Friedrich Barbarossa. Rahewin completed Otto’s unfinished work.
St. Vitus is often depicted as a boy or youth. He is nobly dressed with curly hair. He often wears a cap or hat. As patron saint of Saxony and Bohemia, he sometimes wears an ermine cloak. He is pictured with orb and crown. However, before the 14th century, he was only shown with palm and sword. Some depictions show his martyrdom. He sits unclothed in a cauldron. Sometimes a cockerel, lion or eagle are present. He appears in many city and municipal coats of arms.
He is one of the Fourteen Holy Helpers. People invoke him for illnesses like epilepsy and rabies. He is also considered the patron saint of beer brewers and vintners. He also protects pharmacists and miners. His feast day is on June 15. This was the longest day of the year according to the Julian calendar. The brewers have a proverb. “Saint Vitus, don’t let it rain, so that we will lack no barley.” So, remember St. Vitus, a saint of faith, healing and even beer.