On the facade of the building at Hoogbrugstraat 37, we find Saint Gilis; at least that is what the caption tells us: 17 IN SAINT GILIS HOSPITAL 62. The image is heavily damaged. The story goes that it was cut away during the French occupation. The stone has been recoloured, and the contours of the original relief are now better visible.
Saint Gilles (or Egidius) is probably depicted as a Benedictine abbot with a mitre, staff and book and an arrow in his chest. At his side a doe jumps up to him. A wooden statue of this saint in the Martinuskerk in Wijck was made in the same way.
According to the legend Egidius was a rich Greek from Athens, who divided his possessions among the poor and left for the Provence. There he lived as a hermit and a tame deer provided him with milk.
One day, when the deer sought refuge with the saint from hunters, it was hit by an arrow. As compensation, the leader of the hunt, the king of the Visigoths, offered him a large sum of money, which Gilles used to build a monastery near Nimes.
The building on Hoogbrugstraat is a remnant of the former St. Gilles guesthouse, which according to tradition was founded by the bishops Monulphus and Gondulphus in the 7th century. It bore the name Hospitalis Beati Egidij.
The accompanying chapel was demolished in 1795 due to dilapidation, and the hospital was transformed into a small convent, which accommodated twelve old women who received a weekly allowance in cash and coal. The "kevintsje" was abolished in the third quarter of the 20th century.
St Gilis in the St. Martinus church
Do you have additional information about this stone or a better suggestion for the translation? Please share it with us using the form below. We will carefully evaluate your contribution and keep you informed.
In order to make the funding of running costs possible now and in the future, please support us and register as a donor to our foundation.
Support us
