Phallic saint

Phallic saintsare representations ofsaintsor localdeitieswho are invoked forfertility.The representations of thephallusare benevolent symbols of prolificacy and reproductive fruitfulness, and objects of reverence and worship especially among barren women and young girls.

The feet of the statue of Saint Guénolé (Winwaloe, Guignolé), in a chapel ofPrigny(Loire-Atlantique), are pierced with needles by local girls who hope to find their soulmates in this way.

Description

Phallic saints are representations of actualsaintsor localdeitieswho are invoked forfertility.More thanvulgarrepresentations of thephallus,phallic saints are benevolent symbols ofprolificacyand reproductive fruitfulness, and objects of reverence and especial worship among barren women and young girls.

The phallic Deities of the Slavic godhood include Yarilo (Yarila, Western Slav. Yarovit, Gerovit, Serbian-Croatian Јarilo) - God awakening nature. His name comes from the root yar - "ardent, frantic, strong" and is associated with ideas about spring fertility. Wed: rus. ardent, spring, ukr. yarny "spring", yarny "spring, young, full of energy, passionate." The Slavic verb yariti has the meaning "to have sexual intercourse." One of the hymns, written on behalf of Yaril himself, says: "I covered the plains with grass and trees with foliage. I bring crops to the fields and offspring to livestock".

Association

Many are legitimate saints who acquired theirpriapicattributes through the process offolk etymology.Sir William Hamilton(1730–1803)reported that, among the wax representations of body parts then presented as offerings toCosmas and DamianatIsernia,nearNaples,on their feast day, those of thepenisare the most common.Hamiliton's observations ledRichard Payne Knightto write hisAccount of the Remains of the Worship of Priapus,in which he reproduced examples of theeffigies.

List of phallic saints

• Ters, or St. Ters, ofAntwerp,whose cult was reported on byJohannes Goropius Becanus.He was also named Semini or God Jumenas.
• SaintsCosmas and Damian,twin physicians, one of whose cult-centers wasIsernia,in Italy.
• Saint Guignolé(Winwaloe), firstAbbot of Landévennec,who acquired his priapic status by confusion of his name withgignere(Fr.engendrer,"to beget" ).His shrine was not destroyed until 1793.
• Saint Foutin,by assimilation of the name ofPothin (Pothinus),firstbishop of Lyon,to the verbfoutre( “tofuck”).People worshipped the phallus of St. Foutin by pouring wine on it.
• Saint Guerlichon(Greluchon) atBourg-Dieu.
• Saint Giles(Aegidius) atCotentin.
• Saint ReneinAnjou(by confusion withreins,"kidneys"- once believed to be the seat of sexual power).

See also

• Christianity and sexuality
• St. Priapus Church
• Folk saint
• Military saint
• Secular saint