Born c. 410; died in Normandy, c. 474; today is his feast on the Isle of
Man; in Wales it is kept on July 31 or October 1 (because of the
confusion with another Germanus whose feast was on that day).
Farmer states:
The presence of a number of dedications in North Wales
and Cornwall, sometimes wrongly attributed to Germanus of
Auxerre, together with references to German in Lives of
Celtic saints which are chronologically impossible for
Germanus, has led Celtic scholars to seek at least one
other German to explain them.
Tradition tells us that Saint Germanus was a nephew of Saint Patrick.
We are also told that when
Saint Germanus of Auxerre (f.d. July 31)
visited Britain in 448 AD to refute the Pelagians, he met
an Irish colonist whose son became his disciple and chose his master's
name for himself. Baring-Gould reports that Germanus of Man was born in
Brittany and went to Ireland to work with Saint Patrick.
He was a missionary monk in Ireland, in Wales under Saints
Brioc (f.d. May 1)
and
Illtyd (f.d. November 6),
and Brittany. Germanus left
Brittany to meet Patrick in Britain about 462. There he engaged in a
magic contest with Gwrtheyrn. After that he returned to Ireland (c.
466) eventually to become the bishop of the Isle of Man during the
lifetime of Patrick.
After evangelising in Wales, his name is traced in Spain and Gaul. His
martyrdom is recorded in Normandy. His memory is preserved in place
names, such as Jarman and Gremain, in areas such as Caernavonshire,
Denbighshire, Montgomeryshire, and Radnorshire. His name is also found
in the Acts of Kieran and those of other early Irish saints. Leland
mentions a pilgrimage to Garmon ("Armon") at Llanarmon yn Ial, where
votive offerings were made to a statue in sacerdotal vestments
(
Baring-Gould,
Benedictines,
D'Arcy,
Farmer,
Leland,
Moran).
Troparion of St German tone 2
Nephew of Patrick and missionary in Ireland,/ thou didst spread the
Faith in many lands./ From Wales to Brittany, and thence to the Isle of
Man,/ thou didst glorify Christ wherever thou didst tread./ Pray to
Christ to save our souls.