Stories of this saint made him a well-loved figure in the Middle Ages. Saint Gilles in Southern France, where he built a monastery, was a popular place of pilgrimage. Legend says Giles was Athenian by birth, generous with his family’s wealth, cured a sick beggar by giving him his cloak, and lived as a hermit. After his death he was celebrated for many miracles and named patron of the lame, beggars and blacksmiths. He is one of the 14 Holy Helpers, saints known for response to prayers of petition, especially for the sick.
