Saint Aegidius Icon (St. Giles) – Orthodox & Catholic Christian Icon of the Hermit Saint, Patron of the Disabled, the Poor & Difficult Confessions.

Icon of Saint Aegidius Icon (St. Giles) 

Venerate the sacred image of Saint Aegidius (also known as Saint Giles, French: Gilles, Italian: Egidio), one of the most beloved hermit saints of the Christian West and one of the revered Fourteen Holy Helpers. This icon depicts the holy abbot in the style of traditional Byzantine iconography — often shown as a bearded hermit accompanied by a hind (female deer) and pierced by an arrow, symbols inseparable from his legendary life of solitude, humility, and divine protection.

Life of Saint Aegidius

Saint Aegidius is reputed to have been born in Athens around the year 640, the son of Theodore and Pelagia. When he was twenty-four, his parents died, and Giles — unconsoled by the pleasures of fashionable life — sold all that he had and gave to the poor in order to follow Christ. He sailed westward, eventually settling in the wilderness of southern France.

He settled near the mouth of the Rhône, spending years in prayer and deep solitude, his sole companion being a beloved deer who, in some accounts, sustained him on her milk. 

While living as a hermit in the woods, a deer chased by a royal hunting party ran to him for refuge. A huntsman shot an arrow at the deer as it fled into the bushes, but the arrow struck and wounded the holy man in the foot instead.  The king, moved by the saint's holiness and humility, offered Giles land as compensation. This gift became the foundation of the famous Benedictine Abbey of Saint-Gilles-du-Gard — a celebrated stop on the pilgrim road from Arles to Santiago de Compostela — spreading the saint's reputation across the Christian world. 

Saint Aegidius was known for his ability to speak to people from all walks of life, from peasants to kings, and for his commitment to providing practical assistance to those in need. He died on September 1st, with the words "Lord, now lettest Thou Thy servant depart in peace." 

Patronage — What Do Christians Pray to Saint Aegidius For?

Saint Aegidius is one of the most wide-ranging intercessors in Christian tradition. Believers turn to him for:

• ♿ The physically disabled and crippled — he became their patron after being wounded by an arrow
• 🙏 Difficult or shameful confessions — a legend tells that King Charles Martel, fearing to confess a grave sin, presented himself before St. Giles during Mass; an angel placed a scroll on the altar on which the sin was written, and as the Mass progressed the writing faded until it disappeared — this story led to St. Giles being invoked for help with difficult confessions 
• 🤱 Nursing mothers and breastfeeding — as the deer nursed the saint, he is invoked by mothers
• 🏚️ Beggars, lepers, and the marginalized — he devoted his life to those cast aside by society
• 👶 Children's fears and night terrors — he is invoked against childhood fears and convulsions, particularly in Normandy 
• 🎗️ Cancer and serious illness — numbered among the Holy Helpers, he is called upon by the gravely ill
• 🌿 Hermits, outcasts, and those in solitude — he is a spiritual companion for those who feel alone
• 🐾 Protection of animals — his legendary bond with the deer made him a patron of wildlife

Feast Day

The feast day of Saint Aegidius is celebrated on September 1st

Legacy & Influence

Saint Aegidius has over one hundred and sixty churches dedicated to him in England alone. He is also the patron saint of the city of Edinburgh, Scotland, where St. Giles' Cathedral is a prominent landmark.  His spiritual legacy also inspired the Community of Sant'Egidio, a lay movement of prayer, inter-religious dialogue, and charity founded in Rome in 1968 , which continues his mission to the poor to this day.

🖼 Product Features

Each icon in our workshop is made to last a lifetime and beyond. The image is printed with rich, fade-resistant pigment inks on a premium solid-core wood panel — then hand-finished with a natural beeswax coating that deepens the colors, protects the surface, and gives each piece the warm, reverent quality of a traditionally crafted sacred object. A metal hanging hook is included on the back, so your icon is ready to display the moment it arrives.

• Crafted on a premium wood panel — 1.6 cm (0.6") thick, sturdy yet lightweight
• Fade-resistant pigment print — rich, true-to-life colors that last for generations
• Natural beeswax finish — hand-applied for depth, protection, and a traditional feel
• Ready to hang — metal hook pre-attached on the reverse
• Hand-finished by Orthodox Christian artisans in Portugal

📏 Available Sizes

• Small – 12 x 15 cm (5” x 6”)
• Medium – 23 x 30 cm (9” x 12”)
• Large – 30 x 39 cm (12” x 15”)

🎁 Perfect For

• Meaningful Orthodox Christian gifts
• Housewarming and family blessings
• Prayer corners and devotional spaces
• Baptisms, name days, weddings, and feast days

🌍 Worldwide Delivery

Securely packed and shipped worldwide from Portugal with tracking.

✨ Crafted with Tradition

Each icon is carefully made by Orthodox Christian artisans in Portugal — created to become a lasting blessing for your home or a treasured gift for someone you love.