- This event has passed.
And St Fiacre
August 30
Irish hermit, patron saint of horticulturist and those suffering venereal disease. St Fiacre sought ‘exile for Christ’ in the 7th century leaving his native land for France where Bishop St Faro gave him land for a hermitage at Breuil, near Meaux.
St Fiacre was known as a skilful gardener. His cult flourished for many centuries and his devotees included St Vincent de Paul and Anne of Austria.
The place where he lived is now called Saint-Fiacre (Seine et Marne). The hackney carriages which were let for hire were called fiacres because they plied their trade from the Hotel Saint-Fiacres in Paris. The name is still in use to this day.