Erasmus, St

views updated Jun 11 2018

Erasmus, St 4th-century bishop of Formiae and martyr, also known as St Elmo; he is one of the Fourteen Holy Helpers. His emblem is a windlass; the iconography was later misunderstood, and it was thought to be an instrument of torture with which his intestines were wound out of him. His feast day is 2 June.

The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable ELIZABETH KNOWLES

Elmo, St

views updated May 29 2018

Elmo, St another name for St Erasmus (d. c.300).
St Elmo's fire a phenomenon in which a luminous electrical discharge appears on a ship or aircraft during a storm, regarded as a sign of protection given by St Elmo.

The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable ELIZABETH KNOWLES

Elmo, St

views updated May 11 2018

Elmo, St. The customary name for St Peter González (c.1190–1246), the patron saint of seamen. His ‘fire’ (i.e. electrical discharge on masts of ships) was taken as a sign of his protection. Feast day, 14 Apr.

The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions JOHN BOWKER

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Saint Peter Gonzalez

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