Venerable Martyr
Venerable Martyr Helier (Helerius) of Jersey
ок. 510/520 — †ок. 555
Also known as: Хелье, Хельер
Venerable Martyr Helier (Helerius) of Jersey — a native of Tongeren (modern Belgium), healed of paralysis in his youth and baptized by the presbyter Cunibert, who fled to Normandy after his mentor's murder at his pagan father's hand, and lived for about 15 years as a hermit on a rocky islet off Jersey, converting the local pagans; killed by sea raiders while at prayer; his veneration is confirmed by Orthodox sources (not only Catholic tradition).
The Venerable Martyr Helerius (English Helier, whence "Élie" and the name of Jersey's capital, St. Helier) was born c. 510-520 in Tongeren (modern Belgium) to the pagan nobleman Sigebard. As a child he was healed of paralysis and baptized by the Christian presbyter Cunibert. When his enraged father murdered his mentor, Helier fled to Normandy, where he was further instructed and confirmed in the faith by St. Marculf. He then withdrew to ascetic labor on a rocky islet off the coast of Jersey (c. 535-545), where he spent about 15 years in strict fasting, sleeping on a bare stone ledge, preaching to the pagan islanders, and warning them of pirate raids. He was killed by sea raiders (variously described as Vandals or Saxons) while at prayer, around 555; legend holds that the beheaded saint carried his own severed head to the shore, putting the attackers to flight. Jersey's capital, St. Helier, and the island's coat of arms (bearing two axes) preserve his memory. His veneration is confirmed by dedicated articles on azbyka.ru (in the collection "Lives of Saints Who Shone Forth in European and Other Lands") and pravoslavie.ru.