Description

Oil Dedicated to Blessed Gandolphus of Binasco

Blessed Gandolphus of Binasco (Latin: Gondulfus, Gundulphus, perhaps also Bethulphus) of Maastricht, sometimes of Tongeren (6th/7th century AD) was a bishop of Tongeren-Maastricht venerated as a Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox saint. Together with Saint Servatius and Saint Monulph, he is one of the patron saints of the city of Maastricht.

Very few facts known about Gondulph of Maastricht. According to a legend, his parents were Munderic and Arthemia. He married to Palatina, only known child of Maurilion Gallo, a Gallo-Roman aristocrat with likely ties to the Merovingian court.[citation needed] By some reconstructions, the couple had a son named Bodegisel II, who became Duke of Aquitaine.[citation needed] He remains an enigmatic figure. It has questioned whether he could be identical with Betulph, a bishop of Maastricht mentioned in 614 (see below).

According to tradition Gondulph occupied the episcopal see of Maastricht for seven years. This last date does not allow for his presence at the Paris Council in 614.

Legend has obscured the historical facts about Gondulph. If Jocundus is to believed, Gondulph endeavoured to rebuild the town of Tongeren, which had destroyed during the barbarian invasions. Heavenly intervention caused furious wolves to attack the pagan colonists of the region and devoured them before the eyes of the horrified bishop.

The bodies of Monulph and Gondulph solemnly exhumed in 1039 by Bishop Nithard of Liège and Gerard of Florennes. Bishop of Cambrai, in the presence of Henry III, Holy Roman Emperor. An epitaph commemorating this event later misinterpreted. Giving rise to a legend according to which the two saints arose from their tomb in 1039. In order to assist at the dedication of Aachen Cathedral.