Alena
Alena, also known as Alène or Alina, was a Christian saint martyred around 640 AD. Traditionally, she was the daughter of noble pagan parents who secretly converted to Christianity and was martyred for her faith after her father discovered her conversion. She is remembered for her steadfast faith and the miracles attributed to her intercession.
- Feast Day
- 16 June
- Century
- 7th century
- Country Or Region
- Belgium
Key Facts
- ›Alena was martyred around the year 640 AD.
- ›She was born in Dilbeek, Belgium, to noble pagan parents.
- ›She secretly converted to Christianity and was baptized without her parents' knowledge.
- ›She died in prison due to injuries sustained when resisting capture by her father's guards.
- ›Miracles were claimed at her burial site, and her father's subject had his sight restored by invoking her prayers.
- ›Her parents were converted after witnessing miracles and her determined faith.
Alène, Alina, Alena of Forest, Alena of Brussels, Alena of Belgium
Eye Troubles, Toothache
Princess Clinging To A Tree Stump, One Arm Torn Off, Healing A Blind Man, Angel Helping Her
About Alena
Saint Alena, also known as Alène or Alina, is a Christian saint venerated for her martyrdom around the year 640. Her traditional life story, dating to the twelfth century, portrays her as the daughter of noble pagan parents, Levold and Hildegaart, from Dilbeek, Belgium. Alena secretly chose to be baptized and practice Christianity, which led to conflict with her father when he discovered her conversion.
Life and historical context
According to tradition, Alena's father believed she had been bewitched into converting and sent guards to bring her home. During her resistance, she lost an arm, and subsequently died in prison due to her injuries. Miracles were reported at her burial site, including the restoration of sight to Duke Omundus, a subject of her father, who invoked Alena's prayers. An angel is said to have brought her severed arm to the chapel where she worshipped. Witnessing these events and Alena's steadfast faith, her parents were converted to Christianity.
Veneration
The Bishop of Cambrai authorized Abbot Godeschalk of Affligem Abbey to enshrine Alena's remains in the Priory of Forest on Pentecost Sunday, May 19, 1193. This act is considered her canonization. The chapel housing her relics became a popular pilgrimage destination and was incorporated into the parish church of Forest. By the 17th century, her jawbone and upper arm were in the parish church, while other bones, excluding the collarbones, were in a Baroque reliquary at the abbey church. The abbey's suppression in 1796 led to the reliquary being moved near Würzburg, eventually returning to Forest in 1812. The collarbones are preserved in Dilbeek. However, recent analysis of the remains in Forest indicates they are likely from the 9th-10th century and possibly male, casting doubt on their authenticity.
Iconography and Patronage
Alena is depicted in art as a princess, often shown clinging to a tree stump or with one arm severed. She may also be portrayed healing a blind man or with an angel assisting her. She is venerated in Brussels and is invoked for eye troubles and toothache.
Feast Days
Her feast day is observed on various dates, including June 17th (Polish Breviary), June 16th and December 16th (other Polish sources), June 19th (Italy), and June 24th (English language sources). Locally, it is kept on June 16th in the Brabant region of Belgium, and the Antiochian Orthodox Diocese of North America commemorates her on June 18th. She is not listed in the 2004 Roman Martyrology.
Source: Wikipedia ↗
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Saint Alena?
Alena, also known as Alène or Alina, was a Christian saint martyred around 640 AD. She is traditionally depicted as the daughter of noble pagan parents who secretly converted to Christianity.
What is Alena remembered for?
She is primarily remembered for her martyrdom due to her Christian faith. She is also known for the miracles attributed to her intercession, which led to the conversion of her parents and the establishment of her cult.
Where is Alena associated with?
Alena is associated with Forest, Belgium, which is now a municipality of Brussels. She was born in Dilbeek, near Brussels, and died in Forest.
What are Alena's feast days?
Her feast day is celebrated on different dates depending on the tradition. It is given as June 17 in the Polish Breviary, June 19 in Italy, June 24 in English-language sources, and locally on June 16 in the Brabant region of Belgium. The Antiochian Orthodox Diocese of North America commemorates her on June 18.
Are the relics of Saint Alena authentic?
Recent analysis of the remains kept in Forest suggests that they are unlikely to be Alena's relics, with carbon-14 dating indicating a 9th-10th century origin and the bones suggesting a male rather than female body.
Related Saints
Apollonia
Saint Apollonia was a virgin martyr venerated in the early Christian church, known for her martyrdom in Alexandria during a local uprising against Christians. She is popularly regarded as the patroness of dentistry because tradition holds that her teeth were violently pulled out or shattered as part of her torture.
Livinus
Saint Livinus, also known as Livinus of Ghent, was an apostle in Flanders and Brabant, venerated in Catholic tradition. He is remembered for his missionary work and his martyrdom, with his feast day observed on November 12th. Legend attributes his birth to Irish nobility, and his life is intertwined with early Christianization efforts in the Low Countries.
Alice of Schaerbeek
Alice of Schaerbeek was a Cistercian lay sister venerated as the patron saint of the blind and paralyzed. Despite a life marked by intense suffering from leprosy, paralysis, and blindness, she found solace in her faith and the Eucharist. Her biography has been preserved, offering insights into Cistercian spirituality.