The legend reports about a cruel martyrdom of the Bishop of Antiochia in Asia Minor. During the crossing to South Italy by boat he calmed down the sea by his prayer. So he became the patron saint of the sailors in Italy, Spain and Portugal. As a missionary he worked beneficially at Formio situated between Rome and Naples. Under the government of the cruel Emperor Diocletian he died the death of a martyr. Italians call him tenderly San Elmo. During thunderstorms one can observe electric explosions on the mast of a boat called "Elm's fire".
His bones were transferred to Gaeta (Gulf of Naples). There the Cathedral of San Eramo has been built. Matthias Gruenewald created a famous picture. It shows St. Erasmus in the shape of a donor Albrecht von Brandenburg, Archbishop of Mayence and Magdeburg, together with St. Mauritius. Today it is to be seen in the Old Pinakothek of Munich. Lucas Cranach painted St. Erasmus with the castle of Coburg in the background when in his martyrdom his intestines were twisted. A mosaic in St. Peter Rome) shows the same scene above his altar.
| Name: | Erasimos , in Greek: lovable, desirable |
| Day of Commemoration: | June 2nd |
| Native Place: | Asia |
| Year of Death: | about 300 martyred under the government of Emperor Diocletian |
| Distinguishing Feature: | crosier and capstan |
| Particular Patronage: | helper for stomach-ache. Abdominal diseases, patron of sailors and travellers by boat, turners and shoemakers. |
Prayer:St. Erasmus, our life is like a rough sea. We are threatened by tempests of unbelief, by the waves of selfishness, by the whirls of fear, by the darkness of being without hope. Lead the nave of our life safely to the other side, to an eternal life.
