Saint Germanus of Granfelden

Saint Germanus of Granfelden (c. 612 in Trier – 675 near Moutier) was the first abbot of Moutier-Grandval Abbey. He is venerated as a martyr saint in the Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Churches. The "Life" of Saint Germanus is recounted in the eleventh-century "Passio sancti Germani", which appears in the Vitae et passiones diversorum sanctorum. It was written about 695 by Bobolène, a priest probably of Moutier-Grandval Abbey and later at Luxeuil. It was composed at the request of the religious brothers Chadoal and Aridius, contemporaries of Abbot Germanus. The manuscript of the Vitae is preserved as the Codex Sangallensis 551 ('Codex of Saint-Gall' 551), housed in the Abbey library of Saint Gall. Germanus was the second son of Optardus, a wealthy senator in Trier. His older brother became a courtier, while his younger brother Numerianus eventually succeeded Modoald as Bishop of Trier. Optardus entrusted the young Germanus to Modoald to be educated. At the age of seventeen, Germanus decided to take up the monastic life. He left to join Arnulf of Metz, who had retired from the bishopric of Metz to a hermitage at a mountain site in his domains in the Vosges to become a monk. Germanus stayed for some time with Arnulf who gave him the tonsure and then sent him, with his younger brother Numerian who had come to join him, to the recently founded monastery Remiremont monastery. Driven by a desire for greater perfection, he left with his brother and some religious for Luxeuil. Abbot Waldebert received him, conferred on him the priesthood, then around 640 sent him to organize and govern the monastery of Granfeld (Monasterium Grandis Vallis) or Moutier-Granval, recently founded by Gundoin, Duke of Alsace. Germanus served as abbot for 35 years. His history with Remiremont, Luxeuil, and Granval shows his connection to the network of Columbanian establishments. His contacts with Modoald, Arnulf, and Gundoin suggest he supported the Arnulfings.