Saint Judoc

Saint Judoc, otherwise known as Jodoc, Joyce or Josse (Latin: Iudocus; traditionally c. 600 – 668 AD) was a seventh-century Breton noble considered to be a saint. Judoc was a son of Juthael, King of Brittany. He renounced his wealth and position to become a priest and lived alone for the rest of his lifetime in the coastal forest near the mouth of the River Canche. The name Judoc, meaning "Lord", is the 14th century Breton version of Iudocus in Latin, Josse in French, Jost, Joost, or Joos in Dutch, and Joyce in English. The name Judoc was rarely used after the 14th century except in the Netherlands. According to tradition, Judoc was the son of Juthael, King of Brittany, and the brother of Saint Judicael and Saint Winnoc. In approximately 636, Judoc renounced his inheritance and wealth and embarked on a pilgrimage to Rome. He was ordained as a priest during this journey and became chaplain to the lord of Ponthieu. After seven years, Judoc became a hermit at a place later called Saint-Josse-sur-Mer, where he resided until his death. According to ancient folklore, his body was said to be incorruptible, leaving his followers with the task of continually cutting his hair after death. Saint Judoc developed a local cultus. Built in the eighth century at the place where Judoc's shrine was kept, the Abbey of Saint-Josse was a small monastery situated on the site of his retreat. In 903, some monks of the abbey fled Norman raiders for England, where they bore Judoc's relics, which were enshrined in the newly built New Minster in Winchester. To honor the event, feasts were held on 9 January. The veneration of Judoc spread from France through the Low Countries, England, Germany, and Scandinavia. In these regions, variations of Josse, Joyce, Joos, Joost, and the diminutive Jocelyn, became popular names for both men and women, and a number of chapels and churches were dedicated to him.