Venerable Columbanus the Younger († 615)

With twelve students - including Gallus - Columbanus set put from the Irish monastery of Bangor to France. There they were able to found the monasteries of Luxeuil, Annegray and Fontaines, but had to move on because of disagreements with secular and ecclesiastical authorities. They had to abort their planned return to Ireland because of a storm. Instead, they went to Switzerland and christianized Tuggen on Lake Zurich and Bregenz on Lake Constance. In 612, Columbanus and his students moved on to Northern Italy, where he founded the Bobbio Monastery. His feast day is November 23 (December 6).

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Troparion (Tone 5): Ireland may boast, O venerable Columbanus, of having born and nurtured you  and witnessed your first ascetic struggles. The French lands rejoice greatly in you, for you adorned them with cloisters as with a diadem of precious stones. Switzerland glorifies you, enlightened by your disciples. With them the Italian lands unite in chorus to celebrate your honored memory, for from their midst you passed into the heavenly homeland.

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Venerable Magnus (also: Maginold or Magnoald), apostle of the Allgäu († 650)

Magnus was a devoted disciple of St Gallus and was believed to be of Iro-Scottish descent. After Gallus, he is considered the second abbot of the monastery in St. Gallen. He is credited wioth enlarging pastoral care in his region. He is also referred to as the apostle and patron saint of the Allgäu. There is an arm relic of the venerable Magnus in St. Gallen. His veneration as a saint and miracle worker spread to Switzerland and southern Germany. His memorial day is September 6 (19).

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Troparion (Tone 3): As a devout disciple of Saint Gallus in Swabia, you became an impeccable athlete of ascesis in sermon, prayer and fasting. You founded the monastery in Füssen before you passed away peacefully in heaven. Holy Magnus, pray Christ our Lord that He save our souls.

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Venerable Martyr Eusebius von Rankweil († 884)

Eusebius was from Ireland. He came to St. Gallen as a pilgrim and settled there as a monk in the Benedictine monastery. He later lived as a hermit on what is now Viktorsberg near Feldkirch for 30 years. He had the gift of clairvoyance and prophecy. He worked miracles and healed the sick. Also, Emperor Charles III. got advice from him. His memorial day is January 31 (February 13).

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Troparion (5th tone): You came from Ireland to preach the gospel, became a monk in Sankt Gallen and moved on to Viktorsberg as a hermit. There you denounced the vices of the residents, and instead of reforming, they helped you to martyrdom. Saint Eusebius, pray to God to have mercy on our souls.

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Venerable Gall, enlightener of Switzerland († 646)

When Columbanus moved on to northern Italy with his students, Gallus stayed behind probably because of a dispute. Saint Columbanus imposed a ban on preaching and liturgy on Gallus, which Gallus strictly adhered to during his teacher's lifetime. At the place of today's Abbey of Saint Gall, Gall and Magnus built a hermitage. Because of his charity, love of nature - he was friends with a bear - and miracles, Gallus was highly regarded by the people. It is also said that he was the first missionary in Central Europe who preached in the vernacular. In old age, Columbanus was reconciled with his pupil, allowing him to resume priestly activity by sending his abbot's staff. Gallus went to Arbon, where he died after his first sermon. His relics are in the monastery church of St. Gallen. His feast day is October 16 (29).

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Troparion (Tone 4): You proclaimed with the prophet, O Gallus: I lifted up my eyes to the mountains, from which comes my help. Thus rang out your prayers and hymns over the mountains of Switzerland, sending down streams of grace to those who dwell in their midst. O venerable father, ask him who made the mountains that our souls find grace.

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More prayers to Ven. Gallus and all venerable Sankt Gallen

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Place of pilgrimage: Sankt Gallen

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Venerable Tutilo (also: Tutelo or Tuotilo) of St. Gallen († 913)

Tutilo was a monk in the monastery of St. Gallen - brother of Notker the Stammerer - and a gifted artist - painter, poet, goldsmith and musician - who put his gift into the service of God and his fellow human beings into his old age. His ivory carvings on the Gospel Longum and his compositions survive to this day. Many prayers were answered at his grave in the monastery church. His feast day is April 27 (May 10).

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Troparion (5th tone): A man of many gifts, you left the world to follow the narrow path of the gospel. You became a monk in the Abbey of Saint Gall and put your numerous talents at the service of the Master of souls before you found your soul again in His holy realm. Holy Tutilo, ask Christ to save our souls!

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Place of pilgrimage: Sankt Gallen

Venerable Otmar of St. Gallen († 759)

Otmar came from Goldach and was of Alemannic origin. He was tasked to rebuild Gallus' neglected cell, thus founding the monastery of St. Gall in 719. Soon after, the monastery experienced strong growth. In addition to his monastic building activities, Otmar took great care of the sick and needy and founded the first hospital in what is now Switzerland. When the Duchy of Alemannia was finally taken over by the Franks in 746, there were disputes about the monastery's land ownership. Slandered by his opponents, Otmar was convicted and banished to the island of Werd near Stein am Rhein, where he died. His relicts were later returned to St. Gallen. Many miracles followed at his grave.  His feast day is November 16 (29).

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Troparion (Tone 4): You were a priest of the church of St. Florin before you became abbot in Saint Gall. You despised the riches of this vain world. You fell victim to slander, and in exile you closed your life that was centred only on the Lord. Saint Otmar, entreat Christ our God to save our souls!

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Place of pilgrimage: Sankt Gallen

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Venerable Notker the Stammler († 912)

The humorous Notker came from a noble family in Jonschwil. Because he was born with a tooth defect, he could not speak clearly. He became a monk in Saint Gall and later head of the monastery school. Notker was the most important spiritual poet of the Middle Ages, who revolutionized poetry and wrote and composed many excellent works. In this way, he initiated the cultural flowering of his monastery, to which his confreres Tutilo and Rapert also contributed. From the 8th to the 11th century, the St. Gallen Monastery was one of the most important cultural centres in the West. His memorial day is April 6 (19).

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Troparion (2nd tone): As a devout monk of the holy abbey of Saint Gal you led a virtuous Christian life. Immersed in prayer, ascesis and song, you enriched the Church with your music and with the prayers you composed for her. Holy Notker, pray to God to save our souls!

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Place of pilgrimage: Sankt Gallen