Saint Dymphna’s name in Irish means poetess. Her mother was a pious Christian but her father was a pagan. Her father, Damon, was a king in a region in the north of Ireland called Oriel. In her youth, Saint Dymphna took a vow of chastity.
Unfortunately her mother died when she was still young. After this, there was a change in her father as he sunk into a deep depression. He was encouraged by those close to him to remarry in the hopes that this would improve his dark mood. However, he said he would not marry any woman less beautiful than his wife. After a long search for such a woman, none could meet his exacting standard. As his mental and spiritual health deteriorated, Damon began to be attracted to his own daughter due to her physical similarity to his deceased wife.
Realising his intentions, Saint Dymphna fled Ireland with her priest, Saint Gerebernus. They sailed to continental Europe and arrived in a city called Geel (in Belgium). While there she gave much in charity to the poor and sick. Damon eventually discovered her location and went there himself. He ordered his soldiers to kill Saint Gerebernus. He was martyred and Damon tried to convince Saint Dymphna to return to Ireland but she adamantly refused. Enraged, Damon himself drew his sword and beheaded her. The residents of Geel buried and venerated them.
The site of their tombs healed many from madness. In the 15th century, it attracted pilgrims from all over Europe. A tradition began to allow the people suffering from madness to stay at the homes of the citizens of Geel. They would be encouraged to work and participate in the life of the city and were not looked on with contempt or even as patients. Incredibly this tradition has persisted to the modern day and Geel is infamous for its community driven efforts to heal the mentally and spiritually disturbed.
As the veneration of Saint Dymphna continued in Geel after the Great Schism, she was still a popularly venerated saint during the Flemish Renaissance. It is for this reason, uniquely among Irish saints, that Saint Dymphna is the subject of several masterpiece paintings. Her martyrdom was painted by Jacques de l’Ange and Godfried Maes. Goossen Van der Weyden painted seven paintings depicting her life for an altarpiece. These paintings are included below with captions:
ORTHODOX BLOG 