Julian the Hospitaller

History and patronage The earliest known reference to Julian dates to the late twelfth century.

There are three main theories of his origin: Born in Le Mans, France (possibly from confusion with Saint Julian of Le Mans) Born in Ath, Belgium, around 7 AD Born in Naples, Italy

The location of the hospitals built by him is also debated between the banks of the River Gardon in Provence and an island near the River Potenza heading to Macerata.

The Pater Noster (The Our Father, or Lord's Prayer) of Saint Julian can be found as early as 1353 in Boccaccio's Decameron, and is still passed on by word of mouth throughout some places in Italy. The account is included the 13th-century Legenda Aurea by the Genoan Jacobus de Voragine, a Dominican priest. Beautiful stained glass depicting Saint Julian by an unknown artist in Chartres Cathedral also dates back to the 13th century.

Julian returned home and found two people asleep in his bed. Thinking that they were his wife and her lover, he killed them both. When he discovered his mistake, he vowed to spend the rest of his life doing charitable works. He and his wife made a pilgrimage to Rome.

In another pious legend, the devil, disguised as a pilgrim weak from travel, was allowed into the hospice with other travellers. At midnight, the evildoer awoke, wreaked havoc in the house, causing mess and destruction. The following morning Julian saw the damage and swore never to let anyone else into his home. He was so furious he had everyone leave. Jesus went to him, again as a pilgrim, seeking rest. He asked humbly, in the name of God, for shelter. But Julian refused. After recognizing him, Julian retracted his statement and decided to help all those who needed it once again. Subject of an opera by Camille Erlanger, La légende de Saint-Julien l'Hospitalier (1888) based on the Flaubert story. Subject of an opera by Riccardo Zandonai, Giuliano (1928) with libretto by Arturo Rossato, based on stories by Jacobus de Voragine and Gustave Flaubert. Walter Wangerin, Jr. wrote a novel, classified as historical fiction, titled "Saint Julian". One of the tales in Giovanni Boccaccio's Decameron is named The miracle of Saint Julian, and is about a faithful devotee of St Julian whose faith is put to test during a travel. In The Chronicles of Julian, the Hospitaller, a historical fiction set at the turn of the first millennium, St Julian meets the devil throughout his life, leading to an ultimate confrontation at the construction site of the bridge at Borgo a Mozzano, in Lucca, Tuscany. In Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, Gawain gives thanks to Saint Julian when he first finds a castle after his long journey through the wilderness.

Placenames St. Julian's – a town in Malta San Zulian – a church in Venice São Julião – list of placenames in Portugal and Brazil Saint-Julien-le-Pauvre – a 12th-century Gothic church in Paris, built on an earlier 6th-century foundation San Julián – list of placenames in Spanish-speakingor Spanish-influencedareas