St. Onuphrius (also known as Onouphrius of Egypt; Onuphrius;
Onofrio; Onofre; Humphrey; Onuphrius the Great). St. Onuphrius lived for
70 years as a hermit in the desert near Thebais, Upper Egypt. He lived
on the fruits of a date palm-tree that grew near his cell. He wore nothing,
but a loin-cloth of leaves and closed his body with his abundant hair.
His cult was popular in the Middle Ages, initially with monks, and
then in general. St. Onuphrius died c.400 and was buried by St. Paphnutius
who had come to him to learn if the hermit's life was for him. A hole in
the mountain, where St. Onuphrius was buried, immediately disappeared.
St. Onuphrius is a patron saint of weavers. In fine arts he is usually
depicted as an old man dressed only in long hair and a loincloth of leaves;
hermit with an angel bringing him the Eucharist or bread; hermit being
buried by two lions (his story was sometimes confused with Saint
Jerome's).
See: Jusepe de Ribera. Saint
Onuphrius.
Recommended reading:
The
Book of Saints: The Lives of the Saints According to the Liturgical Calendar
by George Angelini, Victor Hoagland (Editor). Regina Press, Malhame &
Company, 1986.
365
Saints: Your Daily Guide to the Wisdom and Wonder of Their Lives
by Woodeene Koenig-Brick (Author). Harper SanFrancisco, 1995.
Lives
of the Saints: From Mary and Francis of Assisi to John XXIII and Mother
Teresa by Richard McBrien (Author). Harper San Francisco, 2001.