The earliest mention of Saint Mauritius dates back to around the 6th century. Chroniclers refer to the stories of Roman guards, and they, in turn, learned about Mauritius from the bishop of Geneva. The legend of Saint Mauritius has long been considered a reliable fact, although recently the information set out in the annals has become the subject of controversy.
The Legend of Saint Mauritius
History says that at the beginning of the 4th century, the Roman emperor Maximian Galerius was preoccupied with the pacification of Gaul, which rebelled against the rule of Rome. One of the cohorts of the Roman army was recruited in Upper Egypt, in the vicinity of the city of Thebes. By order of the emperor, this legion was sent to rebellious Gaul.
All unit warriors were Christians of their own convictions. He commanded the cohort of Mauritius, who was originally from a Syrian city called Apamea.
Before the start of each battle, the soldiers and their commanders were obliged to make sacrifices to the gods revered in Rome. However, the warriors of Mauritius categorically refused to perform this ritual. The detractors of the military leader immediately made a denunciation to the Roman emperor, which stated that Mauritius and his entourage spread the Christian creed. In addition, the Christian legion refused to take part in the persecution of co-religionists.
