GILES, ST., who flourished in the 6th or 7th century, is said to have been an Athenian of royal descent. After the death of his parents he distributed his possessions among the poor, and went to Arles. Two years later, he retired to a neighbouring desert, where he was discovered by Flavius, the king of the Goths, who built a monastery and made Giles the first abbot. St. Giles was buried probably in the hermitage which he had founded in a spot which was afterwards the town of St.-Gilles (diocese of Nimes, depart ment of Gard). In 8o8 Charlemagne took the abbey of St.-Gilles under his protection, and it is mentioned among the monasteries from which only prayers for the prince and the State were due. St. Giles is the special patron of lepers, beggars and cripples, and his feast is celebrated on Sept. 1.
See Acta Sanctorum; E. Rembry, Saint Gilles (Bruges, 1880 ; and Butler. Lives of the Saints.