His life

Saint Gallus was an Irish monk and missionary. He lived from around 550 to 640 AD and was a disciple of Saint Columban.

Together, the two travelled from Ireland via Gaul to Alemannia. Their aim was to spread the Christian faith. Following a dispute between Columban and the secular rulers, Gallus remained behind at Lake Constance around 612. He settled as a hermit near what is now St. Gallen.

There he founded a hermitage. Pupils and disciples gathered around him, and this hermitage later grew into the famous Abbey of St Gallen. Gallus lived a simple and ascetic life: his days were filled with prayer and work. He died on 16 October around the year 640, shortly after his final sermon in Arbon. Kriens still celebrates this commemorative day to this day.