May 23 – St. Desiderius of Langres: Courageous martyr and patron against headaches

On May 23, the Catholic Church honors St. Desiderius of Langres. As a bishop in present-day France, he lived in the 3rd century during a time of great persecution of Christians. During a period of political unrest, Desiderius bravely defended his faith and his community. It is reported that he sacrificed himself to save innocent Christians from execution—an act of deep faith and compassion. He was beheaded and has since been venerated as a martyr.

His depiction usually shows him as a bishop holding a martyr's palm, often with a severed head in his hands—a symbol of his willingness to sacrifice. He is still invoked by many believers today as a patron saint against headaches and brain diseases.

🪵 Holy figure of St. Desiderius of Langres

We don't currently carry a specific figure of St. Desiderius of Langres in our online shop. However, in our category "Wooden Saints" you will find a wide selection of artfully carved saints in the traditional style of Val Gardena woodcarving. We would be happy to accept your request for a custom-made piece via our contact form .