St. Martin of Tours - Philipsburg, Sint Maarten
Posted by: 
denben
N 18° 01.383 W 063° 02.719
20Q E 495203 N 1992736
The statue of St. Martin of Tours is located on the grounds of the St. Martin of Tours Catholic Church in Philipsburg, Sint Maarten.
Waymark Code: WMNE73
Location: Sint Maarten
Date Posted: 02/26/2015
Views: 6
"In the 15th century, Christopher Columbus sailed the Caribbean Sea and on November 11, 1493 reportedly gave the name of St. Martin to the island. Columbus chose the name since, according to the liturgical calendar of the Roman Catholic Church, it was the feast day of St. Martin of Tours, France, who lived from the year 317 to 398. It is not surprising, therefore, that in 1841 when the Catholic Church was established on the Dutch side of the island, it was named St. Martin of Tours." (
visit link)
The statue shows Saint Martin wearing the bishop costume with the mitre and the pectoral cross, and holding a crosier in his right hand. A plaque at the base of the statue reads:
"St. Martin of Tours / Bishop / 371 - 397"
The inscription on a plaque next to the statue says:
"The life of St. Martin / Saint Martin was born in A.D. 316 in Hungary of a Roman Cavalry officer and non Christian mother. A catechumen at age 10, he entered the military at 15, with the episode of the cloak and beggar occuring when 18. Baptism followed and he left the military at age 20. A fierce opponent of the Arian heresy he became a hermit, monk, and evangllizer in northern and western France. After appointment as Bishop in 371 he established the great monastery at Tours which became a major site of pilgrimage. This statue is dedicated at the parish of St. Maarten of Tours, Philipsburg, St. Maarten. In the service of God he now offers the cloak of God's Grace to us. / 11 Nov. 2012"