Elisabeth of Thuringia, the saint of love
It was one of those winter nights when the cold crept through even the thickest walls. Everything was quiet in the castle in Thuringia, except for the slight creak of a door. Elisabeth, the young landgravine, crept through the snow-covered courtyard with a basket in her hands. Her breath formed little clouds in the icy air, but she didn't let herself be stopped. Under her coat she hid bread that she had taken from the castle kitchen - a gift for the poor who were suffering in the cold.
The narrow paths to the edge of town were dark, and the snow crunched softly beneath their feet. Elisabeth knew the route well, but her heart beat faster every time she left the castle behind her. Her desire for justice was stronger than any fear.
Suddenly she heard the clatter of hooves on frozen ground. A torch bathed the trees in flickering light. Her husband, Landgrave Ludwig, discovered her. "Elisabeth!" he called, and his tone was a mixture of worry and impatience.
She stood there, holding her cloak tighter around her, and waited for him to get off the horse. His eyes rested on her, stern but also full of affection. “What are you hiding there?” he asked, looking at the basket visible under her coat.
Elizabeth hesitated. She knew that her actions did not have the approval of the court, and yet she felt that she was doing the right thing. “Just bread,” she said quietly, her voice trembling with cold and uncertainty.
“Show me,” His gaze sharpened.
Elisabeth slowly opened her coat. The moment the torchlight fell on the basket, something unexpected happened: instead of bread, there lay a bunch of roses, fresh and bright, as if they had just been plucked from a summer garden. Their colors - red, pink, white - shone in the winter night, and a gentle scent rose into the air.
Ludwig took a step back, his eyes wide with astonishment. “Roses? “In winter?” he whispered. Elisabeth lowered her gaze, a gentle smile playing on her lips. “It is the work of God,” she said quietly, “he blesses those who act with love.”
Ludwig looked at her for a long time before nodding. "You have a heart of gold, Elizabeth," he finally murmured. “Go do what you have to do.”
With these words he let her go, and Elisabeth continued on her way. This event, told over the centuries, remained not only a symbol of their charity, but also a testimony to the power of faith and humanity.
Find a modern interpretation of the motif of St. Elizabeth here
Elegant wall art for your home - Elisabeth v. Thuringia picture with real gold
