Patron Saints of Feet

Whilst much of the original meaning may be lost to antiquity and what remains, compounded unfathomly by a myriad of interpretation of the faithful, there remains no doubt the importance the foot and shoe metaphor has played in the Holy Scriptures. Whether by chance or coincidence Christians would protect the feet by the patronage of the holy. Two Saints champion the legs and feet, St Peter (The Apostle) -The Feast of Peter and Paul is June 29th; and Servatus (Servaas, Servatius or Servais). His memorial day is 13 May. Servatus is frequently depicted as a bishop with three wooden shoes.

From early antiquity it would appear, metaphoric reference to feet was an important form of communication in both symbols and language. Despite this, to date, there has been an absence of academic scrutiny to explain this phenomenon. Through the centuries, a plethora of meaning has been attached to the simple metaphor, but which gave greater association to them in the New Testament as the means to the spread of the Gospels. This may, in part, reflect the transition from rural culture and custom of the Old Testament to urbanization and citizenship as reflected when the New Testament was written. Certainly Christians' evangelical need to travel on the path of righteousness would require healthy feet and necessitate the need to take care of them. This would entail protecting them both literally as well as metaphysically. Importance of feet and their association with commitment to faith remains in modern religions. Albeit, the origins for most of the faithful remain clouded. True meaning has probably been lost within translations and the plethora of interpretation made by the devout, yet despite this, feet metaphors remain popular within common English vernacular and can describe human behaviour from the cradle to the grave. The origins of which appear to have derived, or are at least have been reflected, within the Holy Scriptures.

In the beginning was - the feet!

Origins of the Red Carpet

Ceremonially, rolling out of the Red Carpet metaphorically represents the following the path of righteousness.


'your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.'
Psalms 119: 105 NIV



In the Old Testament nimble footedness was an image applied to a life of righteousness and obedience to God. Fleet of foot metaphorically guaranteed treading the path of righteousness and giving thanks to God for sure footedness was accepted. This meant there was value given to feet being ambulant.



'Hold up my goings in thy paths, that my footsteps slip not.'
Ps 17:5



God's providence was said to guard the feet of his saints.


'He will keep the feet of his saints, and the wicked shall be silent in darkness; for the strength shall no man prevail.'
1 Sam 2:9



The feet of the faithful, were also the concern of the Lord.

'They shall bear thee up in their hands , lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.'
Psalms 91: 13-15



Reference was made to the path as well was as walking on level ground.


'My foot standeth in an even place: in the congregations will I bless the Lord.'
Ps 26:12


'Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established.'
Prov 4:26


'And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way ; but let it rather be healed.'
Heb 12:13



Open blessing were requested in prayers that feet would not stray.


'Our heart is not turned back, neither have our steps declined from thy way.'
Ps 44:18


'I have refrained my feet from every evil way, that I might keep thy word.'
Ps 119:101


'An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief.'
Prov 6:18



Nor rush into sin.


'He that is`ready to slip with his feet is as a lamp despised in the thought of him that is at ease.'
Job 12:5


'Let not the foot of pride come against me, and let not the hand of the wicked remove me.'
Ps 36:11


'For thou has delivered my soul from death : wilt not thou deliver my feet from falling, that I may walk before God in the light of the living?'
Ps 56: 13


'For thy feet run to evil, and make haste to shed blood.'
Prov 1:16


'Their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed innocent blood: their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity ; wasting and destruction are in their paths.'
Is 59: 7


'They have loved to wander, they have not refrained their feet, therefore the Lord doth not accept them ;'
Jer 14:10



In the New Testament feet were not, by themselves, endearing. They were but an integral part of the human body of no more or less importance than any other. However it would be accurate to note the feet were used as a metaphor in the Holy Scriptures more frequently than other parts of the body.


'If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body ; is it therefore not of the body?'
1 Cor 12:15


'And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee : nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you.'
1 Cor 12:21



Strong emphasis was placed on the strength of feet to spread the gospel.


'The Messiah will guide feet into the way of peace.'
Luke 1:79



When the message was rejected the bearers of the gospel were to shake the dust off their feet as a sign of protest and refuse to have anything to do with the place.


'And whoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of the house or city, shake off the dust of your feet.'
Matthew 10:14


'But they shook off the dust of their feet against them , and came unto Iconium.'
Acts 13: 51

A précis on clerical foot kissing

Proskunew describes a Persian custom which involved kneeling and putting the face to the ground. This sometimes involved kissing the ground. Taken as the act of submission, respect, gratitude, supplication, neediness, and humility. This was used on all sorts of occasions. Thought to have originated as a non-verbal greeting where men of equal rank would kiss each other on the lips. An inferior kissed his superior on the cheeks, and where one was much less noble rank than the other, he fell to the ground in homage. Considered to have become ritualized at the oriental courts, depending on rank, visitors would prostrate themselves, kneel in front of, bow for, or blow a kiss to the king. There may have been practical reasons for blowing a kiss as halitosis was thought to be common. Magicians would use the same technique in order to prevent contamination of the sacred fire. Alexander the Great (327) spread his empire to incorporate others and naturally took Iranians to serve at his court. To win his or her respect and support he had to act like a Persian king, and ordered everybody to behave according to the oriental court ritual. The court custom, caused consternation amongst the Greeks as prostration, bowing or kneeling, to anyone other than the Gods was unacceptable. Despite violent opposition it is not clear whether Alexander the Great's attempt at cultural infliction, succeeded. However, proskynesis was commonly practiced at the courts of his successors and remnants remain today occidentals, still bow for kings and queens. By the time of the Old Testament the custom had passed in judicial behaviour and when an accused was brought before the judge, he lay prostrate. If found guilty, the judge would place his foot on their neck. If innocent the judge would stoop over and lift their face with his hand. Lifting the face was a Hebrew concept, which equalled a declaration of innocence in a judicial, proceeding. When Muslims bow towards Mecca this is another reference to proskynesis and by contrast the posture of early Christian worship. was standing. According to Brasch (1989), kissing the feet was a gesture of homage and deference, far removed from its erotic roots. Millions of pilgrims with loving pressure have worn down the feet of the statue of Saint Paul in Rome with their lips. At the beginning of the Holy Roman Empire it was the custom for the faithful to kiss the right hand of the Papal Father. In the eighth century, a rather passionate woman took liberties and according to legend, the Pope cut off his hand in disgust. The custom of kissing the Pope's right foot was adapted as more appropriate. Pope Innocent III (1198-1216) had kings and churchmen kiss his feet. Today the act of homage involves kissing the Pontiff's right shoe. Lips are aimed at the cross-depicted on the shoe and the act is either taken as a tribute to his authority or the simulation of servitude.

From footwashing to Maundy Money

Foot washing is still practiced in one form or other throughout the world on the Thursday before Good Friday. Popes, religious leaders, and monarchs all have honoured the commitment to faith and humanity. The ceremony was often accompanied with the distribution of alms in the form of food and drink, cloth and money. In the UK, up until 1689, during the reign of William & Mary, the reigning monarchs personally washed the feet of the selected poor. Foot cleaning was however replaced by specially minted coins, called Maundy Money. To this day the custom is still celebrated on the day before Good Friday. The reigning monarch distributes specially minted money to the poor. A man and woman to represent each year of the monarch's life are chosen and given the special coins in a church. The specially minted coinage is worth much more than the coin's face value.

Foot washing at the Last Supper (Feast of the Passover)

It was at the Feast of the Passover, (or last supper), Jesus dramatically subverted the symbolism by washing his disciple's feet.


'(He) rose from supper, laid aside his garments, and girded himself with a towel. Then he poured water into a basin , and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel which he was girded.'
John 13: 4,5



'I have done this to give you an example of something that you should do.'



Christ's action has been generally interpreted as a demonstration that service rather than status would represent greatness in the Kingdom of Heaven. Also by this action he prepared his disciples (and their converts) to walk in the path of righteousness.



'If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet, ye also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example , that ye should do as I have done to you.'
John 13: 14,15

The ceremony of footwashing

In Biblical times shoes were made from animal skins which were difficult to clean. This may explain why shoes came to represent all that was unclean to the agricultural societies of the Old Testament. These emblems of filth were left outside homes and considered quite unsuitable for holy places. Feet encased in footwear required to be purified and this responsibility usually fell to the lowest house servant. Baring feet signified the status of an honored guest and washing feet put them at ease and comfort not to mention kept floors and bedding clean. Foot washing was viewed as an honor or service and became a common Jewish custom and at banquets. This took place either on arrival or before the feast.


'Let a little water, I pray you, be fetched, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree:'
Gen 18:4


'And the man came into the house : and he ungirded his camels, and gave straw and provender for the camels, and water to wash his feet, and the men's feet that were with him.'
Gen 24:32


'So he brought him into his house, and gave provender unto the asses : and they washed their feet, and did eat and drink.'
Judge 19:21


'And she rose, and bowed herself on her face to the earth, and said, Behold, let thine handmade be a servant to wash the feet of the servants of my lord.'
1 Sam 25: 41


When anyone other than the lowest servant took to wash another's feet this was taken as an act of humility, a mark of respect or deliberate self-humiliation.



'Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I was thee not, thou hast no part with me.'
John 13:8



In feet washing ceremonies marking the toe with blood or oil symbolized either consecration or the cleansing of the entire person.




'And the priest shall take some of the blood of the trespass offering, and the priest shall put it upon the tip of the right ear of him that is to be cleansed, and upon the thumb of his right hand, and upon the great toe of the right foot:'
Lev 14 :14 - 28



This ritual was considered important before priests could enter God's presence.



'For Aaron and his sons shall wash their hands and their feet thereat:'
Ex 30:19



The prospect of wealth was also described as bathing feet in oil.



'And of Asher he said, Let Asher be blessed with children; let him be acceptable to his brethren, and let him dip his foot in oil.'
Duet 33:24




Mary Magdalane washed the feet of Christ with her tears and dried them with her hair, and anointed them with expensive ointment. For this token of devotion, Christ forgave her sins then proceeded to remind his host that he had not been extended the same courtesy as would be appropriate to a welcome guest.




'And stood at his feet behind him , and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with ointment.'
Luke 7.38

And did those feet....:The Meaning of Feet

Pilgrims carrying the good news of God's Salvation had beautiful feet.


'How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publish salvation; that saith unto Zion, The God reigneth!'
Is 52: 7


'Behold upon the mountains the feet of him that bringeth good tidings that publisheth peace!'
Nahum 1:15


By the New Testament those spreading the Gospels wore sandals.


'And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;'
Ephesians 6:15


The ancient custom of falling voluntary at another's feet was taken as a mark of reverence.


'And I fell at his feet'
1 Sam 25: 24


'And Esther spake yet again before the king, and fell down at his feet..'
Esher 8:3.


Many who met Jesus were described to fall to their feet.


'And, behold, there cometh one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name; and when he saw him, he fell at his feet.'
Mk 5:22



'And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead.'
Rev 1:17



Taking hold of the feet of another was considered an act of prayer.

'And when she came to the man of God to the hill, she caught him by the feet'
2 Kings 4:27


'And they came and held him by the feet, and worshipped him.'
Mt 28:9


The action of touching a heel had profound meaning.


'And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed ; it shall bruise thy head , and thou shalt bruise his heel.'
Genesis 4:15


Jacob meant 'one who grabs the heel' or 'heel god' in Hebrew.


'He took his brother by the heel in the womb, and by his strength he had power with God:'
Hosea 12:3


'And after that came his brother out, and his hand took hold on Esau's heel: and his name was called Jacob'
Gen 25:26


Images of heels were linked to potential disaster and the vulnerability of humanity.



'The gin shall take him by the heel, and the robber shall prevail against him.'
Job 18:9


By the time of the New Testament, sitting at someone's feet was considered an act of submission and tachability.


'They went out to see what was done; and came to Jesus, and found the man, out of whom the devils were departed, sitting at the feet of Jesus,'
Luke 8:35


'And she had as sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus’ feet and heard his word.'
Luke 10: 39



Spreading the Word of God across the known world would entail travelling. There is direct reference to Jesus Christ in the New Testament saying to his disciples to wear sandals whilst spreading the gospel. Later in the scriptures he is attributed to a statement not to be overburdened with footwear. Most scholars accept the latter to mean to travel light. By implication however as shoes and sandals were the preferred costume of the privileged then perhaps the Disciples were being directed to become more accepted by the higher social strata yet by the same token, not to appear too well attired to offend the poor. If sandals were to play an important role in the beginnings of Christianity then sandal makers and in particular sandal repairers would have a contributory role. Many affluent converts were disinherited from their family's wealth yet compelled to spread the WORD, they needed an income for support themself. Many became sandal makers who worked by night whilst doing God's work during day.