Statue of Saint Anthony with Pigs (Ellscheid)

The Antoniusweg in Ellscheid starts at the bronze statue of St. Anthony with the cute pigs. Antonius himself is the patron saint of the beautiful place in the Vulkaneifel.

Along the village walk you will find more bronze statues with information boards that tell you the story.

Part of the lovingly designed village circular route

<< Anthony - our patron saint >>
"I was born around 250 AD in Kome (Egypt). Touched by a passage in the Gospel of Matthew (Matthew 19:21), I sold my possessions and became a hermit. Disciples gathered around me and many hermitages were formed So I stood at the beginning of the monastic life and am called “father of monasticism.” The form of monasticism I shaped is based on asceticism and seclusion.
The Order of Antoniter, named after me, preferred to keep pigs, which were allowed to roam freely to care for the poor. The pigs were blessed in church on January 17, later slaughtered and the meat distributed to the poor.
My attributes are pig and beggar's bell. I am the patron of domestic animals, especially pigs.
I am the patron saint of the Ellscheider church. My patronal day is January 17th. Many processions used to go to Ellscheid on this day. The pilgrims asked for protection for their livestock and made a donation in the collection bag. After the Holy Mass they went to relatives and acquaintances for coffee and cake.
On the weekend near St. Anthony's Day, the people of Ellscheid celebrate their fair. The fair Sunday used to be a high feast day. Relatives were invited to the feast. Many fair guests met in the village pub for a morning pint. When dancing, first in the marquee next to Müller Eduard's inn, then in the barracks of the inn 'Weiler', later 'Kalitzki' and then in the community center it was always very busy. It was a good day for the innkeeper. Today there is only dancing in the community center on Saturday evening."
ellscheid-vulkaneifel.de/wcms/ftp//e/ellscheid-vulkaneifel.de/uploads/antonius-unserschutzpatron.pdf