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Beatus Caves, Switzerland

The Beatus caves are situated high above Lake Thun. The limestone cave system is a natural wonder millions of years old. Legends state that a murderous dragon lived in a large cave at Lake Thun roughly 1,900 years ago which devastated the lives of the local Swiss population. He could shoot lasers of fire from his blazing eyes. The tragedy continued until Beatus of Lungern, a monk who lived around 100 AD, stepped ahead to slay the almighty dragon. He held his cross up to the terrifying monster and mustered the Holy Trinity. Afterward, the dragon is said to run down the cliff and throw himself into Lake Thun. The clear water then rose and boiled in a flash as a result.

 

Beatus of Lungern, known also by the honorific Apostle of Switzerland, was probably a legendary monk and hermit of early Christianity, and is revered as a saint. While legend claims that he was the son of a Scottish king, other legends place his birth in Ireland. Beatus was a convert, baptized in England by Saint Barnabas. He was allegedly ordained a priest in Rome by Saint Peter the Apostle, whereupon he was sent with a companion named Achates to evangelize the tribe of the Helvetii (Helvetians), a Celtic tribe or tribal confederation occupying most of the Swiss plateau at the time of their contact with the Roman Republic in the 1st century BC. St. Beatus died at an old age in 112 CE.

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Uploaded on August 22, 2023
Taken on August 18, 2023