The Advent of
the feast of St. Ambrose occurs today. St. Ambrose is of particular significance to Plan Bee as he is the patron saint of bees, beekeepers and even candle makers! In his iconography, he is often depicted with bees or a beehive – symbols that also indicate wisdom.
He would lend his name to the Latin term for honey ‘ambrosia’ also used in Greek and Roman mythology to describe the food of the gods. St Ambrose is still referenced today by modern beekeepers, using the term ambrosia to describe the mixture of nectar and pollen prepared by worker bees to feed bee larvae.
Legend has it that when Ambrose was an infant, a swarm of bees settled in his mouth, said to be a sign he would become a great orator. His preaching was reported to ‘sound as sweet as flowing honey’ which earned him the alternative moniker of the ‘Honey-Tongued Doctor’