Saint Genevieve was born in 421 in the town of Nanterre, 7 km from Paris, where her family had a small plot of land.  As it is written in the ancient chronicle of the XI century, "she was neither from counts nor from kings, but she was the daughter of a citizen, this girl." When Genevieve was twelve years old, the Bishop of Auxerre, St. Herman, and the bishop of Troyes, St. Loup, arrived in Nanterre. In the crowd, Saint Herman immediately singled out an inconspicuous girl, kissed her on the forehead and predicted a glorious future for her. Genevieve replied that she wanted only one thing: to live a life of purity of flesh and spirit, devoting herself to the Lord.
Soon after the pastors left, the girl went to church, but her mother would not let her in, citing household chores. When the girl reminded her mother of her promise to be the bride of Christ, she slapped her in the face and immediately went blind. Only twenty-one months later, the mother, realizing that she was resisting God's will, asked her daughter for forgiveness. Genevieve, deeply suffering for her mother, immediately went to get water and, crossing her, with tears in her eyes, let her mother wash. After three ablutions, the woman's eyesight completely returned. This was the first miracle performed by Genevieve through her prayer to the Lord.
As soon as the girl turned 14, she came to St. Bishop Markell to perform the rite of consecration to the Lord. At that time, there were already women's monasteries in Gaul, but many of Christ's brides continued to live in the world, following a vow of celibacy. So it is with St. Peter. Genevieve lived with the family until she lost her father and mother overnight.
Orphaned, the girl moved to Lutetia (Paris) to live with her godmother. Here she was struck by a serious illness – for three days Genevieve lay motionless, unconscious. When she came to her senses, she told her godmother that she had been honored to visit the places of bliss that the Lord had prepared for the righteous. "These beatitudes are such that the infidels would not believe me if I described them." From that day on, Genevieve discovered the gift of foresight.
From the age of fifteen, the ascetic led a strict fasting life, eating bread and beans only twice a week. Her hours-long prayers were often accompanied by contrite tears, and on Sunday, prayer stands lasted all night. 
Saint Genevieve was twenty-eight years old when the Hun chieftain Atilla invaded Gaul. A terrible danger loomed over Paris, the Parisians were preparing to flee, but the saint urged the townspeople not to leave their homes. And a miracle happened: Attila suddenly moved away, circling Paris in a wide arc. The city through the prayer of St. Genevieve was saved. But those who did not listen to the saint, fled, found themselves in the enemy's camp and were destroyed.
The whole long life of the ascetic is marked by a great many merciful deeds. Slaves, prisoners, prisoners of war – all the unfortunate people saw in her face their intercessor. How many times has St. Genevieve asked King Hildric for them! And he couldn't refuse her, even though he was a pagan. But one Christian, despite the pleas of St. Genevieve, did not want to forgive his guilty slave. When he returned home, he came down with a severe fever. Barely waiting for morning, the unfortunate man came back to the saint, fell at her feet and wholeheartedly repented of his cruelty. Thanks to the intercession of St. Genevieve before the Lord, everything ended well: The slave was forgiven, and the master was healed.
Tradition tells us that the saint often made pilgrimages to Saint Denis, Tours, and Orleans to pray at the relics of St. Dionysius, St. Martin, and St. Agnes, whom she greatly revered. During these trips to St. The sick and the maimed flocked to Genevieve with the hope of healing. And a miracle happened: many immediately recovered their health through the prayers of the saint.
At that time, in the desert, in the East, there lived the great ascetic Simeon Stylites, who was often visited by Parisian merchants, since the trade route from west to east passed not far from the place of the hermit's feat. From the visitors, St. Simeon learned about the life of the Christian Church and the deeds of St. Genevieve. Each time, with reverence, he conveyed his greetings to the holy virgin and asked for her prayers. This established a special spiritual bond between the two great ascetics, which testified to the unity of the Church of Christ in the East and West at that time.
Saint Genevieve also shared great spiritual friendship with the young Queen Clotilde, who found herself surrounded by pagans at the court of King Clovis– Hildric's son. In the holy ascetic, the queen found not only solace and support, but also a great example to follow. 
This friendship was reflected in the entire future of France. In 498, King Clovis, who had worshiped the pagan gods for a long time, was baptized, mainly under the influence of his wife and Saint Genevieve. They also became the king's advisers in the establishment of the first Christian state in the West.
The authority of St. Genevieve's court was so great that first Clovis' sister and then his daughter took vows of celibacy and, like a saint, devoted their lives to God. Throughout her life, the ascetic herself pacified, protected and enlightened the then semi-pagan Gaul with her holiness.