Saint Leontius of Autun (French:Saint Léonce) (d. ca. 430 AD) was a bishop of Autun in Gaul during the fifth century. He is mentioned in the Martyrologium Hieronymianum. He is sometimes confused with the similarly named Saint Leonorius (Saint Leonore, Lunaire)[1] and Leontius of Fréjus who lived around the same time. He is venerated as a saint in the Catholic church, and his feast day is 1 July.
Saint Leontius of Autun | |
|---|---|
| Born | Leontius |
| Residence | Autun, France |
| Died | c. 430 AD Autun, France |
| Venerated in | Roman Catholic Church |
| Feast | July 1 |
| Patronage | Autun, France |
Background
editThere are scant details of Leontius life before he entered the ministry, and almost no documentation.[2] On 1 July, the Martyrologium Hieronymianum has the following listing, "The burial of Leontius, bishop of Autun (Gaul), 5th cent."[3] The chronotaxis of the bishops of Autun show that he was the eighth bishop, serving after Evantius and before Euphronius.[4]
It is believed he was born in Autun, entered the ministry and that he was the bishop of the Diocese of Autun in the 5th century.[2] The diocese comprises what is now the French department of Saone et Loire, in the region of Bourgogne.[5] He was a respected leader within the religious community of Gaul.[2]
Leontius died circa 430 in Autun, and was elevated to sainthood pre-congregation.[6] At the time of his death he was considered a confessor, and it was not uncommon for one who led a virtuous life who had died peacefully to be venerated as a saint.[7][8] More than likely, he was elevated to sainthood by the local bishop.[6] His cult spread throughout the region of Gaul where he lived, and he became a patron saint of Autun.[2]
The French commune, Saint-Lieux-Lafenasse, is named after him (Languedocien: Sant Lionçe La Fenassa).[9]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Holweck, Frederick George (1924). "Leontius C. Bp. of Autun". A Biographical Dictionary of the Saints. p. 505.
- ^ a b c d "Saint Leontius of Autun". Saint for a Minute. Retrieved 24 May 2024.
- ^ "Leontius, bishop of Autun, 5th cent". The Cult of Saints in Late Antiquity. Oxford University.
- ^ Santi Beati. "Leonzio di Autun". Santi Beati (in Italian). Retrieved 2 October 2023.
- ^ "The diocese of Autun". Catholic Encyclopedia.
- ^ a b Watkins, Folo (2014). O Patrónum in Cuius Nomen Gloriae:A Book of Period Saints. Urbana, IL: Folump Enterprises. ISBN 978-1-55680-046-7.
- ^ "Beatification". Catholic Encyclopedia. p. 365.
- ^ Beccari, Camillo (1908). . In Herbermann, Charles (ed.). Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 4. New York: Robert Appleton Company.
- ^ Busquets, Étienne. "Petite Histoire De Saint Lieux Lafenasse". calameo.com (in French). p. 2.
External links
edit- (in German) Leontius von Autun
- (in Italian) Leonzio di Autun