Gatianus
Gatianus († December 18, 301 in Tours ), called Saint Gatien in France , was the first bishop of Tours .
Gatianus held office from 249 to 301. He was sent from Rome to Gaul by Pope Fabianus to spread Christianity . He is said to have come to Gaul with six other bishops, including Dionysius of Paris , as the later chronicler and bishop Gregory of Tours reports.
It is assumed that Gatianus initially had no particular support from the Gallo-Roman population and was therefore forced to hold his services in catacombs and - similar to the Mithras cult that was widespread among the Gallic legions - in caves. During his tenure there was a bloody persecution of Christians under the Roman Emperor Decius . After his death the bishopric of Tours was orphaned for 36 years due to the renewed persecution of Christians by the emperor Diocletian . Only his successor Litorius was able to build the first church in Tours. It replaced a memorial for the martyr Mauritius . The later Bishop Martin of Tours had the bones of Bishop Gatianus transferred to this church, from which today's cathedral emerged . Since then it has been called Saint-Gatien .
The day of Bishop Gatian's death, December 18, is his holiday in the Catholic Church .
literature
- Ekkart Sauser : Gatianus. In: Biographisch-Bibliographisches Kirchenlexikon (BBKL). Volume 14, Bautz, Herzberg 1998, ISBN 3-88309-073-5 , Sp. 1022-1023.
Web links
- Gatianus von Tours Ecumenical Lexicon of Saints
predecessor | Office | successor |
---|---|---|
Bishop of Tours 249-301 |
Lidorius |
personal data | |
---|---|
SURNAME | Gatianus |
ALTERNATIVE NAMES | Gratianus, Gatien |
BRIEF DESCRIPTION | First Bishop of Tours (France) |
DATE OF BIRTH | 3rd century |
DATE OF DEATH | December 18, 301 |
Place of death | Tours |