Gatianus

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Gatianus († December 18, 301 in Tours ), called Saint Gatien in France , was the first bishop of Tours .

Saint Gatianus on a stained glass window of the Notre-Dame church in La Celle-Guenand

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 .

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predecessor Office successor
Bishop of Tours
249-301
Lidorius