Julian of Lescar

Julian of Lescar

Julianus of Lescar († around 505 ) was the first bishop of the late antique Aquitaine city ​​of Beneharnum , which was later renamed Lescar . He is considered to be the "Apostle des Béarn "; his feast day is August 23.

Vita

According to a legendary biography from 1541, Julianus was sent to Aquitaine by the Trier bishop Leontius († 446/7) to master the widespread idol worship there. He set off with two priests, but one of the two soon collapsed from exhaustion. Thereupon Julianus returned to Trier with his two companions; Bishop Leontius renewed his wish or command and handed him his pastoral staff , which gave the exhausted companion new strength. When he arrived in Béarn, Julian performed numerous miracles and was warmly welcomed by the population. Shortly before his death, Bishop Leontius is also said to have come to Beneharnum . Julianus himself may have died shortly after the year 500.

Adoration

Due to the devastation caused by the Normans in the 9th century, the remains of the saint disappeared. During excavations in 1780, three small boxes with remains of ashes, teeth and bones were allegedly found under a stone next to today's Saint-Julien church , which were believed to be relics of Julianus (and his companions?). Another excavation in 1933 found nothing.

presentation

There are no medieval or early modern portraits of the saint. A few statues from the 19th and 20th centuries show him in the bishop's robe.