Perpetuus
Perpetuus was Bishop of Tours from 460 to 490 (or 461 to 491) . He is venerated as a saint in the Roman Catholic Church . His feast day is April 8th . In the fine arts he is portrayed as a bishop directing the construction of a church.
Life
Perpetuus came from a noble family and was ordained as the 8th Bishop of Tours in 460 as the successor to his relative Eustochius. Soon after, he presided over a council with eight other bishops, which laid down rules for ecclesiastical discipline. Some priests found unworthy were then removed from their offices. He included St. Martin in the diocese's festival calendar.
Around 470 he had the small chapel built by St. Brictius over St. Martin's grave demolished and replaced by an imposing church, which Gregory of Tours describes in detail. In his 30-year term in office he had numerous other churches built and promoted Christianization in the Franconian - Visigoth border area.
At 480 Perpetuus set St. Martin's Day (November 11th) as the beginning of the Advent period of penance and fasting 40 days before Christmas ( Martinsquadragese ). The believers had to fast three times a week in order to prepare themselves spiritually for the coming of the Savior through repentance and metanoia (conversion, rethinking). The Martinsvita of Paulinus von Périgueux , written at the end of the 5th century, is dedicated to him.
His date of death is uncertain and is given as January 1, 490, December 8, 490 or April 8, 491. His relative Volusianus was the successor to office as bishop.
The will of St. Perpetuus, in which he bequeathed his property to the poor, orphans and widows, was first published by Dom Luc d'Achery in his "Spicilegium" and is probably a forgery.
swell
- Gregory of Tours , Historiae 2
Individual evidence
- ↑ a b c d e Catholic Encyclopedia
- ↑ Ecumenical Lexicon of Saints
- ↑ a b Historiarum Francorum Libri X Chapter 14
Web links
- Catholic Encyclopedia: St. Perpetuus
- Gregory of Tours, History of the Franks Book II Chap.14 (English)
- Perpetuus is mentioned in the Ecumenical Lexicon of Saints in the article on St. Martin
| predecessor | Office | successor |
|---|---|---|
| Eustochius |
Bishop of Tours 460–490 or 461–491 |
Volusianus |
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Perpetuus |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | St. Perpetuus; Saint Perpetuus |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | Bishop of Tours, saint |
| DATE OF BIRTH | 5th century |
| DATE OF DEATH | 5th century |