Eleutherius of Tournai

Saint

Eleutherius of Tournai
St Eleutherius of Tournai Baptizing Converts (detail), workshop of Arnold of Nijmegen, Flemish, c. 1500-1525
Bishop
Born451 - 481
Tournai
Diedc. 532
Duchy of Lower Lorraine
Venerated inRoman Catholic Church
Eastern Orthodox Church
Major shrineTournai Cathedral
Feast20 February;[1] 25 August (translation of relics)

Saint Eleutherius of Tournai (French: Eleuthère) (died c. 532) is venerated as a saint and considered the first bishop of Tournai.[2] The Catholic Encyclopedia writes that "historically there is very little known about St. Eleutherius, but he was without doubt the first Bishop of Tournai."[2]

Tradition makes him a lifelong friend of St. Medardus, and the two saints had been courtiers before becoming bishops.[2]

Eleutherius was probably named bishop of Tournai after St. Remigius organized the church hierarchy of northern Gaul at the end of the fifth century.[2]

Some sermons on the Trinity, Nativity, and the feast of the Annunciation (Bibliotheca Patrum, vol. XV) are falsely attributed to him.[2]

  1. ^ The Catholic Encyclopedia states 20 or 21 July, "but is usually celebrated on the former date"
  2. ^ a b c d e www.newadvent.org, Retrieved 29 July 2008