Saint Viventiolus (French: Saint Vivientol) (460 – July 12, 524) (also known as Juventiole) was the Archbishop of Lyon (ancient Lugdunum) 514–523. Later canonized and venerated as a saint within the Catholic Church, Archdiocese of Lyon, France^[1] his feast Day is July 12. He is recognised in the Orthodox Church and the True Orthodox Church, including amongst the Tikhonites, as a pre-Great Schism Western Saint.

Family

Viventiolus and his brother Rusticus^[2] were the sons of Aquilinus (c. 430-c. 470), a nobleman of Lyon, and friend of Sidonius Apollinaris (c. 400). Aquilinus was a vicarius of a province in Gaul between 423 and 448 under Apollinaris, the father of Sidonius.

Through his paternal grandmother, Tullia, Viventiolus was the great-grandson of Saint Eucherius and his wife Gallia. His paternal grandfather was the son of Decimus Rusticus and his wife Artemia.

Career

Viventiolus was a monk of St. Oyend (St. Claude), in Jura, where he was elected prior. Avitus of Vienne recommended him for the See of Lyon.^[2] In 517, he and Avitus presided over the Council of Epaone.

He is also the author of a book Life of the Jura Fathers, which described the beginnings of monasticism in that region.^[3]

References