Saint Pragmatius of Autun
Bishop of Autun
Bishop of Autun in the 6th century, Pragmatius was an esteemed prelate who participated in the Council of Epaone in 517 to combat Arianism. He witnessed the desolation of his city during the wars between the sons of Clovis and the kings of Burgundy. He died around 520, leaving the memory of a zealous pastor and a man of great doctrine.
Guided reading
4 reading sections
SAINT PRAGMATIUS, BISHOP OF AUTUN (520).
Heritage and episcopal relations
Pragmatius succeeded to the esteem held by Saint Euphronius in the see of Autun and maintained intellectual ties with Sidonius Apollinaris.
Like Saint Euphronius, Pragmat Pragmace Bishop of Autun in the 6th century, participant in the Council of Epaon. ius honored the see of A siège d'Autun Burgundian diocese associated with the saint's burial. utun with his learning and his virtues; like him, too, he was held in the highest esteem and consulted by his colleagues in the episcopate. Sain t Sidonius Apollinaris, w Saint Sidoine Apollinaire Bishop of Clermont and Gallo-Roman writer. ho saw in Euphronius a master, a guide, and a father, and who had maintained a correspondence with him, is said to have continued the same relations with Pragmatius.
Struggle against Arianism at the Council of Epaone
In 517, Pragmatius participated in the Council of Epaone, convened by Saint Avitus to eradicate the Arian heresy in the Kingdom of Burgundy.
Saint Avitus, Bishop of Vienne, who had the consolation of seeing Sigismund, King of Burgundy, renounce Arianism, convened, no doubt in concert with this prince, all the bishops of the kingdom at Epaone on September 15, 517, to deliberate on the means to entirely extirpate Arianism and to complete, by causing the last traces of the stubborn heresy to disappear, the work so well begun by the conversion of the prince. Pragmatius, happy to find this opportunity to contribute to the glory of God and the salvation of souls, went with eagerness to the call that was made to him. He signed the decrees of the council in these terms: "I, Pragma tius, in the name of Christ, Bishop of the city of Augustodu Pragmace, au nom du Christ, évêque de la cité d'Augustodunum Bishop of Autun in the 6th century, participant in the Council of Epaon. num, have read and subscribed, on the day and under the consulship stated above, the 17th of the Kalends of the eighth month, under the consulship of the most clarissimus Agapitus."
Trials of war and passing
The end of his life was marked by the ravages of the wars between the sons of Clovis and the kings of Burgundy, leading to the siege of Autun.
Returned to the midst of his flock, the holy bishop devoted himself to the ordinary labors of his zeal, full of the joy that the conversion of the Burgundians had caused him. Alas! Great sorrows were soon to poison his old age and tear his heart. During the war of the sons of Clovis with the kings of Burgundy, the unfortunate city of A utun, besieg cité d'Autun Burgundian diocese associated with the saint's burial. ed and taken by the victors, had much to suffer. The good shepherd could not long endure the spectacle of such desolation, and soon, delivered from the miseries of this life, he went to take possession of the glory of the Blessed.
Burial and posterity
Interred at the church of Saint-Étienne in Autun, his relics and his tomb have disappeared today.
His body was interred in the ancient church of Saint-Étienn antique église de Saint-Étienne Initial burial place of the saint. e, adjacent to that of Saint-Pierre-l'Étrier. The church of Saint-Andoche in Autun once possessed a fragment of one of his arms. No one knows what became of this precious relic: the tomb of Saint Pragmace disappeared with the church that contained it.
Abbé Dinat, Saint Symphorien and his cult.
Annexes & related entities
Structured data for exploration: events, miracles, quotes, places, attributes, patronages, and important entities cited in the text.
Key Events
- Correspondence with Saint Sidonius Apollinaris
- Participation in the Council of Epaon on September 15, 517
- Signing of the decrees against Arianism
- Siege and capture of Autun by the sons of Clovis
Quotes
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I, Pragmatius, in the name of Christ, bishop of the city of Augustodunum, have read and subscribed, on the day and under the consulship stated above, the 17th day before the Kalends of the eighth month, under the consulship of the most clarissimus Agapitus
Acts of the Council of Epaon