Saint Agericus of Verdun

Having attained this high dignity, he did not depart in any way from his initial poverty; it was always the same frugality in food, the same simplicity in furniture and clothing: Devoting himself entirely to feeding the Lord's flock by word and example, he kept for himself from the prerogatives of his office only the labor and the care. Venantius Fortunatus, hav ing stopped in V Venance Fortunat Poet and bishop who bore witness to the charity of Saint Airy. erdun on his return from a journey to Rome, was a witness to his charity, and he celebrates it in these terms:

> Sumit pauper opem, tristis opem, nudus amictum. > Omnia quidquid habes omnibus esse facis.

Among other miracles that manifested his holiness, one must not forget the one he performed in La on o Laon Location of Gelduin's first monastery. n a man condemned to death, whom he miraculously delivered from his bonds and for whom he obtained a pardon. He raised from its ruins a chapel of Saint John the Baptist, located outside the city walls, and dedicated it to Saint Medard, Bishop of Noyon. Shortly after, a divine revelation informed him that the bodies of Saint Maur, Saint Salvin, and Saint Arator lay buried in that same place.

Our holy bishop was in high favor with the princes, whom he assisted with his counsel and services in the administration of the kingdom. Sigebert, King of Austrasia (561-575), wished for him to baptize his son Childebert. The latter, when he was raised to the throne, showed the holy bishop a truly filial respect, as Saint Gregory of Tours assures us. On one occasion among others, while passing through Verdun, he stayed at the bishopric, and there, moved by the virtues of the bishop, his disdain for worldly things, and his trust in God, he made considerable donations of vineyards and land holdings to the church of Verdun. Saint Airy had initially obtained from Childebert the pardon of the general Gontran-Boson, who had failed both this king and Queen Brunhilda; but he could not save him from the blows of justice thereafter. He also saw the assassination in his own chapel of Bertefroi, who had revolted; what touched him most in this latter event was the profanation of the holy place. He died on the first of December 591, in the fortieth year of his episcopate, and was buried in the chapel of Saint-Martin, which he had caused to be built, and which, subsequently, bore his name. His body is now r eligiously cathédrale City where the Abbey of Saint-Vanne is located. preserved in the cathedral.

Until the last century, the table spoon of Saint Airy was still kept in the treasury of the same cathedral; it was made of wood, with a fairly long handle, decorated with a few small ivory nails; furthermore, two knives of the same Saint, with engraved ivory handles: the blades of these knives were nearly twelve to fifteen inches long; at their end was a kind of hook formed from the same blade, 'as if to hook the meat,' says Dom Calmet, 'when it was not well cut, or t dom Calmet Scholar and historian cited for his description of relics. o draw towards oneself what was on the table, in order to distribute it to the guests.'

The barrel is, in paintings, the attribute of Saint Airy, just as the dragon is that of Saint Vannes. The Verdun legend provides us with the key to this symbol. King Childebert II c Le roi Childebert II King of Austrasia, spiritual son and protector of the church of Verdun. ame one day to see the holy bishop in Verdun. Now, the Franks were great drinkers: each lord of the royal retinue had brought many men with him; and, as these guests were not expected, the provisions of the episcopal house were soon exhausted. The cellarer came, very distressed, announcing that there remained in the cellar only a single barrel or small tun; moreover, one could not find in the city wine worthy of such guests, because at that time there were no vineyards in Verdun. It was therefore necessary to rely on Providence. The barrel was brought up to the dining hall, and Saint Airy having blessed it along with everything that was to be served, it was seen with surprise that it was inexhaustible. The same thing happened on the following days and for as long as the king was at the bishopric. The king, learning through this miracle that the bishopric lacked vines, gifted him two 'amandes' pays messin Region where King Childebert gifted vineyards to the bishopric. in the Metz region. (This word, according to scholars, signifies a piece of vineyard producing enough wine to fill one of those large barrels then called 'hamn', today known as 'foudres').

Propre de Verdun; History of Verdun and the Verdun region, by Abbé Clouët; Civil and ecclesiastical history of Verdun, by Roussal.