Bishop of Soissons in the 8th century, Gaudin was a zealous preacher against avarice. Victim of an ambush set by usurers, he was tortured and then drowned in a well around the year 700. His relics, long venerated in the Cathedral of Soissons, were burned by the Huguenots in 1567.
Guided reading
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SAINT GAUDIN, BISHOP OF SOISSONS (700).
Ministry and martyrdom
Bishop of Soissons in the 8th century, Gaudin was murdered by usurers whose avarice he vehemently denounced.
Gaudin Gaudin Bishop of Soissons and martyr of the 8th century. , the third successor of Saint Brausin to the see of Soi ssons, w Soissons Birthplace and place of death of Geoffrey. as very lively and very vehement in reprimanding vices. Having thus unleashed his eloquent indignation against the insatiable avarice of certain usurers, these men, in hatred of the evangelical truth he preached, surprised him in an ambush, dragged him into a street, then n amed Herlin, and now Saint-Gaudin. There, they tortu rue, alors nommée Herlin, et maintenant Saint-Gaudin Site of the saint's martyrdom in Soissons. red him in various ways, and as he refused to retract what he had said, they threw him into a well where he drowned, around the year 700 of Our Lord, and thus merited to be inscribed in the catalogue of Martyrs.
Cult and destiny of the relics
His relics, transferred to the cathedral of Soissons, were destroyed by the heretics in 1567, although his place of martyrdom remained a site of devotion.
His body was transferred to the cathedral church église cathédrale Initial burial site and place of preservation for relics. , along with the bod ies of Saint P saint Principe Eldest son of Celinia and Bishop of Soissons. rincipi us and Sai saint Loup Cell companion of Ausilius at Lérins. nt Lupus, bishops , and Saint Ag saint Agricole A priest whose body rests with that of Gaudin. ricolus, priest. Exhumed on the first of June, it was placed in a silver reliquary, which was pillaged in 1567 by th e heretics hérétiques Group responsible for the looting of the reliquary and the destruction of the relics. , at the same time that the relics were burned. The place consecrated by his martyrdom did not cease to be frequented by the devotion of the people until the end of the 18th century.
Liturgical source
The text is taken from the Proper of the Diocese of Soissons.
* Proper of Soissons Propre de Soissons Liturgical source mentioning the life of the saint. .*
Annexes & related entities
Structured data for exploration: events, miracles, quotes, places, attributes, patronages, and important entities cited in the text.
Key Events
- Election as the third successor to Saint Brausin to the see of Soissons
- Vehement preaching against the greed of usurers
- Ambush on Herlin Street
- Torture and refusal to recant
- Martyrdom by drowning in a well
- Translation of the relics to the cathedral church
- Elevation of relics on June 1st
- Destruction of relics by heretics in 1567