A priest and disciple of Saint Hilary in the 5th century, Saint Vivence fled Palestine to take refuge in Gaul. After staying at the Château de Gravion, he retired as a hermit on the Île d'Olonne to dedicate himself to God. His relics were transferred to Burgundy in the 9th century and then to Vergy in the 11th century.
Guided reading
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SAINT VIVENCE, PRIEST (400).
Exile and refuge in Gaul
Vivence fled Palestine with Bishop Benedict to take refuge with Saint Hilary, settling temporarily at the castle of Gravion.
Saint Vivence Saint Vivence 5th-century priest, disciple of Saint Hilary, and hermit. , priest, inscribed in the Roman Martyrology on the 13th of January, is counted by the most serious authors among the discip les of Saint saint Hilaire Bishop of Poitiers with whom Viventius finds refuge. Hilary, near whom he had taken refuge with Saint Benedict, Bishop of saint Benoît, évêque de Semerie Bishop of Semerie, companion in exile of Vivence. Semerie, when the latter was forced to flee Pale Palestine Region where the saint obtained a miraculous rain. stine in the face of persecution. He remained for some time with his com panions at the cas château de Gravion Initial place of refuge and first site for the preservation of relics. tle of Gravion, where the monastery of Saint-Benoît de Quincey was later built, occupied in serving God. Afterwards, to be more free to attend to divine things, he withdrew as f ar as the is île d'Olonne Site of the eremitic retreat of Vivence in Vendée. land of Olonne, today Sables d'Olonne in the Vendée. It is not known if he returned to die at the castle of Gravion; however, his relics were preserved there until around 868, at which time they were transported, for fear of the Norman Amanco Town in Burgundy where the relics were transferred in 868. s, to the town of Amanco (Amaucom), in Burgundy, in a monastery that was erected under his name. Finally, they were transferred once more, at the beginning of the 11th centu monastère de Vergy Final place of translation of the relics in the 11th century. ry, to the monastery of Vergy, which was dedicated to him, and where his feast is celebrated on the day after Pentecost.
Retreat to the Island of Olonne
Seeking solitude for prayer, the priest retired to the island of Olonne, in present-day Vendée.
Saint Vivence, priest, inscribed in the Roman Martyrology on the 13th of January, is counted by the most serious authors among the disciples of Saint Hilary, near whom he had taken refuge with Saint Benedict, Bishop of Semerie, when the latter was forced to flee Palestine due to persecution. He remained for some time with his companions at the castle of Gravion, where the monastery of Saint-Benoît de Quincey was later built, occupied with serving God. Afterwards, to be more free to attend to divine things, he retired as far as the island of Olonne, today Sables d'Olonne in Vendée. It is not known if he returned to die at the castle of Gravion; however, his relics were preserved there until around 868, at which time they were transported, for fear of the Normans, to the village of Amanco (Amaucom), in Burgundy, in a monastery that was erected under his name. Finally, they were transferred once more, at the beginning of the 11th century, to the monastery of Vergy, which was dedicated to him, and where his feast is celebrated on the day after Pentecost.
Translation of the relics
His remains, threatened by the Normans in the 9th century, were transferred from Gravion to Burgundy, first to Amanco and then to Vergy.
Saint Vivence, priest, inscribed in the Roman Martyrology on the 13th of January, is counted by the most serious authors among the disciples of Saint Hilary, near whom he had taken refuge with Saint Benedict, Bishop of Semerie, when the latter was forced to flee Palestine before the persecution. He remained for some time with his companions at the castle of Gravion, where the monastery of Saint-Benoît de Quincey was later built, occupied in serving God. Afterwards, to be more free to attend to divine things, he withdrew as far as the island of Olonne, today Sables d'Olonne in the Vendée. It is not known if he returned to die at the castle of Gravion; however, his relics were preserved there until around 868, the time at which they were transported, for fear of the Normans, to the village of Amanco (Amaucom), in Burgundy, in a monastery which was erected under his name. Finally, they were transferred once more, at the beginning of the 11th century, to the monastery of Vergy, which was dedicated to him, and where his feast is celebrated on the day after Pentecost.
Annexes & related entities
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Key Events
- Disciple of Saint Hilary
- Fled Palestine with Saint Benedict of Semerie to escape persecution
- Stay at the Château de Gravion
- Retreat on the island of Olonne
- Translation of relics to Amanco in 868 to escape the Normans
- Translation of relics to the monastery of Vergy in the 11th century