Saint Anatole of Salins
Patron of Salins
Bishop of Adana in Cilicia in the 4th century, Anatole was exiled to Gaul for supporting Saint John Chrysostom. He spent his final days as a hermit near Salins in Franche-Comté. His relics, rediscovered in the 11th century, make him the patron saint of the city of Salins.
Guided reading
3 reading sections
SAINT ANATOLE, PATRON OF SALINS (4th century).
Origins and exile in Gaul
Anatole, bishop of Adana, was exiled to Gaul for having supported John Chrysostom. He ended his days as a hermit near Salins, in a chapel dedicated to Saint Symphorian.
The blessed Anatole, p Le bienheureux Anatole Bishop of Adana exiled in Sequania, patron saint of the city of Salins. atron of the city of Sal ins, w Salins Town in Franche-Comté of which Anatole is the patron saint. as, it is said, bishop o f Ada Adana Episcopal see of Anatolia in Cilicia. na in Cilicia, supported the part y of Saint John Chryso saint Jean Chrysostome Patriarch of Constantinople whose support caused the exile of Anatolius. stom aga inst Theophilus of Ale Théophile d'Alexandrie Patriarch of Alexandria and opponent of John Chrysostom. xandria, and, because of this, was sent into exile in Gaul. He stopped in Seq uania (F Séquanie Ancient province corresponding to Franche-Comté. ranche-Comté) near Salins, on the side of a steep mountain, where very opportunely he found a small chapel consecrated to Saint Symphor ian. It is there saint Symphorien Saint to whom the chapel where Anatolius settled was dedicated. that he died, and his body remained hidden in that same place for about six centuries. Saint Chrysostom had written to him from his exile in Cucusus to thank him for the zeal he had shown in defending him.
Development of the cult and translation of the relics
After six centuries of oblivion, his relics were honored by the archbishops of Besançon, Hugh I and Nicholas, before being saved from revolutionary desecration in 1794.
At the beginning of the 11th century, Hugh I, Archbishop of Besançon, having built a basilica which was dedicated to the honor of Saint Symphorian, S aint Anatole, saint Anatole Bishop of Adana exiled in Sequania, patron saint of the city of Salins. and Saint Agatha, the relics of Saint Anatole were deposited there in a suitable tomb. Two hundred years later, Nicholas, Archbi Nicolas Archbishop of Besançon who had the relics enshrined. shop of Besançon, enclosed them in a precious reliquary and established a college of canons in the same church. When in 1794 the patriots dispersed the holy relics, pious hands were able to collect the desecrated bones of Sa int Anatole. They ossements profanés Mortal remains of the saint, hidden for six centuries and subsequently enshrined. were replaced in a reliquary in 1795 and recognized as authentic in 1801.
Source of the text
The text is taken from the Proper of the Diocese of Saint-Claude.
Proper of Saint-Claude Saint-Claude Diocese of origin of the biographical entry. .
Annexes & related entities
Structured data for exploration: events, miracles, quotes, places, attributes, patronages, and important entities cited in the text.
Key Events
- Bishop of Adana in Cilicia
- Support for Saint John Chrysostom against Theophilus of Alexandria
- Exile in Gaul
- Settled in Sequania near Salins
- Died in a chapel dedicated to Saint Symphorian
- Discovery of the relics in the 11th century
- Translation of relics by Hugh I
- Translation into a reliquary by Archbishop Nicolas in the 13th century
- Dispersion of relics in 1794 and preservation by the faithful
- Recognition of the authenticity of the relics in 1801