4th century

Saint Similien of Nantes

Summary

Bishop of Nantes in the 4th century, Similien retired to an oratory during the persecution of Diocletian. He is famous for a miraculous vision in the 15th century where, alongside the martyrs Donatien and Rogatien, he is said to have put to flight the Barbarians besieging the city. His relics, thrown into a well by the Normans, were honored in the Nantes church that bears his name.

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    SAINT SIMILIEN, BISHOP OF NANTES (4th century).

    Life 01 / 03

    Episcopate and miraculous protection

    Saint Similien, Bishop of Nantes, withdrew during the persecutions of Diocletian before being buried in an oratory that became a basilica. A miracle involving celestial processions is said to have put to flight barbarians besieging the city.

    Saint Similien Saint Similien Bishop of Nantes in the 4th century, confessor and protector of the city. , Bishop of Nantes, after having governed his church with all the vigilance and fidelity of an excellent pastor, was buried by the Christians in the place where a church bearing his name was later built, and which is, it is said, situated in the place where it is believed he withdrew during the time of the persecution of Diocletian, and where he built an oratory. It already existed in the time of Clovis I. The Barbarians besieged Nantes towards the end of the 5th century; the siege had already lasted two months, when, according to Gregory of Tours, the people saw around midnight men, dressed in white, coming out of the basilica of the martyrs Donatien and Rogatien with lit candles, and a similar troop coming out of the basilica of the gre at conf Similès Bishop of Nantes in the 4th century, confessor and protector of the city. essor, the bishop Similès. These two troops appeared to join, greet each other, pray together, and then each withdraw to the place from which it had first departed. It could well be that there was no true vision, and that these were effectively two processions that united their prayers to attract the help of heaven. Be that as it may, the Barbarians were seized with terror, and fled with such precipitation that the next morning not a single one remained at the siege. The same vision produced another effect on the one who commanded this army; he was call ed Chi Chilon Commander of the barbarian army who converted after a miraculous vision. lon, and was not yet regenerated by water and the Holy Spirit. Touched inwardly, he converted and received Baptism.

    Cult 02 / 03

    Norman ruins and reconstruction

    The church dedicated to the saint, ruined by the Normans who desecrated his relics, was restored by Bishop Waltier and the canons of Nantes.

    The church of Saint-Similien was subsequently ruined by the N Normands Invaders responsible for the saint's death. ormans, who, several times, took and sacked the city of Nantes. There was in this church a well, into which they threw the head of the holy bishop; it was later given as property by Bishop W altier Waltier Bishop of Nantes who entrusted the church to the canons for its repair. to the Canons of Nantes, Chanoines de Nantes Ecclesiastical body responsible for the restoration of the church. on the condition that they would repair it. It is apparently to their care that we owe the one that exists today, and which was considerably enlarged and embellished in 1834.

    Source 03 / 03

    Sources and references

    Mentions of the saint are based on the works of Lubineau, the Breviary of Nantes, and the writings of Gregory of Tours.

    Name Lubineau, Saints of Brittany; — Cf. Breviary of Nantes; St. Greg. of Tours, On the Glory of the Mart De la gloire des Martyrs Work by Gregory of Tours mentioning the saint. yrs, ch. 40.

    Official source Les Petits Bollandistes, by Mgr Paul GUÉRIN, chamberlain to His Holiness Pius IX.

    Iconography

    Signs and attributes

    episcopal vestments Traditional attribute associated with representations of this figure. lighted candles (vision) Traditional attribute associated with representations of this figure.

    Entities

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    100 Saint Similian of Nantes Saint 96 Nantes Place 63 Gregory of Tours Saint 53 Saint Donatian Saint 53 Saint Rogatian Saint 51 De gloria martyrum Work 49 Head of Saint Similien relic 48 Chilon Person

    The supernatural in their life

    The miracles of Saint Similien of Nantes

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    ToposCertainty: Hagiographic topos
    Illustration to come
    Vision / apparition
    Protective apparition against the Barbarians
    « Nocturnal apparition of men in white putting the barbarian army to flight »
    Saint Similien of Nantes·Nantes·4th century
    ToposCertainty: Hagiographic topos
    Illustration to come
    Conversion
    Conversion of the barbarian chieftain Chilon
    « Sudden conversion of the barbarian leader Chilon following a vision »
    Saint Similien of Nantes·Nantes·4th century

    Annexes & related entities

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    Key Events

    1. Governance of the Church of Nantes
    2. Retreat in an oratory during the Diocletian persecution
    3. Miraculous apparition of a troop in white during the siege of Nantes by the Barbarians (15th century)
    4. Conversion of the barbarian chieftain Chilon
    5. Desecration of his relics by the Normans

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