Saint Eunuce

Eunuce Eunuce Bishop of Noyon and Tournai in the 8th century, known for his pastoral zeal. was elected bishop of N Noyon The saint's principal episcopal see. oyon during the lifetime of Guy, successor to the pontiff Hanusu. The reason why the Church of Noyon had two pastors at once is not well known. A learned author (Charles Lecointe) holds, in this regard, the following language: "What took place, in 745, at the Council of Soissons, with regard to the Church of Sens, could well have also happened for t hat of Tournai City associated with the Diocese of Noyon. Noyon and Tournai. The Church of Sens was not deprived of a pastor: it had an archbishop of great holiness, named Ebbon. But, as he was very old, and preferred the solitary life to the exercise of episcopal functions, the Council decided that Ardobert would govern the Church of Sens. We think that, in the same Council, Eunuce, for a similar cause, or for another equally grave one, was ordained bishop of Noyon and Tournai, although Guy was still alive. And, just as after the Council of Soissons, Ebbon and Ardobert were called archbishops of Sens; thus, we must believe that, subsequently, Guy and Eunuce were called bishops of Noyon and Tournai."

Eunuce fulfilled the functions of the episcopate with zeal. As an apostle, he traveled through all the councils of the vast diocese entrusted to his care. A model for his flock through his piety, prudence, and chastity, he brought a great number of stray sheep back to the fold. Thanks to his solicitude, the churches recovered the property that had been taken from them; synodal assemblies, held regularly every year, maintained discipline and good morals among the clergy; the wise regulations of the Council of Soissons were put into execution. As the ninth decree of that assembly makes known, many, in contempt of the indissolubility of the bonds of marriage, were marrying women whose husbands were still alive: Eunuce worked actively to destroy this criminal custom.

Our Saint had boundless devotion for the Pontiff of whom he was the auxiliary. He comforted him in his sufferings and lavished upon him, until his final moments, the tenderness and respect of a son. He himself ended his edifying and laborious career around the middle of the 8th century, after an episcopate that had barely lasted three years.

The clergy and the faithful of Noyon paid great honors to the remains of Eunuce, which were given the oratory of Saint-Georges as a burial place. In the time of Radbod, who w as ele Radbod Bishop of Noyon in the 11th century who performed the translation of the relics. cted bishop of Noyon in 1066, this oratory was called the church of the Holy Apostles. It was later called the church of Saint Godeberthe. Ten years later, the body of the Pontiff was raised from the earth, because of the miracles performed at his tomb, and transported to the cathedral. This translation took place on April 17th along with that of the bodi es of Saint Kommo sainte Godeberthe Saint whose relics were transferred at the same time as those of Eunuce. lin and Saint Godeberthe. By a benevolent disposition of Providence, he escaped the sacrilegious appetites of the Normans who, around the year 860, burned the city of Noyon. Later laid to rest in the mon monastère de Saint-Éloi Final resting place of the relics, later renamed in honor of the saint. astery of Saint-Éloi, his miracles and his cult made him so famous there that this monastery subsequently bore the name of Saint-Eunuce.

Vie des Saints du diocèse de Beauvais, by M. Fablet Sabatier.

In Rome, on the ancient Via Salaria, at the cemetery of Basile, the birth into heaven of the holy martyrs Protus and Hyacinth, brothers, eunuchs of Saint Eugenia; having been arrested as Christians under the Emperor Gallienus, and refusing to sacrifice to idols, they were harshly scourged, then beheaded. — At Landozée, in Syria, the holy martyrs Diodore, Diomede, and Dolyme. — At Leon, in Spain, Saint Vincent, abbot and martyr. Circ a 555. — In Egy saint Papinucce Bishop and confessor mentioned in the martyrology. pt, Saint Paphnutius, bishop, one of those illustrious confessors who, under the Emperor Galerius Maximian, having had his right eye gouged out and his left hamstring cut, were condemned to the mines; later, under Constantine the Great, he generously defended the Catholic faith against the Arians; and, after having won several victories over them, he died in peace. 4th century. — At Lyon, Saint PATIENT, bishop. Circa 491. — At Vercelli, Saint Emilian, bishop. Circa 520. — At Alexandria, Saint THEODORA, who, having sinned by surprise, immediately repented of her fault and expiated it under the religious habit, through abstinence and patience, in which she persevered until her death, without being known by anyone. Circa 480.