Saint Laurien of Seville
MARTYRED IN THE SOLITUDE OF VATAN IN BERRY (554). — THE VENERABLE AURELIAN, ARCHBISHOP OF LYON,
Bishop and Martyr
Originally from Pannonia and Bishop of Seville, Saint Laurien was a fervent opponent of Arianism. Forced into exile, he retired to Vatan in Berry, where he was beheaded by assassins sent by the Arian king of Italy in 554. His head, brought to Seville, miraculously ended a seven-year drought.
Guided reading
5 reading sections
SAINT LAURIEN, BISHOP OF SEVILLE,
MARTYRED IN THE SOLITUDE OF VATAN IN BERRY (554). — THE VENERABLE AURELIAN, ARCHBISHOP OF LYON,
Youth and exile from Milan
Born in Pannonia and educated in Milan, Laurien became a deacon and firmly opposed Arianism, which led to his banishment from Italy.
Laurien, born i n Pannon Pannonie Region of origin of Laurien, located on the banks of the Danube. ia on the banks of the Danube to idolatrous parents, was brought at an early age by his uncle to the cit y of Milan Italian city where the saint has an altar and an annual feast. Milan, where he received the faith along with the elements of Christian doctrine. Having become a deacon of th at Church arianisme Heresy opposed by Columbanus in Italy among the Lombards. , he attacked Arianism with such talent and success that the Arian prince who then reigned in Italy compelled him to leave that country.
Episcopate in Seville and flight
Having become Bishop of Seville, he was forced to flee Arian persecutions once again. After a stay in Rome, he traveled to Gaul, to Vatan, following a divine inspiration.
Having left Milan, he arrived, after various wanderings, in Sev ille, w Séville Initial burial place with his brothers. here the bishop received him with kindness and made him his coadjutor; after his death, he was elected by a unanimous voice to succeed him. But the persecutions and threats of the Arians, whose errors he reproached, soon forced him into retirement; he took refuge in Rome. A heavenly voice warned him to come to Gaul; after having venerated the tomb of Saint Martin, Bishop of Tours, he came to the small town of V atan Vatan Birthplace of the saint in Berry. (Indre), in Berry.
Martyrdom and miracle of the head
Assassinated by hired killers sent by the Arian king, his head was brought to Seville where it put an end to seven years of drought.
As soon as the Arian king of Italy learned that Laurien had come to Italy, and that he had subsequently gone to Gaul to work there in the interest of religion, he sent hired killers who, having tracked the Saint, surprised him in his place of retreat and cut off his head. His head was brought to Seville, and brought about the salvation of that country, which had been afflicted by the scourge of drought for seven consecutive years. Scarcely was the holy relic present on this desolate land, than torrents of rain flooded it, and the other plagues that had devastated it since the departure of the holy bishop ceased all at once.
Cult and relics in Vatan
His body was buried near Vatan by Eusebius of Arles. His relics, transferred to the local church, were largely destroyed by the Calvinists.
The torso of the holy Martyr, initially abandoned in a cave, was buried by Eusebius of Arles, following a heavenly warning, at the very place where the church known as the chapel of Saint-Laurien stands, two leagues from Vatan Birthplace of the saint in Berry. Vatan. His relics rested in this place until, in order to place them in a more suitable location, they were transferred to the church of Vatan itself, then dedicated to the holy apostles Peter and Paul, and which was later dedicated to the blessed Laurien. This translation was accompanied by numerous miracles. T Calvinistes Religious group that destroyed the saint's relics in 1567. he Calvinists burned the relics of Saint Laurien. Only a few fragments have been preserved, which are in the church of Vatan.
Iconography and patronage
Represented decapitated or with a lily, he is the patron saint of Seville and honored in the diocese of Bourges.
He is represented: 1° decapitated and handing his head to his own executioners so that they might carry it to Seville; 2° with a lily in his hand, perhaps to recall that he remained pure in the midst of the idolatry of his country and the errors of the Arians.
He is the pat ron of Bourges City where Leopardin received his episcopal blessing. Seville.
Proper of Bourges.
Annexes & related entities
Structured data for exploration: events, miracles, quotes, places, attributes, patronages, and important entities cited in the text.
Key Events
- Born in Pannonia to idolatrous parents
- Christian education and diaconate in Milan
- Exiled from Italy by an Arian prince
- Election as Bishop of Seville
- Retirement to Rome and then to Gaul (Berry) following Arian persecutions
- Decapitation by assassins in Vatan
Miracles
- End of a seven-year drought in Seville upon the arrival of his head
- Celestial guidance for Eusebius of Arles regarding the burial
- Numerous miracles during the translation of the relics to Vatan