A 5th-century nobleman from Metz, Livaire fought the Huns around 450 to defend his homeland and his faith. Captured and taken to Marsal, he was put to death with his companions Purgence and Agence for refusing to abjure Christ. His cult, marked by several translations of relics to Metz, remains alive in Marsal where a chapel is dedicated to him.
Guided reading
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SAINT LIVAIRE OR LIVIER,
MARTYR AT MARSAL, IN THE DIOCESE OF NANCY (5th century).
Martyrdom and the Hunnic Invasion
A nobleman from Metz, Livaire fought the Huns around 450 before being captured and executed at Marsal with his companions for his faith.
Livaire Livaire 5th-century martyr from Metz who fought against the Huns. , born in the territory of Metz Metz City where the saint received his theological training. to a noble family, gave brilliant proofs of his faith and of all Christian virtues. When the Huns came to ravage the city of Metz and the entire region, around the year 450, he fought valiantly for the defense of his homeland and his faith, was taken prisoner on the battlefield, and led by the enemies to Marsal. He was put to death Marsal Site of the martyrdom and enduring center of the cult of Saint Livarius. in that place, along with Purgence a nd Agenc Purgence Companion in martyrdom of Saint Livaire. e, h is com Agence Companion in martyrdom of Saint Livaire. panions, for refusing to deny Christ, and was buried at the very site of his martyrdom.
Translations of the relics
In the 10th century, Bishop Thierry transferred the body to Metz; the relics underwent several movements and a temporary disappearance during the Revolution.
Towards the end of the 10 th century, Theodori Théodoric ou Thierry Breton prince responsible for the massacre of Guigner and his companions. c or Thierry, Bishop of Metz, transferred the body of the blessed Martyr and dep osited it in the basilica basilique de Saint-Vincent Religious establishment founded by Bishop Thierry. of Saint-Vincent, which he had just founded. It was subseque ntly carried to the churc église de Saint-Polycarpe Former church in Metz renamed Saint-Livaire. h of Saint-Polycarpe, which took the name of Saint-Livaire, with the exception of a few small bones that remained at Saint-Vincent. These venerated remains disappeared at the end of the 18th century; the church of Saint-Livaire no longer exists; but the entire body of the illustrious martyr has just been recovered.
Cult and restoration at Marsal
The cult persisted at Marsal despite the initial absence of the relics, leading to the restoration of his chapel and the solemn return of a reliquary.
The removal of the relics of Saint Livier saint Livier 5th-century martyr from Metz who fought against the Huns. from the place he had consecrated by his martyrdom and where, for five centuries, he had rested, did not cause the cult that the people rendered to him to cease. From then on, the faithful of the region have always continued to venerate the soil moistened by the blood of this Confessor and sanctified by the contact of his ashes. In recent times, the ancient chapel has been suitably restored; some fragments of the body that it had previously possessed in its entirety have been placed there, and confidence in the intercession of Saint Livier still brings a good number of pilgrims there, even from di stant localities. M. l'abbé Germain Vicar general of Metz, originally from Marsal. Since then, moreover, Father Germain, Vicar General of Metz, born in Marsal, obtained for the church of this parish a relic of the holy Martyr, which he placed in a beautiful reliquary and presented him M. l'abbé Humbert Parish priest of Marsal who received the saint's relics. self, in a ceremony, to Father Humbert, the local parish priest.
Hagiographic sources
Mention of the ecclesiastical contributors who enabled the documentation of this saint's life.
People of Metz supplemented with notes due to the kindness of Abbé Guillaume, can M. l'abbé Guillaume Canon of Nancy and historian, author of the text source. on of Nancy.
Annexes & related entities
Structured data for exploration: events, miracles, quotes, places, attributes, patronages, and important entities cited in the text.
Key Events
- Born in the territory of Metz into a noble family
- Battle against the Huns in defense of his homeland and his faith (450)
- Taken prisoner on the battlefield
- Martyred at Marsal with Purgence and Agence for refusing to renounce Christ
- Translation of the body to the Basilica of Saint-Vincent by Bishop Thierry (10th century)
- Subsequent transfer to the Church of Saint-Polycarpe (which became Saint-Livaire)