ON SAINT ARTEMIUS,
BISHOP OF SENS IN GAUL.
TOWARD THE END OF THE 6TH CENTURY.
CommentaryArtemius, Bishop of Sens, in Gaul (Saint)
In the MS. Florarium Sanctorum, written two hundred years ago, is reported on January 6 the memory "of Artemius, Bishop and Confessor of Sens": to which day, and to April 23, we assigned him as passed over. Passed over elsewhere, he is venerated on April 28 For the 28th of the same month is sacred to him in the Church, on which day Saussaye consigns these words about him: "On this very day at Sens the deposition of Saint Artemius, Bishop and Confessor, who, the predecessor of Saint Lupus, shone before him in wonderful holiness of character, and adorning his Church with the badges of heavenly conversation, through extraordinary virtues, paved his way to heaven. Whose name among the Fathers of the Gallican Church, who sat in the first Synod of Macon, is consigned. His memory, for the lofty merits of his holy life, is today kept among his people of Sens with sacred Offices." In the Breviary of Sens printed in 1625, an Office of three Lections of the Common is prescribed for him. He is present at the two Councils of Macon His name is read subscribed to the first and second Councils of Macon: in the former in the third place, in the latter in the fourth place. The former was celebrated in the year of Christ 582, the latter in the year 585 under Saint Guntram, King of the Franks, whose Acts we gave on March 28. The Sainte-Marthes, vol. 1 of Gallia Christiana, add that he is cited in chapter 73 of the Synod of Meaux; also mentioned in a MS. Chronicle under the year 609, in which Démocharès in the Catalog of the Archbishops of Sens ends his life. From which this is certain, that he flourished in the 6th century. He also went as legate, sent by King Guntram to Clothar, to lodge complaints over the sacrilegious and wicked killing of Saint Praetextatus, Bishop of Rouen, whom Queen Fredegund, while he was prostrate before the altar, removed by a sent assassin. Narrating which in book 8, chapter 31, Gregory of Tours adds the following: He performs a legation for King Guntram "Therefore when these things to King Guntram
had been related, and the crime was laid upon the woman, he sent three Bishops to his son (who is said to be of Chilperic, whom above we wrote was called Clothar), that is, Artemius of Sens, Veranus of Chalon, and Agroecius of Troyes, namely to seek out, with those who were nurturing the little one, the person responsible for this crime and to bring him into his presence."