CONCERNING SAINT SIGO, BISHOP OF CLERMONT IN GAUL.
ABOUT THE YEAR OF CHRIST 873.
CommentarySigo, Bishop of Clermont in Gaul (Saint)
I. B.
[1] The fortieth Bishop of the city of the Arverni — which is now called Clermont — is recorded by Jean Savaron, Claude Robert, and Jean Chenu as Saint Sigo, who is called Sigonius by Philip Ferrari. His dates may be inferred from the fact that his predecessor, Saint Stabilis — whom we treated on January 1 — attended the Council held at the estate of Tuzey in the territory of Toul on the eleventh day before the Kalends of November, Indiction IX, in the year of Christ 860. When and how long did Saint Sigo occupy his see? His successor, moreover, Agilmarus, signed the Council of Ponthion in the month of June of the year 876, Indiction IX. Sigo himself was at the Third Council of Soissons, in the year of Christ 866, Indiction XIV, on the fifteenth day before the Kalends of September.
[2] Whether his acts were committed to writing, we do not know; certainly we have not yet obtained them. Deposed from his see, He was deposed from his see by Stephen, Count of the Auvergne, and a certain Ado was intruded in his place. Pope Nicholas I ordered by letter 33, addressed to the same Stephen — in the year, as Sirmond places it, 863, which was the sixth year of Nicholas — that the intruder be removed and Sigo restored. In that letter, these words concern Sigo: "Furthermore, because — what is more wicked than these things — contrary to everything befitting the Christian religion, having deposed the most holy Sigo, Bishop of the Auvergne, you have substituted in his place the intruder, the cleric Ado, we command by the authority of almighty God he is restored by the Pope's command, and of the blessed Apostles, the princes Peter and Paul, that without suffering any delay, you restore the most holy Bishop Sigo, having deposed the intruder, to his Church, and permit him henceforth to remain in every dignity of the priesthood." And a little further on: "The intruder of the holy Church of the Auvergne, if after this our decree he shall attempt to linger there, and shall presume by any subterfuge to create any impediment to the most holy Bishop Sigo, the usurper having been restrained: let him know that he is in like manner separated utterly — not only from the participation of wine and meat, but also from the Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ — as long as he shall obstinately delay in coming to the Apostolic presence in obedience to our commands."
[3] In the times of Sigo, great devastation was inflicted upon the territory of the Auvergne, and indeed upon all of Gaul, by the Normans — concerning which both other writers, and especially Adrevald, who was then living, speak in book 1 of the Miracles of Saint Benedict, among other things thus: "From the very shore, so to speak, of the Ocean, heading eastward all the way to the Auvergne — that most illustrious city of Aquitaine in ancient times — the irruption of the Normans reaching even to the Auvergne, no region was able to retain its liberty; no fortress, nor village, nor indeed any city failed to fall in the deadly slaughter of the pagans. Poitiers, once the most fertile city of Aquitaine, testifies to this; so do Saintes, Angouleme, Perigueux, and Limoges; certainly the Auvergne, the limit thus far of the barbarian sword, and Bourges itself, the capital of the kingdom of Aquitaine, proclaim that they were gravely destroyed by the hostile assault, with no military force opposing them." William of Jumieges records the same in his History of the Normans, book 1, chapter 8.
[4] Great material for the exercise of patience was then offered to Saint Sigo, and of charity to be extended to afflicted people, as well as of magnificence in restoring the sacred buildings that had been destroyed by the barbarians. he rebuilds the burned church of the Blessed Virgin. Among these was the principal church of Saint Mary, called "de Portu." Concerning this, Savaron writes, at chapter 2 of his book On the Churches of Clermont, from an ancient manuscript:
"This church was first founded by holy Avitus, A renowned bishop, noble also in lineage. This the fierce race of Normans burned with flames, Reveling and making, alas, wretched slaughter. But Bishop Sigo restored it to its ancient honor."
[5] Engaged in pious works of this kind, the excellent Bishop died on the tenth of February; in what year is not expressly stated — but before at least 876, as indicated above. Concerning the day, Savaron at the place cited says: "His feast is celebrated on the fourth day before the Ides of February. Breviary, Martyrology, the Clermont Ordo, and manuscript Calendars." inscribed in the Martyrologies on February 10. He cites the same records in his Origins of Clermont. On the same day, Molanus in the Additions to Usuard: "At Clermont in the Auvergne, the burial of Saint Sigo, Bishop and Confessor of that city, of outstanding holiness." Ferrari also mentions him in his general Catalogue of Saints, and Saussay with an extended eulogy in the Martyrology of Gaul. Constantinus Ghinius records him on the following day in his Birthdays of the Canons. and the 11th. Ferrari again has the following on February 18: "At Clermont in the Auvergne, Saint Sigonius, Bishop." But Saussay in the Supplement to the Martyrology: and the 18th. "At Clermont in the Auvergne, the entombment of Saint Sigo, Bishop, who passed to Christ to be glorified on the tenth of this month."
[6] Concerning his relics, Savaron at the place cited says: "His ashes, enclosed in a reliquary, remain above, at the head of the church of Port." his relics at Clermont. He recounts the same in his Origins. And Saussay on February 10: "whose most holy relics, reverently preserved in the same basilica of Saint Mary de Portu, are displayed there for veneration today."