CONCERNING ST. LEGONTIUS, BISHOP OF METZ IN BELGICA PRIMA.
A.D. 325.
CommentaryLegontius, Bishop of Metz in Belgica Prima (St.)
By J. B.
[1] The twelfth Bishop of the Church of Metz is designated by Paul the Deacon, Jean Chenu, Demochares, and Claude Robert as St. Legontius. He died on the twelfth day before the Kalends of March, The feast of St. Legontius on February 18. as Chenu reports. On that day the following is read in the Martyrology of Metz, according to Meurissius: "At Metz, the deposition of St. Legontius, Bishop." And in the manuscript of St. Gudula at Brussels: "At Metz, of St. Legontius, Bishop and Confessor of that city." Ferrarius has the same in his General Catalogue of Saints, but errs when he cites Molanus in the Notes, for Molanus mentions not this Legontius but the one of Trier, and on February 19 at that.
[2] Concerning the life of St. Legontius and of St. Phronimius his predecessor, "beyond their names, no ancient report has brought anything down to us," says Paul the Deacon in his booklet on the Bishops of Metz. Meurissius, Bishop of Madaura and Suffragan of Metz, date, in his history of the Bishops of Metz writes that Legontius presided over that Church from the year 292 to 325, and also looked after the Church of Verdun, which at that time lacked its own pastor, in very difficult times indeed; yet he confirms this chronology with no supporting evidence.
[3] The same writer reports that he was buried in the crypt of St. Clement, the first Bishop. Afterwards the relics of Legontius and his predecessor were transferred from the crypt to the upper church, where they are still preserved, translation on June 16. and especially parts of the arms of both are kept in a certain chest together with the remains of other Saints. The commemoration of the Translation is celebrated on June 16, and on that day the following is read in the Martyrology of Metz, according to the same Meurissius: "At Metz, the translation of the holy Confessors and likewise Bishops Legontius and Phronimius." Some do not distinguish whether it is the feast day or the translation. Thus Hermann
Greven: "At Metz, of Leguntius and Strominius." The manuscript Florarium: "At the city of Metz, the deposition of the holy Bishops and Confessors Firminus and Legoncius." Ferrarius in the General Catalogue of Saints: "At Metz, of the holy Bishops Legontius and Frominius." More explicitly than the rest, Saussay in the Gallican Martyrology: "At Metz, the translation of the holy Bishops Phrominius and Leguntius from the crypt of the Church of St. Clement to the upper church." As the Florarium does here, so Baronius in the Notes to the Martyrology for August 18 takes Firminus for Phronimius. St. Firminus was the twentieth Bishop of Metz and is venerated on August 18; Phronimius was the eleventh and is venerated on July 27.