Acta Sanctorum

Paracodus of Vienne

1 January · commentary
Latin source: Heiligenlexikon
St. Paracodas (also Pyragodas), a Greek by birth, seventh or eighth bishop of Vienne in Gaul, who held office under the emperors Caracalla through Maximinus (early 3rd century). The commentary includes a letter from Pope Victor concerning the Easter controversy. 3rd century

CONCERNING ST. PARACODAS, BISHOP OF VIENNE.

About the year of Christ 239.

Commentary

Paracodas, Bishop of Vienne in Gaul (St.)

[1] The name of St. Paracodas is missing from the Martyrology of Ado of Vienne, which our Herbert Rosweyde published: but in the manuscripts of the Monastery of Lobbes, The name of St. Paracodas in the sacred records. and of St. Lawrence at Liege, and in the Appendix of Ado, the following is found: "On the same day, of the most holy Paragodas, seventh Bishop of Vienne." The German Martyrology and the manuscript Florarium Sanctorum have the same. Philip Ferrarius, Bede, and others have nearly the same. Nor do I think that these were added to the Martyrology of Ado by a foreign hand, as Rosweyde supposes. For who would believe that Ado would have passed over his own predecessor? His name is variously expressed. Others call him Pyragodas, Piragodas, Paragodes.

[2] Concerning him, John Boscius writes in his Floriac Library, and shows that he was the eighth Bishop of that see. After St. Dionysius, St. Paracodas, a Greek by birth like Dionysius, Under which Emperors he lived. held the episcopate; in the time of the Emperors Antoninus Caracalla, Aurelius, Alexander, and Maximinus; to whom Pope Victor wrote thus:

Victor, Bishop, to his brother Bishop Paragodas, greeting. Our colleague Dionysius, having fallen asleep, Letter of Pope Victor to him. left you to us as a companion in the Church of Christ. You see, Brother, that the Eastern Church is separated from the Western on account of the celebration of Easter. It has therefore pleased us, followers of the Apostles, to write to your unanimity, that according to what is written: "Old things are passed away; Behold, all things are made new" (2 Cor. 5:17), we should not follow darkness but light; that we may heed the Prophet: "The people that sat in darkness saw a great light" (Isaiah 9:2). Therefore, Brother and colleague in the Lord, teach throughout the churches committed to you that Easter is to be celebrated after the fifteenth moon, He advises him to see that Easter is celebrated after the fourteenth moon. that the Apostle may say to us: "Christ our Passover has been sacrificed" (1 Cor. 5:7); and, "You were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord." The brotherhood of unanimity greets you in the Lord. Greeting the brothers who are with you at Vienne concerning us in the Lord. Farewell. (Eph. 5:8)

St. Paracodas is honored with an annual observance on the 4th of the Nones of January. In his time, St. Zacharias, Bishop of Lyon, was flourishing. So says Boscius. But whether this letter of Victor is genuine may rightly be doubted.