Florentius of Vienne

ON ST. FLORENTIUS, BISHOP OF VIENNE, MARTYR.

c. A.D. 258.

Florentius, Bishop of Vienne, Martyr (St.)

St. Florentius, the ninth Bishop of Vienne, lived through the times of Gordian, Philip, Decius, Gallus, and Volusian, when Novatus, a priest of the Blessed Cyprian, came to Rome and founded the Novatian heresy. His anniversary falls on the 3rd of the Nones of January, when after exile he suffered death for Christ. So the Bibliotheca Floriacensis, edited by Jean Bosco, and Jean Chenu record.

[2] Claudius Robert, the Martyrology of Usuard published at Cologne in an expanded edition in 1490 and 1521, Bede, Molanus in his Additions to Usuard, the German Martyrology, Ado, and others write that St. Florentius was the eighth bishop of the city of Vienne. I believe they confuse Desiderius and Dionysius. The manuscript of Bede's Bavarian Martyrology: "On the same day, of St. Florentius, Bishop and Martyr of Iuvennensis (read: Viennensis), the seventh of that city."

The Roman Martyrology: "At Vienne in Gaul, St. Florentius, Bishop, who in the time of Emperor Gallienus was relegated to exile, and there completed his martyrdom." Besides those cited, the manuscript Florarium Sanctorum and Galesius mention him. The Martyrology of St. Jerome: "At Vienne, the burial of Florentius." Concerning him, Matthew of Westminster in his Flowers of History: "In the year of grace 241, Florentius, Bishop of Vienne, was distinguished for his life and teaching." Distinguished in learning. He remained, moreover, until the reign of Gallienus and Volusian, and completed his martyrdom as an exile.

[4] Notker records him on January 2nd, with these words: "At Vienne, the burial of the Blessed Florentius, Bishop."