ON S. EVONIUS, BISHOP
IN THE PROVINCE OF AUVERGNE IN GAUL.
Arguments of ancient cult: doubts concerning the person.
CommentaryEvonius, Bishop in the province of Auvergne in Gaul (S.)
G. H.
[1] Issorium or Issodorum or Iciodorum, a city of Gaul in lower Auvergne on the river Allier, commonly Issoire, is distant toward the South five leagues from Clermont, in whose diocese it is, Near Issoire, and contains in its district the parish of S. Evonius, or Ivonius, commonly Curé de Saint-Ive, whose Pastor is named from the Abbot of Issoire. John Savaron published a treatise on the holy Churches and monasteries of Clermont by an anonymous author, whom he judges to have flourished about the year DCCCCL. This author in book 2 chapter 15 writes these things: In the church of S. Evonius, the altar of S. Evonius, a church and altar of S. Evonius, the altar of S. Martial, the altar of S. Petronilla. To which heading Savaron notes these things. The church destroyed, which retains the name in the suburb of Rubiacum, and is commonly called of S. Igon, of S. Ivonius. An old manuscript book of Mauriac, where concerning the translation of S. Austremonius, from the aforesaid fortress, namely Petra-incisa, which now is called S. Ivonius, was carried to Iciodorum &c.; whose feast is celebrated in this fortress of S. Ivonius not far from Iciodorum, a statue with the insignia of a Bishop. and his statue is fashioned with Episcopal insignia: and since his history is not extant, the Acts of S. Ivo are read, which is absurd, not to say irreligious. Of Eonius the Bishop, successor of Leontius, Ruricius makes mention in book I chapter 15 and book 2 chapter 15.
[2] These things Savaron. Of S. Ivo, Presbyter of Tréguier in Armorica, cult on May 19. commonly the Advocate of the Poor, we treat below on this day, that it may be seen that on occasion of him this day too was chosen for the cult and veneration of S. Evonius, of whom Saussajus has these things in the Gallican Martyrology: Near Iciodorum in Auvergne, of S. Evonius, Bishop and Confessor, celebrated by the glory of the highest virtues and heavenly charisms: whose most ancient church, dedicated to his sacred memory, is seen in the suburbs of the city of Clermont. But the fortress marked with his name in the aforesaid tract, as it rejoices in perpetual patronages, so today it observes his feast with worthy solemnities. These things Saussajus, the words of Savaron amplified.
[3] The aforesaid S. Austremonius the Bishop is venerated on the Kalends of November, whose translation of body to Mauriac was made under King Pepin in the year DCCLXIV. But S. Aeonius, Could S. Eonius the Bishop of Arles be believed? or Eonius, successor of Leontius, seems to be the Bishop of Arles, whose feast will be treated on the XXX of August. That this one and the same can be reckoned with him who here is called Evonius, is not easy to establish from the sole suspicion of the aforesaid Savaron. When we once illustrated the Acts of S. Praejectus, Bishop of Clermont, on the XXV of January, it also occurred to us to think that this Evonius perhaps was that Evodius praised in the same place, of whom in the prior Acts at number 2 these things are handed down: or S. Evodius the companion of S. Praejectus Bp. of Clermont? Praejectus at that time had as companion a most sagacious man of sacred religion and of clear sanctity, Evodius, who recalled many peoples of Auvergne and the neighboring cities, ensnared by the reins of the ancient serpent, to the bosom of the holy Catholic Church through the antidote of salutary penance. In the later Acts these things are thus read at number 13. When he was mighty in holy morals, he chose for himself as companion a certain religious man, Evodius by name, through whom holy preaching invited the souls of many to heavenly desires.