Vidianus

ON ST. VIDIANUS, MARTYR IN THE PLACE CALLED MARTRES, IN THE DIOCESE OF RIEUX IN OCCITANIA,

From the Martyrologies.

Perhaps in the Vth century.

Vidianus, martyr, in the place Martres of the diocese of Rieux (S.)

J. S.

The memory of Vidianus, martyr, is exceedingly obscure, but his cult is beyond doubt. The Saint's cult: the place, Wherefore, since I have sought in vain for his deeds in the historians, I shall briefly gather the few things that offer themselves from the Martyrologies. Ferrarius in his General Catalogue at the XXVII of August has this: In the territory of Rieux in Aquitaine, of St. Vidianus, martyr, under the Goths. He adds in his Annotations: From the records of that church. The place is called MARTRES, where he is venerated in a church of his own. Castellan at the VIII of September has in French what I render into Latin: In the place Martres of the diocese of Rieux in Occitania, of St. Bedianus, put to martyrdom by the Arians. Saussay announces the Saint on the IX day of September, using these words: In Aquitaine, in the territory of Rieux, of St. Vidianus, martyr, in the place commonly called MARTRES, impiously slaughtered by the Arian Goths on account of his profession of the orthodox faith. Simon de Peyronet in his Catalogue of the Saints* also mentions Vidianus; but he adds nothing to what precedes, except that he is venerated on the VIII day of September, and is commonly called Vesian.

[2] where he is venerated: a conjecture about the time of his martyrdom. I have nothing more about St. Vidianus; a few things, however, can be observed about the place where he is venerated, and about the time of his martyrdom. The city of Rivi, in French Rieux, in whose territory the place Martres lies, does not belong to Aquitaine properly so called, but is situated in upper Occitania on the river Garonne, and is an episcopal see under the archbishop of Toulouse. The time of the martyrdom cannot be assigned with certainty: only a conjecture can be given, since he is said to have been killed by the Arian Goths. For the Visigoths in the fifth century had their royal seat at Toulouse, and from time to time persecuted the Catholics. Hence I have noted the fifth century in the margin, with hesitation.

* Vezians