Saint Gaudin of Soissons
Bishop of Soissons in the 8th century, Gaudin was a zealous preacher against avarice. Victim of an ambush set by usurers, he was tortured and then drowned in a well around the year 700. His relics, long venerated in the Cathedral of Soissons, were burned by the Huguenots in 1567.
Contemporaries
Figures and markers around the normalized period for this entry.
Guided reading
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SAINT GAUDIN, BISHOP OF SOISSONS (700).
Ministry and martyrdom
Bishop of Soissons in the 8th century, Gaudin was murdered by usurers whose avarice he vehemently denounced.
Gaudin , the third successor of Saint Brausin to the see of Soi ssons, w as very lively and very vehement in reprimanding vices. Having thus unleashed his eloquent indignation against the insatiable avarice of certain usurers, these men, in hatred of the evangelical truth he preached, surprised him in an ambush, dragged him into a street, then n amed Herlin, and now Saint-Gaudin. There, they tortu red him in various ways, and as he refused to retract what he had said, they threw him into a well where he drowned, around the year 700 of Our Lord, and thus merited to be inscribed in the catalogue of Martyrs.
Cult and destiny of the relics
His relics, transferred to the cathedral of Soissons, were destroyed by the heretics in 1567, although his place of martyrdom remained a site of devotion.
His body was transferred to the cathedral church , along with the bod ies of Saint P rincipi us and Sai nt Lupus, bishops , and Saint Ag ricolus, priest. Exhumed on the first of June, it was placed in a silver reliquary, which was pillaged in 1567 by th e heretics , at the same time that the relics were burned. The place consecrated by his martyrdom did not cease to be frequented by the devotion of the people until the end of the 18th century.
Liturgical source
The text is taken from the Proper of the Diocese of Soissons.
* Proper of Soissons .*
Iconography
Signs and attributes
Entities
Narrative network
The names, places, and concepts most present in the entry, weighted by centrality in the text.
Frequently asked questions about Saint Gaudin of Soissons
Who was Saint Gaudin of Soissons?
Bishop of Soissons in the 8th century, Gaudin was a zealous preacher against avarice. Victim of an ambush set by usurers, he was tortured and then drowned in a well around the year 700. His relics, long venerated in the Cathedral of Soissons, were burned by the Huguenots in 1567.
What is Saint Gaudin of Soissons the patron saint of?
Patronage of Saint Gaudin of Soissons: Soissons.
How is Saint Gaudin of Soissons depicted in Christian art?
In iconography, Saint Gaudin of Soissons is recognizable by: well.
How did Saint Gaudin of Soissons die?
Saint Gaudin of Soissons suffered martyrdom for the Christian faith (7th century).
Which saints were contemporaries of Saint Gaudin of Soissons?
Contemporaries include: Saint Priest (Prix), Saint Gregory the Great (Pope and Doctor of the Church), Saint Die (Didier, Deodat) and Saint Augustine of Canterbury.
Annexes & related entities
Structured data for exploration: events, miracles, quotes, places, attributes, patronages, and important entities cited in the text.
Key Events
- Election as the third successor to Saint Brausin to the see of Soissons
- Vehement preaching against the greed of usurers
- Ambush on Herlin Street
- Torture and refusal to recant
- Martyrdom by drowning in a well
- Translation of the relics to the cathedral church
- Elevation of relics on June 1st
- Destruction of relics by heretics in 1567