4th century

Saint Leon (Lienne) of Poitiers

Summary

A priest and close confidant of Saint Hilary of Poitiers in the 4th century, Saint Leon (or Lienne) shared his bishop's exile and helped him combat Arianism in Gaul. After witnessing his master's final moments, he continued his pastoral ministry until his peaceful death at the end of the century. His relics, once venerated in Poitiers and later in La Roche-sur-Yon, likely disappeared during the wars against the English.

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SAINT LEON OR LIENNE OF POITIERS (late 4th century).

Life 01 / 04

Formation and ordination

Leone, known as Lienne, trained under Saint Hilary of Poitiers, who ordained him a priest due to his piety and knowledge of the Scriptures.

Leone, commonly called Lie nne, made great progress under the discipline of Saint Hila ry and deserved, through the integrity of his morals and his knowledge of the divine Scriptures, to be ordained a priest by this great Saint.

Mission 02 / 04

Companion in exile and struggle against Arianism

A confidant of Saint Hilary, he accompanied him into exile and actively participated in the struggle against the Arian heresy in Gaul upon their return.

He fulfilled the duties of this dignity in such a way as to merit the affection of Saint Hilary, who made him the confidant of his most intimate thoughts. He accomp anied his bishop into exile and suffered with him for the faith: upo n ret urning to Gaul, he helped him greatly to deliv er this country from the Arian perfidy. The holy bishop having called him to his side in his final moments, he saw the celestial light that descended to him to receive his soul, and into which this already beatified spirit took flight (368).

Life 03 / 04

Pastoral ministry and passing

After the death of his master, he continued the evangelization of the people and died at the end of the 4th century, on the date predicted by Saint Hilary.

Thus, separated from his father and his master, he applied himself more than ever to nourishing the people with the word of Christ. His life was spent in the fulfillment of these pious duties; being already old, he fell into a peaceful sleep on the day that Saint Hilary had predicted for him, towards the end of the 4th century, and went to enjoy the bliss that shall not end. He was buried in a chapel adjoining the house of Saint Hilary; numerous miracles glorified his relics, which the pe ople of P oitiers surrounded with great veneration.

Cult 04 / 04

Cult and translation of relics

His relics, initially honored in Poitiers, were transferred to La Roche-sur-Yon in 994 before disappearing during the wars against the English.

In the year 994, the b ody of Saint Lienne was trans ferred to La Roc he-sur-Yon; it was long preserved there in a church dedicated to him, where lamps burned ceaselessly in his honor.

The house that Saint Hilary had inhabited and near which Saint Lienne was buried later became the Abbey of Saint-Hilaire-de-la-Celle and is to day the Carmelite conve nt. As for the tomb at La Roche-sur-Yon, it is to be believed that it perished with the holy body enclosed within its marble walls during the calamitous wars that marked the presence of the English in Poitou. In 1476, the chu rch of Saint-Lienne no longer existed at La Roche-sur-Yon, and had been replaced by that of Saint-Michel.

Proper of Poitiers.