Saint Anatole of Salins
Bishop of Adana in Cilicia in the 4th century, Anatole was exiled to Gaul for supporting Saint John Chrysostom. He spent his final days as a hermit near Salins in Franche-Comté. His relics, rediscovered in the 11th century, make him the patron saint of the city of Salins.
Contemporaries
Figures and markers around the normalized period for this entry.
Guided reading
3 reading sections
SAINT ANATOLE, PATRON OF SALINS (4th century).
Origins and exile in Gaul
Anatole, bishop of Adana, was exiled to Gaul for having supported John Chrysostom. He ended his days as a hermit near Salins, in a chapel dedicated to Saint Symphorian.
The blessed Anatole, p atron of the city of Sal ins, w as, it is said, bishop o f Ada na in Cilicia, supported the part y of Saint John Chryso stom aga inst Theophilus of Ale xandria, and, because of this, was sent into exile in Gaul. He stopped in Seq uania (F ranche-Comté) near Salins, on the side of a steep mountain, where very opportunely he found a small chapel consecrated to Saint Symphor ian. It is there that he died, and his body remained hidden in that same place for about six centuries. Saint Chrysostom had written to him from his exile in Cucusus to thank him for the zeal he had shown in defending him.
Development of the cult and translation of the relics
After six centuries of oblivion, his relics were honored by the archbishops of Besançon, Hugh I and Nicholas, before being saved from revolutionary desecration in 1794.
At the beginning of the 11th century, Hugh I, Archbishop of Besançon, having built a basilica which was dedicated to the honor of Saint Symphorian, S aint Anatole, and Saint Agatha, the relics of Saint Anatole were deposited there in a suitable tomb. Two hundred years later, Nicholas, Archbi shop of Besançon, enclosed them in a precious reliquary and established a college of canons in the same church. When in 1794 the patriots dispersed the holy relics, pious hands were able to collect the desecrated bones of Sa int Anatole. They were replaced in a reliquary in 1795 and recognized as authentic in 1801.
Source of the text
The text is taken from the Proper of the Diocese of Saint-Claude.
Proper of Saint-Claude .
Entities
Narrative network
The names, places, and concepts most present in the entry, weighted by centrality in the text.
Frequently asked questions about Saint Anatole of Salins
Who was Saint Anatole of Salins?
Bishop of Adana in Cilicia in the 4th century, Anatole was exiled to Gaul for supporting Saint John Chrysostom. He spent his final days as a hermit near Salins in Franche-Comté. His relics, rediscovered in the 11th century, make him the patron saint of the city of Salins.
What is Saint Anatole of Salins the patron saint of?
Patronage of Saint Anatole of Salins: Salins.
Which saints were contemporaries of Saint Anatole of Salins?
Contemporaries include: Saint Blaise, Saint Hilary of Poitiers, Saint Basil the Great (Archbishop of Caesarea) and Saint Baudilus.
When did Saint Anatole of Salins die?
Saint Anatole of Salins died around 400.
Annexes & related entities
Structured data for exploration: events, miracles, quotes, places, attributes, patronages, and important entities cited in the text.
Key Events
- Bishop of Adana in Cilicia
- Support for Saint John Chrysostom against Theophilus of Alexandria
- Exile in Gaul
- Settled in Sequania near Salins
- Died in a chapel dedicated to Saint Symphorian
- Discovery of the relics in the 11th century
- Translation of relics by Hugh I
- Translation into a reliquary by Archbishop Nicolas in the 13th century
- Dispersion of relics in 1794 and preservation by the faithful
- Recognition of the authenticity of the relics in 1801