AREDIUS, ST.

Abbot, also known as Aridius, Arigius, Yrieix, Yriel, Yriez, Ysary, Ysère, Yséry; b. Limoges, France, early sixth century; d. Aug. 25, 591. He came from an important family and grew up at the court of King theudebert i. Attracted by the sanctity and eloquence of Bishop nicetius of trier, he went to study under him, subsequently becoming one of his clergy and showing signs of holiness. He returned to Limoges after the death of his father and used his patrimony to build churches and, some time before 572, to found the Abbey of Attane, later named St. Yrieix in his honor. Aredius became first abbot, and he and his monks followed the teachings of the monastic fathers, especially those of basil and John cassian. He was also a friend of the poet Fortunatus, who mentions him in his poems. He was buried in the abbey, and his relics were translated when a new church was built c. 1180. gregory of tours reported many miracles worked through his intercession.

Feast: Aug. 25.

Bibliography: gregory of tours, Historia Francorum 10.29, Monumenta Germaniae Historica: Scriptores rerum Merovingicarum 1:440–442. Bibliotheca hagiograpica latina antiquae et mediae aetatis (Brussels 1898–1901) 1:664–668, lists other refs. in Gregory. Vita, Acta Sanctorum Aug. 5:178–194 and Monumenta Germaniae Historica: Scriptores rerum Merovingicarum 3:581–609. f. arbellot, Vie de saint Yrieix (Limoges 1900). r. aigrain, Dictionnaire d'histoire et de géographie ecclésiastiques, ed. a. baudrillart et al. (Paris 1912) 1632–36; Catholicisme 1:806. j. l. baudot and l. chaussin, Vies des saints et des bienhereux selon l'ordre du calendrier avec l'historique des fêtes (Paris 1935–56) 8:475–478. a. m. zimmermann, Kalendarium Benedictinum (Metten 1933–38) 2:622–623.

[m. c. mccarthy]