Eparchius, St.
EPARCHIUS, ST.
Monk and priest (called also Cybard); b. Périgord, France, c. 504; d. Angoulême, France, July 1, 581. In spite of parental opposition, he entered a monastery, perhaps Sessac in the Diocese of Saintes, while still young. He served there under Abbot Martin and gained a reputation for virtue and the gift of miracles. Out of humility he left the monastery and went to live in solitude near Angoulême, but his virtues were too well known, and the bishop obliged him to receive ordination to the priesthood. Although a recluse, he accepted disciples who were allowed to do no work or begging but, depending completely on providence, devoted themselves to prayer. gregory of tours, the chief source of information, reported a considerable cult of Eparchius in the sixth century and noted that a church was built over his tomb.
Feast: July 1.
Bibliography: Acta Sanctorum July 1:97–104. gregory of tours, Historia Francorum, bk. 6, ch. 8; De gloria confessorum ch. (101) 99. a. butler, The Lives of the Saints, ed. h. thurston and d. attwater (New York 1956) 3: 4. r. aigrain, Catholicisme 3:392–394. j. de la martinieÈe, Saint Cybard, étude critique d'hagiographie (Paris 1908).
[b. cavanaugh]