Julian of Brioude
Julian of Brioude (3rd century), martyr. The details of his life are obscure; his cult ancient and strong, so that he became patron saint of the Auvergne. His Acts say that he was a soldier who was also a devout Christian; when Crispin, governor of Vienne, decided on a policy of persecution, Julian withdrew to the Auvergne. Later, learning that he was being sought out by the persecutors, he gave himself up and was beheaded.
The church built over his tomb at Brioude became an important pilgrimage centre; others were built at Tours, Reims, Paris (S. Julien-le-pauvre), and elsewhere. Gregory of Tours helped to propagate his cult and described how he moved some of his relics by night into a church he consecrated in Julian's honour. The many miracles which the saint accomplished concerned not only healing but also control of the weather, avenging of robbery, and other actions of anger, protection, and destruction as well as of benevolence. In these ways Julian was a characteristic saint of the early Middle Ages with a strong local presence and power; woe betide those who questioned or disdained it. Sidonius Apollinaris and Venantius Fortunatus also referred to Julian and his cult. Feast: 28 August.
Bibliography
Click here for a list of abbreviations used in this bibliography.
- AA.SS. Aug. VI (1743), 169–88; Propylaeum, p. 365; Gregory of Tours; De virtutibus S. Juliani in M.G.H., Scriptores rerum meroving, i. 562–84; J. M. Wallace Hadrill, The Frankish Church (1983), pp. 75–93
