Saint of the Day – 27 October – Saint Namatius of Clermont (Died c462) Bishop,

Saint of the Day – 27 October – Saint Namatius of Clermont (Died c462) Bishop, the Eighth or Ninth Bishop of Clermont (then called Arvernis) from 446 until his death in 462 and founded Clermont’s first Cathedral, bringing the Relics of Saints Vitalis and Agricola from Bologna, Italy, to enshrined therein.dedicating the Cathedral to them. Also known as – Namace, Namazio.

Namatius was a wise and good man, happily married. He lived in France (New Aquitaine), in the 5th Century. Despite having married, Namatius was elected Bishop of Clermont. In fact, in those days, the Bishop was chosen from among the City’s men who demonstrated that they had many virtues and qualities to put to good use for the entire community and, that they were capable of the sacrifices necessary in order to become the shepherd of the flock of Christ.

Even the Bishop’s wife had to demonstrate that she possessed great virtues, like Namatius’ wife, a woman with a truly golden heart, as well as being very cultured. Namatius and his wife joyfully accepted the new role. From that moment on, they no longer lived together as before – each one lived separately at the service of the Lord.

A stained glass window (see right) in the Saint-Eutrope Church in Clermont shows the Saint carrying the first Cathedral of Clermont.

Of this construction project, St Gregory of Tours in his Historia Francorum writes:

“He undertook the task of building the older Church which is still standing and is contained within the walls of the City, one hundred and fifty feet in length, sixty in width,-that is, the nave, fifty in height to the vault, with a round apse in front and on each side aisles finely built, the whole building is laid out in the form of a cross; it has forty-two windows, seventy columns, eight doors.
The fear of God is in it and a great brightness is seen and, in the spring, a very pleasant fragrance, as if of spices, is perceived there by the devout.
It has, near the Altar, walls of variegated work, adorned with many kinds of marble.
The blessed Bishop on finishing the building in the twelfth year, sent Priests to Bologna in Italy, to procure Relics of Saints Agricola and Vitalis, who we know, very certainly, were crucified in the name of Christ our God.”