Saint of the Day – 29 December – Saint Trophimus of Arles (Died c280) the first Bishop of Arles, Gaul (modern France), Missionary Patronages – against drought, of Arles, France, of children. Additional Memorial – 30 September (translation of Relics).
There is great confusion regarding this Saint, according to some traditions, he was previously the companion of the Apostle St Paul named by him in his Epistle . He was Ordained Bishop in Rome , then worked in the mission in southern France and became the Bishop of Arles, where he achieved great things. Some traditions report his martyrdom by beheading.
In 417 the Roman Bishop, Zosimus gave Bishop Patroclus of Arles, metropolitan power, as the major Bishop in Gaul, thereby strengthening him in the disputes with the Diocese of Vienne and justifying this, with the fact that a certain St Trophimus had been the first to be sent from Rome to Gaul, namely to Arles – this was the first recorded mention of Trophimus. A letter from 19 Bishops from Gaul to Pope Leo I names Trophimus as a messenger from Peter and the Apostles and thus argued that Arles and not Vienne, had priority in Gaul.
St Caesarius of Arles mentioned Trophimus, St Gregory of Tours described him as one of the seven men sent from Rome on a mission to Gaul around 250. St Florus of Lyon included him in his martyrology, Ado of Vienne equated him with Paul’s student Trophimus .
In 972, Trophimus’ bones were transferred to the Cathedral in Arles which has been dedicated to him since 1060. Since the journey to the Sanctuary of St James in Santiago de Compostela often led through Arles, Trophimus became widely known and revered from the 12th Century onwards. A Monastery in Arles also bears his name.
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