Saint of the Day – 29 January – Saint Valerius (Died 2nd-3rd Century) the 2nd Bishop of Trier, in modern Germany of which See he was the Shepherd for 15 years. Also known as – Valery, Valerij, Valerian, Valerijo, Valerin, Valko, Valči.
The Roman Martyrology reads today: “At Treves, the demise of the blessed Bishop St Valerius, disciple of the Apostle St Peter.”
According to an ancient legend, St Valerius was a follower of Saint Eucharius, the 1st Bishop of Trier. Eucharius was sent to Gaul by Saint Peter as the Bishop, together with the Deacon Valerius and the Subdeacon Maternus, to preach the Gospel.
They came to the Rhine and to Ellelum in Alsace, where Maternus died. His two companions hastened back to St Peter and begged him to restore the dead man to life. St Peter gave his pastoral staff to Eucharius and, upon being touched with it, Maternus, who had been in his grave for forty days, returned to life. The pagans then converted in large numbers. After founding many Churches, the three companions went to Trier, where evangelising progressed so rapidly that Eucharius chose that City for his Episcopal residence. An Angel announced to him his approaching death and pointed to Valerius as his successor.
Valerius was the Bishop for fifteen years and was succeeded by St Maternus, who had, in the meantime, founded the Diocese of Cologne and Tongeren, remaining the Bishop of the 3 Sees for forty years. The staff of St Peter, with which he had been raised to life, was preserved at Cologne until the end of the 10th Century, when the upper half was presented to Trier and was afterwards taken to Prague by Emperor Charles IV.
Valerius was buried with St Eucharius in Eucharius’ Church, today’s Abbey of St Matthias in Trier.
AnaStpaul 