Saint of the Day – 3 February – St Leonius (4th Century) Priest in Poitiers and a disciple of St Hilary. We believe Leonius was born in Poitiers in the 4th Century. He died in the latter part of this Century
late 4th century in Poitiers, Aquitaine, France of natural causes. Also known as – Leonius of Luçon, Leonio… Léone… Lienne… Additional Memorial – 14 February (in the Archdiocese of Poitiers).
Leonius was born in Poitiers into a Christian family. He studied Scripture and theology and was Ordained a Priest by St Hilary. His teacher, St Hilary, was a prominent Theologian and the Bishop of Poitiers who supported the Doctrine of the Trinity against Arianism which held that Jesus Christ was not God.
He was a faithful disciple of St Hilary and followed him into exile when the Emperor Constantius II began persecuting Christians who held the Doctrine of the True Faith and did not subscribed to the heresy of the Arians.
Leonius and St Hilary spent several years in exile, during which they preached the Gospel and fought against Arianism.
Leonius assisted St Hilary on his deathbed and died himself at an advanced age towards the end of the 4th Century. His Relics were transferred to La-Roche-sur-Yon in 994 but were lost during the Hundred Years’ War. The Diocese of Lucon celebrates St Leonius today, on 3 February and that of Poitiers, on the 14th of this month.
AnaStpaul 