Saint of the Day – 18 August – Saint Eonus (Died c502) Bishop of Arles. Of French birth where he died in his Diocese of Arles in c502. Also known as – Eolnius, Aeonius.
Eonus was related to the renowned Saint Caesarius (470-542) and a fellow citizen of Arles. Eonus succeeded Saint Leontius, as the Bishop of Arles, who was still alive in 475.
Pope Saint Gelasius I addressed a letter to our Saint to be shared with the Eiscopate of Gaul. Pope Anastasius II (496-498) had determined the respective rights of the Provinces of Vienne and Arles, in a way prejudicial to the latter and Eonus asserted his point of view. In 499, Pope Symmachus ordered him to send a representative to Rome, together with that of Vienne. In 500, the outcome of this meeting in Rome was successful for Eonus, as Arles recovered its rights.
Eonus corresponded with Saint Ruricius, the Bishop of Limoges, three of whose letters addressed to him have come down to us.
Eonus involved himself in monastic life and placed St Caesarius, who had left Lérins for health reasons, at the head of one of his Monasteries. He Ordained St Caesarius to the Priesthood and chose him as his successor. This choice Eonus expressed this to his Clergy, to the best of his faithful and to the King of Toulouse, Alaric.
He likely died in 502. The Diocese of Arles and Aix, celebrate the Feast of Saint Eonus with us all today.
AnaStpaul 