Saint of the Day – 8 October – Saint Evodius (5th Century) the 9th Bishop and Confessor of Rouen in France. Also known as – Yves, Lisoie, Yvoire, or Evodius.
The Roman Martyrology reads today: “At Rouen, St Evodius, Bishop and Confessor.”
The good-quality Episcopal list of Rouen places him 9th in line. His Episcopate can be dated around 420-430. His Vita, written very late, places him at the time of King Clotaire I, who reigned from 511 to 561, so these dates are in contention with other sources.
Evodius is said to have died in Andelys and been buried in Rouen. At the time of the Norman invasions (9th Century), his Relics were translated to Braine in the Diocese of Soissons. In 1130, they passed to the Premonstratensians, who founded an Abbey in Braine which lasted until the Revolution of 1789. In 1874, Braine returned a fragment of Evodius’ Relics to Rouen Cathedral.
There is a legend which relates a fire which would cease burning when “wet with tears [of his] prayers.”
His Feast was initially celebrated in Rouen on 8 October which date is considered the day of his death. : then the occurrence of other Feasts caused it to be moved to other days of the same month (10, 12, 21).
The Abbey Church of St Yves, below, in Braine is dedicated to him and the Choir School of the Rouen Cathedral is known today as St.Evodius Choir School.
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