Euphronius of Autun

Saint Euphronius of Autun (died after 472) was a bishop of Autun^[1] between 450 and 490. According to Dom Basil Watkins OSB, Euphronius "was one of the greatest bishops of Gaul..."in the 5th century.^[2]

Autun Cathedral

Life

He became bishop in 451 at the latest. Gregory of Tours^[3] reports that he had built a church dedicated to Saint Symphorian in Autun. He was a friend of Bishop Lupus of Troyes.^[2]

The letters of Sidonius Apollinaris^[4] note that around the year 470 he accompanied the bishop of Lyon and other prelates to Chalon-sur-Saône to consecrate a new bishop. Also in 472, Sidonius wrote to him to attend the consecration of the new bishop of Bourges.

In 453 Euphronius composed a letter, now lost, to the bishop of Angers, Talasius. It is reproduced in the Concilia Antiquae Galliae.^[5] Around 470, when Bishop Perpetuus of Tours was building a new church to house the remains of Martin of Tours, Euphronius sent marble for the cover of the saint's tomb.^[6] Euphronius was buried in the graveyard of the Abbey of St. Symphorian, Autun; his name is in the Roman Martyrology for August 3.