Faustinus of Lyon

Faustin (Latin: Faustinus) was the fifth bishop of Lyon. He is recognized as a saint by the Roman Catholic Church [1] and the Orthodox Church.[2][3][4]

Faustin succeeds Helios in the middle of the 3rd century as bishop of Lyon. In 254, Faustinus wrote to Cyprian, Bishop of Carthage, and to Pope Stephen I regarding the Novatian tendencies of Marcianus, Bishop of Arles, in refusing to forgive Christians who repented after rejecting the Church during the persecution of Diocletian.[5]

The letter of Cyprian to Pope Stephen begins: Cyprien brother Stephen, Our colleague Faustin, Lyons, a brother who is very dear, wrote me twice, saying that that is Marcianus in Arles, door against Christians repenting the very serious charge of heresy, so that God's servants who repent, suffer and implore the church in tears, groans and pain, are being denied the consolation and help of divine piety and gentleness of the Father; when they are injured, they do not have the right to come relieve their wounds, but without hope of appeasement and communion, they are left to the wolves and thrown prey to diable.[6][7]

At that time, Faustin is not the only Gallic bishop, other dioceses have been created at least in Vienne and Arles, and maybe in other cities of Gaul. However, in the case of Marcian, Faustin is the spokesman of the bishops of Gaul.

In the early 5th century, Castor, bishop of Apt built in his honor a monastery in Nîmes.

References

1. Archdiocese of Lyon, France at Catholic Saints.info.
2. Bernard Berthod, Jacqueline Boucher, Bruno Galland, Régis Ladous et André Pelletier, Archevêques de Lyon, Lyon, éditions Lyonnaises d'Art et d'Histoire, 2012, p191.
3. Jacques Gadille (dir.), René Fédou, Henri Hours et Bernard de Vregille, Le diocèse de Lyon, Paris, Beauchesne, coll. (Histoire des diocèses de France (no 16), 1983), p350.
4. David M. Cheney, Archdiocese of Lyon at catholic-hierarchy.org.
5. Goyau, Georges. "Lyons." The Catholic Encyclopedia Vol. 9. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1910. 18 October 2017
6. Lettre de Saint-Cyprien (Epistula LXVIII) adressée au pape Etienne.
7. Gallia Christiana Novissima, Tome III, page 12, n°12.

 This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Herbermann, Charles, ed. (1913). "Lyons". Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company.

Catholic Church titles
Preceded by Helios	Bishop of Lyon 3rd century	Succeeded by Verus