Gatianus of Tours

Gatianus († December 18 301 in Tours ), called in France Saint Gatien, was the first bishop of Tours.

Gatianus exercised his office of 249 out to 301. He was sent by Pope Fabian from Rome to Gaul to the spread of Christianity. He should, together with six other bishops, including Saint Denis, have come to Gaul, like the later chronicler and bishop Gregory of Tours reported.

It is believed that Gatianus in the Gallo-Roman population initially had no particular support and was forced therefore, his worship in catacombs and - hold in caves - like the spread among the Gallic legions Mithraism. During his tenure, there was a bloody persecution of Christians under the Roman emperor Decius. After his death the bishopric of Tours was orphaned for 36 years by the renewed persecution of the Emperor Diocletian. It was not until his successor Lidorius could build the first church in Tours. It replaced a memorial to the martyrs Saint Maurice. In this church, from which the present cathedral was built, was later Bishop Martin of Tours, the bones of the bishop Gatianus transfer. Since that time, she bears the name of Saint- Gatien.

The death of Bishop Gatianus, December 18, is his holiday in the Catholic Church.