Nicolas Viel
Encyclopedia
Nicolas Viel was a French Recollet missionary to the Hurons from 1623 to 1625.
. He was studying the language and collecting material to add to Father Le Caron’s dictionary. After almost two years, he decided to return to Quebec in May of 1625. After a long period of travel, he was assassinated by the three Indian companions in his canoe. A young man called Ahuntsic, who was following in another canoe, witnessed the crime, and suffered the same fate. The event took place near present day Sault-au-Récollet
and was well witnessed and recorded; the body of the religious was recovered from the water a few days later and buried at Quebec City
.
While there is no official position by the Catholic Church on this matter, all records would indicate that Father Viel was the first martyr for his faith in Canada. The murder was likely was caused by a deep dislike of the Catholic teachings and their messenger.
Biography
Father Viel traveled to Huron territory arriving there with Father Le CaronJoseph Le Caron
Joseph Le Caron was one of the four pioneer missionaries of Canada , and the first missionary to the Hurons....
. He was studying the language and collecting material to add to Father Le Caron’s dictionary. After almost two years, he decided to return to Quebec in May of 1625. After a long period of travel, he was assassinated by the three Indian companions in his canoe. A young man called Ahuntsic, who was following in another canoe, witnessed the crime, and suffered the same fate. The event took place near present day Sault-au-Récollet
Sault-au-Récollet
Sault-au-Récollet is a neighbourhood in the Ahuntsic-Cartierville borough, in the city of Montreal. It is located at the eastern edge of the borough...
and was well witnessed and recorded; the body of the religious was recovered from the water a few days later and buried at Quebec City
Quebec City
Quebec , also Québec, Quebec City or Québec City is the capital of the Canadian province of Quebec and is located within the Capitale-Nationale region. It is the second most populous city in Quebec after Montreal, which is about to the southwest...
.
While there is no official position by the Catholic Church on this matter, all records would indicate that Father Viel was the first martyr for his faith in Canada. The murder was likely was caused by a deep dislike of the Catholic teachings and their messenger.