Saint Vigor
Encyclopedia
Saint Vigor (died 537 AD) was a French
bishop and Christian
missionary. Born in Artois
, he studied at Arras
under Saint Vedast. Against the opposition of his father, he became a priest, running away from home to become one. He became a preaching hermit
at Ravière and worked as a missionary
. In 513, he was named bishop of Bayeux.
He opposed paganism
, founding a monastery later known as Saint-Vigor-le-Grand
. In Bayeux
itself, he destroyed a pagan temple, then still frequented, and built a church over it.
and churches were dedicated to him there. After the Norman conquest of England
, his cult was established there, and two English churches are dedicated to him, at Fulbourn
in Cambridgeshire and Stratton-on-the-Fosse
in Somerset. Since his feast falls on All Saints Day, his feast is often moved to another date. Saint Vigor is mentioned in the life (vita) of Saint Paternus.
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
bishop and Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
missionary. Born in Artois
Artois
Artois is a former province of northern France. Its territory has an area of around 4000 km² and a population of about one million. Its principal cities are Arras , Saint-Omer, Lens and Béthune.-Location:...
, he studied at Arras
Arras
Arras is the capital of the Pas-de-Calais department in northern France. The historic centre of the Artois region, its local speech is characterized as a Picard dialect...
under Saint Vedast. Against the opposition of his father, he became a priest, running away from home to become one. He became a preaching hermit
Hermit
A hermit is a person who lives, to some degree, in seclusion from society.In Christianity, the term was originally applied to a Christian who lives the eremitic life out of a religious conviction, namely the Desert Theology of the Old Testament .In the...
at Ravière and worked as a missionary
Missionary
A missionary is a member of a religious group sent into an area to do evangelism or ministries of service, such as education, literacy, social justice, health care and economic development. The word "mission" originates from 1598 when the Jesuits sent members abroad, derived from the Latin...
. In 513, he was named bishop of Bayeux.
He opposed paganism
Paganism
Paganism is a blanket term, typically used to refer to non-Abrahamic, indigenous polytheistic religious traditions....
, founding a monastery later known as Saint-Vigor-le-Grand
Saint-Vigor-le-Grand
Saint-Vigor-le-Grand is a commune in the Calvados department in the Basse-Normandie region in northwestern France.-Population:-References:*...
. In Bayeux
Bayeux
Bayeux is a commune in the Calvados department in Normandy in northwestern France.Bayeux is the home of the Bayeux Tapestry, which depicts the events leading up to the Norman conquest of England.-Administration:Bayeux is a sub-prefecture of Calvados...
itself, he destroyed a pagan temple, then still frequented, and built a church over it.
Veneration
Vigor was venerated in NormandyNormandy
Normandy is a geographical region corresponding to the former Duchy of Normandy. It is in France.The continental territory covers 30,627 km² and forms the preponderant part of Normandy and roughly 5% of the territory of France. It is divided for administrative purposes into two régions:...
and churches were dedicated to him there. After the Norman conquest of England
Norman conquest of England
The Norman conquest of England began on 28 September 1066 with the invasion of England by William, Duke of Normandy. William became known as William the Conqueror after his victory at the Battle of Hastings on 14 October 1066, defeating King Harold II of England...
, his cult was established there, and two English churches are dedicated to him, at Fulbourn
Fulbourn
Fulbourn is a village in Cambridgeshire, England. The term for a resident of the village is "Fulbourner".- Geography :Fulbourn lies about five miles south-east of the centre of Cambridge, separated from the outer city boundary by farmland and the grounds of Fulbourn Hospital. The village itself is...
in Cambridgeshire and Stratton-on-the-Fosse
Stratton-on-the-Fosse
Stratton-on-the-Fosse is a village and civil parish located on the edge of the Mendip Hills, south-west of Westfield, north-east of Shepton Mallet, and from Frome, in Somerset, England. It has a population 1,045, and has a rural agricultural landscape, although it was part of the once-thriving...
in Somerset. Since his feast falls on All Saints Day, his feast is often moved to another date. Saint Vigor is mentioned in the life (vita) of Saint Paternus.