Vedast
Encyclopedia
Saint Vedast or Vedastus, also known as Saint Vaast (in Flemish
, Norman
, and Picard
) or Saint Waast (also in Picard
and Walloon
) and Saint Gaston in French, (died c. 540) was an early bishop in the Frankish
realm.
At the beginning of the sixth century Saint Remigius
, bishop of Reims, profited by the good will of the Frankish monarchy to organize the Catholic hierarchy in the north of Gaul. He entrusted the diocese of Arras and diocese of Cambrai to Vedast, who had helped with the conversion of the Frankish king Clovis
in 496 and been the teacher of Clovis after the victory of Tolbiac.
He died and was buried at Arras, where the well-known Abbey of St. Vaast was later founded in his honour. His feast is on 6 February.
as well as England
(from the 10th century), where he was known as Saint Foster. The spread of his cult was aided by the presence of Augustinians
from Arras in England in the 12th century. Three ancient churches in England (in London
, Norwich
, and Tathwell
) were dedicated to him.
Flemish
Flemish can refer to anything related to Flanders, and may refer directly to the following articles:*Flemish, an informal, though linguistically incorrect, name of any kind of the Dutch language as spoken in Belgium....
, Norman
Norman language
Norman is a Romance language and one of the Oïl languages. Norman can be classified as one of the northern Oïl languages along with Picard and Walloon...
, and Picard
Picard
Picard may refer to:* a native of, or anything originating in, Picardy* the Picard language, a Langue d'oïl and one of the languages of France* A member of the Picards, a religious sect in the fifteenth century...
) or Saint Waast (also in Picard
Picard language
Picard is a language closely related to French, and as such is one of the larger group of Romance languages. It is spoken in two regions in the far north of France – Nord-Pas-de-Calais and Picardy – and in parts of the Belgian region of Wallonia, the district of Tournai and a part of...
and Walloon
Walloon language
Walloon is a Romance language which was spoken as a primary language in large portions of the Walloon Region of Belgium and some villages of Northern France until the middle of the 20th century. It belongs to the langue d'oïl language family, whose most prominent member is the French language...
) and Saint Gaston in French, (died c. 540) was an early bishop in the Frankish
Franks
The Franks were a confederation of Germanic tribes first attested in the third century AD as living north and east of the Lower Rhine River. From the third to fifth centuries some Franks raided Roman territory while other Franks joined the Roman troops in Gaul. Only the Salian Franks formed a...
realm.
At the beginning of the sixth century Saint Remigius
Saint Remigius
Saint Remigius, Remy or Remi, , was Bishop of Reims and Apostle of the Franks, . On 24 December 496 he baptised Clovis I, King of the Franks...
, bishop of Reims, profited by the good will of the Frankish monarchy to organize the Catholic hierarchy in the north of Gaul. He entrusted the diocese of Arras and diocese of Cambrai to Vedast, who had helped with the conversion of the Frankish king Clovis
Clovis I
Clovis Leuthwig was the first King of the Franks to unite all the Frankish tribes under one ruler, changing the leadership from a group of royal chieftains, to rule by kings, ensuring that the kingship was held by his heirs. He was also the first Catholic King to rule over Gaul . He was the son...
in 496 and been the teacher of Clovis after the victory of Tolbiac.
He died and was buried at Arras, where the well-known Abbey of St. Vaast was later founded in his honour. His feast is on 6 February.
Veneration
Vedast was venerated throughout BelgiumBelgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
as well as England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
(from the 10th century), where he was known as Saint Foster. The spread of his cult was aided by the presence of Augustinians
Augustinians
The term Augustinians, named after Saint Augustine of Hippo , applies to two separate and unrelated types of Catholic religious orders:...
from Arras in England in the 12th century. Three ancient churches in England (in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, Norwich
Norwich
Norwich is a city in England. It is the regional administrative centre and county town of Norfolk. During the 11th century, Norwich was the largest city in England after London, and one of the most important places in the kingdom...
, and Tathwell
Tathwell
Tathwell is a village in the East Lindsey district of Lincolnshire, England. It lies around south of the town of Louth. The hamlet of Haugham lies about a mile south-east of Tathwell.Cadwell Park motor racing circuit is around south of Tathwell....
) were dedicated to him.