A priest sent by the Bishop of Sens in the 6th century, Saint Aspace was the first evangelizer of Melun. Honored as the apostle and patron saint of the city, he died there in 573. A local church bears his name and he is traditionally invoked against headaches.
Contemporaries
Figures and markers around the normalized period for this entry.
Guided reading
4 reading sections
SAINT ASPACE OR ASPAIS (year of our Lord 573).
Mission and evangelization
Aspais is sent by the bishop of Sens to Melun to preach the Gospel and exercise his priestly ministry there.
Aspais , a priest sent by the bishop of Sens to Melu n, was perhaps the first to announce the Gospel of salvation there. Inflamed by the divine Spirit, he fulfilled his priestly ministry in such a way as to merit the palm promised by the Lord to those who teach justice to a great number of their brothers.
Death and cult in Melun
Dying on January 1st, he is honored as the patron saint of Melun where a church is built over his tomb; he is invoked for headaches.
He died on the day of the Kalends of January, in M elun, whose inhabitants honor him as their patron and apostle. There exists in the same city a chur ch of Saint-Aspace, bu ilt, as it is believed, over his tomb. He is invoked particularly by those who suffer from headaches.
Debate regarding his identity
The text mentions a historical divergence sometimes identifying the saint as bishop of Auch or Eauze, although the tradition of Melun prevails.
Father Cabier makes Saint Aspais a bishop o f Au ch o r Eau ze: th e Martyrology of Fran ce that we have reproduced agrees, on this latter point, with tradition and a good number of scholars.
Sources and references
Mention of 19th-century scholarly works and ancient manuscripts dealing with the life of the saint.
Adélard, by consulting the work that M. Hoffman de Fallerxleben published in Ghent under the title of *Monuments of the Romance and Rudesque languages in the 9th century*. (Hagiography of Amiens, by M. Corblet.)
Iconography
Signs and attributes
Entities
Narrative network
The names, places, and concepts most present in the entry, weighted by centrality in the text.
Frequently asked questions about Saint Aspace (Aspais)
Who was Saint Aspace (Aspais)?
A priest sent by the Bishop of Sens in the 6th century, Saint Aspace was the first evangelizer of Melun. Honored as the apostle and patron saint of the city, he died there in 573. A local church bears his name and he is traditionally invoked against headaches.
What is Saint Aspace (Aspais) the patron saint of?
Patronage of Saint Aspace (Aspais): Melun.
What is Saint Aspace (Aspais) invoked for?
Saint Aspace (Aspais) is invoked for: headaches.
How is Saint Aspace (Aspais) depicted in Christian art?
In iconography, Saint Aspace (Aspais) is recognizable by: palm.
Which saints were contemporaries of Saint Aspace (Aspais)?
Contemporaries include: Saint Remigius (Apostle of the Franks), Saint Antide of Besançon, Saint Eugene of Carthage and Saint Nicaise of Reims.
When did Saint Aspace (Aspais) die?
Saint Aspace (Aspais) died around 600.
What are the other names of Saint Aspace (Aspais)?
Other forms of the name: Aspais and Aspois.
Annexes & related entities
Structured data for exploration: events, miracles, quotes, places, attributes, patronages, and important entities cited in the text.
Key Events
- Sent by the Bishop of Sens to Melun
- Evangelization of Melun
- Died in Melun on the Kalends of January