Saint Simplicius of Bourges
Born into an illustrious family, Simplicius was first a soldier before becoming Bishop of Bourges in the 5th century. A defender of the faith against the Arian heresy of the Goths, he was miraculously released from prison. He was elected to the episcopal see through the arbitration of Saint Sidonius Apollinaris after initially declining the honor in favor of his father-in-law.
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Guided reading
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SAINT SIMPLICIUS, BISHOP OF BOURGES (477).
Origins and secular life
Coming from an illustrious family of governors and bishops, Simplicius first pursued a military career while founding a family with a noblewoman from the lineage of the Palladii.
Simplici Simplice Bishop of Bourges in the 5th century, former soldier and defender against Arianism. us came from an illustrious family, which had produced bishops and governors, all of great merit. He himself did not degenerate. He followed a military career in his youth, which did not prevent him from cultivating all the virtues. He built a church at his own expense. He married a woman from the illustrious family of the Palladii; this noble lady helped him greatly in the upbringing of their children.
Struggle against Arianism and first refusal
A defender of the faith against the Arian Goths in Gaul, he suffered imprisonment before being miraculously released and declining the episcopate for the first time.
The care of his family did not exclude that of the city and of religion. He had difficult struggles to sustain against the Arian Goths, who had imported heresy into the south of Gaul. These heretics put him in prison so as to no longer have to deal with such a courageous adversary. But the doors of the prison opened miraculously before him. His services to the fatherland and to the Church designated him for the votes of his fellow citizens when the episcopal see became vacant. But he declined the election to have it fall upon his father-in-law, Palladius Palladius Father-in-law of Simplicius and his predecessor in the see of Bourges. .
Episcopal election and posterity
After succession disputes in 472, he was chosen as bishop of Bourges by Sidonius Apollinaris and ended his days in the church he had built himself.
Eulode succeeded Palladius; after the death of the former, which occurred in 472, the election of the bishop caused violent quarrels in the city of Bourges. It was finally decided to refer the matter to the arbitration of Saint Sido nius Apo Simplice Bishop of Bourges in the 5th century, former soldier and defender against Arianism. llinaris, who elected Simplicius. Our Saint was buried in the church he had built, which was later named Saint-Ou Saint-Outrilie-du-Château Church built by Simplicius where he was buried. trilie-du-Château.
Propre de Bourges.
Entities
Narrative network
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The supernatural in their life
The miracles of Saint Simplicius of Bourges
Annexes & related entities
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Key Events
- Military career in his youth
- Construction of a church at his own expense
- Struggle against the Arian Goths
- Imprisonment by heretics and miraculous liberation
- Declined an initial episcopal election in favor of his father-in-law
- Election to the see of Bourges through the arbitration of Saint Sidonius Apollinaris