Andeolus
Encyclopedia
Andeolus or Andéol was born in Smyrna
in the 2nd century. A subdeacon
, he was sent by Polycarp
, along with Benignus
, to evangelize southern Gaul
. He went to the Vivarais
. Septimius Severus
, passing through that region, had him put to death; his head was stabbed with a gladius
on May 1, 208, at Bergoiata, a Gallic settlement on a rocky peak over the Rhône River
which would be later known as Bourg-Saint-Andéol
. The body, thrown into the Rhone, was later found and placed in a sarcophagus
by a rich Roman woman, Anycia or Amycia Eucheria Tullia (Blessed Tullie), daughter of senator Eucherius Valerianus (Eucherius of Lyon
). His sarcophagus was rediscovered in 1865 during excavations in the St. Polycarp chapel of the eleventh century church of in Bourg-Saint-Andéol
(Ardèche
).
Smyrna
Smyrna was an ancient city located at a central and strategic point on the Aegean coast of Anatolia. Thanks to its advantageous port conditions, its ease of defence and its good inland connections, Smyrna rose to prominence. The ancient city is located at two sites within modern İzmir, Turkey...
in the 2nd century. A subdeacon
Subdeacon
-Subdeacons in the Orthodox Church:A subdeacon or hypodeacon is the highest of the minor orders of clergy in the Orthodox Church. This order is higher than the reader and lower than the deacon.-Canonical Discipline:...
, he was sent by Polycarp
Polycarp
Saint Polycarp was a 2nd century Christian bishop of Smyrna. According to the Martyrdom of Polycarp, he died a martyr, bound and burned at the stake, then stabbed when the fire failed to touch him...
, along with Benignus
Benignus of Dijon
Saint Benignus of Dijon was a martyr honored as the patron saint and first herald of Christianity of Dijon, Burgundy . His feast falls, with All Saints, on November 1; his name stands under this date in the Martyrology of St. Jerome. No particulars concerning the person and life of Benignus were...
, to evangelize southern Gaul
Gaul
Gaul was a region of Western Europe during the Iron Age and Roman era, encompassing present day France, Luxembourg and Belgium, most of Switzerland, the western part of Northern Italy, as well as the parts of the Netherlands and Germany on the left bank of the Rhine. The Gauls were the speakers of...
. He went to the Vivarais
Vivarais
Vivarais is a traditional region in the south-east of France, covering the département of Ardèche, named after its capital Viviers on the river Rhône...
. Septimius Severus
Septimius Severus
Septimius Severus , also known as Severus, was Roman Emperor from 193 to 211. Severus was born in Leptis Magna in the province of Africa. As a young man he advanced through the customary succession of offices under the reigns of Marcus Aurelius and Commodus. Severus seized power after the death of...
, passing through that region, had him put to death; his head was stabbed with a gladius
Gladius
Gladius was the Latin word for sword, and is used to represent the primary sword of Ancient Roman soldiers. Early ancient Roman swords were similar to those used by the Greeks. From the 3rd century BC, the Romans adopted swords similar to those used by the Celtiberians and others during the early...
on May 1, 208, at Bergoiata, a Gallic settlement on a rocky peak over the Rhône River
Rhône River
The Rhone is one of the major rivers of Europe, rising in Switzerland and running from there through southeastern France. At Arles, near its mouth on the Mediterranean Sea, the river divides into two branches, known as the Great Rhone and the Little Rhone...
which would be later known as Bourg-Saint-Andéol
Bourg-Saint-Andéol
Bourg-Saint-Andéol is a commune in the Ardèche department in the Rhône Valley in southern France.-Geography:It lies directly along the Rhône River at the southeast end of the department south of the smaller see of Viviers, from Pierrelatte eastwards across the river in the département Drôme and ...
. The body, thrown into the Rhone, was later found and placed in a sarcophagus
Sarcophagus
A sarcophagus is a funeral receptacle for a corpse, most commonly carved or cut from stone. The word "sarcophagus" comes from the Greek σαρξ sarx meaning "flesh", and φαγειν phagein meaning "to eat", hence sarkophagus means "flesh-eating"; from the phrase lithos sarkophagos...
by a rich Roman woman, Anycia or Amycia Eucheria Tullia (Blessed Tullie), daughter of senator Eucherius Valerianus (Eucherius of Lyon
Eucherius of Lyon
Saint Eucherius, bishop of Lyon, was a high-born and high-ranking ecclesiastic in the Christian Church of Gaul. He is remembered for his letters advocating extreme self-abnegation. Henry Wace ranked him "except perhaps St. Irenaeus the most distinguished occupant of that see".On the death of his...
). His sarcophagus was rediscovered in 1865 during excavations in the St. Polycarp chapel of the eleventh century church of in Bourg-Saint-Andéol
Bourg-Saint-Andéol
Bourg-Saint-Andéol is a commune in the Ardèche department in the Rhône Valley in southern France.-Geography:It lies directly along the Rhône River at the southeast end of the department south of the smaller see of Viviers, from Pierrelatte eastwards across the river in the département Drôme and ...
(Ardèche
Ardèche
Ardèche is a department in south-central France named after the Ardèche River.- History :The area has been inhabited by humans at least since the Upper Paleolithic, as attested by the famous cave paintings at Chauvet Pont d'Arc. The plateau of the Ardeche River has extensive standing stones ,...
).