Lupus of Troyes
Encyclopedia
Saint Lupus (ca. 383 – ca. 478) was an early bishop of Troyes. Born at Toul
, he was brother-in-law to Hilary of Arles
, as he had married one of Hilary's sisters, Pimeniola. Lupus worked as a lawyer
. However, after being married for six years, he and his wife parted by mutual agreement.
Lupus renounced all of his wealth and entered Lérins Abbey
, a community led by Saint Honoratus. Around 426, Lupus was named bishop of Troyes. Lupus was reluctant to assume this office: a story told of him was when he traveled to Mâcon
in order to dispose of an estate, he was met by deputies of the diocese of Troyes with the news of the death of Ursus
, bishop of Troyes, and his own selection to the see. Lupus refused to take this office but eventually relented.
Lupus is identified with the figure of the same name who accompanied Saint Germanus of Auxerre on his first visit to Britain with the purpose of ending Pelagianism
. Lupus has also been called the brother of Vincent of Lérins
.
from the Huns
under Attila, in 451. According to the accounts, after praying for many days, Lupus, dressed in full episcopal
regalia, went to meet Attila at the head of a procession of the clergy. Attila was allegedly so impressed with Lupus that he spared the city. Attila went on to lose the Battle of Châlons
. Lupus ran into trouble when Attila asked the bishop to accompany him and his army after Châlons; Attila believed that Lupus’ presence would spare his army from extermination. However, Lupus was accused by the Romans of helping the Huns escape. Lupus was forced to leave Troyes, and he became a hermit
in the mountains. But, as one source states, "many scholars doubt the veracity of the account of the Attila incident." A similar tale is told of Saint Genevieve. Donald Attwater writes that the tale of Lupus and Attila is hagiographical rather than historical.
Toul
Toul is a commune in the Meurthe-et-Moselle department in north-eastern France.It is a sub-prefecture of the department.-Geography:Toul is located between Commercy and Nancy, and situated between the Moselle River and the Canal de la Marne au Rhin....
, he was brother-in-law to Hilary of Arles
Hilary of Arles
Saint Hilary of Arles was a bishop of Arles. He is recognized as a saint by the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Churches, with his feast day celebrated on 5 May.- Life :...
, as he had married one of Hilary's sisters, Pimeniola. Lupus worked as a lawyer
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
. However, after being married for six years, he and his wife parted by mutual agreement.
Lupus renounced all of his wealth and entered Lérins Abbey
Lérins Abbey
Lérins Abbey is a Cistercian monastery on the island of Saint-Honorat, one of the Lérins Islands, on the French Riviera, with an active monastic community....
, a community led by Saint Honoratus. Around 426, Lupus was named bishop of Troyes. Lupus was reluctant to assume this office: a story told of him was when he traveled to Mâcon
Mâcon
Mâcon is a small city in central France. It is prefecture of the Saône-et-Loire department, in the region of Bourgogne, and the capital of the Mâconnais district. Mâcon is home to over 35,000 residents, called Mâconnais.-Geography:...
in order to dispose of an estate, he was met by deputies of the diocese of Troyes with the news of the death of Ursus
Ursus
Ursus is Latin for "bear". In this form it refers to a male bear or the species regardless of gender; the specifically female form is Ursa. The word may also refer to:* Ursus , praefectus urbi of Constantinople in 415-416...
, bishop of Troyes, and his own selection to the see. Lupus refused to take this office but eventually relented.
Lupus is identified with the figure of the same name who accompanied Saint Germanus of Auxerre on his first visit to Britain with the purpose of ending Pelagianism
Pelagianism
Pelagianism is a theological theory named after Pelagius , although he denied, at least at some point in his life, many of the doctrines associated with his name. It is the belief that original sin did not taint human nature and that mortal will is still capable of choosing good or evil without...
. Lupus has also been called the brother of Vincent of Lérins
Vincent of Lérins
Saint Vincent of Lérins was a Gallic author of early Christian writings.In earlier life he had been engaged in secular pursuits, whether civil or military is not clear, though the term he uses, "secularis militia," might possibly imply the latter...
.
Lupus and Attila
Lupus was credited with saving TroyesTroyes
Troyes is a commune and the capital of the Aube department in north-central France. It is located on the Seine river about southeast of Paris. Many half-timbered houses survive in the old town...
from the Huns
Huns
The Huns were a group of nomadic people who, appearing from east of the Volga River, migrated into Europe c. AD 370 and established the vast Hunnic Empire there. Since de Guignes linked them with the Xiongnu, who had been northern neighbours of China 300 years prior to the emergence of the Huns,...
under Attila, in 451. According to the accounts, after praying for many days, Lupus, dressed in full episcopal
Episcopal polity
Episcopal polity is a form of church governance that is hierarchical in structure with the chief authority over a local Christian church resting in a bishop...
regalia, went to meet Attila at the head of a procession of the clergy. Attila was allegedly so impressed with Lupus that he spared the city. Attila went on to lose the Battle of Châlons
Battle of Chalons
The Battle of the Catalaunian Plains , also called the Battle of Châlons sur Marne, took place in AD 451 between a coalition led by the Visigothic king Theodoric I and the Roman general Flavius Aëtius, against the Huns and their allies commanded by their leader Attila...
. Lupus ran into trouble when Attila asked the bishop to accompany him and his army after Châlons; Attila believed that Lupus’ presence would spare his army from extermination. However, Lupus was accused by the Romans of helping the Huns escape. Lupus was forced to leave Troyes, and he became a 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...
in the mountains. But, as one source states, "many scholars doubt the veracity of the account of the Attila incident." A similar tale is told of Saint Genevieve. Donald Attwater writes that the tale of Lupus and Attila is hagiographical rather than historical.