Remegius of Reims
Born to nobility in the city of Leon in Gaul (France) around the year 437, Remegius grew to be noted for his intellect and eloquence. Having come to faith at an early age, he became the bishop of Reims at the age of 22 – a position he was given even though he had never even been a priest.
Gaul was ruled at this time by Clovis, the Germanic king who had united the warring tribes of Gaul. Following the polytheistic warlike faith of his ancestors, Clovis married a believer named Clotilde. Because of his wife, Clovis supported the church but feared that converting would weaken him politically and undermine the morale of his army. However, during a crucial battle when things were going poorly Clovis cried out to Christ in desperation and imminent lost turned into a decisive victory.
Clovis immediately came to faith and asked Remigius for baptism. In addition to the king, more than 3,000 of his soldiers were converted and baptized as well, on Christmas day, 496 AD.
Clovis, true to his new faith, deeded large tracts of land to the church throughout his kingdom and asked Remegius to oversee the establishment of dozens of churches. He encouraged the churches to reach out to the barbarians on the frontier, converting many. Remegius proved very efficient in the administration of these churches, and ensured the Arian heresy which was then plaguing the church was kept out of the churches he oversaw. Remegius' efforts resulted in planting the church in large areas of what today is France, individual churches lasting centuries.
Over the years, a number of legends have sprung up around Remegius, mostly concerning miraculous healings. A contemporary of his, Gregory of Tours, referred to Remegius as “a man of great learning, fond of rhetorical studies, and equal in his holiness to St Silvester.” Remegius died in the year 533, at approximately age 93.
Christian History e-mail: 13 January 2022
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Saint-Remigius-of-Reims
https://www.episcopalchurch.org/glossary/remigius-of-reims/
https://historymedieval.com/clovis-i-the-first-king-of-the-franks/
https://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=376
