Saint Eucharius
Saint Eucharius of Trier (1st–2nd century AD) was, according to tradition, the first Bishop of Trier and one of the earliest missionaries to bring Christianity to the Germanic lands of the Rhine. He is venerated as an apostolic man and is counted among the Apostles of Trier together with his companions Saints Valerius and Maternus. His feast day is December 8.
Stored in Cargo: Saint Eucharius
| Saint Eucharius | |
|---|---|
| Feast Day | December 08 |
| Profession | Bishop; missionary; apostolic man |
| Rel. Affiliation | Catholic Church; first Bishop of Trier |
| Patronage | Trier; Diocese of Trier; the Rhineland; first missionaries to Germany |
| Attributes | Bishop's vestments; pastoral staff of Saint Peter (raising of Maternus legend); palm of apostolate |
| Birthplace | Unknown; tradition says the Near East or Palestine |
| Death Place | Trier, Rhineland, Germany |
| Cause of Death | Natural causes |
| Primary Shrine | St. Eucharius–St. Matthias Abbey (St. Matthiaskirche), Trier — his relics are kept here alongside those of Saint Matthias the Apostle; a major pilgrimage site |
| Liturgical Class | Not in universal Roman Calendar; feast observed in Diocese of Trier on December 8 |
| Historic Class | Not included |
Biography
Eucharius is venerated as the first Bishop of Trier, sent to the Rhineland in the earliest centuries of Christianity. The medieval tradition of Trier held that he was one of the seventy-two disciples of Christ, sent from Palestine to evangelize the Rhine lands. Whether this apostolic origin is historical or legendary, Trier was certainly an ancient Christian community; the city was the administrative capital of the western Roman Empire in the 3rd and 4th centuries and had a significant early church.
His companions in the Treveran tradition are Saint Valerius, who succeeded him as bishop, and Saint Maternus, who became the third bishop and whose miraculous resurrection is the most famous story of the Trier apostolate.
The legend: Eucharius, Valerius, and Maternus traveled from Rome (where they had been in contact with Saint Peter) to evangelize the Germans. On the journey, Maternus died. Eucharius sent word back to Saint Peter, who sent his pastoral staff. When Eucharius placed the staff on Maternus's body after 40 days, he rose to life and continued the mission with them. This story became one of the great foundation legends of the Church of Trier and was used to establish Trier's apostolic credentials.
His relics are kept in the Abbey Church of Saint Eucharius–Saint Matthias in Trier — the same church which holds the relics of Saint Matthias the Apostle, making it the only shrine of an Apostle north of the Alps.
His feast day is December 8.
Significant locations
Legend
Birth location: Unknown; tradition says the Near East or Palestine
Death location: Trier, Rhineland, Germany
Notable location: The Roman city where he became the first bishop; Trier was one of the most important cities of the Western Roman Empire; Eucharius is revered as the apostle of Trier (Trier (Augusta Treverorum), Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany)
Notable location: The great Benedictine abbey in Trier where his relics are kept; the abbey church (St. Matthiaskirche) also contains the relics of Saint Matthias the Apostle and is the only shrine of an Apostle north of the Alps (St. Eucharius–St. Matthias Abbey, Trier, Germany)
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Parishes
No parishes dedicated to Eucharius have been added to the database yet.
Media
| Media | Length | AuthorCreator |
|---|---|---|
| Saint Eucharius, Bishop - February 20th | Under 5 minutes | Saint of the Day |
Shrines
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Known shrines
- St. Matthiaskirche (formerly St. Eucharius), Trier — his relics; alongside Saint Matthias the Apostle; major pilgrimage church.
Feast day
December 8
Veneration
Saint Eucharius is venerated in the Diocese of Trier with a feast day on December 8.
Prayers
Authored
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Intercessory
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