Saint Eusebius of Vercelli
Saint Eusebius of Vercelli (born c. 283 AD in Sardinia, Italy; died August 1, 371 AD in Vercelli, Piedmont, Italy) was the first Bishop of Vercelli and one of the most courageous defenders of Nicene orthodoxy during the Arian controversy of the 4th century. He was exiled twice for refusing to condemn Saint Athanasius of Alexandria; he fought alongside Athanasius and Saint Hilary of Poitiers against Arianism. He is venerated as a confessor (one who suffered for the faith but was not killed), and his feast day is August 2 in the Roman Calendar.
Stored in Cargo: Saint Eusebius of Vercelli
| Saint Eusebius of Vercelli | |
|---|---|
| Feast Day | August 02 |
| Profession | Bishop; confessor; defender of Nicene orthodoxy; monastic founder (community life for clergy) |
| Rel. Affiliation | Catholic Church; Diocese of Vercelli |
| Patronage | Vercelli; Piedmont; bishops; those in exile; Nicene orthodoxy |
| Attributes | Bishop's vestments; book of Gospels (Vercelli Gospels); chains (exile); palm (confessor) |
| Birthplace | Sardinia, Italy |
| Death Place | Vercelli, Piedmont, Italy |
| Cause of Death | Natural causes; died peacefully at Vercelli after returning from exile |
| Primary Shrine | Basilica of Sant'Eusebio (now Cattedrale di Vercelli), Vercelli, Piedmont — his tomb and relics; the cathedral of Vercelli |
| Liturgical Class | Memorial (Roman Calendar, August 2) |
| Historic Class | Feast |
Biography
Eusebius was born in Sardinia around 283 AD. He became a lector in Rome and was eventually sent to serve in Vercelli (Piedmont), where he became the first bishop around 340 AD. He was the first bishop in the Western church to require his clergy to live in community — anticipating the canonical life that would later characterize cathedral chapters and the Augustinian canons.
The Arian controversy was at its height. The Emperor Constantius II (son of Constantine) favored Arianism and was pressuring western bishops to sign condemnations of Saint Athanasius of Alexandria, the great Nicene champion. At the Council of Milan (355 AD), Eusebius refused to sign and demanded that the council first affirm the Nicene Creed. He was exiled — first to Scythopolis (modern Beit She'an, Israel), then to Cappadocia and Upper Thebaid (Egypt) — where he endured imprisonment and physical mistreatment at the hands of Arian bishops.
When Julian the Apostate restored religious toleration in 361, Eusebius was freed. He went immediately to Alexandria to meet Athanasius, attending the important Council of Alexandria (362) that clarified Trinitarian terminology. He then traveled through the East and eventually returned to Vercelli, arriving around 363.
He lived and worked at Vercelli until his death on August 1, 371. He corresponded with Saint Hilary of Poitiers and was instrumental in the anti-Arian network that eventually prevailed at the Council of Constantinople (381 AD).
The Vercelli Gospels — a 4th-century Old Latin Gospel manuscript in the cathedral — may be associated with his scriptorium and is one of the oldest Gospel codices in existence.
His feast day is August 2 in the Roman Calendar (Memorial).
Significant locations
Legend
Birth location: Sardinia, Italy
Death location: Vercelli, Piedmont, Italy
Notable location: His episcopal see; he was first bishop of Vercelli; he established a form of community life for his clergy (the first such canonical life in the Western church); his cathedral (the Basilica of Sant'Eusebio) was built over his tomb (Vercelli, Piedmont, Italy)
Notable location: The site of the Council of Milan (355 AD) where Emperor Constantius II demanded all bishops sign a condemnation of Athanasius; Eusebius refused and was exiled (Milan, Italy)
Notable location: After his release from exile in 361 by Julian the Apostate, Eusebius went immediately to Alexandria to meet Saint Athanasius and coordinate the anti-Arian strategy; the Council of Alexandria (362) was key in defining the Church's Trinitarian teaching (Alexandria, Egypt)
Notable location:
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Parishes
No parishes dedicated to Eusebius of Vercelli have been added to the database yet.
Media
| Media | Length | AuthorCreator |
|---|---|---|
| The Life of Saint Eusebius of Vercelli: Defender of the Faith Against Arianism | Under 5 minutes | Leyendas De Santos |
| Saint Eusebius of Vercelli | Under 5 minutes | Lives of the Saints |
| The Life of St Eusebius of Vercelli Defender of the Faith Against Arianism #history #saintsations | Under 5 minutes | Saints Stories |
Shrines
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Known shrines
- Cathedral of Vercelli (Basilica di Sant'Eusebio), Vercelli, Piedmont — his tomb; his cathedral; the Vercelli Gospels are preserved in the cathedral treasury.
Feast day
August 2
Veneration
Saint Eusebius of Vercelli is venerated in the Roman Catholic Church with a Memorial on August 2.
Prayers
Authored
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Intercessory
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