Saint Honoratus of Aries
Saint Honoratus of Arles (born c. 350 AD in Gaul, modern France; died January 16, 429 AD in Arles, Provence, modern France) was a Gallo-Roman nobleman who founded the great Abbey of Lérins on an island off the coast of Cannes — one of the most influential monasteries in the history of Western Christianity — and later became Bishop of Arles. Lérins became the seedbed of countless bishops, missionaries, and saints in 5th and 6th century Gaul. His feast day is January 16.
Stored in Cargo: Saint Honoratus of Aries
| Saint Honoratus of Aries | |
|---|---|
| Feast Day | January 16 |
| Profession | Nobleman; monk; monastic founder; bishop |
| Rel. Affiliation | Catholic Church; monastic founder; Abbey of Lérins (founder); Archbishop of Arles |
| Patronage | Cannes; Lérins; Arles; Provence; monastic founders; bishops; vineyards (the abbey produces wine) |
| Attributes | Abbot's or bishop's staff; island monastery (Lérins); serpents fleeing (founding miracle); grape vine (the abbey's vineyard tradition) |
| Birthplace | Gaul (probably northern Gaul; exact location unknown) |
| Death Place | Arles, Provence, modern France |
| Cause of Death | Natural causes; died as Archbishop of Arles, January 16, 429 AD |
| Primary Shrine | Abbey of Lérins (Île Saint-Honorat), Cannes, France — still an active monastic community; the island bears his name; a major site of pilgrimage and the most historically important monastic foundation in Provence; accessible by boat from Cannes |
| Liturgical Class | Not in universal Roman Calendar; feast January 16; observed in Diocese of Fréjus-Toulon and Diocese of Aix-en-Provence-Arles-Embrun, and throughout Provence |
| Historic Class | Not in universal 1962 calendar; locally observed |
Biography
Honoratus was born around 350 into a Gallo-Roman family of consular rank — the highest level of Roman aristocracy in the later Empire. He converted to Christianity as a young man, to his family's displeasure. He traveled to Greece with his brother Venantius seeking a monastic teacher; Venantius died during the journey, and Honoratus continued alone.
He eventually returned to Gaul and settled on the island of Lérins (modern Île Saint-Honorat) off the coast of what is now Cannes, around 410 AD. The island was reportedly uninhabited and infested with serpents — which Honoratus expelled by prayer. He established a monastic community that within a generation became the most important monastery in southern Gaul.
The Lérins model combined Egyptian desert asceticism with a more structured communal life and an emphasis on classical learning. The abbey's graduates were in enormous demand as bishops throughout Gaul: within a generation of its founding, Lérins alumni were serving as bishops in Arles, Lyons, Vienne, Riez, and other major sees. The monastery is also connected (by a disputed tradition) to the early formation of Saint Patrick of Ireland, who may have spent time there before his mission.
In 426 AD Honoratus was reluctantly torn from his island to become Archbishop of Arles, the civil and ecclesiastical capital of Roman Gaul. He governed for only three years, dying on January 16, 429 AD. His successor was his nephew and disciple Saint Hilary of Arles, who wrote his Life — the primary source for his biography.
The Abbey of Lérins still exists as an active Cistercian community on the island, which is now called Île Saint-Honorat in his honor. The monks produce wine and lavender products; the island is accessible by ferry from Cannes.
Significant locations
Legend
Birth location: Gaul (probably northern Gaul; exact location unknown)
Death location: Arles, Provence, modern France
Notable location:
Notable location:
Notable location:
Notable location:
Notable location:
Dynamic content
Parishes
No parishes dedicated to Honoratus of Aries have been added to the database yet.
Media
No media found for this saint.
Shrines
Dynamic shrines
No results
No shrines where this saint is the primary saint.
Known shrines
- Abbey of Lérins, Île Saint-Honorat, Cannes, France — his foundation; active Cistercian monastery; major pilgrimage and historical site; accessible by ferry from Cannes.
Feast day
January 16
Veneration
Saint Honoratus of Arles is venerated in the Roman Catholic Church with a feast day on January 16, observed in Provence and southern France.
Prayers
Authored
There are prayers authored by this saint in prayers list yet.
Intercessory
There are no prayers asking for this saint's intercession in prayers list yet.