Saint Memmius
Encyclopedia
Saint Memmius is venerated as the first bishop
of Châlons-sur-Marne (now Châlons-en-Champagne), and founder of the diocese.
According to tradition, Memmius was a Roman
citizen who was consecrated by Saint Peter
and sent to Gaul
to convert the people there to Christianity
.
However, according to Flodoard
, he was a contemporary of Saint Sixtus
, bishop of Reims. Memmius' sister, Poma, is also venerated as a saint.
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
of Châlons-sur-Marne (now Châlons-en-Champagne), and founder of the diocese.
According to tradition, Memmius was a Roman
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
citizen who was consecrated by Saint Peter
Saint Peter
Saint Peter or Simon Peter was an early Christian leader, who is featured prominently in the New Testament Gospels and the Acts of the Apostles. The son of John or of Jonah and from the village of Bethsaida in the province of Galilee, his brother Andrew was also an apostle...
and sent to Gaul
Gaul
Gaul was a region of Western Europe during the Iron Age and Roman era, encompassing present day France, Luxembourg and Belgium, most of Switzerland, the western part of Northern Italy, as well as the parts of the Netherlands and Germany on the left bank of the Rhine. The Gauls were the speakers of...
to convert the people there to Christianity
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
.
However, according to Flodoard
Flodoard
-Biography:He was born at Épernay, and educated at Reims in the cathedral school which had been established by Archbishop Fulcon .As canon of Reims, and favourite of the archbishops Herivaeus and Seulfus -Biography:He was born at Épernay, and educated at Reims in the cathedral school which had...
, he was a contemporary of Saint Sixtus
Sixtus of Reims
Saint Sixtus of Reims is considered the first bishop of Reims. According to Hincmar, a 9th century archbishop of Reims, Sixtus was sent from Rome by Pope Sixtus II to Gaul to assist in Christianizing the region. Another tradition makes him, anachronistically, the disciple of Saint...
, bishop of Reims. Memmius' sister, Poma, is also venerated as a saint.