Galla (wife of Eucherius)

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Galla
Bornc.380
Died420s
Notable workCorrespondent of Paulinus of Nola

Galla (c.380 - c.420s) was a late Roman woman who was a correspondent of Paulinus of Nola, and the wife of Eucherius of Lyon.

Biography

Whilst little is known about the life of Galla, she is a significant late Roman woman since Paulinus of Nola addressed Epistola 51 to her and her husband, making her one of the few late Roman women known by name. [1] This letter is also one of the last known to be written by Paulinus. [2]

Galla was married to Eucherius, who became bishop of Lyons in 434. [1] [3] They had two sons: Veranus and Salonius, who were born c.400. [4] [5] According to some sources, they also had two daughters, Consortia and Tullia. [6] Galla's date of birth is unknown, but it could have been c.380. [7]

After their sons were born, Eucherius suggested that they alter their way of life to become more holy, leading the family to become religious ascetics together. [8] [9] Galla and Eucherius' marriage evolved to run on ascetic principles, like other 'marriages of friendship' undertaken by other religious figures such as Paulinus and Therasia of Nola. [4] The Vita Sanctae Consortiae tells us that their religious conversion involved intense isolation. [4]

In the 420s monks from Lérins visited Paulinus and told him how Eucherius, Galla and their sons were living an ascetic and secluded life in the monastery there. [4] Both sons were later sent to visit Paulinus of Nola. [8] The family practised "unwealth" - where life was restricted to the minimum in order to support prayer and devotion. [10]

After the death of Galla, Eucherius retired to Lerins. [11] Since Epistola 51 was written in either 421 to 426, we can assume Galla died some time after then in the 420s. [2]

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References

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  3. "St. Eucherius of Lyon - Saints & Angels". Catholic Online. Retrieved 2020-06-22.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Beach, Alison I; Cochelin, Isabelle, eds. (2020). The Cambridge History of Medieval Monasticism in the Latin West. Cambridge Core. doi:10.1017/9781107323742. ISBN   9781108766760. S2CID   236305538 . Retrieved 2020-05-20.
  5. "CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA: St. Eucherius (4th Century)". www.newadvent.org. Retrieved 2020-05-20.
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  7. Dictionary of Christian Biography and Literature to the End of the Sixth Century A.D., with an Account of the Principal Sects and Heresies. Christian Classics Ethereal Library Archived 2005-02-19 at the Wayback Machine
  8. 1 2 Antelmy, Joseph (1726). Assertio pro unico S. Eucherio Lugdunensi episcopo. Auctore Jos. Antelmio,... Opus posthumum. Accedit concilium Regiense sub Rostagno metrop. Aquensi, anni MCCLXXXV. Nunc primo prodit integrum, & Notis illustratum operâ Car. Antelmii,... (in Latin). apud Ant. Claudium Briasson.
  9. Beach, Alison I.; Cochelin, Isabelle (2020-01-09). The Cambridge History of Medieval Monasticism in the Latin West. Cambridge University Press. p. 155. ISBN   978-1-108-77063-7.
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  11. Cooper-Marsdin, A. C. (20 June 2013). The history of the islands of the Lerins : the monastery, saints and theologians of S. Honorat. Cambridge. p. 217. ISBN   978-1-107-61546-5. OCLC   828670716.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)