Merolilan of Rheims was an Irish Christian martyr and saint who lived in the 8th century. [1] [2]
Merolilian was an Irish preacher who is commemorated on May 18 and/or 31st. He was killed at Rheims, France. No tradition of him or his exact origins survived in Ireland, only a cult based at Rheims.
According to John O'Hanlon, "An account of St. Merolilanus is to be found, in the ancient Breviary of the Diocese of Rheims, in France; and, the accomplished Flodoard, in his history of that ancient church, sets forth several particulars, regarding the holy man. St. Merolilanus was of Irish race — indicated by the term Scotigena applied to him — and he travelled into France, with some companions, for the purpose of making a pilgrimage to Rome. Passing along the River Axona — now known as L'Aisne — some robbers set upon the travellers, and those freebooters killed Merolilanus. His companions brought the body of the holy man to Rheims, where it was interred in an ancient cemetery. For a long time, the very memory of St. Merolilanus seems to have been forgotten, in the place of his sepulture, until miracles revealed the spot where he was buried. It happened in the time of Hildegarius, a Priest of Rheims, as we are told in the History of that city, by Flodoard." [3]
Upon the restoration of Archbishop Artaud to Rheims in 935, the remains of Merolilanus were translated to the Church of the Holy Apostles and of St. Symphronien, Martyr, at Rheims. It seems probable, that either Archbishop Artaldus, or his successor Odalricus, took care to have this ceremony carried out, with due solemnity, and according to the requirement of St. Merolilanus.
Flodoard of Reims was a Frankish chronicler and priest of the cathedral church of Reims in the West Frankish kingdom during the decades following the dissolution of the Carolingian Empire. His historical writings are major sources for the history of Western Europe, especially France, in the early and mid-tenth century.
April 1 - Eastern Orthodox liturgical calendar - April 3
April 5 — Eastern Orthodox liturgical calendar — April 7
April 8 - Eastern Orthodox liturgical calendar - April 10
June 25 - Eastern Orthodox Church calendar - June 27
July 10 - Eastern Orthodox Church calendar - July 12
August 4 - Eastern Orthodox liturgical calendar - August 6
August 9 - Eastern Orthodox liturgical calendar - August 11
August 10 - Eastern Orthodox liturgical calendar - August 12
February 6 - Eastern Orthodox liturgical calendar – February 8
February 16 - Eastern Orthodox liturgical calendar - February 18
March 5 - Eastern Orthodox liturgical calendar - March 7
March 18 - Eastern Orthodox liturgical calendar - March 20
March 2 - Eastern Orthodox liturgical calendar - March 4
Saint Gibrian was an Irish saint associated with Reims and the Marne region.
December 13 – Eastern Orthodox liturgical calendar – December 15
March 9 - Eastern Orthodox liturgical calendar - March 11
Saint Fredigand of Deurne was an 8th-century Irish missionary in the territory around Antwerp in what is now Belgium. His feast day is 17 July.
Saint Wasnulf was a Scottish missionary in what is now Belgium. His feast day is 1 October.
Saint Augulus was a 3rd or 4th century bishop and martyr in a town called Augusta in Britain, or perhaps in Normandy. He was possibly Irish in origin. Little is known about him, but his feast day is given as 7 February.