Savinian and Potentian

Infobox Saint
name= Saint Savinian and Potentian
birth_date=
death_date= 390
feast_day= December 31
venerated_in= Roman Catholic Church


imagesize= 250px
caption=
birth_place=
death_place=Sens
titles=
beatified_date=
beatified_place=
beatified_by=
canonized_date=
canonized_place=
canonized_by=
attributes=
patronage= Sens
major_shrine=
suppressed_date=
issues=

Saints Savinian [Or Sabinian, Sabinianus] and Potentian ( _fr. Savinien et Potenti(e)n) (d. 390 [Dates vary. 390 AD is from: http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=2407] ) are martyrs commemorated as the patron saints and founders of the diocese of Sens, France. Savinian should not be confused with another early French martyr, Sabinian of Troyes.

Gregory of Tours does not mention them [ [http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/13716a.htm Catholic Encyclopedia: Sens ] ] , nor does the "Hieronymian Martyrology", which was revised before 600 at Auxerre or Autun. [ [http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/13716a.htm Catholic Encyclopedia: Sens ] ] One source states that “it is considered likely that Sabinian and Potentian were bishops of Sens, with Potentian succeeding Sabinian.” [ [http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=2407 Sts. Sabinian & Potentian - Saints & Angels - Catholic Online ] ] On the other hand, one source calls only Sabinian a bishop [ [http://www.domcentral.org/life/martyr12.htm Dominican Martyrology: December ] ] ; and also states that they had been sent to Sens “by the Roman Pontiff to preach the Gospel, and they rendered illustrious that city by the martyrdom following their confession of faith.” [ [http://www.domcentral.org/life/martyr12.htm Dominican Martyrology: December ] ] Later traditions made them earlier saints as disciples of Saint Peter. [ [http://www.corpusetampois.com/che-17-fleureau-b05.html Dom Basile Fleureau: De la Prédication de l'Evangile à Estampes (1668) ] ]

A tradition states that they initially preached at Ferrières in the Gâtinais before preaching at Sens. [ [http://catholique-sens-auxerre.cef.fr/spip1.9/Saints-Savinien-et-Potentien.html Diocèse catholique de Sens-Auxerre - Saints Savinien et Potentien ] ] Another states that Savinian was killed with an axe at the spot now occupied by the crypt of the church at Sens dedicated to the two saints. [ [http://catholique-sens-auxerre.cef.fr/spip1.9/Saints-Savinien-et-Potentien.html Diocèse catholique de Sens-Auxerre - Saints Savinien et Potentien ] ]

Veneration

There is a church dedicated to the two saints at Sens. It is said to have been founded by the saints in the third century, rebuilt in the fifth, and restored in the eleventh. [Augustus John Cuthbert Hare, "South-eastern France" (G. Allen, 1890), 13.] One source writes that “the altar [of this church] is affirmed to be that upon which Saint Savinien was celebrating at the moment of his martyrdom.” [Augustus John Cuthbert Hare, "South-eastern France" (G. Allen, 1890), 13.]

At Chartres Cathedral, a stained glass window (number 17) depicts the two saints. [ [http://catholique-sens-auxerre.cef.fr/spip1.9/Saints-Savinien-et-Potentien.html Diocèse catholique de Sens-Auxerre - Saints Savinien et Potentien ] ] [ [http://www.corpusetampois.com/che-17-fleureau-b05.html Dom Basile Fleureau: De la Prédication de l'Evangile à Estampes (1668) ] ]

They are mentioned in the work of the medieval poet Adam of St. Victor:

:Let us lift God’s high laudation,:We, who joyous commendation:To His saints now loudly give;:To Savinian, widely noted,:And Potentian, God-devoted,:Both of whom did Gaul receive! [L. Gautier, Digby Strangeways Wrangham (ed.), "The Liturgical Poetry of Adam of St. Victor" (Kegan Paul, Trench & co., 1881), 37.]

References

External links

*fr icon [http://catholique-sens-auxerre.cef.fr/spip1.9/Saints-Savinien-et-Potentien.html Saints Savinien et Potentien]