Epipodius and Alexander

Infobox Saint
name=Saints Epipodius and Alexander
birth_date=
death_date=178
feast_day=April 22
venerated_in=Roman Catholicism


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birth_place=Epipodius, Lyon
Alexander, Greece
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titles=Martyrs
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patronage=Epipodius is the patron saint of bachelors, victims of betrayal and of torture
major_shrine=Cathedral St-Jean in Lyon
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Saint Epipodius ( _fr. Épipode) and his companion Alexander (d. 178 AD) are venerated as Christian saints. Their feast day is April 22. Epipodius was a native of Lyon; Alexander was said to be a native of Phrygia, and a physician by profession.cite encyclopedia | last = Greenhill | first = William Alexander | authorlink = | title = Alexander | editor = William Smith | encyclopedia = Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology | volume = 1 | pages = 110 | publisher = Little, Brown and Company | location = Boston | year = 1867 | url = http://www.ancientlibrary.com/smith-bio/0119.html ] They were both martyred during the reign of Marcus Aurelius.

Epipodius and Alexander are said to have been close friends since childhood. Epipodius is said to have been a confirmed celibate bachelor, though he never joined a religious order. He devoted his time to Christian works and was betrayed to imperial authorities by a servant. Both men were subsequently imprisoned, tortured, and condemned to be devoured by wild beasts in the amphitheatre, and died (as one history writes) "neither uttering a groan nor a syllable, but conversing in [their] heart with God." [Bzovius, "Nomenclator Sanctorum Professione Medicorum; Martyrol. Roman", ed. Baron.]

Veneration

In the 6th century, their relics were placed together with those of St. Irenaeus under the altar of the Cathedral St-Jean in Lyon. Miracles were reported at this tomb.

Epipodius is venerated as the patron saint of bachelors, victims of betrayal and of torture.

ee also

*Persecution in Lyon

References

External links

* [http://www.catholic-forum.com/saints/sainte21.htm Patron Saints: Epipodius]
* [http://avalon44.tripod.com/fr/ae.htm Two Inseparable Friends]
*fr icon [http://nominis.cef.fr/contenus/saint/1018/Saint-Epipode.html Epipode]