De laude Eremi

Euche'rius

bishop of Lyons, was born, during the latter half of the fourth century, of an illustrious family.

His father Valerianus is by many believed to be the Valerianus who about this period held the office of Praefectus Galliae, and was a near relation of the emperor Avitus. Eucherius married Gallia, a lady not inferior to himself in station, by whom he had two sons, Salonius and Veranius, and two daughters, Corsortia and Tutllia. About the year A. D. 410, while still in of his age, he determined to retire from the world, and accordingly betook himself, with his wife and family, first to Lerins (Lerinum), and from thence to the neighboring island of Lero or St. Margaret, where he lived the life of a hermit, devoting himself to the education of his children, to literature, and to the exercises of religion. During his retirement in this secluded spot, he acquired so high a reputation for learning and sanctity, that he was chosen bishop of Lyons about A. D. 434, a dignity enjoyed by him until his death, which is believed to have happened in 450, under the emperors Valentinianus III. and Marcianus. Veranius was appointed his successor in the episcopal chair,while Salonius became the head of the church at Geneva.

Works

The following works bear the name of this prelate:

1. De laude Eremi

This was written about the year A. D. 428, in the form of an epistle to IIilarius of Arles. It would appear that Eucherius, in his passion for a solitary life, had at one time formed the project of visiting Egypt, that he might profit by the bright example of the anchorets who thronged the deserts near the Nile. He requested information from Cassianus [CASSIANUS], who replied by addressing to him some of those collationes in which are painted in such lively colours the habits and rules pursued by the monks and eremites of the Thebaid. The enthusiasm excited by these details called forth the letter bearing the above title.

2. Epistola paraenetica ad Valerianum cognatum de contemtu mundi et secularis philosophiae

A work composed about A. D. 432, in which the author endeavours to detach his wealthy and magnificent kinsman from the pomps and vanities of the world. An edition with scholia was published by Erasmus at Basle in 1520.

3. Liber formularum spiritalis intelligentiae ad Veranium filium

Or, as the title sometimes appears, De forma spiritalis intellectus, divided into eleven chapters, containing an exposition of many phrases and texts in Scripture upon allegorical, typical, and mystical principles.

4. Instructionum Libri II. ad Salonium filium

The first book treats " De Quaestionibus difficilioribus Veteris et Novi Testamenti," the second contains "Explicationes nominum Herbraicorum."

5. Homiliae

Those, namely, published by Livineius at the end of the "Sermones Catechetici Theodori Studitae," Antverp., 8vo. 1602.

The authenticity of the following is very doubtful.

6. Historia Passionis S. Mauritii et Sociorum Martyrum Legionis Felicis Thebaeae Agaunensium.

7. Exhortatio ad Monachos

Editions

the first of three printed by Holstenius in his "Codex Regularum," Rom. 1661, p. 89.

8. Epitome Operum Cassiani.

Spurious Works

The following are certainly spurious: 1. Commentarias in Genesin.2. Commentariorum in libros Regum Libri IV.3. Epistola ad Faustinum.4. Epistola ad Philonem.5. Regula duplex ad Monachos.6. Homiliarum Collectio,ascribed in some of the larger collections of the Fathers to Eusebius of Emesa, in others to Gallicanus. Eucherius is, however, known to have composed many homilies; but, with the exception of those mentioned above (5), they are believed to have perished.

Editions

No complete collection of the works of Eucherius has ever been published. The various editions of the separate tracts are carefully enumerated by Schönemanan, and the greater number of them will be found in the " Chronologia S. insulae Lerinensis," by Vincentius Barralis, Lugdun. 4to. 1613 ; in "D. Eucherii Lug. Episc. doctiss. Lucubrationes cura Joannis Alexandri Brassicani," Basil. fol. 1531; in the Bibliotheca Patrum, Colon. fol. 1618, vol. v. p. 1; and in the Bibl. Pat. Max. Lugdun. fol. 1677, vol. vi. p. 822.

Further Information

Gennad. de Viris. Ill/. 100.63; Schoenemann, Bibl. Patrum. Lat. 2.36.

Confusion with a Gaulish prelate named Eucherius

This Eucherius must not be confounded with another Gaulish prelate of the same name who flourished during the early part of the sixth century, and was a member of ecclesiastical councils held in Gaul during the years A. D. 524, 527, 529. The latter, although a bishop, was certainly not bishop of Lyons. See Jos. Antelmius, Assertio pro unico S. Eucherio Lugdunensi episcopo, Paris, 4to. 1726.

Eucherius Bishop of Orleans

There is yet another Eucherius who was bishop of Orleans in the eighth century.

[W.R]