Rusticus (archbishop of Lyon)


Saint Rusticus, the successor of Saint Lupicinus of Lyon, served as Archbishop of Lyon from 494 to April 501. Later canonized, his feast day is 25 April.

Family

He and his brother St. Viventiolus were the sons of Aquilinus, a nobleman at Lyon. Aquilinus was the son of Tullia, the daughter of Saint Eucherius and his wife Gallia. Tullia's husband, whose name is unknown, was the son of Decimus Rusticus and his wife Artemia. A schoolfellow and friend of Sidonius Apollinaris, Aquilinus was a vicarius of a province in Gaul between 423 and 448 under Apollinaris, the father of Sidonius.

Bishop

Around 494 Rusticus succeeded Lupicinus of Lyon as bishop. Shortly after his consecration, Rusticus sent some financial aid to Pope Gelasius I. Gelasius wrote back in February 494, recommending to the bishop's good offices Epiphanius of Pavia, who was on his way to Gaul to see to the ransom of certain captives held by the Burgundian king Gundobad. According to Ennodius, among those freed were 400 from Lyon.

Marriage and issue

Married before 480 to Hiberie de Limoges, daughter of Ruricius, Bishop of Limoges and his wife Ommance. Rusticus and his wife had three children: