Severus of Vienne

Severus of Vienne (died c. 455) was a priest who evangelised in Vienne, France. He is venerated as a Catholic saint. Severus is said to have been Indian by birth and of wealthy origins. His entry in the Roman Martyrology reads:

'At Vienne, in France, St. Severus, priest and confessor, who undertook a painful journey from India in order to preach the Gospel in that city, and converted a great number of Pagans to the faith of Christ by his labors and miracles.'

Severus settled in Vienne around 430. He founded a church in honour of Saint Alban (now the church of Saint-Alban-du-Rhône) near Vienne. He died in Italy, but his body was brought back to Vienne and buried in the church dedicated to the protomartyr Saint Stephen, which he himself had constructed.