AVITUS, Alcimus Ecdicius, Saint. - Bishop of Vienne in the Dauphiné, b. around 450, d. shortly after 517. He belonged to a family of bishops of senatorial rank, and the emperor Avitus was perhaps a relative of his. His father too preceded him on the see of Vienne.
As bishop he was one of the pillars of the Gallic episcopate of his time: to him is due the conversion of the kingdom of Burgundy to the Catholic faith. By the authority of his culture and the refinement of his manners he knew how to win the heart of King Gundobad and then to convert his son Sigismund. To both of them he addressed many letters for this purpose (a good number of which survive), on various biblical and doctrinal questions. Moreover, several other of his writings are directed against the Arianism of the invading peoples and related doctrines, and one is expressly directed against the semi-Pelagianism of Faustus of Riez. The Council of Epaone of 517, over which he presided, completed with wise provisions the work of the conversion of Burgundy.
A. had written many Epigrams, scattered in the turmoil of the siege of Vienne in 500. Shortly before 507 he himself saw to the edition of his other writings, which consist of two poems, 86 letters, three complete homilies and many fragmentary ones. The principal poem De spiritualis historiae gestis recounts in its first three books the events of Genesis up to the fall and in two others the flood and the exodus: its subject is therefore that of paradise lost and regained, and books IV and V develop in substance the symbols of the redemption. A. was not content, like his numerous predecessors, with a paraphrase of the biblical text, but developed the subject very freely with an original poetic conception, new in this genre of poems, and which foreshadows Milton. The language is the correct one of his time, the style that of a good imitator of the classics; but here too the tastes of his age do not make him averse to mannerism. The same merits and defects are found also in the De consolatoria laude castitatis ad Fuscinam sororem Deo virginem sacratam.
The Letters reflect the religious interests of the time and mostly treat theological subjects. Many are addressed to King Gundobad and to his son Sigismund. Especially noteworthy are the 4th, against the theories on grace of Lérins, and the 34th, to the Roman senators Faustus and Symmachus on the Council of 499 and on the election of Pope Symmachus, in which occurs the celebrated exclamation: At si papa Urbis vocatur in dubium, episcopatus iam videbitur, non episcopus, vacillare. Of the 35 Sermons only three survive complete, two of which are for the spring rogations (v.), instituted shortly before by Bishop Claudianus Mamertus. They are the oldest record and the first commentary on that institution. Feast on 5 February.
(phot. Sansoni)
Bibliography6 works
Antonio Ferrua