Ferreolus, Saint, Martyr

FERREOLO, saint, martyr. - At the beginning of Diocletian’s persecution he was a tribune in the army at Vienne (France), where he lived together with his friend Giuliano. Shortly after the latter’s martyrdom, F. too was accused before the judge Crispino; he professed his Christian faith and, having refused to deny it, was cruelly tortured and then imprisoned in a narrow cell. He succeeded in escaping, but was recaptured and beheaded. His body was buried at the very place of martyrdom, on the banks of the Rhône, where a basilica was also built. The river’s continual flooding induced Bishop s. Mamerto (d. 473) to construct another one in a safe place, to which the martyr’s body was also transferred. In the Hieronymian Martyrology he is commemorated on 19 September.