GERMANUS, Saint, Bishop of PARIS. — Born at Autun toward the end of the 5th century. After escaping an attempt on his life, he was entrusted to a relative named SICHILION, by whom he was educated and directed toward an ecclesiastical career. Bishop AGRIPPINUS ordained him priest, and his successor NECTARIUS appointed him abbot of the monastery of St. Symphorian. There GERMANUS firmly defended the property of his monastery, upheld strict moral standards against the laxity of the nobility, but suffered opposition from the monks on account of the austerity and poverty he sought to impose upon them.
In 556, through the intervention of King CHILDEBERT, he was elected bishop of Paris. He proved zealous in his ministry, preaching assiduously, visiting his diocese for its welfare, and even holding large synods, while always living an austere and penitential life. Two letters are attributed to him, which are valuable documents for the knowledge of the Gallican liturgy: the first deals with the formulary of the Mass, the second with liturgical ceremonies and vestments. He died at almost eighty years of age on 28 May 576 and was buried in the portico of the church of St. Vincent, which later became known as St. Germanus’. VENANTIUS HONORIUS CLEMENTIANUS FORTUNATUS wrote his biography.
(from Y. CIVIST, *Fgilices porisiennes*, Paris 1217, tav. 23) Germanus, Bishop of Paris, Saint — Surviving bell tower of the church of St-Germain-des-Prés in Paris (c. 1253, rebuilt in the upper part in the mid-19th century).