GERMANO, saint, bishop of PARIGI. - Born at Autun toward the end of the fifth century. After escaping an attempt at poisoning, he was entrusted to a relative named Scupilione, by whom he was educated and directed toward an ecclesiastical career. Bishop Agrippino ordained him priest, and his successor Nettario elected him abbot of the monastery of S. Sinforiano. There G. firmly reclaimed the property of his monastery and upheld moral holiness against the laxity of the nobles, but he suffered at the hands of the monks because of the austerity and poverty he wished to impose upon them.
In 556, through the intervention of King Childeberto, he was elected bishop of Parigi. He proved zealous, preaching assiduously, visiting the diocese, for whose benefit he also held several synods, and always living an austere and penitential life. Two letters are attributed to him, precious documents for the knowledge of Gallican liturgy; the first deals with the formulary of the Mass, the other with ceremonies and liturgical vestments. He died, almost eighty years old, on 28 May 576 and was buried in the portico of the church of S. Vincenzo, which was later called S. G. after him. Venanzio Fortunato wrote his biography.