GIULIANO of BRIOUDÉ, saint, martyr. — Much venerated in France and extolled by Sidonius Apollinaris and Gregory of Tours, he is commemorated in the Martyrologium Hieronymianum on 28 August. The information about his person comes from a very ancient but not contemporary and generally reliable Passio. Born in Vienne of a noble family, he served in the army together with the tribune Ferreolus (v.).
When the persecution of Diocletian broke out, at the advice of his friend he took refuge in Brioude. He was however discovered by the soldiers of the officer Crispinus and, confessing his faith, was beheaded on the spot. A basilica was built over his tomb, while his head, taken to Vienne, came into the possession of his friend Ferreolus, with whom it was buried when Ferreolus too suffered martyrdom. The dies natalis, unknown to the local Christians, was fixed by St. Germanus of Auxerre.