GIULIANO of BRIOUDE, saint, martyr. - Greatly venerated in France and extolled by Sidonio Apollinare and Gregorio di Tours, he is commemorated in the Martyrologium Hieronymianum on 28 Aug. Information concerning him derives from a very ancient but not contemporary and generally reliable Passio. Born at Vienne into a noble family, he served in the FERREOLO, SANTO (v.).
When the persecution of Diocleziano broke out, on his friend’s advice he hid at Brioude. He was, however, discovered by the soldiers of the official Crispino 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 Ferreolo, with whom it was buried when the latter too suffered martyrdom. The «dies natalis», unknown to the local Christians, was established by St. Germano di Auxerre.