Martyr of Autun, he was celebrated by Venantius Fortunatus; Gregory of Tours speaks several times of the basilica built in the 5th century by the priest Euphronius over his tomb, which soon became a pilgrimage site. The *Passio*, although not contemporary, offers reliable elements. Son of the nobleman Faustus, St. Sinforian was arrested during the reign of Emperor Aurelian and taken to a temple to sacrifice; he refused energetically. He was therefore beaten with rods and imprisoned. Finally, he was condemned to capital punishment and beheaded outside the city walls.
BIBL.: St. Gregory of Tours, *Hist. Franc.*, II, 15; VIII, 30; *In gloria Confess.*, 79; *In gloria Martyr.*, 51; Venantius Fortunatus, *Carmina*, VIII, 3; *Acta SS. Augusti*, IV, Paris 1867, pp. 491–98; H. Delehaye, *Les origines du culte des martyrs*, Brussels 1933, p. 353; *Martyrologium Hieronymianum*, p. 458; *Martyrologium Romanum*, p. 353.