VARMONDO (VEREMONDO, WARMUNDUS), BEATO

Elected to the see of Ivrea by Emperor Otto I (cf. *Allocutio*, in Provana [V. BIBLICA.], pp. 340-41), he took part in the Synod of Milan in September-October 969. Allied to the House of Saxony, he received from it protection and support on the occasion of his vigorous action against the violence and pretensions of Arduino (v.), whom he excommunicated twice between 997 and 999 (texts in Provana, pp. 334-41). Otto granted to his church, through Otto III, immunity over the city of Ivrea and three miles around, as well as the cession of the courts of Romano and Fiorano (9 July 1000: Provana, pp. 354-55), and ensured the free existence of the Abbey of Fruttuaria, a decree (*testamentum*) not earlier than 1006, subscribed by various other bishops and sanctioned on 3 January 1015 by Benedict VIII (cf. P. F. Kehr, *Italia Pontificia*, VI, II, Berlin 1912, p. 150). Benzo of Alba (v.) recalls the “golden age” for the fine arts under V. (*Ad Heinricum IV imp. lib. VII*, ed. G. H. Pertz, in *MGH. Scriptores*, XI, p. 637), who was a poet and patron: he built the Cathedral, promoted the episcopal school and scriptorium, from which valuable manuscripts survive, including the well-known Sacramentary, a Psalter, a benedictional containing the text of the excommunication of Arduino, etc., transcribed in fine Carolingian script and richly decorated, bearing numerous distichs composed by V. The year of his death is unknown: 1002 has been proposed, but it seems more reliable to place it between 1010 and 1014. His cult was confirmed by Pius IX on 17 September 1857. Feast on 9 August.