Saint Leontius of Autun (French:Saint Léonce) (d. ca. 430 AD) was a bishop of AutuninGaul during the fifth century. He is mentioned in the Martyrologium Hieronymianum. He is sometimes confused with the similarly named Saint Leonorius (Saint Leonore, Lunaire)[1] and Leontius of Fréjus who lived around the same time. He is venerated as a saint in the Catholic church, and his feast day is 1 July.
There are scant details of Leontius life before he entered the ministry, and almost no documentation.[2] On 1 July, the Martyrologium Hieronymianum has the following listing, "The burial of Leontius, bishop of Autun (Gaul), 5th cent."[3] The chronotaxis of the bishops of Autun show that he was the eighth bishop, serving after Evantius and before Euphronius.[4]
Leontius died circa 430 in Autun, and was elevated to sainthood pre-congregation.[6] At the time of his death he was considered a confessor, and it was not uncommon for one who led a virtuous life who had died peacefully to be venerated as a saint.[7][8] More than likely, he was elevated to sainthood by the local bishop.[6] His cult spread throughout the region of Gaul where he lived, and he became a patron saint of Autun.[2]
