Eutropius of Valencia facts for kids

Eutropius of Valencia was an important Spanish bishop who lived around the year 600. He became the Bishop of Valencia in 589. He passed away sometime after 610. Not much is known about his work as a bishop. Historians often call him a saint, but he was not officially honored in religious ceremonies.

His Life Story

Eutropius started his religious journey as a monk. He lived in a place called the Monasterium Servitanum. People believe this monastery was located in the Valencia province of Spain. It was built in the 500s by a monk named Donatus. Donatus had to leave Roman Africa because of attacks from a group called the Vandals.

The rules followed at the Monasterium Servitanum were likely similar to those used by monks in Africa. This has led some to connect them with the Augustinians. However, there isn't enough proof for this link. We only know about this monastery because Saint Isidore and St. Ildephonsus wrote about Donatus. They also mentioned Eutropius, who became the leader (abbot) of the monastery after Donatus.

His Writings

Eutropius is known for writing three important letters. One letter was sent to Licinianus, who was the Bishop of Carthagena. The other two letters were sent to Peter, Bishop of Iturbica.

Letter to Bishop Licinianus

The letter Eutropius wrote to Bishop Licinianus has been lost. We know about it because Saint Isidore mentioned it. In this letter, Eutropius asked why newly baptized children were anointed with holy chrism.

Letters to Bishop Peter

Saint Isidore also mentioned one of Eutropius's letters to Bishop Peter. The text of this letter still exists today. Saint Isidore said that every monk should read it. Its title means "About the destruction of monks and the ruin of monasteries."

In this letter, Eutropius talked about how important it is for monks to be serious about their faith. He believed that having a few very dedicated monks was better than having many who were not committed. He also explained why he was strict about following the monastery's rules. He said his main goal was to make sure everyone followed the rules set by the monastery's founders. He didn't care about criticism from others. He felt it was his duty to correct monks' mistakes. The Bible and early Christian leaders agreed that guiding and correcting others is a key responsibility for leaders. Not doing so would lead to serious problems.

The second letter to Bishop Peter discussed the seven deadly sins. Eutropius explained these sins and how they are connected. He also showed how they can affect people. He taught that Christians should fight against these bad habits with all their strength. He believed that people cannot win this fight alone. They need God's help to succeed. Eutropius wrote these letters while he was still at the monastery. You can find his letters in a collection called Patrologia Latina by Migne.

See also

In Spanish: Eutropio de Valencia para niños