Saturnin facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Saint Saturnin
The Martyrdom of Saint Saturnin, from a 14th-century manuscript
Apostle to the Gauls Bishop and Martyr
Born	third century Patras, Greece
Died	c. AD 257 Toulouse, Gaul (modern-day France)
Venerated in	Roman Catholic Church Eastern Orthodox Church
Canonized	Pre-Congregation
Major shrine	Basilique St-Sernin, Toulouse
Feast	29 November
Attributes	A bishop's mitre, a bishop being dragged by a bull, a bull
Patronage	Toulouse, France

Saint Saturnin of Toulouse was an important early Christian leader. He was one of the "Apostles to the Gauls," a group of seven bishops sent from Rome around the year 250 AD. Their mission was to spread Christianity in Gaul, which is now modern-day France. This happened after a time when Christians faced harsh treatment.

Saturnin was sent to Toulouse, where he became the city's first bishop. His feast day, a special day to remember him, is on November 29.

Who Was Saint Saturnin?

Saturnin is known as the first Bishop of Toulouse. Stories about his life and death were written down long ago. These old writings say that Saturnin was born in Patras, Greece.

Legends say that after Saint Peter, one of Jesus's main followers, made him a bishop, Saturnin traveled with two companions. These companions were named Papulus and Honestus.

His Brave Story

The most famous story about Saint Saturnin tells how he died for his faith. To reach the Christian church in Toulouse, Saturnin had to walk past a Roman temple. At this temple, there was an altar where people offered sacrifices to their gods.

The priests at the temple believed that Saturnin's frequent presence was making their gods silent. One day, they grabbed him. Saturnin refused to offer sacrifices to their statues. Because of this, they decided to punish him.

They tied his feet to a large bull. The bull then dragged him through the town. This went on until the rope finally broke. A similar story is told about his student, Saint Fermin.

The bull is said to have stopped at a place now called Matabiau. This name means "the killing of the bull." Two Christian women bravely gathered his remains. They buried them in a deep ditch so that others would not disrespect them.

The street where the bull supposedly stopped is now called rue du Taur, which means "Street of the Bull." This street leads to the famous Basilica of Saint Saturnin.

Churches Built for Him

After Christianity became accepted, Saturnin's followers gave him a more honorable burial. His successors, Bishop Hilary and Bishop Exuperius, built a simple wooden chapel over his burial place. This was around the 4th century.

Later, a beautiful Gothic church was built on this spot. It is called Notre-Dame du Taur, meaning "Our Lady of the Bull."

As more and more people came to visit Saturnin's burial site, a larger church was needed. Bishop Silvius began building a bigger church, which was finished by Bishop Exuperius in 402 AD. Saturnin's body was moved to this new, larger church.

This church is now the crypt (an underground room) of the huge Romanesque basilica you can see today. This basilica, the Basilica of Saint Saturnin, is one of the most famous Romanesque buildings in southern France. His relics (remains) stayed there until 1284.

Places Named After Saint Saturnin

Many places are named after Saint Saturnin, especially in France and Spain. This shows how important he was to early Christians.

• Many towns in France are called Saint-Saturnin or Saint-Sernin.
• In Navarre, Spain, there is a place called Burgo de San Cernín.
• In Catalonia, Spain:
  • Sant Sadurní d'Anoia
  • Sant Sadurní d'Osormort
  • Sant Sadurní de l'Heura
• In Asturias, Spain:
  • San Saturnino
• In Portugal:
  • São Saturnino, Fronteira
• In Wales:
  • Llansadwrn, Anglesey

Images for kids

• 

  Tomb of St. Saturnin in the Basilica of St. Sernin, Toulouse, France

See also

In Spanish: Saturnino de Tolosa para niños

• Saint Saturnin, patron saint archive