THE reputation of Epiphanius for sanctity and miracles, gave him the
highest credit with all the last weak Roman emperors, and with the kings
Odoacer and Theodoric, though all of opposite interests. By his
admirable eloquence and charity he often disarmed the most savage
barbarians, obtained the lives and liberty of whole armies of captives,
the abolition of several oppressive laws, and the mitigation of heavy
public imposts and taxes. By his profuse charities he preserved an
incredible number of distressed persons from perishing, and by his zeal
he stemmed the torrent of iniquity in times of universal disorder and
calamity. He performed an embassy to the emperor Anthemius, and another
to king Euric at Toulouse; both to avert the dangers of war. He rebuilt
Pavia, which had been destroyed by Odoacer, and mitigated the fury of
Theodoric in the heat of his victories. He undertook a journey into
Burgundy, to redeem captives detained by the kings Gondebald and
Godegisile, and died of a cold and fever at Pavia, in the fifty-eighth
year of his age. His body was translated to Hildesheim in Lower {193}
Saxony, in 963. Brower thinks it lies in a silver coffin near the high
altar. His name is inserted in the Roman Martyrology. See his panegyric
in verse, by Ennodius, his successor, the master-piece of that author,
published by Bollandus and F. Sirmond. Consult also Marroni, of the
Schola Pia Comment. de Ecclesia & Episcopis Papiensibus. Romae. An. 1758.
Footnotes:
1. B. MACELAIN, A. His name in Irish signifies the son of Chilian.
Passing into Belgic Gaul, in order to lead there an anchoretical
life, he was appointed abbot of St. Michael's on the borders of
Hainault, and of Vasour, or Vasencour, on the Meuse, in the diocese
of Namur: monasteries which were just founded. He appointed St.
Cadroe, who had accompanied him from Ireland, provost of the latter
in 946, and died in 978. Ferrarius, Saussaye, and Wilson, falsely
place this monastery of St. Michael's at Virdun, mistaking the
epithet Vir Dni, which is given him in the chronicle of Flodoard,
for the name of that town. Though he is styled saint in the
catalogue of the abbots of Vasour, and by several martyrologists on
this day, he never was honored in any public office even in either
of his monasteries, as Bollandus observes; who makes the same remark
of his two companions, B. Forannand and B. Cadroe. This latter was
called from Vasour, and made abbot of St. Clement's, at Metz, where
he died in 975. See Bolland. t. 2, p. 386. Chatelain, p. 371. Gallia
Christ. Nova, t. 3, p. 570.
B. FORANNAND, B.C. This saint is styled in ancient chronicles,
Archbishop of Domnachmor, in Ireland. Domnach signifying church, and
mor, the greater, says Mabillon: by which epithet many understand
Armagh. Resigning his see, he travelled into Belgic Gaul, with
twelve companions, among whom were B. Macelain, and B. Cadroe. After
leading for some time an eremitical life, he was commanded by pope
Benedict VII. to take upon him the charge of the government of
Vasour, in which employment he died on the last day of April, in
982. See Gallia Christ. Nova, t. 3. p. 571.