Genesius of Lyon

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Saint Genesius of Lyon (Genestus, Genes; died 679) was the 37th Archbishop of Lyon.

He was a native of France and became a religious and prior of Fontenelle Abbey). Attached to the court and camp of Clovis II, he acted as chief almoner to the queen, Bathildis.^[1] When Bathilde was regent for her six-year-old son Chlothar III after the death of her husband in 657, she commissioned Genesius to expand Chelles monastery.^[2]

He succeeded the murdered Annemund in the See of Lyon, and was consecrated in 657 or 658. His name is found for the first time as bishop in a signature of 6 September 664, attached to a charter drawn up by Bertefred, bishop of Amiens, for the Abbey of Corbie.^[1]

On 26 June 667, he subscribed another charter framed by Drauscius, Bishop of Soissons, for a convent of the Blessed Virgin founded by Ebroin, mayor of the palace, and his wife Leutrude. In the conflict between Ebroin and St. Leger (Leodegarius), Bishop of Autun, Genesius (675-76) took the part of the bishop and was in consequence attacked by an armed band sent by Ebroin to expel him from Lyons; but Genesius collected a force and successfully defended his city.^[1]

In September, 677, he assisted at an assembly held at Maslay-le-Roi or more probably Marly-le-Roi. He was succeeded at Lyon by Landebertus otherwise Lambertus. His body remained in the Saint-Nizier Church till the beginning of the fourteenth century, when it was transferred to Chelles Abbey.^[3]

He is a Catholic saint, feast day 1 November.

Attribution

•  This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Herbermann, Charles, ed. (1913). "Genesius". Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company.