Aetherius of Lyon

Aetherius of Lyon (in Latin Ætherius, in French Éthère) was metropolitan bishop of Lyon, successor of Priscus (who died about 586), and reposed in the year 602. He is venerated in the Western Church, and a French source says the Orthodox Churches also commemorate him, locally on 7 October. He is known above all for having consecrated Saint Augustine of Canterbury, sent to preach in England.

He came from the senatorial aristocracy and, before becoming bishop, was an officer at the court of King Guntram and one of his closest counselors. His predecessor Saint Nicetius (who died in 573), who enjoyed his company, is said to have foretold that he would succeed him, but only in the second place. Guntram at first refused him the succession, though the people of Lyon desired it; Priscus and his wife Susanna showed in their time hatred for Nicetius and persecuted his relatives. When the king at last allowed him to succeed Priscus, Aetherius restored the memory of Nicetius to honor, organized his cult and wrote, soon after his accession, a short Praise of Saint Nicetius. He summoned Austregisilus (Outrille), an officer at Guntram's court, to Lyon, ordained him a priest and helped him enter the clergy.

In 589, at the revolt in the convent of the Holy Cross at Poitiers, Aetherius was the first signatory of the letter of the Burgundian bishops sent in answer to Bishop Gundegisel. In 591 King Guntram sent him to Paris with other bishops for the baptism of his nephew Clothar II. Letters of Pope Gregory the Great to him are preserved, in which the pope expresses his esteem for his attachment to church discipline and his struggle against abuses, and asks about the writings of Saint Irenaeus. On 23 July 597 the pope recommended to him the monk Augustine and his companions, sent to evangelize England; returning to Gaul after a first stay in Kent, Augustine was consecrated by Aetherius archbishop of the English. In 1975 the historian Hubert Mordek recognized him as the probable author of the oldest systematic collection of church canons in Frankish Gaul, the Collectio Vetus Gallica. According to the Chronicle of Fredegar, he died in the year 602.