Antoninus of Pamiers

Saint Antoninus of Pamiers was an early Christian missionary and martyr, called the "Apostle of the Rouergue". He is venerated as patron of the cities of Pamiers, Palencia and Medina del Campo. His memory is kept on 2 September.

His historicity and exact identity are uncertain. His life is dated by various sources to the first, second, fourth or fifth century, because he is often confused with other saints named Antoninus, among them Antoninus of Apamea in Syria. Cardinal Baronius believed that he was one of the martyrs of the Theban Legion in the year 286.

According to tradition, he was born at Fredelacum (Pamiers), converted to Christianity and made a pilgrimage to Rome, where he was ordained. He returned to preach the Gospel in Aquitaine, especially in the border regions of the Rouergue; the tradition of the diocese of Pamiers regards him as its first apostle. Many miracles are credited to him. He was martyred at Vallis Nobilis, now Saint-⁠Antonin-⁠Noble-⁠Val, on 2 September.

His relics came to Pamiers and Palencia. His veneration is old: the cathedral of Palencia is dedicated to him, as is that of Pamiers. According to local tradition, the crypt at Palencia that is said to house his relics was completed in the later seventh century, under Bishop Ascaric. By the eighth century a monastery dedicated to him had been built near Foix, which claimed to hold his head and part of his body, brought from Syria in a boat that sailed the rivers Ariège, Tarn, Garonne and Aveyron with the help of an angel. These conflicting traditions suggest that the martyr of Pamiers may be the same person as the martyr Antoninus of Syria. The Abbey of Saint-⁠Antonin was founded near Fredelacum about 960, and the town of Saint-⁠Antonin-⁠Noble-⁠Val bears his name.