Balsemius

Saint Balsemius (Balsème, Baussange) was born at the end of the fourth century, at Limoges or Bourges according to the sources, and died in 407. He is a local saint of the diocese of Troyes, commemorated on 16 August (new style). Having become a deacon, he went to the diocese of Troyes, following the example of his compatriot Saint Basle, and settled in the region of Arcis, which Bishop Aurelian charged him to evangelize. At the beginning of the fifth century the Vandals and Alans crossed the Rhine and ravaged Gaul. Coming from Reims, Balsemius went out before them, not far from Arcis, at a place called La Dorée, to urge them to give up their plundering. The barbarians, angered, beat him so that they could pass, but Balsemius rose and stood again before them, and was then beheaded. The legend says he rose and took up his head to depart. Furious at this sight, the barbarians threw his body into a well, which they covered with stones and vegetation to hide the place.

Some years later, a lady of Limoges, blind for a long time, received a message in a dream to go to the region of Arcis to find the martyr's body. She set out, and when the relics were found, she washed her eyes with water from the well, sanctified by the bones, and at once regained her sight. The relics were then taken to a church dedicated to Saint Peter near Arcis, probably at Le Chêne.