Caelestius

Holy Hierarch Caelestius (Céleste) was the second bishop of Metz (Divodurum), in the fourth century, who died around the year 310. He succeeded Clement of Metz, who died toward the end of the third century.

According to tradition, the apostle Peter sent three missionaries to the region of Metz: Clement, who became the first bishop, Caelestius, the second, and Felix, the third. Little is known of the lives of the first three bishops of Metz. In the year 832 the bones of Caelestius were moved to the monastery of Maursmünster, together with those of Saint Auctor, the thirteenth bishop of Metz, from the middle of the fifth century. In the procession the relics of Auctor, then better known than Caelestius, were first placed at the front, but they would not move until the relics of Caelestius were brought to the head of the procession. His commemoration is kept on 14 October. He is a saint of the undivided Church, honoured in the West.