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Saint
Etton
A saint of the 7th century, venerated in the Western Church.
- Reposed
- 6607th century
Life
Saint Etton (Ettone, Etto) of Dompierre-sur-Helpe was an Irish monk, born in Ireland around 590, who came to the Thiérache in the 7th century to preach to the people. He died around 660. He is venerated as a saint in the Western Church.
Like many Irishmen of the time, he set out for Rome with a group of seven monks, before beginning his apostolate. He was ordained bishop by Pope Martin I and sent on a mission to convert the Thiérache. He settled in Artois, then went to Hainaut, where at Fusciau he settled with a few faithful and founded a monastery. Before his death he withdrew to a hermitage in the forest of Dompierre-sur-Helpe.
His memory is kept in the church of Dompierre-sur-Helpe, which bears his name. In icons he is shown surrounded by cattle, as the one who is said to have helped a herdsman recover his health. Our sources give no feast day.