Euspicius

Saint Euspicius was a Gallo-⁠Roman priest of Verdun who later founded the abbey of Micy and was its first abbot. He was archpriest at Verdun. During the siege of the city he went to the camp of the Frankish king Clovis to ask mercy for the Gallo-⁠Roman insurgents. The king was so impressed that in 508 he gave him and his nephew Maximinus (also called Mesmin) the domain of Micy, near Orléans, at the confluence of the Loiret and the Loire, to found a monastery. Besides the royal villa there, the king added other domains and a piece of land within the walls of Orléans, as a refuge in time of danger. The abbey church was dedicated to Saint Stephen.

Euspicius became a renowned teacher of the contemplative life. The rule followed was that of the hermits of the East observed by the followers of Saint Anthony and Saint Basil, brought to the West by John Cassian and Martin of Tours. The monks of Micy cleared and drained the surrounding lands and encouraged agricultural work among the local population; from Micy monastic life spread within and around the diocese of Orléans.

Euspicius reposed on 10 June 510 and was buried at Orléans, next to Saint Aignan. Shortly after 1029 his relics were returned to the abbey, now called Saint-⁠Mesmin de Micy. He was succeeded as head of the monastery by his nephew, Mesmin. He is commemorated on 14 June. He is honored as a saint of the undivided Church.