Evurtius of Orléans

Evurtius of Orléans is regarded as the fourth bishop of Orléans, in the fourth century. His life is known from a legendary account preserved in two versions. According to it, he was a subdeacon of the Church of Rome and travelled through Gaul in search of his brother and sister, carried off by barbarians forty years before. He arrived at Orléans just when a new bishop was to be elected and, according to the legend, a dove that entered the church pointed him out three times, so that he was elected.

About a year later his prayers are said to have extinguished by rain a fire that was ravaging the city. He then asked the inhabitants to help him build a larger cathedral. When the foundations were dug, a jar of gold coins bearing the image of Nero was found; Evurtius sent his archdeacon to Rome to return them to the emperor Constantine. Evurtius is venerated in the Church as bishop of Orléans.

His commemoration falls on 7 September (new calendar); the Churches on the Old Calendar keep the same day of the Menaion on 20 September of the civil calendar.