Helladius of Auxerre

Saint Helladius was bishop of Auxerre in Gaul in the fourth century, in whose time Saint Amator was tonsured into the clergy. He is venerated as a saint in the Eastern Orthodox Church and in the Catholic Church and commemorated on 8 May. The English source says that he served for thirty years, from 357 until his death in 387, while the Russian speaks of twenty-⁠three years. We cannot choose between them.

He was bishop of Auxerre after Saint Valerian. By his faith, by the example of his life and by his preaching he brought many people to the Lord. He ordained Saint Amator deacon, tonsured by him, which is the earliest example of ecclesiastical tonsure mentioned in the religious history of France.

A man who was at that time still a pagan told Saint Germanus of Auxerre of his vision: on Mount Artre he had seen the first five holy bishops of Auxerre, Peregrinus, Marcellianus, Valerian, Helladius and Amator, celebrating a "ghost Mass" at dawn, at the hour when the ghosts return to their graves.

Helladius died after twenty-⁠three years of episcopate and was buried beside his predecessors on Mount Artre, in the suburb of Auxerre. He is mentioned in the Roman Martyrology.