Remigius was born in 438 in northern Gaul.
devoting himself for awhile to secular and sacred learning,
he withdrew to a small house near Laon, to live in reclusion
and prayer. But when a bishop was needed in Rheims, the
clergy and people carried him off from his hermitage and
made him their bishop. He was only twenty-two years old at
bishop soon became renowned throughout northern Gaul. He
converted heretics, brought Arian heretics back to the
Orthodox Faith, cared for the many who suffered at the hands
of barbarian marauders.
he went, miracles attended him. He healed the sick and
demonized and once, when a town was on fire, threw himself
into the flames and quenched them. Birds would come to his
table whenever he ate, and he would share his meal with
In 482 the
young warrior Clovis became leader of the Frankish tribes in
that region. Though he was a pagan, he knew and admired St
Remigius, and was married to a Christian, St Clotilde (June
his army faced defeat by the Alemanii, Clovis prayed to 'the
God of Clotilde and Remigius' and won a great victory. This
answer to his prayers convinced him of the truth of the
Christian Faith, and he asked St Remigius to instruct him.
Two years later he gathered all his chieftains in Rheims to
attend his baptism. The baptism was accompanied by many
miracles, seen by all in attendance. Two of the king's
sisters and three thousand of his lords and soldiers were
baptized at the ceremony. This event is considered the
birth of France as a Christian nation.
old age, St Remigius went blind, but miraculously recovered
his sight. He reposed in peace at the age of 105,
immediately after serving the Divine Liturgy.