Anianus (5)

Anianus ST. (vulgarly called St. Agnan), bishop OF ORLEANS, was born in the 4th century at Vienne. on the Rhone. In his early youth he left his home and retired to a cell which he had built for himself, where he spent his time in reading, prayer, and mortification. After a time he left his solitude to place himself among the disciples of St. Euvertus, bishop of Orleans, whose great fame had reached him. By this bishop he was made priest and abbot of St. Laurent-des-Orgerils, in the vicinity of the city, and ultimately became his successor in the see. By his worth and merits he delivered the city of Orleans from the army of Attila, and died, it is said, soon after (Nov. 17, A.D. 453), having occupied the see sixty-two years. His festival is kept Nov. 17. The history of his life, which was extant iii the time of Gregory of Tours, is now lost. See Baillet, Nov. 17.