Benignus Saint

Benignus Saint the apostle of Burgundy, is said to have been a pupil of Polycarp, who sent him to France to preach the Gospel there. He came thither, it is said, accompanied by St. Andochius, a priest, and St. Thyrs, a deacon, about the beginning of the reign of Marcus Aurelius. They landed at Marseilles, and passed through Lyons to Autun; thence they proceeded to Langres, and, after preaching in the adjacent country, Benignus received the crown of martyrdom at Dijon, with his two companions, being thrust through by a lance, in 178. Some martyrologies place his death on the 2d or 3d of April; but the common belief assigns Nov. 1 as the day of his martyrdom. In 512 the Abbey of St. Benignus of Dijon was erected over these martyrs' tomb, which was richly endowed by Charles the Bold. See D'Achery, Spicilegiumo, 1; Roget de Belloguet, Origines Dijonnaises (1851); Bougaud, Etude sur Saint Benigne et sur l' Origine des Egl. de Dijon, d'Autun et de Langres (Autun, 1859); Lichtenberger, Encyclopedie des Sciences Religieuses, s.v. (B. P.)