Eon or Eudo De Stella

Eon or Eudo de Stella a fanatic nobleman who lived in the middle of the 12th century. He was a native of the Bretagne, and a man without education. In the form used in exorcising evil spirits he heard these words, "per Eum, qui venturus es tjudicare vivos et mortuos," and concluded, from the resemblance between the word Eum and his own name, that he was the person who should judge the quick and the dead. His views seem to be connected with those of the Cathari. He is said to have taught that baptism was of value only for believers; that the only true baptism was that of the Spirit by the imposition of hands; that the hierarchy had not been instituted by God; that the Church of Rome was not the true Church, because her priests did not lead a holy life. He denied the resurrection of the body, and rejected marriage as a sacrament. He went about preaching these doctrines, found many adherents, and was reported to possess thepower of working miracles. In 1145 the cardinal-legate Albericus came from Ostia to the Bretagne, and preached against Eon and his adherents at Nanteso. He also induced archbishop Hugo, of Rouen, to write a work against him, which is, however, rather a diffuse explanation of the doctrines of the Church of Rome, than a refutation of Eon (Dogmatum Christianae idei contra haereticos sui temporis libri tres; Bibl. Patru. Max. tom. 22). At the same time troops were sent out against the new heretics, and in the diocese of Alet many were burned. Eon withdrew into the province of Guienne; in 1148 he repaired to Champagne, where his band was scattered, and he, together with some of his prominent adherents, was captured. He was taken before the council at Rheims, and asked, who he was. He replied, Is qui venturus est judicare vivos et mortuos. The synod declared him to be insane, and charged the archbishop of Rheims to take care of him. Many of his followers were sentenced to be burned. After Eon's death the sect soon died out. — Schmidt, in Herzog's Real-Encyklop. 4:212; Wetzeru. Welte, Kirchen-Lex. 3:602; Mosheim, Ch. Hist. book 3, cent. 12 part 3, chapter 5, § 16; Gieseler, Ch. Hist. per. 3, div. 3, chapter 7, § 84. (A.J.S.)