Saint Viator of Lyons

Viator of Lyons (died c. 389 AD) is a Gallic saint of the fourth century. The name "Viator" in Latin originally meant "traveller by road". In Roman law, the word came to designate a minor court official who went out to summon people to appear before the magistrate. This might have been Viator's prior occupation, or refer to his family of origin. According to tradition, he was a lector or a catechist at the Lyon Cathedral, and was held in high esteem by the bishop of Lyon, Justus (Just), and by the congregants. Around 381 Justus decided to live as a hermit in Egypt and Viator knowing his intentions, decided to follow his bishop and master. He caught up with the bishop at Marseille, and together they boarded ship for Egypt. They died at a monastery of Scetes (present-day Wadi El Natrun) in AD 389. Their relics were translated to Lyon (the day is recorded as September 2). By the fifth century four feast days were celebrated annually in Lyon in honor of Sts Just and Viator. Their remains lie in the church of St. Just in Lyon. His feast day is October 21. The Clerics of Saint Viator take their name from him. Just was born in Vivarais and became a deacon of the Church of Vienne. Sometime after 343, he was chosen to succeed Bishop Verissimus, as bishop of Lyon. In 374, Bishop Just assisted at regional Council at Valence. In 382, he attended the Council of Aquileia, as one of the two representatives of the Bishops of Gaul. Shortly after returning from the Council of Aquileia, Bishop Just confided to Viator intention to abandon the See of Lyon in order to take up the ascetical life a monk in the desert of Scete in Egypt. This decision seems to have motivated by a number of factors: his character, that of a mild studious and contemplative man; his age, for he had been a bishop many years and it seems he was already in his sixties; and by a sad event which had occurred in Lyon a short time before.