Servatius of Tongeren

d. AD 384 · Bishop of Tongeren · Anti-Arian · Tongeren

The Nicene Age

Who Servatius of Tongeren was

Bishop of Tongeren in the Low Countries, an opponent of Arianism who sat at Serdica and Rimini and, Sulpicius Severus reports, foresaw the coming of the Huns. Gregory of Tours tells his story in Histories II.5; he is the first securely historical bishop of the future see of Maastricht.

Also listed in bishops beyond the great sees and heretics & schismatics.

Common questions

When did Servatius die?

Servatius of Tongeren is dated d. AD 384 in the archive, which places Servatius in the Nicene Age (AD 313–400).

Which early sources mention Servatius?

Servatius of Tongeren is named in 2 primary-source passages catalogued here, drawn from Sulpicius Severus and Gregory of Tours. Every passage is quoted from a named public-domain translation, earliest first.

Where was Servatius from?

The archive associates Servatius of Tongeren with Tongeren.

Who were Servatius’ contemporaries?

The archive links Servatius of Tongeren to 2 other figures, including Athanasius of Alexandria and Hilary of Poitiers. Each connection is drawn from a source that places them together, not from inference.

Primary-source mentions (2)

Every passage below is quoted from a named public-domain translation, earliest first.

Sulpicius Severus, Chronicle II.44 (c. AD 403; original Latin, working translation)

c. AD 400

[Within twenty years of his death.] At Rimini, when the trick of the creed was pressed, our side was unwary; Phoebadius and Servatio, bishop of the Tungri, at the first stoutly refused the impiety.

Sulpicius Severus · source text

Gregory of Tours, History of the Franks II.5 (c. AD 594; original Latin, working translation)

c. AD 590

[~210 years later, the legend grown.] When the coming of the Huns upon Gaul was revealed to him, the holy bishop gave himself to fasts and vigils for his people, journeyed to pray at the tomb of the apostle Peter, and returning, died in peace at Maastricht before the blow fell.