Saint Nectarius of Auvergne (also known as Nectarius of St-Nectaire, Nectarius of Limagne, Necterius of Senneterre; French: Nectaire)[1] is venerated as a 4th-century martyr and Christianmissionary.
Life
Nectarius, according to legend, was accused of participating in a conspiracy after the death of his wealthy parents, so he fled to Rome, where he met Christians, was looked after and then baptized by Saint Peter. Peter then sent Nectarius and his brothers to evangelize Gaul.[2]
Reliquary bust of Saint Baudimius (Baudime), purported brother of Saint Nectarius.
Nectarius was accompanied by the priests Baudimius (Baudenius, Baudime) and Auditor (Auditeur); tradition states that they were all brothers.[1]
A third tradition states that Saint Austremonius sent Nectarius and Antoninus to Christianize the plain of Limagne in the Massif Central.[3] Nectarius turned a temple dedicated to Apollo on the hill known as Cornadore into a Christian church, which became the Church of Notre Dame du Mont Cornadore (now named after Nectarius) at Saint-Nectaire, in Puy-de-Dôme. Nectarius was subsequently killed by the local pagan leader, Bradulus.[4]
Church of Saint Nectarius at Saint-Nectaire
Veneration
Evidence of veneration for Nectarius dates from the 10th century. A sepulcher at the Benedictine priory of St-Nectaire (corrupted into Sennecterre and Senneterre[5]) became a center of pilgrimage.[1] A borough arose around the priory, which became a center for mineral water and the manufacture of the cheese known as Saint-Nectaire.[1]
Nectarius is the co-patron of Saint-Nectaire along with Saint Auditor, although Saint Auditor is the principal patron saint of that town, for reasons unknown.[1]
