Baring-Gould’s sources: Usuardus, Ado, Notker, Wandelbert, Roman Martyrology. Gallican Martyrologies. Authorities: — Mention by Gennadius, Cassian, S. Mamertus, De Statu Animae, ii. 9, his own writings, Salvian, Epist Eucherio, &c.] Eucherius, a native of Gaul, of illustrious parents, and married, was the greatest light of the Church of Lyons, after S. Irenaeus. He had two sons by his wife, Salonius and Veranius, who afterwards enjoyed episcopal dignity. Probably on his wife’s death he retired to the isle of Lerins, and was a monk there till 434, when he was elected bishop of Lyons. He wrote from Lerins a treatise on Contempt of the World, addressed to his cousin Valerian, probably the saint of that name, who afterwards became bishop of Cimella, assisted at the councils of Orange, Arles and Riez, and died about ad. 460. Cassian says that he shone as a bright star in the world by the perfection of his virtue. S. Mamertus of Vienne says: “ Being young in age, he had nevertheless a perfect ripeness of spirit He despised the things of earth, he desired only heaven; he was humble in the disposition of his heart, he was exalted above all by his merit and talents; he was full of learning, was eloquent, and surpassed most of the bishops of his time. He wrote several volumes on the doctrine of the Faith.”

Salvian, writing to the saint, says: “ The letters you have sent me I have read. They are short in words, but abundant in doctrine. They are easy to read, but they are perfect in the instructions wherewith they are filled. In short, they are worthy of your talents and of your piety.” In 441 he assisted at the first council of Orange. There [Nor. x& was a second Eucherius of Lyons, according to some accounts. Ado in his Martyrology relates that the second was married, had two daughters, Consortia and Tullia, and retired into a grotto on his estates by the side of the Durance, and had himself walled in. His wife brought him his daily food. The clergy and people of Lyons, having elected him bishop, broke down the wall to get him out, and then his wife retired into the cave, and was daily fed by one of her daughters. This S. Eucherius assisted at the fourth council of Arles, that of Carpentras, the second of Orange, and the second of Vaison, and died about 530. But it has been doubted whether there was a second Eucherius of Lyons. It is true that a Eucherius signs the acts of some of these councils — two of the name sign those of Orange in 529, but in none of the cases are the names of the sees attached. The first Eucherius wrote a book on the Solitary Life, a letter to his son Solanus on some of the difficult passages of Scripture, some homilies, commentaries on Genesis and Kings, a treatise on Spiritual Understanding to his son Veranus, &c.