Baring-Gould’s sources: Roman, Gallican, and Benedictine Martyrologies. Authorities: — A Life by an anonymous writer, ancient, probably of 7th cent. Another Life, metrical, by Bertoald, monk of Miscy, circ. A.D. 84a Both in Mabillon, Acta SS. O.S.B. ssec. L] The abbey of Miscy, or Mici, near Orleans, was founded by Euspicius, archdeacon of Verdun, to whom Clovis granted the land. Euspicius took with him to the new foundation his nephew, Maximinus, who had two brothers, saints — Vino, bishop of Verdun, and Lupus, bishop of Troyes. Maximinus was ordained deacon by Eusebius, bishop of Orleans, and on the death of his uncle succeeded him as abbot of Miscy. He was then ordained priest by Eusebius.

There was a very fine umbrageous tree, under which the abbot loved to sit, at the end of a walk. A steward of Bishop Eusebius [Eusebius of Caesarea (d. c. 339), the first historian of the Church], out of spite, cut the tree down, and was punished for doing so by losing his sight. Perhaps the story, as originally told, ran that the steward cut down the tree, blinded by his rage against the abbot, and this in time developed into a marvel. Maximinus is said to have destroyed a huge serpent near the Loire, which infected the people of the neighbourhood with its poisonous breath. This is a picturesque way of saying that he destroyed a huge serpentine temple of Druid worship, like that of Carnac, which was still regarded with superstitious reverence.

Maximinus is called in French Mesmirt. Dec. xflj SS. Virgins.