Saint Benignus of Dijon

Also known as

• Benigne

Memorial

• 1 November

Profile

Missionary to the areas of Marseilles, Autun, and Dijon in France, sent by Saint Polycarp of Smyrna. Martyred in the persecutions of Marcus Aurelius. The people of Tours, France reverenced the grave of Benignus, but the local bishop wished to put a stop to the cult, believing the tomb to be that of a heathen who had been mistakenly identified as Benignus; he started demolition, received a vision explaining his error, and instead built a basilica over the restored sarcophagus.

Born

• at Smyrna

Died

• clubbed to death with an iron bar in 178

Canonized

• Pre-Congregation

Patronage

• Dijon, France, archdiocese of
• Dijon, France, city of

Additional Information

• Book of Saints, by the Monks of Ramsgate
• Catholic Encyclopedia
• Our Sunday Visitor’s Encyclopedia of Saints

MLA Citation

• “Saint Benignus of Dijon“. Saints.SQPN.com. 9 January 2013. Web. 25 May 2013. <>