Christwiki

Lyon

Lyon, FranceWestern EuropeAlso: Lugdunum, Lyons

The Roman colony of Lugdunum at the meeting of the Rhône and the Saône, one of the chief cities of Gaul. Its church suffered a violent persecution in 177 and was led afterwards by Irenaeus.

Eusebius calls Lyon and Vienne, both on the Rhône, the chief and most famous cities of Gaul (Eusebius, Church History 5.1.1–3). A festival held there drew crowds “from all nations”, and it was at that festival that the Christians condemned in 177 were killed in the amphitheatre (Eusebius, Church History 5.1.47). Two of those named in the church’s letter, Attalus of Pergamum and the physician Alexander, a Phrygian, came from Asia Minor (Eusebius, Church History 5.1.17; 5.1.49), and the letter was addressed to the churches of Asia and Phrygia (Eusebius, Church History 5.1.1–3). After the persecution Irenaeus became bishop and wrote Against Heresies (Eusebius, Church History 5.5.8–9).

What happened here

  1. AD 177, estimated date
    The Martyrs of Lyon and Vienne

    Mob violence against the Christians of Lyon and Vienne ends in trials before the governor. The aged bishop Pothinus dies in prison, and the slave Blandina and others are killed in the amphitheatre. The survivors describe it in a letter to Asia.

  2. about AD 180, estimated date
    Irenaeus Sets Out the Rule of Faith

    Irenaeus, bishop of Lyon, writes five books against the followers of Valentinus and Marcion. Against their claim to a secret tradition he sets three public tests: the faith the churches confess, the four Gospels, and the succession of bishops from the apostles.

  3. about 1173, estimated date
    Waldo and the Poor of Lyon

    A rich citizen of Lyon gives away his wealth and begins to preach with his followers in voluntary poverty. The pope approves the poverty and restricts the preaching; when they preach on, they are condemned. The early accounts used here all come from critics of the movement.

  4. 1245 to 1307, firm date
    Franciscan Envoys to the Mongols and the Church of Khanbaliq

    Innocent IV sends Franciscans to the Mongol khan in 1245 and is told in reply to come and submit. William of Rubruck debates before the khan’s umpires at the Mongol court in 1254. By 1305 John of Montecorvino has a church and a choir in Khanbaliq.

  5. May 1274, firm date
    The Second Council of Lyon

    Gregory X holds a general council at Lyon, where envoys of the Byzantine emperor Michael VIII accept the Roman faith and primacy. The council also fixes the rules of the papal conclave. After the emperor’s death the Greek church repudiates the union.

Primary sources

Church History

Eusebius of Caesarea · c. AD 311–325, in successive editions · Greek

Type to search the whole wiki.