Avitus°
AVITUS°
AVITUS ° (sixth century), bishop of *Clermont-Ferrand, France. Following a series of missionary sermons Avitus had addressed to the Jews, one of them accepted baptism on Easter Day, 576. The convert was subsequently insulted by a Jew and Avitus restrained the Christians from taking revenge at the time, but on May 14 (Ascension Day) they destroyed the synagogue. He then issued an ultimatum to the Jews, ordering them to convert to Christianity or leave Clermont. More than 500 submitted and were baptized at Pentecost. Those who refused took refuge in *Marseilles.
bibliography:
B. Blumenkranz, Les auteurs chrétiens latins… (1963), 64 ff., 70.
[Bernhard Blumenkranz]
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Avitus°