Biography
Avitus of Clermont
About Avitus of Clermont
Avitus was bishop of Clermont in the later sixth century. The diocesan history credits him with building a church of Notre-Dame du Port.
His episcopate also included coercion against the city’s Jewish community. The Jewish Encyclopedia, drawing on Gregory of Tours, recounts that after a crowd destroyed the synagogue in 576, Avitus required Jews to accept baptism or leave the city. Some were baptized, while others departed for Marseille.
His local Catholic commemoration is listed on August 21.
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