Biography
Benignus of Dijon
About Benignus of Dijon
Benignus of Dijon is remembered as a martyr whose cult became established around a tomb in the city. Gregory of Tours described the veneration of that tomb in the sixth century.
Bishop Gregory of Langres restored the burial and built a basilica over it; a monastery subsequently developed nearby. A later church on the site became Dijon’s cathedral of Saint-Bénigne.
The story of Benignus’s mission from Polycarp and his execution contains chronological contradictions and is described by the church biography as historically unreliable. This profile therefore preserves the evidence for his cult while leaving his exact lifetime and martyrdom circumstances unresolved.
Wondering how to weigh the stories and sources? Learn how to read a saint biography.