Biography
Emilian of Valence
About Emilian of Valence
Emilian is the earliest historically known bishop of Valence. The Catholic Encyclopedia identifies him with a signatory of the council held there in 374. This places him in the second half of the fourth century.
The diocese remembers him as host of that council, whose bishops considered penitence and admission to ordained ministry.
The diocesan account also connects him with Eusebius of Vercelli and the consecration of Marcellinus of Embrun. It presents his participation at Sardica in 343 as possible rather than certain.
A letter associated with the Valence council shows the practical concerns behind its rules. In Jerzy Szafranowski’s scholarly summary, the assembled bishops declined to ordain Acceptus for Fréjus because doing so would violate the canons they had just adopted. This was a collective decision, not a separately documented act by Emilian.
The Martyrology places his death after 374. Nominis lists his local commemoration on September 10.
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