Saint Nicetius of Trier
Saint Nicetius,Egbert Psalter
Bishop of Trier[1]
Born	513 Auvergne
Died	~566 Trier
Venerated in	Catholic Church,Eastern Orthodox Church
Feast	October 1 (in Trier) December 5 (Roman Martyrology)

Saint Nicetius (French:Saint Nizier) (c. 525 - c. 566) was abishop of Trier, born in the latter part of the sixth century, exact date unknown; died in 563 or more probably 566.^[2]

Nicetius was the most important bishop of the ancient see of Trier, in the era when, after the disorders of theMigrations,Frankish supremacy began in what had beenRoman Gaul. Considerable detail of the life of this zealous bishop is known from various sources, from letters written either by or to him, from two poems ofVenantius Fortunatus and above all from the statements of his pupilAredius, later Abbot ofLimoges, which have been preserved byGregory of Tours.^[3]

Nicetius came from aGallo-Roman family; he was a native ofAquitaine.^[4] From his youth he devoted himself to religious life and entered amonastery.Theuderic I (511-34) had encouraged clerics from Acquitaine to work in the Rhineland. The king came to esteem Nicetius despite his often remonstrating with him on his wrongdoing without, however, any loss of favour. After the death of BishopAprunculus of Trier, an embassy of the clergy and citizens of Trier came to the royal court to elect a new bishop. They desiredSaint Gallus, but the king refused his consent. It was through Theuderic's patronage that Nicetius was confirmed as bishop. About 527 Nicetius set out as the new bishop for Trier, accompanied by an escort sent by the king, and while on the journey had opportunity to make known his firmness in the administration of his office.^[3]

Trier had suffered terribly during the disorders of theMigrations. One of the first cares of the new bishop was to rebuild thecathedral church, the restoration of which is mentioned by the poet Venantius Fortunatus. He imported Italian craftmen to work on churches. Archæological research has shown, in the cathedral of Trier, the existence of mason-work belonging to the Frankish period which may belong to this reconstruction by Nicetius. A fortified castle (castellum) with a chapel built by him on the riverMoselle is also mentioned by the same poet. Bishop Nicetius replanted vineyards on the slopes above the Moselle, to restore the area's wine business.^[4]

The bishop devoted himself with great zeal to his pastoral duty. He preached daily, opposed vigorously the numerous evils in the moral life both of the higher classes and of the common people, and in so doing did not spare the king and his courtiers. Disregarding threats, he steadfastly fulfilled his duty. He excommunicated KingChlothar I (511-61), who for some time was sole ruler of the Frankish dominions, on account of his misdeeds; in return the king exiled the determined bishop in 560. The king died, however, in the following year, and his son and successorSigebert I, the ruler ofAustrasia (561-75), allowed Nicetius to return home. Nicetius took part in several synods of the Frankish bishops: the synod ofClermont (535), ofOrléans (549), the second synod of Council of Clermont (549), thesynod of Toul (550), at which he presided, and the synod of Synod of Paris (555).^[3]

Nicetius corresponded with ecclesiastical dignitaries of high rank in distant places. Letters are extant that were written to him by AbbotFlorianus ofRomain-Moûtier (Canton ofVaud,Switzerland), by Bishop Rufus ofOctodurum (nowMartigny, in the Canton ofValais, Switzerland), and by ArchbishopMappinius ofReims. He was an influential bishop in Gaul and attracted many clerics to Trier and Austrasia with the then young Venantius Fortunatus as his most famous clerical guest, writer and future bishop of Poitiers. Fortunatus' visit to Nicetius was his first major step in Gaul after he left the school of Ravenna.^[5]

The general interests of the Church did not escape his watchful care. He wrote an urgent letter to EmperorJustinian ofConstantinople in regard to the emperor's position in the controversies arising fromMonophysitism. Another letter that has been preserved is toChlodoswinda, wife of theLombard KingAlboin, in which he exhorts this princess to do everything possible to bring her husband over to the Catholic faith.^[6]

In his personal life Nicetius was very ascetic and self-mortifying; he fasted frequently, and while the priests and clerics who lived with him were at their evening meal he would go, concealed by a hooded cloak, to pray in the churches of the city. He founded a school of his own for the training of the clergy. The best known of his pupils is the later Abbot of Limoges,Aredius, who was the authority of Gregory of Tours for the latter's biographical account of Nicetius.Gregory of Tours, wrote the oldest NicetiusVita, and praised the fearless advocacy of the Bishop.

Nicetius was buried in the church ofSt. Maximin at Trier. In the diocese of Trier, he is revered as a saint. Hisfeast day is celebrated at Trier on 1 October; in theRoman Martyrology his name is placed under 5 December.^[7][8][9]

The genuineness of two treatises ascribed to him is doubtful: "De Vigiliis servorum Dei" and "De Psalmodiæ Bono".

Wikimedia Commons has media related toNicetius.

• 520s births
• 560s deaths
• 6th-century Gallo-Roman people
• Medieval German saints
• 6th-century Frankish bishops
• 6th-century Christian saints
• Roman Catholic bishops of Trier
• 6th-century Frankish saints
• Gallo-Roman saints
• Saints of Germania
• 6th-century Frankish writers
• 6th-century writers in Latin
• Letter writers in Latin

• Articles with short description
• Short description matches Wikidata
• Articles containing French-language text
• Commons category link is on Wikidata
• Year of birth uncertain
• Year of death uncertain