Falco of Maastricht explained

Honorific Prefix:Saint
Falco of Maastricht
Titles:Bishop of Tongeren
Death Date:512
Death Place:Tongeren or Maastricht, Kingdom of Francia
Feast Day:February 20
Venerated In:Roman Catholic Church
Eastern Orthodox Church
Anglican communion
Lutheranism

Saint Falco, sometimes: Falco of Maastricht or of Tongeren, (died 512)[1] was according to tradition bishop of Maastricht from 495 until 512. He is also venerated as a Roman Catholic saint.

In Medieval hagiography he is hardly noted. Yet, Falco is the first bishop of Maastricht, after Servatius, who is securely documented.[2] He is mentioned in an undated letter sent by Saint Remigius, in which Remigius complains about Falco usurping certain rights in Mouzon.[3] He allegedly attended the Council of Auvergne (535)[4] and the Fifth Council of Orléans.[5]

His feast day is February 20, which he shares with Eucharius I, traditionally his predecessor as bishop of Maastricht.

Notes and References

  1. http://saints.sqpn.com/saint-falco-of-maastricht/ "Saint Falco of Maastricht" saints.sqpn.com
  2. Frans Theuws, Mayke de Jong and Carine van Rhijn, Topographies of power in the early Middle Ages (2001), p.164
  3. Régis de la Haye, De bisschoppen van Maastricht (1985), p.39
  4. Catholic Encyclopedia of 1913
  5. Christian Settipani, Les ancêtres de Charlemagne (1989)