Saint Genesius of Lyon (Genestus, Genes; died 679) was the 37th Archbishop of Lyon.
He was a native of France and became a religious and prior of Fontenelle Abbey). Attached to the court and camp of Clovis II, he acted as chief almoner to the queen, Bathildis.[1] When Bathilde was regent for her six-year-old son Chlothar III after the death of her husband in 657, she commissioned Genesius to expand Chelles monastery.[2]
He succeeded the murdered Annemund in the See of Lyon, and was consecrated in 657 or 658. His name is found for the first time as bishop in a signature of 6 September 664, attached to a charter drawn up by Bertefred, bishop of Amiens, for the Abbey of Corbie.[1]
On 26 June 667, he subscribed another charter framed by Drauscius, Bishop of Soissons, for a convent of the Blessed Virgin founded by Ebroin, mayor of the palace, and his wife Leutrude. In the conflict between Ebroin and St. Leger (Leodegarius), Bishop of Autun, Genesius (675-76) took the part of the bishop and was in consequence attacked by an armed band sent by Ebroin to expel him from Lyons; but Genesius collected a force and successfully defended his city.[1]
In September, 677, he assisted at an assembly held at Maslay-le-Roi or more probably Marly-le-Roi. He was succeeded at Lyon by Landebertus otherwise Lambertus. His body remained in the Saint-Nizier Church till the beginning of the fourteenth century, when it was transferred to Chelles Abbey.[3]
He is a Catholic saint, feast day 1 November.