| Saint Deodatus of Nevers | |
| Death Date: | 679 AD |
| Feast Day: | June 19 |
| Venerated In: | Eastern Orthodox Church Roman Catholic Church |
| Birth Place: | possibly Ireland |
| Canonized Date: | 1049 |
| Canonized By: | Pope Leo IX |
| Attributes: | depicted with hand stretching to thunder clouds[1] [2] |
| Patronage: | invoked for rain, and against thunderstorm, evil spirits, and plague |
Deodatus (Dié, Didier, Dieudonné, Déodat, Adéodat) of Nevers (d. June 19, ca. 679 AD) was a bishop of Nevers from 655.
Deodatus was born about 590 to an illustrious family of western France. In 655 Deodatus was appointed bishop of Nevers. He attended the Council of Sens in 657.[3]
In 664 he resigned his see, having recommended to his clergy the choice of a successor. He made the acquaintance of Saints Arbogast and Florentius and walked the mountain passes to the Forest of Haguenau where he led an eremitical life.[3] He baptized the son of Saint Hunna (Una), who was also named Deodatus and who is also venerated as a saint. Hunna's son became a monk at Ebersheim.
Later he retired deeper into the Vosges. Hun, lord of the Val de Galilee, bestowed on him some territory, which donation was confirmed by King Childeric II.There he established the monastery Juncturae (Jointures). He placed Jointures under the Rule of Saint Columban (later changed to that of Saint Benedict).[4]
Tradition states that he died in the arms of Saint Hidulphus, bishop of Treves.[3]
The town of Saint-Dié grew up around the monastery of Jointures. However, some sources connect the name with an earlier saint, Deodatus of Blois (d. 525).[5]
He is invoked as the patron saint for rain, and against thunderstorms, evil spirits, and plague.[6]